Well, she died anyway so what does it matter? was what Grint was visibly refraining from saying.
Commander Hay drew a long breath. ‘This, however, is not the most serious blow we have sustained today.’
Ellis looked down at the still silent North and felt his stomach lurch. He had a very good idea he knew what was coming and there was nothing he could do to lessen the blow.
There was a tap at the door and Captain Farenden ushered in Major Callen, North’s immediate boss. Ellis now knew for certain what was to happen next.
‘Lieutenant, you are dismissed.’
‘Ma’am . . .’
‘I said, dismissed. I now have to deal with the consequences of your carelessness and . . .’
‘With respect, ma’am, no harm was done. The queen was saved. The time-slip closed.’
Hay slapped her desk and he jumped a mile. ‘Get out of my office.’
The words reverberated around the room. Grint marched stiffly out through the door.
Commander Hay looked suddenly very tired. ‘Shall we sit down?’
Wordlessly they sat.
Almost gently, she said, ‘Celia, you know why you’re here, don’t you?’
North nodded.
Hay gestured to the screen, her voice grim. ‘Someone, somewhere, was an accomplice. Waiting for Marie Antoinette to emerge from the time-slip and step into their pod. They’d saved her and they had a recorder to capture that special moment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the image they’d hoped for, but it was easily good enough to ruin the career of one of my most promising officers.’
Ellis sighed. Of course there would have been an accomplice. Someone standing by with the pod. Someone who wanted to record the moment of their success in saving the queen. Only there hadn’t been a success, so there had been revenge instead.
North was still staring at the image, seemingly unable to tear her eyes away. Major Callen leaned across and blanked the screen.
Commander Hay continued. ‘This picture was taken by the accomplice of the young man currently enjoying our hospitality downstairs. I received a message from him offering it to us in exchange for our prisoner. I’m sorry, Celia, I had no choice but to refuse. As you can see, he has taken his revenge.’
North nodded. Ellis could see her throat working.
‘You know what this means, don’t you?’
She swallowed audibly. ‘It means I’m finished as a Hunter, doesn’t it?’
‘I’m afraid so, yes.’ She turned to Callen. ‘Major, I’ve tried every way I can to avoid taking this action, but I have no choice. Thanks to this image, Officer North’s career as a Hunter is finished. The world has seen her face. Spectacularly so. Her value as an undercover officer is gone. It’s not her fault and I’m desperately sorry, but from this moment on, anyone has only to run her image through facial recognition software to be able to identify her as a member of the Time Police. I would be allowing her to endanger herself and others if I permitted her to continue as a Hunter.’
If Major Ellis had been angry, Callen was furious. ‘Commander, this is a . . .’
He stopped, apparently unable to find words.
‘A waste. A massive, unnecessary waste of an exceptional officer. You’re right. It is. A promising career has been stopped in its tracks.’
‘Not necessarily,’ said Ellis, angrily. ‘This only means North can’t continue as a Hunter. It doesn’t mean she can’t remain in the Time Police. I, for one, would be proud to have her back in my team. Anyone would.’
‘Well, that is Officer North’s decision, don’t you think?’ said Hay, gently. ‘As far as I can remember, no one has ever returned to the ranks after serving as a Hunter. If Officer North chooses not to do so, then that is her decision. Perhaps we should leave her to consider her future in peace and quiet. Majors – if you could leave us for a moment, please. Yes, and you too, Charlie.’
She escorted them to the door.
Ellis turned, saying quietly, ‘Ma’am, I’d like to remain, please.’
‘No, Major, I don’t think so. I think Officer North would prefer to be alone for a while.’
‘I understand, ma’am, but . . .’
She glanced back at North, still sitting at the table, white and unmoving. ‘The best thing you can do for her, at this moment, is give her the time and space to regain the face she likes to show the world, Major.’
He nodded and closed the door behind him.
Commander Hay said gently, ‘Well, Celia? Tell me what you’re thinking.’
For possibly the first time in her life, Celia North appeared uncertain what to do. ‘Ma’am, I . . . I . . .’ She stopped, swallowed, and tried again, more firmly this time. ‘Commander, I can’t . . .’
‘Celia, be aware, it is only your time as a Hunter that is ended. There is still a place for you here in the Time Police. I would be extremely reluctant to lose an officer of your calibre – especially for such a reason as this. I know you must be devastated but . . .’
‘Ma’am, I can’t . . . I don’t want to . . .’
Hay put her hand on her arm. ‘No – I think I know what you’re going to say, so please allow me to speak first. No matter what it is, I will not accept any decision from you for seventy-two hours. Go away. Calm down, because you’re not as calm as you think you are. Try to think constructively. Don’t brood. Come and see me in three days’ time and we’ll talk then.’
‘I don’t think I will change my mind.’
‘Then that will be a decision taken calmly and rationally and after due consideration and I shall accept it.’
North focused hard on a small chip on the briefing table. ‘No officer has ever commanded the Time Police without at least a short stint as a Hunter. Although not as short a stint as mine. My career is stalled. I’ll never go anywhere now. Logically I should remove myself from the Time Police. I’ll be an embarrassment to you and other officers. I don’t want officers trapped behind me, unable to advance simply because I can’t move on. I think it’s best for everyone if I leave.’
Hay was silent for a moment and then said, ‘I will accept your resignation when you make it for the right reasons. Those are not the right reasons. And for your information – there will be no pity. A great deal of sympathy, yes, but sympathy is not pity and I’d like you to remember that.’
North’s numbness was wearing away. There was a great pain in her heart as if it had been dealt a heavy physical blow.
She made a huge attempt at a smile. ‘Actually, ma’am, I was thinking it’s rather like Kipling, isn’t it?’