Jo shrugs uncomfortably. "If they find that the cause was negligence they throw it back at HR for an administrative reprimand. If they attribute it to malice they may action Internal Affairs to prosecute the case before the Black Assizes, but that requires evidence of actual criminal intent. Oh, and they copy Health and Safety on their findings, so H&S can issue guidelines to prevent a recurrence. Meanwhile the Auditors get a chance to muck in if anything catches their eldritch eye. But that's basically it."

She delivers this with her best poker face.

"And in practice . . . ?" Iris nudges.

"Do you really want to . . . ? Well, hmm." Jo looks at me sidelong. "I'm not going to try to second-guess the Incident Committee, but it sounds to me like a straightforward mistake made by an overworked employee who hadn't been fully briefed and was in a hurry to get back to his other duties. If it turns out that the victim wasn't authorized to be in Hangar Six, the employee in question would be off the hook—up to a point. But Jesus, Bob!"

Her composure cracks; I hang my head before her dismay.

"I'll not make that mistake next time," I mutter, then try to swallow my tongue.

"There won't be a next time," Jo says vehemently. "What were you thinking, Bob?"

"I don't know!"

Iris stands up. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Sullivan." She angles herself towards the door, transparently urging Jo out.

"I'm out of here," Jo says defensively as she stands up. "I'll see you around, Bob. Hopefully under happier circumstances."

I nod as she leaves. Iris sits down again and looks at me, frowning. "What are we going to do with you?" she asks.

"Um. I don't understand?"

"To start with, you're taking the rest of the week off work," she says, and her expression tells me not to even think about arguing. "And when you come back in next Monday and not a day before, you're off active duty for the rest of the month."

"But Boris is shorthanded and Angleton needs—"

"They need you sane and fit for duty next month as well," she says sharply. "And next year. You can pick up the cabling job you were speccing out, and the routine server upgrade, but you're not to go tearing around banishing demons and shooting up cows until further notice. A couple of months of boredom won't do you any harm, and more importantly, if it takes the stress off your shoulders so you're less likely to make mistakes I'd call that a win. Wouldn't you?"

I wince, but manage to nod.