Prompt 4 for #notmoreflippingelves
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Caught In A Storm
Hathaway/Innocent
Chapter 1
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James and Robbie were just heading out to interview a witness in connection with an assault on an Oxford literature student when Robbie's phone rang.
"DI Lewis…oh hi love what…what's wrong pet?"
James looked when the concern in his voice began to show, he gave a small smile when their Chief Superintendent walked in about to speak, but James made a small signal towards Robbie. The pair stood quietly as the heard Robbie going over train times with his daughter. Hanging up the phone he turned to see the concerned looks from Jean and James.
"Everything alright Lewis?" Jean asked.
"Erm no actually ma'am, that was me daughter. My grandsons in hospital, he took a nasty fall, has a bump to his head. They want to do a scan or something to make sure he's alright…she's pretty worried and wants me to go up there."
"Of course you do, on you go. I'm sure Hathaway and I can handle things here."
"Yeah absolutely."
"Robbie grabbed his stuff from his desk, offering thanks as he made to leave.
"Let us know how he is." James smiled.
"Thanks lad."
James turned to look at Jean when Robbie left, eyeing her closely.
"So…do you think you can cope with just me until Robbie gets back?" She asked.
"Don't have much choice do I."
"Well thanks very much Hathaway."
"Huh…oh no I didn't mean…"
"James, I'm just winding you up…relax. Now, where are we up to with the Franklin case?"
"We have a witness who was there the night Allie Daniels was assaulted; the woman has a good description of the man she saw around the same time. She and her husband were here visiting her daughter at the time, she's gone out to get some milk and well…saw the whole thing."
"What's her name….the witness?"
"Erica Harris, sixty-nine years old."
"Right then, I'll just grab some things and meet you down stairs in ten okay."
"Fine ma'am."
James sat down in his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. The thought of spending all day in the company of his Chief super was the last thing he wanted.
…
James and Jean spent most of the afternoon with Erica Harris going over the description of the man she saw, they went through various mug shots until Erica picked out their suspect, Daniel Turner, head of Biology at the university Allie attended. Erica was quite a chatty woman and seemed to enjoy entertaining people. She was busy talking away to James when Jean checked her phone to see that it was nearly 6pm.
"Well that's very nice of you Mrs Harris, in fact we…."
"I'm sorry Mrs Harris but DS Hathaway and I really need to be making a move, it's getting late and we have a bit of a drive ahead of us."
"Oh yes dear of course, I've kept you from your work…I'm so sorry."
"It's quite alright Mrs Harris, you've been a joy to listen too." James smiled towards her.
They said their goodbyes and walked back to the car as the rain began to fall heavily, the wind picking up. Jean brushed her hair from her eyes as they got in the car, James starting the engine. They drove along the quiet back roads as the wind picked up.
"It's getting pretty bad out there." James said, trying to break the silence.
"I knew we should have left earlier."
"Oh come on, she was a sweet lady. She just wanted some company."
"She can't half talk though."
"Now who does that remind me off?"
"You might want to remember who you're talking to Sergeant."
"Sorry ma'am."
"I wonder how Robbie's doing?"
"I tried calling Dr Hobson earlier but no answer."
"When?"
"When Mrs Harris was telling you about her hip surgery, I snuck out for a cigarette."
"Oh…this weather's getting worse isn't it?" She said looking out the window.
"Yeah and it's not even…."
The car began to make a hissing noise as they turned a bend in the road, James swerving as the wind blew the car.
"Hathaway what's happening."
"I'm not really sure ma'am."
The car began to chug and slow as the came to a sudden stop.
"Tell me you can fix this."
James got out and lifted the hood of the car, looking around the engine, he'd been gone a good few minutes before Jean grabbed her coat and got out to see what was happening.
"Well, what's the verdict?"
"In simple terms…the fan belts buggered."
"Do we need it?"
James looked at her, a look of how stupid are you on his face.
"I take it by that look then it's important."
"Well the car can't run without it, lets put it that way."
"Well that's fine…we'll call AA."
"Yeah problem there…I don't have breakdown cover."
"I'm sorry…you what?"
"I've not long got the car and I just haven't had the time to get breakdown cover for it."
"You are joking, you're a police officer…how could you not get…"
"Look, I've been a little busy lately solving crimes."
"Well try phoning the station, maybe they can send someone to pick us up."
"No signal." He said, looking at his mobile.
"What."
Jean pulled out her own phone and checked the signal to see nothing.
"Oh for god sake…this can't be happening." She moaned.
Jean crossed her arms, a look of anger on her face as she went back inside the car, slamming the door behind her. James rolled his eyes before coming around and opening her door.
"Well there's no point sitting there is there, the cars not going anywhere."
"Well what do you suggest; we're in the middle of nowhere."
"I saw there were a few cottages back up the road, they look like holiday cottages so perhaps someone is staying there, come on."
"It's raining Hathaway."
"You either come with me or you freeze out here, please ma'am."
James held out his hand to her which she took begrudgingly as she wrapped her coat tightly around her, her hair getting soaked.
…
They walked along the road, the daylight fading, Jean's heel landed on a pot hole in the road, James catching her just before she fell.
"Are you okay?" He said, strong arms around her waist.
"Yes…I'm okay…I wasn't planning on doing a lot of walking today."
"It's not much further."
The continued along the road, James arm still around her waist which she chose not to say anything about. They walked up the dark road leading to the cottage he saw and knocked a few times but no answer. James looked though the windows to find the place in darkness.
"It doesn't look like anyone's here?"
"Great, now what do we do."
Before she could get an answer, James had already picked up a stone and broke one of the panes of glass in the door.
"James what the hell do you think you're doing, that's breaking and entering."
"Yes ma'am I am aware of that but right now we are stranded in the middle of nowhere, no way of contacting anyone, the rain is falling heavily and the wind is picking up. What we need right now is shelter and as there's nobody home we just have to do what we can."
James put his hand through the glass and unlocked the door from the other side, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
"Now, are you coming in or would you rather stand out there and get soaked."
Jean rolled her eyes as she looked around before following him inside, this day was never going to end.
…
To Be Continued…