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Ianto and the Banker. They landed at the military airport on Alameda Island. Not wanting to be in a military vehicle Benjamin chose a green four door at Oakland Airport. Denny smiled, asking, “Green?” “It was this or red or white.” “Let me drive. I know these roads.” Heading towards the Bay Bridge Denny teased, “Maybe, it’ll be easy to hide in this baby.” Benjamin looked at the traffic, the dense city, the setting sun, anything and asked, “I wonder if they came up the five?” Denny didn’t reply. Partly because Benjamin seemed to be teasing, or thinking out loud and partly because it had little bearing on their direction and mostly because he was concentrating. The freeway split. They now drove on the lower deck. Benjamin found the gentle swells in the concrete something new. Also, nobody slowed. As they bounced along the waves he looked up at the ribbon of concrete above them. I got a bad feeling about this. His eyes went wide a few times at the speed which people changed lanes. Danny didn’t flinch as cars often passed in front of them without signaling. In surprise and a little fearful an, “Ah,” slipped out. In front of them slipped in a car with about a hands width between them. “Naw, I saw him coming.” Benjamin watched Denny. Denny’s eyes never left the vehicles around him. Benjamin looked over at the other vehicles. All the drivers had the same concentration, except one. A trucker. They reached the hairpin turn. Benjamin watched the semi pass them at speed! The freeway coming from the north, a lane from the right joined up and all the lanes turned to the Bay Bridge. With about two car lengths Denny skillfully placed them on the farthest right lane, avoided the bridge traffic and exited. They continued north. “Is their any way around this?” “No.” Denny contemplated a second, “No.” “I’m glad you drove. I’d have had to slow down.” “People do that some times. Very annoying. It’s worse in the morning. You should see it then.” He smiled and looked over at his boss, “No, really in the morning there is twice the traffic and they really know where they are going.” Benjamin looked at the traffic in the opposite direction. It was if a parking lot of vehicles all wanted to drive at fifty five, for the fun of it. Something to remember if he ever was tailing someone in this area. “There is a restaurant near here.” “Good.” “Spenger’s Fish Grotto. It’s been here forever. That’s all they do is fish. See over there?” Denny pointed to a largish orangish building. Benjamin didn’t see it in the chaos of cars, buildings, the setting sun with a dark skinny line of the San Francisco hills with the Bay and Golden Gate bridge lights at each end. “That’s where they make movies. Toy Story, like that.” Benjamin had a moment of sensory overload. He leaned back closing his eyes. They exited University, turned on Fourth and parked. They were suddenly in a different world. No traffic. No bright lights in his eyes. Benjamin took a deep breath and stretched. Nothing was moving. He looked at the restaurant across the street with a queue of customers lit by Spenger’s neon signs. He was reminded of a picture of a cafe on a corner without walls. Oh, where? Oh, where can the Midnights be? Denny observed the shortness of the line, “If this was Friday or Saturday, we’d never get in.” The maitre’d, waved them over while they were still in the street. Unusual to have the maitre’d outside, thought Benjamin. Hm. They never have snow here. Or sleet. The Maitre’d acting like a bouncer held out an arm clearing a skinny path through the crowd waiting to add their names to his list. Inside a busboy quickly wiped and dried a table, then left with a plastic bucket of dishes a second before the waiter reached it. “Is this fine?” It was the only empty table. “Yes. Thanks. I’ll have a beer. Anything on tap.” Denny answered before sitting. “Coors?” Denny nodded with a, “Yeah.” Which nobody heard. Benjamin took a second. The waiter said nothing, and quickly looked around. “I’ll have the same.” The waiter saying, “Very good,” disappeared into the crush of customers at the bar, waiters and the hubbub of diners all around them. Nautical themed tchotchkes displayed prominently added to the confusion. A basket of bread and butter was placed in the middle of the table by a smiling man speaking in code to a waiter, who nodded impatiently. “I love this bread.” Said Denny as he buttered a thick slice. Benjamin looked at the menu. He looked up to see two beers and the waiter taking Denny’s order. “Two shrimp cocktails and I’ll have the sole.” They both turned to Benjamin. Denny was happy and the waiter was patient. “I’ll have the same. But, just two cocktails, not four.” The waiter smiled as if he was hearing a joke and was gone again. Benjamin tried the bread. He added butter. Denny smiled, saying, “This is real sourdough. I didn’t realize how much I missed this stuff.” “We had this once before.” “Oh. Right. Crab and boules. Of course, the butter.” Three quarters of the way through their meal Benjamin relaxed. He excused himself. Walking to the back, he passed a pipe mounted in the floor, flat into the top was a compass. It was a ship’s compass and suddenly he knew the tchotchkes were not fakes. He looked around the room with new appreciation. He had to admit to Denny the food was good. Better than that, excellent. Benjamin returned, “Thanks for bringing us here...” A customer standing at the bar turned and held still, until Benjamin noticed him. “Commander.” Ianto gave him a steady look. The map of the entire area flash into Benjamin’s mind. The distances between San Quentin, San Francisco and Berkeley. Then, Nat Goodman’s warning; Be careful. Ianto strode out. “Denny. Pay the bill,” Benjamin followed Ianto. Denny looked around. Nathan, Sally and Sean raised a beer to him. A busboy placed another in front of him and slid out of view. He nodded his thanks and took a sip of the lager. The three being shown to a table left his view. The waiter he flagged down smiled saying, “Your bill’s been paid. Tip included.” All the waiters knew. For the first time that day Denny was anxious. Outside Denny looked around not seeing either Ianto or Benjamin in the thinning crowd. They couldn’t have driven away already. Unless it was a set up to kidnap Benjamin. He crossed the street. The two men stood next to his car. Waiting for the keys. Denny did not relax. Ianto barely looked at him. He continued speaking to Benjamin. “We’re returning to New York. You can travel with us or follow us and we’ll pretend we don’t see you.” “How did you know we were here?” “Spenger’s? Everybody eats here. Best food,” Ianto laughed, “In the whole Bay.” Then nobody said anything. Denny watching the other two, believed Nat Goodman. Ianto liked Benjamin or it was a very well laid trap. Benjamin looked like he was thinking about what was said before he joined them. Letting Benjamin know, Denny asked, “Are your friends from inside, traveling with you?” Ianto finally turned towards him. Denny wished he hadn’t. Gone was