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 53
James was at the station the next morning, no one would or had thought anything of it. Only those who knew him well would see the hollowed eyes, the empty expression, the tight jawline.
Of course his superior officer and friend was one such person, and he saw straight away.
Lewis regarded James un noticed for a time, watching him study crime scene photo's on the white board, flick through statements and his own hand written notes, and he trusted James' hunch. He didn't know if James knew he had a hunch, but the signs were there to Lewis. James had picked out something, even in his subconscious, that would break this case, and his brain kept trying to hammer the message through.
But that wasn't it. James looked, well, broken. Lewis thought, as he sat staring at the board. But then James was in love, and lovers quarrelled, and it felt like the end of the world. Until the anger dissolved and apologies were given and taken, and you were in love again. Lewis decided that's probably what it was, and he resolved that he wouldn't press the younger man. He'd probably only receive a smart comment or an unfathomable quote in return anyway.
"What have you got?" Robbie asked finally.
"Duplicitous women" James stood and faced him and Robbie realised that he had underestimated the sorrow, seeing him face on for the first time James was beyond broken.
"Sorry?"
James wheeled back to the white board.
"Barbara Graham, wearing a blue cardigan" he pointed to a picture "Blue woollen fibres taken from the scene of two murders"
Lewis opened his mouth but James barely noticed as he carried on, now holding up a tattered book open at a page near the front with a drawing of a ring and with his other hand, pointing to an enlargement of Barbara Graham's left hand.
"Stan Hooks diary" James said "I found it hidden when I renovated the boat, this is the ring he bought to propose to Mary" James tapped his finger against the photo of the ring hand on Barbara "Same ring, it's unique, Stan had it made"
Lewis closed his mouth.
James then indicated a sheaf of computer printouts "Statement from Levericks ex wife, she said there was another woman" James tapped another sheaf of papers "Background on Mrs Barbara Graham, who is in fact Miss Barbara Cliff. She changed her name by deed pole, not marriage"
"So Barbara was the other woman?" Lewis was astounded.
"I think so" James nodded "And she knew about Levericks money, and an argument, heat of the moment, she killed him"
"But Stan?" Lewis was puzzled "And Sam? The guy by the river?"
"Witnesses" James ventured "If all three men visited the shelter, then there is reason to believe that the other two knew at least of Levericks money, or about his connection with Barbara, or maybe both. I'm pretty sure Barbara was in a relationship with 'Sam', the last victim. I showed their pictures to the manager of the Harton Manor hotel"
"Where the French Diplomat died?"
James nodded "Same blue fibres were found there" he explained "And as their cleaning isn't exactly wonderful, it could have been transferred at any time. Barbara and her blue cardigan were present a couple of times a week, along with 'Sam'"
"OK" Lewis initially found it hard to believe of the kindly lady, but he was being quickly convinced as the evidence of James' work through the night and morning incriminated her more and more.
"And finally, Barbara Graham had acess to the Slo-K, and as a pharmacy assistant, many moons ago, would know how to use it" James said.
"Potassium Chloride?" Lewis breathed.
"Yes" James concluded and watched for Lewis' reaction.
"So Barbara Cliff, who became Barbara Graham, knew Malcolm Leverick years ago, and she comes across him again in her role as saviour" Lewis summed up, no fancy words for him "She remembers the money and for whatever reason, Leverick changes his will in favour of her shelter. She's having a relationship with this 'Sam', maybe Leverick finds out and threatens to change his will, either way, she bashes him over the head. Then because they know one or all of her dirty little secrets, she sees off Stan Hook and 'Sam' too"
"That's about it sir" James nodded.
"Well done" Lewis looked at him "How did you get there?"
"The blue cardigan" James replied "There was just something that kept drawing me back to that shelter, and now I know it was because the blue cardigan sat in that office all the time"
"Let's go and bring her in then" Lewis said, still puzzled at James' demeanour.
"Let's" James agreed.
…...
Sitting in the car something occurred to Robbie Lewis.
