Part 19 (1/2)

'I've never taken drugs in my life.'

'That's not the question I asked.'

'They were planted on me. They must have been.'

'Really? By whom?'

'There was a small man in a white suit. I thought he was a bit weird.'

'He was carrying enough explosives to bring the roof down.

Are you two working together?'

'I've never seen him before in my life.'

'Come off it!'

Nicola was close to tears. 'I'm telling the truth. I didn't even want to go out clubbing tonight.'

The WPC leaned across the table towards her. 'Do you want a lawyer? Is there someone in your family we can phone?'

Good cop, bad cop.

'No,' said Nicola vehemently. 'Like I said. I don't want anyone to know.'

'Everyone will know about this, soon enough,' said the male officer, grinning. 'You can make it easier for yourself if you tell us who your supplier is. We're not so interested in you.

It's the main channels we're interested in.'

'I've told you. I don't know anything about drugs. I'm not saying anything else.'

The man turned to the WPC. 'Better take her away and search her again. Send the next one in on your way out.'

The desk sergeant, one of the young constables, and the bemused CID officer watched as the Doctor completed his search through his pockets. He looked down at his worldly possessions. 'There,' he said proudly. 'That's the lot.'

The desk sergeant removed a brown, padded envelope from the drawer and gave it to the constable. 'You hold them up while I write them in the book,' he said. 'One yo-yo. Blue.

One bag of...' He paused and looked inside.

'Jelly babies,' said the Doctor, brightly. 'Would you like one?'

The desk sergeant grunted loudly and carried on with his list. 'One Swiss Army penknife.'

'Very useful in a tight corner,' said the Doctor. 'Though I've never found a proper use for the implement that takes the stones out of horses' hooves...' He noted the black looks on the faces of the three policemen and fell silent.

'One teddy bear.' The desk sergeant raised an amused eyebrow.

'Sentimental attachment,'

said the Doctor with embarra.s.sment.

'One...' The sergeant reached out for the peculiar piece of electronic equipment the constable was holding. He looked at the Doctor quizzically.

'Oh, that's an etheric beam locator. Also useful for detecting ion-charge emissions.'

'I'm sure,' said the sergeant.

'Smart a.r.s.e,' muttered the arresting officer.

The list continued. Eventually the desk sergeant reached for another envelope. The mound of objects on the desk in front of him was threatening to topple on to the floor. He held up the TARDIS key. 'What's this?'

'A key,' said the Doctor.

'To what?'

'A door.'

The CID man grabbed the Doctor by the hair and pushed his face towards the desk. 'Just you wait till I get you in them cells, pint-size.'

'May I remind you,' said the Doctor, between gasps of pain, 'of the 1982 Police and Criminal Evidence Act?'

'Some sort of lawyer, are you?' asked the sergeant, casting a wary look at the CID man.

'I have practised law,' said the Doctor, straightening himself up as the officer let go of him. 'Would it be possible for these matters to be dealt with as quickly as possible?' the Doctor asked. 'I'm keen to begin my confession.'

'All in good time, sir,' noted the desk sergeant. 'There are a few particulars I require first. Could you sign here to confirm that this is your property?'

The Doctor did so, his mark producing another angry exclamation from the two men behind him. The desk sergeant, however, had seen it all in his time. 'Thank you, sir,' he said, tipping the various items into the envelope.

'Now, may I have your name, please?'

'John Smith,' said the Doctor with a nervous glance at his feet.

'Thank you, Mr Smith.'