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Chapters (52)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. About the Book
  4. About the Author
  5. Also By
  6. Contents
  7. Dedication
  8. Roll Call
  9. A Brief History of the Time Wars
  10. Jane
  11. Luke
  12. Matthew
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. 6
  19. 7
  20. 8
  21. 9
  22. 10
  23. 11
  24. 12
  25. 13
  26. 14
  27. 15
  28. 16
  29. 17
  30. 18
  31. 19
  32. 20
  33. 21
  34. 22
  35. 23
  36. 24
  37. 25
  38. 26
  39. 27
  40. 28
  41. 29
  42. 30
  43. 31
  44. 32
  45. 33
  46. 34
  47. 35
  48. 36
  49. 37
  50. Epilogue
  51. Author’s Note
  52. A Note on Recruitment

Ellis hesitated and then sighed and nodded.

She got up and turned back to her team. ‘See you soon, guys. Stay safe.’

Peterson grinned. ‘I still think we’ll be a bloody sight safer than you, Max. Look after Matthew.’

The pod door closed behind them. Markham, Peterson and Van Owen moved back out of range. A brief wind fluttered the leaves and then the pod was gone and they were alone in the garden.

Peterson turned to Van Owen. ‘Was it like this when you were with the Time Police?’

‘God, no. If I’d known it was going to be this exciting, I might have stayed.’

35

35

It was Jane who laid in the coordinates and initiated the jump, and it was only as they landed gently in the pod’s allotted space that she realised she’d done it all without even the slightest qualm. There’s nothing like imminent death to put things into perspective.

They enjoyed nearly one and a half seconds of peace and stillness before the alarms started up.

Again.

Luke sighed. ‘I can hardly remember a time when my life was unaccompanied by shrieking sirens, flashing lights and big men with bigger guns.’

‘Well,’ said Jane. ‘You stay safely inside then and I’ll pop out there and make everything better for you.’

‘Lockland,’ said Ellis, who, despite sitting down, was looking paler than he should be.

‘Don’t worry, sir. I’m going to be fine.’

‘I’m worried they’ll shoot you as soon as you set foot outside.’

‘Well, if that happens then we have Luke as first reserve.’

‘They’ll definitely shoot him.’

All heads turned to Matthew, who smiled amiably, if a little vaguely. ‘And then there was one.’

Max folded her arms. ‘If they shoot you then they’ll have me to deal with, and before anyone makes the obvious remark, shooting me will bring Leon down on everyone’s heads, and as the Time Police know, that never ends well.’ She gestured to Jane. ‘Have at it, kid.’

Jane turned towards the door. Luke stood in her path. He said, ‘Jane . . .’ and stopped.

Unable to meet his gaze, she stared at his sternum. ‘Um . . . Luke . . . if . . . um . . . if things don’t go well, please promise me you won’t hang around trying to be heroic. Get yourself straight back to St Mary’s.’ She found a smile. ‘Find yourself somewhere safe and do the fried chicken thing.’

Ellis raised his eyebrows and glanced at Max, who shrugged. ‘No idea.’

‘I will,’ said Luke. ‘And,’ he added, generously, ‘I’ll call it JFC.’

‘No – it’s OK. LFC is fine. Or MFC if Matthew’s with you.’

He grinned. ‘It’s like the alphabet, isn’t it? JFC. LFC. MFC.’

‘What happened to KFC?’

‘That’ll never catch on. Go on, Jane. Off you go now.’

Jane stood before the door and squared her meagre shoulders. ‘Ready when you are.’