He shrugged. ‘They’ll probably confiscate your memory cards. The one in the camera and the one you’ve hidden in your knickers. Or wherever. Then let you go, with a warning.’

‘Is that all?’

Mickey raised an eyebrow. ‘There was a time when a warning from the police was something real. But times change, I suppose.’ He gestured to the camera. ‘Get caught again, and that rather expensive piece of tech will be confiscated. Permanently.’

She smiled knowingly. ‘Wouldn’t be the first time. The Clarion will just give me another.’

‘The Clarion? I thought you were freelance.’

‘The problem with freelancers is that their pics cost a fortune. It’s cheaper for the paper to hire people like me for the skills we developed in other walks of life, and—’

‘I knew it! Using the word oppo was a dead giveaway!’ Cavendish suddenly indignant from his place in the doorway. ‘You’re bloody well ex-army, aren’t you?’ He glowered into her smile. ‘I knew there was something more to you!’

‘Well spotted, Major Cavendish. I got some cracking stills of you earlier, by the way. The way you were standing at your office window looking pensive, I almost felt sorry for you.’ She tipped her head in salute. ‘I was in the Royal Signals. I found it all a bit…’

‘Hard work?’

She smiled again. ‘There’s that bias I got so bored of having to deal with. I found it tedious, Major. Hidebound, and with more than its fair share of brain-dead men. So I got out. And don’t worry, I don’t plan on telling anyone about my previous career. I wouldn’t dream of upsetting that apple cart. Plus my dad would never live it down.’

At which point the local police made an appearance. Mickey released her from his cuffs, watching her smirk as she was formally arrested by the uniformed inspector who’d come to get her.

‘This is just a rite of passage for you, isn’t it?’

She shrugged at him. ‘Every pap worth their salt has been arrested at some point. Perhaps now I’ll get some respect.’

He shook his head at her in admonishment, which was, he was forced to admit to himself, somewhat forced. ‘Yeah. Perhaps you will. Have fun at the local nick then. See you around!’

‘Not if I see you first!’

Waited until the front door was shut behind them.

‘Youth of today, eh James?’

Cavendish raised a jaundiced eyebrow. ‘Not funny, Michael. So not funny as to be verging on a “Sergeant Bale” moment.’

Mickey shrugged. ‘Sometimes only humour will do the job, Major Cavendish. So I’ll fall back on a joke so old it probably originated in Caesar’s legions.’