Corner of the Eye (short story)

Summary
Bob and Kathy are chatting on instant messenger and Bob recounts (for the 50th time, as Kathy keeps forgetting) how, one day he noticed a short bald man standing behind him in the mirror, looking through some old photos, he finds the same man behind him in all of them.He decides to post a "have you seen this man?" ad. The Doctor then appears, having read the ad and travelled to Bob's house (arriving before the ad was even posted) and asks him various questions. Bob reveals that he has had agoraphobia for the last ten years, which the Doctor remarks as being odd. Bob then shows the Doctor his computer, explaining that he speaks to Kathy via instant messenger and the Doctor asks why they do not live together (they seemingly split up 10 years ago), Bob cannot think of an answer. The Doctor then asks if Bob has any other form of contact with anyone, and Bob replies that he doesn't write letters, he hates the phone and he cannot email since he doesn't even have an internet connection. After repeating this a few times, Bob realises that Instant Messenger requires an internet connection, so he really shouldn't be able to chat with Kathy. The Doctor gets suspicious, and searches the house, making a shocking discovery in the cellar. Kathy is underneath the old wine racks, and looks as if she has been there for ten years. The Doctor talks to Bob about Floofs, short, hairless creatures (like the one in all Bob's photos) who hide out of peoples sight, secrectly disorganising their lives (moving keys around, stealing important letters, etc.). Bob's however, has killed Kathy and set up a computer programme to think that it is her, writing on instant messenger just as she would. Bob demonstrates by asking Kathy to describe where she is, all she can give him is a list of features about the room that she is in (not actually knowing anything about the room whre the computer is). The Floof then messed around with Bob's head, removing his suspicions and confining hime to his house, so as to cut him off from the rest of the world. The Doctor then orders the Floof to stay still so that they can talk, and explains that he is taking Bob away so that the Floof cannot harm him any more.

The Kathy programme asks Bob how he can be chatting now if he left the computer. He tells her that he is not the real Bob. On his instructions, she asks him where he is. He answers with the same list of information she gave him earlier, inicating that he is now just a computer programme too.

Characters

 * The Doctor
 * "Bob"
 * "Kathy"
 * Floof

Continuity
As Rose does not join the Doctor on this adventure it could take place either around the time of Attack of the Graske or somewhere between The Runaway Bride and Smith and Jones.

Timeline

 * This story occurs after DW: The Runaway Bride
 * This story occurs before DWM: The Warkeeper's Crown