James could not deny he found the man in front of him repugnant. Mr Asher was a wannabe author with know talent but to narcissistic to think he was anything but an unrecognised genius and not the pseudo intellectual moron he was.
James sat in the interrogation room listening to the man recount the events leading to him murdering his wife and child.
Barely suppressing the erg to throttle the man as he gave his justification for his crime. They were holding him back he said, as if it was their fault he had found no success as a writer.
God James needed this to be over so he could have a smoke.
"You know what the worst part of it is though"
Mr Asher asked rhetorical, obviously not wanting an answer as he continued on with out prompting.
The fact that the man loved the sound of his own voice had been more than apparent since the start of their investigation.
"The worst part is that I got caught by some old northerner with one foot in the grave and his funny looking lap dog, its humiliating." Deciding he'd had enough of this man and they had more than they needed for court James terminated the interrogation and had a DC escort Asher to a holding sell.
James met Lewis at the door to the viewing room. "Be glad to be seen the back end of that case, arrogant sod." James could only agree.
They made their way back to their office in silence till they got to the door.
Lewis turned to Hathaway and suggested that he should go get them some coffee. James was grateful to Lewis for recognising how badly he needed a smoke and for putting aside his Judgement of James' habit.
"Of course sir a coffee sounds like a great idea, I'll be back in a minute." James strode off.
Lewis entered their office and started on the paperwork that would conclude this investigation. Lewis allowed himself to sigh, since their was know one around to see him. Paperwork really was his least favourite part of the job. Robbie smiled, well at least now he had James to do a bulk of it unlike when he was a Sargent and he was responsible for pretty much all of it.
James returned fifteen minutes later bringing with him two coffees and the smell of smoke.
"Ta" Lewis thanked when one of the coffees was placed in front of him.
James dropped into his desk chair and went to start up his computer. He catches his reflection in the desk top screen and his mind goes back to Asher's words 'funny looking' James doesn't think of himself as a vain person, he was aware he wasn't the most attractive person with his long gorky body and face, but having gone years without really considering his looks he couldn't help feeling a little self conscious.
Lewis notices his Sargent sitting there staring at a blank screen with a furrowed brow. "Something on your mind lad" Lewis asked.
"Do you think I have a funny looking face."Hathaway's response was immediate and unconscious, Robbie would guess from the way James startles when he realises he's spoken.
Robbie frowns and his automatic response shocks both of them. "Course not you have a perfectly lovely face' "I..well you know what I mean" Robbie stared awkwardly at his desk, fingers twitching next to his key board.
James looks down at his hand, at his reflection then back up at Robbie.
"Thank you, sir" he really did mean to say something snarky to relieve the tension in the room and put them back on even footing, not the sincere thank you that came out of his mouth, like it mattered to him that Lewis felt this way.
It surprised James to realise that it did mean something to him that his inspector didn't think he was odd looking like most people that have ever commented on his appearance seemed to think. He honestly didn't know it mattered to him what Lewis thought of his appearance bat now he had realised all he could do was wonder, why?