Chap 10
Jack is reading in bed. He glances up as Ianto comes into the room. Gives him a quick smile. A nervous one.
"I thought we might have lunch tomorrow." Ianto states as he sits to remove his shoes.
"I can't, honey. I promised Alice I'd go shopping with her." Jack says with fake sorrow, "Sorry."
Ianto watches his husband calmly lying to him. It's bizarre to him.
"No problem." Ianto says as he rises and as he leaves he picks up Jack's Jacket from the chair and goes into the hall.
Ianto comes out of the house, walking Myfanwy on a leash. Ianto walks along to Owen's car, half a block up, and hands him Jack's Jacket. Owen stares at the dog warily. He growls at it. Myfanwy hides behind Ianto with fear.
"Look, Ianto. I know this is Hard. I felt the same way the first time it happened to…" Ianto holds up one finger. His eyes and expression are so scary that Owen just trails off.
"Right." Owen huffs as he starts examining the jacket.
"So . . . the usual, right?" Owen asks, "GPS locator, telemetry burst transmitter, audio transmitter, power supply?
"Just have is back in two hours." Ianto orders as he swings back to continue the walk.
Jack drives through the city in his favourite jacket.
Ianto drives a plain car while Owen watches the PDA. Jack's jacket appears as a moving blip on a street-map of the city.
"Okay, he's turning on Seventeenth. Make a left, you should see him." Owen advises and grabs for the door handle as Ianto makes the turn.
"There he is." Owen points to Jacks carpulling into a parking lot next to a Cafe. Ianto parks the car a block away and gets out his binoculars.
Jack gets out of his car and looks around as he walks to the cafe. He is not nervous, but it is clear he is making sure he is not followed. Then he enters.
"Give me audio." Ianto says with a nod.
Owen hits a switch and they hear the din of the cafe at lunch rush come over the car speakers.
The restaurant is dark and moody. Jack makes his way to a table in the back. Sitting in the shadows, facing the door, is Adam. Jack sits down opposite him. He doesn't smile or kiss Jack in greeting, but glances around the room like he expects an attacker to leap out at any moment.
"Are you sure you weren't followed?" Adam hisses with fear in his voice.
"I kept looking back, like you taught me. I didn't see anyone." Jack assures him, reaching across the table.
"Okay. It's just, things are a bit hot for me right now. If I get a signal..." Adam warns holding up a flick lighter and shaking it "I may have to leave suddenly.
"I understand." Jack says softly, looking around as well.
"It's my job to risk my life, but not yours. I feel bad about bringing you into this, but you're the only one I can trust." Adam says with a desperate tilt to his voice and he squeezes Jack's hand.
"Where were you? On a... uh, mission?" Jack says furtively looking around.
"Ssshhh! We say Op. A covert operation. And this one got a little rough." Adam leans in and Jack does as well, their faces barely inches apart across the little table.
"Worse than Cairo?" Jack asks with an understanding smile.
"Cairo was a day at the beach next to this." Adam sighs rubbing his face.
Ianto and Owen turn to each other, shocked with the sudden shared epiphany.
"Guy's a spook!" Owen gasps.
"Yeah, but for who?" Ianto mutters with fear for Jack tempering his anger.
"He could be working him to get to you." Owen voices his own fear.
Ianto waves his hand, shushing Owen.
Adam puts a newspaper on the table, sliding it over to Jack.
"Did you read the papers yesterday?" Adam leans back and looks at a point over Jack's shoulder.
"Yes." Jack looks down at the headline HILTON MADNESS.
"Sometimes a story is a mask for a covert operation. See—two men killed in a restroom, and two other unidentified men in a running shootout, ending at the Hilton..." Adam taps the paper with his finger as he talks.
Ianto and Owen react with silent gestures as each other, realizing that it is the story of their operation gone awry.
"That was you?!" Jack is shocked.
"You recognized my style. See you're very good. You're a natural at this." Adam smiles at Jack who preens a bit.
Ianto starts to get it and shakes his head. Then is dawns on Owen.
"The guy's a fake! He's taking credit for our moves." Owen growls with outrage.
Jack is clearly is hanging on his every word. "Tell me what happened?"
"I'm sorry, I can't." Adam warns with a shake of his head.
"You can trust me completely." Jack hisses with side eyes, his interest apparent.
"I know. But it would compromise your safety too much to know certain things." Adam sight regretfully.
"Right, of course. I was worried when I didn't hear from you that night." Jack nodded eagerly.
It's strange. I knew I was in someone special's thoughts when I was shooting it out with those assassins." Adam stares meaningfully into Jack's gaze.
Ianto silently struggles with his emotions as they listen to the outrageous fabrication.
"Unbelievable." Owen barks with vigour but Jack is eating it up.
"Were they trying to kill you?" Jack shows his anger.
"Three of them. Hardly worth talking about. Two won't bother me again." Adam sniffs with a shrug.
"And you chased one?" Jack says incredulously.
"Something came over me, I just had nail him, no matter what the risk. It was pretty hairy. I thought he had me, a couple of times. But I really can't take the credit. . ." Adam shakes his head and the men in the car look expectantly at the dashboard.
"You can't?" Jack frowns.
"No. It's the training. It shapes you into a lethal instrument. You react without thinking." Adam tells Jack sincerely.
Ianto and Owen laugh. This is too much.
"I'm starting to like this guy." Owen giggles and then he looks at Ianto and his smile wanes with Ianto's glower. "We still have to kill him, that's a given."
Jack leans even closer Adam with wide eyes "What is it you want me to do?"
"Not here. I'll call you and we'll rendezvous again." Adam looks furtive and shifts in his seat "We have to leave separately, so we aren't seen together. For your safety."
"You'll call me then?" Jack demands reassurance.
"Yes. Now go." Adam demands and Jack hurries from the table.
.
.
.
Adam is cruising in the Corvette with the radio blasting. Thinking he is shit hot.
Adam swings into a used car lot, which is a run-down place. A poor collection of makes and models, a few which might almost be classics.
Adam backs the Vette into an open space on the front line. He reaches into the back seat and pulls out a sign showing the FOR SALE price of the car. He sticks it back on the dash.
Ianto and Owen pull up on the other side of the street and they watch as Adam climbs out of the Vette and goes into the sales office.
"He's a goddamn used car salesman. This just gets better." Owen laughs then looks solemnly at Ianto "Sorry Ianto, I know this is painful.
Ianto's eyes are narrowed as he stares across the street menacingly.