(Author's note: Let's see who among you figures this out first ;D make me proud out there Outlaw Gents and Shady Ladies. First one gets a cookie)
"Don't you even dare," Sarah Jane scolded, much to Barlow's surprise. Even though he knew neither of them had done anything, The Doctor had to admit that Barlow was right. It looked terrible for he, and Sarah Jane.
Were he someone else, he would think he was the killer, just with the evidence here. He ,and Sarah were the only ones outside when this happened, as far as anyone knew. That made them the prime suspects. He would think the same.
He was trying not to concern himself with that at the moment. That did not matter, not really. What mattered, was that hand print on the wall.
It was obvious what it did; it read someone, or something's, hand print. What it did after that, was a mystery. Open a door perhaps? Maybe it was a way to call for help, or activated a security system. More than likely though, it was a door.
The Doctor first thought it read Pierce's hand, but it was too large, too thick. He couldn't imagine any human who's hand could. Except for maybe someone who ate steroids for dinner every night. It had to be something important. She died for it, thinking her hand would work.
"The evidence is against you, my dear. Even you must see that," Barlow continued.
"You can't believe that... can you? The only people trying to protect you?" Sarah Jane argued. Somehow she still always tried to see the best in people, to delve for it, if she had to, even if they gave up on her.
"And doing a fine job so far," Barlow smirked. He was enjoying this, his moment in the sun. Who could smile in the face of two dead innocents melted beyond any semblance of being people? What sort of man was that?
"You do have to admit, it doesn't look good Sarah..." Silas agreed, seemingly begrudgingly. The hurt on Sarah Jane's face was evident. A man she believed to be her friend, now turning on her. He wasn't surprised. There were only four suspects left. It was every man for themselves at this point.
"It's not them, it can't be," Drucille abruptly but in, much to The Doctor's surprise, "they were with me when Varrillo was killed. It can't be them."
"That doesn't mean much coming from an actress, like you." Barlow scoffed, "I think your all in this together. I think..." The Doctor had had more than enough of him now. He was done being polite.
"No one cares what you think Barlow!" The Scotsman snapped, "if anything, your my main suspect right now. When we came back this morning, the door to the den was locked!"
"What does that..." Genevieve started to ask.
"It means someone re-locked it after those two left!" The Doctor shouted, "or maybe after the locker in question came back!" Barlow narrowed his gaze. "You say it doesn't look good for me, Soldier Boy, but I'd say it looks far worse for you."
"Maybe Winston, and Felicia locked it with a key when they left, and no one knew, just as the Sergeant said." Genevieve reasoned.
"Someone knew, they're dead!" Sarah Jane countered. The Doctor had reached his limit. They needed to act, now. At this rate, if the assassin didn't kill them, they would do each other in.
He moved passed Barlow, and Silas, to Drucille. He placed both hands on her skinny shoulders, ducking his head so to look her in the eye.
"I need the code to Pierce's safe. I need it now," he prodded. He was firm, but he didn't want her to feel threatened.
"I don't..." she started.
"Yes, you do. I know you lied to me, and that's alright. I understand there is something in that safe you don't want other people to see. I don't care what it is, how scandalous it is, or damning it is. We're dying, Drucille. I need that code."
"Do you think there is a key in there? A key to the door?" She asked. He could tell she was considering it.
"Yes, I do," he nodded, "please, help me." She hesitated, her wrinkled lips quivering.
"Zero, two, eight, four, then press five, and nine, at the same time," she relented.
"Thankyou,"he was grateful to her, for her cooperation. He turned around. "Let's go open her up, shall we?"
As the group entered, Pierce' office, Sarah Jane could not help but be on edge. Three deaths over night, and they were no closer to discovering their killer. Actually, in a macabre way, they were. They knew Winston, Felicia, and Ricard hadn't done this.
Ricard had no redeeming qualities to her. He was an alcoholic, lecherous, brute. That did not mean she wanted him to die in such a way. Strangulation; it was a torturous way to go.
