CHAPTER 10

Hirst crossed the footbridge of her lair alongside Regis, clasping her hands behind her back.

"There's been a change of plan," Hirst began. "UNIT are pushing their investigation harder than ever. I was interviewed by two senior officers yesterday."

Regis stopped, folded his arms on the bridge's rail while watching the pond beneath him, and asked Hirst, "What did they want?"

Hirst's back faced Regis as she answered. "Various treatment particulars, missing patient details, and intrusive details of our overall enterprise."

Regis didn't blink, "Who put them on the trail?"

Hirst unclasped her hands and traced her thumb along the tips of her fingernails, "Likely one of the patients. On that note – Braxiatel therapy will no longer be available for hospital patients. Braxiatel will proceed using only voluntary participants signing NDAs."

Regis gripped the rail with such force that pale indentations formed in his palms. "But, my Lady, tonight's investors are not attending the event with the belief that Braxiatel is a not-for-profit endeavour."

Hirst's body twisted like a cobra perturbed.

Using her right hand, Hirst grabbed Regis by the throat, jostling his medium-weight body against the rail. "Do you not think I have already considered that?"

Regis' complexion changed from his pasty-white British hue reddening like a capsicum skin.

His breath came in thin gasps, barely allowing him to articulate entire words. "I…I…," his gasps whimpered to smaller shrieks beneath the frosty chill of her hands squeezing his windpipe.

Hirst glared at Regis with indifference to his suffering. "You will make them accept your pitch."

Regis' feet stomped on the wooden bridge as sweat streamed down his forehead.

His reddened eyes inflated like hot air inside a balloon.

Regis collapsed onto all fours after Hirst released her grip.

She knelt beside him, hissing, "Because if I run short on volunteers, you will be assigned as a candidate. Do I make myself clear?"

Regis dryly raped, "Yes. My Lady."

MEANWHILE

Madison steered the black BMW X5 through London's afternoon traffic, addressing Kate on the loudspeaker. "Jiles seemed evasive, but he wasn't so offended that he didn't offer me an invite for this evening's Thames event."

"I gather Professor Hirst will be present?" Kate asked.

"That's what I've been told," Madison replied as she slowed before a red light, suggesting, "I'll let Doyle know. Perhaps they can arrange a pass for him. We could finally lift their veil on that whole operation."

"An evening on the Thames? See if you can secure me a ticket."

Madison watched the traffic light with a smile, "I know how much you enjoy the finer things. I have a feeling money has been spent for the soiree."

The light turned green, and Madison slowly drove forward.

"Are you coming into the office?"

Madison shook her head, "Not yet. I want to visit Tina James to ask her about Braxiatel therapy." She turned the corner, watching her satellite navigation screen.

"That sounds risky, Madison."

Madison's left foot slipped from her tan open-back shoe, "There must be something in it. Jiles seemed palpably discomforted as soon as I had mentioned the missing patients."

"Tread very carefully, Madison. Tina was quite inconsolable when we last saw her. I'd sooner you not visit, but I am open to it if you feel it helps and the visit is brief."

"I've dealt with my share of aggrieved family members at London Metropolitan. You have my word that I'll be mindful of Tina's fragility."

"Keep me in the loop." Kate requested, "That includes lodging requests for borrowing the company's European vehicles."

Madison flicked her hair defiantly, "The Hondas were taken."

"You must have been despondent."

"Beyond belief," Madison laughed.

"Protocol, dear. We'll talk soon."

THE JAMES RESIDENCE

The Doctor closed the front gate, following Martha toward the house.

Martha rubbed her chilly, uncovered arms, having had no time to put on a coat over her sleeveless top during the sudden evacuation from her apartment.

She eyed the Doctor's suit blazer, hoping he would drape it around her shoulders as he did the night before.

Her attention snappily shifted to the front door after hearing Tina open the front door, dressed in a loose-fitting white cable-knit jumper and relaxed chinos, barefoot.

Martha gently nudged her elbow into the Doctor's arm.

"Are you Tina James?" He asked.

"Yes, I am. I wasn't expecting visitors," she informed with strained softness.

"No, this is an impromptu visit. We can always come back at a later time. We're from the independent board of medical practitioners. Our visit concerns our audit of Lister Hospital. I'm Doctor John Smith, and this is my colleague, Miss," he paused to consider whether or not he should use Martha's real name, "Miss Bernice Summerfield."

Martha's fingers fidgeted as her arms hung by her side, "We want to help you get the closure you deserve."

Tina felt a light flicker within her memory, "I recognise you from somewhere."

Martha swallowed, recalling the evening when she had first met Tina, who had complained about her. She breathed a moment before taking a chance with a candid reply, "We have met. I was at the hospital that night when you told us that you had seen your daughter."

"Yes! I remember you."

