Chapter Text
“How many is that now?” Gwen asked, perusing yet more images of what she recognised as weevil attack injuries.
Tosh didn’t look away from the report she’d been working on. “Twelve.”
“And not one wants to talk about it. It doesn’t make sense.”
“It does if they were up to something they shouldn’t have been.” Owen said, tossing another image into a folder.
“Like what?”
He shrugged. “Maybe they’re running some hunting ring or something. There’s always some dick head wanting to kill something. Usually people with more money than brains.”
“So they’re walking around the sewers, trying to kill weevils?”
“I’ve heard of people doing stranger things for a thrill.”
“Then we have to stop them… Well, we have to find them first.”
“I haven’t found any link between the people who’ve been attacked other than their gender and refusal to speak.” Tosh pushed her glasses back up her nose.
“Then maybe-” Jack announced. “-we should do a little weevil hunting of our own.”
Owen scoffed. “You think we’re just going to run into them?”
“We could set out some bait.”
“Janet’s too far past her prime for that. She wouldn’t be able to defend herself.”
“She can bite just fine.”
“Yea, but the fact that we aren’t just picking up corpses means they know at least a bit about what they’re doing. I don’t want to risk her getting killed.”
“I didn’t know she was your pet.”
“Do you know how long it took to train her to not attack me during tests? She’s important.”
Jack sighed, but understood Owens position. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Can’t we just case their usual haunts?”
“If you want to sit for hours looking out for the slight chance that there might be a weevil around.”
Tosh glanced between them. “That might not be necessary. Since the first group of injuries I redoubled my efforts of tracking the local weevil population. I thought I’d found a kind of territory line as the weevils would enter but not always leave.”
“We haven’t found any weevil bodies.”
“That was unusual but not unheard of. The useful thing is that this place happens to be an underground car park. Though the cameras inside haven’t worked in around a year there is one just outside.”
Jack smiled, knowing she was working towards something undoubtedly clever and possibly case breaking. “And what did it record?”
“Initially not much but-” She brought up stills from a video on one of her screens. “- there’s an unmarked white van that spends an unusual amount of time there. What’s more its licence place has been treated to look blurry through cameras to avoid being traced.”
“But that’s never stopped you before.”
She gave the little smile she kept for when she’d been particularly clever. “The blurring effect only works on stills. By overlaying the plate from each slightly different angle captured on the repeated visits I can negate it. I’ve been letting the computer search through the DVLA database.”
“Come on Tosh, you’re killing me here.”
“Patience.”
“Never heard of her.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t completely hide her amusement. “Ah, here we are. The van is owned by a Mark Lynch. Part owner of the Lynch Frost estate agency. Looks like it’s had some repair work recently.”
“Maybe I should go and have a chat with Mr Lynch. In the meantime keep looking into him and how he links to those who’ve been injured. Gwen, I might need your skills. I don’t know what it is about estate agents but they’re some of the most skilled liars I’ve ever met.”
Ianto Handed him his coat as he swept around, ready to go.
Mark Lynch was just a little bit too well put together. A little too polished. Like a high end used car salesman. He definitely struck Gwen as the predatory type as he gave her a crocodiles smile.
“Mr Lynch?”
“In the flesh. How can I help you?” He winked at her.
She stopped herself from cringing. “I’m here about a vehicle that’s registered under your name.”
“Oh? Well, I have a few.”
“It’s a van. A business vehicle?”
“Don’t tell me one of my staff have been speeding Miss…”
“Cooper.”
“Well, Miss Cooper, I can’t imagine what one of my vans has been up to.”
“It’s been spotted late at night around an area that has been linked to criminal activity. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”
His smile didn’t falter even for a moment. “Not a thing.”
“Are you sure Mr Lynch? Would you like to explain the repairs to the vehicle?”
The slightest expansion of his pupils said she’d caught him off guard. “Oh, yea. One of my staff decided to use that van to move some furniture and he didn’t secure it very well. It did a real number on the interior.” A good recovery.
Gwen nodded then looked him right in the eye. “That doesn’t explain the blood found behind one of the panels Mr Lynch.”
“Blood? I wouldn’t know anything about that. Are you sure it was blood?” The mask of perfection cracked just a little.
“Could I take a look at the vehicle?”
“Of course. It’s just outside.”
That she hadn’t expected. She guessed he’d want her to come back with a warrant. “Lead the way.”
Outside he opened up the back of the van to show the spotless interior. Or at least that was how it looked, she could still smell the faintest hint of weevil behind the chemical perfume used in industrial cleaners. She wasn’t going to find anything. That didn’t mean the search was pointless though. While she checked behind the side panels she carefully hid a small tracking device that Tosh had given her.
“Well, everything looks fine here Mr Lynch.” She said, stepping out of the van. “Thank you for your time.
