Doctor Who_ Amorality Tale Part 5

The house was badly in need of repairs but there were so many problems and so little money it hardly seemed worth making a start. The outdoor toilet had overflowed again this morning.

Mary would be thirty soon but on days like this she felt closer to fifty.

'Excuse me,' the young woman asked Mary. 'I'm looking for Tommy Ramsey's house. This is Tabernacle Street, isn't it?'

The sound of scrubbing stopped as one by one the women looked at this strange outsider. Who could possibly want to visit Tommy Ramsey of their own volition? Only the criminal or the insane. Yet this young woman seemed like neither. Mary looked up at the visitor. She was well dressed with a pleasant, inquiring face. Her voice sounded posh to Mary, but anybody not born within earshot of Bow Bells sounded posh to Mary.

'It's Tabernacle Street alright. What do you want with Tommy Ramsey?' Mary asked, giving voice to the question every other woman on the street was eager to ask.

'I've got an appointment to see him, about a job,' the visitor explained. 'Which house is his?'

Mary just pointed across the road to number 15. The new arrival smiled a thank you and crossed the road, aware of at least a dozen pairs of eyes watching her every movement. She knocked on the door and waited. It creaked open and she couldn't help but be startled by the appearance of Brick. He filled the hallway like an enormous piece of inherited furniture in too small a home.

'My name's Sarah Jane Smith we met yesterday at the Red Room. I'm here to see Mr Ramsey.' Sarah made sure her voice was loud enough to carry to the women still ignoring their scrubbing.

Brick looked up and down the road before stepping aside to let Sarah squeeze past him into the hallway. 'You better come inside he's waiting.'

Once the door had slammed shut, the street was filled with the sound of furious scrubbing and gossip. Mary Mills just smiled, keeping herself to herself. Many on this road lived in terror of the Ramsey Mob and few of the women would have dared knock on the front door of number 15. But the visitor looked almost entirely unconcerned at entering the most feared home in the East End. Good for you girl, thought Mary as she resumed scrubbing.

On the other side of the road, Brick and Billy Valance emerged from number 15. They climbed into the Bentley and Brick drove away, carefully observing the local speed limit.

The Doctor was late opening his watchmender's shop that morning. He had been up all night running experiments in the TARDIS. He had considered not opening at all, but knew that another visit from one of Ramsey's thugs was likely. Better to be present for it and take advantage of the visit, than take the day off and have to deal with the consequences afterwards.

He was just checking the results of his latest experiment when a black car stopped outside the shop. Two men got out, although the driver had great difficulty in extracting himself from behind the steering wheel because of his ma.s.sive frame. The Doctor busied himself in the shop, taking notes on the different times showing on several of the clocks. A grandfather clock made of oak and bra.s.s was displaying the correct time 11 o'clock. Beside it was a carriage clock of silver and gold, which showed the time as 11.30am. Beyond that was a cheap wall-mounted timepiece that seemed to think the time was midday.

The Doctor removed a small device attached to the side of the wall-mounted clock. He was deactivating the device's power source when the two men walked into the shop.

'Fascinating,' the Doctor announced to the room without looking around. 'This cannibalised circuit was able to create an acceleration effect in a localised area, as I surmised. But the chronometric warp leaks beyond its pre-set boundaries. Perhaps if I reverse the polarity of the neutron flow...'

Valance cleared his throat to get the watchmender's attention. The Doctor turned around and smiled at him. 'Back again so soon? I think you must be my first regular customer!'

The Doctor slipped the circuit into his jacket pocket. 'How can I help you today?'

Valance scowled. 'I don't know what trick you pulled on me yesterday but it won't happen again. I brought company,' he said, nodding to Brick. The man mountain flipped over a sign in the shop window, so it now read CLOSED when seen from outside.

'So I see. Who's your friend?'

'None of your business. Will you be taking out insurance with us or do we have to get nasty?'

The Doctor sighed. 'You really are a most tiresome chap, aren't you?'

'Yes or no?' Valance demanded.

'No.'

Valance nodded to Brick, who leaned against the front door, blocking anyone from leaving or entering. Valance moved to the counter at the rear of the shop, preventing any escape by that exit. The Doctor was trapped.

'Another cup of tea, Miss Smith?' Mrs Ramsey stood over Sarah, teapot at the ready in one hand. In the other she brandished a china plate laden with slices of homemade cake. 'Or perhaps another slice of cake?'

