Hathaway Episode 1: Love's Old Sweet Song
Cambridge – mid-1990s
Dance music filled the air with the sound of whistles blown and cheers filtering out from the club on to the street. Partygoers milled about outside to have a smoke and a chat, a laugh and to share their bottles of alcopops. Two girls with their bomber jackets tied around their waists walked down from a tall building nearby and down the path towards the entrance of the club. They passed some of the partygoers, one stopping by briefly to take a drag of a cigarette. Her friend waited patiently for her before they walked inside in the direction of the bar area. They placed their order and paid, leaving coins on top. They looked to the direction of the dance floor, the smoke making things difficult. Once their drinks were given to them, they parked themselves on the two stools in front of them.
Two lads suddenly came into view. One was tall and the other a few inches shorter. They glanced at the two girls before facing each other, chatting and swigging their bottles of beer. One of the girls, a blonde with frizzy hair tied up in a scrunchie, kept her eyes on them. Her friend, a shy brunette with a short-bobbed haircut and heavy fringe, was looking elsewhere. The blonde took note of one of the lads looking in their direction and nudged her friend.
"He's looking at you again," she told her. She glanced back at the lads before leaning towards her friend. "Come on! Go up to him. He really likes you, you know!" Again, her friend refused to look. "Go on!" she said encouragingly, nudging her again. The brunette plucked up the courage to look over and saw the taller lad looking straight at her.
"I can't!" she said looking away again.
"Oh, come on!" She took her bottle away from her. "You know he's fancied you for ages. You keep telling me how fit he is." She smiled as her friend blushed. She watched as she stood up and walked over. The tall lad whispered something to his mate and gave him his bottle. He walked over to meet her halfway. They stood in front of each other and looked at one another. As the bass of the music filled the dance floor behind them, they held each other to give each other a kiss…
Oxford – present day
DI James Hathaway walked out of a coffee shop with a paper cup in his hand. As usual, Oxford was busy with the usual traffic jams and the hustle and bustle of the public along the city's streets. The weather was bright and slightly warm. He caught sight of a familiar vehicle on the other side of the road and drank the rest of his coffee, dumping the cup in a recycling bin nearby, before crossing the road. His sergeant, a young dark-haired lad in his mid-twenties, turned the key in the ignition as he got in.
"You all right, sir?" he asked. He then noticed Hathaway was empty handed. "Where's mine?"
"Oh, sorry, I ran out of change."
"Cheers for that. I'll remember this the next time you're gasping!" Hathaway tried not to laugh as the streets of Oxford became a slight blur as they drove in the direction of the station.
Things have changed for Hathaway since he became inspector. His old sergeant moved back home to serve under the GMP and his old superintendent retired to take the helm as a CEO of a huge company in another part of the country. Hathaway inherited two new recruits to train: Sergeant Stephen Hazel, the keen dark-haired lad in his mid-twenties who drove him from the coffee shop, and a young constable who had to delay their arrival. He was still in touch with his old boss, Robert Lewis, who was enjoying his new life in New Zealand and even his old super, Jean Innocent. A new super was at the helm, whom he had still to meet, but she didn't sound too good…if what was being said was true. But Hathaway wasn't one to listen to gossip much. However, he knew his sergeant was on to something by what he kept saying. There was a knock on the office window and Hathaway saw another officer point to the direction of her office.
"Good luck, sir." Hathaway looked at his sergeant and said nothing as he straightened himself up. He heard Hazel hum the funeral march as he walked out.
The new super was busy writing at her desk. She was South Asian in descent, with long black hair and a flawless complexion. She was middle aged and always dressed smartly with not a crease in sight. She looked the disciplinarian type – one who doesn't take any nonsense. She made sure she wrote everything with a fountain pen and only used her computer when it was necessary. She looked up as she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in, DI Hathaway."
"Ma'am," he greeted as he walked inside closing the door.
"Take a seat."
"No thank you, ma'am, I'd rather stand."
"Fine by me." Hathaway stood in front of her desk like he was facing a court martial. In fact, he didn't know why he was doing that, but it seemed appropriate. The super scribbled her signature at the bottom of the page and fixed the cap back on her pen. She settled that on the desk and looked at him. "When you joined the force, what did you think it expected from you?"