the easy, relaxed banter attitude. He felt like apologizing and didn’t. Ianto looked down the street. Denny looked and saw the vehicles. They’d arrived while we ate? Not exactly a trap. Ianto looked back at Benjamin, “I’ll give you time to make up your mind. Come inside and have a drink, think.” The banter was back. Ianto returned to the restaurant. Benjamin ordered, “I’ll go. Check those, carefully,” he touched his arm, “Mass murderers.” Denny kept his distance as he walked around the vehicles. Nobody was inside. In front and behind the bus sat two SUV’s. All with New Jersey plates. He took pictures. He was about to leave when the SUV’s door opened. “They’re going to be a while. You can wait with me.” Kurt with the muscular build of a panther waited for a reply. “Look here comes Sally. She can’t drink. She’s driving, too.” Sally wore the same outfit as the men, a black suit, yet she got a catcall by a passing car. The car stopped. Sally continued walking. Denny remembered her, she was the newby.Panther came out onto the sidewalk, “Watch this.” The driver got out, “Hey, we just wanted to say, hi. Come on back.” “Your daddy like broken windows?” He looked around saw everyone was watching and drove away.Sally reached them saying, “They’re students. The place is lousy with schools.”“Join us.” Kurt offered again.Denny declined Kurt’s offer. One of them needed to be able to drive out of here. He headed back to his car relieved they didn’t follow him. Cars came and went. A light mist covered the cars. The longer he waited the colder he got. What am I doing? I can’t watch for Benjamin if I can’t see out the windows. He turned on the car’s heater and rolled the windows down and up rather than go back inside. The parking lot was slowly emptying out. His own breath was now fogging the windows. He turned on the car. He turned off the car. He returned to the restaurant. Now that the crush was over the Maitre’d was inside. Denny looked around, “I’m looking for my friend.” The man raised a hand and a waiter rushed over, “Yes, sir. Right this way.” Again like they know me. He found Benjamin in an alcove with Ianto. Sean and Nathan in a close discussion ignored him. “Denny.” Benjamin was drunk. Was Ianto? Maybe. Ianto took out his phone, pushed two numbers. Shoving it back into his pocket he stood up. Ianto spoke clearly, “Denny. I have to go to sleep.” He was doing okay until he turned, then he swayed. Sean and Nathan caught him and walked him out. Denny hung onto Benjamin. Outside they headed for the car in the near empty lot. “No.” Ianto called out, then mumbled something. Denny was okay with ignoring them. Benjamin was not. “Benjamin what happened? What did they say?” “Wake.” “Okay. In the morning.” “No.”
A bus started up and stopped close to them. “Come. Come,” Nathan cajoled. Denny heard Nathan's footsteps. This is so wrong. This is how agents are never recovered. Young ladies laughed in the empty quiet darkness. More cars drove away into the blackness. A light rain began. “There’s beds. One for Ianto and one for Benjamin. Come.” Spenger’s lights flicked off. “I’ll ride with you, until Benjamin’s awake. We don’t even have to talk.”
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In the end it was even more messed up. At least they drove out of the downpour. Denny woke to the smell of food and coffee, covered with a blanket, laying on a sofa, in a bus. No, no, no. He sat up. Nathan held out a cup and explained, “This is coffee. Black with sugar. Benjamin is still asleep. He’s right there.” He pointed to a sliding screen. “The car was returned. And your bags are right there.” He pointed at a chair. “They haven’t been opened.” Anne or Pat came out with plates of food. I’ve died. I’m dead. Dead and gone to heaven? Consorting with the enemy. No. No. I’m out of a job. That’s it. I’m done. Is Benjamin sleeping? Where’s Ianto? Where am I? Denny looked at his watch. 10:30. “We changed time zones,” Nathan offered. Denny found the toilet. Returning he noticed his bedding had been cleared and Ianto was joining him for breakfast. He felt shlumpy in yesterday’s clothes while Ianto wore a robe. Who eats Eggs Benedict on a bus anyways!?
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Not wanting to watch another person eat, yet not knowing where to look Denny fixated on the view out the bus window. He thought it over and was sure that this was the second time he was eating Eggs Benedict. It was the best. He had an idea they made the muffins this morning. Though he was unfamiliar with the ham. He was finding Ianto overwhelming and difficult to approach. Why? How? The man wasn’t doing anything except drinking his coffee. Anne popped out and refilled his cup. What? Do they have a closed circuit tv? How was he to open a line of dialogue with Ianto? One that reveals the inner workings of this gang. Ianto shut down his one simple inquiry last night. He’d use good manners and start with the waitress. “Thank you, for making breakfast.” “Of, course.” Anna replied. “I like this meat. It’s quite different. What kind is it?” “Jamón.” “Thank you.” Ianto’s eyes slid over his cup toward her. Anna returned to the kitchen. Ianto’s glazed eyes met Denny’s curious look. Denny almost smiled. Ianto was hungover. Ianto leaned back, addressed his plate and cut a small slice of his eggs. Using his knife he carefully painted the hollandaise over the bite, and politely ate. “It is good. The Spaniards dry cure a pig’s hind leg, called Jamón,” he paused looking drowsily at Denny, “in English that’s ham.” It was a great opening since Denny wanted to know, was Ianto thousands of years old? What was it like back then and how did they reach this point of becoming killers? He asked, “Have they done this all through your life?” Ianto’s face barely changed. Denny decided he was definitely looking amused. Good. Maybe this is the start of an actual conversation. “Benjamin shares with you every aspect of his life?” Denny knew he made a mistake. Oops. Backtrack. Why, why did he try to make conversation with this man? Ianto stretched his neck and shoulders. He took a deep breath. Anna slipped in and removed his plate. He nodded. She refilled his cup. He added a spoon of sugar regarding Denny. All the plates looked like they belonged in a New York condo, not a bus. “Are you partners?” Ianto definitely was awake, now. What do I say? Yes. Benjamin tells me everything, because he is an insecure guy. Or, no, of course not. However, we do talk about you. Technically he’s my boss! What am I doing! I’m outwitted by my own stupidity. I liked it better when he was half asleep drinking coffee. “If I invite him over for dinner and a fuck, not necessarily in that order, will you come also?” Denny glumly froze in mid fork. Ianto continued the torture as Denny slowly ate. “Do you prefer males or females?” Denny gulped, there was no place to escape, except the sofa or the bathroom. And that swine Benjamin was still sleeping. He tried changing his expression, to ‘not funny’ and later ‘who do you think you are’. “Then again I might enjoy a