The dangers of Smoking

Part II

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 51

Evie parked the car impatiently, she was a mess. Nerves, excitement, it clouded her mind as she headed towards the waters edge.

She jumped lightly onto the boat. The summer day was warm and the main doors were open. She paused at the top of the steps, the bright sunlight from outside blinded her initially as she looked into the galley. But she knew he was there, she could feel it.

The smell of paint hit her first, and then as her vision cleared she saw him, standing at the bottom of the steps, looking up at her. She swallowed.

"I thought I was picking you up?" he asked, his head tilted to the side. He was wearing a pair of saggy tracksuit bottoms cut off into shorts and nothing else.

"Couldn't wait" she breathed, and without warning, launched down the stairs.

His arms shot out to catch her and she wrapped herself around him.

"Evie!" he laughed as he staggered back slightly at the unexpected extra weight, getting his balance again he looked at her.

"I missed you" she said.

And he couldn't reply because she kissed him, tightening her arms around his neck. His own arms drew her closer still as he was almost drowned with the feelings from not only her, but himself.

She pulled away and slid reluctantly to the floor.

"Take me to bed" she asked.

He kissed her again, hands sliding up her legs roughly "Not sure I'm going to make it that far" he groaned "You're wearing that dress"

…...

Evie played with James' hair gently as he lay with his head on her stomach, he sighed deeply in contentment.

"I was going to take you out for dinner" he murmured "Little romance, walk by the river, tell you how beautiful you are"

He rocked slightly as she laughed "Like I said, couldn't wait"

He lifted his head and looked at her "I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your approach" he laughed.

She smiled softly back at him "I really did miss you"

"I gathered" he teased "But I missed you too. I've heard people say that they don't know how much they've missed someone until they see them again, but I did, every minute"

"The roses made it better though" she smiled "And you need to tell me what all those Latin things mean"

"Roses?" he asked, his voice sharp suddenly.

"Yes" she looked at him wide eyed at his sudden change "The roses, one every day? With a card? Keats and Shelley quotes? Latin phrases?"

"I didn't send any roses" he sat up and she felt cold at the loss, and not just physically.

"Well..." she also sat up, frowning "Who?...Who but you would send me them? There's been one every day since you went...?!"

"Not me" he got off the bed "Obviously you have another admirer, one that knew I wasn't around"

He had tried to keep the accusation out of his tone, but she heard it. He pulled his shorts back on and left the bedroom. Evie wasn't sure what to do, his reaction worried her. The issue of trust rearing it's head. But what worried her more was who had sent them, and why?

Pulling her clothes back on she followed the smell of smoke out onto the deck of the boat, seeing him leaning on the rail, staring into the water.

"James?" she tried, and almost wished she hadn't, the look on his face took her breath away. He looked devastated.

He looked at her, and it hurt. Five minutes ago he'd had it all. Promotion a handsgrip away, beautiful girlfriend who seemed to adore him as much as he adored her, and he felt stable, content. Now, he felt like it was all crashing down on him, all going wrong, and he didn't know what to do.

She ran her hand down his arm, trying to offer comfort, love, whatever would snap him out of this.

And then he laughed, a bitter laugh, twisting his face and scaring her.

"So someone has been sending you flowers?" his tone could have cut crystal "Whilst I'm away, no less. Hmmm, wish I had thought of it, it's a good idea"

"Don't" she pleaded "I thought they were from you...I...loved it"

"Exactly" he replied "And now you know they're not"

"And I'm a bit freaked out!" she said "I don't know who sent them"

"So you keep saying" he turned back to the water. She touched his shoulder but he shrugged her off, throwing his cigarette into the water viciously.

"James?" she asked as he turned back towards the doors into the galley.

When he looked back at her her thought was that he looked bored, insolent.

"What?" he asked.

"Do you think Gedge found a way...?"

He got that look, the intense one, the one where everything was too much, the one where guilt overwhelmed him. The one that Evie was able to remove with her smile, with a touch. Only this time it was her that needed him, she was frightened, terrified even, and he had been prepared to be angry with her.

"From prison?" he asked doubtfully, rearranging his thoughts.

"I don't know" she sighed "But I honestly have no idea who sent them, I really thought it was you. I'm worried James"

"Nothing is going to happen to you" he said "Nothing, do you understand me? I'm not going to stand by and watch someone do this to you again"

"James..." she said quietly.

But he was jabbing at numbers on his phone, waiting for an answer. Evie heard the answering voice.

"Superintendent Innocents office"

"Put me through please" James snapped with impatience "It's sergeant Hathaway"

"Right away sergeant" and the line clicked a few times.

…...

"Sergeant Hathaway!" Chief Superintendent Innocents voice reverberated around her office and cut straight through his tirade, and his fear.

Evie quailed as James stopped and glared at his superior officer.

Silence followed and Jean turned her attention to Evie.

"Evie would you mind waiting in James' office?" she said kindly "Inspector Lewis is on his way, and he'll want to talk to you, while I speak with Sergeant Hathaway"

"Of course" Evie stood, catching James' look of irritation, feeling slightly like she had just been asked to leave the head mistresses office.

"My secretary will show you where to go" Jean finished, talking through the intercom to the woman at the desk outside her office. Waiting until Evie was gone, she rounded on James.

"Right" the force of her glare backed James into the chair behind him and he sat with a muffled thud "I know you're upset about this, and rightly so. But let me be clear about this. You ever come storming into my office again, throwing your weight around, then your career as DI will be the shortest on record. Do you understand me James?!"

James looked like he may protest, but changed his mind "Ma'am"

"Now" she folded her arms and her body language relaxed "Start at the beginning please"

...

Had to post these together - I was being far too nice! Thanks for all the reviews, reads and follows - hope you enjoy where I'm taking this next...