"Ma'am?" Hathaway didn't understand the question.
"You joined a while ago. What do you think it expected from you?"
"To do my job fairly, ma'am."
"Is that all?" She leaned forward. "James, I am going to be frank here. You have been DI for a while now. I have read the reports of you from your old DI and your previous two supers. I have to say I am impressed by what they have written, but your conduct recently I have to say calls into consideration whether you are up to this job any longer." Hathaway tried not to be taken aback by what he heard. Where did this suddenly come from? "Are you part of this constabulary or not, James? I need to know so I can put a request in." Hathaway decided against responding to such a ridiculous question. "I'll give you six months." He looked at her. "I will know then."
"Ma'am." Hathaway walked out and down the corridor displaying a calm exterior, but inside he was absolutely livid.
A dark blue van came to park outside a house with a gate and gravelled path. Two men got out, with one going around the back to open the doors and the other walked to the front door. A young woman met him and smiled as she picked up a box. She handed it to the man and went back inside to collect another. Her friend walked past her also with a box in her hand. She crouched down to leave it on the doorstep. The process lasted a little while before the last box was collected. The first woman wiped away a tear as the back doors of the van closed shut.
"Is that all, love?" the first man asked.
"Yes. Thank you." She watched as the two men got inside and drove away. Her friend appeared beside her. She took note of how sad and upset her friend looked and rubbed her arm sympathetically.
"Come on," she said. "It'll be all right. We had to do this." The first woman took a quick look at her friend and nodded. They walked back inside closing the door.
DS Hazel was looking at a webpage on his phone. He laughed as he read was what on it, scrolling the screen with his right thumb. He was leaning back in his chair taking it easy whilst Hathaway was meeting his doom. He caught sight of his boss walking past the office windows and quickly shoved his phone into his drawer, sitting up straight and pretended to look busy. Hathaway walked in and slung his jacket on a nearby chair. Hazel took note of how his boss was acting as he sat down.
"It didn't go well I take it?" he asked.
"Nope!" Hathaway replied, still annoyed by the accusation.
"So, it is true what they say about her." He didn't receive an answer. "Bright had a reputation before she came here, or so I heard. Her grandfather-in-law used to be a super here too, apparently."
Hathaway again didn't answer. He was still reeling from what was thrown at him. How dare she accuse him of not pulling his weight! Ever since Lewis retired, his own turnover rate for results came at 70% - not bad for someone who had only been in the position for three years. Sure, his methods were a bit unorthodox but still, results were what mattered, and he got them. The sheer thought of him going on leave 'to think' was just unthinkable. He couldn't trust Hazel yet and what about the newbie? Nah! The super can take a running…
"Hathaway!" He picked up his phone. "On our way." Hazel watched as Hathaway stood up and picked up his jacket. "Body at the Cherwell," he said walking out. Hazel grabbed his phone from his desk drawer and hurried off after him.
The victim's body was lying face down with his head to the side. The pathologist was also new. She was small in stature but had the attitude. She had light brown hair and blue eyes. She stood up to make notes on her clipboard as Hathaway and Hazel showed up.
"DI Hathaway I presume?" the pathologist said looking up from her clipboard briefly. "I'm Doctor Aurora." She glanced at Hazel.
"This is DS Hazel," Hathaway replied. He looked at Aurora. She reminded him of Laura Hobson. "What have we got?"
"Your vic died of a stab wound to the neck," Aurora replied. "Time of death, I am presuming late last night, say 10pm onwards. I won't know for sure until I give him the once over." She crouched down by the body. "I am concerned about these ligatures on the wrist and hands," she pointed with her pencil, "but I'll let you know my full report in due course."
Hathaway's phone rang again. He walked off a short distance to answer. Hazel looked at the body.
"Any ID?" he asked.
"Nothing was found," Aurora replied. "You're better off asking the SOCO team behind me." Hazel looked up and saw the boiler suited team doing their job nearby. He looked round and saw Hathaway and walked up the bank towards him.
"Sir?" he asked noticing the look on his face. Hathaway walked over to the car.
