‘Oh, I’m at liberty.’ Grey smiled. ‘I’m simply choosing not to. Because I can’t see why it’s relevant.’

‘Is it controversial?’ said Jameson.

Grey pressed his lips into a thin line.

Bloom could see his reasoning. Why share potentially sensitive information with two outsiders if it had nothing to do with Harry’s whereabouts?

‘Maybe you could tell me a little about him as a person?’ said Bloom.

Grey sat back into his chair. ‘How do you mean?’

‘How does he conduct himself? And how does he lead people? Is there anything that might make him a target?’

‘Harry is the consummate people person. And that is no small thing in our world. Command and control is about inspiring as much as it is instructing. You need to inspire loyalty, inspire effort. It’s not enough to tell people what to do; you have to make them want to do it for you.’

Captain Morrisey masked her micro-expressions quickly, but Bloom spotted the slightly widened eyes and raised eyebrows followed by a brief smirk. Bloom deduced from Morrisey’s surprise that Grey probably didn’t live up to his definition of leadership. Bloom was starting to get a sense of the sort of boss Grey might be; one whose modus operandi was much closer to instructing than inspiring. Did he know this about himself or was it in his blind spot?

‘So Harry’s popular?’ asked Bloom.

‘I’m not sure popularity is our aim. He’s fair and clear.’

Bloom nodded. ‘And have you noticed any changes in his character or behaviour of late?’

‘Such as?’

‘Has he been under any stress at work or in his personal life?’ She wanted to know if there was anything that might make him use this opportunity to escape his life and responsibilities. They couldn’t rule out that Harry Peterson had orchestrated his own disappearance.

Grey sighed. He was clearly bored. ‘The Navy is a promiscuous mistress,’ he said. ‘Many a marriage has disintegrated due to her interference. I was sad to hear about Harry and Caroline. They always seemed solid. But it never affected his work. Never.’

Grey looked at Morrisey. She checked her watch and nodded. Grey rose from his seat.

‘I think it was clear to everyone that this new lady was making Harry very happy,’ said Morrisey. ‘He seemed content.’

‘So this disappearance is definitely out of character?’ asked Bloom. ‘You’d have expected to hear from him.’

‘Not just expected, Dr Bloom, but demanded,’ said Grey. ‘We afford our leaders some autonomy but not much.’

Grey turned and walked towards the glass security pod.

‘So this is not just out of character, it’s potentially career damaging. Does that not suggest to you that Captain Harry Peterson might be in trouble?’ Bloom asked, raising her voice despite the silence.