A/N: Sorry, I didn't realise it was so long since I updated! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed!

CHAPTER 9

"Uh huh… yep… ah, right… ok. Thanks Andy, I'll keep you posted." Gwen put the phone down and let out a long, mournful whistle.

"Is everything all right?" Ianto asked; his head popping into view from behind Gwen's computer monitor.

"Andy said he'd break the news to Maurice's family. He's got, had, two sons, Ian and Kevin. They were the only names on the contact list." She was glad, as selfish as it sounded, that it was Andy telling the family and not her; no matter how many times you did it, the task was not made any easier. "Also, the station's received hysteric reports over a death in Pontypridd. Apparently the victim has several 'bullet holes' in the head, yet no gun shots were heard. Thought it might be a case for us."

"That would make sense then." Ianto muttered into the printout clutched in his right hand.

"What would?"

He handed her the sheet. "I was just coming over to tell you that whilst we were in the boardroom, a massive Rift spike occurred in the Pontypridd area. Exactly the same as the one in the Bay last night."

"Righty-ho. Let's grab the coordinates and take a road trip." She motioned her head back towards the boardroom. "I think we'll leave Jack and his weird mood here – as if I haven't got a bad enough headache already without Mr Unpredictable behind the wheel!"

"You have one too? Hmm, maybe I've been making the coffee too strong…"

"Nope, the coffee's perfect as always, Ianto." An American accent drifted into the Hub. As usual with Jack, you could hear him coming long before you saw him. "I'm ninety-nine point nine percent sure it's the aliens. They're telepathic. I was talking with one just now."

"What?" said Gwen, brow furrowed.

"So you weren't shouting at me, then?" asked Ianto timidly, so far having avoided direct eye-contact with Jack.

"No; sorry if it seemed that way though." He looked at Ianto with apologetic eyes. "Look, I know it sounds weird…"

"Hey," intercepted Gwen, "you're preaching to the converted. With this job, everything looks and sounds weird!"

"Not to mention smells," quipped Ianto, suddenly spotting a conspicuous pile beside the cog-wheeled door. Great, he thought, and there's me thinking that Myfanwy was housetrained. "I gave Archie a ring, by the way. Apparently he's been dealing with an infestation of Tybariam parasites. Nasty little buggers. Still," he shrugged, "at least we know there's someone still in charge of Torchwood Glasgow."

"I guess that's comforting – in a way." Jack perched himself on the edge of Gwen's desk, careful to avoid knocking over the stacked tower of police files. Past experiences had taught him that ruining carefully organised papers was not a good way to make friends. "What did Andy have to say?"

Gwen recapped: "He's gonna talk to Maurice's family, and there's been a suspicious death reported. Possibly connected. Me and Ianto were gonna…" she thumbed towards the door.

"Yep, you two check that out. Try and keep it as low-profile as possible. I, meanwhile, will be taking a trip down to the archives. There's got to be something in there that can help."

"Shouldn't I search the archives? I mean, I know where everything is and, no offence, you'll only disrupt my meticulous ordering of things."

"And that, dear Ianto, is why I suggest you go with Gwen. Then you won't be able to tell me off for the mess I make! Though," he flashed his colleague a mega-watt grin, "you do look cute when you're cross…" And with that, he jetted off, leaving Ianto with a frowning look of disapproval.

"He's right, y'know," chirped Gwen. "You do look quite sweet when you're angry." She laughed merrily, "Come on then, Monk. We've got a mystery to solve!"

As the SUV rolled smoothly into the office car park (Ianto was once again behind the wheel), the glaring lights of the 'Blue-and-Twos' flashed continuously, drawing much attention from the business men wanting to get back to their cars.

"So much for low-key…" said Gwen, lifting a metal tool box onto her lap.

"Al'right then. Let's get this over with," muttered Ianto, patting the bottle of Retcon Jack had given them. He had a feeling that this would turn out to be yet another long day.