Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales
Thursday, February 28, 2020
Ianto Jones sat in his office and wondered when babysitting became a three-ring-circus. John worked at his desk designing a destabilizer grenade. Anwen and Trefor were playing with blocks in the playpen. Nessa was restless, unable to sit still. He couldn't figure out if Anwen was jealous of her distracted flirting with John, upset at John on the general's behalf or both. She came back from Four on edge.
"Nessa," Ianto said. The young woman had wandered over to John again. "Please sit down."
"Is something wrong?"
John chuckled. "Anwen hasn't gotten used to you yet."
Anwen retorted in one of the languages she somehow picked up from John.
"Darling, that's physically impossible."
One of his tools lifted off John's desk. He grabbed it. "Nessa is like the general and Jack, Anwen. She flirts as easily as she breathes. Leave her be."
Anwen muttered something else.
"Of all my knowledge you could have retained, you went for swear words."
Nessa moved over and sat across from Ianto. "Is it always like this?"
"Somewhat. When Luc was here, John programmed the maintenance boots to play Calypso music and throw confetti."
"Should have made the kid set up his own lab."
"The program infected all of them." A beat. "Neither of them can be left alone with any computer system that has audio-visual options."
Nessa smiled.
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida works in the garden."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "And the rubber snake?"
"Jack did that," John said.
"Mom put it in the incinerator."
Ianto figured Jack was responsible for that to. Gwen turned bright red when she found it. Neither of them would explain why.
"And who programmed the computer to answer Bree's questions as Bugs Bunny?"
"Elmer Fudd," Anwen corrected.
Nessa laughed.
Heritage Genetic Research
Jack Harkness followed the police into the office building where the general confirmed suspicions of questionable activities and where Talbot shot him in the car park. The young man described in the notes met the police at the inner door. Simon Morse did look somewhat like Cory Lynch. DC Cowley handed the warrant and strode past.
"Captain Harkness." The confusion was almost convincing. "We gave you everything we had."
"No. You failed to mention your company's connection to psychological conditioning, terrorism and human-trafficking."
That confused him. "No."
"We traced payments from your company for genetic research on psychic ability. Buying teenagers from their parents is illegal. Poisoning fifteen teenagers is illegal." Setting up a teenager girl to be sexually abused was illegal. Ianto was still tracking the crimes associated with Heritage.
The company went to great lengths to make it possible for the Doves to have two of their three children committed. They were still unsure if the alien stalking Nessa was related or the competition. The London police uncovered details of a bounty on Nessa in London while investigating the death of a contract killer.
"That isn't possible."
"Did someone encourage you to flirt with me the last time I was here."
Morse hesitated. "Its an unfortunate part of my personality."
"I need the truth, Simon."
He sighed, removing his phone from his pocket. He had a video of Cory kissing him. "Its just PR."
"How did you get the video?"
"From a friend."
"I need details."
Cardiff Police Station
Gwen Cooper approached the front desk with her credentials in hand. Using the codes Ianto uncovered related to problematic teenagers, she knew the girls who provided the anonymous tip were still in jail. Their information connected to Jeannette Dove. Their history of arrest and drugs connected them to Eddie Cattrel. Each was a witness to a seemingly unrelated crime that defied the odds.
"I need to question Emlyn Rice and Alys Meyler. Rice turned eighteen overnight. She does not need a parent present."
The constable checked the computer. "Not in the system."
Gwen showed him the codes. "They are in the system. They are somehow connected to at least eight homicides, nine overdose cases involving poisonous drugs, human-trafficking and terrorism." Not to mention alien slavery.
Twenty minutes later, after threatening to contact UNIT, she was shown into an interrogation room with Rice. Gwen immediately used a device she'd taken from her daughter to temporarily deactivate the CCTV.
"Ms. Rice, I am Gwen Cooper of Torchwood."
"You traced the email."
"Yes. We need information." She opened her notebook. "We have connected you through arrest records, and the comments on the toxic drug case, to numerous crimes. I disabled the cameras. Torchwood and the police department are two different things. Cooperate with me and I will do what I can."
Emlyn told a story. Alys, her girlfriend, introduced her to drugs and parties. They met Eddie at school. He introduced them to Skyla Chinery. A combination of danger and fun. Eddie poisoned the party, claiming he wanted to get back at Malcolm. She suspected someone put him up to it. The message was Alys's idea; she claimed they needed to say something.
"The drugs were stupid. I was assured it was a safer party drug than X. I didn't slip it in drinks."
"But know someone that did."
"Eddie and a few of his friends."
"Did Malcolm know?"
Emlyn shook her head. "He is Mr. Self-Righteous. No drugs. No alcohol. Try to get enough sleep."
Empathy that was mistaken for effeminate.
"I need you to come with me." Gwen wasn't sure how much of the girl's story she believed. If it was true, she was a loose end someone would come for sooner or later.
Torchwood Three
Bree Nelson sat in the conference room reviewing social media. She was looking for connections among the teenage suspects and any psychological indications that stood out. A couple unexpected friendships stood out. Cath Eynon was related to Alys Meyler. Rodger Taafe dated Alys, but he ended the relationship. The few posts she read made her wonder if Rodger didn't like her dealing drugs. Emlyn had been close friends with Linnet who died. What stood out was Molly Elias. Her parents worked for different companies connected to Cattrel.
Bree tapped the intercom. "Ianto, do you know how to contact Jack's friend Mara Tierney in Belfast?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Molly Elias. Intentionally or not, she could lead the CN researchers to Malcolm."