Chapter Two- Anything Less Than Extraordinary
DS James Hathaway tried to pay attention to the conversation, but his mind kept wandering back to the letter that he'd received the previous evening. It had been from his old girlfriend, Fiona McKendrick, announcing her engagement and telling James he would surely be invited to the wedding. As if he'd want to see Fiona pledge her love forever to a man who wasn't him.
"Sergeant Hathaway?"
The direct gaze of Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent brought Hathaway's attention back to the present.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Do you have anything to add to Inspector Lewis's account?"
" Er..." Hathaway was taken aback. He'd only absorbed half of the account in question. "Er... no. I found Inspector Lewis's account to be quite satisfactory."
Innocent looked at him suspiciously before returning her gaze to Lewis. "As did I. Well, congratulations to both of you on another job well done. Inspector Lewis, you may return to your work. Hathaway, I'd like a word."
Lewis turned and left while his confused sergeant remained seated. When Innocent and Hathaway were alone, the superintendent leaned across her desk and stared at Hathaway."Well, James. Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"
There were times when Hathaway would've sworn that his chief superintendent was psychic."There is nothing bothering me."
"James, you spent half of the past hour looking out the window and the other half pretending to look at me. Not to mention the fact that you skipped a button on your shirt and that your tie is crooked."
Well maybe Jean Innocent wasn't psychic— just very, very observant. Although Hathaway suspected that she'd have to be, considering that she was chief superintendent of the Oxfordshire Police.
"It's nothing, ma'am."
"James. I need to know what it is if it's going to affect your work performance."
"I don't think it will, ma'am."
The superintendent raised an eyebrow. "You don't think it will?"
"It won't, ma'am."
"Well, I sincerely hope that you're right," she paused. "James, sometimes it's helpful to let someone know why you're upset. It can be a sort of catharsis- help you come to terms with your emotions and purge the bad ones." She paused again. "Have you tried talking to Inspector Lewis about this matter?"
"No, ma'am."
"You might want to consider it. Or you can always talk to me. We've always got on before, and I promise that whatever you have to say to me won't leave the room."
Hathaway realized that Innocent wouldn't leave him alone until he said something so he decided to share what was bothering him, careful to avoid giving too many details."It's just an old girlfriend is getting married, and before you ask, yes, I loved her. But it's no use now. She's probably happier elsewhere."
"You can't be sure of that."
"Yes, I can. I... I didn't really deserve her. She was so smart and kind and attractive and funny."
The chief superintendent walked around her desk, stood behind Hathaway, and put a comforting arm on his shoulder. "James Hathaway, I want you to remember two things. One: you possess all of those traits and more besides."
"And the second thing?"
"The second thing is something my mother used to tell me often before her untimely death: neverlet anyone or anything make you believe that you are anything less than extraordinary."
Hathaway smiled. " Thanks. I'll be sure to keep that in mind, ma'am."
The chief super smiled back. Then the phone on her desk began to ring. She walked back to her desk and picked the phone up. Hathaway turned to go but she gestured for him to stay, mouthing, " This should only take a moment."
"Hello," she said into the she listened to whomever was calling, her face grew steadily paler and her mouth fell open in an expression of shock."Wait, could you repeat the address?" she said, her tone somewhat frantic. "No, that's what I thought you said. Well, thank you for informing us."
Innocent hung up the phone and stared off into space for a moment before noticing Hathaway watching her. "Well, don't just stand there!" she snapped. " Find Inspector Lewis and Dr Hobson at once. And, hurry!"
Hathaway did as he was told, wondering what the DCS had just learned that had created such a drastic alteration in her mood.