Doctor Who_ Timeless Part 35

'Open it and see,' said Trix. 'And... Take care of yourself, eh.'

'Mmm.' Anji put down the envelope on the table. 'That's the dress the Doctor told you to put back before you left the TARDIS, isn't it?'

'Yep.'

'Only you're not leaving, are you? You're going with him.'

She nodded. 'Too good an opportunity to turn down.'

'Opportunity for what?'

Trix grinned. 'Who knows? That's the fun part.'

For a moment, Anji felt a twinge inside that made her want to run into the TARDIS and slam the door in Trix's face.

But instead, she simply nodded and held out her hand to shake. Trix took it without a word, her catlike eyes searching out Anji's. Then she winked and walked away.

Anji eyed the envelope warily, and decided she would open it in the morning, when her head was clearer. She heard Trix outside: 'Oh, Guy, wait. Before you go, there's something I have to give you...'

A minute or so later she went back into the lounge, saw people had their coats on, were saying goodbyes. That the party was coming to an end.

Stacy kissed Anji on both cheeks. 'Have a nice life,' she told her firmly.

'You too.'

'You know, I think I will.' She smiled faintly. 'I think I owe it to myself.'

With a brief little wave, Trix saw herself out. Guy had already gone and Trix had apparently followed him.

Anji was alone with the men in her life. And now they were leaving too.

'Visit me, if you're pa.s.sing,' she told the Doctor and Fitz.

Fitz nodded and gave her a hug. The Doctor joined in and hugged them both.

'We'll miss you,' said Fitz.

'You'll muddle by.'

'And so will you,' the Doctor promised her.

Then they were gone.

Anji crossed to the couch and plonked herself down on it. She looked up at the glittery banner hanging from the curtains until her sight blurred with tears. She felt alone. She'd been the one who chose to stay behind, so why did she feel so abandoned? Where were Chloe and Jamais? They'd not even said goodbye. What if something had happened, or There was a knock at the door. Wiping her eyes, Anji padded over to open it.

'Chloe!' she said, half delighted, half cross that she should've been made to worry. 'It's so late, where've you...' She trailed off as she realised the little girl was not alone with her pseudo-dog. A tall black guy was crouched a little way behind her, petting Jamais. She stared at him in surprise, and he grinned.

Anji felt suddenly fl.u.s.tered. 'I... Thanks, I mean, I'm sorry ' She caught herself, took a deep breath. 'Hi. I'm Anji.'

'Hi,' he said back. 'Greg.'

'This is my mum,' Chloe told him.

'Chloe!' Anji hissed.

'I got lost,' said Chloe innocently. 'So Greg brought me home.'

'Lost? You?'

'I hope you don't think I'm interfering,' said Greg awkwardly. 'Only I found her wandering about nearby and I thought maybe I should...'

'No, it's fine, I I'm grateful...'

'Perhaps you should ask Greg in for a coffee to thank him,' suggested Chloe Anji glowered at her. 'I'm sure Greg doesn't '

'He does,' Chloe insisted. 'He works nights at a press cuttings office on Liverpool Street, and has to be off in half an hour. The caffeine will be good for him.' With that she pushed past Anji and skipped over to the kitchen, Jamais limping along after her.

'Sorry about all this,' Anji told Greg. 'Kids, right?'

'Well, she's right about the caffeine. I'd love a cup!' He was still smiling at her. The lines around his eyes suggested he smiled a lot. 'If it's not too late?'

'It's not!' called Chloe.

'Excuse me a minute, would you?' said Anji with a tight smile.

'I'll wait out here,' Greg a.s.sured her.

She stalked off into the kitchen where Chloe had flicked on the kettle and was now spooning coffee into a mug.

'What the h.e.l.l are you playing at?' she squeaked. 'Let's get one thing very clear 'Mum, wait,' said Chloe, looking up at her. 'Me and Jamais, we want to stay with you. Here.'

'Huh?' Anji sank down weakly into a chair, the wind punched out of her sails. 'What did you just say?'

'Please?' Anji saw the nervousness in the child's funny eyes. 'We don't have anything left or anyone to look after us.'

'The Doctor,' said Anji, 'the Doctor could come and '

'We would like a home, please,' said Chloe softly, and Jamais wagged his imaginary tail.

Anji poured herself another gla.s.s of wine. The kettle was starting to hiss noisily as it boiled.

'You haven't opened your present from Trix,' Chloe whispered.

Dazedly, Anji took the envelope and tore it open. There was some paperwork inside, and she sorted through it, incredulous: 'Birth certificate, adoption papers...' All for Chloe and all forgeries, of course. There was a note too: Dear Soft TouchI arranged these for you. Thought it might make things easier, you know, with the new life thing.Trix 'Most people bring a bottle,' Anji remarked, her head spinning. She narrowed her eyes at Chloe. 'You put her up to this?'

Chloe dodged the question by producing a bundle of leaflets and scribbles on paper from her bag. 'These will help you make childcare arrangements for when you go back to work,' she announced.

