Bigger on the inside: Space, Time Travel, Alien Criminals (A Space Time Travel Mystery Book 1)

by Alianna Smith

  “It’s not that, Rose,” he said. “I... I’m not sure it’s proper for me to work for you, considering what happened.”

  “The kissing thing.”

  “I loved the kissing thing.”

  “Oh.”

  “Aye.”

  Rose took a deep breath. “We shouldn’t discuss this over the phone.”

  “No.”

  “The thing is I’ve had to leave the city,” she said, her voice laced by chagrin. “Which is why my call is so late.”

  “It is, but it’s okay if you’re in a different time zone. Where are you?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”

  Dave didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s work, Dave. It’s part of my job that we not disclose our location to outsiders,” she explained.

  “We?”

  “Mickey and Dominic are with me. You met Mickey briefly that night.”

  “Right.”

  “He’s my best friend, Dave.”

  He blushed. “I didn’t... I’m not...”

  “No. I just wanted you to know.”

  “What is that job of yours?” he asked. He wasn’t stupid; she wasn’t with the police, but it was obvious she wasn’t just working for the Heritage Trust Fund. Rose must have realised that too.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I thought so.”

  “It has nothing to do with us, Dave.”

  “Us?”

  “We’re back at square one. The kissing thing.”

  “Aye.”

  “I know it’s very soon for you. I’ll... I,” Rose said, stopping herself.

  “I know,” Dave said.

  “Can we talk when I’m back? Over dinner. I’ll cook.”

  “Rose,” he began.

  “I don’t know when I’ll be back, so you get some time to think things over. Please?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Rose exhaled and he could hear her smile as she did so.

  “Is it bedtime for you?” he asked.

  “Way past,” she said.

  “Well, feel yourself kissed good night.”

  “And you. Sweet dreams, Dave.”

  Dave rung off, staring at his phone for a while after he had ended the call. The conversation had taken a more intimate turn than he had expected — or even dreamed of — at the beginning. He had fallen for Rose, hard and very quickly. There was no denying it now. He’d be foolish if he didn’t acknowledge his feelings for her, guilty conscience or no. He’d just have to take things slowly, give each of time to get used the idea of them being more than just friends. The idea made him smile despite his guilty conscience.

  Could you love more than one woman with all your heart?

  Chapter 16

  It had been a long day, and when she’d called Dave she’d been about to get some rest. She’d been about to go to sleep, but she had reached the point where she was so overtired that she knew it would be impossible to get to sleep. Mickey, Dominic and she had been deployed to the Arabian Desert at very short notice by Headquarters in London since their branch wasn’t fully functional yet and the London offices were short-staffed. Jake, in London’s opinion, was more than capable to oversee the conversion of the Priory by himself. At least, the case they had been assigned seemed straightforward. A delegation of Sheeryan traders wanted to purchase seeds of a rare desert plant which they hoped would help them save an endangered species of medicinal flower in their home world.

  While Rose conducted the negotiations, Dominic was to observe how Torchwood worked. Although a doctor, his tasks wouldn’t be restricted to the infirmary. The Priory Team was simply going to be too small to be able to let him stay behind in the office most of the time, waiting for his skills to be needed.

  They spent the night in one of the poshest hotels in town, at the invitation of the Sheeryans. The traders were grateful to Torchwood for helping them out with this problem, as well as what they had done for the ship that had crashed in the Glasgow park. Even though the three of them felt uncomfortable accepting such generosity, Rose knew that it was the politic thing to do and so she accepted graciously on her team’s behalf.

  The team had met briefly with the Sheeryan delegation after their arrival. The aliens had been wearing a shimmer to hide their true forms, basically humanoid, but skin that was a lovely shade of blue and an extra pair of arms. Rose and Mickey joked about them looking like Smurfs, but it was a private joke because like so many other things the Smurfs didn’t exist in Pete’s World. Dominic had stood by, watching them interact. Torchwood had a good relationship with the Sheeryans, and he told Rose later that if he hadn’t known he’d never have realised they were aliens.

  “That’s the idea,” Rose said, grinning at him with the tip of her tongue in the corner of her mouth. “When we meet with the Sheik tomorrow, we mustn’t let on who we are. I’ll just be nice and decorative on your arm while you conduct the negotiations.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll do the interpreting,” Rose laughed. “The Sheeryan have a very sophisticated translator but to keep up the appearance that they were British citizens I’ll do the talking. They want me to do it, just to be on the safe side. But since I am a woman, and the tribe we’re trading with is one of the more traditional ones, we’ll have to pretend that it’s really you who does the talking.”

  “But wouldn’t they want a male interpreter?” Dominic asked.

  “Not if I’m the only one you trust,” Rose said. She bit her lip before she continued, “Also, I’ll be your wife.”

  Dominic’s eyes went wide. “Right,” he said after a few moments. Mickey, Rose noticed, couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

  “Have you got one of their translators?” Dominic asked.

