Chapter 4: "Who wants to know?"
"If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future."
Winston Churchill
New York in the 1950's was a much more lively and progressive place than the Doctor would have guessed, if he'd ever sat down and given it any thought, which in all honesty he never had. After retrieving the TARDIS and parking it in Rory and Amy's backyard he went for long walks every day, just absorbing what was in front of him, with no pressure to save something or plan for the future. He'd always professed to live in the moment and now he really was, with no regard for what he might be missing in all the other moments out there to be witnesses. What surprised him the most was that he wasn't bored staying in the same place for far longer than he was used to.
Each evening he would regale the Pond's with his daily exploits, all the things they'd probably already seen as well as some they hadn't. In return they gradually filled him in on their life from the moment the Angel had transported them back in time.
"Thankfully we ended up together," Amy commented one breakfast a week after the Doctor arrived. "There was a man waiting for us – he had the right papers and enough money for us to live comfortably. It gave us time to find our feet and establish our identities here."
"River hired him?" the Doctor asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," Amy smiled. "The first time she visited she told us how she'd visit a few years in the future for her first time and that we'd tell her exactly when we arrived. Rory had to write it all down, date, time, exact location, just to make sure that man could be there like we knew he would be."
"River and her backwards forwards approach to time," the Doctor commented, a slight smile crossing his face.
"She made it easy for us," Rory explained. "Without that money, those papers, we would have been destitute and probably in jail inside a week."
"Did you really not know what she did?" Amy asked curiously.
"Not in as many words," the Doctor admitted. "I mentioned it once, that we'd have to go back before 1938 and sort something out for the pair of you. She patted my cheek and said 'already sorted my love'. I admit, selfishly, it suited me to never have to bring it up again."
"It wasn't your fault," Amy said quietly. "What happened to us – it wasn't your fault."
"Of course it was," the Doctor countered. "I put you at risk every day. Something was bound to happen eventually. It always does."
"Is that why you're travelling alone?"
"I can't have another ruined life on my conscience," he said firmly, his expression grim.
"Oh, don't be daft," Amy exclaimed. "Do we look like ruined lives to you? Tell him Rory!"
"We've been very happy here," Rory said earnestly. "We've had a good life - a great life. Maybe better than the one we would have had if we'd stayed in our own time."
"What about family – Brian, your parents Amy?" the Doctor persisted. "What about the children you never had? Madam Kovarian got to you because of me Amy – she took something from you I can never give you back."
"That's true, River was the only child we ever conceived," Amy agreed, no hint of accusation in her tone. "But here, in this time, adopting is so much easier, especially if you have a child as resourceful as River. A couple as well to do as we are makes it to the head of the adoption queue very quickly."
"You adopted?" the Doctor glanced around wide eyed, as if expecting to notice for the first time children who'd been there all along.
"Yes, seven years ago, as soon as we could after the war ended. A boy, Anthony Brian Williams. He's eight now and a real handful," Amy said, smiling.
"He takes after his mother there," Rory added.
"Oiy!" Amy mock glared at her husband.
"And you're just mentioning this now?" the Doctor accused. "Bring him out already, unless you're afraid I'll be a bad influence on him."
Amy laughed. "Anthony's at camp – you'll meet him next weekend, if you're still here."
"Anthony Pond," the Doctor murmured, delighted. "What a remarkable thing."
"Williams," Rory corrected with a long suffering sigh. "His name is Anthony Williams."
"Of course it is," the Doctor agreed. It didn't make it all better but knowing Amy and Rory got that second chance to be parents filled a dark space the Doctor had inside with light. Perhaps there was one less thing he had to feel guilty about.
It took two full weeks in New York before he'd run out of places to busy himself at. Perhaps the sadness of the previous day contributed to the Doctor's lack of direction – deep down they'd all been hoping that River would somehow turn up as usual for her monthly visit on schedule. When the day passed without her, heaviness fell over the Pond/Williams house … because they all had to face the fact that River really was gone, for good.
Regardless of the cause, the Doctor was actually at home alone – with Amy and Rory at work and Anthony still away at camp for two more days, if he didn't find somewhere to be he'd find himself in a very quiet house that felt much too large for just his one self. He was at the point of considering Central Park as a real destination for the day – a place he'd steadfastly refused to even contemplate since his arrival – when the doorbell rang.
He looked around for a few moments, not sure how to proceed. The Doctor didn't answer other people's doors as a general rule. When the bell sounded again he shrugged. "What the hell, might as well see who it is," he said aloud.
"Mr Williams?" the man at the door asked. Possibly of Italian descent, he was slim and on the short side of average height and wore a stern, serious expression. He was dressed in a grey suit and looked very clean cut and above reproach but the Doctor took an instant dislike to him. There was just something … off in the expression in the stranger's dark eyes.
"Who wants to know?" the Doctor demanded.
"I am Mr Harvey B. Smythe," the man said somewhat pompously, "and I represent the firm of Smythe, Brookes, and Lane."
"Good for you. And who might they be?"
"Private investigators for New York's finest citizens," Harvey shared, his tone suggesting it was something the Doctor should already have known.
"By finest I assume you mean richest," the Doctor replied. "A firm with three partners seems a bit much though. What would these 'finest' need investigating that requires three of you on the job?"
