Doctor Who_ Trading Futures - Lance Parkin [60]
They’d run some instruments over Fitz a few hours before, and from that, somehow, they could tell he was a time traveller. The jargon was as impenetrable as ever, but apparently ‘crossing the time field’ left a ‘unique energy signature’. And Fitz had that unique signature.
So did the person in the helicopter. Which meant, if he was feeling pedantic, that it wasn’t ‘unique’ at all.
It also meant it was probably the Doctor or Anji. His instinct said it was Anji – he suspected the Doctor’s signature really would be unique.
‘We shall launch an attack. Ready the landing party.’
The leader turned its vast head to Fitz. ‘Onihr technology has triumphed, Doctor.’
‘Congratulations,’ Fitz said warmly, wondering what he should do next.
* * *
Dee called the President’s hotel suite on Baskerville’s behalf. They were two floors below the presidential suite – she gave them the room number – and invited the President and no more than one bodyguard down.
When Dee opened the door, she was surprised to see Cosgrove standing there, in front of an oriental woman in jeans, a T-shirt and designer glasses.
‘Hello Mr Cosgrove,’ she said, without missing a beat. ‘Miss, are you by any chance Malady Chang?’
‘Penelope Lik,’ she said. ‘And it’s not “Miss”, it’s “Professor”. “Emeritus Professor”, if we’re standing on ceremony.’
Dee gave a stiff bow. ‘Why don’t you both come inside?’
Baskerville was waiting inside, with Anji. Dee watched the Asian woman carefully. Baskerville trusted her, but Dee didn’t. In the last twenty‐four hours, the young woman had claimed to be working for three completely different sides, and had used two names. She couldn’t be trusted. It takes one to know one, Dee thought wryly.
Cosgrove looked relaxed. Dee glanced at her watch – which contained a portable weapons detector – he was carrying a pistol, in a shoulder holster. He had a throwing knife, tucked behind him, and four small explosive charges concealed in his belt. The woman was unarmed.
‘So glad you could make it,’ Baskerville said. He seemed calm enough.
Cosgrove’s head leant slightly towards Anji, and he raised an eyebrow.
‘Anji Kapoor,’ she said, standing up and offering her hand.
Cosgrove took it and gave it a chivalrous kiss.
‘You surround yourself with beautiful women, Baskerville. I approve.’
Dee smirked – neither Professor Lik or Ms Kapoor appreciated the flattery.
‘If we could get to business?’ Lik asked.
Baskerville held up a hand. ‘Not everyone is here.’
There was a knock on the door.
Baskerville looked up at Dee. He didn’t want to be left alone with Cosgrove and his armoury.
Anji seemed to pick up on this. ‘I’ll go,’ she suggested.
As she did, Baskerville turned to Cosgrove. ‘You spoke about solving our little Doctor problem. I take it the problem’s solved?’
Cosgrove’s smug expression flickered a little. ‘The Doctor is working with a CIA agent, Malady Chang. I almost had them in Athens yesterday, but they escaped.’
‘And you don’t know where they are now?’
Cosgrove shook his head.
Baskerville moved aside to let the President, his bodyguard and Anji into the room. ‘Well, let’s ask. Welcome Mr President. Mr Cosgrove here was just asking after Malady Chang. One of your agents, I believe.’
The President wasn’t pleased to see Cosgrove there. Well, he wouldn’t be.
‘Lieutenant Commander Chang was in Athens yesterday, helping with relief efforts. She’s since left the city. I ordered her to take some rest and recuperation.’
‘And the Doctor?’ Cosgrove asked.
Mather blinked. ‘I believe the Doctor was with her.’
Cosgrove smiled, but there was no joy in the expression. ‘Lucky Doctor.’
Dee happened to look over Anji, and as she did, she saw the woman was looking relieved.
But she was the one who denounced the Doctor, she’d got him killed, when Leo had thrown him out of the window.
Except the Doctor hadn’t died.
Dee looked away from Anji, not wanting to give away anything herself. If Anji was working with the Doctor, then she was working against Baskerville.
‘So,’ the President was saying, ‘where do we go from here?’
Baskerville