"I have to go," he told him. "See if you can find out any ID."
"What about me, sir?"
"Hitch a lift back with whatshername? Aurora!"
"What about Bright?" Hathaway got in and slammed the door. The window slid down.
"You seem to know her more than most. You sort it." He turned the key in the ignition and the car sped off down the path.
Hathaway pulled up outside a house, the brakes making a deafening screeching sound as the car came to a halt. He ran up the gravelled path and turned the key in the lock, running inside and up the stairs.
"Nell?" he called out. "Nell?" He ran inside a bedroom and saw a very familiar person asleep in bed, her blonde locks visible from the top of the duvet. Hathaway, somewhat relieved, crept up slowly towards her and gently sat down at the edge of the bed, clearing the hair from her face. She stirred suddenly and turned.
"James…." she said sleepily.
"I'm here now, Nell," he said gently. "Hush now."
"I am so sorry…" Tears came over her eyes.
"Don't apologise," Hathaway said taking a tissue from the box on the bedside table in front of him and gently dabbed her eyes dry. "Never apologise!"
"I'm so glad you are here." She outstretched her arms and Hathaway gave her a hug, kissing her on the cheek.
"I'm not going anywhere." He took note of a bottle of pills in front of the tissue box. "You get some sleep, okay?" He smiled and stood up.
"James?" Nell watched as he was about to leave. "There is someone downstairs you might want to see." Hathaway smiled again at Nell and left.
He slowly walked down the stairs and down the corridor that led towards the kitchen. He looked inside the living room, which was emptier than he remembered, before continuing on his way. He stood by the back door overlooking the garden and saw a woman in the distance shovelling some earth by a flower bed. She was kneeling on a foam knee rest and had her dark hair in a very loose ponytail. He watched as she knelt back up to wipe her forehead with her checked sleeve and decided to approach her, coming to a stop not far away. Her back was to him and she gently massaged the base of her back with her fingers.
"Hello, Caroline." The woman's eyes widened on hearing his voice – one which she hadn't heard in a very long time. She turned her head and stood up to face him.
"James Hathaway," she said to him. Her face suddenly soured and she walked off in the direction of a white table and a few chairs. "Three years! Three bloody years and not a damn, sodding word!"
"I'm sorry," Hathaway apologised following her.
"Sorry! You're sorry?!" She looked at him in disbelief.
"I didn't know where you were, Caroline!"
"Bullshit, James! Your sister knew! I wouldn't be here otherwise!" She wiped the tears angrily with her sleeve.
"I told you I am sorry," he said softly only for Caroline to look away.
"You had every opportunity in the world, James!"
"Well, I am here now." Caroline shook her head in disgust. "How is Nell?" he asked.
"Not good," Caroline replied, her head now facing the ground below. "The doctor gave her some tablets, but her heart is in a really bad way. We just finished giving the remainder of your father's things to storage when she fell ill. She asked for you there and then." She suddenly looked at him. "At least I was here!"
Hathaway laughed a little, but not out of amusement. "You do know I am a police officer, yeah? I just cannot drop everything."
"Huh! Always the smug bastard wasn't you, James?" She stormed past him in the direction of the flower bed. Hathaway followed her. Caroline was back to shovelling the earth with her trowel.
"Let me take you home," he said to her. "You look tired."
"I'm not going anywhere, James! Least of all with you!" Hathaway again laughed, but this time he was getting annoyed by her.
"Okay, so first you berate me for not keeping in contact and now you refuse to let me take you home? I don't need this!" He made his way back inside.
"Yeah, that's right! Walk away!" Caroline shouted. "It was all you were ever good for anyway…" She broke off and began to sob, the pressure becoming too much. Hathaway turned and couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on," he said gently. "You look exhausted. Let me take you home, at least for a couple of hours."
"I can't. Who will look after Nell?"
"I'll sort that out. Come on." Caroline nodded, and she stood up, dropping the trowel. They looked at each other.
"You haven't changed," she said.
"Neither have you." Caroline walked past him back into the house. Hathaway looked around the neat garden, the memories becoming far too painful. He followed Caroline back inside.
