Dr. Floyd's Morgue; Cardiff, Wales

Monday, May 4, 2020

Jack Harkness stepped into Guinevere Floyd's office. It looked much as it always did. The shelves filled with curiosities, dented filing cabinets, a cluttered desk and few personal items said a lot about the medical examiner. She held her mobile in one hand and motioned toward a chair with the other. He claimed an old, wooden chair and waited.

"Did you check your equipment?" She listened. "Run it again." After a moment, the call ended.

"Problem?"

"Since you don't have a doctor, I sent out basic lab tests. The kid at the lab is uncertain the deceased is human." Floyd sighed. "When did that become an actual possibility?"

Jack smiled. "Is that why you called?"

"No. The woman Mrs. Williams rescued was being held at an unused building. A search of the property found two bodies. They fit the multiple murder from London, but have some puzzling differences." She passed him a manila folder. "I don't think its the same killer. Two offenders with similar, distinctive kills makes me think there is more to it."

"What makes it a Torchwood case?" Jack opened the folder.

"Either he recreated his favorite horror film or there is an actual reason to dissect his victims' brains. DCI Lacene Harpham can chase the slasher angle."

Jack flipped through the file. "Anything missing?"

"No. His interest appeared to be the hypothalamus. The fact that he died in his sleep makes me wonder if there is a connection."

A sleep connection was not something he wanted to hear. It fit what they already knew. The rescued victim had something to do with Morpheus. The creature, if his story was true, could enter dreams. The dead serial killer was potentially interested in his victim's sleep. He wondered if Morpheus somehow affected people's brains.

"Is there anything abnormal about the victim's brains?"

"No. Why?"

"The killer was looking for something."

"When is Torchwood getting a doctor, Captain Harkness?"

"I'm looking."

Dr. Floyd crossed her arms.

"It takes time," Jack said, without looking up. He reviewed her recommendations. All were impressive doctors. None stood out to him.

"What am I telling DCI Harpham? Are you taking over?"

With Rhys missing, he wanted to say no. From what he knew of the situation, particularly Gwen's connection to Morpheus, it was necessary. Luc could assist with running tests to determine if the dead man was human. "It's Torchwood." Jack looked up. "I need to make arrangements for the body and a copy of all tests results."

"Yeah." Dr. Floyd narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you want what's left of Marvyn Tew? Confirming his identity will take a few more days. The lab realized part way through tests that the material recovered is not completely organic."

"Tew can be cremated."

"You know what killed him?"

"Yeah. We've seen it before."

"Tew's sister called asking about funeral arrangements. She wanted to know why her brother's death wasn't being investigated."

"You have contact information?" Jack immediately wondered if Crowley was interfering with an investigation again.

Dr. Floyd groaned. "DC Crowley and I are going to have words."


Mercia Tew's house; Cardiff, Wales

Parking in front of the house reminded Jack Harkness of a previous notification. He and Gwen spoke to Jorel Baughn's widow. Except this time, Gwen's husband was missing. He took a moment to get his thoughts in order. Mrs. Baughn's condition after three months was potentially a preview of Gwen, if he couldn't figure out what happened to Rhys. He sighed. He needed to question Tew's sister as if he was considering the possibility her brother's death was connected to Rhys' disappearance. There was virtually no chance.

The important question was why Marvyn Tew approached the kids. He had access to an employee area with disabled CCTV. To know the kids were near the door, he needed access to mall security or a spotter. If Tew had a mobile on him, it was destroyed when Trefor detonated him. It would have been a burner. Kailen reviewed the mall's CCTV and determined the cameras were disabled remotely in the mall. He, Ianto and Aman reviewed footage between the Disney store where the kids waited with Ken and the toilets and found no one. Kailen and Aman were still reviewing mall footage trying to link someone to Tew. Both he and Aman agreed that if Tew was with someone, that person or persons went out of their way to avoid being seen with him.