Winston, and Felicia upset her more. Winston had seemed polite for the most part, and Felicia very kind. They both were respectable, and she never had a cross word with either of them. The brutality of their deaths... Sarah Jane had seen many terrible, ugly things in the company of a Time Lord, but she would have a difficult time erasing Winston's coagulated head from her mind.
This only left them with four options. Drucille had been with them when Varrillo was killed. This could narrow it down to three, but the actress was awful quick to point that out, not only covering The Doctor, but herself. Sarah Jane could not be sure of the timing of that homicide. Only two people could, one was dead, and the other made her that way. She would keep an eye on her.
Regardless, Barlow was her main suspect. He was supposed to be awake when Ricard was. What better time to kill him? His supposed ignorance of Winston, and Felicia's plan was insulting. He knew, and did nothing. Not only that, she agreed with The Doctor. Someone re-locked the door.
She was even beginning to doubt Silas, and Genevieve. She had initially thought that the heiress could not have faked such emotion, but now, she was unsure. Although she wanted to believe that Silas was her friend, despite his agreement with Barlow's accusations, she could not deny that he could be the killer. It wasn't the first time someone she believed was her friend, was a foe in disguise.
The Doctor hurried into Pierce' office, passed the desk, and to the gigantic safe. Sarah could not help but notice his haste. His motions were hurried, and she saw his eyes dart to the other people. He wanted to figure this out, and he couldn't. He wanted to prevent more loss of life; he wasn't succeeding at that either.
"Hey, Barlow's gone," Silas announced, a worried tone in his electric tinged voice. That about sealed it for her. Why else would he disappear after three deaths, and a myrid of accusations.
"I know, he turned away as we left the kitchens," The Doctor waved off, starting to imput the code into the safe.
"Why didn't you say anything?" came Genevieve's exasperated question.
"Because it doesn't matter. If he's the killer, he's giving us time to prepare, or escape. If he isn't, he's making himself a target, which is also buying us time," reasoned the Time Lord.
"So, if he isn't killing us, he's bait? Is that all we are to you, usable assets?" Genevieve shook her head.
"Your the business woman, you tell me." He seemed unconcerned with Barlow leaving, but Sarah Jane knew better. He was gathering himself, and calculating the options. Most importantly, he wasn't panicking.
This Doctor in particular was very organized, not like some of his counterparts. He compartmentalized what needed to be done, and proceeded. He was efficient, even when he seemed like he had no clue what he was doing. Currently, he was dealing with the safe. Afterword, he would deal with Barlow. Perhaps others misunderstood him, but not Sarah Jane. She had known him for far too long for that, and had gotten to know this version well.
The Doctor finished typing the code, and, with a blip, the heavy door swung open. Sarah Jane stepped forward, peeking over The Doctor's shoulder, into Pierce's safe.
There were only three things inside. One, was some sort of playable disk inside a case. It had no marker on it to tell what it was. Beside that was a second key, just as The Doctor had expected. Upon seeing it, the Time Lord plucked it from it's holdings, and held it up.
It was the same as the other, curved like a moon, with scythe like teeth on either side. It was identical to the first, even in the placement of the chip on the side.
"You were right," commented Sarah Jane. That was one step closer to them getting out of here. His maniac grin was reply enough.
"So, that's it? We can unlock the door?" Genevieve asked, her tone hopeful.
"I think we need one more," Sarah replied, letting her down easily.
As The Doctor slid the key into the pocket of his coat, his attention returned to the safe. The final article was a thick metal hand, with a hole in the palm. Wires jutted out of the wrist, and she noted it was dented, and scratched heavily.
She knew what it was immediately. It was a Cyberman hand, and she had an idea where it came from. Although it was thirty years ago, to Pierce, yesterday, The Doctor, and Sarah Jane had met Pierce when he was young. He, and his group of miners had awoken a severely damaged M3 Cyberman. Sarah Jane, and The Doctor were able to disable it for him, saving most of his crew from the hideous machine. Evidently, it had made him wealthy enough to begin his business pursuits.
