Garrick answered for the group. “Yes, yes. We are all aware of Charles Smart’s... that is, my father’s experiments and discoveries. We have reason to believe that he is in serious danger. We need to travel back in time to assist him. So, if there is a WARP pod here, we need to use it.”

Victoria pursed her lips. “Hmm. Charles hoped you would find me so we could get to know each other, but he was also afraid that you might come for the secrets of the pod. He said that the FBI were a sneaky bunch, and I should watch out.”

“I see,” said Garrick, teeth gritted. “But Charles was my... father. I am his boy, surely you don’t need to watch out for me?”

Victoria wagged two index fingers at him like six-shooters. “Ah, you may be his boy, but Charles said that you were potentially the worst of the bunch. You were more interested in the government contracts than the science. You pushed things forward before they were ready. Your father told me all about the wormhole mutations. He said time travel can give you cancer without the bisphosphonates.”

Charles Smart’s monkey arm and yellow blood flashed through Chevie’s head. Mutations.

“But Father is in trouble. We need to save him.”

Victoria’s eyes were shrewd. You don’t keep a business open in central London without being seriously smart. “How do you know Charles is in trouble? He said you can’t find him. None of the other pods go to where he is, and you can’t just build another pod. Not without Charles.”

Garrick frowned and shuddered as if his system were under attack from a virus.

“What about this?” he said, plonking a large handgun on the table. “Now, why don’t you tell me where the pod is?”

Victoria pounded the table with delicate hands while the kettle whistled behind her. “What kind of son are you?” she demanded. “You broke your father’s heart, and now you’re threatening the woman he loves. You villain.”

Garrick covered his eyes, uncomfortable in the light. “Yes, villain, I accept it. Now, where is the pod?”

Victoria rose to her feet. “Never, Judas. You shall get nothing from me.”

“Then I shall kill you,” said Garrick. “As I killed your beloved Charles.”

Victoria paled, then staggered back a step.

“You are not Felix Smart!” she declared.

“No, madam,” declared Garrick. “I am not. Felix Smart has gone the way of his father.”

Victoria made a noise close to an animal howl and pounced on Garrick with surprising speed.

“Stupid woman!” said Garrick, and slapped her hard on the side of her head. The blow felled them both, for no sooner had Victoria crumpled to the ground than Garrick himself bent double and threw up across the table.