‘And if you won’t do it, I will.’
He stared up at her.
‘An accident, I think,’ said Dee. ‘No. A disappearance. We could do this one together.’ She climbed on top of him, one leg at either side. ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Us both … getting our hands dirty … together … ’
He felt his erection spring up as soon as her body rested on his. She always had this effect on him.
And he loved it.
‘Helen Hibbert is already lined up. So what’s the difference? We do another one at the same time … ’
She unzipped her velour top, peeled it off. Michael watched as she did so. Then she took off her T-shirt, pulled it over her head. She stared down at him, eyes locked. Reached behind her, unclasped her bra. Let it fall.
‘I’ll do it without you,’ she said.
He swallowed. Hard. ‘No, I’ll … I’ll do it … with you … ’
She smiled. ‘Good.’
And pulled her hand back, let it go. Slapping his face. Hard.
He stared up at her, the pain setting off explosions all over his body, his erection straining for release.
‘Are you with me?’ She was breathing heavily.
‘Yes … yes, I’m with you … ’
‘Good.’
She hit him again. Harder this time.
And he loved her for it.
67
Tyrell stared at the gun. It was a handgun, an automatic. He knew that much. Dull silver, heavy-looking. He stared right down the barrel, into that small round black hole that could kill him at any second. Fascinated but repelled.
Tyrell hated guns. Always had. But he knew how mesmerising they were.
He held Josephina close, clutched the little girl tight to his side. Looked at the woman holding the automatic. A thought crossed his mind.
‘I don’t know your name.’
She frowned, taken aback by the question. Tyrell said nothing, waited for her to speak, to move.
‘Amy,’ she said.
‘Is that really your name?’
‘It’ll do.’
‘You said I know you. I don’t know anybody called Amy.’
‘No. You don’t. Now.’ She looked directly into Tyrell’s eyes, ignoring Josephina. ‘We’re in a situation here. A bad situation. And the only way out, the only way to get what we want, is to keep our nerve. Isn’t it?’
Tyrell said nothing.
‘It’s not to go to the police, or do anything like that. Is it, Tyrell?’
He still didn’t reply.
Amy swung the gun on to Josephina, stuck it in her face. The girl screamed. Tried to burrow into Tyrell’s leg. He clutched her all the harder.
‘I asked you a question.’
‘No … ’ said Tyrell, not entirely sure what she had said but guessing what answer she wanted to hear.
‘Good. That’s better. Do what I tell you and you’ll be fine. Both of you.’
Tyrell felt Josephina clinging to him. He looked down the barrel of the gun again. Knew what had to be done. Knew he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t do the right thing.
‘No,’ he said.
Amy stared at him, eyes narrowing, darkening. ‘What?’
‘I said no. I’m not going to do what you say.’ He looked down at Josephina. ‘We’re not going to do what you say.’
Amy moved forward, still holding the gun on him, her finger curling round the trigger.
Tyrell backed away, the little girl with him. ‘Just let Josephina go,’ he said, wishing he felt as confident as he was trying to sound. ‘Let her go. Back to her mother.’
‘We still want her mother.’
‘No. No we don’t. I’ve been thinking. Let her go.’
‘We still need her … ’ Amy was starting to breathe heavily, her voice becoming more ragged, more angry.
‘Just forget it,’ Tyrell said. ‘Forget everything. Let Josephina go. I’ll say you didn’t do any harm. You didn’t mean it. That it was all an accident. A … a misunderstanding.’
‘And what about you?’ Amy’s voice was now dangerously low, calm. ‘What will you do?’
‘I’ll go back inside. I know that. And I’m prepared. I don’t care. In fact I’d prefer it, really.’
Amy lunged at him. Tyrell never saw her coming, she moved so quickly. Josephina screamed, let go of his leg, ran away. Amy pushed the gun in his face. He felt the cold metal against his cheek, felt it knock painfully against his teeth as she pushed it into his flesh.
He looked into her eyes. Saw madness.
And something else.
He had seen those eyes before …
‘The recognition of friends is not always easy, Doctor … ’ Tyrell managed to say against the barrel of the gun.
Amy pulled away from him, stared. Eyes wide, like she had just seen a ghost. ‘What? What did you just say?’
‘The recognition of friends is not always easy, Doctor.’
‘Why did you say that? Why?’ She waved the gun about in front of him. He thought she meant to aim it at him, but her hand was too unsteady. He was worried it could go off at any time, hit Josephina. He looked round tried to find the girl. Couldn’t see her.
‘Why?’ Amy was almost shouting now.
‘It’s what … him. The dead man. Jiminy Cricket. He said it to me when he picked me up. I think he thought it should mean something. He said a few things like that.’
Amy seemed to relent. The hand holding the gun dropped a little. She seemed suddenly tired. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Right.’
‘What does it mean, then?’ said Tyrell. ‘Is it important?’
‘It was something … something he always said. Graham loved his quotes.’
‘Who’s Graham?’
‘Jiminy Cricket, who d’you think?’
‘Oh.’ Tyrell thought about the name. Decided he preferred Jiminy Cricket.
Amy continued. ‘He was always quoting things. Old films and TV shows. That one’s a Dr Who story. The Doctor meets someone he knew at a different point in his timeline. Someone he’d grown up with. And he doesn’t recognise them.’ She looked at him. Quickly. Then away. ‘That’s all.’
Tyrell said nothing. Just stared at her. Thought about her words. Thought about her eyes.
Eyes he’d seen before …
A different point in his timeline …
He looked round, suddenly remembering Josephina. Saw her cowering behind a tree. He tried to smile at her. She didn’t return it. He didn’t blame her.
He turned back to Amy. She had something else in her hand now.
‘What … what are you doing?’