And that was a piece of it. Why had Pierce kept a section of such an awful machine? Sentimental value of having been his first business success?
"Please, may I have that... that there?" Drucille asked, pointing a spindle finger at the disk. The Doctor looked at her, then the item. He picked up the disk, holding it up.
"Is this what you were protecting?" he asked, his deep eyes ever analyzing.
"Yes... please..." she nearly begged. It looked almost as though her cold eyes were about to tear, though she held it back well. The Doctor turned it over in her hands, before holding it out for her to take it, with a smile. She took it, cautiously, narrowing her eyes.
"Aren't you going to ask what is on it, why it's so important?" she asked.
"Trust me, I don't care," the Scotsman replied. He turned his attention back to the safe as Drucille put the disk in the pocket of her fur coat. Sarah Jane was curious what was on it, that would cause her to risk everyone's lives, as well as her own, to protect it, but she did not ask. If she had wanted everyone to know, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to protect it.
She watched as The Doctor pulled the Cyberman hand out next. He examined it, moving the fingers, and prodding the palm. She half expected it to come to life, though it didn't, much to her relief.
He looked up from the metal hand, his eyes far away, before snapping back, looking at her.
"This is it Sarah, this is what that print in the wall is for!" He shouted. So excited were his movement, he accidently smacked the metal creation of the edge of the desk.
It made sense to her, and she suddenly felt thick. How could she not have seen it. It was human shape, but large, and thick, exactly like the hole in the wall.
"That's all well, and good, but we still need one more key. Unless you think it's behind that..." Silas pointed to the hand, making a circle with his finger.
"I don't know what that does, Silas. But it's certainly interesting isn't it," The Doctor replied.
"And if the key is not there?" Drucille questioned.
"There's only one other place we haven't looked yet. I hadn't thought of it until now, but it makes perfect sense."
"Where Doctor?" Sarah was ready, where ever it was. She would help any way that she could.
"Pierce's body," he said firmly.
"That's ghastly," Genevieve gasped. She noted that Drucille looked particularly unnerved by that prospect, her face having bleached out.
"If it comes between that, and being killed I'll do it," Silas stated.
"What if we split up, cover both?" Sarah proposed. It made sense. They could cover more ground, in case one of the options was wrong.
"I don't think..." he started, but Sarah cut him off. She knew what he would say, and she did not want to argue with him.
"It may make getting out of here quicker. Besides, I can handle myself, Doctor. You don't have to worry." Even though she wasn't keen on being caught by the assassin, she had faced worse. She had beaten worse. She wasn't a fraud like Varrillo, or a rich do-nothing like Ricard. She was a companion of The Doctor!
"Alright," he smiled, knowingly, "take Silas, and Drucille. I'll take Genevieve." He took a step forward, placing both hands on her shoulders. His wise eye's peered into her, his tone serious. "If you find the key, you open that door, and get out of here, you hear me? Don't you dare wait for me Sarah." He dug into his pocket, pulling out both keys, and placed them in her hand. She smiled back.
"Why do you bother telling me that? You know I'm not going to do it."
"No idea, tradition I suppose," he shrugged.
"Daft old man," she shook her head.
"You hang out with me, what does that make you?"
"Good luck, Doctor."
"Same to you," he replied.
With Silas, and Drucille behind her, she left the room, glimpsing The Doctor starting toward the kitchen. As they wound through the hall, she hoped the key would be on Pierce's body. She did not want to see anymore death tonight. She wanted to see this brought to a close. If they could just call for help, the authorities could sort it out.
Yet, she knew that would not happen. If the killer was in that room, it knew they were almost out of here. If it was Barlow, which she was now thinking it was, especially considering his sudden disappearance, then he was preparing for the final act. He wouldn't want them to leave. A confrontation was boiling either way.
