"Found anything on the others?" Ianto asked as he drove along behind the Torchwood vehicle. All of them decided that having all six crammed into the SUV, especially with some not being very pleasant travel companions to begin with, it was best to take two cars. So Ianto drove along behind in his black Audi, Faith tapping away at the laptop she'd just bought.
"I've found an article on Jennifer and Neal White." Gwen said over the coms. "Oh God, how sad." she muttered.
"What?" Faith asked as she impatiently went back a page.
"They were killed in an auto accident." Gwen answered. "In 1950, with their six kids."
"Six kids?" Owen said as he turned to look at Gwen. "They needed a hobby."
"They obviously had one." Faith said with a laugh.
"Another one." he retorted. "One that involves less nappies and vomit."
"Go on Gwen." Faith said as she clicked on another link.
"They were hit by a lorry driver." Gwen said. "Neal White died two days after his wife and children." she added, just imagining how it must feel to know your family has died and you're the only one who survived.
"That's horrible." Tosh whispered.
"Aha." Faith said.
"Something on the Wilkins?" Ianto asked.
"Mmhmm." she nodded. "They lived to the ripe old age of ninety-two for Vincent and ninetey-eight for Grace." she said. "Five children, all lived and got married, had children, grandchildren, yadda yadda." she read. "Much better off than the poor Whites."
"I've found a Jack Harley." Tosh said. "Married seven times, no children, at least not any with any of his wives." she added. "Died in 1968 at the age of sixty. A heart-attack."
"So Christopher Milner wasn't responsible for any of them at least." Owen said. "Good news isn't it Tosh?" he asked. "To know your husband didn't kill anymore people."
"Shut it, Owen!" Tosh snapped.
"How much further?" Jack asked, growing more and more tired of the back and forth arguing between Tosh and Owen and Faith and Owen. He did have quite a knack for pissing people off. What a charming trait, he thought.
"Another hour, tops." Ianto answered as he took a sip from the large travel mug at his side.
"What are we hoping to find when we get there?" Faith asked as she continued to browse different articles.
"I don't know." Jack said. "To be honest, I have no idea what's going on."
"Encouraging words from our fearless leader." Owen said.
"At least he's honest." Gwen said as she put her laptop away. "Better than telling us something we want to hear."
"There are times when that's not such a bad thing you know." Owen said, fideting in his seat.
"He killed three innocent people." Tosh muttered.
"He obviously had some problems, Tosh." Gwen said, trying to comfort her some.
"And now he's using me to finish this business?" she asked. "It doesn't make any sense. Where did those clippings and stuff come from?"
"We'll find some answers, Toshiko." Jack promised. "Even if we don't find anything at Greenlee, we'll figure this out."
"I hope." she said as she sat back and stared out the window.
The team turned down a long path that led to a circular drive. Crushed stone lay spread out over the area, and where the stone didn't cover, tufts of grass sprouted up. The manor itself loomed over the drive, some windows missing, others boarded up. There was a large sign on the front door:
WARNING-
No trespassing. Building unsound!
"So this is it?" Owen asked as he looked around. "Not what I'd call homey."
"Is this it?" Jack asked as he came to stand next to Tosh.
"It didn't look like this." she said as she looked up at the large house. "When I saw it, it was magnificent." she added turning around.
"According to these records, no one's lived here for about twenty years." Ianto said as he stared at the screen of Faith's laptop. "It's actually scheduled to be demolished."
"Can I help you?" a gruff voice called.
Turning around, the group saw a man in faded jeans and a flannel shirt standing on the front steps.
"We just wanted to look around." Jack said as he approached the man.
"You can't." the man said simply. "It's gonna be razed, we're starting the work for it today."
"Just a quick look around." Jack asked. "If we're in your way, we'll leave."
"You're in the way." the man said, jerking his head towards the two vehicles. "Leave."
"Please." Faith said as she stepped forward, smiling. "You see, it's really important to my friend." she added as she linked her arm with the man's and led him off a little ways. "Her grandparents were married here, and she just wants to see it."
"Really?" the man asked, slightly disbelieving.
"Yes." Faith answered. "You see...I'm sorry, what is your name?"
"Colin." he answered.
"Colin, very nice name." she said, smiling again. "I'm Faith." she introduced herself. "You see, she just lost her grandmother, and the old dear kept going on and on about the lovely house where they were married, and now she just wants to look around, get to see where it all started for them."
"Just lost her grandmother?" Colin asked as he shook his head. "My gran is gettin' on a bit, probably won't be long..." he looked back at the group and sighed. "Half an hour." he said firmly. "If you're not out by then, I get to call the police."
"Thank you, Colin, this is very sweet of you." Faith said. "If there's anything I can do for you." she added. "I work in a very nice hotel, perhaps you and your wife could use a little getaway?"
"That would be nice." he said.
"We can chat after my friend's had a look 'round." she said. "Half an hour." she added as she walked back to the group. "Let's go." she ordered.
"So bossy." Jack said as they followed. "I kinda like that."
"You can lay it on, can't you?" Owen said as he shook his head. "Bat your eyelashes, smile so sweetly." he added. "No one would guess that you can be such a royal pain."
"I reserve my true talents for you, my friends." she said sunnily.
"What all did you say?" Ianto asked.
"I just told Colin, nice name I think, that Tosh's grandmother just died and that she wanted to see where her grandparents were married." she explained.
"Sorry for your loss, Tosh." Ianto said as they entered into the foyer.
"Thanks." Tosh muttered as she looked around.
Where once she'd seen a large hall, lit so nicely, fresh flowers, lovely paintings, now she saw doors propped against walls, wall sconces about to fall right down, wood panelling cracked and brittle. Dust clinging to everything, in every nook and cranny.
"Must have been quite beautiful once." Gwen said as she looked around.
"It was." Tosh said as she looked into an ajoining room, recognizing the layout.
"Okay then." Jack said. "Ianto, Gwen you take this floor, Owen, Faith, you take the top floor, Toshiko and I will take the second."
"Aye, aye captain." Owen said as he headed for the stairs.
"Careful." Tosh called after them. "It's easy to get lost."
"Thanks for the warning." Ianto said as he and Gwen set off.
"This place is creepy." Gwen said as she and Ianto went about checking out the first floor.
"It's just because it's old and empty." Ianto said as he opened a cupboard in what used to be a dining room. "Just imagine if it were full of people again."
Notes: I'm chuggin' along slowly on this one, mainly because of playoffs..so it may take a while for me to finish. Hope you all like this chapter as well. And thanks again for those reviews!!