Chapter Seven
"Doctor?"
Quay shifted his weight uncomfortably. The Doctor was just staring at the empty spot in the street where River had been taken. He still held the anklet in his hand, but there was nothing the device could tell them that would help now. It was nearing midnight and the gentle mist was turning into a proper rain. Quay was sharply reminded of the shock he'd been in himself when Tanya had gone missing as he watched the Doctor standing motionless in the rain. Quay gave him a moment, but as they both became soaked to the skin Quay reached out and put his hand on the Doctor's shoulder.
"Doctor?"
"We need to go back to the scene of the crime." The Doctor replied, still staring at the empty street.
"Isn't that here?"
"No." The Doctor shook his head. "This is just where she was ambushed, something drove her here, this started when she went backstage to her dressing room."
Quay nodded. It still took the Doctor another minute before he was willing to turn away from the desolate patch of street. The doors in the back of the club didn't have handles on the outside so Quay rapped a special knock on the door and one of the guards opened it from the inside. He asked the guard if anyone had tried to leave while he was gone, the guard consulted the front of the club over his radio before he shook his head.
"Should I give the order to take the club off lock down?" Quay asked the Doctor.
"Lock down?"
"I gave the order before we left. Drinks on the house."
"I don't understand."
"If you officially lock a place down people panic, so I put out the order for free drinks, trust me at that point the only people looking to leave have something to hide. However no one has gone anywhere."
"I don't think our kidnappers were in the audience."
"It wasn't one of my men." Quay said defensively.
"I'm not saying that it was." The Doctor said then paused. "Wait...'your men'? Quay, do you own The Golden Nightingale?"
"I do. That surprises you?"
"A little." The Doctor admitted with a smile. "You look too young to own a night club."
"It's a family heirloom, my father wanted to retire early."
"Smart man."
Quay managed a slight smile as he walked with the Doctor to River's dressing room. There was a man standing guard outside the door and the Doctor learned that all the employes had posts to report to when the club was in 'lock down'. Quay dismissed the guard and told him to have the others stay alert but to stand down. Quay unlocked the door with his code and let the Doctor step in first.
Nothing seemed out of place at first glance, there was certainly no sign of a struggle. The room was a bit of a mess with outfits, shoes, make-up and other feminine paraphernalia strewn about, however the room had looked like that ever since River had taken it over from Tanya, probably before then for that matter. The Doctor pushed his wet hair out of his face and started to scan the room with the sonic. When he got to the closet he suddenly became very interested.
"Hello..." The Doctor muttered.
"What is it?"
"There is some kind of technology in here that doesn't belong on this planet."
Quay reached into his jacket and rested his hand on his laser gun that was secure in the shoulder holster that he wore. The Doctor cautiously open the closet door. As far as Quay could tell there was nothing grossly out of place in the closet. The Doctor use the sonic to home in on the offending technology as he dug deep into the closet. Tucked in the back he pulled out something that looked to Quay like a watch on a heavy leather band. The Doctor seemed disappointed to have found it as he put it back.
"What was that?" Quay asked.
"Nothing. It belongs to River."
"Is she an alien like you?" Quay asked suddenly.
"What makes you think I'm alien?" The Doctor asked with a hint of a smile.
"Just about everything about you." Quay shrugged. "You may look human but the similarity basically end there."
"Well, you're not wrong, but it isn't often that a human picks me out as alien. Even after humans learned that they aren't alone and spread out among the stars they still tend to think they are the only species in the Universe unless they are confronted with something with an obvious difference like green skin or giant teeth or something. The fact that you noticed me tells me a lot about you."
"Such as?"
"Such as the fact that you are highly observant like me, and that means our kidnapper has to be that much more clever to get past the pair of us."
Quay nodded.
"So look around." The Doctor turned to the room and put his hands on his hips. "What is different about this room tonight? What is different than the previous nights that River has sung here? Something has to be different. Something has to be out of place. The tiniest detail matters at this point."
Quay followed the Doctor's lead and studied the room. The pair were both dripping water onto the floor from being out in the rain but neither cared. Standing back to back they both slowly took in the room as they slowly turned to gain a 360 view. They made two turns as they studied the scene. The Doctor made a noise of frustration.
"I don't see anything different, nothing out of place, nothing missing, nothing that doesn't belong." The Doctor sighed.
"I agree. The only thing that's different is the same thing that's different every night."
"What do you mean?"
"Well the flowers of course." Quay pointed to the white roses with the single blue rose. "I always bring Miss Song fresh flowers."
"You always choose the bouquets out of hundreds?" The Doctor asked as he stepped up to the roses.
"That room is always full, some get tossed before they even make it to my choice."
"You don't keep track of who sends them?"
"It's too difficult. Most come anonymously anyway." Quay admitted. "But they are just flowers...right?"
"I once met a flower that tried to eat myself and my companion," the Doctor peered at the roses "quite the appetite for a daffodil."
"What?"
"Appearances aren't always what they seem."
Quay looked doubtfully at the Doctor, the roses didn't look out of the ordinary, or even slightly carnivorous. Inspecting the flowers without touching them the Doctor sniffed at the fragrant flowers. Taking a step back he contemplated the flowers with the same doubtful look that Quay had given him.
"Well?" Quay asked.
"They certainly smell like ordinary roses." The Doctor shrugged.
