Torchwood Four; Dublin, Ireland
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Nessa Dove called a team meeting in Trefor's office. She'd had enough of the stupidity. Whatever Liam's grandmother had in mind, it wasn't his safety. Trefor couldn't figure out he needed to sit down and talk. He was to busy. If the conflict was resolved, they'd get a lot more accomplished.
"Enough." The door closed behind her.
"I have work to do."
Nessa crossed the office, nudged Trefor's office chair back and sat on his lap. "This is stupid." When Trefor shifted, she reached back and placed a finger to his lips. "No. We have three teenagers living in this facility. Two of them are afraid of what they're capable of. One is being bullied in school and doesn't want to admit he has a girlfriend out of concern for her safety. If you were paying attention, you'd know Malcolm had to teleport out a janitor's closet where his so-called friends locked him." She gave it a moment. "While they have actual personal struggles, the two are acting like idiots. I had hoped this was some kind of sexual frustration. That's a quick fix."
Trefor nipped her finger.
"Liam, I've been in Torchwood Three and spent time with Jack. He's not psycho. Ianto is a sweetheart."
"And mum?" Trefor asked, amused.
"Intimidating."
"Captain Harkness was alive during WWII."
"Yeah." From his energy, Nessa knew he was a lot older than that. "And you met him after the abduction attempt and Jeannette threw fireballs and blew up a car. What did you think of him?"
Liam kept his eyes on his hands in his lap. "He was nice."
Nessa nodded. "Is this done? Can I go help set up our tree?"
Liam hesitated.
Nessa slid off Trefor's lap and moved around the desk to Liam. "Look at me." She nudged his knee with hers. When he looked up, she held out her hand. He accepted it. She softened her tone. "Has Trefor done anything to suggest he'd hurt you?"
"No."
"Stand up." She led Liam around the desk. "Up." She nudged Trefor in the foot. Trefor eyed her a moment and then stood. "Hug." It was ridiculously awkward, but she hoped it was progress.
Trefor reached tentatively for Liam's face. Liam leaned into the caress, relaxing against her. Nessa released Liam's hand and ran her finger tips up Trefor's arm. Trefor leaned in and kissed her.
General Trefor Williams could only be impressed by Nessa's approach. Whether she used her ability or not, he wasn't sure. After she left, her unique conflict resolution resulted in a couple hours in bed. When he and Liam returned to the office, they were relaxed and the conflict was gone. Although he doubted that solved the problem.
Liam sat cross-legged on one side of his desk. Trefor held a tablet with one hand and rested his other on Liam's knee.
Having someone to wade through the large amount of information on Montpellier France helped. Malcolm originally found two cases. Both involved deaths attributed to an unknown hallucinogen that led to fatal heart attacks. Both victims were cremated for uncertain reasons. Internet searches of the area uncovered a few reports of odd drugs, urban legends, a few conspiracy theories, but nothing obvious.
He'd reviewed current businesses as best as he could and tried to track previous businesses. There were a few public scandals, but nothing stood out. The software Ianto suggested Kailen design for tracking commercial energy usage would have been very helpful, but the kid hadn't had time to develop it.
That left waiting through police reports. He found one death in Grands Causses Natural Regional Park which was north of Montpellier. He quickly read the information. The cases were two years apart. Witnesses in the park said the deceased had gashes from an unknown animal attack. The body in that case was lost in a car accident that resulted in a fire.
"You said there was a possible cover-up involving hallucinations and weird causes of death?" Liam asked.
"Yeah." The general looked up.
"Eight years ago, a young couple was found in an abandoned house after an anonymous call to emergency services. Cause of death is listed as indeterminate. Interpol received a tip that they had died as a result of industrial exposure. Several accusations were made. It's listed as suspicious because the bodies were accidentally sent to be cremated before they could be autopsied."
"Any suspects?"
"No." Liam said. "But they didn't know what they were looking for. The Gordon-Glen cases involve advanced genetics?"
"Yeah."
"Universities would have records on student accomplishments and would showcase their success stories. How many people have an interest in human genetic modification?"
"They probably won't admit it." The general wondered how to track them.
"Can we track their equipment? Between Malcolm and his friend in Canada, they could make a list."
The general nodded. "They'd need a biolab."
Ianto used a similar approach to track CN production. It would work, if they knew where to look. Everything they had on Gordon-Glen suggested they packed up their Liverpool office after an incident there. While they were storing WMD in Cardiff, there was nothing directly linking the corporation to Noble Industries. He needed to access Global. Going in person might be the best idea. He should have access to run his own searches without involving an eleven year-old.
"This is insane." Liam shifted away and uncrossed his legs.
The general patted his leg. "After awhile, it'll just be another day."
"No." Liam closed his eyes.
"Are you okay?" The general knew how Nessa affected him but not others.
"I don't think Nessa thought this through."
"Why?"
"We work together. Even without the family conflict, this is not going to end well."
The general stood. "What do think will happen?"
Liam looked at him. "You and Nessa have an actual relationship. It's not just sex."
The general brushed the side of his hand over Liam's cheek. "The only promises I can make is I won't lie and I won't pressure you."
"Is this how your father runs his office?"
"No." Trefor set his hand over his face.
"What?"
The general groaned. "My father is currently believed to be sexually involved with everyone he works with. Not just in the office. A detective and the medical examiner let people believe that so they can meet with him without questions."
"How does a rumor like that get started?"
The general could only guess it was an attempt to insult Jack, if his father didn't start it on purpose.
Liam Doughtery needed time to think. He checked his messages, listening again to the latest message. Once an offer from his father to reconnect over the holidays would have been the best present imaginable. He watched a lot of movies growing up about families realizing the mistakes they made. Working for Torchwood made him paranoid. But it also made him think about circumstances. His grandmother was the only person who could have gotten his father to make that call. Before Torchwood he wouldn't have thought twice. He wouldn't have questioned the timing or his grandmother's intentions. Listening to his father's words, Liam couldn't help but question it.
The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if his grandmother set him up to begin with. He met Nessa because of his grandmother. She asked him to run errands. As a result, he was in the right time and place to meet Nessa. It could be paranoia and stress. But he doubted it.
Everyone looked at him and saw a flighty young man who didn't want to work with the family business. Even Trefor hadn't found his family money or investments at first because he hadn't thought to look. Liam wanted to paint and party. He worked to make it possible. Even knowing about the business degree didn't change opinions or judgments.
When he met Nessa, she was a kindred soul. Her family was worthless. She viewed partying and sex much like he did. The common ground and that she accepted people for who they were drawn him to her. It wouldn't take much for his grandmother or anyone else who knew him to realize how much he needed someone like Nessa in his life.
From there his attraction to Trefor was inevitable. A gorgeous, unapologetic man who like Nessa believed in individuality and wouldn't judge. Even when concerned about the conflict between his grandmother and Torchwood, he'd been unable to resist. The change from sharing a bed with Nessa to just them had a profound effect on his emotions.
Trefor's acceptance, and Nessa's ability, resolved some of his uneasiness about Torchwood. If it was more than paranoia, it had been staged with incomplete information. Torchwood didn't question his sexuality or his competence. Nessa trusted him with her sister. Trefor gave him a real job.
The question was how to figure out if it was more than paranoia. Trefor commented that whoever his grandmother worked for could be a threat. He had to assume they were.