"Our firm employs a large support staff," Smythe retorted, clearly insulted by the Doctor's less than impressed attitude. "We handle delicate matters of a confidential nature. Some of those involve locating persons whose whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Lost someone have you?" the Doctor smirked. "That's a bit careless, isn't it?"
The stranger ground his teeth and then took a visibly deep breath, making an obvious effort to ignore the Doctor's contrariness and regroup. "A client wishes to speak with Mr Williams on the whereabouts of a Melody Malone. If you aren't Mr Williams, perhaps you're still able to assist in this matter?"
As soon as River's 1930's name was mentioned here in the fifties, all hints at playful teasing dropped from the Doctor's face. Straightening to his full height he eyed the other man through a narrowed gaze. "What does your client want with Ms Malone?"
"I'm sorry, I can't divulge that information," Harvey replied. "Are you in contact with the lady in question?"
"I'm sorry, I can't divulge that information either," the Doctor retorted sarcastically, "especially not without knowing who wants it and what they intend to do with it."
He hadn't said one way or the other whether he knew where Melody was but his manner was suggestive enough for the investigator to suspect that he did. The other man's interest was definitely piqued and he was cluey enough to know he'd have to give a little to get a little.
"My client is interested in speaking with Ms Malone about a piece of rare information he believes she's in possession of," Harvey offered, his tone shifting to friendly. "It shouldn't take long, once he's in contact with Ms Malone, to conclude the matter to everyone's satisfaction."
"What piece of rare information?" the Doctor queried. "What have you gotten yourself into this time River Song?" he thought.
"That's not something I'm required to know to pursue the case," Harvey replied.
"That's a rather fancy way of saying you don't know," the Doctor pointed out. His mind was moving at high speed as he considered how best to proceed. He'd never been on any adventures with River centred around New York during this time period so it could all be a storm in a tea cup. It was only the thought that maybe he hadn't seen River for the last time, that at some point in her timeline she might still be in need of his help, that saw him hesitating. "What led you here?" he asked, stalling for time.
"Ms Malone operates in the investigative community in the city as well, although on a freelance basis. We put out the call last year for her help on a case - her expertise in particular areas was of interest to our client," Harvey admitted. "During that investigation Ms Malone listed this address as a contact point if needed."
"Then why not just ask for her?" the Doctor asked. "Why the subterfuge?"
"Our client's preference was to involve only Ms Malone herself, and only after we had assured ourselves that no external influences would interfere."
"You've had her under surveillance," the Doctor realised abruptly, which mean they'd had him under surveillance too. He had nothing to hide per say, but he still didn't like the sound of that either.
"For some time, yes," Harvey said unapologetically. "We were just at the point of approaching her directly."
"Except she didn't turn up yesterday, forcing you to show yourself instead of hiding in the bushes," the Doctor accused.
"That's right," Harvey admitted. "My client's needs have become more urgent. He is most insistent on getting in touch with Ms Malone. Her pattern has changed, leaving us with few options."
"Of course it has," the Doctor murmured under his breath, grimacing. He might have said more but the sound of footsteps moving up the pathway towards them stopped him.
He shifted to see around Harvey, tensing when he saw Rory and Amy making their way towards the door. "Bugger," he muttered, raising a smile from somewhere as he waved to the Ponds. "Rory, Amy," he called, ignoring the way Harvey stiffened at the evidence that he himself wasn't the Mr Williams the other man had come to talk to.
"Doctor," Amy greeted him, frowning as she glanced from her friend to the stranger on her doorstep.
"This gentleman was after information about Melody Malone," the Doctor quickly explained.
"Melody?" Amy shot a glance to the Doctor. He met her eyes, trying to convey the message that she should play along and reveal nothing, all without saying a word, like he'd done many times in the past. "Oh, Mel-o-dy," she put too much emphasis on the name and the Doctor shook his head. After fifteen years off the job as Doctor's companion, Amy was more than a little rusty!
"What did you want to know?" Rory asked in a mild tone.
"What I'd really like is to give you my card," Harvey countered, reaching into his top pocket and pulling out a crisp, neat white rectangle and offering it to Rory. "When Ms Malone next gets in touch with you I would appreciate you having her contact my office so that I can put her in touch with my client."
Rory took the card, glanced at it, and then tucked it into his pocket. "Melody won't be coming back for any more visits," he said with quiet seriousness. "She's ah … she's gone," he stumbled, swallowed and then continued. "Passed away, a few weeks ago."
"Oh," Harvey looked shocked for a moment and then shifted uncomfortably, in that way of people when given the kind of information they had no idea how to react to. "That is a terrible shame. I only met her the once but found her to be a delightful lady. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Yes, well …," Rory shrugged, glancing away before he seemed to make himself look at their visitor. "I wish we could help you because that would mean she'd visited again." There was a moment of awkward silence before they all realised they were still standing on the door step. "If there's nothing else," he began.
"That's all," Harvey said. "Please, Mr Williams, Ma'am," he nodded to Amy. "Keep my card and don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of investigative assistance in the future."
He left then, leaving the Doctor, Amy and Rory staring after him.
"What was that all about?" Rory asked.
"I have no idea, but I'm going to find out," the Doctor replied.