‘That could depend on your definition of functioning, ma’am, but they’re definitely all here. In the physical sense of the word “here”.’

‘Let’s have them in, then.’

He ushered them in. Instinctive discretion had kept him away from the Callen and Grint interviews, but instinctive curiosity kept him present for this one. He took his traditional seat in the corner and waited. Unlike Major Callen or Lt Grint, Team 236 was not asked to sit and the silence was not comfortable. Each of them stood quietly, awaiting dismissal from the service. If they were lucky. If they weren’t . . .

I’ll get a job in a supermarket, thought Jane. I’ll make sure all my tins face the right way and take a quiet pride in my work.

I’ll go and find Birgitte, thought Luke, and had no idea where that came from.

Matthew amused himself by imagining the hero’s reception given by St Mary’s to someone who had managed to get himself sacked from the Time Police. Always supposing the team managed to avoid a lengthy term of imprisonment, of course.

The silence lengthened. Commander Hay, becoming aware that her usual ploy of waiting for people to rush into rash, hasty, and above all, incriminating speech, wasn’t working on this team, enquired coldly if they had anything to say for themselves.

Luke sought permission from his teammates with a look. ‘Jane didn’t kill Smith.’

‘Well, of course she didn’t,’ said Hay, irritably. ‘As the evidence from the recovered knife clearly showed. And if any of you had stayed around long enough for justice to take its course, then Jane’s innocence would have become clear long before you embarked upon your trail of destruction.’

‘So who did?’

Commander Hay turned her attention to Jane. ‘Do you remember Senior Instructor Talbot?’

She frowned. ‘He’s one of our instructors. And he was in the Technical Library with me.’

Matthew turned to her. ‘You were in the Technical Library?’

‘Yes,’ she said, defensively.

‘Why?’

‘She was avoiding me,’ said Luke.

‘Understandable,’ said Hay. ‘May I continue?’

‘Sorry.’

‘Mr Talbot was your predecessor, Parrish.’

‘Eh? Oh.’

‘He did not take kindly to hearing Ms Smith’s innovative plan for getting the pair of you discharged from the Time Police.’

‘Oh. Has he confessed? What’s he saying?’

‘His confession was discovered. Along with his body.’

Luke swallowed. ‘So you’re saying . . . he’s dead?’

‘He is.’

He was very white. Jane could guess the thoughts in his head. First Orduroy Tannhauser, then Sarah Smith and now . . . She wanted to touch his shoulder – just so he would know he wasn’t alone – but they were all still standing to attention.

‘Are you saying they’re both dead? Smith and Talbot? Because of me?’

‘No. I think we can assume if it hadn’t been you it would have been someone else. However, Mr Parrish . . .’ She waited, eyebrow raised.