  “I have something better,” Rose said. “I speak their language.”

  “You speak the language of some obscure Bedouin tribe?”

  “When I travelled with the Doctor,” she explained, “I saved his life, and in the process I got the gift of languages.”

  “And then I put your grasp of languages down to excellent private tutoring,” Dominic said.

  “It isn’t so different, really. It’s an explanation that the general public are ready to accept,” Rose said.

  Dominic nodded. Rose gave him a simple golden ring that he was to put on for appearance’s sake. She showed him her own.

  “And what role do you play in this?” Dominic asked, slipping the ring on his left finger as he looked at Mickey.

  “I’m the muscle. I’ll get to wear a nice white suit and all,” Mickey said, grinning broadly.

  Again, Dominic nodded. The better Rose got to know him the more she appreciated his quiet, accepting demeanour. She couldn’t help wondering, though, how long it would be until his patience ran out. Hopefully, he wasn’t one of those people whose temper snapped violently without warning.

  After the meeting, they had wished each other goodnight and retired to their luxurious rooms. It had just gone two, but as Rose picked up her mobile she felt the urge to call Dave. With any luck he’d be still up, despite the ungodly hour for a call. She just wanted to hear his voice and ask him how things were. Also, she wanted to tell him that she was abroad so he didn’t worry if he tried to ring her.

  Lightheaded, she touched the red button on the screen of her phone. He had still been up and, if the tone of his voice was anything to go by, delighted she’d called. Her chest had gotten tight as the conversation progressed, filling her with, as her Mum said, the warm fuzzies. It was then that she realised that she hadn’t told him that she wouldn’t be available. Although they had access to Torchwood’s satellite network and would get good coverage basically anywhere on the planet, it was part of their policy that they restricted personal calls to the absolute minimum. Rose quickly typed a short email, which she sent to his work account for want of his personal email address, ending it with Love, Rose, and a kiss.

  Now that she was thousands of miles and three time
zones away from him she realised that she didn’t just want to be friends with him. She had known for a while that she wanted to be with him, but that she wanted to love him, and, hopefully, be loved by him in return was different. She’d felt that way for a while now, but with the distance between them she found it easier to admit her feelings. She had really liked kissing him, realising, in that moment as he was cowering in the corner of her bedroom, his expression aghast, that she loved him.

  Rose laughed as exhilaration washed through her. It shouldn’t feel so unexpected. It certainly felt liberating. They really needed to talk; what she had to tell him wasn’t something to be discussed over the phone. She was glad she had invited him to dinner. Hopefully, the mission would be over soon so she could get back home and whip up something delicious for him.

  -:-

  The negotiations went swiftly once the Sheik had adjusted to the fact that the voice speaking for his trading partners was female. He seemed to accept Dominic’s explanation, that he trusted her alone to interpret faithfully and precisely for him, after short deliberation. The Sheeryans seemed a bit bemused by the whole proceedings at first, but they stuck to the plan they had discussed the night before and followed the conversation with curiosity. Sometimes Rose had the impression that they were more interested in the social interaction than the trade itself. It was those moments when she suggested they talk among themselves, pretending that the Sheik’s suggestions needed discussing. But eventually the trade was done and the Sheik invited them to spend the night with his tribe in the desert. They had prepared a party for them.

  “We would like to leave as soon as possible,” Aquiouk whispered to Rose as she told them of the invitation. Rose couldn’t blame him. She wanted to get back home sooner rather than later as well.

  “I understand that, but it would be extremely rude to turn down their invitation and it might ruin any chances of future trade with them,” she explained. She also found it funny that they didn’t understand that aspect of the Bedouin culture since hospitality was so important on their home world as well.

  Aquiouk frowned and exchanged glances with his partner, Semimnan. “We’re afraid the shimmer might not hold out that long,” Semimnan said.

  Rose pursed her lips. That could be a problem.

  “I’ve got two spare power packs,” Mickey said softly. It was the first time he’d spoken in the Arabs’ company. Until then, he and Semimnan had played their role of silent muscle to the letter. They had put on impassive expressions and stood by as if the goings-on were none of their business. They had kept an eye on the Sheik’s entourage, the hooded falcons perching on some of the men’s fists in particular.

  Semimnan’s face lit up. It was obvious that he very much wanted to stay to find out more about his Human hosts. He talked to Aquiouk briefly in their own language.

  “Do you think this is wise?” Dominic asked her softly.

  Rose shrugged. “The power packs are good for forty-eight hours, so I don’t see why not. We’ll be back long before that.”

  Dominic sighed. “I was hoping we’d be able to get back as soon as possible as well. I’m not sure I like the way they treat women.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m a guest, a guest’s wife even,” Rose said.

  “Hmm.”

  “We’ll be all right,” Mickey agreed. “It’d be worse if we turned down their hospitality.”

