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 52

James let himself into Evie's flat, immediately looking for any sign of disturbance. It had only been an hour since he'd last spoken to her, but his imagination had worked overtime in that hour.

He heard movement from the bathroom and headed in the same direction.

"OK?" he asked as she saw him.

"Yes" she smiled "You?"

"Lewis has got permission to interview Gedge" he told her "He's there now"

"And?"

"Waiting to hear" James replied, and then frowned at the dress laying on the bed "Are you still going out?"

"Well..." Evie had anticipated this and had her answer ready "I thought that seeing as I'm with a group of people..." she tailed off as she saw his expression "You don't want me to do you?"

"No" came the short reply "But..." he huffed slightly "Lewis will be back and investigating this, I have some things to do with work...and as much as I'd like to have you where I can see you..."

"I'm not sitting in a police station all night" Evie finished "I want to go James, I don't want to keep hiding"

"I don't expect you to" he replied quietly "I think the safest place you probably can be is with a group of people in town, at least until we confirm it was Gedge. There was no florists name on the cards so we'll have to wait until Gedge has been interviewed. But Evie...please, anything strange, call me"

"Obviously" her mouth twitched with humour "You've never been out with a bunch of nurses and lab techs, strange in the norm"

Reluctantly, James smirked "No" he agreed "But just..."

"I will" she promised "I'll even forgo my street cred and let you drop me off"

James laughed slightly "And pick you up?"

Evie appeared to ponder it slightly "Well...if there's no taxi's"

James stepped closer, feeling better about the situation "I'll have them all pulled over and checked from bumper to bumper..." he threatened lightly.

"I don't doubt it" she replied, moving closer herself.

"Ring me" he said "When you're ready, I'll come and get you"

"I might be drunk" she teased.

"I hope so" he grinned "What time are you going out?"

"Not for another half an hour..." she leaned into him with a wicked smile.

"Oh good"

…...

James worked systematically through the evidence in the homeless case as he waited for Lewis to return. Sorting into piles, pinning things on the white board, surveying his organised chaos.

He checked his phone regularly, smiling at the increasingly incoherent texts from Evie. He looked forward to picking her up, starting their week early.

He looked up as he heard an exclamation behind him.

"Bloody hell" Lewis muttered "What happened in here?!"

James blinked "Nothing" he replied "Well?"

"Well he denied it" Lewis said "However he did make a phone call on Monday, the prison are tracing the number, and they took a card off him when he arrived, a credit card that he'd just managed to obtain, I've got the details here to check it out"

James nodded silently.

"It's him, I just need to prove it" Lewis sat at his computer and booted it up "Bloody shrinks, think they can get away with all sorts"

James snorted with derision "I wish you'd let me come"

"Now that James" Lewis smiled at him "Is possibly the stupidest thing you have ever said"

James laughed softly "I doubt that very much Sir"

…...

Having put the wheels in motion to check Gedge's credit card, Lewis left to go home.

James said that he'd stay, leave when Evie needed to be picked up.

He smiled as he read the latest message, typical drunken Evie.

Want to see what you're missing?

He typed the return.

I take it you're ready to come home?

He smiled, preparing to leave. Too much work, too much time wasted on things that were mattering less and less, James knew this next week would be something that would make or break his final decision on promotion, and indeed the police at all, and more importantly the future.

He received two messages, in quick succession, the first a picture message, of Evie, looking into the camera, smiling, happy, tempting. He smiled at it, reading the next, a text message.

You really need to see what you are missing, I'm at home, shared a taxi.

He sighed, standing and putting his jacket on as he replied.

You will be the death of me woman...I'm on my way.

…...

He let himself into her flat quietly, kicking his shoes off he padded towards the bedroom.

"I hope you haven't passed out already..." he chuckled, pushing the door open.

What he saw took his breath, his heart, his soul. He could feel the destruction as he stood.

"Oh I'm afraid she has" Gordy told him, from his place next to her, smiling "You should have caught the live show, amazing, isn't she?"

"What the fuck is going on?" James demanded, Evie didn't stir, but Gordy looked him straight in the eye.

"Poor deluded boy" he said softly "It's been going on for ages. I told her that you'd work it out, the flowers, silly girl didn't give you enough credit. But, well enough is enough, I sent those messages, you needed to know"

"Know?" James could barely speak.

"James, or as you prefer, Detective Sergeant Hathaway, your girlfriend, is a cheat" Gordy said "I hate to be the bearer of bad news"

James stared, and swallowed, several times, it was there, in front of his eyes, the truth. He didn't want to believe it, but it was there, and how could he deny the facts? Evie, his Evie, was in bed with another man. It all made sense, her refusal to believe that Gordy was anything but a sweet boy with a crush, her defence of him. But why? Why would she continue a charade with him when her heart obviously lay else where?

Gordy read his expression and laughed "She felt sorry for you" he said "She felt so sorry for this poor man, doing his best to atone for sins that he hadn't even committed, she knew you wanted her, and she allowed you some time. But, it would never last, and now, I have put a stop to it"

James turned on his heel and left. Nothing, his mind, his heart, were blank.

…...

Like I said – I was being too nice...Thanks so much for the reviews guys :) they make me happy – Thank you!