Jack stepped from the Torchwood van into the street. His ear com beeped. He tapped it.

"I have information." Ianto sounded tired.

"Go ahead." Jack stopped on the side walk.

"Mercia Tew has a juvenile record and is aware of her brother's criminal activities. She's bailed him out of jail, and hired solicitors. There's a possibility she's involved."

"Run everything you can on her. Contact Kailen, if you need to. Send a summary to the general."

"I have done this before."

"We need answers."

"Anwen is suggesting we run the Tews through Torchwood Global. It might be similar to Moss-Probert's extortion attempt."

"Find her something else to do."

"Yeah. Anwen's going to teach Trefor how to play chess." Jack could picture the exchange. Anwen was probably standing next to Ianto's desk annoying him much like the instructions on how check out Mercia. "You need to grab lunch on the way back. Pizza from the Red Dragon Centre would be good."

Jack couldn't help but smile. "Trefor's request?"

"Yep. No pepperoni." Ianto disconnected.

He needed to spend time with Trefor, Jack thought as he walked up the sidewalk to the house. Ianto insisted on getting balls and a Frisbee for the building. At the time, he couldn't picture Ianto in the backyard teaching Trefor how to play football. Ianto could hunt Weevils, he could play sports with a three year-old.

Mercia opened the door before he reached it. He recognized the picture from a social media profile. The stocky forty-something wore jeans and a t-shirt. She looked tired, her graying hair making her look older. She eyed him, her expression resigned. After a moment, she stepped back and motioned him inside.

"My brother died on Saturday." She closed the front door. "I was notified by the news."

"A communication glitch with the police department, Ms. Tew. Torchwood was unaware next of kin had been located." Jack said. "I'm very sorry for you loss."

She lead into the kitchen. The perfectly ordered house and decor suggested she created an image. No dust, clutter or dirty dishes made him wonder. Gwen cleaned while stressed, but she looked stressed. Nothing about Mercia Tew suggested emotional distressed. She looked annoyed more than anything.

"I would like to bury my brother."

"Unfortunately, your brother was exposed to alien technology. It would be safer to have him cremated."

"We're Catholic."

Jack highly doubted that. Devout Catholics had crucifixes, religious decorations and often Bibles in plain view. There was nothing openly Catholic about Mercia Tew's home. Which made him wonder why she was lying. The more he thought about her body language, the more he questioned her motivation for contacting Dr. Floyd.

"I'm sorry." He paused for effect. "I need to ask some questions about your brother."

"The police didn't give you the file of crap they're accusing him of either?"

"We have reason to believe your brother was involved in a kidnapping. Does the name Rhys Williams mean anything to you?"

Whatever she was expecting him to ask, that obviously wasn't it. An honest expression flashed across her face. "No."

"He's a part-time Torchwood agent. He was at the mall with his children. Your brother was killed in front of them."

She shook her head. "I have no idea."

Jack believed that much, and wondered what she expected him to say. "Is there anyone who might know what your brother was involved in?"

"No."

"Any information you could provide would help. Friends, employers. Anything."

"I don't know."

"Where was he staying?"

"Here. With the latest bullshit investigation, he lost his job."

"Can I see his room?"

"I don't want anything pinned on him."

"A man is missing. I would like to return him safely to his family."

Mercia agreed. The interview had not gone as the woman expected. He couldn't help but wonder if she knew what happened to her brother. Which suggested she had something to do with it. From his own experience with Gray, he knew sibling relationships were complicated. His brother had been tortured to the point of breaking his mind. Had Marvyn done something to justify his sister's actions? One of many questions he needed answered.

The man's room offered no direct clues. Like the rest of the house, it barely looked lived in. He had no laptop, notebook or even a receipt. There wasn't so much as dust under the bed. Mercia Tew prepared the room for inspection. If she wanted to protect her brother's memory, he could understand disposing of anything potentially incriminating. Jack doubted it was that simple.