Hard Time (The Time Police, #2)

by Jodi Taylor

There was no preamble. ‘Sorry, Charlie, I need to speak to Commander Hay immediately.’ ‘She has the Principal Management Team with her.’ ‘Chuck them out.’ Some people might wait for anything from thirty minutes to thirty days to see Commander Hay. Major Ellis was not one of those people. Captain Farenden got to his feet and limped to the door. Tapping, he entered. ‘Ma’am, your urgent attention is required.’ Commander Hay and Captain Farenden had worked together for a long time. They’d been field officers in the Time Wars. Over the years they’d developed a code. Certain phrases said more than the actual words. She rose to her feet. ‘My apologies, everyone. I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone the rest of this meeting. Charlie will reschedule.’ They filed out. Major Ellis stood aside for the PMT – frequently described by Commander Hay as something unpleasant and unavoidable that happened every month – to file past him, then strode into her office, saying, ‘You might want to come in as well, Charlie. We have a problem.’