Bree's Flat; Cardiff, Wales
Sunday, August 22, 2020
Constable Andy Davidson knocked with as much confidence as he could fake. As an unofficial liaison between the Cardiff police department and Torchwood, he was often asked to be a go-between. Normally, it involved bizarre situations. It wasn't the first notification he'd delivered. But it was the first time it involved someone he knew. Making matters worse, the deceased was a constable.
"Ma'am." He met Dr. Bree Nelson's eyes, gripping his uniform hand in hands. "Can I come in."
She had the look he'd seen to many times. "Yeah." Dr. Nelson stepped back and motioned him inside. After closing the door, she directed him to a nice sofa in the living room.
Andy waited until they were both seated. "I'm sorry. Jodi was fatally shot this morning."
Dr. Nelson tried to keep her composure and failed. The quivering lip led to a burst of tears. Minutes passed before she could find her voice. "What happened?"
"We're working on it." The hardest part was that Jodi was under investigation for corruption when she died. A team was waiting to serve a warrant on the flat. No one wanted to believe Jodi Hsiung betrayed her oath or her fellow constables. As he had to call Gwen after the notification, he'd been briefed. There was little doubt. "Did Jodi say anything about problems at work?"
"No. Why?"
Andy hesitated. "She was suspended this morning pending an investigation into alleged misconduct."
"What?"
"There is a team waiting downstairs to serve a warrant." Andy hated it. "You can take your purse. I have to check the contents and confirm it's yours." He also needed to check for anything covered by the warrant.
Dr. Nelson opened her mouth as if to say something and closed it. Finally, she nodded.
Andy escorted her into the hallway where the search team leader waited. "I'm sorry, Dr. Nelson." She knew Jodi.
"Thanks." Dr. Nelson kept her eyes on the floor.
"I'll take her downstairs. I haven't contacted Gwen yet."
Andy wondered what the problem was after they reached the front entryway. "We should stay away from the glass." Anyone willing to shot a uniformed constable in broad daylight near the main police station wouldn't hesitate to shoot her girlfriend.
"Why are you calling Gwen?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Dr. Nelson sighed. "I quit."
Andy was under the impression people didn't quit. "Torchwood?"
She nodded.
"I still have to call."
Gwen Cooper reluctantly left family football in the building backyard after Andy called. Regardless of how annoyed she was that Bree quit, Jodi died. Gwen couldn't very well delegate that to Dmitri. She really hoped it wasn't a Torchwood situation. Andy's tone and explanation made her wonder if he knew something she wasn't going to like.
He motioned her aside, and explained that Jodi was under internal investigation. "Dr. Nelson needs an attorney and a place to stay. I don't have the details or what Dr. Nelson's suspected of. The warrant included impounding her car and the entire flat."
"I need details."
"I can't." Andy shook his head. "It's an ugly situation."
"All right. I'll see what we can find out from the hub."
"Gwen, I have to report she no longer works for Torchwood."
Which meant Bree was given consideration because of her connection to Torchwood. "I'm taking her back to the hub anyway. She left Torchwood on good terms because of stress." She couldn't cope with learning that Ianto came back from the dead.
Gwen helped Bree into the car before climbing in. Notifications varied by situation and individual. Whatever issues she had with Ianto, she was typically a calm, composed person who kept her emotions in check. She would either pull herself together or crumble under the weight. Time would tell.
"When we get to the hub," Gwen spoke softly, "Dmitri will sit with you. I need to make some calls."
Bree nodded, staring at the dash board.
"It doesn't feel like it right now, but you will get through this."
"I know." Bree had a distant, disconnected tone to her voice.
Gwen couldn't help but remember Jack kept Bree's background a secret. He hired her for a reason he didn't share. The only thing he'd said about it was during a conversation on the Observatory. He needed information about something that happened in the 1990s and used the death of Bree's family as a frame of reference for Ianto. Which at least meant Ianto must know something about what happened.
Torchwood Three
Gwen helped Bree from the car in the garage, recognizing the signs of shock. Once years ago, she'd had the horrifying experience of seeing Rhys dead because of Bilis Manger. Although not a story she would share with Bree, Gwen understood the horror and pain. She lashed out screaming at Jack.