Anji felt her world tilt alarmingly. She looked out of the window at the city, at the indefatigable lights burning in the buildings, so much brighter than the stars overhead. Life was going on everywhere. 'You shouldn't worry about her,' the Doctor had said. 'She'll find her way back.'

No more walking away.

'OK,' she breathed. 'You can stay for a while.'

'Mum!' Chloe yelled happily, crushing her waist in a huge hug. 'I knew you'd say yes.'

Anji smiled ruefully and sort of hugged her back. 'Don't tell me. It was written in that wretched book of yours.'

'No,' the little girl whispered, eyes closed, content. 'I just knew.'

What are you saying? What are you doing? a terrified voice inside Anji was screaming. But I'll get used to this, she told herself. I'll get used to this. a terrified voice inside Anji was screaming. But I'll get used to this, she told herself. I'll get used to this.

'Just one thing,' Anji told Chloe, gently pulling herself free. 'No more repeats of the going out and getting lost thing. This is London, it's not safe, you can't just approach people in the street and '

'But you think Greg's cute!' she protested.

Anji blushed. 'Chloe! He could be a maniac, a '

'He's not, he's nice!'

'Look, you can't just go out and bring random strangers back to my flat!'

Chloe smiled slyly. 'But, Mum, he isn't going to be a stranger.'

The kettle pinged brightly as it boiled. Jamais gave a quiet woof.

'You realise this building has a no pets policy?' Anji grumbled. But she made the coffee, straightened her top, brushed vaguely at her ruffled hair: 'G.o.d, what if he's overheard us? He'll think I'm a total...'

She trailed off. What the h.e.l.l, she thought, and opened the door. The future could take her as it found her. And despite everything she'd been through, and all the uncertainties that still remained, Anji found herself smiling.

Thirty-four Plenty of pizza Guy breezed into work the next day. He had to meet with the police at midday, to clear up their puzzled enquiries. No problem.

As of this afternoon, his life was going to change forever, just like that.

'h.e.l.lo, Mike,' he said.

'Guy!' Mike looked dreadful. His eyes were red and bloodshot. His beard was getting out of control. 'Where the bleedin' h.e.l.l have you been?'

'Here and there,' Guy admitted. 'Oh, and about my going through your desk... I think the coppers are going to want a little rummage themselves.'

Mike's face blanched.

'They caught a fella called Daniel Basalt. You ever heard of him?' Guy's smile grew craftier. 'Ever taken any cash off him?'

Mike made a noise like a mouse being stepped on.

'See, there's this warehouse outside Denham. Place'll be swarming with police by now, I tipped them off. Seems someone dumped a white van outside the place. And inside, seems there's the body of a murdered woman that no one's got records for, stowed away in a coffin designed for burial at sea.'

Mike clutched his head in both hands.

'A tagged body,' Guy went on, 'that should match up to a licence you prepared and which I've given to the police.'

Mike let his head fall forward and crack on the desk.

'You', announced Guy, 'are an ex-boss. With a lot of explaining to do.' He patted him on the head. 'Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.'

And with that he walked out.

An absurd spring in his step, he took out his wallet and checked for the millionth time that morning that the piece of paper Trix had given him was still there.

A winning Lottery ticket. All six numbers. Ready to be cashed in.

'They're ten a penny in my line of work,' Trix told him. 'Take it you'll make me feel less bad for being ready to run out on you. I don't think I'll have the chance to spend it for a while, anyway.'

Guy cackled with insane glee. 'Apology accepted.'

He marched round to Noise Pollution, and straight up to the desk of Annie the admin a.s.sistant, the gorgeous, fleeting, drunken snog he'd thought of helplessly so many, many times.

'All right?' Guy said.

She stared up at him in surprise.

'Listen, I was wondering if you might want to come out with me tonight.' He grinned. 'And if, by any chance, you hold a current pa.s.sport...'

About the author.

Stephen Cole is a freelance writer and editor. He works chiefly in the fields of science fiction and children's books, though aberrations have been known to occur. His professional a.s.sociation with Doctor Who Doctor Who began in late 1996, when he was made Range Editor for the series' output on books, video and audio; he did two years full time then gradually shucked off his co-ordinating responsibilities throughout 1999 to concentrate on other, marginally less insane areas of work. began in late 1996, when he was made Range Editor for the series' output on books, video and audio; he did two years full time then gradually shucked off his co-ordinating responsibilities throughout 1999 to concentrate on other, marginally less insane areas of work.

The first in his trilogy of original horror thrillers for young adults, The Wereling: Wounded The Wereling: Wounded, is published by Bloomsbury in autumn 2003.

DOCTOR WHO: TIMELESS.

Commissioning Editor: Ben Dunn Ben Dunn Creative Consultant & Editor: Justin Richards Project Editor: Jacqueline Rayner Jacqueline Rayner Published by BBC Worldwide Ltd Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane London W12 0TT First published 2003 Copyright Stephen Cole 2003 The moral right of the author has been a.s.serted Original series broadcast on the BBC Format BBC 1963 Doctor Who and TARDIS are trademarks of the BBC ISBN 0 563 48605 8.

Cover imaging by Black Sheep, copyright BBC 2003 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham Cover printed by Belmont Press Ltd, Northampton