38
Harwoods Haulage.
Ianto had wondered why it sounded familiar and then as he stepped into the office it all became clear, Rhys Williams looking up with genuine pleasure at seeing him.
"Aye, Aye Ianto" he rose from the chair with his hand extended, "Christ it's been an age. We miss you on the team, lost the last fucking tournament, can you believe that?"
"Hello Rhys" Ianto grinned back at his old footy mate, "I have some bad business to talk about, old shit from our younger days kind of shit."
Rhys' smile slid and he glanced over at his assistant, "Ruth, go to the bank now."
"But I…."
"Now"
She looked scandalized at being spoken to like that but she bustled off leaving the two men and Rhys saw a huge imposing giant standing outside as Ruth opened the door to leave.
Ianto sat and looked over at Rhys, "Drugs."
"No ta" Rhys replied.
"A rival gang is using your company to move them" Ianto said without fanfare, "Apparently in shipments of meat?"
Rhys blinked as he stared at Ianto, then he let loose a volley of unclean language, rubbing his face as he reached for his ledger.
"'It's a firm is called Harries and Harries. They came to us two months back. It's a weekly contract that always ask for the same driver. They reckon he is the only one who has passed their security levels or some random shit" Rhys huffed, "You know people are fucking weird."
Ianto nodded and looked at the photographs in the desk, noticing one in particular. "Rhys? Is that…"
"Gwennie" Rhys said with pride, "Marred three years now!"
Ianto held the picture of PC Cooper and Rhys grinning madly in their wedding attire and wondered at how insane the world could be, "She's a one to run about after to be sure."
"Yeah, right mad cow" he agreed happily, taking a moment to look at the picture affectionately before returning it to the desk, "And you? Still with your fella?"
"Yeah, four kids now" Ianto answered softly, "Stephen was Jack's, Walter ….you remember Walt? Babs was adopted and Ton was Rhia's youngest."
"Yeah, so sorry to hear about that mate" Rhys sighed, "Gwen told me about that, she was right cut up for yas too. We watch the show every week, god but that boy of yours is a chip off the old block isn't he? Has your pipes."
"Yeah, but at least he doesn't have to join the church choir" Ianto teased and Rhys snorted along with him as they remembered their forced labour as children at the hands of their parentals.
"Here it is" Rhys swing the ledger so Ianto could see, "Dale is the one I deal with, Greg? The other one is called Greg? I think Dale is the leader as the others seem a bit spooked when they come here."
"Thanks mate" Ianto sighed, 'This might get messy. Sorry if you get pulled in, have your ducks in a row and be squeaky, OK?"
"Ta for the heads up" Rhys rose, "Look, if its drugs do what you have to. I'm insured if you need to take a shipment or whatever, just don't hurt the driver yeah?"
"He is probably on their payroll" Ianto warned, "It will come out, so make sure everything here is clean."
"Will do buddy" Rhys walked Ianto to the door and looked up at the giant, "Gidday Monkey man."
"Hi ya Rhys" Monkey smiled softly, "I like your radio jingle, sing along in the car."
"Yeah? I wrote that meself, so I did mate" Rhys puffed happily.
It wasn't until after they had left that Rhys started to shake, sitting back at his desk to stare into space then curse some more and as Ruth returned he sighed and turned to her.
"Leighton Reynolds, I need his logs for the last four months please" he said and she nodded as she opened the computer to search for them and Rhys rubbed his face, "Jen just had the baby. We car pool to footy."
"A problem with him?" she asked absently.
"Nah" he shook himself, "Just gonna do some routine log checks. Starting with him then I want Jimbo's love."
"OK Mr Williams" she simpered and he looked out the window of his office.
Fucking drugs in his company?
Fuck, he hoped Toto buried the bastards.