"I want to apologise. I know I wasn't helpful, but everything just happened at once. Not that it's any excuse."

Tina nodded, "You're forgiven, Bernice. I'm afraid that your superiors were not too much more helpful either. I can't blame you. They never apologised. You're already a cut above them."

Martha hunched her shoulders, laughing, "If it makes a difference, I was fired. I'm now working for the Doctor to help because I know there is a coverup."

Tina's jaw trembled, her eyes glinting from the swell of a single tear, "There absolutely is a coverup. Let's talk. Please, come inside."

The Doctor and Martha sat silently on a couch in Tina's front room, waiting for her to return.

The sound of daytime suburban traffic filtered in from outside as the Doctor studied the family photos framed on the alabaster wall behind him.

He deduced that Tina's family comprised herself, a husband, and two daughters.

Of course, the Doctor knew that Audrey's sister was now an only child.

Tina entered the carpeted living room carrying a tray with a teapot and cups, setting it down on the glass-topped table.

Sitting opposite her two guests, Tina described Audrey as a daughter who never lost hope.

After discussing Audrey's circle of friends, Tina spoke about the anguish surrounding the failure of the Braxiatel treatment.

The Doctor used this moment as an inroad for his investigation. "What did they say when Audrey vanished?"

Tina's manner, perhaps beyond her control, slipped as her voice hardened. "Nobody at Hertfordshire had any idea! Not even filing a police report helped either."

"What happened?" The Doctor asked.

"It all just fell on deaf ears!"

"Did you ever consider going to the press?" Martha asked

"I went beyond that! I approached them with the story. I gave them the emails between myself and the hospital." She shakily poured three cups of tea.

"Did they follow up?" The Doctor asked.

Tina's demeanour, perhaps beyond her control, shifted as her voice hardened.

She reached for a tissue and dabbed the glass-topped table, mopping up the drips as she spoke. "At first, they were naturally enthusiastic. Then, I got a call from one of the networks who told me that they were dropping the matter without telling me why."

"You spoke with my supervisor, Regis?" Martha asked, sipping a mouthful of soothing Earl Grey tea that warmed her chest.

Tina dabbed a tissue against her moistened eyes before answering. "He told me that perhaps, given my grief, I was seeing things."

The Doctor's disgust was apparent, "Regis was telling you that you were wrong?"

Tina nodded, "Yes. He dismissed it was happening at all." She scrunched the tissue, setting it down on the table before continuing. "When I had first checked Audrey into the program, I met a parent who had signed his son up for the same treatment. We became great friends. But then," her thoughts were locked in suspended animation as her eyes went into shock. "Then, his son went missing. Just like Audrey." Tina frantically pulled more tissues from the box, losing her composure with loud sobs.

Martha moved toward Tina and draped an arm around her shoulders as she sat by her side.

The Doctor nodded thankfully to Martha, "What did Regis say?"

"He denied ever hearing about it."

The Doctor and Martha exchanged worried glances after hearing Tina's doorbell ring, triggering a concern that they might have been followed to Tina's house.

Martha stood up, but Tina shakily patted her hand. "No. Please. Allow me." She stood. "I'll send them away. Please stay, there's more you must hear."

Martha breathed out, sitting back with her left ankle perched on her right knee, eyeing the Doctor with intrigue as she wiggled her left booted foot, "This definitely leads to Hirst?"

He stood, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his brown suit trousers, and began to pace. "Absolutely."

"Maybe we should offer something she wants? Dangle a carrot?"

"Go on," the Doctor verbally beckoned.

Martha reluctantly answered, tracing the fingers of her right hand along the zipper of her left boot, "You."

The Doctor swallowed and shifted his gaze from Martha to the carpet, "I have considered it. But it would be in vain if our attempt at a prisoner exchange gave Hirst two prisoners. Sam is the priority."

"So, what then?"

Tina returned and was accompanied by a young Asian woman dressed in a suit. Tina said, "I have another unexpected visitor that I think you should meet. This woman is from UNIT. Her name is Madison."

"UNIT," the Doctor muttered privately.

Tina introduced Madison, gesturing toward the Doctor and Martha, "This is Bernice, this is Doctor John Smith."

Madison tilted her head, "John Smith and Berenice?" She tilted her head while studying Martha, "Bernice Summerfield?"

Martha stood from the couch and stood by the Doctor's side.

He interjected with a clearing of the throat, "That's correct. Do you work with Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart?"

Madison shook her head, "Alistair has retired. I work with Alistair's daughter, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart."

He hesitantly volunteered, "I'm the Doctor."

Madison nodded, "I've read much about you, all of you."

"It's been an enduring relationship."

Martha's eyebrow quirked with confusion as their exchange continued with their seemingly esoteric exchange.

