Simon couldn't look as the covers were pulled back. He plucked up the courage to do so however and nodded in confirmation. Aurora nodded once at Hathaway and the heavy curtain of the identification room was drawn. Simon followed Hathaway down the corridor, and he sat down on a seat not far away from pathology. Hathaway stood a short distance in front of him to give him space. He looked to his left and gave Hazel the nod to call Bright outside.
"Winston was a good guy really," Simon told Hathaway, who looked at him. "He was too into character at times; and was quite particular, but he loved doing this re-enactment stuff. It was in his blood I think."
"Do you know if he had any rivals or anyone with a grudge?"
Simon thought about things for a minute before shaking his head. "No… Well… We aren't the only group doing this, but apart from the usual jokey rivalries and the odd banter between groups, there was nothing majorly bad. Certainly not bad enough to kill."
"Was anyone jealous of him, sir?" Gemma suddenly made an appearance, standing beside Hathaway. Simon looked at her and was blown away by what he saw. He didn't answer. "Please keep your mind on your deceased friend, sir." Hathaway bowed his head with a discreet smile. Simon, put in his place, nodded.
"Yes, sorry. Not that I am aware of. If there was, then he didn't mention anything."
"What about your brother? Did they get on?"
"My brother, Inspector, is what you would call 'childlike'. In that respect, I mean he doesn't take things too seriously. He is the joker of the group. Sometimes, I could – pardon the pun – kill him for being an idiot, but Winston liked him. They got on, yes." He looked at the two detectives. "I have to cancel the re-enactment," he told them sadly. "It was a sell-out. We cannot continue. I doubt any of the gang will want to under the circumstances." He stood up. "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
"Not right now," Hathaway replied. "But, if you do come across something, you have my details. Give me or my team here a call."
"Yes…" Simon trailed off. "Thank you." He walked off solemnly down the corridor, passing Hazel who took a quick look at him.
"Bright has an idea," he told his colleagues as he reached them. "She wants us in her office as soon as possible."
"You two have to do the honours," Hathaway said making a move to leave.
"Where are you going, guv?" Gemma called after him, only to be ignored. She watched as she disappeared. "I don't understand him," she said to Hazel.
"Welcome to my world!" Gemma looked at him. "Let's go and see what Bright as to say." Gemma nodded and the two of them walked down the corridor towards the exit.
Caroline walked out of the Academy to an awaiting car, Hathaway inside. She grinned as she got in, placing her folders and her bag between her feet. She leaned over to give her fiancé a kiss that seemed to last ages. Hathaway smiled and caressed her cheek.
"That was a nice hello," he said. Caroline grinned. She was wearing the necklace and pendant her mother gave her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked with a smile.
"Though I'd surprise you," Hathaway replied. He turned the engine off and pulled the key from the ignition. There was silence. Caroline's smile disappeared suddenly and she sat up straight.
"What's the matter?" she asked, her voice falling. She looked at him as she felt his hand holding hers. "Blue Eyes?" The troubled look on his face and especially his eyes concerned her.
"You know I love you, don't you?"
"Yes..." Caroline now was suspicious. She turned herself slightly at an angle to face him. "James..."
"I need to take you somewhere." He let go of her hand and placed the key back into the ignition. As the engine came to life again, Caroline strapped herself in. She wondered where she was going as Hathaway pulled out from the Academy car park and onto the street, turning left.
Gemma burst out laughing. Hazel looked unimpressed. They had just walked out of Bright's office having been told of her idea.
"Not a word, Richardson!" Hazel's voice was firm. This only made Gemma laugh harder. They walked into their office. Hazel sat in his chair and sulked. Gemma giggled quietly. She poured herself some water from the cooler in the corner into her mug.
"Come on, sarge!" she exclaimed. "You have got to see the funny side of it surely!" Hazel didn't reply. Gemma saw how miserable he was and decided to take him seriously. "She isn't singling you out deliberately, you know."
