13
Ifan was pacing.
It was late, well past midnight and he was now on borrowed time. Friday tomorrow… today. If he didn't get that paperwork before a judge soon, he would lose his rights to the money… I mean… the boy. Almost the end of the month… was that when it ran out? Christ, he could not even think now. This month. He knew it was this month. So… he had a little time. Still another week or so until the new month clicked over.
He never caught on to the concept of a date. Only the month had stuck and as he paced it never occurred to him that the day clicking over might be his last. Oh no. So arrogant, he was still so sure of himself.
"Da?"
He spun to snarl at his son only to find his daughter there instead, her face one of concern "Da, what is happening? Sorry to come so late but… you are not answering your phone. I went to use my gold card to get some groceries and it was declined. I rang the bank and they said your accounts were frozen."
"What?" he snatched his credit card he let her use and stared at it like it was fake, looking at the expiry date and then turning it over with confusion "Frozen?"
"Something about unauthorized access or something" she huffed "I need cash."
Ifan opened his safe and reached in, handing over a handful of bills then he swung it shut before replacing the artwork.
"Thank you, Daddy," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek in a way he usually loved and she felt his annoyance "What is it?"
"I was supposed to get the papers finally done. That prick has been dragging his feet to get me to pay more, finally we agree to a price that is twice the last round and then he cancels. This month … well… this coming week I think if we don't' get it done now, is the last chance sugar plum." He sighed.
"Fucker. Mabe we should quietly look around for better representation once this is done for another … what…. Ten years? I don't know… he seems to be getting too bold with the blackmail moves recently." She frowned, proving to not only be in on the conservatorship thing but in agreement with her father.
"And then earlier this afternoon that little shit was about to face off with me." Ifan scoffed "If Jack hadn't called him off like a good little bloody puppy, he was gonna try and get his arse whooped again."
"Good thing he is attached to that one… if worst comes to worst, he could become leverage too. When will he learn" she laughed as she paced the money in her bra "You are the king."
"I know princess." He kissed her cheek, patting her arm lightly "Go on. I will control that little fucker and if that arsehole things he can up the processing price again I will remind him that we are in this together and if I am exposed, so is he."
Rhiannon flounced out of there and Ifan sat to stew.
Toshiko sat looking down the CCTV camera with her own mind swirling with thoughts and ideas. She replayed him opening the safe from both CCTV angles, working out the code.
She hadn't known about that fucking safe.
.
.
"Ianto… it's the day" Jack said as he leaned over to place one of his milkshakes down on the coaster, the piano's notes still lingering in the air. Time was ticking and Jack knew today was Ifan's last chance, even if the silly old fool didn't. The lawyer might call and tell him time was up, he might look at his diary and finally remember the date was this week, not the end of the month. They agreed. Time to begin Operation Bye Bye.
Ianto reached for the glass like he had not heard and then said softly "What do we do?"
"Stick to the plan" Jack patted his shoulder and moved off, like he had not just rocked Ianto out of his stupor.
The young man sat there staring into space like he was trying to recall something, then he placed the milkshake down on the edge of the placemat, like he had misjudged the distance. The glass toppled and he yelped, reaching out to catch it, his other hand covering the keys of his beloved piano, the lid of the keyboard slamming down and then came his scream of pain.
Chaos ensued, Ianto hysterical as he told his father that he could not move his fingers, Ifan then hysterical as the moneymaker might not be able to make that money and Jack standing back calmly texting Toshiko that Plan A was in play.
He visualized her exiting her vehicle, waking across the road and into the building… then to the front desk…. Smile… ask… wait…. Come on… come on…. Come on….
Her return chime a few minutes later was 'Got her' and the screen went dark, Jack's eyes rising to Ianto, and he gave a single nod before leaving the room to visit a certain office and peek behind a certain artwork, and Ianto knew in that moment that Mica had just been collected from the school Rhiannon and not long since dropped her off at, she was away and safe. His father no longer had control of her.
Or him.
Ianto looked at his father and let his bottom lip wobble as he clutched his actually not hurt at all hand "Da… it really hurts. I… I am sorry."
"Not your fault" Ifan said distractedly, trying to read a message on his phone and frowning.
"Da?"
"Sorry son, the bloody accountant is trying to reach me." Ifan huffed and Ianto knew why. Also knew the plan.
"Oh god… Da… I can't move them. These two… they… I can't feel them at all" Ianto wailed, holding up the pristine hand by the wrist and wailing.
As expected, Ifan dropped the phone on the piano and reached out to check the hand, his fear flowing as he saw that Tour ahead needing that fucking hand. He swung back to Jack who had reappeared, and he assured him that their medical officer was on his way.
"Maybe we should take him to the hospital" one of the others said.
"Don't be stupid" Jack replied before Ifan could "Call an ambulance or make a dash for a hospital now will have the bloody paparazzi saying he's tried to off himself or something. Think. The tour is coming up, we can't risk ticket sales when it might just be bruising and swelling causing this."
Ifan nodded in agreement, not noticing his phone had disappeared into Jack's pocket "So what do you suggest?"
"Ice. We ice it and wait for Owen to get here with his bag of tricks" Jack replied, lifting Ianto like he suddenly couldn't walk and carrying him through the house towards his bedroom.
Ifan ran ahead to open the door and turn doon the bed as Ianto nipped Jack's neck before Jack warned him he would drop him if he didn't stop. Ianto hiding his mirth behind sobbing.
By the time Ianto was on the bed, his shoes off and invalided like some sort of heroine fallen form her fucking horse Jack's phone had pinged again. Jake slid it out to look at the screen and saw 'Plan B' on it, cursing softly as it meant Mica's absence had been noted.
Time to ramp it up.