"I take it we're here for the same reason? Braxiatel Incorporated, and Professor Angela Hirst." The Doctor comforted Tina, "With Audrey James being the imperative."

Madison studied the Doctor's slender figure in his brown suit with blue pinstripes. "It seems that we have much to discuss, Doctor. Kate will, no doubt, feel the same."

"No questions on that," The Doctor answered, assuring Tina, "I'm going to make sure that there's no further suffering. I won't stop."

Tina clasped her hands together, "Thank you so much!" She pulled the Doctor into a hug.

UNIT

The drive from Tina's house to UNIT took about thirty minutes.

Martha sat in the backseat next to the Doctor, lightly tracing her fingertips along his forearm to get his attention. "You love this, don't you?"

He answered, "A drive-through visit would have been nice. I'm hankering for some chicken nuggets."

Martha's eyes darted sideways as she withdrew her hand. "No, I mean all this detective stuff. Questioning, collecting clues, escaping, running?"

He focused ahead sternly, "It's not a game, Martha. There are real stakes at play."

"I know. But you do seem in your element."

Once they arrived in the London CBD, Madison drove toward a side street and approached a derelict building.

The nondescript entrance featured a ramp descending into an ordinary car park.

Madison ogled the Doctor through the rear-view mirror, "You're much younger than your predecessors."

The Doctor waved his hand dismissively, "Just living my best life."

"We must compare notes, Mister Smith," Madison suggested as she turned the corner to enter a basement level.

Martha's left leg nudged the Doctor's right leg, winking with an exaggerated husked whisper, "Mister Smith."

Madison slowed them as she brought them to a metallic roller door.

Once Madison approached, she rolled down her window and extended her arm to swipe a white card across a reader next to the roller door entrance.

The metal door noisily coiled upward, emitting a sound like rusted metal sheeting being compressed.

Madison drove the vehicle forward, glancing at her passengers through the rear-view mirror, "Don't get out."

The Doctor widened his eyes at Martha, "Maybe this is the drive-through?"

Martha responded, "Chocolate or vanilla shake?"

"Strawberry."

"Urgh," Martha mocked a self-choke as though she was short of breath.

Madison looked over her shoulder, "What about salted caramel?"

"A favourite of yours?" The Doctor asked.

"It is. It's also one of my nicknames."

Martha's leg nudged his leg again, miming, "She. Wants. It."

Once the roller door had shut, the concrete floor descended into a brightly lit shaft.

It took two minutes for the lift to arrive in a bland, colourless basement.

Madison released her seatbelt and opened the front door, "Come on."

The Doctor and Martha followed Madison through a solitary wooden door, which opened into a bright white corridor leading to an elevator. Madison walked ahead, "The basement was an old bunker during World War Two."

The Doctor breathed in, "I was there." He corrected, "Weeell, my predecessor."

Martha rolled her eyes, "Of course."

Once all three had boarded, Madison pressed the touchscreen for the top floor in the lift carriage.

Upon arrival, Martha was in awe of the marble-lined corridor leading to Kate's office.

Staff in corporate attire walked through the corridors where sliding glass doors lined the walls, each marked with labels indicating their respective departments.

They entered a reception area and were directed to Kate's office by her receptionist.

Madison entered Kate's office first, announcing, "Kate, we have a guest," stepping aside. "Introducing the Doctor."

Kate stood as she smoothed her white, long-sleeved shirt tucked into a pair of grey trousers.

The dull thuds of her black stiletto shoes grew louder as she quickened her pace, "Is it really you?"

His face lit with glee, "I almost asked whether you were a Lethbridge-Stewart."

Kate's shoulders relaxed in relief, almost as though she were receiving a blessing, "He misses you so much."

"I'm told that he's retired?"

She nodded, "For a few years, in fact." She then addressed Martha, "You're working with the Doctor?"

Madison introduced them, "Bernice Summerfield."

The Doctor winced awkwardly, waving his finger, "Actually, that's a lie. We needed a cover story so we could have time with Tina. This is Martha Jones. She worked at Lister Hospital when all the kooky stuff happened."

Kate nodded, "I see. It's a pleasure to meet you. I take it you're a Doctor?"

"Not quite, but in my final year of study."

Kate remarked, "Two Doctors in the field. That's quite a pairing." Kate refocused on the Doctor's unusually youthful appearance, adjusting herself to his current form against his previous ones who, typically, were older in appearance. "We could definitely use your help with this Braxiatel business. Perhaps you would like to see the autopsy results of Audrey James?"

Madison squeezed Martha's upper arm, "Come on, we'll get coffee. I'll show you around."

Martha smiled to the Doctor, offering. "You don't need a hand?"

He nodded, "If anything, UNIT will be briefing me. Go on, take a break. You've earned it."

She pointed at him, "No running off."

Kate humorously warned the Doctor, "You may have finally met your match."