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Chapter 31

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"What happened," Innocent demanded. "How did this happened?"

Lewis cleaned his bloody hands with a disposable sanitizing towelette. He rolled his eyes at the demanding impatient Chief Superintendent. "Can this wait," he held his red stained shirt away from his chest.

Jean looked at the body sprawled on the ground. "Is that Fitzroy?" The dead man's face was turned away from her. "How did this happen?"

Lewis nodded. "I don't know. He... the knife... he must have..." he could not explain. Blood pooled around the dead man. There were bloody shoe prints. Blood was on the hedges, the sidewalk, everywhere.

"Where's James?" she asked. Lewis' eyes looked toward the hospital. "Is he all right?"

"I don't know," Lewis tossed the towelette into an evidence bag.

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"James Hathaway!" Innocent scolded. "Despite what he did, you should not be glad he's dead."

"Sorry, Ma'am," he apologized. "That is how I feel. I did not think I could have ever felt so much hate in my life toward one person as I did toward Fitzroy."

"Still...Whatever," Jean refrained from arguing. "Can you tell us what happened?"

James sighed and rolled his eyes. "I did not see anything," he pointed to his useless eyes. "All I heard was Fitzroy threatening me. I felt him burning me, stabbing me and cutting me. Then I remembered DI Lewis calling my name." James recited the short version.

"Sargent, I need a more detailed report," Innocent reprimanded. "I'll let you rest for now. However, I will be back in the morning." She left the room giving Lewis a threatening look. "Talk to him, Lewis and I expect your report on my desk in the morning. Do I make my self clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Lewis looked at the floor trying to hide his smile. "First thing in the morning, Ma'am."

"She gone?" James whispered. Mindy moved from underneath the covers where she had been hiding from all the yelling.

"No I'm not gone, Sargent," she called over her shoulder. She bumped into her Scottish detective who was standing in the doorway. "Oh, MacGim? Sorry I did not see you. See if you can talk some sense into Hathaway."

"You might want to see this before you leave, Ma'am," MacGim's thick accent sang. "Apparently, Fitzroy had a camcorder recording him and James. I've got a copy." He proudly held a jewel case and a portable DVD player.

"He was recording everything?" Innocent could not believe their luck. "Well, don't just stand there. Show us."

"Your wish is my command," he gave a playful bow and had a twinkle in his eyes. MacGim put the DVD into the player, he fumbled around searching for the play button.

"Here," Bell pressed the correct button.

"Smart arse," MacGim quipped. The monitor flashed to life and the face of the dead man appeared on the screen.

"This is my good friend, Liam Glasgow," Fitzroy moved from the view of the camcorder to show Chief Glasgow hanging. "Sorry, he doesn't have anything to say. Oh well. He was no good. See, Cynthia, I did what you said. I killed him like you wanted. I know he promised you a promotion if you did things with him. Now he won't be making any more empty promises."

The ravings of a mad man echoed in the silent room. James sat in his bed, silent. He did not want to ever hear that sick man's voice again. "Turn it off," he begged. "Please!"

Lewis looked at his partner then turned to Innocent. She agreed. "We'll be back. Get some rest, James." Innocent patted the young Sargent's shoulder.

James sighed in relief. Then he let the tears flow. "Oh Cynthia, what did they do to you," he cried. "I'm so sorry." Mindy licked his face and James welcomed her comfort.

"Girl, I don't know what I would do without you," he buried his face in her neck. Crying.

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Bell found an empty room nearby. They all gathered around the DVD player and continued to watch a demented man's recording.

"Now, Cynthia, I'll take care of James for you," the camera jiggled and shut off. The screen went blue for a second, then Fitzroy appeared before the camera again. "Hello my darling. You see that building? James is in there, Cynthia. I'll get him for you and bring him here. You wait here for us. Alright?" He kissed the camera.

Again the camera clicked off and the screen went blue. Then camera click to life. They watched James being wheeled into view of the camera. Fitzroy knew exactly where to place the chair so James would be in perfect frame.

They all watched without saying a word as Fitzroy abused James. Burned him with a cigarette. Tormenting their friend with a knife. Stabbing him. Cutting his face. Ripping off the neck brace. Slicing James' throat. Never enough to kill, just light enough to cause pain and to draw blood.

Lewis could barely keep his food down. He was getting sick to his stomach watching Fitzroy inflict pain on James.

They listen to Fitzroy yelling at James. Talking to Cynthia. Then without warning Mindy and Bell appeared.

"Stop!" Fitzroy warned. "Cynthia! Help!" Then Fitzroy took the knife and harshly dragged the blade across his own throat. The man looked into the camera. Blood spilled from the gaping neck wound. Blood bubbled out his moving wordless lips, only a gurgling sound came from the dieing man.

Bell tried to reach out to stop Fitzroy, but he was too late. He turned away from the bloody mess. The video revealed all. Lewis kneeling trying to help the dead man. Him wiping the blood off his hands onto his shirt. Trying to get James to talk to him. Other people arriving, blocking view of the hidden camera. Then, the final thing it showed was a PC discovering the electronic witness. The monitor went blue and the room was silent.

"Wow!" Bell uttered.

"Yeah, Wow!" Innocent chimed. "This is the best evidence we could ever have."

"He was a sick man," MacGim muttered.

"I need a drink," Lewis had a sour taste in his mouth. "Bell, you're driving." He tossed him the keys.

"And you're buying," MacGim tossed his keys to the newest member.