"No?" Hazel didn't believe a word as Gemma parked herself on the corner of his desk. Hazel looked up and saw her kind face.
"No." Gemma smiled. "She probably thought you best for the job." She tried not to laugh at the look on his face. Hazel stood up to leave. Gemma placed her mug on the desk and stood up to follow him. "Sarge!" she called out to him. Hazel stopped. Gemma walked over. "Honestly. Joking aside, you will do well." She gently placed her hand on his lower arm. Hazel glanced at it and then up at her. Gemma looked up at him, the attraction suddenly too strong. Hazel looked lovingly into her eyes and held it for a while. Before he could even make the most of the moment, a huge bang was heard from outside followed by shouts. Hazel and Gemma turned their attentions to their office window. The alarm sounded throughout the building, their fellow detectives running down the corridor. Hazel and Gemma put their feelings to one side and rushed out after them.
Huge plumes of smoke rose into the air. The burning remains of what was a vehicle outside the station car park causing more than panic. The fire service was already on the scene, and the cordon was immediately set up keeping the public at bay for their own safety. The bomb squad was also there, their vans parked off the main road. Gemma and Hazel and their colleagues were all accounted for, and they could only stand by to watch the scene not far away from them.
"Where's Hathaway?"
"Had something to attend to," Hazel replied to his colleague. He looked at Gemma, both clueless as to what.
"Where's Bright?" The question made the two detectives turn their heads. Hazel's eyes widened in realisation.
"Her car..." He trailed off and turned back to the fiery mess in the distance. He hoped... He prayed... She mentioned having to leave for a meeting... Hazel ran through a group of his colleagues only to be stopped by the fire warden.
"Stephen..."
"Chief Super Bright, Will. She's not here. She is unaccounted for." The look of horror came across the warden's face. They both looked towards the scene in the distance, the firefighters rushing about with the bomb squad ready to move in.
Hathaway pulled over outside his and Caroline's house. It was already dark by the time they got back. The engine silenced and Hathaway said nothing as he got out. Caroline just stayed where she was, head down, still strapped in. Hathaway opened the car door for her and leaned over to unstrap her. He crouched down on the pavement and took her hand. Caroline turned her head to look at him and nodded. She got out, Hathaway standing back to give her room. She said nothing as she collected her things and sadly walked through the gate and down the pathway to the front door. Hathaway closed the door and locked it with the remote and followed Caroline. He saw she was struggling with the keys and gently placed his hand on hers to stop her. Caroline looked up at him, the sadness more prominent in her eyes. She gently dropped the keys into Hathaway's hand and felt him bring her close. She clutched him tightly as the front door opened, and she felt a soft kiss on the top of her head. Hathaway gently guided her in and made sure she was okay before closing the door.
Caroline dragged her feet up the stairs, her bags and items left in a mess by the door. Hathaway picked them up and left them on the side before locking the door and following her up, switching off the light along the way. He walked into their bedroom where he saw Caroline sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands between her legs, head down. Hathaway took off his suit jacket and flung it over a chair before he sat down beside her. He knew she had retreated, as he had seen this many a time during their university days. He also knew how to handle her and to alleviate and comfort her. He held her, bringing her close gently. He felt Caroline's arms around him, and he began to rock her gently humming the same tune he made up the first time all those years ago. Caroline closed her eyes and took it all in, the gentle humming soothing to her. They stayed like that for a while, Hathaway making no attempt to stop. Not until Caroline was better or until she fell asleep.