Dmitri met them at the door. He'd been transported seventy years forward in time. He'd seen and survived WWII. Whether or not he had experience with tending trauma victims, he understood what having a front row to hell was like. She also suspected from what few comments he made about his background and the fact that he wouldn't talk about himself that he'd been through something personal.
"Keep her inside." Gwen waited until the door closed behind them. "Write a medical report on the necessity of keeping Bree here and consistent treatment for psychological trauma. If you don't know what to write, look for examples online. The police know she quit by now and may attempt to arrest her."
"Is there anything I should know?" Dmitri wondered.
"Jodi was under investigation. I don't know for what. The police department should have notified Jack and didn't."
Dmitri took Bree by the shoulders. "We're going to the garden."
Good idea, Gwen thought, watching them go.
Talking to Ianto would be more complicated. Gwen headed for his office. She wasn't sure how to deal with his current state of mind. With Jack's survival in limbo, Ianto was holding onto hope, but it was taking a seriously toll on him.
Unsure what to expect, she stepped through the automatic door. Ianto had his suit jacket on the back of his chair and his sleeves rolled up. He still wore his shoulder holster. They'd taken his gun briefly, but he had access to so many weapons without continual supervision it was pointless.
Ianto looked up with haunted eyes. "Jodi's death is being reported by local media. The police issued a generic death notification and the reporters are circling like vultures. I've checked the police reports. Whatever Jodi is being investigated for, I can't find it."
Gwen sat across the desk from him. "I need to ask something," Gwen said carefully. "What happened to Bree's family? She doesn't have a Torchwood file."
"She does." Ianto tapped the screen of a tablet. "Breanna Neal. Sole survive of a multiple homicide." He passed it across the desk. "Torchwood took over the case. The Cardiff detective constable who handed it over said it looked like something out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. The killer entered the locked home in an unknown way, and killed her parents, older brother, and a family friend. The medical examiner was unable to determine cause of death. He described it 'as if they lost their will to live.'"
"What did Torchwood conclude?"
"Nothing. No evidence of any kind. The bodies were sent to London. The Institute's lead doctor found nothing. Three years later, her brother's empty grave was dug up. It was traced to a vagrant with mental health issues claiming an ancient god ordered him to do it."
"Was she home?"
"Yeah."
That explained a lot about Bree. Gwen could only guess that the trauma was why Bree didn't remember Jack, although it was possible Jack used retcon for some reason.
"Bree went to live with her father's cousin and family in Scotland. Concerned about publicity and her safety, the cousin had her name changed in court. Sealed record."
Gwen skinned through the file. It would take time to read. "What's Jack's connection?"
"He got through to her. She wouldn't talk to anyone else." Ianto motioned at the tablet. "Jack knew something. Torchwood was very different before Jack took over. Even though he didn't remember Gray then, Jack could have connected with a child who lost her brother."
"Is that why he hired her?"
"I didn't ask."
Of course you didn't. Gwen kept from sighing. Ianto rarely questioned Jack. "Is there anything in Bree's background that could explain Jodi?"
"How did she die?"
"I don't know."
"Do you have Dr. Floyd's number?"
Gwen thanked him and headed back to the hallway. Floyd answered after four rings. "Cardiff, Medical Examiner."
"This is Gwen Cooper from Torchwood."
"Mrs. Williams, I thought I'd be hearing from Jack. I haven't had a chance to examine Ms. Hsiung yet."
"Have you see Jodi's body? Does she have obvious injuries?"
"Lead poisoning. Sniper. There was initial concern constables were being targeted. There is no indication of that yet." Dr. Floyd paused. "Were you expecting something specific?"
"I needed to know if the case was Cardiff PD or Torchwood jurisdiction."
"Leave this one to the police department. And keep an eye on Dr. Nelson. Rumor has it Jodi was killed because she's under investigation."
"Bree's safe."
"Good. Should I contact you or Captain Harkness when I have something."
"Me."
