Chapter 7
During her time with Torchwood, Gwen Cooper was sure that nothing would surprise her. She was wrong. The sickening sight that lay before her now was causing the chunks to rise in her throat. The police had been their usual selves, grudgingly handing the crime scene over to Torchwood. When they had entered the tent, none of them expected what lay before them now. The young woman was lying on her back, a sheer white robe covering her petit body was discoloured with the mud that surrounded her. Her blond hair was matted and covered in dirt and blood. The sheer horror thought was not found until the robe had been moved to the side. Gwen had been told by the crime scene techs that the body was in a bad state. They were right. Bruises were dotted around on her skin, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles indicated that she had been tied down. Owen wore white gloves as he checked the body, taking pictures as he went. He went from top to bottom, marking information down on a sheet as he went, recording information onto a digital recorder. Gwen, Tosh and Ianto stood around him, observing and listening. Ianto's mind was still on Jack and Max, Tosh was taking readings from the area to determine if Rift activity had occurred around the estimated time the body had been dumped.
Owen placed a mask over his face and moved to the lower part of the body. He placed his hands on the woman's thighs. The bruises and marks on her thighs indicated that someone had handled her toughly before hand, it was then he noticed the true horror.
"Oh my god…"
He leaned back on his hands, his eyes never leaving the woman. Gwen crouched down, her eyes widening. The womans vagina had been torn apart. She had not only been raped, someone had taken a knife or an equally sharp instrument and used it to feed their sick fantasy. Gwen took a few deep breaths, her hand covered her mouth as she straightened up and exited the tent. Ianto crouched down as Tosh avoided looking at the sight. Tosh went outside to check on Gwen, Ianto stood up and walked away from the tent, his arms folded. He looked up to see Jack and Max walking towards them
"Ianto, what's going on?"
Ianto looked at Jack, he could not find the words to described what he had just seen. Jack looked puzzled as he walked into the tent and joined Owen. Max was at his back, they both crouched down and for several seconds they could do nothing but stare.
"Holy god"
Jack looked to the ground, Max swallowed the rising bile in her throat
"She's a Lillayean. From the looks of her I'd say she's about eighteen years old. They stop ageing when they get to about thirty".
Max stood up and looked at Owen
"Is there anyway that we can trace something to whoever did this?"
Owen lifted his head, his expression spoke volumes. He could not get over the sheer brutality of what had been done
"I'll have to wait till I get her back to the Hub. The tests can be run there"
Jack stood up, fury filled him. It was Torchwoods job to protect the human race from aliens. Now it seemed that the aliens were needing protection from humans.
"Let's get her back ASAP. I want every test done, no stone unturned. We need to find this sick son of a bitch before he does this again"
Max had exited the tent and stood a few feet away. Ianto walked over and stood by her side
"Are you alright?"
Max was looking out at nothing. Her staring expression the sign of someone who had just had a severe reality check
"I've traveled all over the Universe Ianto and I've seen horrible things. But this? What is it about the human race that makes them think they have the right to treat others like this? To take these girls from their home and use them. But to do something like this, it's brutal"
Ianto knew she was releasing her agitation, although he was human he knew she was referring to the brutes who had committed the sickening act that lay behind them.
"The world is a very fickle thing Max. No two people are alike; I can assure you though that there are good people in the world"
She looked at him, the sincerity in his voice overwhelmed her
"You know something Ianto. Jack is very lucky to have someone like you on his side. You're a good man"
Ianto smiled
"I try"
Max shook her head
"You don't need to try Ianto. You're a natural"
With those words she turned and headed over to the tent. Jack emerged, a grim expression on his face
"I don't know what to say. I really don't. We'll find whoever did this and they will be accountable for it"
She knew he meant every word he said. Jack had a way of saying something and no matter what the circumstance you knew that he would come through for you. The night was growing colder. The black jacket Max wore over her tank top provided little shelter from the cold, however the cold was the last thing on her mind. The image of what she had seen had burned itself into her brain and refused to leave. She had a feeling that she would be seeing the sight for many years to come.
He stood several feet from the crime scene, the uniform disguising his true intentions well enough. So far no-one had questioned his presence. Being refused entry to the crime scene however had pissed him off. He wanted to see how bad the damage was before reporting back to Mr Fontaine. His hand shook slightly as it held the video camera, as he zoomed in his heart skipped a beat. It was her! The woman Mr Fontaine had ordered them to find. She was at the crime scene with a group of people who seemed to know what they were doing. The police around him were too busy asking potential witnesses questions they did not question him. He was well hidden within the sea of faces. His hand moved into his pocket removing his mobile phone. Flicking on the Bluetooth function, he spoke quietly
"Sir. We have a development. The girl, she is at the crime scene…yes sir. Immediately sir"
He removed the ear piece, putting it into his pocket. He had his orders and now he would follow them through. He took several more photos before heading to his car.
Upon their return to the Hub. The team got to work on getting as much information from the woman's body as they could. Owen had performed the autopsy, Tosh had accessed CCTV footage around the area where the body had been found and so far had found nothing.
Upon their return to the Hub, everyone got to work. Owen had taken the body to the autopsy room, Tosh had begun going over the CCTV footage in and around the area the body had been found. Gwen was checking for murders that had occurred where the injuries on the victim were the same as the body they had found. Ianto, Jack and Max were in Jacks office. Max had said nothing since they had left the scene, Jack and Ianto glanced at each other before Jack stood up, his hands in his pockets. Max did not move, she was in her own little world. Ianto threw a concerned look at Jack, their eyes met for a few brief seconds, so much being said between a look. Ianto pushed off the desk and waved his hand in front of Max face
"Max. Are you alright?"
She shook her head and looked at him
"huh? Sorry Ianto I was miles away"
Jack frowned as he looked down onto the Hub. Whoever was doing this had to be stopped, that much was evident. His worry was what else would happen. He did not have to wait long. He watched as Owen sprinted up the stairs, he burst into Jacks office, speaking between breaths.
"You're…not…going…to…believe this"
Jack removed his hands from his pockets, eager to hear what Owen had found. Owens face was pale, sweat glistening on his forhead. Jack spoke forcefully
"What is it?"
Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with work and everything else. Please review this and let me know what you think.
Lex