The next morning, Team Hathaway were forced to congregate with Alannah's team in another section of the station. Theirs hadn't been passed safe enough to go back due to the close proximity to the fire. They were sharing a fairly large office until then – Hathaway's team at one end and Alannah's on the other. One of Alannah's team managed to take the picture of Mitch and this was now leaning against the wall on top of a low cabinet. It was near enough for Hathaway to take notice. Enough for him to ignore it, too. Gemma was sitting next on a desk next to Hazel's. They were given a laptop each as a temporary measure and one telephone handset was set in between them to use. Hathaway had his own desk not far away. He declined the laptop and handset, instead just settling for his mobile phone. There was a lot on his mind, a bit too much, and this was obvious to both his junior officers. Hathaway was thinking of Caroline and how it took her a good few hours before she fell asleep. This was a bad spell for her, so much so that he didn't want to leave her. So, he called Nell before he left to come over to keep her company. Luckily, Caroline's induction with the college had finished leaving her with another week before term starts. He knew she would react the way she did, but he needed to take her, to show her. It was never going to be easy, but neither was the decision he made. He still had to await one bit of info before he confirmed it to her – along with a reply to a question he asked more than a month ago… Now, the wedding was on hold but what of this mysterious disappearance of Bright? It was her car that caught fire, but luckily according to Aurora, there was no charred remains. So, where could she have got to? She didn't have a phone on her, being old-fashioned as she was, so there was no way in contacting her. Her house phone also went unanswered. This was concerning everyone as it was so out of character for Bright. Only Hazel knew of her last whereabouts, but when it was confirmed she didn't show for her meeting, that set the alarm bells ringing. Alan Peterson, away at a conference in Scotland, asked to be kept informed. It sent an uneasy shockwave throughout the station, not only because of the fire but because Bright ran that station so well with pride that in turn earned the respect of everyone.
Hathaway looked at Hazel, who was looking at his laptop screen, and stood up walking towards him. Hazel's dark eyes picked up on the tall figure of his boss and travelled upwards. Hathaway grinned at him and glanced at Gemma, who looked away in amusement.
"So, I heard what Bright had planned for you." Gemma snorted and coughed. Hazel looked at her irritated.
"Sir?" Hazel asked innocently. He didn't like the glint in Hathaway's eye.
"It was my idea." Gemma now couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Hathaway looked at her. "I also recommended you join him, Gemma." Hazel's lips turned into a grin as the laughter ceased.
"But, guv…"
"No buts. You both need to go undercover and try to find out more about who killed this Winston or if you can find out any information. Simon Christian has already been informed and has managed to persuade the others to continue with the re-enactment. It has been set back a week. You both need to go to the funeral, too. Dye your hair and get into costume. Simon will provide these and also train you up. Gemma, you will be one of the wenches…" Hazel cracked up laughing to Gemma's disdain, "and Stephen, you will be a character yet undisclosed. You have up until the re-enactment itself to get to the bottom of it. Stephen, you will be in charge."
"What will you be doing, guv?" Hathaway looked at Gemma.
"Alannah and I have been put in charge of locating Bright," he told them. "But, once you find out anything, let me know." He tried not to laugh at the looks on both detectives' faces. He walked off with a huge grin. Both Gemma and Hazel sighed heavily and leaned back in their chairs almost in unison.
"A wench?" Gemma wasn't happy.
"A blonde wench," Hazel suggested.
"Urgh! Blondes… I hate blondes."
"Your Mum is blonde."
"Was! And she was a fake blonde. She really had dark hair." Hazel turned to look at her. "Why do you think I have dark hair, sarge? Both my parents had it." Hazel said nothing and looked away. Her mother's personnel file was still lodged in his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about it. "Do you know any good hairdressers around here, sarge?"
"Hmm?" Hazel was still somewhere else. "Sorry, Gemma?"
"Do you know of any good hairdressers around here?"
"Yeah… Yeah, I do." He looked back at her. "Listen, Gemma, about before…"
"No need, sarge. It's okay. I shouldn't have been so cruel." Hazel watched as she stood up. "I'd best get my hair sorted," she said wearily. "Take me wherever you feel is best."
"Sure." Hazel closed his laptop and grabbed his jacket from behind his chair. He took a look at Hathaway, who was in conference with Alannah, before following Gemma out of the door.
