Two months had passed since the police murder of Tony Wilkes and the disappearance of the deputy-minister and her assistant. Nothing was spoken of them at the People’s Ministry of State Security and Policing. The main rumor that spread across the ministry was that they were lovers - and had run off together.

The man not named Roger had disappeared as well, as had the Superintendent over at the party affairs division. A few others - less important others - had disappeared from around the People’s Ministry of State Security and Policing. No one asked questions.

A new deputy-minister had been installed. She was younger, prettier, and smarter. She visited the minister often at his country house, shooting ducks, eating ducks, drinking, smoking cigarettes, painting, reading banned books from the minister’s library, and fucking the minister.

The Commander had passed away. Time had caught up with the old warhorse, the minister said. Gone to Valhalla to drink and eat with his fallen comrades, the minister said.

The superintendent had been promoted to Commander. The new deputy-minister liked the new Commander. She liked to sit in the big office and drink rum with the Commander, wearing his smart black uniform with the shiny buttons, and hearing about his days in the navy and his war stories.

“I don’t care what side you were on back then, Commander’ - she told him - ‘We are all in this together now.’

The Chief Inspector was promoted to Superintendent, and moved to a bigger office with a bigger house in the suburbs, a bigger car, and a smarter driver. He wore a uniform now, with a Jim Browne belt, and a holster and revolver.

The Inspector had been called to the 42nd floor. The Superintendent met him at the elevators.

‘There you are Inspector - looking nice and smart today!’ - Said the Superintendent, smiling.

The Inspector was wearing his usual charcoal gray suit, white shirt, thin black tie, polished black shoes, and a black trilby hat.

‘Thank you Superintendent - how are you enjoying the new office sir?’

‘The bigger one’s office is, Inspector - the more meetings one has to attend and the less time one gets to spend at home.’

‘Yes sir.’

The elevator arrived.

‘After you sir’ - the Inspector held open the elevator door for the Superintendent.

‘Thank you comrade’ - the Superintendent stepped into the elevator.

The Superintendent pressed the button for the 42nd floor.

‘Are you nervous comrade?’ - The Superintendent asked, smiling at the Inspector.

‘Should I be sir?’ - The Inspector smiled back.

The Superintendent said nothing.

The doors of the elevator opened on the 42nd floor. The Superintendent and the Inspector stepped out of the elevator. The security guard turned and looked, and then jumped to attention.

‘Superintendent, sir. Inspector, sir’ - the security guard looked straight ahead, and saluted.

‘Constable’ - the Superintendent smiled - ‘I am here to see the deputy-minister and the Commander.’

‘Yes sir, Superintendent, sir - apologies, but I will be needing your sidearm sir’ - the security guard stopped saluting.

‘Of course Constable’ - the Superintendent popped the fastener on the holster, and pulled out the revolver, handing the gun to the Constable handle first.

‘Thank you Superintendent, sir’ - the Constable completed a paper tag, which he attached to the trigger guard of the revolver. The constable unlocked a drawer and placed the revolver in the drawer, and then locked it again.

‘Follow me Superintendent’ - the security guard said, leading the way.

The Superintendent and the Inspector followed the security guard to the deputy-minister’s office. The security guard knocked at the door and waited.

The door was opened by a pretty young woman with glasses. She was wearing navy blue trousers, and a salmon blouse with a pearl necklace. On her feet were white ballet flats.

‘Yes?’ - She said to the security guard.

‘Apologies ma’am - the Superintendent for the deputy-minister’ - the security guard said, standing to attention.

The pretty young woman poked her head out of the door - ‘Oh hello Superintendent, come in. The deputy-minister is expecting you.’

The pretty young woman was the new assistant deputy-minister.

‘Thank you Constable - and good morning assistant deputy-minister’ - the Superintendent stepped into the deputy-minister’s office, followed by the Inspector.

The assistant deputy-minister shook the Superintendent’s hand.

‘Assistant deputy-minister, this is the Inspector at Operations.’

‘The man of the moment - I have heard so much about you Inspector, pleased to meet you’ - the assistant deputy-minister shook the Inspector’s hand.

