|
|
  
Alf awoke, with a man looming over her. She struggled to recall what had happened. ‘Did you cosh me?’ she said. ‘Knock you out?’ said the man. ‘No I certainly did not.’ He extended a hand to help her up, and she rose to her feet giddily. ‘But I’d be obliged if you’d come quietly and not give me any trouble. There’s a small matter of this corpse and the knife in your hand.’ Alf rubbed her head, and instinctively dropped the blade that had been in her hand when she woke. The stranger wore a dark brown uniform with gold trimmings, finished by a peaked cap and the unmistakable emblem of the Waterguard Space Police. ‘Oh bugger,’ Alf muttered. ‘Bugger indeed madam,’ Waterguard Humba said. ‘Now are you coming quietly, or do I have to cuff you?’ ‘I don’t suppose there’s any point in me telling you I didn’t do it?’ asked Alf. Humba frowned. ‘I’m not unreasonable. You’re welcome to try.’ Alf bent down to study the corpse that was still where it had lain when she had been knocked unconscious. ‘Look this guy is dead right.’ She observed. ‘But where’s the blood? That’s leaving aside the fact that it’s not usual for a murderess to knock herself out after committing the crime.’ ‘Yes, well,’ Humba agreed. ‘That was nagging away at me. Okay, let’s for one minute say that I believe you. What do you think did happen?’ Alf considered for a moment. ‘Well obviously there should still be blood in this body. Yet is seems to have been drained. So someone must have drained it… ’ Alf stood up and circled Humba thoughtfully. ‘And moved the body here after the murder took place,’ Humba completed. ‘And whoever it was who moved the body,’ she continued. ‘Knocked me out to make it look as though I was the culprit.’ ‘Very convincing,’ Humba replied. ‘I can’t fault your logic, love. Even if it does draw to the fore a very nasty conclusion… someone on Gidi is a murderer!’ As they stood in sombre silence for a moment beneath the harsh blue light of Gidi’s moon, a pair of new voices drifted on the breath of a breeze, across the night air. ‘Of course, my second husband, Harold, was a bigamist… as for the third… don’t get me started on him…’ ‘Who’s that?’ asked Alf, peering across in the direction of the voices. She could make out two figures, huddled together, striding purposefully away from the lights of the town. ‘Oh that’s Vera,’ Humba replied. ‘Bit of a strange one she is. Don’t entirely trust her either. There were all sorts of rumours about her you know. No, she’ll be just finishing her shift at Mandrells, the casino on the other side of town. Don’t know who that is with her though. Her latest husband, no doubt!’ ‘Wait a minute… that’s the Doctor!’ exclaimed Alf. ‘A doctor eh?’ chucked Humba. ‘She’s done all right for herself there then. He’s bound to be an improvement on Barry; her last one.’ ‘No, you don’t understand,’ Alf explained. ‘The Doctor’s not interested in women!’ ‘Oh I see.’ Humba raised his eyebrows. ‘No, I don’t think you do. If this Vera is trouble, we need to warn him. Oh, trust the Doctor!’ She made to follow them, but Humba grabbed her arm and pulled her back. ‘Not so fast miss,’ he said. ‘You’re not going anywhere ’til I’ve taken a statement. And besides which, you look like you could use a cup of cocoa!’ ‘But the Doctor!’ Alf protested. ‘It’s no good; my word is law on Gidi. And I say you’re coming with me!’ ‘Oh okay.’ Alf sighed. Whatever trouble the Doctor had landed himself in, he would have to sort it out for himself. ‘Here we are, Doctor. Home sweet home!’ Vera announced, pushing him through the door of the stately mansion they had arrived at. ‘What a charming house.’ ‘Oh its not ours, we’re just renting. My Cy likes a bit of class.’ ‘Cy?’ the Doctor echoed. ‘Oh I told you about him, didn’t I?’ The Doctor looked puzzled. ‘I don’t think so. I assume he’s not another one of your husbands?’ ‘Hardly!’ Vera snorted. ‘For one thing, I’m old enough to be his grandmother, and for another… well he’s a bit shy around women. Now why don’t we go inside and see about that tea.’ Vera marched into the ornate, high ceilinged kitchen, where the kettle was still warm. Two dirty mugs sat on the worktop. ‘Someone’s been here before us,’ Vera declared, filling the kettle. ‘Burglars?’ the Doctor enquired. ‘No, no, no, dear. It’ll be Cy and one of his friends. He’s always bringing his chums back for the night. We’ll not see him ’til tomorrow. It is unusual on Gidi though.’ ‘What is?’ ‘Well there’s not many people here really. There’s only me, and Cy, and …’ The Doctor shook his head, not sure he wanted to get into another list of names. ‘Stop twittering woman and make the tea!’ he snapped, surprising himself. ‘Oh I do love a man who takes charge,’ Vera said. Upstairs, Nick lay on Cy’s bed. Cy pulled his sparkly top off over his shoulders, revealing broad shoulders and a toned chest. Nick admired the rows and rows of videotapes that were lined up along the shelves of his room. ‘You like Clear Waters then?’ Nick asked, turning round to face him. Clear Waters was a soap opera that Nick had found himself attracted to on one of his many visits to 21st century Earth, although Alf was not too taken with it. ‘You wanna watch one?’ asked Cy. ‘Yeah we could I s’pose…’ said Nick, suddenly distracted by thoughts of Alf. ‘Unless you have something else in mind.’ Cy smiled. Nick rolled over on the bed and looked up at him, deep into those milky blue eyes. ‘Have you got a beer?’ ‘I’ve got anything you want, Nick,’ Cy purred cheekily.
|