Caroline directed Hathaway to where she lived. She had a quaint little place near the city centre. As they pulled up outside the front gate, Hathaway could not help but be impressed with what he saw. The gate was painted white and the pathway was clear with a small green space on either side.
"All set for retirement, are you?" he asked cheekily only to get a stony reaction in return. Caroline opened the gate as Hathaway grabbed her things from the back seat of the car. He closed the gate behind him and followed Caroline through the front door.
He kicked the door shut with his heel as Caroline threw her keys on a table underneath a mirror. She flung her jacket on the stairs and walked to the kitchen.
"You can leave the bag by the stairs," she told him. "Take your jacket off. There is a hanger by the coat rack beside you." Hathaway did as was told. He loosened this tie and undid his collar button as he walked inside the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked as she washed her hands. "I'm sorry, but there is no beer in the fridge."
"I didn't think there would be," Hathaway replied with a smile. "Coffee would be great."
"Sit down. I won't be a minute." She leaned forward to open the window by the sink as Hathaway sat down by the wooden kitchen table. He was inside a very bright and cheery kitchen, the sun easily streaming in. He watched as Caroline got the cafetière ready and placed two mugs on the table.
"Let me give you a hand," Hathaway offered standing up. He walked to the fridge to take out the milk and grabbed the sugar bowl from a shelf nearby. Caroline placed the cafetière on the table and sat down. Hathaway poured the coffee into each mug and took up the teaspoon. "Two, wasn't it?" he asked, and Caroline nodded. "I still remember," he said as he poured a little milk in and gave the coffee a stir. He passed it over to Caroline before preparing his. Caroline took a sip and sat back in her chair.
"Thank you," she said. Hathaway smiled and stirred his coffee, settling the teaspoon on the table.
"You have a nice place," he commented. "You've done well for yourself."
"Well… I did have a hand." Hathaway looked at her. "Mum's inheritance."
"Oh, I'm sorry. When did she…?"
"Five years ago." Hathaway felt guilty. "It's okay. You didn't know. I didn't tell anyone. Not even Nell."
"How long have you been in Oxford?"
"Last two years. I couldn't stay in Cambridge anymore. It held too many memories. After Mum died, I went to London. That didn't work out, so I moved back. Then Nell told me about your father's passing and I upped sticks to give her a hand. I ended up moving here permanently after a while." She noticed the look on Hathaway's face. "I'm sorry," she said.
"No, that's okay, Caroline. He was ill." He took a thoughtful sip and his mind drifted. It was now Caroline's turn to feel guilty. She stood up to get a tin of biscuits from the shelf.
"Do you remember these?" she asked. Hathaway looked at the tin and smiled.
"Where did you get them?" He took out one biscuit to bite into it.
"A shop in Oxford would you believe?" She took note of the look on Hathaway's face. "Seriously. I was out shopping one day and saw them. Do you remember Sunday mornings after a heavy night congregating in that small communal kitchen?"
Hathaway laughed. "Sure do!" he said. Caroline smiled. Hathaway pointed at her. "I knew I'd get you to smile!"
"No, you didn't!" Caroline said. "You said nothing of the sort!"
"It was a private bet I made to myself." He grinned as Caroline rolled her eyes. "Did it again!"
She laughed a little. "I often wondered what you saw in me."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you could have had any girl at the university and yet you chose me."
"Why not you?" Hathaway took another sip of his coffee. "I noticed you a long time ago. The library. You were swotting over some exam and I was there reading my theology book."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah." Caroline didn't believe him.
"But I was such an awkward student! I wasn't popular like you, James. You seemed to go for those types."
"What types?"
"You know! The 'open' ones? You slept your way around is what I heard." Hathaway nearly spat out the coffee he had just drank. "Don't deny it wasn't true, James. Why do you think I was reluctant to go up to you that night?"
"But you did."
"Yeah, but only after more than persuasion from Becky and even then, I wondered if I was going to be just another notch on your bedpost."
"You weren't though." They looked at each other. "I fancied you like crazy! You weren't like the others. You valued yourself. Why do you think I waited? If you were just as easy as the others, I would have made my intentions clear a long time before."