threesome with you.” Ianto laughed, “You can be the engine. I’ll be the caboose. To be polite we should get Benjamin in here and ask him if he’d enjoy a ride in the middle.” Not even Denny’s best smirk worked. He took out and tied his tie. He knew it was lame, but, it worked. Ianto stopped his teasing. “You’re fun. I look forward to working with you.” Ianto slid upright looking out the front window, “Why are we stopping?” Anna appeared behind Ianto with clothing. Before she said, “Not an emergency. The drivers wish to change.” Ianto was in the bathroom. The shower started. Anna hung up the hanger on a fold out hook and removed red underwear, the skin tight part way down your thighs type, and held it waiting. Presently the shower stopped and she handed in various pieces of clothing. Denny masqueraded his note taking of everything she handed Ianto by eating. His bites were becoming minuscule. Anna knelt down and helped with his sox and shoes to the clink of a belt being fastened. She straightened out his shirt under a shoulder holster as he headed to the front sofa. The bus rolled to a gradual stop. From under the sofa’s cushion Ianto removed two pistols, loaded them and tucked them into the holster. Denny’s eyes about took a walk on their own. At least fifteen rifles and as many pistols neatly organized filled the bottom of the sofa. Netting held various cases, grenades, and knife handles protruded around the edges. That was where he’d laid his head last night. “Do you need someone to keep you warm tonight?” Anna asked sincerely. Not a waitress! Denny reorganized his thoughts. Ianto gave Anna a hug. When he moved back she fastened his cufflinks. He asked equally seriously, “Are you teasing our guest?” “Why not? He’s fun.” She looped a tie around his neck and folded down the collar. Ianto hiked up the jacket. “Do you need me to do anything?” She asked, straightening the lengths of the tie. “Beef Wellington for dinner.” “Your favorite.” “Thank you, Anne.” Anne is what? A wife? A member of the gang? Someone not being used? Denny watched like an onboard camera. Nathan boarded with Sean and Kurt hot on his heels. Anna was gone. Tom left. Kurt took over driving and they pulled slowly ahead, then merged back on the freeway. Nathan closed up the sofa while Sean tied Ianto’s tie. They looked at each other and removed their jackets. Ready for the Jets they sat together. What a picture. Three men in suits, white shirts and guns snugged up to each other. Ianto in the middle, Nathan’s arm around his shoulders and Sean holding his hand. Together they ignored Denny. Denny watched Ianto receive some of his own medicine. Nathan spoke first, “What are you doing?” Sean followed with, “You didn’t shave.” And Kurt from the front said, “Tell him.” “I’m.” Nathan said, “No.” as Sean held up one finger. Sean continued, “No. Because you would have said something. Instead we had to hear it from Jerry.” Nathan kissed Ianto’s cheek. Ianto almost blushed and kissed him back. “We have a guest.” Sean looked over his shoulder at the closed screen, “He’s asleep.” Nathan asked, “Still?” Ianto returned their kisses while Sean fondled his chest and Nathan touched his face, his hair. It was they way they did it that Denny found shocking. No little glances in his direction. As if they were not ignoring him, rather he wasn’t there. Ianto looked at Denny, “Denny counts.” The other two looked at Denny as if seeing him for the first time. Nathan asked, “Why?” Denny was afraid. Not fearful, only that he now knew Ianto was the one keeping him alive. He had his own, why’s? Why did he count? And why was Benjamin the guest? What was going on that Jerry was calling Sean? Ianto wasn’t complaining when he said, “It’s been too long.” Nathan kissed him. “How long?” They didn’t stop touching each other. “Oh. That long. She’s in her sixties, seventies.” Sean sounded almost wistful, “She used to die in her twenties. So, barely five years.” Denny had a line of question marks entering his brain. “Or thirties.” Added Nathan. Ianto laughed, “One time she died a year later.” “Yeah, that was good.” Sean shook his head, “We’re so bad. What am I saying? We do this to ourselves.” More question marks. Anna carrying a bottle walked to the front of the bus and asked Kurt if he wanted anything. “Water, please.” She opened and handed him the bottle. “How is your girlfriend?” She politely inquired. “Thank you, Anna. He handed the bottle to her, “Hope she’s still there when I get back. I like her.” They smiled at each other. Nathan was half laying on Ianto, his head buried in his neck. “Agent Denny can I get you anything?” “Coffee, please. Anne.” She looked at Sean, who shook his head, no, smiling at her. She returned with the coffee almost immediately. “Thank you, Anne.” He smiled at her. At least he had something to play with than watch the beginnings of an orgy next to him. Sean kissed Ianto on the mouth. Several times. “Ianto you need a shave. Why didn’t you tell us?” As they spoke, Denny held his cup to his lips, in a, I’m not listening way. Ianto thought through several answers. “I’m a fool.” Denny added another question mark. “You need a shave. Come on.” He pulled Ianto up and started to unbutton his shirt and undid the tie. Nathan helped with the holster. Denny didn’t care if they saw him staring at Ianto’s tattoos on his lower back. Jacqueline was written in beautiful script. With his shirt hanging off his pants and wrists Sean used a straight razor to shave his face and chest. He toweled him off and looked at Denny. “Do you want one?” Denny paused a heartbeat. They’d see his tats, and he had the strangest idea they already knew he had them. “You need one.” “Yes, please.” Denny removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. “Sit on the sofa.” Denny moved. Ianto and Nathan stood facing him. Ianto had tiny little rings in his nipples. Nathan was hugging him from behind and flipping them up and down. Ianto had his head back on Nathan’s shoulder. Nathan was saying something into Ianto’s ear. This day just gets weirder and weirder. All I need now is for Benjamin to wake up and see me like this. Sean covered him in soap and ran the razor over his skin. Denny held rigidly still. “Relax.” “Nobody’s ever shaved me before.” Sean leaned closer with a wolffish grin, “A bit intimate. Yeah?” Denny thanked him when he was done. Sean replied, “You’re welcome,” as he wiped off the blade, folded it shut and put it in his pocket. Something to remember. Denny finally escaped to the bathroom. He washed his shirt and underwear and took a shower. Worried about the amount of water in the tank he turned off the water while he scrubbed. He drew his fingertips over his cheeks several times feeling the closeness of the shave. What an unknown luxury. There was a knock on the door. He cracked it open. Anna’s hand slipped in with a pair of red underwear. “Thank you.” She pulled the door shut. Wearing the new underwear was strangely thrilling. He kept his wet shirttails hanging out and needn’t have worried. Tom was again driving and Denny was alone.
