Chapter 26

"Maybe you should ask Jack for help," Amy suggested as soon as the Doctor had explained the situation to her.

He sighed. Jack Harkness was an old friend and private detective and he was good at what he did but the more people the Doctor asked for help the more people he put in danger. Besides, Jack's work was too slow. He needed to get Clara out of there right away.

The Doctor paced the kitchen for a moment, racking his brain for an answer, but all he could come up with were more questions.

"It all comes down to who murdered Dave and why," he said eventually, staring at Amy. Who killed him? What was the reason? And why did Missy want him to lead the organisation? It seemed connected somehow and yet the Doctor failed to see how. Eventually the Doctor reached for his phone again.

"Are you calling Jack?" Amy asked.

"No," he growled before he hit the green button. The phone rang a couple of times until finally she picked up the phone.

"I didn't expect to hear from you again, Doctor," Kate Stewart said, "I don't think you want to apologize for your little trick with the key?"

She didn't even seem mad about that, her voice was curious more than anything.

"That trick was Clara's idea. I didn't know about it. Otherwise I wouldn't have let you shoot me, would I?" he spat in reply.

"Fair point," Kate said, "So, what do you want this time?"

The Doctor took a deep breath. If he did it Clara might never forgive him, yet he knew it would be better for both of them and maybe Clara would realize it eventually. "Your help. In exchange for the key. The real one," he promised.

After a moment of hesitation Kate started to laugh. "I'm sorry, but do you actually think I'm going to fall for that a second time?"

"It's not a trick," the Doctor insisted, "Believe me, I didn't know Clara had switched the keys. Help me and you will get the real key. We will go to the bank together and open the box if you don't trust me. But I need your help."

For a while he heard nothing except her breathing. Then Kate scoffed. "What made you change your mind, Doctor? Why are you willing to give up the key now?"

"Because I hate the alternative!" he half yelled at her, "I just want to live my life in peace and I want Clara to be able to do the same! I want nothing to do with all of it any longer! You are a good person, Kate, you would use the information in this box wisely."

"So would you," she replied quietly.

"Except that you want it," he sighed, "I just want Clara."

Only as he spoke the words the Doctor realized how true they were. He wanted to be with her more than anything, far way from all of this mess, far away from danger. Just the Doctor and Clara. Whether she wanted the same or not what another matter, but it was his duty to protect her from her father's organisation, it was what he had promised Dave and he would keep that promise no matter the cost. Even if it meant betraying Clara.

"What do you need?" Kate asked him eventually.

The Doctor inhaled sharply, trying to focus. "Find out who profits most if Harold Saxon wins the election and increases weapon exports," he told her.

"What?"

"That was the last case put before Dave, to prevent Harold Saxon from winning. If you find the person who profits most from his victory, you have a motive for Dave's murder."

"How does that help?" Kate inquired.

"First, because Clara needs to know. She will never rest unless she does. Second, it might help me understand why all of this is happening," he explained.

"Alright," Kate agreed eventually, "You'll have my answer by morning."

The Doctor nodded even though she couldn't see. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry about shooting you," she suddenly added to his surprise. The last thing the Doctor would have suspected was an apology from her after Clara had tricked her. "I know I went too far."

"It's okay," the Doctor reassured her, "You wanted the key to keep the country safe. I wouldn't have hesitated to shoot you to protect Clara either."

Kate didn't reply, so the Doctor simply ended the call. Now all he had to do was wait until morning.

"Why is he taking so long?" Clara complained loudly and found the same impatience on Missy's face when she looked at her. The Doctor had sent her a message, saying that he would meet her at Missy's house at noon. Clara felt not only impatient, but also tired. She had barely slept in this strange house without the comforting presence of the Doctor by her side but now, as the early afternoon started creeping up on them, it seemed that he was letting her down.

"The Doctor has never been known for his punctuality," Missy rolled her eyes, "He will show up. Eventually."

As if on cue the living room door burst open and the Doctor stepped inside. The door fell shut behind him as Clara watched him rub his right wrist.

"Why, didn't my butler offer to escort you?" Missy asked innocently, "How rude of him."

"He did," the Doctor growled in reply, "And I'm sure he'll be conscious again in a while."

"Doctor!" Clara exclaimed in horror. She had seen him when he had gotten protective of her before, but never as furious as this. The Doctor seemed to be fuming with rage.

What startled her even more was when he suddenly drew a gun out from behind his back and pointed it straight at Missy.

"Doctor! What's gotten into you?!" she asked him, almost yelling, "I talked to Missy and we made a deal. You and I, we will lead the organisation. She doesn't want the key! Put down the gun!"

Even though the Doctor kept glaring at her he still lowered his gun.

"Well, that's not a very nice way to say hello to an old friend, is it?" Missy asked but flinched immediately when the Doctor yelled at her to shut up before he turned his attention towards Clara.

"We will not lead the organisation. I'm not gonna do it and you're not gonna do it either," he said determinedly and suddenly Clara felt a little afraid of him. She had never seen him so angry before. But it wasn't his decision to make. Her father had given the key to her, not him.

"We will do it together," Clara argued, "And in exchange Missy is going to tell me who murdered my parents."

The Doctor shot around to face Missy again. "Tell her the truth," he demanded, "Tell her!"

Clara wasn't sure what was happening but she watched as Missy shrugged and sighed. "I did it."

The words hung in the air for a long time before another sound was to be heard and yet Clara couldn't quite grasp their meaning.

"You did what?" she asked and the sound of her own voice suddenly seemed foreign to her. It was so small that she hardly recognized it.

"I killed your parents," Missy said matter-of-factly, as if she was confessing to dropping a plate and breaking it, "It was me."

"Doctor," Clara said quietly, "Give me your gun."