‘You’re on your way to Hong Kong, Luke. To take over the office there. Sally Yang’s retiring. You’re to take her place. Don’t just stand there. I want us both in Paris by six o’clock. There are some useful people there I want you to meet. I don’t suppose you have anything of value here, but if you do, then I recommend you get it now. We’re leaving.’

There was another long pause. Commander Hay was watching Luke Parrish very carefully. Everyone was watching Luke Parrish very carefully. Jane remembered he hadn’t actually said whether he intended to remain in the Time Police or not. Her heart contracted. His wish had come true. He was leaving. Returning to his old life. But to lose him now . . . after all this . . . Just as he was beginning to . . .

Luke took a very deep breath. ‘Actually, Dad, you’re wrong. The things I have here are of great value to me and I won’t leave them behind lightly. In fact, I won’t leave them behind at all. I regret to disoblige you, sir, but I am not going to Hong Kong.’

‘Don’t argue with me, boy.’

‘I’m afraid, Dad, that it is you who are arguing with me. To clarify the situation – I am a member of the Time Police and I still have time to serve.’

Parrish senior waved that aside. ‘I bought you in – I can buy you back out again.’

Luke was very pale. ‘I wonder, sir, when it will occur to you that I am not a commodity to be bought and sold at times and places advantageous to you.’

‘I don’t intend to argue with you, boy.’

‘Excellent. I’m glad you have so easily grasped the point I was making.’

Raymond Parrish’s voice was iced steel. ‘The arrangements are made. You will come with me.’

‘I will not.’

‘You dare to defy me? You are my son.’

‘Am I? When exactly did you remember that?’

‘This is insolence. I will not stand for it. I placed you here so you would not continue to disappoint me and . . .’

‘Tell me, sir – as my father – what’s my favourite colour? Or here’s a better one – do I like sprouts? That’s an easy question. Just think back to our last Christmas dinner together. Oh wait – I don’t think you can, because we’ve never had a Christmas dinner together, have we? Or a birthday. In fact, I don’t think you’ve ever been present at any of the key points of my life, have you?’

‘Luke, I don’t understand the point you’re trying to make and I don’t have time for this. I want you installed in the Hong Kong office by this time tomorrow so that I still have time to make the climate conference in Sydney.’