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Denny’s relief that his boss was finally up and moving faded. Benjamin’s pj’s matched Ianto’s robe. What is he doing? What am I doing? I’m wearing his underwear. They are very nice and don’t fit like briefs. Kill me now! Also, to tell or not to tell about the orgy on the sofa? “Denny?” “Hm?” Maybe later. At the office. “Good morning, sir. Sorry, it is after noon.” Benjamin sat. The ever ready cooks set out a plate for him. “Where is everyone?” Benjamin asked while eating. “I don’t know. We stopped to refuel. At seven am? They offered to let me ride in the suv. I wouldn’t leave you. I’m assuming now, they are in the other vehicles.” His thoughts drifted. They haven’t abandoned us here, have they? “This is good. This is really good. Wow.” “The ham is dry cured,” Denny replied as he pondered; did Ianto set us up on this bus while they take off, right under our noses? “It’s effing great. And expensive.” “You’ve heard of it?” Denny asked himself, How would we know? “Oh, sure. Italy, Spain, France. I’m sure there must be other countries that make it. Maybe they make it here in the US. I’m not that up on it.” Denny wanted to take a pair of pliers to his nails. He thought he knew everything about Timothy Andrew Benjamin. Yet, he’s Ianto’s particular guest. Why? Since when? Denny refused to talk about anything until he was out of this bus. * In the dark at a truck stop they stepped outside to stretch their legs. Denny looked around, seeing they were alone he began. “Commander got up, Panther, Lion and Kupie boarded. He says, ‘Did you go this morning?’ Lion replied, ‘No.’ Panther says, ‘We stayed with you.’” I was with Commander until they arrived. This never happened. “Must be code.” “Last night. What did Ianto say?” Denny nodded prompting Benjamin. “Before I arrived.” “He offered me a job. And he didn’t care if I left. Be a double agent. He says. Not a problem. He says.” Benjamin stood still thinking. “He tells me he never falls in love with someone from ‘outside’. So, if we have a ‘relationship’, it would most likely end up ‘abusive’, in some manner. He said it in such an offhand way. I reminded him, ‘I am married.’ He shrugged. ‘And not gay.’ He looked confused for a second. Seriously, Denny. Like he’d never heard the word or the concept before. Then he says, ‘Whatever’. “So, I countered with, ‘You’d think someone who’s lived forever you’d have a better pickup line.’ He slowly tilts his head from shoulder to shoulder. Like the computer inside is processing. Then he smiles at me. It was overwhelming. I’ve never had a guy look at me like that. I’ve never had anybody look at me like that. I’ve never seen anybody look at anybody else like that.” Denny flashed to Sean kissing Ianto. When Benjamin seemed to be done Denny asked, “What happened then?” “I thought you were there. ‘It’d be easier if we traveled with them to New York. Or follow them. They’ll pretend not to see us.’ I get it Denny. That’s why the look in his photographs. They are always pretending they don’t know we are there. But, they know. How do they know?” He patted his chest. Looking for his cigarettes. So, there was something else. “Benjamin what was the one thing he said that stands out the most?” “Oh.” He lit a cigarette, remembering. It didn’t seem like a happy memory. “I asked him, ‘When did you first plan to talk to me?’ I was referring to his being at the elevators. Right? He says, ‘When you graduated. Your picture was in the news.’ Me and the rest of the team. That was high school.” Benjamin waved his hand away from himself. Alarms went off in Denny’s head. He wasn’t buying it. Ianto lied. Of all the teams across the US, for how many years, decades, had the local team’s pictures been published and I choose you, Pikachu. “I did not forget. I didn’t want to think about it.” He tapped his ash on the ground. “It was my junior year we won. The next year we had injuries, a couple of key losses and we were not even in the semi’s. So, we had no picture that year.” He took a deep drag, “Right? He’s watched me? All these years? I feel like the kid who ends up on a milk carton. So?” It wasn’t a question, more of a, this is where we stand. Benjamin smoked. Denny watched the whorls of smoke drift in the colored lights of the station. Denny had seen pictures of milk cartons with a lost child, so he knew what Benjamin meant. He’d never seen one for real. “Benjamin, if he followed you around, where, how did he watch you? Or he saw the picture and did nothing for years? You, on the other hand, took a job with the agency. You followed him. All those years ago. In San Francisco. When he suddenly tore across the United States. We may never know the reason why he went to San Francisco but, he ended up in a hotel. He knows you’re one floor down and he sends you a gift. Food. Then he’s walking around the neighborhood endlessly. He kissed a baby and gave gifts to those girls.” “He’s saying see what a great guy I am.” “Right. Was he giving you every chance to talk to him? Yes. Benjamin, you didn’t.” Benjamin shook his head no. “I didn’t.” “None of the other agents did I’m sure and why in San Francisco?” Benjamin added, lost in thought, trying to tape together then with now. “Oh?” Denny’s eyes opened in surprise. “Wow.” He snapped his fingers. “It’s not that he’s in San Francisco or anywhere. It’s that he left New York.” Benjamin grinned back and joined in, “These trips are a vacation of sorts. He left work and…” Denny continued, “He says, “Hi, Benjamin. I know you. He assumes it goes without saying, you know him. You’re the one following him.” “Well, I was following him. He’s wanted.” “He let’s you know, I don’t love people outside of my world. It might be a bit on the sicko side, but, hey, if that’s what you want.” Benjamin’s cigarette forgotten, his hand dropped to his thigh while he said, “Here’s an opening, work for me.” Denny grinned, “Hey. You can keep your day job.” “You know Denny we can use this.” “Work for him.” “Right. If this ‘I live forever’ bunk is true there has got to be mountains of data out there.” “I think we have a big project.” “Yes. I was thinking of the intern, too. What’s her name?” “You haven’t decided which one you want.” “How about Maybelline?” Denny laughed, “Mary Bell. Please don’t call her Maybelline. I’m sure she’s sick of that joke.” “Oh, yeah. What do you call me when I’m not around?” “TB.” “No.” “Benji.” “No. You don’t.” Benjamin smiled. Denny smiled back. “Keystone.” “There it is.” Keystone. The guy in the middle who holds everything together. When life is falling to pieces it’s Keystone Kop. So, where are we now? The rock or the kop?
