Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [55]
Gatti squinted across the gloom of the basement. Was that a map he was standing next to? She hurried to his side. ‘Does this show the layout of the place?’
Breame tapped his nose and Gatti sighed. She was obviously never going to get a straight answer out of him.
She peered at the map. It seemed to show the fire escapes and main exits for the building. God, the building was vast.
She traced a line of pipes.
‘This comes from the main entrance so we must be here.’
She scanned the map. ‘All the studios seem to be on the other side of the complex.’
Breame pulled a huge red marker from his pocket and crossed out half the stairways.
‘A most logical deduction, Miss Gatti! Only twelve stairwells left to choose from.’ He danced away, scribbling in his book. Gatti jogged after him. That Breame was mad was obvious, but he was the only ally that she had at the moment, and he hadn’t lied to her, not yet. Admittedly he wasn’t exactly forthcoming with his information, but if she kept answering his questions...
She gritted her teeth.
‘I always hated quiz shows.’
Ace held up her hand, stopping Trasker. The studio was empty, but she could hear something.
‘Wait...’
‘What is it?’
‘I don’t know. Listen.’
Ace crossed the huge space and pressed her ear to another door. ‘Sounds like clapping, laughter. I think we’re next to one of the other studios.’
‘Quite right, Ace.’
Trasker’s voice was harsh. Ace looked up, puzzled.
Trasker had a gun pointed at her midriff.
‘You’re about to become a television star.’
The door slid open and Lukos stepped into the light.
‘Perfect timing, my dear. It’s no wonder we keep using you time and again.’ He kissed Trasker’s hand.
Ace spat at her. ‘You lying bitch.’
Lukos recoiled from Ace in distaste. ‘Oh dear, I do hope that we’re not going to have to restrain her.’ He peered at her disdainfully. ‘We have spent rather a lot of time and money on you, my dear girl, you could at least try and act like a star.’
‘I’m not going to be part of your sick game.’
‘Oh, but you are, my dear. Saarl has just given you a wonderful introduction, and Rennie here has delivered you to the studio with her usual impeccable timing. She’s such a professional.’
Ace could feel the rage building inside her. She swung out blindly, but Trasker caught her arm and twisted it painfully behind her back. Ace felt the muzzle of the gun pressing into the side of her face.
‘Don’t be stupid, Ace. You’re not a stupid girl.’
Ace flinched as Lukos stroked her cheek. ‘Yes, it would be such a pity if you had to go out in front of the audience with half your face missing. They can do a lot with make-up these days, but not that much.’
Ace went very still. She had stood up to Daleks, Cybermen, monsters of all descriptions, but there was something about the tone of Lukos’s voice that made her very, very scared.
Lukos nodded at Trasker. ‘Take her through.’
Trasker thrust Ace through the doorway. The applause was louder now, the whooping and cheering almost deafening. She stumbled forward, aware of Trasker’s gun in her back. There was a bright light shining at her, dazzling her. She could hear Saarl doing some theatrical introduction. Something about.her.
Ace was suddenly pushed forward out into a bright white space.
The noise was deafening. Her eyes streamed as they struggled to compensate for the brightness. She felt a powerful hand grip her arm.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, the companion of the Doctor –
Ace!’ The applause got louder, the cheering hysterical. Ace’s jaw dropped. Ahead of her were rank upon rank of tiered seats filled with whooping Blinnati. Cameras jutted from every conceivable space, the heat from the lights was stifling. Saarl loomed over her, his face grotesquely made-up. He grinned wildly at her.
‘Say something to your public, young lady.’
Ace turned to run but wherever she looked there were commissionaires, gun barrels trained on her.
‘She seems to be a little shy, ladies and gentlemen, a little stage-struck.’
Ace could hear the audience