Doctor Who_ Warchild - Andrew Cartmel [137]
‘She seemed to think that maybe she was offering me something I really wanted. Like, maybe, I’d been in love with her for all these years and longing for her. Aching for her.
And she was going to offer it to me, upstairs in the old McIlveen marital bed. Just so long as I left the kids alone.
You understand what she was doing? She was counting on my love for her. Like she still had a card to play. Like I still loved her. My cow of an ex-wife.’
Justine sat silently, tightly bound in her straight-backed chair, tears dripping from her eyes. The Doctor got up from the couch, took out his handkerchief and crouched beside her, wiping her face.
‘Don’t try anything,’ said Vincent amiably. ‘Don’t try to untie her or anything.’
‘I won’t.’
‘I trust you, Doctor. I just don’t trust that woman. How low could she sink? Trying to play on the love of an ex-husband.
You know what I said to her. I said — get real.’ Vincent shouted the last two words with great violence.
There was silence in the room for a moment. ‘You know what else I said to Justine? My former beloved? I said,
“Justine do you know just how ex an ex-wife can be?” You might think it’s when she leaves you. Runs off with another man. Gets into bed with him. You might think she’s reached the ultimate in ex-wife status. But no. How about when she marries the other man? Has she reached the ultimate? No.
Not quite.’
Vincent got up and went over to Justine, peering into her eyes.
‘No,’ said Vincent. ‘The ultimate is when she has another man’s child.’
‘Vincent,’ said the Doctor quietly. ‘It may not be too late to abandon this course of action.’
‘Abandon it? Doctor, you’re nuts. I’m holding all the cards. Your people are bringing Ricky to me. They went and saved me the trouble of tracking him down, and now they’re bringing him back to me. On top of that, they’re also bringing Cynthia and Eve back for a touching reunion. Your people are bringing back the whole damned family for me.’ Vincent paused. ‘Except for daddy, of course.’ He smiled and nodded, as if savouring a thought. ‘I sent one of my own people to bring back daddy.’
‘What will you do with Ricky?’ said the Doctor.
‘Use him, of course. Just like his old man, he’s got a special talent. And we’ll use it.’
‘To do what?’
‘Completely restructure the government of this country for a start. Then do whatever takes our fancy.’
‘Do you really think he’ll be your willing tool?’ said the Doctor.
‘I don’t see why not. I’m his real father and he doesn’t seem to like it much around here. He obviously isn’t getting anywhere with this sad crew.’ He sat back down on the piano-stool. He resumed rubbing his foot against Justine’s for a moment, then abruptly stopped. There was the sound of a car in the driveway and Vincent quickly got to his feet. He went to the window and lifted the curtain with the barrel of his gun.
‘Looks like the party’s started,’ he said. ‘First guests have arrived.’
A second car pulled up in the driveway and a moment later there was the sound of the footsteps of two people on the porch. The front door opened and closed, and Creed came into the living room followed by Amy.
Creed froze, staring at his wife tied up in her chair. Only then did he take in the presence of the Doctor, and Vincent pointing the gun at him.
When Creed saw Vincent his head went up, his chin rising in an unconscious challenge a million years old. As old as the primates.
‘Don’t try anything, Creed,’ said Vincent. ‘If I don’t nail you my little buddy will. Look behind you. Surprise.’
Creed turned around slowly to where Amy was standing behind him. She was also holding a gun now. Pointing it at Creed.
Vincent smiled. ‘Amy’s been really useful. Keeping an eye on you, manipulating you. I sent her out today to bring you back here. I even told her to screw you if she had to.’
Creed looked at Amy for a long moment, then he turned back to Vincent. His face was expressionless.