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Denny again slept on the sofa. Pretending he wasn’t listening in on Ianto’s conversation with Benjamin. “Sleep with me. I’m sure one of my guys’d be appreciative of sleeping on the bottom bunk to sitting in the suv.” Denny took a peek. They stood at the head of the beds. He was glad he risked looking. They had the posture of people flirting. “Sorry. Still married and we met for the first time how long ago? Also, I don’t do one night stands.” “One night? Move in.” “Move into your apartment?” “I have a large bed. Longer than most.” “Why?” “Why not?” Benjamin shook his head, “Why do you have a long bed?” “Oh, well. I’ve never really became accustomed to the edges of tall beds.” “Tall beds?” Benjamin laughed, “Did you fall off your bed?” “That’s why I need someone to keep me in.” Denny shut his eyes, dying inside. Days and days of transcripts with Ianto barely speaking, that doesn’t mean he can’t.
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Denny stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. He loved Sean’s shave. He looked around for a razor and found a secret drawer with perfume nestled inside. They looked expensive, although he didn’t know the price range he assumed it was mid to high. Guests are usually offered the upper berth. It felt like a good manners thing. Ianto is pushing every conversation towards the sexual. What is he not talking about? Yikes! What if this flirting was real? Denny sighed. Benjamin must be faking it. If Ianto didn’t want Benjamin for sex what did he want from him? An ‘in’ at the agency? To separate him from the herd and he’d never be seen again? No, Benjamin was Ianto’s guest. Unless he got it wrong? Think! Any other options? Was Ianto bored? Denny was relieved to see Benjamin in the bottom bunk. Alone. Having piles of little sandwiches late yesterday and no dinner, Denny looked forward to a repeat of yesterday. He had no idea what he was eating. Cheesy, but he couldn’t quite seem to know what type it was and contemplated doing blunt force trauma to himself before he’d ask. Whatever it was it was wonderfully filling. He looked around at everyone else solidly eating. Someone not him or Benjamin suggested playing a game. Denny found Ianto’s reaction priceless. “Games are used to woo someone.” Ianto stated. Sean sitting across from Ianto moved and Benjamin sat. Anne sat a plate in front of him. “Benjamin, I have a game you might enjoy. One we all play as equals with a common goal.” “Thank you. Some other time. Do you have any other hobbies?” “Riding bareback.” Sally returned her plate to the kitchen. Kurt took her place next to Ianto. “Difficult to do in a bus.” “Is it?” Denny flushed, dying for his boss. Benjamin smiled. “When we stop to change drivers take a walk with me. If Denny is worried you’ll be abducted have him follow us.” Denny thought of three scenarios that might end badly. Some time later, they exited. Traversing around a hill they stopped at a large widening of the dirt shoulder. As if they’d been here before? It was a place where local kids might go drinking. Ianto walked away with Benjamin. Denny stepped out and looked around at the beer cans littering the verge in front of a line of trees. He took a spot to watch his boss and the three vehicles. Where’s the second suv? Sally looked over at Denny and boarded the second bus. Her look gave away nothing. Tom boarded Ianto’s bus. He’s driving again? Then why did we stop? Nathan entered Sally’s bus. Frank took the driver’s seat in the suv. When did he join up with the group? Denny didn’t recognize a man entering Ianto’s bus and memorized him. Sean must not have gotten out of a vehicle or he was driving the second suv. Seven people. To ferry Jacky to a prison? Not only an expensive trip, but off the grid. Unless he checked camera footage all across the US. He forgot Anne and Pat. Nine people. About the moment he wondered what was the group’s total numbers and, so far, only three women? And how many beds might be in the second bus? When he remembered the reason for the buses in the first place was Banker. So, ten. That’s why the two suv’s, they do not have enough beds. Where is Kurt? These buses stop for nothing. Fuel and changing drivers. Now we should be leaving and we are waiting for Ianto. Benjamin stood against a hundred ring tree. Are they flirting? They could do almost anything on the other side of that tree. Denny blinked and looked away. Ianto gives people ‘a look’ and that’s the extent of his giving orders, yet he’s definitely the commander and we are all waiting on him. Denny’s eyes hardened. They all look about the same age. He’d guess somewhere in the twenties. Maybe early thirty’s. It was their clothing that aged them up or down. In decades Ianto’d not aged. Who are these people? Five pickups sped into the clearing tossing up dust and gravel. Effectively blocking an escape. Three black and two red of the kind good old teenage boys drive with the spotlights across the top and an extra wheel in back. Before Denny decided to flatten himself like a cardboard box or run like a deer behind a vehicle, twenty shots rang out almost as one. Denny flinched at the sound of the shots compounded by the explosive burst of air from the good old boy’s tires and the echo off the hill. He was unable to see two of the trucks. He was sure they’d been fired upon. Both front tires and on the visible side the two rear tires deflated and caused the vehicles to list. Someone yelled, “Come down. Before you get yourself shot.” Denny heard the sound of metal on metal. Kurt knocked his pistol against the tailgate of one truck. There’s Kurt. Frank backed up in front of Ianto. Ianto reappeared with a rifle. Denny resisted the impulse to run and risked a look at Benjamin. He was watching from behind the tree. The widest tree in the area. As if that was by chance. While Denny was an FBI agent in the middle of a clearing remembering hearing of sporadic car jackings of expensive vehicles. He was looking at five drivers with four riflemen in the beds and two girls riding shotgun. Enough people to drive nine vehicles. Ianto took over. He knew who to threaten. He knew when to threaten them. They gave up and nobody died. “Agent Denny.” He held his ID in front of the leader. A couple of the ‘bad’ guys started complaining. Two others cried. To a rather unclimatic end, the police arrived. There was one sticky moment. The police wanted everyone at the station. Agents Benjamin and Denny introduced themselves. Sticky moment averted. This definitely was not one of the scenarios Denny had envisioned. Later, back in the office Agents Benjamin and Denny learned nine males, two females were either arrested or held until their mom’s came for them! A whopping six dozen rifles, pistols, various knives, zip ties and duct tape were confiscated. They towed one truck away on a flatbed, the rest they dragged. The debriefing took three days. Agent Benjamin described in detail attending a wake for Tina. A so far unknown member of the Midnight Gang. Ianto wanted to find her ashes and bringing her back. Where exactly? Bring her back, bring her home? They decided bringing her back meant not exactly to New York. So, where? Benjamin was amazed by his partner’s retelling of getting a shave and the love fest.
