9
"Ianto?"
Ianto recognized Jack's voice and he opened the bedroom door to find him on the other side with a look of confusion "Ianto… I found your dog in the kitchen in the trash bin."
"No… she was with me, and that's not my dog you just let out… there were men, voices and…" Ianto's voice petered out as he looked around Jack at the lit up house, every light turned on and seemingly nothing there. He followed Jack downstairs and pointed "See? I had that table against the basement door."
"Why?"
"I can't find the key and don't care since I am not gong down into a scary space like that. I decided that the table is better there for the run of the kitchen. Myfanwy slips on the tiles and crashes into the table leg otherwise" Ianto shrugged "the table has been moved."
Maybe she did it?"
"No... I am not going mad here Jack. Someone was in my house." Ianto said with a shiver of revulsion.
"Look…it was locked up tighter than a dolphin's arsehole. Seriously, if I didn't know where the spare key was hidden thinks to your instructions, I could not have been able to get in. So... you telling me they have a key?"
"Well… when you put it like that... it does sound naff" Ianto sighed, rubbing his face "But… I am sure of what I heard."
"Look… tomorrow get a locksmith to change the locks and forget about it. Right?" Jack suggested "Now I have to go. I left my kid asleep."
Jack left and as Ianto went to close the door behind him he saw the gun on his hand for the first time. He had meant business.
Comforting.
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.
.
"So… nothing taken?" Andy asked as he stood in the living room looking around. His mother was there as well and she confirmed that everything as there too.
"It is so strange but I know what I heard!" Ianto said with annoyance.
"Well… I have authorized the lock-smith so… we are going to all be fine" Mel soothed "You need a rest."
"God. Do I!" Ianto snorted.
"Heard from Rhys?" Andy asked causally.
"Nope. Not in the mood for that either." Ianto shot back.
"I told him. That recording, I told him I heard it and I know she made up the arse patting thing. He seemed to believe me but… damn she has him under her spell" Andy shook his head "And now you are in here, her old family home."
"What?"
"Yeah… the family behind us… the 'Mad Mosseys' … she is a niece." Andy laughed "See? She was born that way."
"Oh my god" Ianto groaned, "It's them doing this? Maybe as a payback?"
"Who knows. I know you are not mad, OK?" Andy assured him and Ianto nodded knowing he needed more than locks changed to feel better. He was heading to see another old school friend how might help a man out.
.
.
.
"Security cameras are a good idea" Toshiko agreed as Ianto sat nursing her little boy, his gurgles of glee as Ianto tickled the toddler's feet endearing.
"When Owen gets home he can watch Kai and I will come fit you up… sorry.. out" she giggled as Ianto rolled his eyes.
"Thanks Toshi."
.
.
.
Ianto felt better, relaxed and definitely in charge again as he checked over the house one more time before going to bed with Myf. Doors locked with new locks. Check. Lights off. Check. Motion sensors on. Check. Security cameras on. Check.
"Come on girl, let's get some sleep. I am knackered" Ianto led his dog to the bedroom where he again locked the door and placed a chair against it for good measure. Over kill? Sure. Did it help? Sure.
Ianto settled to get some sleep.
.
.
.
Myfanwy woke him with her low growl, flat on her belly with her head tuned to the door. Ianto sat up and he tried to hear over the rapid beat of his heart.
There.
Furniture moving.
He fumbled with the phone and Jack answered after the fourth ring "Again?"
"Listen" Ianto hissed holding the phone up so Myfanwy's growls were heard, then a sharp bang "She is in here, so who is banging downstairs?"
"Shit" Jack was awake "Stay there."
"Really? I thought I might wander down for a midnight snack, are you sure?" Ianto asked in a sugary voice that had laugher coming over the phone.
Ianto waited with Myf, laying on the floor with his ear to it listening to bangs and furniture moving about then came voices and muffled shouting. Then a gunshot that had Ianto jumping with shock. Then … nothing.
He sat up and looked at the dog who sat up and stared back.
"Ianto?"
Ianto opened the door.
"Some teenagers or a homeless bum something I bet. Raiding your fridge, took off when I fired a shot into the air" Jack assured him.
"But how did they get in?" Ianto demanded, checking for himself and finding the back door wide open where they had fled. He then saw a small straw doll on the back stoop and he picked it up with a feeling of dread. A Talisman?
"You know... I don't like this" Jack said with annoyance as he finally saw that Ianto had been telling the truth "let's check those cameras."