‘And because we are famous for shooting on sight, we don’t have to. These days it’s usually enough for us just to turn up and give someone a hard look.’

‘But . . .’

‘I’m telling you – those days are gone.’

Jane looked at him, remembering her experience with ­Matthew in the corridor. ‘Are they really?’

Ellis perched on the edge of a desk. ‘Well, that’s up to you and people like you, isn’t it? The young ones just beginning to climb the rungs. You are the ones who will help to shape the sort of organisation the Time Police will become. Consider how things would have turned out if, for example, Lt Grint’s team had gone after Henry Plimpton.’

Luke frowned, opened his mouth to speak, frowned again and then said, ‘This is . . .’ He stopped.

‘More complex than you thought. Not used to making your own decisions, are you?’

‘Not really. The old man always told me what he wanted from me and I did the opposite.’

‘Lockland?’

‘People always told me what to do.’

‘Farrell?’

‘I make up my own mind.’

Ellis stood up. ‘I have a meeting with Commander Hay in ten minutes. Do you wish me to make your views regarding the quality and quantity of your assignments known to her?’

They shook their heads.

Commander Hay put down her scratchpad and sat back in her chair.

‘Well, Major, how are things going?’

‘Their first mission was successfully accomplished. The time machine was destroyed. Henry Plimpton is enthusiastically assisting us with our enquiries. A possible anomaly was avoided and peace has returned to 20th-century Lower Spurting.’

‘Interesting. And Parrish was team leader, I see. How did he perform?’

Ellis paused. A memory of Parrish stealing the lottery ticket was overridden by a picture of his face when he spoke of his father. ‘He led the team. Yes, he made some stupid mistakes, especially at the beginning, but nothing we haven’t all done at some point or another. By the end of the mission I don’t think he was quite the same person who had set out.’

‘Again – interesting.’

‘They’re an interesting team, ma’am.’

‘I am delighted to hear it. Now tell me how things are actually going.’

He sighed. ‘Well, normally at this point in their training, I’d be looking for at least some level of cohesion and cooperation. With this team, it would be fair to say that half the time they’re barely speaking to each other. They don’t eat together. They don’t drink together in the evenings. They barely even communicate except to have a go at each other. They’re not popular with the other teams, either. There was . . . an incident . . . the other day and it was necessary to get Farrell and Lockland out of the building for a few hours. At this stage, ma’am, I really have no idea how this is going to turn out.’