‘Well, that would have rather spoiled the point, don’t you think?’

‘Can’t you call it a drill?’ said Max, helpfully. ‘And congratulate everyone on their rapid response. That’s what we always do.’

‘The Time Police do not necessarily base their procedures on those of St Mary’s.’

‘Really? Do you know, I think we might have identified the root of all your problems?’

‘Can we continue, please?’ said Ellis, wearily. ‘Parrish . . .’

‘Yes. Right. We grabbed Jane when the alarm went off. Matthew had . . . enabled . . . our acquisition of a pod, and to avoid any blame coming his way . . .’

‘You shot him,’ said Max, returning to this uncomfortable fact faster than a politician scenting a photo op.

‘Yes, but as I keep saying, he told me to.’ He looked at Matthew. ‘Didn’t you?’

Matthew remained silent.

‘Matthew, now is not the time to stop talking.’

Matthew nodded. ‘It was my idea.’

‘And a very good one,’ said Luke. ‘Flawlessly conceived and executed.’

Markham grinned. ‘You might want to avoid using the word executed. Just saying.’

‘And then Jane and I escaped. To here. Because there are loads of people here today and we thought we could hide among all the pod signatures.’

Markham shifted. ‘And then?’

‘Well, we hadn’t actually got that far. But we had several options under consideration.’

‘Such as?’

‘Well, moving from one historical hotspot to another until everyone lost interest in us.’

‘Never going to happen,’ said Ellis, grimly.

‘Or . . .’ Luke stopped.

‘Or?’ prompted Ellis.

‘Well, we rather thought we might offer ourselves to St Mary’s.’

Max blinked. ‘In what capacity?’

‘Well . . . um . . . we were discussing claiming sanctuary.’

‘Not legal any longer,’ said Peterson. ‘Besides, we don’t have an altar.’

Markham disagreed. ‘Yes, we do. In the chapel.’

‘Well, yes, but it’s a bit out of the way, isn’t it? Not very practical. I’m thinking much too far from the kitchen.’

‘Good point. And no toilet facilities.’

‘Speaking of which,’ said Van Owen, looking around. ‘Jane’s not back yet.’

‘She’s been gone a long time,’ said Luke, standing up and looking around the garden. Of Jane there was no sign.

And at that moment, because, as Luke said afterwards, there hadn’t been anything like enough drama in their life so far, a shot rang out.

33

33

It was cooler now, Jane noticed, now that the sun had dropped below the rooftops. Long shadows slanted across the garden. The air was damp. No birds were singing. It would be dark soon.

She picked her way along the overgrown path until she found a likely-looking bush – one with enough foliage on it to grant a small degree of privacy, anyway – and busied herself.