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Doctor Who

Page 23

by Alex Kingston


  She handed the book to me.

  I turned to the last page.

  And read this:

  POSTSCRIPT

  NEW YORK, AD 1939

  Come through the doors of the Angel Detective Agency Inc., Floor 33, RCA Building, Manhattan, and maybe you’re expecting just another private eye. I’ve got the trench coat. I’ve got the fedora. I’ve got the hip flask. I’ve got a .357 Magnum in my drawer and a .380 ACP in my boot.

  And I’ve got a Song in my heart.

  Harry’s gone and my faithful dogsbody Phil’s moved on to better things. But that’s just the way it is. Things change, and I’m fine with that. I’ve got enough cabbage to pay my rent and the sun is shining, and I don’t regret a thing.

  Thanks for everything, sister. See you in the next book – and maybe I could get a bit more action, then, huh? Maybe even the Doctor could pay a visit?

  Hey, don’t worry. I’m just kidding. It’s all good with me.

  Give my love to the universe.

  Ever yours,

  No –

  Ever you,

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I must thank Steven Moffat for birthing such a complex character as River Song (Crazy Love), and allowing her to have play dates with so many Doctors, including the likes of Matt Smith, David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, all the way back to Tom Baker and my Big Finish friends!

  Thank you to my other mother and father, Amy and Rory, otherwise known as Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill. If it had not been for that fateful night on the Tardis, this story could never have happened!

  I’m thankful for the deep joy during lockdown in being able to collaborate with my new friends Jac and Steve who provided wonderful editorial assistance; Albert, Joanna, Morgana and Síofra at Penguin Random House; and the divine Grant and Gordon at Curtis Brown, all of whom stopped my home from ever feeling like Stormcage and kept me sane.

  Of course, a massive shout out to all Whovians globally and their insatiable appetite for time travelling adventure. May you always be hungry for more! To my personal favourites, The Kinglets (hmmm, I wonder why?) – Stay the gorgeously fierce, proud, confident women that you are!

  And finally, to my husband Jonathan and dog Wolfie – I love you for keeping me as happy as I am ever going to be.

  THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

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  Ebury

  UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia

  New Zealand | India | South Africa

  Ebury is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

  First published by BBC Books in 2021

  Storyline by Alex Kingston with Jacqueline Rayner

  Copyright © Alex Kingston 2021

  Doctor Who is a BBC Wales production for BBC One.

  Executive producers: Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens

  The moral right of the author has been asserted

  Cover design by Two Associates. Cover images © Getty

  Publishing Director: Albert DePetrillo

  Project Editor: Steve Cole

  Production: Sian Pratley

  ISBN: 978-1-473-53286-1

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Footnote

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, AD 1939

  1 Spoiler – I was right. Just popping back to say I explain it all on page [250]; see if you can get there before I do. Just don’t skip ahead. I might be in a book now, but that doesn’t mean you can cheat.

 

 

 


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