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Tony and Gwen were interviewing Maria's commanding officer when they heard about the suspect. He had added little to their small fund of knowledge. Maria had only been on the base for six months and four years is a long changed tactics.

"Do you know the Soldiers Arms?"

"Sure, popular watering hole for the enlisted men, mainly the younger crowd. Good atmosphere I hear, not much trouble."

"Do you know Clive Whielden?" He shook his head. "Nope."

"Well thanks for your help."

When they arrived at the pub, Gwen went in first. They were preparing for the day ahead. The windows were open, but the fresh air couldn't quite dislodge the smell of stale beer, food and sweat. They found Barbs, of the blond hair, cursing under her breath as she swabbed out the ladies. There was a faint smell of vomit emanating from the none too clean mop.

"Single handed today?" asked Gwen

Barb jumped, "Sorry, didn't hear you come in, oh you're those police officers – you were in the other night?"

"That's right. We're looking for Clive Whielden?"

"Clive? Oh he's gone into Cardiff for some supplies. Should be back soon. Why do you need to see him?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. Can we see his room?"

"No, not till you tell me what that bastard has been up to now"

"Why, has he been in trouble before?"

"Illegal card games, and other forms of gambling. I thought we were doing rather better than expected with this pub."

Gwen looked at Tony, "Yes, that's right, so we need to search the premises for evidence."

"Help yourselves. Stupid Git. This'll be the third time."

Barb showed them up to the private quarters, above the main pub area. There was a light and airy living room, furniture courtesy of Ikea. Along one wall a large terrarium housed a beautiful python, curled in upon itself it would be about 6 feet long, its head pointed towards the front of the terrarium, and it looked steadily at them, tongue flicking as it scented them.

"Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?" quoted Tony.

"It's beautiful" Gwen had a closer look. "It's in good condition"

"Just prefer it if it didn't come close to me."

"Why Tony, you scared of a non venomous sleepy little python?"

"A sleepy python that when it wakes up can swallow a man whole!"

Gwen shook her head, thinking that next to a weevil or a Hoix she would prefer a python any day of the week. She continued her journey round the room, looking at the photographs. There were several large photos of Clive with the python, and one of a gorgeous woman, in a minimal bikini posing with two different smaller pythons. She waved Tony over for a closer look, "Euwww, that is so not sexy." He shivered.

"May mean that Clive does find snakes and girls together a turn on."

"He is one sick bastard."

They started going through the magazines and drawers. There were several copies of a magazine devoted to women posing with snakes in positions no doubt considered erotic. Gwen felt sorry for the snakes. They continued to search the premises, and found nothing else apart from a laptop which they took, the cellars yielded nothing except some out of date crisps and the expected barrels and bottles. There was an outhouse, but when they searched it there was nothing except a few card tables.

They returned to find Barb restocking the bar. She just nodded when they told her they were taking the laptop.

"Do you know what Clive was up to four days ago?"

"No it was my day off. It was card night though."

"OK, well thanks for your cooperation Barb" Tony gave her his best Grin.

"No problem. Just tell the stupid sod to get back here in time for opening."

Gwen nodded, and they walked back to the SUV. "Like that's going to happen!" said Gwen.

Clive shook his head groggily as he awoke. He peered blearily around, shivering. He couldn't comprehend what had happened.

Clive saw a figure standing in front of him. "Whaaa?" He realised the figure was standing behind a sheet of plate glass. His eyes focussed on a young man in a suit, holding a steaming mug and a plate.

"Dinner," said the figure. He heard a flap opening and the scrape of the plate on the floor. His head flopped back onto the floor. He closed his eyes.

Then the smell of coffee reached his nostrils and he carefully sat up. His head throbbed and his hand was very sore. He reached for the mug, and realised the young man was still standing there.

"Where am I?" he asked

"In the cells" a welsh accent, so he was still in Wales, probably.

"Why?"

"You're being held for questioning."

"UH? Why?"

"You'll find out. Eat now."

"Need to pee."

"Bucket in the corner."

The young man turned to speak to someone, Clive recognised him from the hospital. "You!" He shouted, and tried to stand up, but his legs were too wobbly, and he sat down quickly. The man peered at him disdainfully through the glass then turned to talk to the man in the suit. They walked away without saying anything else, leaving Clive to his food and a gnawing sense of isolation and fear.

"Yeah" said Owen as they walked off, "he's been gone about an hour. Didn't even take his coat."

"Only an hour?"

"Yeah, but he was upset, and you know, No Coat, No comms, mobile and did I mention NO COAT?"

"So has Tosh tried to locate him?"

"Did I mention no comms?"

They were approaching Tosh's workstation, she turned worriedly to Ianto.

"Have you tried my flat?" asked Ianto, Tosh nodded. "No reply"

"How about Google Earth?"

"What?"

"Well he's probably on a roof nearby."

"Of course! Hang on I'll tap into one of the spy satellites." She tapped on her keyboard for a few minutes. "OK, lets see." Her screen changed to a view of Cardiff, seen from above. "This is updated every five minutes, so we should be able to spot him." She zoomed in on the centre of the city and started to search the tall buildings nearby. "Got him, or at least someone's on the roof of the millennium centre" Ianto nodded, "I'll go see him."

"Don't forget his coat!" yelled Owen. Ianto ignored him, as he stepped onto the pavement lift and ascended.

Jack was standing staring out across the bay, he turned as Ianto approached.

He gave a small tense smile. "Looking for me?" Ianto nodded. "Am I needed?"

"Not at the moment. Tony and Gwen are on their way back though."

"So why are you here? not that I don't want to see you, but I haven't been gone that long."

"An hour, without comms, Owen was worried."

Jack snorted a small laugh. "I'd better show him I'm all in one piece."

He began to walk to the way down.

"Do you want to talk about it? What upset you?" asked Ianto

"No, not at the moment. Just had old feelings stirred up, needed a little space."

Ianto nodded, "Why did they say you didn't have your coat?"

Jack shrugged "I left the hub without putting one on, this is the one I keep in the tourist office."

"How is it with all the grief your coats take they haven't realised you have more than one?"

"They really think I have only one?" Jack stopped in amazement that his team, comprising some of the most intelligent humans he had ever met, thought he had a miraculously self-mending coat. For some reason the thought cheered him immensely. He chuckled, and took Ianto's hand. 21st century humans, so bright and yet so gullible.

Tim was working on Clive's laptop. Tosh had offered to help, but Clive was no IT expert and Tim was able to rapidly get through his password (serpent) and into all his files. Nothing was encrypted or hidden and he used the same password for everything. Right now he was examining his internet history, and frankly he was glad Tosh couldn't see it. He had a penchant for porn of the more perverted variety. About the only sites he hadn't visited were those involving children or young girls.

He heard someone come up behind him "Poodles? I thought that was only John Hart"

"Oh, Tosh I was hoping you wouldn't see this."

Fortunately the picture was more suggestive than graphic. "Believe you me, work around here long enough and nothing surprises you." Jack wandered up, "Ooh Tim, found any interesting sites? Ianto you might want to see this!" Tim was scandalised. Were they for real? He looked up as Ianto joined them. Ianto took a look at the screen. "Stop winding him up Guys. What have you found out Tim?"

"Well, he has an extensive archive of porn sites, but the most relevant one is probably this." He clicked on a seemingly innocuous name, 'Snakes Galore'. "It's actually a dating site, matching snake fanatics, and there are also listings for social events. There was one four nights ago, at 'The Soldier's Arms."

I needed to do some scene setting, so not the most exciting chapter - next up The Interrogation! Once again thanks for the reviews and sticking with it! More reviews very welcome!