And no one did. The silence in the Pod Bay was so complete that Jane was convinced she could hear the two officers’ heavy breathing. Even Anders remained silent. The seconds ticked past and the wait seemed endless but, at last, the doors opened and Commander Hay entered, unarmed, closely followed by Captain Farenden, whose hand rested lightly on his weapon.

‘What’s going on here?’

Jane was certain Commander Hay knew exactly what was going on here, but asking the question and listening carefully to who said what would give everyone some much-needed time to calm down.

Anders rushed to explain. ‘We found her.’

She was deliberately irritable. ‘Who’s “we”, Anders? Report properly.’

He flushed again. ‘Beg pardon, ma’am. Major Ellis, Lt Grint and I went to apprehend the fugitives. Their accomplice, Farrell, had told us where they were. We caught them in Ancient Rome. The major was talking to them. Lockland, who had separated herself from the main group, shot the major. She hid in the bushes and shot him. She attacked Lt Grint and then she pointed her weapon at me so I made haste to return to TPHQ to request assistance.’ He gestured at the teams lined up. ‘We were about to depart.’

Commander Hay surveyed Jane. ‘It would seem there is no longer a need. The culprit now stands before us.’

‘There’s the other one,’ he said. ‘Parrish.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Do explain Mr Parrish’s role in all this, Mr Anders. I assume he’s not here since it seems so very unlike him to remain quietly in the background.’

Back in the pod, Matthew snorted.

Anders was shouting. His face gleamed with sweat. Flecks of spittle flew from his mouth. ‘I tell you, ma’am, she’s a killer.’

‘You have told me she has assaulted two of my officers. Where are they now? Have you abandoned them?’

His colour deepened even further. ‘I would have stayed, but then she was shooting at everyone. Ma’am, she’s out of control.’

Major Callen stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder. ‘Yes, all right, son. Leave it to us. Commander, if this is true, then Lockland is indeed out of control. A shoot-on-sight order has been applied for.’

‘But not yet signed.’

He bowed his head. ‘As you say, Commander. Not yet signed.’

Jane felt herself grow cold all over. Luke had promised her he would remain faithfully in the pod until she herself told him it was safe to come out. Matthew was still weak and would be unable to prevent Luke doing anything stupid. Ellis was probably unconscious by now. Grint was still securely zipped. With his own zips. That left Maxwell – arguably the most erratic and catastrophic member of an organisation famed wherever it went for erratic and catastrophic behaviour. She really was on her own.

Commander Hay was speaking. ‘A shoot-on-sight order. For Lockland?’