Doctor Who_ The Sleep of Reason - Martin Day [81]
‘What are you getting at?’
‘This place has been beset by controversy from the outset. Suspicion and cynicism in the national press, opposition from locals. What is the charming acronym?’ He paused, though he seemed to know full well what he was referring to. ‘NIMBYism! Not In My Back Yard!’
‘Dealing with these concerns requires tact and person-management skills,’
said Liz, staring at Oldfield with contempt. ‘Something I don’t think you’re known for, Dr Oldfield.’
‘Perhaps not,’ said Oldfield. ‘But at least my record is clean. I have no skeletons in my closet. Whereas you. . . a court case, possible suspension by the GMC, all over a grubby “mercy killing “. . . ’
Liz’s eyes narrowed. ‘How do you know about that?’ she spat.
‘It’s not so much a question of how I know,’ said Oldfield, ‘as why the board that appointed you doesn’t.’
‘I was the best candidate for the position!’
‘So you say – yet you took a decision to omit that particular bit of information from your application. You did not mention it at interview. And now, with police investigating a mysterious death, an unfortunate suicide. . . One might be forgiven for asking why such unfortunate incidents seem to follow you around.’
‘You know nothing about that case,’ said Liz. ‘You don’t know the circumstances, the people involved. . . ’
Oldfield grinned, and made a show of looking around. ‘By the way, where are the police, Dr Bartholomew?’
‘Oh, I don’t think they’ll be coming,’ said Smith, breezing into the room.
‘What?’ said Liz, disturbed as much by Smith’s blasé altitude as the fact that he’d just strolled in, without knocking, on a humiliating argument. Trix followed, her eyes bright and rejuvenated.
‘It’s no coincidence that the phone lines are down,’ said Smith. ‘I’m sure the storm we endured last night wasn’t strong enough to bring down the lines.
And even if it was, the nurse you sent out is still missing.’
‘Dr Thomson said he’d heard from the police,’ said Liz. ‘Tracy was still with them.’
147
‘He did say that, didn’t he?’ Smith paused, turning to regard Oldfield as if only just noticing that he was there. ‘That is one of many things I wish to discuss with you, Liz – in private. But I certainly don’t feel there is any harm in making public my concerns about the non-appearance of the police.’ He kept his eyes on Oldfield as he spoke. ‘We won’t see a single police officer until tomorrow morning at the earliest – and by then it could be too late.’
‘Too late?’ breathed Oldfield. ‘Too late for what?’
Smith ignored him. ‘I would like that chat, in confidence, Liz.’
Oldfield took the hint with as much grace as he could muster. ‘I shall be in my office,’ he said stiffly. ‘I hope you bear in mind what we discussed, Dr Bartholomew.’
He marched from the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Smith dropped two leather-bound books on to Liz’s desk, as if that explained everything, and then slumped in the chair facing the desk. Liz, too, was forced to sit, watching Smith as he leaned back in the chair, nonchalant hands behind his head. Only Trix continued to stand, looking for all the world like someone spoiling for a fight.
‘What was all that about?’ Smith asked innocently.
‘The usual,’ said Liz dismissively. She leaned towards Smith, desperate to inject some gravity into proceedings. ‘How can you be so sure about the police not coming?’
‘I fear that Tracy Wade is dead,’ said Smith. ‘I’ve been unable to find her body, or her car for that matter – Fitz has been searching all morning. But there is evidence, if you know what you’re looking for, on the driveway, just as it bends out of sight and towards the gatehouse. Evidence that her car was involved in some sort of terrible accident, and that the incriminating material was then cleared away.’
Liz was stunned, for a moment not knowing what to say. ‘Who did it?’
‘That’s the one thing I don’t know,’ Smith said. ‘I suspect Dr Thomson may be involved in all this. He’s been behaving oddly today, and has been showing a particular interest in the folly on the hillside. Perhaps that is simply the stress