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Benjamin called Denny into his office. “Ready? Let’s go.” His phone rang. “Yes? You have a delivery downstairs.” He hung up. As they walked he asked, “I don’t believe any of what Ianto said during the trip. Do you?” “As if all this was by chance?” “No way.” “They wanted us to see them being good guys.” “Again. They did a good job of it. I felt like such a fool explaining, we were there because Ianto has the hots for me. He sure gave me enough quotable lines.” At the front desk a man waited with a blue wrapped package. “Dudes, Agent Denny? Please sign for this. I got a list of deliveries to get to.” Agent Benjamin asked, “What is this?” Looking up and down the young Asian descent man. “Really? If I suggest clean laundry will you sign?” Inside was Denny’s underwear with a note on the Laundry’s paper. He signed. “Thanks.” The Dude man beat it out of there. Denny threw the blue package in the trunk. He drove. “Anne, says I can keep the underwear.” “Red and sexy. This place is where one of Banker’s people fetch coffee. Thankfully they don’t brew it themselves. Why, I don’t know. Sometimes it’s Frank, who we saw on the trip.” “The driver every morning?” Denny asked, even though it was in the file he’d studied for years. Denny had been brought into Washington, hence Benjamin kept explaining small details, treating Denny like he was new. “Right. We thought for the longest time Frank came in once every few weeks. Now we know there is another guy who’s been buying it on all the other days. We never noticed him because except for getting coffee he never leaves the building except in the evening. He walks around eating street food, usually in the dark, then returns and we don’t see him again until he’s getting two large coffee’s the next day. “So, he’s sleeping in the building.” “This office building.” They pulled into the garage. “Here?” “Yes.” “This is where Frank drives Ianto and Banker every morning?” “Yes. Denny, this is why we are parking on the street level. Now, often there is another man waiting, next to that trash can. He looks like a linebacker. For a long time we thought it was coincidence. Just some guy waiting for work to start before he went up. Because they never talk or greet each other. And he’s not always there. Then Banker left for San Francisco and no more getting coffee. No more Frank going to pick up lunch. And no more linebacker.” They exited the suv and Benjamin’s phone rang at the same time. He showed the face of his phone to Denny. Benjamin. He pushed answer and listened to Ianto breath in and out. “Hello.” “I have such feelings for you.” Ianto hung up. “He hung up. He said, ‘I have such feelings for you.’ And hung up.” His phone rang again. “Benjamin again.” He pushed answer. “He’s breathing in and out again. Hello, Ianto.” “If you’re telling Agent Denny every word put it on speaker. Don’t I give you time to do that?” Benjamin squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them he pressed speaker. “Okay. You’re on speaker Ianto.” “Hello, Agent Denny.” “Hello.” “Benjamin. How did the debrief go?” “I thought you know everything?” Ianto listened. Benjamin continued, “The police looked great on TV.” “You have yet to give me an answer or make a proposal of your own. Know that I will back you regardless.” Ianto hung up. Benjamin spun around, checking the area around them. Denny followed suit. “For a second there I thought he might be behind us.” They wound their way into the coffee shop. Benjamin bought two black coffee’s with sugar. They sat at a table and watched Secretary purchase two extra large coffees, black, no sugar. The agents followed him out to the elevators and watched at what floor the elevator stopped and returned to their own office. Denny knocked on Benjamin’s doorframe. “Boss, you’re not going to believe this. Check the shared file.” They watched the video on the large screen. They purchased coffee and sat. “No!” Benjamin stopped and backed up the file. “No. How?” He pushed play. He and Denny entered the shop, waited for their turn. As he paid Ianto stood behind him as if he was leaving with his own coffee in hand, stopped in mid stride looked at Benjamin, then left out the street door. The agents walked to the same table… “What?” He stopped the file. “Yes. We sat at the table Ianto used.” “Do you think he was saving it for us?” “How could he? How could he know we’d be there. How?” “What is going on?” Benjamin’s office phone rang. Angrily he picked up. Ianto asked, “Hello, Benjamin. Join me for coffee tomorrow?” Benjamin covered the mouthpiece. “Ianto, coffee.” Denny grinned, “At his place?” “Are you inviting me over to your place? What time?” “Seven. No six. Wait. Twenty to six. Bring Denny with you. Safety in numbers.”