He closed the doors. “Not a problem Miss Cooper. You’re always welcome to come back any time.” he smirked like he’d won some sort of game, though it also could have been because he was watching her butt while she climbed in and out of the van.
Jack didn’t look over as Gwen climbed into the SUV, though he did have a smile on his face.
“Oh don’t you start Jack Harkness.”
“I haven’t said a thing.”
“But you’re thinking it.”
“You were the one practising your downward dog in the back of a van.”
“Shut your face. It worked didn’t it?”
“Perfectly.”
“Well then.”
“I wasn’t complaining.”
“Shut!”
“It was a nice view.”
“Up!” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get back. Hopefully he’ll still use that van for his little hunting trip. I could smell the weevil stink all over that thing.”
Tosh set up the tracker to alert her at any sign of movement from the van while she gathered all she could even tangentially connected to Mr Lynch. Engrossed in her work she hadn’t noticed Owen walk up behind her. He leaned on the back of her chair, watching what she was doing.
“Can I help you?” She asked, amused.
He shrugged. “Depends on how much you want to be good and not break any rules.”
“What are you on about?”
He tilted her chin and moved around for a kiss. “What do you think?”
“Here?” She blushed brightly, giggling.
“Why not?”
“It’s the middle of the day and we’re at work.”
“And?”
“And we could get caught.”
“That’s half the fun.” He grinned.
She pulled him down for another kiss. “No. I’m not going to risk that because you’re bored. Anyway, Gwen said they’d be back soon.”
“Of course they are.” He sighed. “How about we go out tonight. If work doesn’t keep us.”
“I’d love to.”
He smiled softly and turned back to his own computer.
“Well, if it’s all the same to you two I’d rather not see any of that.” Ianto said, appearing from his usual haunt with a mug in his hand.
Tosh clamped her hands over her mouth, turning a beetroot shade of red. “Oh my god! I thought you’d be in the archives all day.”
He sipped his coffee. “I was going to be but it turned out that section had been partially organised already.”
“You’ve got something on your neck.”
“What?”
Owen laughed. “More like someone. Thought you weren’t taking my advice.”
Ianto found the first reflective surface and cursed Jack for leaving a love bite above the line of his collar. Tosh trotted over.
“Who is it? Do we know them?” She asked sincerely.
“Um… I… Well…”
“No judgements, I promise.”
“I don’t.” Owen teased, mischief etched into his face.
“Owen be nice.”
Just as Ianto was wishing for the world to end, just so he could escape, Jack returned. “A word when you’re free sir.” He smiled. The smile he used when he was trying to hide the fact he wanted to kick Jack.
“Always.” The captain beamed.
“In private.”
“Even better.”
Ianto sighed deeply.
“Whatever he says, I didn’t do shit.” Owen called after them.
Tosh waited until Jack and Ianto were out of earshot before scooting over to Gwen, almost bouncing.
“Gwen, we think Ianto has a new girlfriend.”
“What?”
Owen shook his head. “We don’t know if he’s got a girlfriend. Could be a one night stand.”
“A one night stand? Ianto? Really? Anyway, how do you know?”
“He had a love bite on his neck.” Tosh smiled. “He has to have a new girlfriend. I was asking who it was when you got back.”
“Who could it even be? I mean no offence to him but he spends most of his time here. No matter how many times I tell him he should come out with us at the weekend.”
“Oh, maybe it’s the woman who delivers the pizza.”
“They are very chatty but I don’t think she’s his type.”
“What is his type?”
“I dunno. Someone more settled, with an office job maybe.”
Owen scoffed. “Christ. They’d be the most boring couple in the world.”
“Well, I think it’d be nice for him. A bit of stability.”
“So how can I help?” Jack grinned, pausing half way down the corridor, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Ianto didn’t look so enthusiastic. “I thought we were keeping our arrangement a secret.”
“I haven’t said anything to anyone.”
“I know but… Well…” He pointed to the mark on his neck.
Jack chuckled. “Sorry. I got carried away. It’s not like I signed you. No one knows who it was.”
“But now they’re asking questions.”
“Tell them it’s none of their business.”
“You know that’ll make them even more interested.”
“What do you want me to tell you Ianto? Are you ashamed of me?”
“No!... I mean no. It’s not about you exactly.” He shook his head. “Never mind. I’m being oversensitive. Just forget it.” He turned to walk away before being pulled back by his hand.
“Come on. If it bothers you it’s something. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want anyone thinking I’m moving on too soon. I don’t want them to see me as a bad person.”
Jack pulled him over and lifted his chin to look him in the eye. “You’re not a bad person. They know that. You’re allowed to move on.”
“Am I?”
“Yea. Look if you need to end this I-”
“No!... I mean, I don’t want to end this.” He unsuccessfully tried to hide the upset in his voice. “Can we just be more careful?”
“Ok. If that makes you more comfortable then sure.”