Simon Christian held a flag up high as he led the funeral procession. Behind him were the rest of the group, dressed in full costume, following the coffin of Winston, which was in a carriage, his casket typically him – plain but simple. In amongst the group was Hazel and Gemma, the previous in what could only be described as a Yankee soldier's costume. His hair was lighter in colour and cut close cropped. Gemma was dressed in a bright blue wench costume, very low cut. Her hair was dyed blonde and cut shorter, just above her ear lobes. Her eyebrows were also dyed. The youngster was conscious of how low cut her dress was but was given training and advice by Simon that this was how her character was meant to be. She was grateful Hazel was standing behind her, just in case. The service was humanist, Winston having turned his back on his Christian faith years before. He made it clear that if he died, he wanted to have a cremation at sea, so that is what Simon had arranged. The procession made its way to the banks of the Thames, where it came to a halt. Simon laid down the flag and walked over the carriage, Adam following behind. They gently lifted the coffin from the carriage and carefully walked down the bank before gently easing the coffin onto a wooden boat. They turned to face the group.
"Winston is dead!" Simon announced.
"LONG LIVE WINSTON!" the group replied at the top of their voice, Gemma and Hazel joining in. Both Simon and Adam pushed the boat out into the river, whilst a colleague took his place on the bridge nearby with his bow and arrow. He lit the arrow and waited until the boat was far enough before drawing back the bow and firing. It was a perfect hit. The boat burst into flames, and cheers from the group rang out as the coffin and boat disintegrated. The group then started chatting amongst themselves. Simon walked up the bank with his brother and approached Hazel and Gemma.
"You're doing well," he told them in a low voice. "Keep it up." He looked at the group to address them. "Drinks at the usual place!" he announced. "Let's toast Winston's memory, but also welcome these two lovely people to our group!" Cheers rang out again and both Hazel and Gemma blushed, shyly waving. Simon and Adam led Hazel away to meet the others, whilst two ladies in wench costumes walked over to Gemma.
"Hiya!" one said. She had dark hair. "I'm Lydia. This is Kirsty." Gemma smiled her hello at both of them. Kirsty was a red head, her hair in a net. "What's your name?"
Gemma had to think about the name Simon gave her.
"Jennifer," she replied.
"Nice to meet you, Jennifer! Come! Simon has asked us to show you the ropes. We will be serving these guys tonight."
"Serve?" Gemma became instantly worried, but Lydia smiled kindly.
"Not like that! God, no! Winston was adamant none of those lot would touch us. We are just going to give them drinks, that is all." Gemma sighed in relief. Lydia and Kirsty laughed and they walked past Hazel who was conversing with the other lads. Gemma turned her head briefly to look at him and Hazel caught her glance. He continued to watch her until she disappeared. Adam suddenly hit him jokingly across the chest.
"They're not bad, are they?" he said cheekily with a wink. Simon, catching his brother, rolled his eyes.
"The girls are off limits," he said in warning. "Don't worry, my brother here sees opportunity wherever he goes."
"Yeah; and guess where I get that from?" Hazel looked at Adam, who was staring at his elder brother. Simon sighed irritably.
"Not today, Adam. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever!"
"You are just peeved because she chose me over you!" Simon, now a few feet away, turned. The group hushed, knowing what would probably come next. Simon walked directly to Adam and stood right in front of him.
"Not today, Adam!" he repeated. He glared at him. To everyone's relief, Adam backed off and shrugged.
"Ignore my brother, Ricardo," he said to Hazel, who still had to get used to his name in this instance. "Come! Let's head for the tents! We have a party to get started!" Cheers rang out again and the group moved on.
Hathaway was looking at some notes he and Alannah had about Bright. The office was empty, the others departing for home a long time before. Alannah wanted to stay, but Hathaway told her to go. Her son was sick with fever and Hathaway knew he needed his mother. Alannah was grateful to Hathaway as she left. The blond Detective Inspector picked up a few more notes and looked through them, comparing to Alannah's, which she left behind. Things still did not make a blind bit of sense. Where could she be? He noticed the clock on the wall and picked up the desk phone. He waited for a familiar voice to pick up.
