Hobson
The awkwardness over discovering that I had an orgasm in my sleep has abated. I suppose I should regard it as a good thing! I'm in my fifties yet by body is acting like a teenagers. I put on some clean gloves and go back to work.
Lewis
Hathaway and I are still investigating the murder, today the boyfriend is coming in he arrives with his sister. The boyfriend is a wreck but I've seen tears before I'll know more when we ask some questions. The sister asks if she can wait outside to smoke. I see no problem with it but I tell her to stay in the carpark.
I begin with the caution, "You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."
The Youngman is silent, "Do you understand these rights?"
"Yes."
"What is your name and date of birth?" I ask as I slide into a chair.
"Martin Remy, Eighth of May 1989." He states with a sniff.
Christ he's younger than my son!
I can see he's really emotional, "Tell me about Melanie. How did you meet?"
This seems to help for he recalls a memory and calms. "We'd been together since school. She's Kelly's, that's my sister, best friend always hanging around and we got close."
"Did your sister approve of that?"
"Oh she was furious at first but she got over it. Besides we all went out together!"
"The week before she died can you tell me about that?"
"I'd ordered a ring, was going to pop the question. Kelly drove me to the jeweler she was a bit shocked herself at the ring but she assured me Mel would love it." Things are slotting into place and I shoot a look at Hathaway and he nods slightly.
"Ok Martin, the duty sergeant is going to get you a cuppa."
Hathaway and I leave the interview room standing just outside the now closed door. "Do you fancy the sister to for this?" I ask.
He doesn't bother with an answer he moves towards the entrance of the station and I follow. We're nearing the front desk when Cooper flies by us, "Summat on the CCTV."
We don't bother with questions we go outside and see Kelly is indeed smoking but she is soaking wet something tells me it's not water. As we near her we all smell the sharp smell of petrol. "Kelly? What's going on?"
"Don't play stupid! That's Martin's job." She hisses.
I need to keep her calm out of the corner of me eye I see James slip out of his suit jacket. Cooper dashes off to the station probably for an extinguisher or fire blanket. "Ok, ok. You killed Melanie didn't ya?"
"We were in the car, I tired to tell her that she shouldn't marry Martin. She got so angry I don't even remember striking her with the torch. Dad made me carry it in between the seats in case the car broke down he even taught me how to use it as weapon." She takes a drag of the cigarette and I'm drawn to the red ember glowing as bright as a beacon.
She is beginning to rock back and forth on her heels I move to the side and look in the small Honda I see that the seats are soaked with petrol as well. I look at Hathaway and somehow I can communicate this fact without speaking.
"Did you love Melanie is that what this is about?"
She barks with laughter, "He always takes what is mine and everybody lets him. I'm always supposed to share nothing is mine. I took what he wanted most."
"And this?" I wave in the general direction of the petrol soaked car and herself.
"Told Martin we had to pick up petrol for Dad's mower…I'm not going to prison." She says and I believe her. I've seen this look before on Cathy Michaels when she tired to kill me. If I rush her I might be able to get the cigarette. James must sense what my thoughts are for he shakes his head. It is in this moment that she takes a long drag and I know this is the moment. She catches fire first and the flames leap from her to the car. I rip my jacket off also and James and I rush her and knock her away from the blaze consuming the car. She falls to the ground and James does his best to knock out the flames instantly Cooper is there and vapor is expressed from the red canister. James is coughing from the effect of having his oxygen stolen away. He can't seem to move and the car is emitting intense heat. In a move reminiscent of not so long ago I throw him over my shoulder and move him and me away from the inferno somewhere along the way my glasses slip off. More sirens are approaching no doubt to put out the car. Rawbone, Laura and other medical personnel swarm over the mess. Angus runs towards Kelly barking orders while Laura kneels beside James and me. He's still coughing; Laura checks him over and yells at someone. They put an oxygen mask on him and yank off his tie. I'm beginning to feel pain in my right flank. It's growing and I moan.
I fall back onto the packed gravel of the carpark and Laura's face swims above me, "Where does it hurt?"
Her hands are running over my chest and I grab one and place it on the area where it hurts the most. James' coughs have subsided somewhat but I can't see him since my eyes are screwed shut. I feel coolness and realize my shirt has been opened her hands return.
"I think you've pulled a muscle in your stomach, which was already compromised, from your surgery. It's been a while since I've determined grades of abdominal tears."
The pain is lessening somewhat just by lying still, she's holds my hand. Soon I hear the muffled but ticked off baritone of my sergeant. He's arguing with someone over the oxygen mask. That someone happens to be Superintendent Innocent. "Leave it on!"
"I feel better." Is the muffled shout.
"I don't bloody care what you feel it stays on!" The shrill voice commands.
An ambulance looms and with assistance we pile in. James and I sit on a gurney and soon we're at Accident and Emergency. I'm diagnosed with a borderline grade II tear. I'm back to light duty it doesn't bother me since James is also stuck with the desk. The lungful of fire extinguisher burned his throat and since he smokes he'll be more prone to fits of coughing. Laura comes to collect us in her hands are my glasses I'm amazed that they're not scratched or otherwise damaged. James is under orders not to smoke for a few days, which has him in foul mood. I've been given another batch of painkillers.
I dry swallow some in Laura's car as she drives me home. "I'll pick you up in the morning and bring breakfast if you like."
"Stay with me? Not for that, just stay with me?"
Her face softens, "Of course."
We enter my flat and go about getting ready for bed. I shower while Laura rummages through my wardrobe when I'm done showering I see she has clad herself in one my old T-shirts. She looks comfortable and seductive but that will be saved for another time. We climb into bed and arrange ourselves. It's nice to share a bed again for I hate sleeping alone. Apart from the stomach pain the night passes quietly. I let the soft sighs of Laura's breath lull me to sleep.
