Here it came. Orders for the defenestration of Sergeant Michael Bale, most likely. Mickey braced himself for impact.

‘Put the phone on speaker? Yes, ma’am.’

She placed the telephone on the desk before her and pressed the relevant button.

‘You’re on speaker, ma’am. In the room are myself, Chief Superintendent John Palmer and Inspector Philip Green of Protection Command. And Sergeant Michael Bale. Recently returned from duty in Belize.’

To everyone’s surprise, Mickey suspected, the voice from the phone’s speaker was cheerful. A “job well done” voice, if Mickey was any judge. Even if he’d never actually met the commissioner in person.

‘Good morning, gentlemen.’

He found himself returning the greeting along with his superiors. Wondering how many more turns were left in this insanity.

‘It isn’t very often that I get a call from the Chair of RAVEC, and even less so before I’m even in my car. So when I saw his number on the caller display, you can imagine that I was more than a little surprised.’

Jasmine Chen gave Mickey a look that he decided to interpret as “now you’re really in the shit”. Death rays poised to strike.

‘Imagine my further surprise when he told me that he was calling to congratulate me on the conduct of one of my protection teams.’

Wait. What? Jasmine Chen’s expression was caught somewhere between relief and horror.

‘Specifically, he named Sergeant Michael Bale as having behaved in an exemplary manner. And being responsible for a decision that probably saved the life of the principal. And went on to add that while Sir Patrick Sutherland no longer wishes to be protected by Sergeant Bale, this should in no way reflect poorly on his competence or professionalism. Sergeant Bale, it seems, was part of what might best be described as a national security incident yesterday. An incident the detail of which Sir Charles wasn’t able to share with me. But which he assures me has reflected in a tremendously positive way on Protection Command. And indeed the Met more generally.

‘And he asked me to pass his thanks on to the officers in question, and to Sergeant Bale in particular. I can’t offer a formal commendation of course, given the somewhat delicate location and circumstances. But what I can do is offer you my personal thanks for a difficult job. Well done, Sergeant Bale.’

‘Thank you, ma’am.’

‘No, Sergeant, thank you. Have a good day.’