"Nell, how is she?" He listened as his sister replied. "Okay, any further reactions or anything? Has she eaten?" He listened again and sighed heavily. "All right. I'm on my way." He hung up before thinking of something. He dragged Alannah's laptop over and logged on with his details. Straight away, he accessed his emails and the reply he was waiting for came top of the list. Hathaway displayed no reaction as he logged off. He left the station for home ten minutes later.
The wake was in full swing. Each tent was lit, and the clearing also with huge fire lamps on huge sticks. Food and drink was in abundance with all the wenches doing their job in character. Laughter was heard filling the clearing along with clinks of glasses. Hazel, Simon, Adam and the others were revelling in the feast that was in front of them. Gemma and the other ladies were busy filling their glasses and jugs. It looked like something from a medieval banquet. Winston's memory certainly was remembered!
Gemma walked over with another jug and placed it on the table near where Hazel and Simon were sitting. Hazel took a quick look at her before getting back into character. He felt Simon slap him hard on the shoulder and looked at him.
"Ricardo!" he exclaimed pseudo drunkenly. "What do you think of our little ensemble!"
"Not a bad group," Hazel replied as Adam gave him a refill. "I think I will like it here!"
"Excellent!" He caught sight of Gemma and Lydia by a table inside one of the open tents. "I'll be right back." Hazel could only watch as Simon left. Adam scoffed and took a huge gulp of his drink. Hazel saw his opportunity.
"Simon isn't too bad, is he?" he asked only to be met by another drunken scoff in return. Hazel watched as Adam gradually fell into a drunken stupor. He glanced at the open tent where Simon was chatting to the two girls. "He quite fancies himself as a leader, doesn't he?"
"One rule for him, another for us. He has been always like this. Even when we were kids!" He took another drink.
"What was Winston like?" Adam paused as if he had to consider his answer carefully. Hazel glanced again at the open tent and saw Gemma had gone. He tried not to panic instead focusing back on Adam.
"Winston was a good bloke," Adam replied and left it at that. Hazel nodded, knowing he wasn't going to get much out of him. He left him and walked away from the party towards one of the tents not too far away.
Hathaway crouched down in front of the sofa and cleared the dark hair away from Caroline's forehead. She was lying down staring into space, in her own world. Hathaway turned himself at an angle and saw an empty soup bowl and side plate on the coffee table behind him, the plate full of breadcrumbs. A small glass tumbler with the remnants of orange juice was next to it along with a tall glass of iced water. Hathaway turned back to Caroline near enough immediately as he felt contact. She was holding his hand, blinking slowly at him. Hathaway smiled lovingly at her and gently caressed her right cheek holding her hand back. He didn't like seeing her like this. The last time was back at Cambridge. He gazed into her eyes. Caroline raised her other hand to gently wipe away a tear that had escaped from his eye. Hathaway held it suddenly and kissed it, not wanting to let go. Caroline's eyes felt heavy suddenly and she gently fell asleep.
Nell stepped into the living room. She had been standing in the doorway watching. Hathaway made sure Caroline was all right before clearing the crockery away, taking them with him, leaving the glass of water behind. He looked at Nell visibly upset before walking to the kitchen.
Hazel wondered where Gemma was. He was wandering around the tents trying to locate her. Even if she was more than capable of looking after herself, Hazel felt obligated to watch out for her. Not just because she was a junior officer now under his care, but because he saw her as vulnerable in costume. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, his feelings for her ran more deeper than he expected and he felt the urge and need to protect her.
He saw some light in the distance and followed in its direction. He spotted silhouettes of two figures and kept his distance, keeping low in case the light picked him up. He hid behind a few bales of hay and watched what was going on via a gap in the entrance to the tent. He saw a figure in a blue dress pacing about inside followed by another in what looked like black boots, the grey colour of his trousers just about visible. There was no conversation, but just the way they were going about things said it all. Hazel continued to watch, hoping it was Gemma inside. However, things took a nasty turn and Hazel gasped softly, his eyes widening. He needed to contact Hathaway – and quickly!