"What is on that disk?" Silas abruptly asked as they walked.
"I would have assumed Pierce would have told you, of all people," Drucille answered.
"No... he never mentioned it. Or the hand for that matter. Turns out Pierce kept a lot from me," Silas shrugged.
"It's proof. I'm sure you know of Pierce's proclivities, don't you?" she sounded genuinely surprised.
"I don't know what you mean..." he left that statement hang.
"Pierce was gay, and that video was blackmail he ended up forced to buy. It's the only copy," she answered.
"What? That's absurd! You two were..."
"A fake. He didn't feel like he could be respected in his business if he was gay, so we faked a relationship. It helped my career too, and protected his."
"So that business about you, and him breaking up?" Silas questioned.
"Publicity stunt. It got my name back in the paper, and his stock prices sky rocketed. I'm surprised he never told you, his best friend." She sounded genuine.
"So am I... especially you two keeping that up for twenty something years," Silas answered. Sarah imagined he felt betrayed, and lied to. She understood Pierce's side however. Some were not as easy going as herself, and The Doctor, (and Drucille, evidently), and she could see Pierce preferring to hide it.
"So all that about you loving Pierce back in his office?" Sarah Jane asked.
"I do love Pierce... like a brother. I couldn't let that proof fall into the hands of someone who would sell it to the press, watch him get torn apart posthumously." It was a far more altruistic motive than she had originally thought. Perhaps the shallowness was only a veneer.
They walked down the steps of the main hall, passing the large entry doors once again. Sarah Jane hoped that the next time they walked by them, they would have a means of escape.
She cautiously reentered the ballroom. It was almost eerie how silent it now was. No conversation echoed across the room, and no music assaulted the ears. It was silent as a tomb; which, in a way, it was.
Except much to her shock, that which would make it a tomb, was not there. The spot where Pierce had laid was empty. No trace of his corpse existed, as though he had never died there in the first place.
"Where... the bloody hell did he go?" a shocked Silas asked. Sarah Jane had no answers for him. Something else was at work here. She did not know what, but it was very bad. Very bad indeed.
The Doctor walked briskly back through the halls leading to the kitchen, Cyberman hand in his clutches, and Genevieve at his back. He looked down at the hand. He could not help but wonder what was behind that door, if it was even a door. For all he knew, it was a self destruct system, or let loose a killer dog. He did not know why anyone would keep either of those things in a pantry, but he saw a basket of pears in there. Obviously Pierce was an animal, so it was all up in the air.
"Do... you think we're going to get out of here?" Genevieve asked quietly.
"Yes, I do. I have every intention of getting you out of here, alive," and he did. At this point, with so much death, even discovering the killer was becoming secondary. Too many people had died. He was The Doctor; he had to save people.
Thy entered the kitchen, The Doctor trying not too look at Winston' s melted face. He couldn't imagine his horrific last moments. People thought that death was painless, just because it was quick. It never was, not even then.
Genevieve kept her eyes forward, not looking at either of the bodies. She seemed to take the deaths much harder than anyone else. He wished she hadn't had to see any of it. Unfortunately, that was not the way of the universe. Everyone saw horrors. They either learned from it, or were destroyed by it.
He stepped into the pantry, and over Felicia's body. She was too young to die that way. He held up the Cyberman hand, ready to place it into the groove.
A loud zap tore the silence of the room, and a green red flash came from behind him. No...
He rushed back out, just in time to see Genevieve hit the floor. A blackened hole smoked in her chest, and her hands twitched and tore at it frantically. Her pretty eyes gazed up at him painfully, and one hand reached up, before dropping. The life drained from her eyes, becoming a blank stare.
"I was wrong Doctor, this doesn't look good for you."
Barlow stood in the doorway, an evil grin on his cruel face. He held a glowing plasma pistol in his hand, still smoking with the shot that killed Genevieve.