Doctor Who_ Foreign Devils - Andrew Cartmel [39]
'No it doesn't,' said Zoe, who felt an urge to scream. The Doctor smiled patiently and tried to explain. 'Some mysterious force or agency is committing a series of murders in this house, leaving a distinctive hallmark each time. Yes?' 'Yes,' repeated Zoe wearily.
'Good. But we don't suspect Pemberton of being responsible for these. Instead we think that he killed his wife, whose murder does not match the pattern of the others.'
Zoe realised Carnacki was holding something up for her to see. It was a small wooden box lined with black velvet. Inside it, in form fitted compartments, lay a large glass and chrome syringe. In a glass drawer at one end of the box were a selection of needles. 'From Pemberton Upcott's study.' Carnacki set it down and picked up a small bottle with a yellow label. Written on it in slanting green ink was MORPHINE – POISON. 'We believe these are the murder weapons.' 'But only as far as his wife is concerned?' said Zoe.
'Correct. None of the other bodies shows needle marks. And crucially, none of them shows any signs of the red dragon being drawn on with ink. Instead they are tattoos.'
'We expect some red ink and a pen to turn up in Pemberton's effects soon,' said the Doctor. 'Who would have thought he was such an accomplished artist?'
'Needs must,' said Carnacki, 'when the devil drives.'
Elder-Main appeared in the doorway. The butler seemed haggard and beaten down. He stared distractedly at Zoe, Carnacki and the Doctor, as though trying to remember what had brought him to them. 'It's Mr Pemberton,' he said finally. 'He wants to see Mr Carnacki and the Doctor, pronto.'
The wine cellar was, if anything, more cold and uninviting than on their previous visit. Pemberton Upcott was sitting on his lidded bucket, wrapped in a blanket, glowering at them.
'All right, look here. I'm willing to lay my cards on the table providing I receive certain concessions.'
'I told them, sir,' said Elder-Main. Pemberton ignored him. 'In short I want to be let out of this freezing filthy cellar and back upstairs like a civilised man.'
'A civilised man who is also a murderer,' said Carnacki. Pemberton glared at him then looked at the floor. 'That's what I mean by laying my cards on the table. I'm willing to admit to doing that. I killed my wife, but I categorically deny the other murders.'
He caught Zoe's eye. He seemed to want to explain to her. 'I won't be a menace to anyone. It was only her I hated. I couldn't pass up the opportunity.' Zoe turned away from him. 'Opportunity?' she said. 'What does he mean?'
'I mean the God-sent opportunity to conceal my own crime. These other murders were the perfect alibi. I could kill her and no one would be any the wiser.'
'Why do that?' Zoe turned and confronted Pemberton. 'Why not just wait until the killer did the job for you?'
'Because whoever is doing the killing is pursuing my family blood line, as the Doctor was all too quick to spot. I had every reason to think that my wife would be spared. So I had to dispense with her myself.' He stood up, moving painfully slowly, his knee joints clicking. 'Now can I go upstairs and sit beside a fire?'
Zoe turned to the Doctor. 'If it's not him, who is the killer?'
'Who or what,' said the Doctor. 'I suspect the answer will reveal itself as we set about the business of taking this house back to reality as we know it. And I somehow suspect that it's all tied in with whatever has happened to Jamie.'
He turned towards the staircase. 'But first we have another murder scene to visit.'
Chapter Ten
Thor Upcott had ended his life as Zoe imagined he had lived a large portion of it, reclining on his seduction couch, in his silk dressing gown, with his hand clasped to his groin.
In the centre of the dead man's forehead was the trademark red dragon. Carnacki set aside the bottle of white spirit and the rag. He glanced at the Doctor. 'No trace of ink. Authentic tattoo this time.' 'As we suspected,' said the Doctor. He turned away from the body and walked the length of the bedroom. From