• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

„What‟s in the container?‟ asked Denman, through gritted teeth.

„Something Hatch‟s crowd have concocted,‟ said Shanks. „It immunises people against CJD. Means they can go on munching burgers in patriotic safety.‟

„I‟ve heard no official announcement,‟ said Denman.

„Of course not, you divvy. This is all hush-hush.‟ Shanks tapped the canister with his gun. „People are still so twitchy about BSE, Matt said it would take years to get this stuff passed.‟

„So you‟re pumping it straight into the water supply, so that you can try it out on the populace?‟ queried the Doctor.

„That‟s obscene,‟ said Denman.

Shanks shook his head. „You could say I‟m putting something back into the community after all these years.‟ He smiled. „I always told you I had a compassionate side.‟

„Don‟t give me that crap,‟ said Denman.

„Funny you should mention that,‟ said Shanks. „I was thinking of dumping you both in the sewage.‟ His eyes became cold and almost colourless. „I can‟t think of a worse way to go.‟

„I don‟t believe a word of it,‟ said the Doctor suddenly.

„What?‟ said Shanks.

„This tank doesn‟t contain a cure for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,‟ stated the Doctor firmly.

For the first time, Shanks looked ill at ease. „That‟s what Matt told me.‟

„And you believed him,‟ mocked Denman. „I reckon he‟s been stringing you along all this time, Shanksy.‟

„Don‟t call me that!‟ snapped Shanks, his expression revealing the shabby child, once scorned and still lonely, beneath the adult veneer.

„Your understanding of science is as loose as your morals,‟

said the Doctor. „This is genetic material, but it has nothing to do with BSE.‟

„What then?‟ queried Denman.

The Doctor stared at Shanks, trying to remember the rest of the paperwork he‟d glanced at in the office. „I have a suspicion that this substance is more mind-expanding than half a tonne of your drugs. How long has this fluid been pumped into the water supply?‟

„I ordered that it be switched on as soon as I knew you‟d broken into my office,‟ replied Shanks. „A bit ahead of schedule, but I wanted to make a point. You and the copper have failed. The good people of Liverpool are already drinking this stuff.‟

PART THREE

HAPPYJACK

CHAPTER 9

TWISTED FIRESTRRTER

Matthew Hatch waited for the call from Phil Burridge. It never came.

Something was wrong. Phil would never let Hatch down, not even if there was a pint or a shag involved. He loved Hatch too much.

Hatch picked up his mobile phone and started dialling.

„Hello?‟ The voice at the other end sounded out of breath.

„Rebecca. Did I catch you in the middle of something important?‟

„Matthew!‟ she said. „No,‟ she continued with an embarrassed giggle. „Actually, I‟m taking the year-ten netball class. I‟ve broken up two fights already.‟

„Well, there you go,‟ said Hatch with little attempt to conceal his lack of interest. „Listen, are you free tonight?‟

„Free?‟

„Yes.‟

„I can‟t get up to London, Matthew, I‟ve got school tomorrow.‟

„What about halfway? That restaurant in Hungerford where we met last year?‟

Rebecca paused. „It‟s still a hell of a long drive back, Matthew.‟

„I‟ll send a car down for you after school, and make sure you‟re back in your bed by midnight, in case you turn into a pumpkin or something.‟

„In my own bed?‟

„Probably,‟ said Hatch. „The car will be at the vicarage by six.‟

„OK,‟ she said with a sigh.

A wretched smile of satisfaction crossed Matthew Hatch‟s face and he terminated the call.

* * *

The Doctor stared at Shanks. „Turn it off,‟ he said. „You have no idea what you‟re pumping into the water supply.‟

„I trust Matt,‟ said Shanks. „I owe him.‟

„You owe him nothing,’ said the Doctor. „He looked at you, and saw someone he could use. I‟m told that‟s always been his way.‟

„Don‟t try to reason with that piece of filth,‟ said Denman angrily.

Shanks turned to Denman and laughed. „That‟s rich, coming from you. We‟re going to take you to the cleaners.

Cop‟s daughter, busted for drugs, kills herself in the cells.

Has quite a ring to it, eh?