Doctor Who_ Warlock - Andrew Cartmel [79]
‘For a start, who would be the leading authority on the drug?’
The computer fell silent and the silence went on for so long that Benny finally said, ‘What’s happening?’
‘I’m accessing the national police computer in Hendon,’ said Cary. ‘Sorry, but it’s taking a while.’
‘You’re doing what?’
‘Well, all right,’ confided Cary. ‘When I say “accessing” what I really mean is I’m breaking into it.’
‘The national police computer? In Hendon? You’re breaking into the national police computer?’
‘Yes, and I must say it’s proving a bit of an unhelpful swine. But just hold on a moment. I think I’ve got it.’
Benny turned to the Doctor. He seemed as transfixed by the Cary Grant voice as she was. ‘Did you expect it to do this?’
‘Certainly not,’ said the Doctor. ‘I expected it to examine the databases of hospitals and research labs.’
‘Been there. Done that,’ said Cary Grant. ‘Trust me. This is where we need to look.’
The Doctor shook his head. ‘I thought it would find us a nice professor of biochemistry or something.’
‘Oh, I can do much better than that,’ said the computer. ‘Sorry about the delay, but this police computer really is stubborn. Come on,’ sang Cary with drunken sangfroid. ‘Yoo‐hoo, let us in!’
‘Is this safe?’ said Benny.
‘I have no idea,’ said the Doctor. ‘It’s been years since I broke into the national police computer.’
‘This is getting to be a bit of a bore,’ said the loudspeakers, sounding irritated. ‘These police really are the most paranoid people. Talk about data protection. Come along. Knock knock. We know you’re in there.’
‘What happens if he can’t get in?’ said Benny.
‘Well, I’m already halfway in,’ said Cary Grant, ‘so it’s easy to answer that, because I can see the relevant data from where I’m standing. It’s filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The penalty for illegal access to the police computer is –’
‘Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know. Maybe you should quit now.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly quit now,’ chuckled the computer. ‘Like I said, we’re halfway in. If I turn back there will be marks of my visit left all over the place. Imagine a buffoon of a burglar leaving footprints in luminous paint. Or just dropping his calling card. They’ll immediately trace the intrusion.’
‘To where?’
‘To here. And you can look forward to a visit in about a minute and a half. I hope you like blue flashing lights.’
‘Very festive,’ said the Doctor.
‘On the other hand, if I just press on, I can not only get the information we need, I can also remove every trace of our visit. Leave the place exactly as it was before. You understand that when I use the word “place” I’m speaking metaphorically.’
‘Yeah, yeah, yeah,’ said Benny.
‘They’ll be none the wiser. If I can just get through this dratted defense system. Sorry it’s taking so long, but this is precision work, you know. Can you imagine flying a jet fighter while performing brain surgery?’
‘Sort of,’ said Benny.
‘Well what I’m doing now makes that seem about as difficult as flossing your teeth.’
Benny was beginning to wish that she hadn’t made the computer sound quite so drunk. Cary’s boozy cheeriness somehow didn’t inspire confidence.
‘Ah. Hang on a minute. Bingo!’
There was a pause, then Cary Grant’s voice spoke again in the darkened garage.
‘We’re in.’
* * *
The New York morning sun shone on Harrigan’s wrinkled face, glinting on the silver skull of his ring.
The big Texan winked and tapped the blackboard. ‘I could do a fancy presentation using computers, but I kind of like this. I think better when I have a chunk of chalk in my hand.’
He began to write in big angular letters. Creed saw Christine Bowman wince at the piercing screech of chalk on blackboard.
‘Mrs Woodcott,’ said Harrigan. He underlined the name. ‘An interesting girl, this. I call her a girl because I’m old‐fashioned. Also because compared to an elderly party like me she is just a young slip of a thing.’ His smile faded. ‘But compared to any of you kids she’s an old woman. In fact, that’s kind of all we know about her.’ Harrigan