Chap 11
Adam holds up an old tape deck adjusting the volume. The sound of traffic noise and middle-eastern music blares from the speakers and Adam pushes it closer to the phone, talking loud, as if over the racket of a real place.
"It's a great little bar, Amanda, you'd love it. Beirut's a great place if you know the city. Listen, this isn't a secure line. I'll tell you all about it when I get back tomorrow... if I live." Adam pauses as he listens to his fish wriggle on the line "Scared? Never! Except for you…"
Adam looks up seeing, the owner of the place, come out of the back room and looked out at the lot where Ianto is browsing among the cars.
The boss turns from the window and bears down on Adam, who sees him coming and speeds up his shit.
"I have to go, baby. A guy's coming toward me…"the boss grabs the phone out of his hand and slams it in the cradle.
"Adam, look out there. You see that man? Notice how he's looking at the cars. He's called a customer. I know it's been a while, but do you remember what you're supposed to do when we have a customer?" the boss growls at Adam.
Adam bounces eagerly up to Ianto, talking before he's even reached him.
"It wants you too. Feel it vibrate? How about a little spin?" Adam holds his hand over the convertible's hood and shivers.
Adam opens the passenger door and pushes Ianto into the seat, then runs around the car. He leaps over the closed door into the driver's seat and starts the car.
"You gotta jump in. That's rule number one. It takes a little practice, but there's no way around it." He tells Ianto who stares impassively back.
Adams swings the car out onto the street and leans back, "See, it's not just a car, it's a total image. An identity you have to go for. This isn't some high-tech sports car... it doesn't even handle that great. But that's not the idea, is it." Adam informs Ianto with a big grin. Ianto returns a knowing chuckle.
"What're we talking about here? Tail, right?" Adam asks with a wink.
"Absolutely." Ianto laughs.
Adam and Ianto both laugh. A big lusty, male-bonding kind of laugh.
"Well then this is a vital piece of equipment. Used properly, it can change your life. See, you cruise. No racing. This ain't a Ferrari. You check out the scenery, let the scenery check you out. You got to take it slow. Old cars are like good tail... they heat up fast." Adam smiles as he enjoys the ride.
"Keep talking." Ianto smiles sweetly as he swallows down his rage.
Over tacos, Adam waxes lyrical on his greatest area of expertise. We see Ianto laughing, going along with the prick as he is pretending to bond.
"Let's face it, Ianto, the Vette gets 'em wet. But it's not enough. If you want to really reel them in, you gotta have an angle." Adam nods as he shares his wisdom.
"And you've got one?" Ianto asks innocently.
"It's killer. Look at me" dam points to himself, "I'm not that much to look at. No really. I can be honest. But I got 'em lining up, and not just skanks, either. Some are I suppose."
"So what's your angle?" Ianto leans in eagerly with wide eyes.
"Sorry. Trade secret." Adam leans back smugly.
"Sure. Set me up and then don't tell me." Ianto scoffs, folding his arms.
Adam leans forward, conspiratorially. "Okay, just ask yourself. What do future fucks really want? You take these bored housewives or househusbands, married to the same guy for years. Stuck in a rut. They need some release. The promise of adventure. A hint of danger. I create that for them." Adam informs Ianto with a snigger.
"So you're basically lying your ass off the whole time? I couldn't do it." Ianto sniffs with a shake of his head.
"Well, think of it as playing a role. It's fantasy. You have to work on their dreams. Get them out of their daily suburban grind for a few hours." Adam advises with a pat on Ianto's arm. Damn, firm.
"Isn't that hard to keep up, in the long run?" Ianto cocks his head with a frown.
"Doesn't matter. I like change. You know, constant turnover. As soon as I close the deal, it's one of two more times, then adios." Adam waves his hand dismissively.
"Use 'em and lose 'em." Ianto snorts.
"Exactly. The trick is, you gotta pick your target. They have to be nice little wifey types. School-teachers. Dental Assistants. But, I'm telling you, you get their pilot lit, these babes, they can suck-start a leaf-blower." Adam says gleefully.
