The two off-duty officers moved before Julian had crossed half the distance.

One of them stepped cleanly into his path and put him against the wall with a practiced, unhurried efficiency, drawing his arm up behind his back, and the whole charge collapsed into nothing in about a second and a half.

“You put a hand on her,” the officer said, calmly, close to Julian’s ear, loud enough for the room, “and you don’t go back to your party, sir.

You go straight to central booking.

Do you understand me?

Nod if you understand me.”