14
They had settled back into routines, Quinn pleased to get back to being worshiped by everyone no doubt. Jack had headed into the city for a client about some stock and was due home tonight, Ianto feeling slightly sad without him so Bunny had been employed for the afternoon, the kids enjoying her theatrics. They had been also enjoying the pool but the sun is not a friend to Welsh skin. Bunny was currently inside the doors to the patio with a book. A noise made her glance up.
"Mathew?" Bunny watched the young man moving swiftly from room to room, the intent clear. He was searching for someone and slightly frazzled.
"Bunny, have you seen Dad?"
"Sweetie … what's wrong? He's by the pool with the kids" Bunny pointed, watching him race out. She almost followed but hesitated as she watched him lean over to say something that made Jerry pull back, then frown. He rose and followed Mathew inside where Bunny waited. "Matty?"
"Look, Bunny love … something's happened and I need to talk to dad" Mathew said softly, "Jack will be home from the yards soon, I will need to…"
"Sweetheart, you forget yourself" Ianto's voice growled from behind the makeup, "My balls are large enough that even something that might make them shrivel will not incapacitate me!"
Mathew blinked, then snorted "Sorry. Yeah. It's just … I forget that's you."
"Thank you" she preened happily.
"There was a break-in a couple of ranches over" Mathew addressed his father who nodded.
"You said Ken and Vicki?" Jerry prompted, "You said they were gone? What do you mean? You mean …"
"Yeah. Dead" Mathew grimaced "looks like a robbery gone wrong. But … nothing much was taken. From what my friend whispers…the wedding rings and that diamond necklace she always wears were still intact … the safe not touched either."
"Did they know there was one?" Bunny asked, stepping down from her stilettos.
"It's a big old one that sits behind his desk, he has stuff on top. It's obvious when you enter the room, not even an attempt to hide it." Mathew explained, "I would have gone for that first … not ransack the bedroom and living room. His office is untouched."
Bunny nodded and headed upstairs, seeming to feel out of place when there was sorrows to be had. The way Jerry had said the names, they were friends and as Ianto sat and removed the makeup, he picked up his phone, calling Jack.
"I'm on my way love, you stay by Mum and the kids, OK?" Jack asked and Ianto hummed, "I will bring home pizza. Yeah?"
"Sounds good Cariad … in light of this .. should I let the staff go home? I mean … only Francine will want to stay. They might have the heebie-jeebies. Most of them all know one another right? They will want to check everyone is OK." Ianto asked and Jack agreed.
Ianto stared at his reflection then frowned as he dressed quickly to go down and Jerry looked up from his phone call as Ianto entered in a loose shirt unbuttoned at the neck and his trousers pressed, impeccably dressed as always. Ianto listened to the conversation and got the answer he didn't want. Not just them. Three staff were killed as well.
Francine was in the kitchen unaware of event, so Ianto knew she was the first to tell, whispering what had happened and she gasped reaching for her phone, "My niece works there. A maid."
Ianto stood with her and held her as she tried to get through, the relief when the girl finally answered was palpable, Francine leaning into Ianto for support as the girl weepily told her it was a ranch hand and two indoors staff gone. The cook and the young man who was setting the evening fires.
"Evening fires" Ianto said softly, "So… this happened last night."
"Seems so" Jerry entered and slumped in a chair, Gloria reached over to pat his arm gently.
"So … working in darkness where they wouldn't be disturbed, the evening meaning the day staff was all gone. The ranch hand no doubt one checking the horses and such, doing a security round. The two inside settling the couple before going home themselves. What a shame" Gloria sighed.
"OK, we have more coming" Mathew entered the room and leaned on the counter, "I have called the team from Denver, they are on a flight now. I want this entire place locked down so tight a fart will set off sensors."
"Charming" Ianto drolled, "Did you hear that Quinn? No farts. Uncle Matty said so."
Quinn looked up from his banana he was murdering to look at Mathew, who smiled and leaned in to kiss the little man's head, "It's OK kiddo. Your bananas are safe with me!"
Quinn blinked and held up a piece like he was offering it to him then crammed it in his mouth with a growl of glee. Mathew laughed and reached out to stroke the little man's head, "You are a show off. Just like your father."
"Ianto is right, we should send the staff home and just spend the rest of the day quietly, listen for updates and upgrade the security. This is the third hit in a month, the first to end like this though. The other break-ins were put down to vagrants, just food taken. Maybe it was … maybe it wasn't." Jerry frowned "Maybe it was someone or something being looked for."
"Well … they will find a gun up their pecker if they come here!" Gloria bristled, then placed a hand over her mouth as Ianto roared with mirth.
"Mama, you bad woman you!" Ianto laughed, the mood lightening a bit.
Francine said she was staying, setting in a chair to spoon feed the little boy who really could eat without help but enjoyed the fussing, the jelly nice too.
Ianto wanted Jack home.
