By lunchtime Tuesday, Hathaway and his team of constables had made some progress. Forensics had matched the DNA on some of the beer bottles from the rubbish to six names they already had on file: Will Fairington, Dan Carter, Joe Billingsgate, Aaron Horton, Ian Jacobson, and Robert Walling. These coincided with the list of ten day-laborers the gardener identified as having been hired to help dig a pond while the Lord and Lady were away. The other four members of the gang, Tom Radcliff, Hugh Taylor, Evan Dufton, and Nate Fuller, had no records on file. Unfortunately, they were all paid cash and there was no record of their current addresses.
James also had a list of the over one hundred employees of Belton Security, including the dozens who were privy to the schedule of houses that would be vacant for some time. It was a veritable haystack of evidence.
And again, Lewis did not seem to have an interest in it. He looked over the six names from forensics and thought a moment.
"I'm off to the Grapevine. Keep up the progress."
Hathaway shook his head imperceptibly. Lewis didn't offer him a pint or anything. What was going on in his head? Why wouldn't he want James along?
Then he had a thought. After waiting fifteen minutes, he phoned Hobson. There was no answer, and the call went to her voice mail.
"Laura, I need to see you tonight. Eight o'clock? Yours or mine, doesn't matter to me."
No answer, that was unusual for her. Was it just coincidence they were both unavailable at the same time? The cold lump of a thought began to grow in his mind. It was starting to look like Lewis was getting in some serious time with her, right under Hathaway's nose. And all the while acting like there was nothing between them.
When Lewis returned, Hathaway was still plowing through the Belton list. Lewis sat and assumed his earlier pose, staring out the window, looking thoughtful.
After a long time, he spoke. "Hathaway, you know, it doesn't help us to know whose fault this is. You're wasting your time with that security company. Figure out this bloke's next kip. Where is he now? Use your posh connections—who is away on holiday for at least a month?"
Hathaway just stared. His posh connections? What the bloody hell was that supposed to mean? And how the bloody hell was he supposed to figure out where the next stop would be, seeing as how his "posh connections" existed only in Lewis's bloody working-class head? Grudgingly, he put down the list. The answer was in there, he just knew it. He turned to his computer, and started searching for Oxford-area manor houses. What a waste of time.
He had jotted down a list of about six when his mobile rang. Hobson. He punched the button to accept as he got up and strode from the office. This call might need some privacy.
"Hi."
"I got your message. But I can't meet tonight, I already have something on. Is tomorrow night okay?"
Damn! Another day of waiting to get confirmation of his suspicions. But what could he do? That is, other than actually talking to Lewis, and that was out of the question for now. He wouldn't be able to keep his head in that conversation. "Okay, fine, tomorrow then." He rung off and returned to the office.
He decided to test his theory a step further. "Sir, I've been meaning to talk to you about something. I was wondering if you'd go for a pint tonight, say, seven or eight o'clock?" He was taking a big risk. If his theory was wrong, he would be forced to have that conversation he was trying so hard to avoid.
Lewis blinked at him a moment while his brain shifted tracks from the case to what his sergeant had just said.
"Ah, no, I can't tonight, sorry. Already have plans. Tomorrow, maybe?"
Hathaway felt his heart pounding at that response. Funny it should be so identical to what Laura said. Yep, he was right. He decided to push a little.
"Plans? You? You're not going on a date, are you?"
Lewis looked away. "Never you mind, Sergeant. Once I leave here, I'm on me own time." Then, "Besides, shouldn't you be trying to make progress on this case instead of going for a drink? Innocent's special friend and all. Wouldn't do for another nice Lord and Lady to be putting up with a freeloader." The sarcasm was thick.
"The rich have a right to the protection of the law as well, Sir."
Lewis just rolled his eyes.
That arrogant prick. The man simply could not see that he was as prejudiced against the upper class as he accused them of being against the lower class. And he'd be spending the night with Laura when it was James who needed to talk to her tonight. All of Hathaway's bottled anger, frustration, and feelings of betrayal exploded at once.
He threw the Belton list at Lewis's head. "Here—give this a quick shag, why don't you? You're the sodding expert at the two-minute tango!"
He stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him, as Lewis gaped after him in utter astonishment. The harsh words rang in his ears.
And, to improve things, a few seconds later, the Chief Superintendent knocked on the door, opening it without waiting for an answer.
"Lewis, have you and Hathaway—"
"Ma'am!" He cut her off. "Just give us a minute to sort this out, alright? We've got no idea what's goin' on, man."
She looked at him reprovingly. "Lord and Lady Chilton—"
He cut her off again. "Just sod them, okay? I need to find me sergeant."
With that, he pushed past her out of the office, leaving her the one gaping in astonishment. By the time she recovered and ordered him back, he was far down the hallway, and he ignored her command without looking back.
