It was not the Doctor, but a soldier. If UNIT were aware that he was here, they would certainly not have sent just one man, and the Doctor would undoubtedly have insisted that he tag along.
They were still investigating, even with numerous witnesses to yesterday's theft. The Master sighed, glanced over at the second bench. At least that project was complete, a little surprise for the Doctor for when he did finally turn up. The artefact, on the other hand, was proving difficult to identify. There were several dozen pieces that were showing the correct deterioration patterns. It seemed that instead of continuing to mimic the pieces around it, the artefact had decided it was easier to hide its own pattern by making everything around it share a similar one.
The Master put down his tools and went upstairs to find Leto. She would have to get rid of the soldier.
He did not believe that she would betray him, not at this juncture. Nevertheless, he did not tell her that he would be listening from the behind the connecting door to the front reception room, nor did he tell her that he had every intention of killing her if she let drop the least hint about his presence in the house.
The van had stopped outside the house, and the engine turned off.
"You know what you have to do?"
Leto nodded, and when the doorbell rang, the Master stepped out of sight.
When she opened the door, she seemed to fall into character. "Good morning," she said brightly, speaking in a perfect BBC English accent. "Can I help you, ah, Corporal?"
" I>Captain /I>," corrected the soldier. "Captain Yates. And yes, madam, I'd like to ask you a few questions if that's alright? May I come in?"
"Oh, of course, of course." Leto stood aside, and led the way through to the front room. "Do have a seat, Captain. Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?"
"No, thank you." He sat gingerly on the edge of one of the chairs. "Tell me, do you live alone here?"
"I don't usually live here at all. It isn't my house, Captain. But Percy's away in the Amazon, and I did want a bit of a holiday. It's lovely countryside, makes a nice change."
"But you're alone here?"
"Yes." She settled back more comfortably in the couch. "What is this about, Captain?"
"There was a break-in at the local museum yesterday afternoon. A car registered to Sir Percival Baldwin was found outside."
Leto's eyes widened. "I say, are you sure? The car's still in the garage as far as I know."
"He could have had more than on car, madam."
"Oh. Yes, quite right. Well, I've only been here a few days, but I didn't notice any disturbances on the grounds." She leaned forward, dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Truthfully, Captain, Percy never was much good about security and the like. I mean, when I arrived the garage wasn't even locked." She shook her head. "Not even a gardener to take care of the grounds in his absence either."
"No visitors to the house?"
"None at all. I just wanted some peace and quiet for a few weeks." She frowned. "This does seem a strange thing for the army to be concerned with though. Isn't this police work?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes."
"What makes this abnormal?"
"I'm afraid that's classified."
"Ah, well, there's a pity. At least I'd have had one exciting holiday tale."
"Where did you say you worked?"
"I didn't." She stood up, and delivered her most charming smile. "Captain, I'm so sorry for taking up your time. I wish I could have been of more help."
Verbal momentum managed to guide him back to the front door, and it was only as she opened it that he succeeded in taking back some of the initiative. "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name."
"Leto Aulksama," she answered truthfully.
"Unusual."
"Yes, I suppose it is. Here, anyway. Goodbye, Captain." She took a neat step backwards and shut the door firmly. She stayed still, waiting until she heard footsteps walking away, before locking the door.
As the van pulled out of the grounds, racing back down the country road, the Master reappeared.
"My dear, that was a marvellous performance."
"He was suspicious. I matched the description the witnesses had given him."
"Well, obviously. But it's hardly conclusive evidence. Did he believe you?"
She nodded. "Yes, I think so."
"Right. That should give us a little time. They'll check, of course, though it'll be difficult to get hold of Baldwin, I imagine." He half-turned away, before remembering something. "You told him your name."
"He asked."
"I very much doubt they'll find a match in their records."
Leto closed her eyes, suddenly looking very tired. "What was I supposed to say?"
"Something a little more, ah, human, perhaps?"
"A religious superstition," she said wryly, echoing his words from her last day on her world. "I'm sorry."
"I doubt it will matter." He opened the door that led down to the cellar.
"Who was he?" she asked. "You knew him. Or he knew you. Else you could have spoken to him yourself."
"I'm quite sure that every soldier in UNIT is familiar with my appearance," he said, disappearing down into the cellar.
He heard her come down the stairs after him, and expected more questions. He glanced up at her as she sat at the other side of the work bench. "I am trying to perform a very complex analysis, I cannot have distractions."
She didn't move. "I want to learn."
He sighed softly, turned back to his work. "Then be still, stay quiet and watch."
Leto did as she was told, and the Master found such an eager observer rather flattering to his ego. He began to explain what he was doing and why, careful to keep the explanations suitable for the stage of development that her civilisation had reached.
She asked sensible questions, cautious in her enquiries at first, but more enthusiastic as the day wore on. Studiously, she avoided questions about the artefact itself, and the Master realised that she really didn't want to know what it was for, what it would give him. Her conscience was bothering her, and perhaps not knowing allowed her to project whatever she liked onto the purpose of this search.
Frustration welled within him. The analysis was both delicate and tedious, and though he could work through the night the thought certainly did not appeal. If only the Doctor would hurry up, he could be done with this round of the game; take a half-hearted swipe at his old friend and go to a more hospitable planet. To leave Earth without making sure the Doctor knew he had been there…why that would simply be bad manners. He needed that satisfaction of knowing that the Doctor knew he'd been beaten, that these human pets of his had suffered, that he had gained something.
He looked at Leto, who seemed to be growing ever more tired. She would be of no use to him exhausted.
"Go and get some sleep."
She nodded and stood up, stretching her arms. "Good night," she said.