I nodded. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry about Miss Van Owen.’
‘Thank you. I know that it must feel as if your world has ended, and I am reluctant to seem to be adding to your difficulties, but there is an important matter I must discuss with you. I always intended to speak to you and your husband about this and then … well … Chief Farrell died and I wanted to give you some time before approaching you, but now I understand from Dr Bairstow that the question of Matthew’s future is being considered, and I have a … a proposition to put to you. I do beg you will give me a hearing.’
I didn’t like the sound of this.
‘I should say now I don’t expect you to make a decision today. Or in the near future either. Both I and Dr Bairstow feel you should take all the time you need before making what is going to be a very difficult choice.’
What choice? What decision?
She appeared to take a very deep breath.
‘Max, we at the Time Police have given this matter a great deal of thought. I would like you to consider what I am about to say very carefully. I am sure your first instinct will be to reject it out of hand, but I beg that you will take the time to think about it.’
Shit. I didn’t like the sound of this at all.
‘We propose that your son comes to live with us.’
She paused, as if bracing herself for a protest, but to tell the truth, I was too gobsmacked to speak.
‘We have several reasons for proposing what to you must seem an impossible course of action, and in truth, I don’t think we have any choice.’
I found a voice. ‘Of course we have a choice. Ronan is gone – there is no reason why either Matthew or I shouldn’t lead a normal life.’
I threw Dr Bairstow a look. Surely it was no coincidence that the Time Police were here with this ridiculous idea so soon after I had announced I was considering taking Matthew away from St Mary’s.
He said gravely, ‘I know what you are thinking, Max, but Commander Hay and I have been discussing her proposal for a little while now, and I am asking you, as a long-standing colleague and friend, to hear her out.’
I could do that. I could listen politely all the way to the end and then say no. I nodded.
She continued. ‘Our plan is that Matthew comes to live with us. For him, the benefits will be enormous. We will make ourselves responsible for his education and I guarantee it will be excellent. Under our care, he will be safe and secure. I categorically guarantee that. And, probably best of all, Max, he will be among people who understand who and what he is. He will never have to pretend or lie about his background. He can relax and be himself.’
‘And what exactly do you think that is?’
She was silent for a while. ‘I’ll be honest, we’re not sure. Oh please, don’t misunderstand me. There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s a perfectly normal little boy. Yes, he has a few problems at the moment, but they’re the result of his upbringing and can be dealt with.’
‘So your interest in him is because…?’
‘Is because he was born between times. Or out of time, if you like. Between one moment and the next.’
‘Aren’t we all?’
‘Yes, we are, but Matthew, your son, was born in that split second when no time existed at all. Interesting, don’t you think? We believe he might possess certain gifts relating to the reading of Time and it would seem that these talents have already begun to manifest themselves. For instance, I believe that you have given him the Time Map to play with.’
‘Well, not the Time Map…’ I said, not meeting Dr Bairstow’s gaze.
‘Of course not, but I believe he has already learned to manipulate the data.’
‘Just randomly. He’s too young to know what he’s doing.’
‘Of course,’ she said again, ‘but that’s a gift that should not be ignored.’
‘And certainly not by the Time Police,’ I said, brightly.
She didn’t rise to the bait.
‘I understand this must be difficult for you. You lost your baby then he reappears as an eight-year-old boy.’
‘And now you’re proposing to take him away again,’ I said, feeling that this had gone on long enough. ‘Not going to happen.’
‘No, no, Max. Please do not misunderstand me. There is absolutely no question of you never seeing him again. We would allow regular visits. Once a month at the very least. He can come to you at St Mary’s or you can visit him to reassure yourself as to his living conditions. We are very conscious both of the need for him to form a good relationship with his mother, and of his need for safety and security which I think we can all, between us, provide. You would be able to see him at any time.’
‘But as things stand at the moment, I can see him all the time.
‘That is true, but…’
‘And, just so everyone in this room is perfectly clear, because it would be a tragedy if anyone was labouring under any sort of misapprehension – no one has the authority to “allow” me to do anything pertaining to my son.’
I hadn’t meant the words to ring around the room like that, but I was quite pleased with the effect.
‘Of course not. I apologise if, in my haste to reassure you, I expressed myself badly.’
I let the silence hang around for a while. Just to let the guilt settle. She’d been clumsy. She knew it. The Time Police were not noted for their subtlety. They’d handled the affair with Clive Ronan very badly. No need to mention that. It’s always far more effective to let these things hang in the air, unspoken. I never say to Leon, ‘Told you so.’
Said to Leon. I never said to Leon. No more present tense.
I stared down at my hands, shutting everyone out. One thought ran through everything. I won’t lose Matthew again. I just won’t.
Something of this must have shown in my face because she said gently, ‘I do understand Max. We all do. This is not an easy decision for you to make.’
‘I can’t decide this now. I must talk to Matthew and hear what he has to say. I should tell you that if he doesn’t want to go then that will be the end of it. And it won’t be soon. He still doesn’t know about … about his father.’
‘I agree. I ask only that you allow me to speak to him as well, to make my own case.’
I hesitated.
‘We’ve known each other a while now, Max. We sat down at the same table after the Battle of St Mary’s and thrashed out the working agreement which has served us both so well. We trusted each other then. Can we not do so now?’
She was right. Yes, I was prejudiced against the Time Police and I had good reasons for that. They’d hunted Leon and me up and down the timeline, doing untold damage along the way – and everything that had happened to us recently – Helen, Ian, Markham, Leon – all those deaths were the direct result of their monumental cock-up over Clive Ronan. And now they wanted me to give up my son to them.
But, said the voice of reason, they’re not all bad all the time. They saved you and Matthew when that bastard Ronan had marooned you in History. They took in Van Owen when she desperately needed a home and direction. You named Matthew after Captain Ellis. Commander Hay isn’t Colonel Albay. They’re not the same organisation they once were.
All this was true. Part of me argued it wouldn’t take much for them to revert back to their old ways, but that’s true of anyone. We all change to suit existing circumstances. We evolve.
She said gently, ‘Perhaps you would find it reassuring to know we have several other youngsters in our care. In addition to all the benefits I have described, he would have the company of his contemporaries – people his own age around him.’
I drew a breath. ‘I can’t decide this now.’
‘I understand. This is difficult for you. Take as much time as you need.’
Until he was eighteen years old would probably not be acceptable.
I said slowly, ‘I would like to take advice on this.’