  “We would like to accept their hospitality. For one night,” Aquiouk said, bowing slightly. He remembered, at the last moment, to do so towards Dominic instead of Rose. She fastened the veil over her nose and mouth and turned back to the Sheik to thank him for his generosity and hospitality.

  The Sheik grinned at Dominic, and soon arrangements were made for them to follow him and his men in their hired Jeep. The Sheik had his own Jeep, in which he had arrived at their negotiations in the shade of a tent on the edge of the desert.

  The ride through the desert was bumpy, and for a while Rose wondered how the Bedouin found their way in the ever-changing sand. It even looked as if the ground itself were moving. The wind was blowing constantly, drawing waves in the orange sand so that it looked like rippling water. But instead of the sun glittering on the water there was a constant tingling and rushing sound as the grains chafed against each other.

  In the car, Rose took off her veil; it offered protection against the sun, but it was also very hot. Dominic looked at her for a moment and smiled. Rose put her glasses back on and returned her gaze to the dunes outside. She jumped a little when he touched her thigh.

  “Water?” he asked, holding a bottle out for her. She took it gratefully but tried not to meet his eyes for too long. It was obvious that Dominic was interested in her. It was funny. For years, no one had wanted to get to know her, and now that she had met Dave, Dominic had showed up as well. Hopefully, Dominic would accept her no as such when the time came. At least she was sure about how she felt for Dave — and she hoped that he felt the same way about her. The kiss had been too intense for it to have been casual. And the way he’d wished her a goodnight when she’d talked to him on the phone had been too... intimate for ‘just friends’.

  Rose smiled and took another swig of water.

  “What’s so amusing?” Dominic asked, leaning in a little. He, too, had taken off his hat. His dark hair was matted to his head where the hat had sat, and he looked flushed.

  “I was just thinking of someone who would enjoy this ride a lot. And the scenery,” she said. It wasn’t a lie. Dave would enjoy taking photos of this fascinating desert.

  “Ah.”

  “You might want to put on some more sunscreen,” she said, digging in her handbag for the bottle. He took it and refreshed the protective layer.

  When they arrived in the village of tents they were greeted with much fanfare, but since it was close to the hottest time of the day, they were offered the chance to retire to their tents for a nap. Much to Rose’s dismay, she and Dominic were to share one tent, while Mickey bunked down with the Sheeryans in another. She didn’t find it all funny when Mickey waggled his eyebrows at her. If even he had noticed Dominic’s interest in her, then he was more serious than she’d thought. Oh dear. Mickey didn’t know about Dave. She’d have to remedy that, and soon.

  Surprisingly, she found that falling asleep was easier than she’d expected it to be once she’d finally laid down for a nap. There was a heaviness in her limbs that suggested how tired she still was. Dominic had stretched out next to her but kept his distance.

  “I’d been looking forward to a shower,” he murmured. “I suppose that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

  “That, and a dip in the pool. I’m still tense from the flight,” Rose replied.

  “And I’m sure the wild ride did have its own effect. I could rub your shoulders, if you want?” he asked after a while.

  His offer was very tempting, but Rose didn’t want to encourage him. “No, I’ll be fine, thanks.” She infused her voice with enough drowsiness to suggest that he leave her alone, and he did.

  She’d also wanted to call Dave again that evening. She should have anticipated the Sheik’s invitation — after all, their hospitality was famous. The same went for warning Aquiouk and Semimnan to keep their shimmer devices fully charged. That kind of lack of attention to detail was something she found barely tolerable, and even more so in herself.

  Thoughts of Dave and the kiss had been distracting her. When she closed her eyes she could still feel his lips on hers, and the warmth of his breath as it brushed over her cheek. His smell, a mixture of soap and warmth she’d found appealing, returned with the sensory memory. She wished she could bask in his warmth and scent right then, instead of the stale smell of the strange bedding, with Dominic by her side.

  Rose woke with a start when someone touched her shoulder.

  “Relax, it’s just me,” Dominic said, withdrawing his hand. “Someone’s just come to rouse us. I think we’re expected in the Sheik’s tent. Or where ever it is they want us t
o be.”

  “What’s the time? How long have I been asleep?” Rose sat up in an attempt to shake off her drowsiness.

  “A couple of hours.”

  “What!”

  “We needed it. The jet lag and the excitement took their toll on our bodies,” he said, passing her a bottle of water.

  “I suppose so,” Rose said, taking the water. It hadn’t often been like that when she’d travelled with the Doctor. She’d feel the exhaustion settle in only when she had no energy left in her and she’d be able to sleep virtually anywhere. It had taken the Doctor a while to appreciate that fact and give her some time to sleep. What at first he’d regarded as a nuisance had, over time, become something he’d learned to enjoy. Rose had wondered how long it had been for him since he’d last travelled with a Human that he’d forgotten about something as basic as her need for sleep.