‘This is where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. Before the mid-nineties, either the Army, Navy or RAF would be assigned overall command of a given operation, but that led to inconsistencies so it was decided a Joint Forces Command was needed, and this is HQ.’

‘So operations are planned here with all military assets in mind?’

‘Give or take a few exceptions, like our nuclear deterrent.’

‘Have you been here before?’

Jameson shrugged, which meant that he wasn’t willing to say.

‘Here he is,’ said Jameson, standing as a man in a blue jumper with gold epaulettes strode towards them with a younger female officer in a crisp white shirt and black skirt.

‘Rear Admiral Grey,’ said the man, holding out his hand. ‘And this is my Chief of Staff, Captain Tessa Morrisey.’ Instead of leading them through the glass security pods, Grey took a seat opposite them and Captain Morrisey stayed standing.

‘I’m afraid we’ll need to talk here.’ He turned to Jameson. ‘I appreciate your background but you should know your security clearance expires the minute you leave, and your friend here has none.’

‘I am well aware,’ Jameson said. He sat up straighter, pulling his shoulders tight.

‘You said you were with some of ours in Iraq?’ Grey either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care about the change in Jameson’s demeanour. Bloom suspected the latter.

‘I was. Navy boats provide a nice enough taxi service.’

‘Ships,’ said Grey.

‘Thank you for seeing us at such short notice,’ said Bloom, keen to move the conversation on. ‘May I ask how long you’ve known Henry Peterson?’

‘Harry and I go way back,’ he said. ‘I was his commanding officer when he was a newly promoted lieutenant. We got on well. He stood out.’

‘How so?’ asked Bloom.

‘Perhaps we might clarify your role and remit here first,’ said Grey, looking from Bloom to Jameson and then back again.

‘Mr Jameson and I are private investigators,’ she said. ‘We’ve been hired by Karene Harper, Captain Peterson’s partner, to locate him.’

‘And to do that we need to know about his current role,’ said Jameson.

Grey raised an eyebrow but kept his focus on Bloom. ‘I spoke to the regulators after Mr Jameson called. And we have this in hand.’

‘Royal Navy Police,’ said Jameson to Bloom. ‘They’re looking for Peterson, are they?’

‘Investigations are underway, yes. And, of course, the civilian police are working on this too. It’s in the hands of the professionals. Perhaps you should leave it there.’