Barbara and the others were positioned in the front row of spectators. A few paces ahead of them, in a neutral position, sat Tarron, the Chief Enquirer.
The middle judge, the most senior, cleared his throat and read from a paper in serious tones:
"Our decision on the report by Chief Enquirer Tarron is that the prisoner, Ian Chesterton, is guilty of murder, and that his sentence is death, the said sentence to be administered three days after the end of this hearing, unless...' he paused and glanced towards the Doctor, "the representative for the accused can show positive proof why the execution should not be carried out.'
Barbara looked along the row at Susan and the others. They sat pale and still. The judge continued, addressing the Doctor.
"Representative for the Defence, you have a grave duty. You have offered your services in this matter, which complies with the laws of the city of Millenium, in that any person may speak on behalf of another. Are you acquainted with our laws?'
"I have made some study of them,' replied the Doctor modestly.
"Every latitude will be allowed to you, and if you are at fault, I will give you directions.'
The Doctor gave a polite nod. "Thank you.'
The judge then called upon the Representative for the Court, Eyson, to outline the case for the Prosecution. The tall lawyer rose to his feet and in an arrogant, drawling voice outlined his case to the Court.
During his peroration, which took about thirty minutes, Ian stood motionless, head lowered. Only once, when Eyson pointed an accusing finger at him and used the word "murderer', did Ian turn and give him a cold, hard stare.
When he had finished the judge said, "Representative for the Court, Eyson, has stated his facts. You may reply.' He nodded to the Doctor.
The Doctor stood and faced the court. "I cannot defend a man when I have not considered every aspect of the case,' he announced confidently. "I ask for time to examine witnesses, read copies of statements, and prepare my defence.' He sat down abruptly. A ripple of surprise ran through the spectators.
Eyson leaped to his feet. "I object most strongly,' he protested.
"The demand is reasonable in itself,' remarked the judge. "The crime of murder in Millenium is unusual.' He consulted his fellow judges in a low whisper then addressed the Doctor. "I grant you two days.'
The three judges rose and left the courtroom. Eyson crossed the well of the court and shook the Doctor's hand. "I congratulate you,' he said coldly.
"Thank you.'
"It will not alter the outcome.'
"We shall see.' The Doctor gave him a penetrating look. Eyson bowed courteously and walked away.
Ian descended from the dais and patted the Doctor on the back. "Well done.'
"I've been studying their law ever since I heard Eprin had been murdered,' replied the Doctor quietly.
"Eprin!' Altos caught the name as he approached and turned pale. "My friend.'
The Doctor nodded sadly. "Yes. I met him. We arranged to steal the micro-circuit as soon as you arrived. Something must have happened to make him try to take it earlier.'
"And he was killed,' Sabetha said flatly.
There was a moment's silence.
"That is our one chance,' continued the Doctor gently. "Eprin said he would need help. He must have told his plans to someone else. That someone else killed him and took the key.'
"We have to find out why the key was stolen and who took it,' said Ian.
"In two days?' Altos looked pessimistic.
"We'll need every minute of them,' said the Doctor. "Altos and Sabetha, murder seems to be a rare crime here; go to a library and study all the case histories you can find. I want facts and figures. Meet me here in three hours.'
Altos and Sabetha disappeared.
"What do I do?' asked Susan.
"You and Barbara are going to be my detectives. And you, my friend,' he turned to Ian.
"Yes?' Ian still wore a hunted look.
"Trust me.' The Doctor patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
Ian was led away to his cell. Then, at the Doctor's request, he, Barabara and Susan accompanied Tarron to the scene of the crime in the Treasure Vault.
Once inside, the Doctor asked the Inquirer to explain the exact circumstances surrounding the discovery of the crime. He did so in his clipped, precise tones.
"There was a mace beside the body with blood on it. Chesterton was on the floor unconscious. Either he had slipped and banged his head, or Eprin had got a blow in before he died.'
The Doctor glanced round the room. "And the micro-circuit was gone, you say?'
"Yes. That's the only element of the case I don't understand. My men did a heat reflector search of the room. It is absolutely certain that the circuit is not in here. It is equally certain that it has not been taken from here.' The Chief Enquirer shrugged as though he, for one, saw no point in pursuing the matter further.
