Work was still busy late into the afternoon, and Ianto stretched, his back aching again. Text started appearing across his eyes and he blinked as he tried to focus on it.

DO NOT GO BACK INTO THE BASEMENT! Ianto read as the text crawled across his vision. That is an order! He looked around and moved to bus an empty table.

"Why?" he asked softly.

Because you were right. Do not leave the shop floor until Gwen and I get there. Jack was typing furiously, his heart in his throat. After what he had seen on the camera, he really wanted Ianto out of there altogether, but he needed for him to keep an eye on Mrs. Trundle and to keep the others safe as well. Don't let the others back there, either. If someone has to go into the back room, do it yourself, and keep your gun ready. I'll be there shortly.

Ianto nodded to show that he understood. He knew that if Jack was that concerned, that it had to be something bad. He turned back to the counter with the empty plates and tried to act as if nothing was wrong. He was hyper aware of the gun in his pocket and knew that if things went poorly before Jack and Gwen got there that he was going to be the only thing between the innocent people in this room and an alien intent on hurting them. He closed his eyes briefly and hoped that Jack would get there in time.

Down in the basement something snapped under Mrs. Trundle's foot and she stopped, listening intently. Looking down, she saw that there was a fine filament of wire that was broken where she had stepped. She reached down, holding the glowing glob closer so she could see. Tugging on the tiny wire, she pulled on it, finally revealing something buried in the dirt floor. She lifted it up and looked at it closely.

"Damn him," she said angrily, crushing the camera in her hand. "I knew it." She turned and wrenched the door closed, not that it really mattered much. She headed towards the stairs, a look of murder in her eyes.

On the drive from the Hub, Jack turned the corner, frantic to get there in time. They were in traffic, and he had turned his lights on, but it didn't seem to make a difference. They weren't really that far, but they needed the armament in the SUV if they were going to get everyone out of there.

"Oh no," Gwen said. "We just lost one of the cameras." Jack slammed his fist against the steering wheel. If Ianto got hurt, he would never forgive himself. He turned to look across the road to see if he could fit down one of the alleys. Gwen followed his gaze and shook her head. "Don't you dare!"

"We have to get there, Gwen. We'll make it," he reassured her. More like reassuring himself. He considered jumping the sidewalk, but it was too crowded. He settled for cutting the wrong way down a one way street that was mostly empty, sirens blazing as the few cars that were there got out of the way. Gwen had her eyes closed and she was praying that they weren't going to crash.

Jack's shortcut brought them to the end of the thoroughfare that the coffee shop was on and he pulled up against the curb. "Okay, you go in acting like a customer from the front. I'll come in the back. If everything's okay, let me know on the comm. If not, I go in guns blazing."

"Jack, you can't just go in shooting indiscriminately," Gwen protested as she got out of the vehicle. "There are innocent people in there."

"I know, I'm only going after the ugly alien," Jack said grimly. He urged her to hurry as he opened the boot of the SUV and pulled several guns out. He pulled the strap of one over his shoulder while hefting the second. He already had several smaller ones in his pockets. He saw Gwen disappear around the corner before he closed the SUV and turned to make his way down the alley. He sprinted, the guns banging against him as several proprietors gaped in surprise as they watched him run by.

Ianto heard a howl of rage from the basement and he knew that he had been found out. Terry and Ticia looked in the direction of the back room in amazement. Ticia started to head towards the back room and Ianto held her back.

"I don't think I'd go back there." Ianto said. He kept his eyes on the curtain and reached into his pocket. "Stay back here."

"But it sounds like Mrs. Trundle is hurt or something," Tricia said anxiously. "Shouldn't we go help her?"

"No," Ianto said. "Ticia, I don't think that's Mrs. Trundle anymore." She stared at him with a confused look on her face.

"Everyone out," Ianto said, raising his voice to the few customers who were sitting at tables. "We need to close down to do some maintenance. Sorry for the disruption, but we have to ask you to leave." He moved out onto the floor and started shooing the people out. They grumbled, but after hearing the sound coming from the back, they didn't want to stick around to find out what was wrong. Ianto closed the door behind them and went back over to the counter.

"I think Ianto's right," Terry said as he saw the curtain move. The two behind the counter moved farther away as Mrs. Trundle stalked in, her face twisted in anger. Ianto swept a glance to where his friends were and pulled the gun out of his pocket. He kept it down by his side, hidden from view.

"Yes?" He said mildly, acting as it nothing were wrong. "Did you call?" He moved the leaf out of the way and went behind the counter. It at least afforded some little bit of protection. He let drop behind him as he turned to face Mrs. Trundle.