'No thank you, Mrs Ramsey I'm trying to watch my figure,'

Sarah replied. She had already had four cups of tea and three slices of cake. She couldn't face more food or drink.

'Why? You look like you need feeding up, if you don't mind my saying so. It's not healthy to be so thin. You'll waste away to nothing.'

Sarah had been waiting in the upstairs parlour for twenty minutes, with Mrs Ramsey keeping her company. Thomas was busy elsewhere, according to the gangster's mother. Sarah guessed Mrs Ramsey was probably about sixty-five years old. She barrelled around the house in a floral print dress, slippers and ap.r.o.n, making tea and cakes for the burly men who were constantly coming and going. They deferred meekly to her requests, as if terrified of their own shadows. The boss's mother was not to be crossed.

Sarah settled back in a plush armchair and looked around the parlour. A thick rug covered most of the floorboards. A heavy wooden radio stood on a vast oak sideboard, opposite the fireplace. The remains of last night's fire were still in the grate.

The walls were covered with family photographs, all framed in solid silver or gold. Pride of place went to a sepia-tinted portrait of a man in uniform who had an uncanny resemblance to Tommy. Mrs Ramsey caught Sarah looking at the photograph above the mantelpiece.

'I know what you're thinking, Miss Smith he looks exactly like my Thomas. That picture was taken nearly forty years ago, when my Bert went off to fight in the Great War.' Mrs Ramsey sat down in another armchair opposite Sarah, looking up at the photo. 'The war to end all wars, they called it. But my Bert never came back and then my Thomas had to fight in the next war. I was so worried I would lose both of them. I don't think I could have taken that.'

'It was tragic the way two world wars decimated succeeding generations,' Sarah said. 'Patriotic communities suffered more than most.'

Mrs Ramsey pulled a rolled handkerchief from inside her sleeve and dabbed at her tearful eyes. 'Mr Churchill, he came along our street during the Blitz. One of the proudest days of my life, that was.'

Sarah sat quietly, letting the old woman alone with her memories. Heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the parlour door. Mrs Ramsey stirred from her reverie.

'That'll be my Thomas. I'll just put the kettle on you'll be wanting another cup of tea, Miss Smith.'

Sarah felt nervous enough about meeting Tommy again. She crossed her legs and tried not to think about running water.

Valance pulled a blackened metal cosh from his pocket and pointed it at the Doctor. 'You should have gotten some protection while you had the chance. Tommy Ramsey says we have to make an example of you.'

The Doctor regarded him coolly. 'Really, how interesting. I think I would like to meet this Tommy Ramsey. How do I make an appointment?'

Valance sneered. 'The only person you'll be meeting is your maker!'

'You really do have the most dreary line in threats and menaces, don't you? I'm surprised he keeps such an unimaginative person on the payroll.'

Valance snapped. 'That's it!' He lunged at the Doctor, cosh drawn back ready to strike. His target dropped into a defensive stance, then pivoted on one foot to evade the vicious blow.

Valance stumbled but did not fall. He spun round and nearly succeeded in smashing the bludgeon against the Doctor's head.

'You are history!'

'My dear chap, nothing could be further from the truth,' the Doctor replied, parrying the blow expertly. He used Valance's momentum to send the thug flying headfirst into the grandfather clock the Doctor had been examining earlier. Valance collapsed to the floor in an untidy heap, unconscious.

The Doctor glanced over at the bear of a man blocking the front door. 'I don't suppose we can settle this like civilised men, can we?'

Brick shook his head regretfully. He moved away from the door into the centre of the shop, his ma.s.sive hands extended menacingly forward. The Doctor retreated, careful to keep some furniture between himself and the advancing foe. Even Venusian Aiki-Do might not save him this time...

'No, Mum, I'm fine I don't need another cup of tea!' Tommy shut the door on his mother before returning to his seat in the upstairs parlour. He sat down and regarded the young woman opposite him. She looked quite different in these surroundings, removed from the lurid interior and cheap barmaid's uniform of the Red Room. To Tommy Sarah now seemed prim and proper.

She showed little fear of being in his presence. He liked that.

'So, you want to work for me. Why?'

Sarah smiled. It was a long time since she'd been to a job interview. Normally she was the one asking the awkward questions. But if she wanted to get closer to the Ramsey Mob, she needed to impress this murderous man.

'A place like the Red Room has potential besides skimming half the profits for himself, Morgan is an incompetent manager.

He lets opportunities slip through his fingers.'

'Such as?'