"Oh, come now, Tarron,' said the Doctor. "We're not dealing in magic. It's obvious that the circuit must have been taken from the room.'
"No. Every person that came in here was checked by the Orza ray scanners as they went out. If anyone had the circuit on them, the scanner would have detected it.' He smiled complacently.
"What if the murderer had hidden it on the body of the dead man?' asked Susan.
"He has been searched. It wasn't there.'
The Doctor glanced down at the floor. A chalked outline now marked the spot where the body had lain. His gaze shifted to the broken display case. "Tell me exactly what happened after the alarm bell sounded,' he said.
Tarron gave a rather bored look and continued. "Well, the relief guard was the first to reach the outside of the door. He was joined almost at once by the Security Controller and a Guardian who was on patrol. When I arrived, the door was open and... well, you know what we found inside.'
"But that's fantastic!' exclaimed Susan. "The circuit couldn't vanish into thin air.'
"Precisely,' snapped the Doctor. "And I fancy that when we discover it's location, we will also discover the identity of the real murderer.'
"We know the murderer,' observed Tarron drily. "It was Chesterton.'
The Doctor smiled politely. "Mr Tarron, I wonder if you'd be good enough to leave us alone for a few minutes? We'd like to discuss a few aspects of this matter between ourselves, Mmm?'
The young man stared at the Doctor's smiling but determined face. "Very well.' He bowed and left.
Barbara pounced on the Doctor. "Any ideas?'
The Doctor scrutinised the ceiling. His fingers played with the lapels of his coat.
"Well?'
"Well what?'
"Have you any idea how the circuit got out of here?' The Doctor's piercing blue eyes fixed themselves on Barbara. "Oh, that. Mmm. Elementary, elementary.' He waved a hand dismissively.
"You know!' cried Susan. "Where?'
"Oh, all in good time.' The Doctor grinned secretively. "What's more important, I think I know who did the killing.'
10: The Mystery of The Locked Room
"Who?' asked Susan in astonishment.
"Ah!'
Barbara eyed the Doctor suspiciously. "How do you know? Tarron's been working at it all day. You've only been here five minutes.'
The Doctor sniffed contemptuously. "Tarron has never doubted that Chesterton was guilty. Grave error. Very grave.'
"Whereas,' began Susan tentatively, "we know he's innocent?'
"Precisely, my child. But,' he raised a forefinger dramatically, "somebody committed the murder. So, we know there must have been a third man in this room. We'll come to how he got inside in a moment. But let's assume he was hiding... here.' He crossed and stood behind the open door. "Now, Barbara. Imagine for a second that you are Chesterton. Stand here.' He placed Barbara in the doorway. "Now. You look inside, you see a body on the floor...'
"I'll be the body,' said Susan. She lay down near the display case.
The Doctor turned to Barbara. "Now... what do you do?'
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Barbara, flustered, said, "Well, I'd go to see if I could help.'
"Good. Good. Then do it.'
Barbara cautiously approached "the body' in front of the shattered display case.
"There's a weapon beside the body,' instructed the Doctor. "Would you examine it?'
Barbara paused. "I might. Yes, I suppose I would.' She knelt down beside Susan and picked up the imaginary weapon.
"You look up,' continued the Doctor, "you see in front of you the very thing you came here to get, the micro-circuit!' Barbara rose and looked into the broken cabinet.
"But,' whispered the Doctor theatrically, "unseen by you, the third man has left his hiding place and is creeping up behind you...' He moved stealthily up behind Barbara and raised a hand to strike her. Barbara turned and gave a little gasp.
"You are struck down!' The Doctor simulated a violent blow to Barbara's head.' Barbara winced. The Doctor's love of realism was a bit unnerving.
"So,' the Doctor continued, "now our third man takes what he came for. He smashes the glass, lifts the key, and the bells ring. He has only a few seconds now. He conceals the key, runs to the door, gets out, closes it... He can't go further because guards and officials are already on their way, so...' the Doctor paused, "he pretends to be the first on the scene.'
