Doctor Who_ Storm Harvest - Mike Tucker [38]
‘That’s a lot of ifs,’ the Doctor said quietly.
71
‘Don’t remind me,’ said Q’ilp.
He engaged the engine, and the submersible sped across the water.
‘There’s a diving suit in the locker, he said. ‘It might be a bit big, but I’d recommend you put it on. After what happened last time...’
It was getting dark; everyone around Ace was having fun, while she was hiding behind a rose bush. She wished she was somewhere else.
She’d followed Bryce around three bars, each smaller and seedier than the one before. She’d lurked in corners, ignoring the comments and wolf whistles of the patrons, and watched Bryce getting more and more drunk. Eventually she’d tracked him to this narrow street of low, cheap prefabs, where he’d waited for ten minutes outside a shabby door before being let in.
She waited a few minutes, then eased the door open and slipped into a dimly lit, smoky corridor with doors leading off on either side.
‘Yes, dearie?’ A voice like sandpaper made her stop. The nearest door had swung open and she turned to see a fat, four-armed woman –
one of those Dreekans – peering suspiciously at her. The woman was plastered in lipstick and blusher. She wore a shabby kimono and about a ton of cheap jewellery.
Ace looked at her, open-mouthed.
‘Not got much to say for yourself, have you?’ the Dreekan woman rasped, lighting a cigarette. ‘Still, that’s maybe not such a bad thing.’
She reached out a hand and pinched Ace’s arm. Ace winced.
‘Plenty of meat on you, the woman said. ‘Good. Most of our gentlemen like that. You get two credits a night, plus room and board.
That’s if you work out. For the first week it’s just room and board.
What’s your name?’
‘Uh... Ace,’ said Ace.
‘Mmm,’ said the Dreekan woman. ‘Don’t think much of that. You can be Dolores. We lost a Dolores recently.’
‘That man who just came in here...’ said Ace.
‘Mr Jones, what about him?’
‘His name’s not Jones. His name’s...’
The woman shot out a hand and clamped it across Ace’s mouth.
‘They never use real names – you should know that. If you happen to know them – it’s a small world after all – you keep your mouth shut.
Understand?’
Ace kept her mouth shut and wondered what to do next.
There was a heavy thumping at the front door.
‘Filth!’ the woman hissed, waving her four arms around in panic.
The door burst open and two policemen entered.
72
‘Now hold on, the woman blustered. Don’t I pay you enough to...?’
‘Relax, Rosie, one of the policemen said. ‘We’re not here for you.
Where’s Bryce?’
‘Who?’
‘The man who just came in here. Where is he?’
‘First door on the left,’ Rosie said. ‘But for God’s sake, keep the noise down. If my other punters see you two...’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ the policeman sneered, and kicked the door open.
There was a high-pitched scream from inside, and Ace could hear Edwin Bryce’s voice raised in bluster and protest.
‘Shut it, Bryce,’ the policeman said. ‘Someone wants to see you.’
‘Now!?’ Bryce spluttered.
‘Now, the policeman spat. Get dressed.’
Rosie stubbed out her cigarette, and immediately lit another one.
‘Bloody cops,’ she said. ‘Interfering in everyone’s business.’
There was a scuffling sound, and Bryce walked out, adjusting his tie, flanked by two policemen. Ace lowered her head and hoped he hadn’t seen her.
‘Cheers, Rosie,’ one of the policemen said. ‘Panic over.’
‘Where will they take him?’ Ace asked Rosie.
‘I don’t know!’ Rosie snapped. ‘What am I, psychic? Now, do you want a job or not?’
The pale light of the Doctor’s helmet-mounted torch struggled to pierce the murky waters of the undersea ruin. He tried to control his unwieldy, oversized diving suit as he followed Q’ilp, kicking and flapping awkwardly along the water-filled tunnels that ran in honeycombs beneath the ruined pavements and avenues.
‘You all right in there?’ Q’ilp chirruped through