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Ianto hung up. What did I get myself into? I drink tea. I have no coffee maker. I can not do like Banker and have Secretary bring me coffee up from downstairs. You don’t invite someone over and feed them coffee from a shop. In the shop on the first floor, run by a man from an Italian family, they use an ornate brass and silver coffeemaker. Ianto stood at the bar trying the different coffees. Pushing them away or closer depending on his taste. “What is the cost of this coffeemaker?” “Oh, it is very expensive. Many thousands of dollars.” “How many?” “The owner’s mother’s grandfather purchased this. So, today who knows what the cost is? Who can say?” He shrugged while pleading. Ianto called Banker. He seemed perplexed that Banker had so many questions. “Hello, Banker. I need a coffeemaker. I need one today. By five o’clock tomorrow. Tomorrow morning. I found one. Downstairs. The place on the first floor. I am there now. Okay.” He hung up. He waited for the busy barista to finish an order. “Please. May I have two more of these two.” Drinking small sips of the various coffees and espressos Ianto looked out the window occasionally. Banker arrived. So, that’s what it looks like when Banker goes someplace. With an SUV before and behind his car, Frank lined up Banker’s door with the door of the building. Kurt got out and watched. Frank held the car door for Banker and returned to the driver’s seat. Kurt opened the shop’s door, noticed Ianto, then quickly scanned everyone else in the shop. Kurt, Ianto knew, was not pleased, to say the least. The barista made a call speaking Italian. “Boss, we have a customer. Yes, yes.” More than one person in the shop watched and nudged their friends to take a look. As Banker entered, most now pretended not to be watching him. Secretary and Accountant had exited on the street side and slipped in with few noticing them, both listened to their boss while working at tablets. Time and love made Ianto too familiar with Banker and his looks to be intimidated. It was not lost on him the extreme contrast between Banker’s looks and the patrons. A yearning to be with Banker as when they first met actually hurt. His, “Thank you for coming, Banker.” Was not lost on Banker. “Ianto.” Ianto turned to the bar. “Try this one.” He handed one of the freshly brewed cups to the man he wanted to bed. It was an espresso with a leaf in the foam. Banker drank it down while looking over the top at his one and only love. “It is very good. None better.” The barista was relieved. He was also hanging on their every word. “And this one.” Ianto passed him a coffee. They each tried it together. “I think this is the best coffee.” Banker took a couple more sips. “Truly remarkable. If not the best. Excellent. Ianto. After all these years you’ve gone coffee? You do not have to tell me why I am here. You invited someone for coffee.” “Yes.” “At your place. Where you live. Where you live without a coffeemaker.” “Yes.” “So, you need or think you need that,” he looked at the gigantic machine, “Coffeemaker.” “Yes. But.” “Ah.” Banker held up a hand. The Barista wide eyed, began to protest, “No,no,noo. She is not for sale.” Banker held up a hand to the barista, “Ah. No need to worry.” The Barista wanted to believe him and continued to look worried. Wealthy people! Where’s the owner? The people in line now waiting longer, since there was only one barista filling orders, seemed to be more interested in Banker’s conversation. “Ianto. Do you know how to operate this fine piece of machinery?” Before Ianto replied the Barista explained, “Oh, she is complicated. You cannot make any mistakes. Tsk. No,no,noo.” Ianto looked it over. The operation seemed simple. Truthfully he did not know, so, he replied, “No.” “How long do you think it will take to learn to operate such a beautiful machine?” Banker looked at it as if seeing the machine for the first time. Again the Barista answered, “One year. To be a barista.” He motioned to his colleague. She agreed with him, “Yes. At least a year. Until then you are in training.” “Ianto. Hire a barista. Have them make you coffee.” She said, “Hire me.” The Barista cheered, “Yes. Perfecto. She is the best. Hire Alessia.” The baristas changed places. “When do you need a barista?” Alessia asked, politely. “I have guest tomorrow at twenty to six.” Ianto glanced at Banker, “In the morning.” “For how many people?” “Three.” She smiled. Banker corrected Ianto, “Assume between three and twenty, please.” He looked at Ianto, “I for one will be there.” Secretary approached Banker. Banker looked at him. He held the tablet for Banker to look at the page. “Yes. This is my Secretary he’ll take care of this.” He began walking toward the door. “Ianto.”
Ianto sat in the back seat as Frank returned to Banker’s office. “Kiss me, Ianto.”“No.”“Ianto, call Secretary for these things. He’s very good at dealing with,” he paused, undid his seatbelt and leaning against Ianto slipped a finger into his mouth, “the public.” Accountant and Frank made a point of not seeing Banker poking a finger or two in Ianto’s mouth or Ianto’s nails gripping a little too hard into Banker’s thigh. That both men seemed happy by the time they arrived made Accountant and Frank happy. Accountant slipped Frank a twenty. During the entire trip to San Quentin and back, Banker and Ianto had not spent even five minutes together. Accountant was betting on abstinence makes the heart grow fonder. While Frank believed something extraordinary had to happen to bring the two together.
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Since agents exercise early, 5:30 was not an inconvenience. The bigger question was what to wear? A suit to match Ianto wearing a suit every single day for years? It was breakfast. Is Ianto drinking his morning cup in a robe? The public used the large entrance on the front side of the building. Kip pointed to the two empty slots at the very front of the private section of the garage. They never quite knew if Kip was a member of the gang or not. He and Hugh worked on engines, both cars and their ship. Maybe they are there because they are good mechanics? He followed them to the door. Inside he pushed the button for the elevator and rode with them to Ianto’s floor. The floor that never worked in the public elevators. The apartment was full of people. So, no robe. Benjamin and Denny both had question marks above their heads. Kip passed the agents with a, “Good morning,” and a smile. He headed straight to a barista and ordered. A barista! More question marks. Both men started identifying as many people as being possible members of the gang and came to the same conclusion. This looked like a meeting between the gang and a buyer or seller. They saw Kip, Banker, Coffee man, Linebacker, Frank, and finally Ianto, in a suit, who rushed up to them. “Come! Welcome. Come to the window.” He dramatically pushed a remote and the curtains opened. The group surged forward to the view of the rising sun. Clouds framed the buildings and the rising sun with deep red, yellows, oranges, a few pinks, and the palest of blues in the background. New York never looked more magnificent. Quietly they looked. The reddest of the clouds gradually turned a pale grey. A helicopter looking like an insect on a wet windshield moved north breaking the moment. Benjamin turned to Ianto, “Thank you. I’ve never before seen a sunrise like that.” “You’re welcome. We have coffee. Or espresso if you prefer.” He led the way. Nathan, Sean and Kurt watched their fearless leader, smiling. Nathan said, “I’d think he’s in love, except,” saw Denny and added, “except he never does that.” Sean and Kurt looked curiously at Nathan, then smiled seeing Denny. They approached Denny. Sean spoke first, “Hi, Denny. Good morning.” “It is. Thank you for the invite.” Nathan added, “Hm. I’m sure Ianto invited you.” “I’m pretty sure he invited Benjamin.” “So, you think you don’t count?” Kurt nodded sagely, “You count, Denny,” Denny changed the topic. “This is definitely a million dollar view.” “Yes. The tourist helicopters will be out in full force later.” Sean looked intently out the window. “There is two more. Out for the sunrise.” He turned to Kurt, “Sounds fun.” Kurt left them.