"The relief guard?' ventured Susan.
"Yes.' The Doctor beamed with pleasure at the astonished faces of the two women.
"Of course!' exclaimed Barbara. "That's why Eprin on the inside opened the door in the first place. He knew him, even expected him!'
"He went in,' concluded the Doctor, "killed his col-league, heard Chesterton in the hall and hid behind the door. The rest of it we know.'
"That's it!' shouted Susan excitedly. "That must be the way it happened. Let's tell Tarron.'
The Doctor held up a hand. "No. Not yet. This is a theory. We need proof.'
"But you say you know where the micro-circuit is?' Barbara looked puzzled. "Surely that's proof.'
"If Tarron were to find that out,' explained the Doctor, "his case against Chesterton would be complete. At the moment I couldn't prove that Chesterton didn't hide it in its present location.'
"Wherever that is,' said Susan crossly. She was annoyed with the Doctor for not telling them.
"So what are we going to do?' asked Barbara.
The Doctor addressed them both conspiratorially. "I have a little errand for you. I think you might find it interesting.'
Altos and Sabetha spent the best part of the day in the City's Legal Archives. After informing the Doctor of their researches they visited Ian in his cell. They told him of the Doctor's theory concerning the second guard, whose name apparently was Aydon. When they had finished Ian nodded thoughtfully. He recollected the expression on the guard's face when he and Tarron had first emerged from the Treasure Vault on the day of the murder. The man had seemed more than normally interested in their conversation. Sabetha then explained that Barbara and Susan had gone to interview him.
"You mean to tell me the Doctor has sent those two off to talk to a possible murderer?'
Sabetha nodded.
Ian leaped to'his feet. "I hate being caged up like this,' he snapped, "I'm so... so absolutely helpless.' He banged the wall with his fist.
"Sabetha and I have prepared a string of case histories for the Doctor,' said Altos optimistically.
Ian glanced up sharply.
"I know the laws seem strange,' said Sabetha in her gentle, firm voice. "But you must remember that when the keys were removed from the Conscience, people had to make their own rules again.'
"Has any man escaped from a charge of murder?'
"No. But the scales are evenly divided.' Altos looked at him steadily.
Ian relaxed a fraction. "Well, I hope the Doctor manages to tip them in my favour,' he said.
Barbara and Susan stood outside the married quarters of Guard Officer Aydon. They were on the upper floor of a large, functional block of apartments. They pressed the bell. The door was opened by a pretty woman in her mid-twenties. She wore a simple, flowing robe and her hair was swept up in an elaborate chignon. She had quick, intelligent eyes and a firm mouth. Barbara imagined a strong personality lay beneath the gentle facade.
The woman welcomed them amiably and led them into a large but plain living room with a few pieces of modern-looking furniture.
"I'm afraid my husband is not here at the moment,' she explained, motioning the two women to be seated.
Barbara showed her disappointment. "I had hoped to talk to him,' she said. "I thought he might have some facts that had been overlooked.'
The woman smiled at Barbara sympathetically. "I'm sure he'd want to help,' she said warmly, "but he's already told you everything he knows.'
"It's just possible there was some tiny thing...' ventured Barbara, "... something he thought wasn't important.'
Barbara felt the woman's eyes appraise her from head to foot with a quick motion. "The guardians are very thorough, you know,' said the woman. "Besides, Aydon would want the murderer to be caught. Eprin was a good friend of his.'
"Yes, of course.' Barbara glanced away then said, "Tell me, do you know why anybody would want to steal the micro-circuit?'
"Because there are only five of them in the entire universe. It was brought to the city many years ago by a man called Arbitan. It was the sworn duty of the Elders to protect it.'
"So they might pay highly to recover it?' queried Susan.
"Yes.' The woman smiled. "But you know all this. Why else would your friend steal it?'
Before Barbara could answer someone came into the apartment and entered the room. It was Aydon.
"I had to go to the guardian building again, they're asking...' He stopped on seeing Barbara and Susan. "You're the people with Chesterton!' His thin face tightened. "What are you doing here?'
"I wanted to talk to you,' said Barbara.