"Women" he said suddenly.
"What?" James frowned as he drove.
"You said duplicitous women" Robbie muttered "Is there an accomplice?"
James laughed, but it was a hollow and terrible sound, bitter "I don't think so"
"Slip of the tongue?" Robbie offered, but he just knew there was something else here, something major that was tearing James apart.
"No" James pulled the car to a stop outside the homeless shelter and turned the engine off "Last night, I found Evie in bed with another man"
Robert Lewis was shocked to his core, utterly.
"Are you sure?!"
"With my own eyes" James replied, the depth of his pain visible for a moment "But if you don't mind sir, I'd rather not talk about it any more"
Lewis gave him a hard look "I'm here" he said softly "Should you need anything"
"Thank you Sir" James nodded curtly, the ever efficient police officer now back "That's very much appreciated"
…...
"Oh Sergeant Hathaway!" Barbara Graham greeted them with evident pleasure "And your Inspector! I'll put the kettle on! Have you news?!"
Disgust filled the room.
WHY?! James' inner voice shouted Why am I such a fool! Here is another that I gave my trust and respect to, to be cut down again. When will I ever learn!
Mrs Graham sensed something not right and her expression of happiness dropped.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Barbara Graham" Lewis said in a flat tone "I am arresting you on suspicion of three counts of murder"
"What?!" the woman looked utterly dumbfounded.
"Turn around" James ordered.
"But..."
"Just do it" Lewis advised "I wouldn't mess with him tonight"
With a last bewildered look Barbara Graham did as she was bid, and stood passively as James clipped the hand cuffs onto her wrists.
…...
"Sergeant I honestly have no idea what you are talking about!" the woman's persistent appeals at innocence gnawed at James "My maiden name was Cliff but of course that changed when I married dear Mr Graham! I didn't know Malcolm Leverick..."
"Oh cut it out!" James snapped "There isn't anyone called Mr Graham, with the information you supplied. Your husband never existed!"
"But..." she looked at the duty solicitor and the expression on her face as she read the notes that James handed her.
The solicitor held her gaze and then faced Lewis.
"I should like to request a few moments with my client" she asked "To discuss this evidence"
"No" James growled before Robbie could answer "We have evidence, so you can discuss all you like! The outcome will be the same"
"Fine!" suddenly the kindly old woman was gone, replaced by a sneering one, younger than she had appeared, with all traces of confusion gone.
"Mrs Graham..." the solicitor warned.
"Oh shut up!" Barbara snapped "They've got me. You've read that"
"I advise you..."
Graham gave the solicitor a weary look before turning back to James.
"I loved Malcolm" she said quietly "Loved him. And what did he do? Run off and marry that woman. But I never let go, never. I always waited for him and I was right, he found me again"
"He came looking for you?" Lewis asked.
"Not as such" she replied "But he found me none the less. Not himself, almost destroyed between war and that woman he married, but Malcolm still. Of course I was creaming money from the shelter, how else could I make a living? It was easy really. But I was going to get found out, and then Malcolm reappeared"
"So you got him to change his will and then smacked him over the head?" Lewis asked "Nice reunion"
"No" her laugh made the hair on the back of James' neck stand up "He changed his will, he believed me when I said I loved him still. I didn't love him I loved his money. And then he found out..."
"About you and Sam?" James offered.
"Yes" she replied.
"So you killed him?"
"Only when he threatened to change his will and refuse to listen..." she defended "I waited a long time for that money"
"Poor you" James said in a dead tone.
"And the other two victims?" Lewis pressed "They weren't rich"
"I had foolishly told Sam about Malcolms money" she sighed "So when Malcolm was identified..."
"And Stan?" James pressed, Stan Hook, his story, his boat, affected James the most. Maybe he saw echoes of himself "What did he ever do?"
"He heard Sam and I arguing" she shrugged "I couldn't risk that he knew, so..."
"Interview terminated" Lewis huffed.
…...
That was a bit longer to fit it all in! But think I got it all, not done yet though, more drama to come!