"You really talk bullshit, James."
"Well, it is true."
"You know… Some people thought I was the reason you joined the priesthood." Hathaway's eyes widened. "True. Some thought it was because you ended up with someone 'pure' I changed you to the point you decided to take a vow of celibacy. You weren't around, James. It was a nightmare." Hathaway bowed his head and Caroline looked away. "Why did you join the priesthood, James? I never quite understood that. One minute we were together and the next…"
"I don't know myself, Caroline. I probably wanted to please father that was all."
"Your father disapproved of us, didn't he?"
"He disapproved of everything."
"Why did you leave? Nell couldn't tell me."
"She doesn't know. Do you remember Will?"
"Will? Will McEwan? Yeah! What about him?"
"You know he's dead?"
"No, I didn't. What happened?" Caroline looked at Hathaway and saw how still visibly affected he was. "Sorry, James. It was wrong of me to ask."
"No, that's okay, Caroline. Will came out as gay. He came to me because he was in two minds. He wanted guidance. I gave him the wrong advice. I told him that being gay was wrong…" he tailed off. Caroline stood up and walked over.
"It's okay," she whispered holding him. "It doesn't matter now." Hathaway looked up at Caroline and noticed through the dirt on her face that she was still like how he remembered her all those years ago. His phone went off suddenly and Caroline walked back to her chair as he answered.
"Hathaway." He sniffed the tears back. "When?" He listened as Hazel spoke to him at the other end. "I can't right now. Tell Bright I am now on leave. I doubt she would be too bothered anyway. Hazel? Be careful, yeah. If you get stuck or if the new DI is causing you grief, report to me. I'll help you as much as I can." He hung up and switched off his phone. Caroline looked at him.
"You always were the rebellious type, James." She smiled. "I liked that about you." Hathaway couldn't help but smile again. He took another sip of his coffee all the time keeping his eyes on her.
Caroline walked down the stairs in slacks and an oversized printed T-shirt. Her hair was still slightly wet from the shower she just recently took. Hathaway was in the bright living room listening to a CD on the music system. He was lounging on the sofa, his phone on the table in front of him. Caroline watched him from the doorway.
"Just like when we were in your dorm room." Hathaway leaned his head back over the arm rest to look at her.
"Hello," he said. "That shirt. I remember that."
"So, you should. You left it in my room one morning." She walked over and gently tapped him on the leg. "Shift." Hathaway sat up so she could sit down. She listened to the music playing and shook her head. "Still into the same rubbish I see."
"Yep!" He grinned. Caroline sat back. "I hope you don't mind, but I used your phone to see how Nell was."
"Yeah, no worries. How is she?"
"Better. She's eaten."
"Good." Caroline bent her legs at an angle on the sofa. Hathaway chuckled. "What?" she asked looking at him.
"Nothing," Hathaway replied in amusement. Caroline gave him a weird look.
"You know I said you were a bastard? Well, you are a strange bastard." Hathaway burst out laughing. He suddenly went for her and began tickling her to death. Caroline screamed in laughter. "Stop it!" she squealed. This only made it worse as Hathaway tickled her harder. He suddenly found himself on top of her. The tickling stopped and they looked at each other, panting softly through exhaustion. Hathaway gazed into her eyes and was about to caress her cheek to kiss her when his phone went off again. Caroline closed her eyes as Hathaway got off her to answer.
"Hathaway!" he said rather irritably. "Stephen? What happened?" He listened and grabbed a small pad and pen from his jacket nearby. "Are you sure?" He began to jot down some notes. "Okay, you do that. Has Aurora come back with the autopsy results yet? All right, the minute she does, call me. I'll come down." He hung up and read back what he had written silently.
"Everything all right?" Caroline asked sitting back up.
"Yeah. A discovery of a dead body by the Cherwell." He put the pad and pen away. He noticed the faraway look on Caroline's face. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"I'm just wondering if your job takes you away most of the time."
"It can do, yes."
"I see." Caroline turned her head to smile at him. "Thank you for dropping me off," she said. "I guess I just needed someone to tell me enough was enough."
"No worries," Hathaway replied.
"Will you be staying?"
