Doctor Who_ Warchild - Andrew Cartmel [45]
‘But then I imagine so is screwing employees on a desk.’
Suddenly Creed registered what Stanmer had said earlier. About rubbing it and making it better. That was what Amy had said to him.
‘You were there. You were watching us.’
‘Hey, sorry,’ said Stanmer. ‘It was an accident. I was going to pick up some papers. But I barged in on the beginning of your touching little scene. Don’t worry, I didn’t stay long.’ Stanmer smiled. ‘As soon as I saw what was afoot I came down here and triggered the alarm.’ He looked at Creed with an expression of comical innocence. ‘I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.’
‘Are you out of your mind?’ said Creed quietly. He turned away from Stanmer and set his gun on a desk. Then he took out a cellular phone and punched a number.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Amy’s still wandering around, armed, believing there’s a major security alert,’ said Creed. Then Amy answered the phone.
‘Are you all right?’ she said.
‘I’m fine. Listen carefully. There is no intruder, it was just a false alarm.’
Amy’s voice was low. ‘Are you OK? Has someone got a gun to your head? If they’re forcing you to say that, just say everything is fine again.’
Creed laughed. Clever girl. ‘No,’ he said. ‘It really is a false alarm.’
‘What caused it?’
‘Buddy Stanmer being an asshole.’
‘I can get rid of this hand-gun, then?’
‘Yeah,’ said Creed. ‘Ditch it and go back up to the seventh floor. I’ll meet you back there as soon as I’ve finished dealing with Stanmer.’
‘OK,’ said Amy. ‘See you in a sec.’
‘OK.’ Creed hung up, repressing the ridiculous impulse to blow Amy a kiss.
Stanmer was standing there, watching him. Waiting.
‘Deal with me, huh?’ he said.
‘You don’t like the sound of that?’
Stanmer winked at Creed.’I didn’t much go for that asshole remark either.’
Creed shrugged. ‘Too bad. Now shut up and listen-’
‘No, you shut up and listen, Creed. I’ve just about had enough of you. I’ve spent my entire career taking orders from half-wits and nonentities and I’ve had enough. You’re the final straw. Look at you. Middle management in its ultimate incarnation.’
Creed said nothing. He stood there grinning, waiting for Stanmer to finish.
‘You’re dangerously incompetent,’ Stanmer continued.
‘You shouldn’t be holding down your job.’
‘Look,’ said Creed, ‘I’m sorry about the incident at the swimming pool.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘About cracking your hand like that. It was a stupid thing to do and I unreservedly apologize.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that.’ Stanmer smiled. ‘My hand hurt me for a couple of hours. This is going to hurt you for a lot longer.’
‘Like I say,’ said Creed, ‘I was out of line at the swimming pool, but that doesn’t excuse what you just did. Sending a false alarm is a serious breech of protocol and I’m going to have to report it.’
‘I’ll bet you are.’
‘And you’re going down for it, Buddy. I don’t know if it’s just going to be a written warning this time or a formal suspension. But either way I suggest you apply for a transfer to another division because I don’t think things are working out for you here.’
‘That would suit you down to the ground, wouldn’t it?’
said Stanmer. ‘If I just up and left. But I’m not going to.’
Creed sighed. ‘Then I’ll have to recommend your transfer or your dismissal. Whichever you prefer.’
‘I’ll tell you what I prefer.’ Buddy Stanmer smiled. ‘I prefer a pay-rise and a desk by the window. Just for a start.
Otherwise...’
‘What?’
‘Otherwise your wife hears about you and Amy butterwouldn’t-melt-in-the-crack-of-her-ass Cowan. About you screwing your personal assistant on your desk.’
Creed was silent for a moment. ‘You know, I think maybe you really are out of your mind,’ he said.
‘You wish,’ said Stanmer. ‘You want to know-’ but then he abruptly stopped talking. He was looking at something on his desk. ‘Oh shit,’ he said.
‘What is it?’ said Creed, stepping around the desk so he could see what Stanmer was looking at.
Stanmer was hunched over his computer, his face pale.
He looked up at Creed. ‘Security alert,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s for real this time. Someone