"I have nothing to say to you. Get out!' He motioned angrily to the door.
"Aydon!'
"I don't want people prying into my affairs. Has she been asking questions about me?'
Susan jumped up from the couch. "Not as many as my Grandfather will ask when he calls you as a witness.'
Aydon grabbed Susan by the arm. "Get out! You hear me. Get out!'
Susan broke away, her eyes blazing. "I just thought you'd like to know that we know where the circuit is hidden.'
"Susan!' cried Barbara in horror.
Aydon stood stunned in the centre of the room. Then, turning to face them, he said slowly, "You know because Chesterton told you where he hid it. Now you're trying to throw suspicion on me. Well, it won't work.' He advanced aggressively towards Barbara and Susan. "Get out before I...'
"Before you what?' repeated Barbara, bravely standing her ground.
"Kill us? Just as you killed Eprin?' cried Susan.
Aydon lifted a fist to strike Susan but his wife jumped in and restrained him. "You'd better go,' she said quietly.
Without a further word Barbara and Susan left.
As they emerged from the apartment they heard angry shouting inside. There was a cry and an interior door was slammed roughly. Barbara bent down and peered through the keyhole. Directly in her line of vision on a small table in the hall was a push-button receiver. A hand, she couldn't tell whose, lifted the receiver and started to tap out a number. At that moment Susan heard footsteps approaching. They could not afford to be caught spying and reluctantly they retreated along the corridor.
The Court was not in session and Larn, the Duty Officer, had been granted temporary leave of absence for a few hours. Eyson, the Representative of the Court, sat at his desk checking some documents against the daily Court Record. The telephone bleeped. Eyson picked up the receiver.
"Eyson here,' he announced in his haughty accent. As he listened his eyes narrowed and he glanced uneasily around the ante-hall. A straggle of court officials came into view.
"Don't say anything else,' he lowered
his voice to a whisper. "There are people near. I'll take it on the personal.' He replaced the receiver and took up a miniature intercom unit instead.
"Alright, go ahead.' He listened for a full minute without saying a word. Then he said softly, "You really think she knows something? You think our friend might not be able to go through with it?' His eyes narrowed. "Now listen carefully,' he breathed, "this is what you may have to do...'
The next day the Court assembled in full session. The public seats in the main body of the courtroom were filled hours beforehand and an expectant buzz filled the air. At the appointed time the Court Clerks and their assistants, followed by the Counsels for Prosecution and Defence and the witnesses, took up their positions. Lastly, the three judges convened at the head of the U-shaped table and Ian was led in. He mounted the prisoner's dais, looking tired.
Behind him to his left sat the Doctor, flanked by Sabetha and Altos. A pile of reference books lay on the table before them. As before, Tarron, the Chief Enquirer, sat midway between both counsels. Behind him, in the first row of spectators, the Doctor could see Barbara and Susan. To their right a few seats along, sat Aydon, the Treasury Vault guard, and his wife, Kala. Eyson, Representative for the Court was called and he began the case for the prosecution.
His speech was a more careful and detailed version of his previous exposition. But whereas on that occasion Eyson had adopted a cool, matter-of-fact tone he now began to couch his arguments more emotively, referring frequently and with haughty contempt to Ian as "the murderer'. He succeeded in so colouring his presentation of the crime that a swell of indignation rose from the courtroom.
Arriving at his concluding peroration, Eyson picked up the spiked mace (recovered from the Treasure Vault and now neatly labelled on the exhibits table below the judges) and held it aloft for all to see.
"This mace!' he intoned, a look of simulated disgust on his face, "is a weapon used by vicious, savage war-makers in primitive times. But the same savagery that wielded it then lives on! In men like the accused!' He pointed' the mace at Ian. "Members of the Tribunal... the evidence already offered is more than enough to ensure the conviction of this man. But you must add to it the fact that,' his voice rose, "under psychometric examination this mace was found to have been held in the right hand of the prisoner!' He glared triumphantly around the courtroom. "I need say no more,' he added quietly. "That concludes the case for the prosecution.' He returned to his seat and a wave of excitement ran through the room.
Doctor Who And The Keys of Marinus Page 8