"Only if you want me to, Caroline," he replied. She picked up his warrant card that was lying next to his notepad.
"Detective Inspector James Hathaway," she read.
"That is me."
"James Hathaway, all out university rebel. The fittest lad on site who also studied theology." She laughed a little. "You would have made a shit priest." Hathaway laughed.
"You're not wrong there," he said. He looked at Caroline. "I'm glad we met up again." Caroline didn't answer.
"I half expect you to leave," she said.
"Well, now I know where you live, I'll have no excuse not to see you again." Caroline stood up and walked to the window.
"Don't make promises you cannot keep, James. I mean it. I am not the vulnerable, shy student you knew all those years ago." Hathaway stood up and walked over to her. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders. Caroline turned to look at him. "How many girls since?" she asked.
"Oh, not this again!" Hathaway walked away.
"Answer me, James! How many?"
"Loads okay!" He turned to look at her. "I slept with loads! There! You happy now!" He realised he hurt her and himself. Caroline nodded and turned back, the tears running down her face.
"Even after we met the second time? Which I still haven't got a reason yet for you doing yet another runner!"
"Well, what did you want me to do back then? Yeah, so I slept with a lot of girls. So, what?"
"So, what?!" Caroline turned to look at him, her voice raised. "So, what?! James, do you know how difficult it was going out with you? When so many girls fancied the shit out of you? Remember when we didn't see each other for a few weeks that time? You know how much I was scared you would go off with someone else? You didn't keep in touch then either!"
"That was your insecurities, Caroline! Nothing more, nothing less!"
"So, explain why Becky saw you with Amber Westley then!" She saw Hathaway flinch. "See! I knew it! I knew you couldn't bloody help yourself…"
"Ask yourself why I kissed Amber?!" Hathaway raised his voice, more from hurt than anger. "Because you got it into your head that I was cheating on you, so I thought: sod it! Why not!" Caroline became so incensed she stormed up to Hathaway and raised her hand to slap him. Hathaway immediately grabbed her wrist away. "Don't ever do that again, Caroline," he said calmly. "Don't ever attempt something stupid like that. Besides, you're too short." Caroline tried to break free, but the more Hathaway gripped her wrist tighter. He let go and Caroline hit him on the arm. Hathaway once more grabbed her wrist. "What did I tell you?" he said before releasing her. Caroline looked at him and rubbed her wrist. She wiped a tear from her eye. Hathaway gazed at her, upset but also with the look of disappointment on his features. His mobile phone rang again and he rushed over to answer. Caroline rolled her eyes. She walked out when she heard his conversation with Hazel. "...I'll be right there." He grabbed his jacket and walked out only to find Caroline had already opened the door for him. "I'll be back later."
"Nah, don't bother," she said. Hathaway said nothing and walked out.
"Later," he repeated pointing the remote to the car to unlock it. "I mean it, Caroline. I will keep my word this time." He got in and started the car. He smiled at her as he closed the door and reversed out. Caroline watched as he turned on to the main road and bowed her head as she closed the door.
Aurora made some notes on her clipboard as she circled around the body on the slab. Her assistant was finishing clearing up the mess. The body of the victim had the usual green sheet covering him halfway, the Y-shape stitches along his chest clearly visible. Hathaway and Hazel walked in and Aurora looked up.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen..." she said. She paused to watch Hathaway silently in quiet contemplation. Hazel caught her glance and he shook his head telling her to ignore it. Aurora gave Hathaway a weird look only to quickly look at her clipboard.
"What have we got?" Hathaway asked taking a look at the body.
"What we have got here is a healthy male. Caucasian obviously. Five-foot-eight and around his late twenties or early thirties. The cause of death is a stab wound to the neck. I did say there could be signs of a scuffle and this is proven by the bruises on his knuckles and hands."
"Any idea of the weapon?" Hazel asked.
"A knife, detective sergeant," Aurora replied a little sarcastically. "As to the type of knife, all I can tell you is that it had a serrated edge. Nothing more than that I am afraid." She stood at the opposite side of the slab to look at both of them. "I can definitely tell you the time of death as being around 10-11pm last night. The chill air overnight helped, but only a little."
