Part 26 (1/2)

Sound flooded the car. A burst of noise uncannily similar to the rhythm they had just listened to. Rat-a-tat-tat. Burr...

'What -' Wayne tried to turn his head towards the back seat, but the windscreen and upholstery that surrounded him was already splashed with red.

Another roar of sound, and his shattered body jerked on to the steering wheel.

Eight minutes later Darren returned to the car with four Kam Ming takeaway curries in a carrier bag. People swarmed around the vehicle, shouting and screaming. He dropped the bag in the gutter, and pushed his way to the front. Inside the car were the bodies of his friends and the remains of his bullet-ridden lager can, still gently weeping its contents on to the bloodstained seats.

The question surprised the Doctor.

'I'm sorry?' he asked.

'I said, how many of these coins make one pound ten pence?'

The Doctor looked up from his coffee at the girl with the American accent. She held out a handful of coins to him with a disarming smile.

'That one, and that one,' the Doctor said. 'I'm afraid most of the meals in here are quite expensive.' He gestured towards the display above the counter. 'And full of animal fat. I'd avoid them if I were you.'

'Oh, it's for a phone call,' said the girl, sitting down beside the Doctor. 'I want to let a friend know that I've arrived. Hi, I'm Lisa.'

'How do you do?' said the Doctor. 'And you've reminded me: I must make a phone call to a friend of my own. She'll be very worried, no doubt.'

'You run away from home?' asked Lisa with a mischievous grin.

'Something like that,' said the Doctor. He stood and pushed the coffee cup towards the girl. 'You can have it if you like. I thought I wanted this, but in the end I didn't. Isn't that often the way with things?'

'Ugh, no thanks,' said Lisa, wrinkling her nose. 'I hate coffee. And, anyway, I thought you guys drank tea.'

The Doctor smiled. 'I must be going.'

'Tell your friend I said not to worry,' said the girl. 'You can look after yourself all right.'

'Yes,' said the Doctor. 'And so can she.' There was an anxious edge in his voice. 'Usually.' He tipped his hat to the girl, who gave him a little wave.

The Doctor stepped out of the fast-food restaurant, and into the sticky and uncomfortable evening air. As he walked from Tottenham Court Road to Charing Cross Road, unanswered questions clouded his mind. He had hoped to use Shanks, to help the man rid himself of what he'd learnt and experienced at Hexen Bridge. Shanks was an outsider, after all. But the Doctor had failed: the taint was too strong.

Shanks had died while blindly protecting Hatch. All the metaphorical and literal roads the Doctor trod seemed to lead from Hexen Bridge to the politician. For all Denman's cynicism, the Doctor knew that he had to talk to Hatch, face to face. He seemed to be the one with all the answers.

Finding Hatch proved comparatively easy. Ten minutes at the library just off Leicester Square, trawling through copies of Who's Who Who's Who and surfing local government sites on the Internet, provided him with all the information he needed. and surfing local government sites on the Internet, provided him with all the information he needed.

Number 24a Velocity Crescent. It was, the Doctor thought, the first time he had found an adversary's location listed in public records.

Outside the library some workmen had a radio that played sugary pop music at an extraordinary volume. As the Doctor left there was a brief news report. Hatch was at Westminster, taking part in a debate on the latest defence review. There was a brief s.n.a.t.c.h of his voice, the man clearly annihilating the arguments of the shadow minister.

The next report concerned an outbreak of random violence in Liverpool.

Shaking his head, the Doctor gave some money to a man selling The Big Issue The Big Issue outside Tower Records, and headed for the Underground. outside Tower Records, and headed for the Underground.

The Doctor reached Knightsbridge in a crowded tube train full of sweating office workers. Outside, it was no cooler. He hurried towards Hatch's home.

He stood on the opposite side of the street for several minutes, but the house seemed dark and empty. The Doctor knew that this was partly illusory. As Defence Secretary, Hatch's residence was a prime terrorist target, and it was almost certain that security cameras and policemen watched the area intently.

'Another spot of breaking and entering,' the Doctor said as he crossed over.

Bob Matson pushed the fuel-soaked rag deep into the bottle of vodka, grinning like a child. 'You think I've gone too far?'

he laughed. 'You ain't seen nothin' yet.'

He walked down the slope towards the conservatory at the back of the Chinese restaurant. Somewhere a dog barked, and a car accelerated away from the Green Man. He just hoped Don Tyley was looking after the pub properly.

Obscured by bushes, Matson stood watching the waiters as they flitted around the diners, who were making inconsequential, silent conversation. He recognised some of them, but he was far beyond caring. He pulled the old Zippo from his pocket, flicking it open and lighting it with a single flourish, as he'd seen people in the movies do. Then he ignited the dripping rag, paused, and hurled it with all his strength at the pristine gla.s.s.

The bottle smashed through, spraying liquid that instantly caught fire. The room was suddenly full of screams and smoke, people overturning plates of finely made food in their enthusiasm for the exit. The starched linen on one table was already burning, and an elderly woman shrieked, holding up an arm consumed by flame.

'That's one in the eye for Johnny Foreigner,' said Bob Matson as he turned away, his laughter drowned by the cries of terror from within the restaurant.

'Don't move.'

The voice was soft, but filled with menace. The Doctor instantly raised his hands and spun around as a table lamp was flicked on, momentarily blinding him.

'You're quite a scallywag, aren't you, Doctor?' The Doctor blinked the pain from his eyes and focused on Trevor Winstone, who sat at Hatch's desk. He was holding a gun.

'I didn't think anybody was at home,' said the Doctor.

'Evidently. Thieves seldom do. And you on the school's board of governors, too... Think of the shame.'

The Doctor laughed out loud.

'What are you so happy about?' asked Winstone.

'I'm just thinking that on the last two occasions we've met, you thought I was about to die. I'm still here. That should tell you something about me.'

'Lucky?'

'Difficult to get rid of,' said the Doctor. 'Where's Hatch?'

'Haven't got a clue,' said Winstone. 'Up to some nefarious skullduggery, no doubt,' he said with an ironic chuckle. 'I got someone to ring him from Liverpool when I heard about Kenny. I bet Matt was really cut up about that. Then I got the train down.'