Doctor Who_ Rip Tide - Louise Cooper [26]
There was a light on in one of the downstairs windows, but the curtains were closed, as they had been earlier in the day. From the shelter of the escallonia hedge, Nina waited, listening intently for any sound from inside. There was nothing, and she began to hope that maybe the jellybaby man was out, and had simply left a light on for security. Well, there was only one way to find out.
She eased from the bushes and tiptoed across the short stretch of wet
grass to the window. Still no sound, and, encouraged, she pressed herself against the wall beside the window frame. By sheer good luck there was a gap between the curtains; only a few centimetres but enough to allow her to get a glimpse of the room beyond. OK: here goes ...
It was a perfectly ordinary room, in a perfectly typical holiday let. The walls were painted white (boring, but cheap), with just a few framed prints of local views to break the monotony. A lamp stood on a small table, its yellow shade softening the glare of the bulb. But Nina didn't notice any of these things. Eyes round as saucers, she was staring, transfixed, at the object that dominated in the centre of the room.
It was completely insane. There should have been a table there, or an armchair, or ... anything but the crazy, unbelievable sight that confronted her. She thought: I've got to be dreaming. I'm not really here; I'm in bed and asleep, and this is NOT real. The old-fashioned police telephone box was, impossibly, there.
Nina took a step back, questions rioting wildly in her head. What, in the name of every barking mad god that had ever existed, was a phone box doing inside a holiday cottage? How had anyone got it in through the door? And why, why, why would they want to put it there in the first place?
Struggling with her own disbelief and trying to think what to do, she backed off another step.
A finger tapped her on the shoulder as a familiar voice said equably, 'Hello again. Can I help you at all?'
ANSWERS
It was both corny and childish to scream, but Nina screamed nonetheless, lurching round at the same moment. The jelly-baby man withdrew his hand as if he had been stung, and the finger that had tapped her shoulder went swiftly to his lips.
'Shh! Please – we really shouldn't disturb the neighbours.' He smiled a smile which, even in the darkness, looked charming. 'I'm so sorry to have startled you, Nina. It is Nina, isn't it?'
'Y...' She couldn't get the complete word out.
'Oh, good.' Another charming smile. 'As we seem to be introducing ourselves properly, I'm the Doctor.'
'A doctor...' Nina was still so shocked that what he had said didn't really register. Something else did, though, and the panic flared again. 'How did you know my name? Who told you?'
'I really can't remember. Someone, I expect – or perhaps I simply overheard it.' He paused. 'Would you like a cup of tea? Or something stronger?'
'No!' The word came out as a squeak and she tried to get herself under control. 'No. Honestly. Th-thanks. I ... I'd better go. Yes, I was just passing, you see, and –'
'I don't think you were. Were you?'
She swallowed and didn't answer, but her gaze darted past him as she assessed her chances of making a run for it and getting away before he could react. He must have seen the glance, for he moved slightly to one side – apparently casually, but it didn't fool Nina – and effectively blocked her escape route. He smiled a third time.