Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [71]
He leant against the glass, looking out over the city. ‘I used to come up here all the time. Do you know how many commercial premises you can see from this vantage point?’
‘It’s the company bar.’ Gatti was hauling the rope back up through the skylight. ‘I asked Breame for help when I saw what they were doing to you and he showed me the way up here. It runs the whole length of the studio complex. No one seems to use it. They’re all worked too hard, I guess.’
Ace nodded. ‘Nothing about this place seems to encourage fun. Still, it gives us a breathing space.’
‘Until they notice a broken window and an empty dressing room. They weren’t planning on letting you rot down there Ace. You’ve got another appointment with Saarl – it’s been advertised.’
‘Right.’ Ace was grim. ‘Then it’s time we brought a little excitement into Vogol Lukos’s life.’
She pulled Breame away from the window. ‘Where will I find him?’
Breame grinned inanely. ‘Now that’s a high-scoring question, very high scoring indeed. I’ll have to think of...’
Ace caught him by the collar, slamming him back against the window. ‘I don’t have time for any more of your games, Breame. How do I get to Lukos’s office?’
She raised the piton gun.
Breame stared down its barrel. ‘Weapons and threatening behaviour could be constituted as cheating and lead to disqualification, you know.’
Gatti laid a hand on Ace’s arm. ‘I wouldn’t have got you out without his help.’
Ace lowered the gun. Breame pulled his jacket straight.
‘That’s better.’
He beamed at Gatti. ‘Bonus point to you, my girl. Mr Lukos has climbed the ladder of success to the very top. But why is success always a ladder, hmm?’
‘And why are the climbers always snakes?’ Ace stared at the ceiling. ‘He’s got a penthouse suite.’ She started along the length of the bar. ‘No doubt he’ll have a personal lift somewhere.’
Breame nodded vigorously. ‘Oh yes.’
Gatti looked at Ace incredulously. ‘You’re not suggesting that we just get into his personal lift, push the button for penthouse suite and say “Hi”?’
‘I wasn’t planning on saying “Hi”.’
There was a cry of anger from below. Breame crossed to the balcony and peered through the remains of the skylight.
‘I rather think your escape has been noticed.’ He looked at the girls solemnly. ‘No prizes for guessing that they’ll work out where we’ve gone.’
‘Then we had better get in to see Mr Lukos as soon as possible,’ said Ace.
‘The lift?’
‘No.’ Ace shook her head. ‘I think we’ll take the scenic route.’
Lukos kicked a chair across the dressing room, his face flushed with anger.
‘Damn that unco-operative devil of a child.’
He stared up at the shattered skylight. ‘Get security up to the bar now! I want her in chains. In chains, do you hear me?!’
A runner scurried out of the room.
‘Too many new stars, Vogol. You really should choose more carefully in future.’ Saarl was looking around the dressing room in amusement.
Lukos rounded on him, his eyes blazing. ‘Get your useless bulk down to the studio. Without the girl we have a gap in the schedules. I want you on air with your feature on the Time Lord’s time machine in minutes.’
Saarl glared at him, then turned and flounced off down the corridor. Lukos ground one of the scattered flowers under his boot.
‘You have caused me a good deal of trouble, Miss Ace, and the next time that you appear on screen will be unpleasant for you. Very, very unpleasant.’
The alarm went off in the security booth.
Briggs and Rickett looked at each other.
‘I told you,’ said Rickett smugly.
Reg Gurney burst into the room. ‘What the devil are you men sitting there for? You’ve heard the alarm and you know the drill! Get your horrible arses over to the main building.
We’ve got errant girl to apprehend!’
Rickett groaned.
‘Here we go again.’
Eyes gleaming, Barrock stood on an outcrop, a bestial leer on his face. He regarded the Master curiously.
‘I’m impressed, Time Lord. And grateful. Kreeth was beginning to become an irritation.’
‘I’m glad I could be of service,’ purred the Master.
Barrack started