The entrance hall was guarded by several men with guns larger than were necessary, for Meyer had always held a firm belief that bullets were deadly enough from whatever weapon they are fired. Heading left down the corridor, Meyer was met by the man from the night before. Charles, was that his name? He didn't speak, guiding Meyer into a small meeting room that was almost completely filled by the table it tried to house.

Meyer had just managed to squeeze himself into a seat while the boy was away, when Helena entered the room. Naturally he would have stood, but now being wedged between the seat and table, that wasn't an option.

“Good morning,” Meyer said.

“Meyer,” Helena said.

“This is quite a pleasure, I have done forty-three interviews for you and not once have you come to discuss one with me yourself. I take it this one is special then?”

“No, not particularly.”

“For someone with so much power you are a terrible liar my dear,” Meyer said.

Helena’s eyes widened at his remark, but she didn't flinch. She looked exhausted, the skin on her face drooping, as if seeking some rest from gravity. Her hazel eyes remained sharp against her pale complexion, fixed on Meyer as they spoke.

“The reason I am here is to let you know that we are changing the way we use our resources. After today Meyer, we will no longer require your services,” Helena said.

“You are firing me?” Meyer said.

“I wouldn't put it like that.”

“You have found someone else to do your dirty work?”

“Oh Meyer, you are so above us all, aren't you. You are hardly unique and with the new arrangement with Wade, the department now has access to a number of mentalists. I thought you would appreciate it, you are well past retirement.”

For Meyer, the situation was an odd one. He had hated working for Helena, which meant playing this God-forsaken role, so being fired was actually a good thing. On the other hand, she was firing him, he wasn't going by choice. Then, he could never have left of his own accord, the Inquisition council had ordered him to work for Helena and refusing that would have made things more complicated than they needed to be.

“Can today's task not wait until your replacements arrive?” Meyer said.

“There is no time, we have had intelligence that-” Charlie began to say, before Helena glared at him with eyes that could have killed a man at forty paces.

“Let us not play games. If it could wait, I would not have you here,” Helena said.

“Shall we be getting on with it then?” Meyer said.

They stood from the table, Meyer with considerable effort to detach himself from it, and headed back down the corridor. They went through a series of double doors that revealed the new modern interior beyond the confines of the old building. It was awful, the UK's supply of frosted glass and stainless steel seemed to have been dumped here, leaving the architects no choice but to use it for everything from dividing office spaces, to even the tables and chairs. They went up a flight of glass stairs that were only supported from the wall, each giving a disturbing creak as Meyer climbed them. Charlie went ahead to open the door for Helena and Meyer followed them inside to a harshly lit room, that was filled almost entirely with computer monitors. Why would anyone need so many of the infernal things?

“We have three questions.