"What about the husbands?" Ianto demands.
"Dickless. If they took care of business, I'd be out of business, know what I mean?" Adam snorts.
"Those idiots." Ianto growls, kicking himself mentally.
They are cruising along, with Ianto driving this time.
"You working on someone right now?" Ianto asks dismissively.
"I always have a couple on the hook. You know. There's one right now, I've got him panting like a dog. It's great." Adam laughs as Ianto's hands clench the wheel tighter.
"What does he do?" Ianto asks once he has his temper under control again.
"Some kinda legal secretary of something. Married to some boring jerk." Adam informs Ianto as they take a corner with a squeal of tyres "And he could be so hot, if he wanted to be. He's like a dying plant that just needs a little water.
When Adam is looking at Ianto he is all smiles and encouragement as they laugh together... then when he looks away Ianto goes slit eyed. He could kill Adam with one punch. He's visualizing beating the shit out of this guy.
"But with you, he gets to be hot, right?" Ianto asks and Adam laughs.
"Red hot. His tight hole steams." they laugh together. Ianto's laugh is getting a bit harsh.
"Sooooo... he's pretty good in the sack, then?" Ianto really wants to know if Jack had bent over for him.
"Hey, slow down you're gonna miss the turn!" Adam yells and Iantocomes barrelling into the lot at high speed. He cranks the wheel and hits the emergency brake, slewing the car into a smoking drifting -180. It screeches backward, sliding right into its parking space perfectly.
Adam is impressed then he scrambles out and goes around to Ianto, coughing in the cloud of tyre smoke.
"See? You and this car were meant for each other. Why fight it?" Adam punches Ianto lightly on the shoulder "Sure, I have a couple other buyers lined up, but I like your style. What'da ya say? Should we start on the paperwork?"
"Let me think about it. Hold it a day for me?" Ianto strokes the car.
"Because it's you." Adam says with a wink.
.
.
.
Janet is in the living room, watching TV when she sees her father cross through, dressed to go out.
"Dinner's in the warmer. Tell your Tad I may be late." Jack calls out.
"Where are you going?" Janet demands like she is the parent here.
"Out." Jack snaps and Janet gapes.
.
.
.
Jack is checking himself in the hall mirror. He looks up and down the hall then grabs one of his winter coats that looks like a World War II Great Coat, instead of the usual bomber jacket, then charges out.
Ianto is driving. Owen pulls a sheaf of pages out of his briefcase and hands them to him.
"Here's today's transcripts. There's nothing interesting." Owen assures him.
"Nothing from Adam?" Ianto asks and while driving with one eye on the road, Ianto riffles through the sheets. He glances at the top of the last couple of sheets. He scowls. Then he slams the drakes on. The car dives to the curb, bumping one wheel. Ianto gets out and charges around to Owen's side. Owen gets out, his expression carefully blank.
"Give me the page." Ianto demands
"What are you talking about?" Owen asks with wide eyes innocence.
"It skips from page nine to eleven. Where's page ten?" Ianto snarls.
"Aw, it's gotta be a typo" Owen reaches for the pages with a frown.
"Give me the fucking page!" Ianto screams as he hammers his fist against the car-window right next to Owen. It explodes in a shower of glass. Owen doesn't even blink.
"Okay. Here." Owen fishes it out of his inner pocket. Ianto grabs it from him, straightening it.
"Fuck Ianto! Seek help." Owen snarks as Ianto to read.
Jack. I need your help. Can you meet me tonight?" - CALLER ID WITHHELD
"What's happened?" - JACK HARKNESS JONES WORK PHONE
"It's serious. That's all I can say. Just meet me at our secret place. The one we agreed to if I'm compromised. At eight sharp." - CALLER ID WITHHELD
"You mean the bay side? I'll be there" - JACK HARKNESS JONES WORK PHONE
Ianto checks his watch. "Shit! It's almost eight."
He jumps back in the car and activates the GPS locator. Jack's Jacket blip flashes on the grid map.
"He's still at my house." Ianto declares to Owen.
"The jacket is still at the house." Owen groaned.
