4
The SUV roared into the village the next morning, Ianto almost spilling his precious coffee as he swore and tried not to throw something at the screen. He was awake and alert, his eyes darting from screen to screen with growing alarm as the SUV came to a stop by the Heddlu office and Owen was first out, landing in the snow and wind-milling his arms before landing face first in the snow drift Jack had parked next to.
Ianto could not help the snigger of amusement at Owen roared with anger like someone had pushed him. Would have blamed him for that.
"Good work Owen… you search for clues there then" Jack said, his voice tinny over the long distance feed but Ianto groaned softly as his stomach flip-flopped, then he slapped a hand over his mouth like Jack might hear him.
Ianto watched them walk into the Heddlu office and changed cameras to watch Jack swagger to the desk and demand to speak to Aidan who was already there and looking pissed.
"I told you on the phone late last night… it's not some alien or Big Foot thing.. he made it up. Here is the preliminary bloods from the clothing… three different blood types, ergo.. three different people bled all over him. If they were all running and a Big Foot killed them one by one as the others kept running… how did he get all three victims on him?" Aidan said, then snorted as he quoted Ianto "Did he stop to hold the torch?"
Owen snatched the report up and glared at it as Toshiko asked "Crime scene photos can clear it up pretty fast, have them printed out?"
Silence.
Ianto sat forward the chair with horror as he realised the idiots had not gone to the crime scene yet "nononononononononooooo"
"Right then. Let's go.. all terrain this baby" Jack grinned as he hooked a thumb at the SUV parked outside and Aidan grinned back as he recognised the voice.
"You know... you sound just like our resident Yank. Henderson. You know... he is the one who told us to check the blood types because it might be a serial killer type scenario" Aidan said and Ianto groaned with growing dismay. "we think he might be writing a book or something, secretive little bugger."
"Don't' say it" Ianto whimpered as he fingered the hem of his too-big shirt "Aidan…please… don't…"
"You know… he said … Open and shut domestic killing." Aidan said with a firm nod of finality "Tickety-boo"
Jack was reaching the report and he froze, looking up at the man "What did you say?"
"Tickety-boo!" Aidan laughed "must have picked it up this side of the ditch."
Jack lowered the file on the screen as Ianto made a noise in his throat, clawing at his clothing as he watched Jack take a step towards Aiden "you know… I used to hear that phrase a lot, but not so much these days…. kinda old fashioned but there is only one person I know that still uses it. Nice to know it still gets around I guess."
"Don't" Ianto whispered to the cold empty cabin "Please… don't"
"Oh I don't' say it. Henderson does.. the Yank."
"Fuck!" Ianto spat with anger.
"Well, I don't care what you two are yanking, I need to see the kill site!" Owen demanded with annoyance "And without photos ya tosser.. we will have to go there. Up the mountain tally ho and all that fucking shit"
.
.
Ianto was packing, keeping one eye on the screens that showed the trials so if and when the Torchwood SUV came this way he had the time to get out of Dodge so to speak. He knew he would have to leave a lot and that chaffed, especially the special things he had got in by mail but… well… he did have the sled which he was filling to tow behind the snow mobile and he just hoped the last good fall-back location was warm enough this time of year. Who knows.
He was unloading the fridge into a chilly bin when the screen on the bottom left flashed and he gasped as he knew that one was close. Fuck, they had evaded the lower one. Wily bastards.
Ianto ran for the garage and was soon powering up the ridge along the tree line looking for the telltale sign if the SUV coming at him but there in the distance he saw the headlights bobbing along and he knew they were on the western trail.
He released the throttle and let the machine cruse quietly down to a low skid as he pondered his next move but he knew deep down that he had to keep going now. No turning back remember? You agreed… keep going at all costs.
Decision made, Ianto gunning the throttle and powered up again, skipping along the snow as he moved away from the camp the SUV was heading to and as they rumbled along in their big black SUV Owen stared morosely out the passenger window, watching the little light bob up and down in the darkness.
"Some other prat is out here in the dark" he muttered to himself and then he sniggered "Maybe it's Sasquatch… maybe he's spotlighting for more campers."
"What was that?" Jack asked as he struggled to see the Heddlu vehicle ahead of them, working up the trial with the snow plough attachment.
"Nothing" Owen sighed back with a pout "No one ever listens to me."
Jack grunted and went back to pondering the weird fact someone else says 'Tickety-boo' and this one seems to be American … so weird when it is such a … well… British thing to say. Jack muttered under his breath with confusion "Tickety-boo? Who says that?"
