Major Crawford was one of what Max thought of as black and white officers. Everything either was, or wasn’t; no room for might be. Never bend the rules. Tom’s demand for high security implementation had been the correct thing to do following the explosion, but Max could not dismiss Piercey’s protest that a bonfire was an offbeat site for a terrorist bomb. Unfortunately, they dare not dismiss the possibility when Miles Crawford asked if the situation still warranted a red alert, as he surely would. The Major looked hollow-cheeked and red-eyed, and invited Max inside as brusquely as if he were an offender coming before him for a reprimand. Max gritted his teeth as he followed him to a room set up as an office, and told himself the man was under stress because his son was suffering. Although there were two padded chairs as well as a chintz-covered box seat, they remained standing. Max began by enquiring about the progress of young Gavin, and received a bitter reply. ‘He’ll be scarred for life.