The Doctor reached towards his pocket to retrieve the sonic but stopped suddenly and pressed his hand against his chest. Quay stepped forward in concern when a brief expression of pain flashed across the Doctor's features. The Doctor jerked away from Quay's approach and stared at him in horror. Suddenly breathing heavily the Doctor took a step back. Tilting his head to the side it looked like he was trying to listen to something far away.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Quay asked concerned.
"I can't be here." The Doctor said as he looked around as if he'd never seen the place before. "I can't stay..."
"What?"
"Stay away from me!"
Quay automatically stepped back at the Doctor's out burst. Seeing his opportunity the Doctor bolted for the door. Quay shouted after him, but it was too late he was running at top speed down the hallway. Quay was after him in a split second but the Doctor proved to be a surprisingly fast runner.
"Doctor!"
Without looking back the Doctor continued to run like a buck being driven by a predator. One of the staff happened to step into his path and the Doctor shoved him back. The employee fell to the carpeted floor with a cry of surprise. Unapologetic the Doctor continued to run. Quay didn't have time to help the man on the floor but he didn't appear to be hurt.
Slamming into the back door with his shoulder the Doctor dashed out into the rain. Quay had to pause for a moment once he was out in the darkness to readjust his eyes. Spotting the Doctor running down the alley in the opposite direction that River had fled Quay went after him once more.
Turning towards the front of the club and out by the busier street the Doctor paid no attention to the dangers around him. Quay shouted out a warning as the Doctor stepped out in front of a car and was nearly struck by the vehicle. The Doctor only avoided the collision by the thickness of a piece of paper as the driver barely managed to screech to a stop on the rain slick street. Unaware of the close call the Doctor kept running. Quay jumped out in front of the stopped car with his hands held out as he continued to chase the fleet footed Doctor.
"Doctor, please!" Quay called. "Stop!"
The Doctor glanced over his shoulder as he continuing to run. Quay did his best to catch up as the Doctor turned down a narrow alley that allowed for access to the back of several small retail stores and restaurants. Turning the corner Quay watched as the Doctor ducked inside a blue box with softly glowing white windows that was sitting next to the bins. Quay furrowed his brow as he approached the TARDIS. The Doctor had left the door open just a crack but Quay wasn't sure that it was safe to follow.
"Doctor?" Quay asked hesitantly.
After looking around the dark alley Quay decided that his only choice was to follow the Doctor. Pushing the door open cautiously he expected the Doctor to jump out at him since there couldn't be anywhere to go once inside the small box. Stepping inside Quay marveled at the spacious main chamber.
"Okay...not just any alien...a frightfully powerful one." Quay muttered to himself.
"Go away!"
Quay looked up on the dais where the Doctor was racing around the main controls. The Doctor had told him to leave and apparently just assumed that his orders had been followed. Quay made his way up the stairs towards the Doctor. Panting for breath the Doctor was frantically flipping switches and throwing various levers. When he spotted Quay he jerked away from the control panel.
"Stay away from me!" The Doctor cried in terror. "Just stay away! Please!"
"Doctor...it's me, it's Quay, what is wrong with you?"
"I...don't...kno...I just..." The Doctor stuttered as he backed against the railing. "I just need to run...I have to get away from here..."
"But Miss Song needs our help. You can't go."
"I...I can't go." The Doctor repeated vacantly. "River..."
"That's right, River, we have to save River." Quay reminded the Doctor. "This is what happened to her, this is why she left the club. Doctor..."
Quay stopped when he noticed that the Doctor's fear had been replaced with suspicion. It was like someone had flicked a switch, and the once terrified man was now a terrifying force to be reckoned with. Quay put his hands up in a peaceful gesture as the Doctor glared at him spitefully.
"What have you done with River?!" The Doctor snarled.
"Calm dow..."
The Doctor was quick and lunged forward to attack with his bare hands. Quay was already on guard and took a step back and with one fluid motion drew his laser hand gun. The Doctor jerked back at the sight of the gun and pulled out the sonic which he aimed at Quay. Neither man triggered their device, but neither backed down either. Quay noticed that the Doctor was starting to look unsteady on his feet and hoped to use it to his advantage.
"Put your weapon down!" The Doctor barked.
"Put your weapon down first." Quay replied calmly.
"It's not a weapon, it's a screwdriver."
"Then why are you pointing it at me like that?"
"I...I honestly don't know." The Doctor furrowed his brow as he staggered to the left slightly. "It's just something I do when I feel threatened..."
"Okay..."
"Or confused, anxious, curious, excited ...hungry." The Doctor began rambling as his words started to slur. "It's just something I do..."
"When you're drugged?" Quay offered.
"Drugged? The flowers...River..."
Quay removed his aim from the Doctor as the Doctor lowered the sonic. Still unsure if it was safe to approach the Doctor Quay just held his ground. The Doctor looked around the interior of the TARDIS as if he was confused as to how he'd gotten there. The Doctor started to say something but his eyes rolled back and he dropped to the floor before he could even finish the first word. Quay knelt down and pressed his hand against the Doctor's throat. He furrowed his brow at the odd four beated rhythm of his pulse, but he decided that it was probably normal for the Doctor and that he would wake soon. Sitting down on the glass floor of the dais Quay sighed heavily. With nothing to do other than wait Quay looked around the interior of the main chamber.
"Bigger on the inside...I was not expecting that."