‘Pleasure to meet you as well, assistant deputy-minister’ - said the Inspector.

The Superintendent strode into the office. The deputy-minister was sitting in the lounge with the Commander and Number Two.

‘Good morning Superintendent’ - said the deputy-minister, not standing up.

‘Deputy-minister, Commander, Number Two’ - said the Superintendent, bowing his head.

‘Would you care for some tea, Superintendent?’ - Asked the assistant-deputy-minister.

‘That would be lovely’ - said the Superintendent.

‘Inspector?’ - The assistant-deputy-minister called.

‘Yes, thank you’ - said the Inspector.

‘Deputy-minister - this is the Inspector you wanted to meet’ - the Superintendent turned and held his arm out towards the Inspector.

‘Pleasure to meet you deputy-minister’ - the Inspector said, bowing his head.

‘Inspector! What an absolute pleasure to meet you’ - the deputy-minister said, sipping her cup of tea and eyeing the Inspector.

‘Commander, sir’ - the Inspector bowed his head again - ‘Number Two.’

Number Two nodded, but said nothing.

‘Come and sit Inspector’ - the Commander gestured to him.

There was plenty of room in the lounge area. The lounge was two long black leather sofas. In the middle was a stylish glass coffee table. At either end was a plump, wide black leather armchair.

Number two was sitting on one side, by himself. The Commander and the deputy-minister were sitting on the other side facing Number Two.

The Superintendent sat down next to Number Two, and the Inspector sat by himself in one of the leather armchairs with the deputy-minister closest to him on one side, and Number Two closest to him on the other side.

‘I should imagine - Inspector - that you are wondering why you have been asked to come here today?’ - The deputy-minister said.

The assistant deputy-minister brought two new cups and a fresh pot of tea. She placed one cup in front of the Superintendent, and the other in front of the Inspector.

‘Milk and sugar are on the table, let me know if you need anything else’ - the assistant deputy-minister said, and then she left them.

The Superintendent poured the Inspector and cup of tea - and then himself.

‘I was wondering, ma’am’ - said the Inspector.

The Inspector picked up his tea cup and saucer, stirred the tea and then took a sip.

‘It would seem, Inspector, that you have been quite an asset during Operation Camelot’ - the deputy-minister picked up her packet of cigarettes and placed a cigarette in her mouth. She lit the cigarette with a gold cigarette lighter. The deputy-minister blew cigarette smoke high above the lounge area.

‘Thank you deputy-minister.’

‘It would seem, Inspector, that Number Two’s team thinks very highly of you - and have stated that the apprehension of Percival would not have been possible without your involvement.’

‘Number Three thinks very highly of you Inspector’ - said Number Two, smiling.

‘High praise indeed, Inspector’ - said the Commander.

‘As a sign of the minister’s gratitude - we would like to present you with this award for meritorious service to the People’s Ministry for State Security and Policing’ - the deputy-minister handed the Inspector a black velvet box.

‘Thank you ma’am’ - the Inspector took the box.

Inside the box was a silver medal with a blue band. The medal was engraved with the star of the People’s Republic.

‘And you can have this’ - the Superintendent tossed onto the glass table his silver tie bar with three diamond shapes on it - ‘Chief Inspector.’

‘Thank you very much sir’ - the Inspector picked up the tie bar and smiled.

‘Congratulations, Chief Inspector’ - said the Commander.

‘Congratulations, Chief Inspector’ - said the deputy-minister.

Number Two said nothing.

‘I will leave it to you to select your replacement’ - said the Superintendent - ‘Bigger office now Chief Inspector!’

‘Bigger offices mean bigger headaches, Chief Inspector’ - laughed the Commander.

‘Yes sir’ - the Chief Inspector continued to smile.

‘Thank you Chief Inspector’ - said the deputy-minister - ‘The four of us have some ministry business to discuss.’

‘Yes ma’am - please pass on my thanks to the minister’ - the Chief Inspector said as he stood.

‘My assistant will see you out’ - said the deputy-minister, and as if by magic the assistant deputy-minister appeared behind the Chief Inspector.