Hathaway looked once more at the body. "Any form of ID?"
"Again, as I told your young sergeant here, SOCO may have found something. There was nothing on his person that I found." Hathaway thanked Aurora and he and Hazel left, leaving her assistant to cover the body with the rest of the sheet.
Back at the station, it was busy full of hustle and bustle. Telephones were ringing and office equipment humming. Various personnel were walking along the corridors and coming in and out of offices. Chief Superintendent Bright looked out of hers and saw Hathaway and Hazel walking down the corridor. Hathaway caught sight of her glance but said nothing.
"DI Hathaway, a word please." Hazel stopped by a doorway as Hathaway turned.
"Ma'am," he acknowledged as he walked towards her. Bright closed the door behind him. Hathaway stopped as he saw a pretty female sitting on a chair in front of Bright's desk. "James Hathaway, meet Debbie Frost. Debbie, this is James Hathaway." Hathaway couldn't help but follow his eyes all the way up her legs. She stood up and put out her hand.
"Pleased to meet you, James."
"Likewise," Hathaway replied. Debbie was as tall as him with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She had a figure to die for, which was clad in a beautiful cream blouse and dark skirt. Bright noticed the way he was looking at her in amusement.
"DCI Frost has agreed to join us for the murder at the Cherwell," she said.
"DCI?" Hathaway repeated, slightly impressed.
"Yes. I was one of the last few before the force did away with the title." She smiled. Hathaway found himself following suit, forgetting what Caroline had said to him a little while ago.
"Where did you come from?"
"City of London." Hathaway nodded once, still impressed.
"James, as I said, Debbie here will be joining the force for this case," Bright told him. "She will be taking over."
"Taking over?" Hathaway now was off his cloud and he looked straight at Bright.
"Yes. You did tell Hazel you were on leave, didn't you? A good decision I might add." Hathaway couldn't believe what he heard. His mouth opened slightly but no word came from it. Frost smirked slightly. "So, if you could introduce her to Stephen and give her everything you have on the case, including Doctor Aurora's report, you can be on your way." Hathaway glanced at Frost and then looked at Bright, who had already seated herself down.
"Yes, ma'am." He walked over to the door, Frost following on behind.
"Oh, and James?"
"Ma'am?" He turned.
"Take your time. You are on indefinite leave." Hathaway glanced again at Frost before leaving.
"Superintendent Bright is a bit strict, isn't she?" Frost remarked as they walked down the corridor. Hathaway didn't answer. Hazel stood up as they walked into the incident room. His young eyes nearly popped out of its sockets and his mouth opened upon seeing Frost following on behind.
"DS Stephen Hazel, this is DCI Debbie Frost. Ma'am, this is Stephen."
"Hello."
"Hi…" Hazel's hormones went skywards. Frost smiled at him.
"My desk is in that office, ma'am," Hathaway told her. "I will show you. You are welcome to it as and when. Stephen here will update you on what we have found so far." He saw Hazel near enough salivating and called his name.
"Yes, sorry." He grabbed all the info he had so far. Frost looked amusingly at Hathaway who took a back seat. "So, Jim…I mean, DI Hathaway and I were called to this find on the banks of the River Cherwell." He showed her the evidence on the whiteboard. "We have just come back from the pathologist, Doctor Aurora, who concluded that the victim died of a stab wound to the neck. There were signs of a fight beforehand."
"Any identification?" Frost asked.
"Not yet, no. I was about to go to forensics to see if they found anything."
"Okay, good. Hopefully they will have. Any signs of the weapon?"
"Again, I need to go and check."
"Well, why don't you go there and gather as much info as you can and we can go from there."
"Yes, ma'am." Hazel placed the papers on a desk and grabbed his phone on the way out. Frost picked them up and followed Hathaway into his office. He took some items from his desk and stuffed them into his pockets.
"All yours, ma'am," he said as he walked to the door.
"Thank you, James. Enjoy your leave." There was something in her tone that bothered Hathaway, but he turned and smiled.
"Ma'am." He left. Frost smiled and took her seat at Hathaway's desk logging into the computer with her username and password. She settled the bunch of papers and began to look through them.