Doctor Who_ The Taint - Michael Collier [80]
They said nothing. They simply stood there, watching.
'Where will you go, Cynthia?' asked Lucy eventually.
'Home,' she said, defiantly. The bear was warm under her arm, the only thing she hadn't dropped. 'I'm going home.'
Mrs Kreiner shook her head, sadly. 'You can't go home again, my lovely.
That's what they say.'
Cynthia took a step towards them. 'Get out of my way.'
'Not using the front door?' asked Watson, the picture of innocence.
It didn't matter. She'd use the French windows in the drawing room. She'd get out through any damned window in the house if she had to, but she was leaving now. She managed to pick up three of the bags, and, steeling herself, she walked stiffly towards them.
They parted ranks to let her pass. They seemed amused by something.
Her heart beat faster as she entered the drawing room, closing the door behind her. She flicked on the light and crossed to the French windows.
The grounds outside were dark and silent, but still a damn sight preferable to staying here. She tried the doors, but they were locked. She hunted round for the key.
'Are you sure, boy?' asked Watson.
They'd all followed her in without a sound, mischievous smiles on their faces.
'Yes,' Russell said. 'I just want to teach her. To show her.'
There was the wretched key, on the mantelpiece. She picked it up, triumphantly.
As one, Lucy, Watson, Russell and Mrs Kreiner moved towards her.
'You should think about running off like this, Cynthia, really you should,'
said Lucy, earnestly. "Throwing away such a promising career...'
The others were closing their eyes as if concentrating. Cynthia had had enough. 'If you lot have got nothing better to do than -'
Cynthia's words were cut off as the breath was slammed from her lungs.
For a second it felt as if she were flying, or as if a giant's hand had scooped her up and was throwing her through the air. The teddy slipped from her arms.
Cynthia smashed into the wood and glass.
***
'What the hell was that?' Fitz exclaimed.
At least the noise had made Roley and Maria actually look at each other again. She looked scared stiff. He... Well, he looked pretty scared stiff, too.
Roley took a deep breath. 'It's probably nothing,' he said. 'Shall I go and check?'
'Good idea,' said Fitz. I'll go and stay here.'
***
A warm breeze blew into the drawing room, catching the curtains and making them billow. It seemed the good weather might spoil.
Russell looked at Cynthia's body, tangled in the net curtains, lying twisted and bleeding on the paving outside. He heard Lucy smothering her giggles, as if she'd just witnessed an outrageous prank in polite company.
'Don't be long with her, boy,' said Watson. 'We'll need you in just a moment.'
***
Roley wondered what on Earth he thought he was doing, investigating like this. He'd let Maria stop him that time before - without you here to protect us, we may all of us die .' This time she'd said nothing.
What if those intruders had returned? For a split second, it had felt good, taking charge, properly. Then he'd shut the door behind him, left Fitz and Maria behind, and his confidence dissolved. He should've insisted they all check the source of the noise together.
He thought briefly, longingly, of the Doctor. He'd realised some small while ago that the Doctor wasn't coming back. The man had had the best idea: he'd just left. Made up a load of old waffle, even taken Roley's car! The man had style, you had to admit. He'd left them, ostensibly to pursue a heroic action, but, in actual fact, simply in the lurch.
What was sauce for the goose...
It was tempting. He paused in the corridor outside the drawing room, but only for a moment. Then he made straight for the hallway.
Once there, his heart sank. He'd misjudged things again: Watson, Lucy and Mrs Kreiner were already there, standing together in the dim light. Watson was in his uniform blazer, tie and black trousers, Lucy was wearing an evening gown of peacock blue, and Mrs Kreiner was in widow's black, as ever.