Sarah Jane stood in the hotel foyer, looking at the unconscious man, as two paramedics pushed him into the ambulance. She didn't think Marvin was faking, but honesty hadn't exactly been his strong point. Although, if Marvin hadn'tplanned that kidnapping...

'Seems a bit sudden, doesn't it?'

Sarah Jane turned.

'I don't know what happened, Mallory,' she replied. 'He just...'

Mallory nodded.

'He said something about Claudia, though. I mean for having never met-'

'What was it?'

Sarah Jane paused. Where did she start?

'Proof? From where? Or whom?'

Mallory and Sarah Jane each sat on a bed.

'Someone called Laurie Cutter,' Sarah Jane replied.

'I suppose he didn't show you any of it?'

'No.'

Which did seem rather convenient, yes. It all felt quite convenient, at the moment.

'What about Clarence? Any more correspondence?'

Sarah Jane glanced at the telephone.

'They're coming. I don't know who 'they' are.'

Mallory stood up.

'Something to do with Ruby White, the mystery Marvin was ever so determined to get to the bottom of?'

'Do you know much about it, Mallory?'

She shook her head, shrugging.

'No interest to me, frankly,' she replied. 'How about we go and see Claudia? Might put you at ease.'

Sarah Jane looked at her.

'We're not family, they won't-'

Mallory smiled.

'You haven't watched enough films, I see.'

Sarah Jane and Mallory sat alongside Claudia. Even through all of this, the last thing Sarah Jane would have wanted to do was use her journalistic skills for disingenuous purposes. Sister and cousin, that's what they'd blagged their way in as. Would it be the same for seeing Marvin? As the monitor beeped, Sarah Jane watched the unconscious woman in the bed. When would Claudia wake up? Wouldshe wake up?

'What do you think brought it on?' Mallory asked.

Good question. Though a little strange for Mallory to ask.

'Well, all this arguing between us couldn't have been doing him any good. Stress from that, maybe?'

Mallory nodded.

'I imagine Staton and Roberts would be in their element, seeing him in his current state.'

The officers who kidnapped him - whatever happened to them?

'Shame their effort was in vain.'

Sarah Jane paused.

Mallory leaned in.

'Yes, Marvin is ill,' she began. 'Ruby and I have been draining him, since that second time he saved your life.'

Sarah Jane looked at Mallory.

'Well, who wouldn't be fascinated by all your adventures with the Doctor? I would.'

Marvin was...right. He had been right.

'Ruby...White?' asked Sarah Jane.

'You know her as Laurie Cutter.'

Sarah Jane looked at Claudia.

'Of course she was never in on it,' Mallory sniped. 'Not that Marvin's ever going to know.'

Sarah Jane paused. They wouldn't.

'No!'

Mallory smirked.

'Watching your and Marvin's drama has been entertaining,' she said, every word oozing with delight. 'But, do you know what'll be the cherry on top?'

They couldn't. Oh no, they couldn't.

'Oh, yes.'

'Mallory, he doesn't-'

Mallory grabbed Sarah Jane's arm, revealing a teleport on her wrist.

'Mallory-'

Blue light shrouded them both, and they vanished.

To Be Continued...in the next series