'He wouldn't let punters spend more than they were carrying. Gamblers always believe they can win back their losses but few ever do. I believe in giving people enough rope a man in debt is a man in your pocket.'

Tommy nodded his appreciation. 'What else?'

'Like you, I believe in loyalty. What's good for the firm is good for everyone in it. But loyalty has to be rewarded handsomely. Call it a profit-share scheme to motivate your staff.'

Tommy smirked. 'You're just a girl n.o.body in the Ramsey Mob will listen to a girl! You're only good for one thing.'

'Really? I notice that your men all take orders from your mother.' Sarah got up to leave. 'Forget it, Mr Ramsey. I had enough trouble keeping that thief Morgan at arm's length I don't need you chasing my skirt.' She opened the parlour door.

'Please thank your mother for the cake and tea.'

Tommy stormed to the door and slammed it shut. He leaned over Sarah, who refused to shrink from his powerful presence.

'n.o.body speaks to Tommy Ramsey like that! n.o.body!'

Sarah stared into his eyes, her voice level and unafraid as she spoke. 'Your mother doesn't seem to be scared of you. Neither am I.'

Tommy drew back a fist, ready to smash it into Sarah's face.

But she did not flinch, continuing to stare into his eyes. Tommy stood for a moment, poised to strike. But his anger pa.s.sed and his furious face relaxed into a smile.

'You've got a lot of bottle! Few people dare stand up to me,'

he said, turning his fist into a gesture for them to sit down again.

Sarah returned to her chair and Tommy sat opposite her once more. 'Alright, you're in. I want you here beside me for the next few days. Call it probation, if you like.'

Sarah smiled. 'Of course. I'd expect nothing else. And my things?'

'I'll have Brick collect them from Mrs Kelly's boarding house. He's just off running an errand for me.'

'You know where I live...'

'Of course. You hardly think I'd employ someone who appears out of nowhere, do you? If you were a man, I'd think you were a cop or something!'

Sarah laughed at Tommy's joke, trying to keep her terror hidden.

Jim Harris staggered out on to Old Street. Twice he had fallen on the short distance from Ironmonger Row. Getting back to his feet had taken supreme efforts of will. He knew that if he should fall again, he would not be able to get up unaided. Harris looked up and saw the steeple of St Luke's Church towering overhead.

He staggered to the steps and fell face forward on to them, unable to move any further.

Nearby Charlie and Billy were debating what to do. It seemed clear the fallen man would not be able to make his own way back to the Ramsey Mob's headquarters. Billy ran back to fetch Callum.

The Doctor and Brick were warily circling each other in the shop, each looking for an opening. The big man was proving surprisingly nimble. As they moved around the room, the Doctor tried to engage his opponent in conversation.

'My name's Smith, Doctor John Smith but you can just call me the Doctor. What's your name?'

'Brick.'

'A curious pseudonym. How did you come by it?'

'Tommy took one look at me and said I looked like a brick sh-' 'I understand entirely,' the Doctor interjected. 'What's your real name?'

'Baldwin. Arthur Baldwin.'

'A pleasure to meet you, Arthur a shame it had to be like this.'

Brick nodded morosely. 'I'm sorry about what I have to do to you. I just want you to know that I don't enjoy it.'

The Doctor smiled. 'Then why do it?'

'Because I'm good at it and this is the only work I can get.

So, like I said I'm sorry. I'll try to make this as painless as possible.'

'You have to catch me first.'

'That's just a matter of time. People a.s.sume that just because I'm big, I'm also slow, stupid. Discovering their mistake can be a painful experience.' Brick lunged heavily in one direction, which the Doctor easily evaded. But the big man's first movement was just a feint. He dodged in the opposite direction and caught hold of his quarry's jacket. Before the Doctor could get free, Brick was crushing him in a mighty bear-hug.

'Just relax. The pain will soon pa.s.s,' Brick said, his voice soft and soothing in the Doctor's ear. 'I've seen it many times.

People struggle to stay alive but when the end comes, they almost welcome it.'

The Doctor didn't reply, saving the remaining air in his lungs to keep back the blackness hammering at the edge of his thoughts. He squirmed around in Brick's crushing embrace, managing to slide a hand into the pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a fob watch and flicked open the casing to reveal the dazzling face inside. Straining with all his remaining strength, he held the watch up for Brick to see.

'I'll give you this watch if you let me go,' the Doctor gasped.

'I'm sorry Doctor, but I can't I can't...'