James headed immediately for Dr. Hobson's lab and the morgue. He had to get his answer now. Find out where she'd been at lunch, what she had planned with Lewis for tonight, and what other liberties Lewis had taken with her when James's back was turned. It looked very much like the man who insisted on openness and honesty from his sergeant was holding himself to a rather different standard.
Laura was with some of her students, however, and it was nearly an hour before she was free to talk to him. Rather than calming down, James's impatience had added fuel to the fire while he waited, craving a smoke. By the time she came through the lab door, he was too angry to not get right to the point.
"I know you're fucking him but do you have to do him right in my own house?"
She frowned, irritated at his bluntness. "Who are we talking about, again?"
"Lewis. Robbie. Speed Racer, whatever you want to call him."
She looked offended. "I'm not in the habit of 'doing him,' as you so eloquently put it, James."
He snorted. "You'd have to be, for him to be done so fast. I was only out of the room two minutes."
Laura looked at him a bit defiantly. "It only took him one." Then her look softened, and he could hear the concern in her voice. "James, he had a very real, very urgent, and very visible, need." She added quietly, "He must have had it in the worst way, or he never would have asked. He has no one else to turn to."
She looked at him, speaking sincerely. "I'm sorry if you're offended. But you and I agreed we would do what we could for him on his bad days. Saturday was going to be rough for him. Remember last Christmas? It was going to be like that."
Hathaway did remember. Lewis had intentionally gotten drunk out of his mind, and had not told either of them of his plans. Practically delirious, he had left his house and fallen into the canal. If James hadn't happened to come along at the right time, Lewis would have been dead in minutes.
His anger began to drain. "And lunchtime today, when I had to leave a voice mail? You weren't with him?"
She furrowed her brow. "No, I was with students. Why would you think such a thing?"
"What about tonight? You're not meeting him?"
"Of course not. Student presentations night." She looked at him closely. "He and I have only gotten together once or twice before, James." Her eyes narrowed. "What, do you two have to bash antlers together or something to figure out who's the alpha male? Is this about jealousy?"
His face was clouded. "No, not that. It's more complicated. He just turned out to be a different man than I thought he was."
She looked confused. "Just for losing control of himself on a bad day?"
"Yes, partly that. He's always been a man in complete control of himself. And not one to cover up his misdeeds."
But more than just a residue of his anger at Lewis still remained. He had looked like a lost puppy-dog when James had answered the door. It was hard to believe the man Hathaway thought was Lewis could change his mood so fast that he didn't even have the decency to wait until he was somewhere private to get his relief. Hathaway felt like he didn't know his boss at all. Like something had been taken from him.
Laura was looking at him intently. James decided she had just done what she thought had to be done at the time. "Sorry for shouting. And for being so vulgar." He gave her a rueful smile.
"It's not like I haven't heard you use the word before, James." She smiled at him playfully. "Tomorrow night—mine? Lewis is less likely to find you there."
"I was thinking more like a pint somewhere. Not in the mood for much else."
Lewis rather quickly gave up on the idea of searching for Hathaway. He was not within sight of the station when Lewis had chased after him, and that meant he could be anywhere. Lewis decided to wait an hour before trying James's mobile. Let him cool off a bit.
Making sure Innocent didn't spot him, he went back to the office and sat down at his desk. He was probably in for it for the way he had snapped at the Chief Super. He had been caught so off-guard by Hathaway's outburst that he hadn't been able to consider his words or to focus on anything else. What had that been all about? Surely the case wasn't going that badly, they'd only been on it since yesterday. Was this about Saturday? Hathaway would have said something before this if he had caught them in the act, wouldn't he? But the words James had used pointed rather directly at this as the answer.
He absently stared at the Belton list on his desk where it landed after Hathaway had thrown it. The top page had gotten torn off by the force. The second page listed the thirty-seven people who had access to the calendar that showed when clients would be out of town or had otherwise requested special services. Lewis's eyes widened and froze when they reached one name halfway down the list: Ben MacInnes.
Twenty minutes later, he parked his car in front of Belton Security. He had called to make sure MacInnes was there, but did not ask to speak with him then. Now he waited as the receptionist buzzed and informed whoever answered that the police wanted a word. Maybe it was just coincidence, it couldn't be that rare of a name. But when, despite the years, he recognized the man who came out to meet him, Lewis's hopes for an easy resolution sank.
"Mack. How've you been, mate?"
The taller man was clearly surprised. "Robbie? Still a copper? After all that bollocks we went through?" His Tyneside accent was thick.
"Aye, yeah. But we're a detective now, so it's not the same bollocks."
"Detective! So, what brings you out here, man?"