‘Commander, Sir, Superintendent, Number Two’ - the Chief Inspector bowed his head - ‘Deputy-minister.’

The Chief Inspector collected his medal box and new tie bar and followed the assistant deputy-minister across the office towards the door.

The assistant deputy-minister opened the office door - ‘If you ever fancy some company down in your new bigger office, just let me know Chief Inspector.’

The assistant deputy-minister winked at the Chief Inspector.

‘I...I...thank you...I will’ - the Chief Inspector blushed and stepped out of the office.

The assistant deputy-minister closed the door behind him.

The Chief Inspector stood in the hallway and unclipped his tie bar with the two diamond shapes. He put it in his pocket and attached the new tie bar with three diamond shapes.

The Chief Inspector walked back towards the elevators, and passed the security guard, who looked up and then stood and saluted.

‘Inspector, sir’ - the security guard said.

‘Chief Inspector, constable’ - the Chief Inspector said, as he pressed the down elevator button.

‘Sorry, sir. Chief Inspector sir’ - said the security guard.

The elevator arrived and the Chief Inspector stepped in. The doors closed and the elevator descended to the 16th floor.

The Chief Inspector stepped out of the elevator and headed to his office. He opened the office door and closed it. He took off his jacket and trilby hat, hanging them on the coat stand in the corner.

He walked behind his desk and sat down. He placed the medal box on the desk and opened it, looking at the sparkling silver medal and bright blue band.

The Chief Inspector opened his desk drawer and pulled out the bottle of Victory whiskey. There was an empty glass on the desk - the Chief Inspector picked it up and blew the inside of it and then poured a large shot of whiskey into the glass.

The Chief Inspector held up the glass - ‘To that cunt - Percival.’

The Chief Inspector finished the whiskey in one shot.

The Chief Inspector put the bottle of whiskey back in the desk drawer and closed it.

He picked up the phone and dialed a three digit number, and waited.

‘My office, now’ - the Chief Inspector hung up the phone.

The Chief Inspector closed the medal box, opened a desk drawer and placed the medal box inside - closing it again.

There was a knock on the door.

‘Come’ - the Chief Inspector said.

The smoking man stepped in.

‘Everything alright, guv?” - The smoking man asked.

The Chief Inspector put his hand in his trouser pocket, and pulled out the tie bar which he tossed onto the top of his desk.

‘Congratulations, Inspector.’

The smoking man picked up the tie bar and looked at it.

‘Thanks guv’ - the smoking man smiled.

‘I will be moving offices - this is all yours now Inspector’ - said the Chief Inspector.

The smoking man looked at the Chief Inspector’s tie bar.

‘Chief Inspector - congratulations guv.’

‘Thank you, Inspector. Pub?’

‘Yes guv’ - the smoking man said.

The Chief Inspector and the Inspector walked into the Bloody Bayonet public house, which was close to the People’s Ministry of State Security and Policing.

A few other operations team members were in the pub - charcoal gray suits, white shirts, thin black ties, and black trilby hats.

‘Two pints of Victory’ - the Chief Inspector said to the barman.

The barman got two glass tankards and started pouring the drinks.

A television was on above the bar - and there was live footage of a horse race being shown.

The barman pulled the first pint and placed it on the bar. The smoking man pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

“...welcome back to our live coverage of the Victory Cup from Briggersby…” the commentator said over the TV.

The barman pulled the second pint and placed it on the bar.

“...this is the first time we are seeing Cellis back on the track since her last outing over two months ago…” the TV commentator continued.

‘4 shillings comrade’ - said the barman.

The Chief Inspector gave the barman four coins and handed one of the pints to the smoking man.

“...at her last outing Cellis was a 12/1 outsider with the bookies…”

‘Cheers Chief Inspector” - said the smoking man.

‘To Operation Camelot Inspector’ - said the Chief Inspector.

‘To Operation Camelot Chief Inspector’ - cheered the smoking man.

“..Cellis is a fine horse and looks like a great bet for today…”

The Chief Inspector and the smoking man drank their beers.