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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

Jane stood in her room, examining herself in the mirror. A new day loomed before her. As a trainee Time Police officer. She studied her reflection for another moment and then, on a sudden impulse, unwound her plait.

Gathering her hair up in one hand, she pulled it up into a cheeky little ponytail and twisted a hairband around it. That was so much better than her previous style. She moved her head and her ponytail swung with her. And back the other way. Yes. This was a confident, cocky, don’t mess with me if you know what’s good for you ponytail. A Time Police ponytail. And if Matthew’s hair got much longer, then he could have one, too. They could start a fashion. Although, to be fair, she really couldn’t see it catching on with the crew-cutted Grint.

Stepping back, she studied herself again. Something still wasn’t quite right. Frowning, she adjusted her belt to sit lower and more rakishly on her hips. The way real officers wore theirs. And that empty holster wasn’t going to be empty for much longer. She stood up straight and pushed her shoulders back. A Time Police officer stared back at her.

This is what I am, she thought. This is what I do. I am an officer of the Time Police. I have duties and responsibilities and the authority to carry them out. The Time Police is not somewhere to hide. It is somewhere to shine.

Luke and Matthew were waiting for her. They nodded a greeting and the three of them walked illegally three abreast down the corridor. For some reason, Luke was humming the theme song to Rocky.

They stood together, waiting for the lift to arrive. Two very new trainees approached and stood nervously nearby. Jane turned her head and regarded them coldly. Not a word was spoken and after only a very few seconds, they simply wilted away.

‘Seven seconds,’ said Luke. ‘I think that puts you in the lead.’

The doors parted. Without breaking formation, they stepped inside and turned to face the doors.

‘Because we’re the Time Police,’ said Luke.

‘Because we’re Team Weird,’ said Matthew.

‘Because we’re utter bastards,’ said Jane.

Luke donned an expensive pair of sunglasses and struck a pose.

The lift stopped.

‘Right then, utter bastards,’ he said. ‘Let’s see what they’ve got for us today, shall we?’

He strode forwards.

There was the sound of an impact and he reeled backwards, clutching his nose.

‘Aaarrgggghh.’

‘We usually wait for the doors to open first,’ said Matthew.

THE END

Author’s Note

Author’s Note