"Hello, Dr. Hobson", it is good to see you." DI Hathaway proclaimed to one of his dearest friends and most respected colleagues. He stood up to greet her in the pub where they agreed to meet via text earlier in the day. She was back to work after a six month sabbatical in the South Pacific, all tanned and beautiful. She was also his best friend's wife, so he needed to keep his thoughts pure and chaste.
"James, it's Laura." She responded to his formal professional greeting while she turned off her smart phone and put it back in her bag.
After nodding to acknowledge to Laura that they were really on a first name basis, James asked by way of confirmation, "Robbie isn't with you or joining us later is he?"
"No he isn't, you said that you wanted to meet with me, alone, to ask about something of professional importance." Laura responded tentatively, wanting to balance her response between respect for James' request of her and her intrigue about James' request.
"Yes, I do.", James responded looking rather embarrassed and feeling uncertain of himself.
Laura got the impression she was going to have to jump start this conversation so she pressed James "So, what is it?"
Always the good copper, James started with the background information for the forensic scientist to better understand the situation. "Moody's higher ups are of the opinion that we need improved Town-Gown relations here. Since most of the students' knowledge of policing starts and stops with what they hear on the news or Twitter feed. It was felt by Chief Inspector Moody, that meeting the students on their territory to discuss policing issues might have a healing effect. Sort of bringing the police beat to the intellectual community. Moody knows of my academic background and asked me to…."
"To what James?" Laura prompted James to continue his story.
James was not certain how Laura would respond, so he spat out the words quickly "Moody asked me to develop and deliver a series of lectures at Oxford University focusing on police and society." James looked at Laura to get a quick read on what her response to his statement might be. Laura smiled broadly, she did not laugh, as James feared that she might and commented, "James you are perfect for that. Professor Hathaway!
While James was relieved, he did not want to give Laura an inaccurate impression. "Laura, I am not joining the faculty, just a guest lecturer in a few sociology classes." "Professor Hathaway!" Laura exclaimed once again, raising her glass to toast James and his new title. James may have blushed, but he was secretly pleased with the fact that Laura approved of him taking on this responsibility. James picked up the conversation again, "Laura, you've lectured to classes on numerous occasions haven't you?
"Yes, I have, at the undergraduate, graduate and at the doctoral level." Laura replied in a matter of fact manner. James looked at Laura and felt as if he was begging when he asked her, "Could you give me some insights into lecturing, creating course materials and whatever else I might need so that I don't embarrass the police department or myself?"
Laura looked at James with slight disbelief, "James, you attended Cambridge, that's not exactly an obscure and unheard of educational institution." James answered Laura's question, "No Cambridge is not obscure, though perhaps under-appreciated here in Oxford. Laura, I would value your input and any insights that you can share about lecturing in our, local academic community."
"Very well, but my expertise will require another beverage of choice, sir" Laura informed James, with a smile. "Madam, name your desire and I will deliver it to you." was James' enthusiastic response. After Laura named her beverage of choice, James went to get her one. He repeated the duty a few more times over the next couple of hours as Laura shared her expertise with James.
A few hours later when James delivered a very jovial and very inebriated Laura to her home, Robbie was pleased to see her come bounding through the front door of their home into his arms, giving him a very affectionate kiss. James had gently guided her to her front door, not wanting his mentor for professoring walking into her own home in a wavering pattern. Robbie asked James to come in, visit and have a drink while he held up and held on to his effervescent Laura. James declined and headed home, figuring enough alcohol had passed through his hands that evening. Though most of the alcohol he had passed along to a certain good doctor.