Part 23 (1/2)

'Your understanding of science is as loose as your morals,'

said the Doctor. 'This is genetic material, but it has nothing to do with BSE.'

'What then?' queried Denman.

The Doctor stared at Shanks, trying to remember the rest of the paperwork he'd glanced at in the office. 'I have a suspicion that this substance is more mind-expanding than half a tonne of your drugs. How long has this fluid been pumped into the water supply?'

'I ordered that it be switched on as soon as I knew you'd broken into my office,' replied Shanks. 'A bit ahead of schedule, but I wanted to make a point. You and the copper have failed. The good people of Liverpool are already drinking this stuff.'

PART THREE.

HAPPYJACK.

CHAPTER 9.

TWISTED FIRESTRRTER.

Matthew Hatch waited for the call from Phil Burridge. It never came.

Something was wrong. Phil would never let Hatch down, not even if there was a pint or a s.h.a.g involved. He loved Hatch too much.

Hatch picked up his mobile phone and started dialling.

'h.e.l.lo?' The voice at the other end sounded out of breath.

'Rebecca. Did I catch you in the middle of something important?'

'Matthew!' she said. 'No,' she continued with an embarra.s.sed giggle. 'Actually, I'm taking the year-ten netball cla.s.s. I've broken up two fights already.'

'Well, there you go,' said Hatch with little attempt to conceal his lack of interest. 'Listen, are you free tonight?'

'Free?'

'Yes.'

'I can't get up to London, Matthew, I've got school tomorrow.'

'What about halfway? That restaurant in Hungerford where we met last year?'

Rebecca paused. 'It's still a h.e.l.l of a long drive back, Matthew.'

'I'll send a car down for you after school, and make sure you're back in your bed by midnight, in case you turn into a pumpkin or something.'

'In my own own bed?' bed?'

'Probably,' said Hatch. 'The car will be at the vicarage by six.'

'OK,' she said with a sigh.

A wretched smile of satisfaction crossed Matthew Hatch's face and he terminated the call.

The Doctor stared at Shanks. 'Turn it off,' he said. 'You have no idea what you're pumping into the water supply.'

'I trust Matt,' said Shanks. 'I owe him.'

'You owe him nothing,' nothing,' said the Doctor. 'He looked at you, and saw someone he could use. I'm told that's always been his way.' said the Doctor. 'He looked at you, and saw someone he could use. I'm told that's always been his way.'

'Don't try to reason with that piece of filth,' said Denman angrily.

Shanks turned to Denman and laughed. 'That's rich, coming from you. We're going to take you to the cleaners.

Cop's daughter, busted for drugs, kills herself in the cells.

Has quite a ring to it, eh?'

'You b.a.s.t.a.r.d,' said Denman. 'I'll make you pay for what you've done.'

'And there are some strange rumours about you and your girl,' continued Shanks. 'But I don't like to spread gossip.

Anyway, you'll be suspended, your department will be investigated... All those cases you've got ready to bring against me will fall through.'

'I wouldn't be so sure,' said Denman.

Ignoring the exchange, the Doctor crouched down at the side of the vat, his hands moving over the keypad.

Shanks's gun waved back towards the Doctor. 'Stop that, Doc,' he said.

'No,' said the Doctor simply.

'Look, I'm warning you,' said Shanks, fl.u.s.tered again.

'Leave it alone, or I'll kill you.' Shanks turned towards the crouched form of the Doctor. It gave Denman the opportunity he needed.