Balancing the two coffees he’d fetched from downstairs, McNab pressed the lift button taking him back up to Harry’s room. The coffee was a sweetener offered by Ellie but brought by him. It would be the opener to the news that there would be a price to pay for safety and a bed at Ellie’s.

The same nurse was still at the desk. No doubt the drama that had enfolded in front of her was no more or less than she encountered every day. McNab gave her a sweet smile and breezed on past.

Sadly for the bored officer still on duty outside the room, whose eyes had lit up at the sight of the approaching coffee cups, McNab passed without stopping. His gratitude was therefore overwhelming when McNab told him to take a thirty-minute break while he chatted to Prince Harry.

McNab now proceeded to take a seat next to the bed and, handing Harry the coffee, said, ‘I assumed you would take sugar so I put three in.’

Harry’s surprise and concern at McNab’s reappearance weren’t assuaged by the offer of coffee. That much was obvious. Nevertheless, McNab settled himself back in the chair and set about his own caffeine fix.

Eventually, with nothing being said, Harry did the same.

‘When did you join the army?’ McNab asked after a minute or so.

‘As soon as I could.’

‘So sixteen?’

He nodded. The shot of caffeine had turned the pasty look to something a little less pale, but the jittery nature of his voice spoke of other needs that hadn’t been satisfied.

‘I had mates who did the same,’ McNab said. ‘Three of them.’

Harry hadn’t expected that.

‘I thought about it, right enough,’ McNab admitted. ‘Learn a trade. Be a hero. All the shite they tell you.’

‘It’s not all shite,’ Harry came back at him.

‘No? So why did you leave?’

‘I told you.’

McNab paused for a moment and really studied the face Harry was pointing at.

‘How’d it happen?’ he said simply.

The shadows moved in and Harry’s eyes clouded over. He shook his head. ‘Best forgotten.’

McNab rose and, taking off his jacket, threw it to one side.

‘You never forget,’ he said, pulling up his shirt and turning to display his back.

He heard a whispered ‘fuck’ as the bullet hole and its skull disguise came into view. McNab rearranged his clothing.

‘Ellie did the ink work,’ he said. ‘She’s good. I’ve only seen it in reflection, of course. Maybe you could get her to work on your face?’

‘Turn my face into a skull, you mean?’ The laugh was hollow but at least he’d laughed. ‘I think I’m managing that all on my own.’

Silence fell as they both contemplated the truth in that.

‘You get any help afterwards?’

Harry snorted. ‘You’re fucking joking. Not when they saw my record.’