Nathan smiled at Denny again, “Since the heat wave most of us shut down our apartments and doubled up with Ianto. Sleep here tonight and enjoy it again tomorrow.” For someone trying to infiltrate a gang, a gang who knew he worked for the agency, they were making this easy. Too easy. Sean reassured him, “We double up during heat waves and cold spells. We all shut down and stay with Ianto.” “You stay together?” “Not all of us. The rest stay with Banker.” Nathan grinned, “I prefer to stay with Ianto.”
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Agent Denny skipped his morning run, arrived late, didn’t care, silently carried his second coffee up the elevator with his boss who was also, amazingly, late. They walked slowly out of the elevator, down the hall, into Benjamin’s office, where Denny placed his coffee on the desk, behind the family photo, out of Benjamin’s view, sat back in the padded guest chair and told the ceiling, “I think they’re trying to kill me.” Benjamin set his coffee down carefully, leaned back in his comfortable high backed executive office chair sighing, and in a gravely sleep deprived voice said, “They play hard.” “They do. Do you think they’re going without sleep to test us? Or is.” Denny yawned and gave his eyeballs a break. Noise in the hall woke the two men. They rubbed their eyes. Their coffees now tepid had clear edges with a scummy dark line stuck to the cup. “Oh! Ick. Bamboo shoots and leaves. Let’s get some hot coffee.” Denny didn’t stand. “Uh, here or out?” “Here.” Denny dragged himself upright and followed. They returned slightly more alert. Benjamin logged in, “In brief; last Thursday Ianto Marchogion of the Midnight Gang invited us to his apartment for coffee, which we did attend at twenty to six on Friday and remained his guest until two this morning.” Benjamin typed. He looked up at Denny. With his third coffee and a little jittery Agent Denny said in a monotone, “We met a list of members, including, Banker, who’s first name is Damien.” Benjamin updated Banker’s file. “Ianto Marchogion, Jonathan Lawson, Rick Gruber. People who’s last names we don’t know are: Nathan, Kurt, Sean, Isto, Kip, Alessia the Baresta, who I think was hired for the day and not a member of the gang, and various people who’s names we don’t yet know, code named: Linebacker, Coffee Man, and the New Girl. Who’s name I learned is Sally. No last name yet.” Benjamin updated Sally’s file, then he continued, “We watched the sunrise, Ianto got me a coffee, and took me to the exercise room. I later learned Rick and Isto landed on the roof. We ate and took a helicopter ride around the city. Landing at a pier we were driven to Petit Oiseau and took a coastline tour of New York Harbor, Boston Harbor, and stayed the night at sea, continued up the coast of Maine and began the return trip back. Again sleeping on the open ocean. We arrived early Monday morning, today at about two am, where I was driven to my home.” Benjamin looked at Denny expectingly. It still rankled, them knowing where he lived. “I was driven to Ianto’s apartment. I retrieved my vehicle, drove home, and slept. Don’t put that in there.” “I didn’t.” “In Boston Harbor the Coast Guard, stopped us to check fishing licenses.” Benjamin said aloud as he typed, “Coast Guard checked Nathan, Kurt and Sean’s fishing licenses.” He looked up, “Which have names on them.” “They do and I will check. Um, do we know who sent the Coast Guard?” “Not us.” “Okay. On Friday, Ianto took you to an exercise room?” Benjamin yawned, “Excuse me. I don’t know why he wanted me there. Nothing happened.” Denny blinked in surprise. “Other people came in, did a few weight reps and left. He really seemed to want to know about my workouts.” “Aw. He cares?” “And then he asked me seriously, what did I think of eating meat one day and fruits and vegetables the next day?” “Okay.” Denny said doubtfully. “I thought at the time he was practicing being sociable. It had that vibe. Then the helicopter showed up and we watched this precision flying with the zig, zagging up vertically. Ianto watched as if he didn’t know it was going to happen. We came back to find everyone eating. You?” “I met Banker. Damien Banker. Everyone calls me Banker. Most people don’t know I have a first name, he says.” Benjamin said slowly, “Hm. We are so lucky.” “How do we rate?” “Ianto loves me.” “Not love, just the hots, Boss.” “He wants to jump this body? No. I am no centerfold. Something else is going on.” Denny lowered his chin, looked up at his boss and asked, “Where did you sleep?” Benjamin cocked an eyebrow. “In the first bedroom.” “Both nights?” “Yes.” Both eyebrows were flying high. “By yourself?” “Yes, Denny.” Both eyebrows flattened like the deck of an aircraft carrier. “Why, what did you do?” Benjamin blinked, “You slept with him.” “I did. Um, not alone.” “Do I add this to the brief?” “Yes. Five of us slept in the one bedroom.” “What?” Benjamin looked more normal and a little curious. “Yes. Me, Ianto and Nathan on the bed and Kurt and Sean on the floor and not on both sides of the bed. They slept together on the door side of the bed.” Benjamin and Denny watched each other, thinking. Benjamin started to ask something and thought better of it. Denny wanted to add more, but how exactly? He opted for, “Ianto was in the middle.” “Do I want to know what night time activities occurred?” “We slept.” “All night?” “Well, for the five, six hours we were in the bed, yes.” That wasn’t exactly true. Denny woke up freezing with Ianto wonderfully warm rolling on top of him. Rolling back he placed Denny in the middle. He and Nathan snugged up close to Denny keeping him warm. For a moment Denny’s hand touched Ianto’s shaved skin and the ring he was wearing. Also, he wasn’t likely to forget the smell of the two men for a long time. Not realizing they now knew his odor.