The dangers of Smoking.
The dangers of smoking are widely known, by smokers and non smokers alike. Detective Sergeant James Hathaway knows them, accepts them and lives with them. Except one. No one thought to warn about that one did they?
Chapter 25
"Her alibi's check out" James said, leaning his head against the glass of the two way mirror, looking at Kelly in the interview room. His mind was still on a high, but his body was starting to protest about the lack of sleep he'd put it through the night before, no matter what the reason.
"I know" Lewis said "We'll let her go, she's telling the truth, and I spoke to the esteemed MP, he was desperate to cooperate, corroborated her story as well"
"We need to speak to the bodyguard" Lewis added "If he was placed at the hotel"
"Uniform are rounding them all up" James said "They'll be downstairs"
"Then let's try and get a result by tomorrow morning" Lewis sighed "Because I don't think I can face the wrath of she who must be obeyed again"
James huffed with exhausted laughter "Me either"
…...
Lewis looked at the man, the bodyguard to a French Diplomat. He was small and wiry, and wildly uncooperative.
"You have been identified as being at the hotel that your boss and his 'friend' were at" Lewis said "What were you doing there?"
"I...I do not know...what you say" the man replied in halting English.
"Oh cut the bull shit Aldrick!" Lewis thundered "You know what I'm saying!"
The solicitor looked up sharply but didn't comment as Lewis glowered at both of them.
"He called me" Aldrick was smart enough to realise when he wasn't going to get away with it "And asked me to pick him up. When I got there, he wasn't there"
"Blatantly he was" Lewis disagreed "Did you go to the room?"
"Yes, I knocked, no answer" he replied "So I leave again"
"Did you see anyone else?"
"No, but Odette, she was gone when I got back" Aldrick said.
"And that's significant how?"
"You ask her" Aldrick shrugged "She love Phillipe"
Lewis gave the man a dirty look and stood "Stay there" he ordered "I'm not done with you yet"
…...
Lewis strode into the office he shared with Hathaway, seeing him writing something that he instantly moved when he realised he wasn't alone.
"Knew those love poems were from you" he said as he dropped into his chair.
"Don't tell everyone Sir" James smiled back "They'll all want one"
"Anything from the dour Odette?" he asked.
"No comment" James replied "In French, a lot"
"What do you think?"
"I think" James replied "We should wait for forensics. I gave them a shove and we have several prints, DNA and fibres, waiting for matches"
"In that hotel room?" Lewis snorted "I'm not surprised"
"May yield a match to one of them" James reasoned "May give us some leverage"
"Hmmm" Lewis picked up the case file on his desk, the homeless people "Something still bothers me about this one"
"Which would be?" James prompted.
"I can't put my finger on it" Lewis replied "It'll come to me"
"Over a pint?" James offered.
"Ah" Lewis stood and grinned "You're learning lad. By the way, what were you up to yesterday? Cheered you up no end"
James coughed "Just made time for something I enjoy" he replied, closing the subject.
Lewis looked at him and shook his head "Mysteries and Enigma's" he laughed.
…...
James jolted awake at the sound of his phone "Hathaway?"
"James?!" It was Lewis, and he did not sound amused "Where the hell are you?!"
James coughed, sitting up. Evidently coming home at 5am after spending most of the night alternating between their two active cases, for a shower and shave, hadn't quite gone to plan. He pushed himself of the sofa.
"I'll be there in 15 minutes" he said, cutting the call.
He ran a hand around his face, obviously he wasn't going to get away without shaving, and lifting his arm told him he wasn't going to be able to save time on a shower either.
25 minutes later he pulled up outside Lewis's home, the Inspector was already waiting, and got straight into the car.
"You're late" Lewis observed "I've already had three missed calls and a rather venomous voicemail from Innocent"
"I apologise Sir" James said in a tight voice, how many times had he ever been late? Despite the hours he put in?
"Lucky for you" Lewis told him "Barrinau's parents have arrived, they are waiting at the hospital to do a formal ID, Innocent knows these things often take longer than planned"
"Thank you Sir" James replied in a monotone, though slightly mollified.
…...
James stood like a sentry behind the tense couple as Evie pulled back the blue green sheet. She bowed her head in respect, not looking at them, but maintained enough vision to cover the face again when the woman fell to her knees, sobbing.
It was then James caught her eye and they gave each other small, almost invisible smiles, sad smiles.
The man stood, his arms folded around himself as he stared at the now covered body. Evie retreated to the back of the room, maintaining her presence unobtrusively.
"Oh mon chéri enfant!" the woman cried, reaching out, out into nothing.
Her husband seemed to reanimate at her words, turning to her. He tried, but failed to help her to her feet, and he knelt, holding her as she sobbed.
James and Lewis remained silent, unmoving. They had questions to ask, lines of enquiry to pursue, but they would wait.
Gradually she calmed and looked at her husband.
"Mon amour. Venez, allons-y" she whispered, and they stood, each supporting the other.
For some reason, they chose to face James, finding his head bowed in respect for the dead and grieving.
"Monsieur?" Mrs Barrinau said quietly "You need to speak with us?"
"When you are ready" he assured.
"May we?" the husband asked "May we have a few minutes with our son?"
"I'm sorry" Lewis replied with true regret "I'm afraid that isn't possible just yet"
The man nodded, he understood the rules, he was a Diplomat himself, he knew the score.
"We can leave you together for a few moments if you would like?" James offered "Away from here?"
The couple nodded, as one, and James led them into a comfortable, but featureless room, closing the door softly.
He let out a long breath and looked at Lewis.
"Go an' have a fag" Lewis said kindly.
James nodded and left, almost tiptoeing down the corridor.
…...
James headed for the bench, to find it gone. He stood, staring at the space it used to occupy wondering if he really was that tired. A movement in his peripheral vision made him turn and look, he saw Evie peering around the corner.
Walking towards her he saw the bench leaning against the wall, a little worse for wear.
"No one is supposed to smoke on hospital grounds" she explained "So they removed it, the porters nicked it back and hid it here, no one except the brave come round the back of the mortuary"
James gave a tired smile and sunk onto the bench, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, he felt her sit next to him and he groped for her hand, finding it he linked his fingers with hers.
"I meant to ring" he sighed.
"You were busy" she observed "Not sleeping by the look of it"
He smiled, not opening his eyes "First night was worth it" he murmured "The second, not so much"
He felt rather than saw her flush with embarrassed delight and squeezed her hand lightly.
"Would you think..." he asked, rousing himself enough to lift his head and look at her "I was coming on too strong if I asked to see you again tonight?"
Her bashful smile made him feel good, calm, happy almost amidst the events of the morning.
"No, I wouldn't" she replied "But you look like you could use some sleep"
"I could" he agreed nodding "Is that a date then?"
She laughed "What time shall I have the Horlicks ready for?"
"I'll text" he promised, kissing her on the cheek and standing.
"You haven't had a smoke" she protested.
"Didn't come out for a cigarette" he replied before turning on his heel and heading back to the mortuary.