Lewis spoke quietly. "Mack, I know what you're doing." Mack's shoulders sagged visibly. "C'mon, let's take a walk. I need you to tell me what's been going on."
Hathaway sat as his desk with his head in his hands. Maybe he could get Laura to talk to the man. This was ridiculous. Then the office door opened a little, and Lewis stuck his head through the narrow opening, taking the measure of Hathaway's mood. James looked up.
Lewis stayed where he was. "Just wondering if I can get in past the elephant in here."
James nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak.
Lewis opened the door wider, came in, and sat in his chair. He stared at the file on his desk for a while, then rubbed his nose and upper lip. Finally, he looked up.
"Are you still with me on this case?"
Hathaway nodded silently again.
"Good. I need to talk to you about something. Not here. Can I buy you a pint?"
Another nod.
They walked a few blocks to one of the quieter pubs nearby. Lewis stood at the bar while James chose an outside table and immediately lit a cigarette.
Lewis came with the beer and sat down on the same bench. He wants to avoid eye contact, James decided.
Hathaway took the offensive. "Why are we not in the office?"
"A couple of reasons. I think Innocent may be after me for one, and for another, I don't want there to be any chance of anyone overhearing our conversation."
They drank in silence for a while.
Finally, Lewis drew in a deep breath.
"I want to ask you two questions. You remember when we were on that 'Life Born of Fire' case, with that Garden group and all?"
"Yes?" Like he could forget.
"Do you know why I got so angry with you?"
Long silence. Lewis didn't seem to be in any hurry, and Hathaway wanted to choose his words carefully.
"I lied to you about what I knew and I should have removed myself from the case."
"Half marks. I probably would have kept you on the case even though according to the book you should have been off." Hathaway's head came up a bit, and he looked over at Lewis, who continued.
"Your personal knowledge would have been useful, had I known of it, and I could serve as the necessary, objective eye to keep you from getting too involved. It was the fact that you kept that knowledge from me, made me flog the case for any clue that I could stumble on, which wasn't very many. That's what made me so angry. I wasn't given the ability to view the case objectively because I didn't know all the facts. If you'd been honest with me, we'd have made a cracking team." He fell silent, and worked on his beer a while.
Hathaway couldn't figure where this was going. We've been over this before. Why bring it up again? Then it hit him. He's trying to get me to talk before I'm ready. He wouldn't take the bait. Anyway, why should James be honest when Lewis was holding back?
"You said there were two questions."
"Yeah." Long pause. "Do you know why we're having this conversation?"
Hathaway swallowed. "You want me to tell you why I blew up this afternoon."
Lewis looked surprised at that. "Naw, that isn't it. You'll explain that when you're good and ready. I know better than to try to draw you out." He paused again. "It's about the case, James."
Hathaway lit another cigarette and drank some more of his beer. Only one other answer entered his head, but he kept steering away from it. It couldn't be what Lewis was driving at. Still, he had to try it out. He had no other ideas.
"You want to know if I can be the objective eye on this case."
"Exactly."
Bloody hell.
They both finished their beers, but neither made a move to leave.
"What is it about the case that makes you biased, Sir? Is it the upper-class, manor house thing?"
Lewis snorted. "That's nothing. I deal with that all the time." He rubbed his eyes. "No, it's much more than that. I'm way too close to this one. Personally, like. I should not be on this case. But if I'm taken off, the things I know go with me." He looked directly into James's eyes. "I need to trust you on this, and I need your promise that you'll trust me."
James looked down. He didn't feel especially trustworthy just now, nor did he feel much like trusting Lewis. He spoke to the ground. "I can't make that promise, Sir. Not right now, at least. I'm sorry that's my answer, but I've learned my lesson not to lie to you."
Lewis's mouth tightened. Finally, he looked away. "I'm sorry, too." Then he stood up. "We better get back so you can keep working on that list of houses."
There wasn't much left of the day. If Hathaway had been interested in completing the list of privately-owned, local, great houses, he would have stayed until it was done. But he wasn't.
Shortly after Lewis silently packed it in for the evening, Hathaway stood up to go. But he had already stayed a little too late.
"Sergeant Hathaway, do you have a moment?"
Standing awkwardly in Innocent's office, Hathaway tried to sound casual as he explained that yes, he and Lewis had had a bit of a tiff that afternoon but no, it would not affect their progress on the case and things were ninety-percent patched up.
She looked thoroughly unconvinced. "Get this sorted, and soon. Lord and Lady Chilton are looking for results here, Sergeant. Their stature in this community requires that we produce those results."
"I just take orders, Ma'am. Inspector Lewis is in charge of sorting."
"Inspector Lewis is courting a suspension. You're the one who flew out of the office in a rage, causing him to be insubordinate to me. That makes it your problem. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Perfectly."