"Drink a couple for me," Innocent suggested. "I have a mountain of paperwork at the office. I still expect your report on my desk first thing in the morning, Lewis." They smiled at each other as she left the room.

"Here's my keys, Rowen," Yulissa slowly ran her fingers across his chest smiling. She dangled her keys on the end of her long index finger for him to grab. He leaned forward taking the keys and gaving her a long passionate kiss.

"Come on, Romeo," Lewis bellowed. "You better have deep pockets 'cause I'm really thirsty."

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James finally raised his head from Mindy, "You smell good, Girl." He hugged the dog.

"Why thank you, Mr. Hathaway," Rebecca startled James. He did not hear her when she entered the room. "I didn't mean to make you jump."

"That's okay. I thought I was loosing my mind hearing the dog talk," he smiled. Her voice was so sweet sounding.

"I heard what happened today and wanted to stop by," she sat in the chair next to the bed. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Just tired," he mumbled. James reached up to wipe any remaining tears from his eyes, only to painfully be reminded his fingers were bandage and in a brace. "AGGH! Oh shit! That hurts!" His face turned red with embarrassment, he did not mean to cuss out loud. "I'm sorry. I think I tried to blind myself," he joked. "Too late, I'm all ready blind." He smiled dryly.

"You shouldn't be so negative, Mr. Hathaway," her voice melted his soul.

"James, please," he purred. "I'm sorry that I, um, well used such..."

"Oh please don't apologize for cussing," she held his hand to reassure him. "I have seven brothers and four uncles. My mom and I were the only two legged girls at the dairy."

He tried to look at her with his useless eyes. Since he stuck the finger brace in his eye all he could see was black. Everything was pitch black. Worried, this time he cautiously rubbed his eyes trying to bring back the fuzzy light he saw before.

"James, are you okay?" She tenderly touched his shoulder. He did not hear. "Let me call a nurse."

"No. Please don't," he begged. "I'm tired of nurses. They will run you off. And I don't..." He blushed as he held onto her small soft hand. He caressed her hand with his two non-bandaged fingers. "I just want to listen to your voice."

'Oh gawd, did I say that out loud?' He thought. 'She's going to think I'm an idiot.'

Rebecca blushed. Their fingers danced and played. "Do you know when you will be released?"

He shook his head, "I really want to go home and sleep in my own bed. And not have anyone wake me, asking if I was okay." He rambled. He searched his mind for anything intelligent to say.

"I've been lucky, I've never been in hospital," she filled the empty silence. "Just visited when one of my sister-in-laws had a kid. I spend most of my days in surgery."

"You're a doctor?" 'Beautiful and intelligent,' he thought.

"I'm a veterinarian," she proudly announced.

"That's right, I forgot. Is that how you met Mindy?" he was curious.

"Yeah," she shyly replied. "I was in Afghanistan volunteering at an animal rescue shelter when I heard about a dog that led soldiers to Corporal Christmas. He was badly wounded from a suicide bomber. The dog stayed at the field hospital with Malcolm until they transferred him back to the UK. He didn't want to leave her so I started the long long long process of paper work to bring her to England. They were re-united about two years ago. Since then Christmas and Mindy have been traveling around the country helping wounded soldiers and raising money to rescue more dogs and cats from Afghanistan and Iraq."

James closed his eyes to the dark world and relaxed listening to her talk. 'Intelligent and a humanitarian," he smiled to himself. 'She's got to be from Heaven.'

"James?" Rebecca questioned the quiet man. "I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed the sleeping man on his forehead and then kissed Mindy. "You take care of him, Miss Mindy. I'll see you tomorrow."

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"Dr. Myers?" Lewis called to Rebecca as she left James' room.

"Inspector Lewis, how nice to see you again," she gave him a hug. "I think I talked him to sleep."

"Robbie, please. I'm sure he would have stayed awake if he could," Lewis offered her the cup of tea he had for James.

"Thank you. He's in better shape than I would have been," she sipped the tea, soothing her dry throat. "This hits the spot. Thank you."

"Listen, I'm meeting Dr. Hobson and the others for dinner, would you like to join us?" He invited her. "I have a lot to tell her about today's events. You might like to hear."

"Thank you," she eagerly accepted the gracious offer.

Lewis and Rebecca met Laura, MacGim, Bell and Yulissa Montgomery at Cherwell Boathouse. The men told Laura and Rebecca about Fitzroy and James. They chatted and relaxed for hours enjoying each others company and forgetting about the time.

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James did not know how long he had been asleep. He opened his eyes and looked around the room. "Hey, HEY!" He shouted. "Oh thank you." He smiled and searched the room looking for Mindy and for the lady with the sultry voice.

His eye rested on the dog laying next to him. "Mindy?" She was beautiful. Her golden yellow and black fur was shiny and soft. "I can see you, Mindy."

Mindy thumped her tail eagerly. She licked his hand and laid back down to sleep.

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"Shhhh, you will get me into trouble," Yulissa whispered a warning to the others. They all were a little tipsy, but they wanted to see James. "Common." The small inebriated group staggered down the hallway into James' room.

"Hey James?" Lewis loudly whispered.

"Hey what?" James replied. He flicked the side light on. "I can see you!"

The news quickly sobered the group. "What?" "When?" "How?" Questions filled the air.

James looked the happy group over searching for the one face to match the soothing voice. His eyes fell upon a dark hair lady with fair skin. "Rebecca?"

She tilted her head down and looked at him shyly. "Yeah?"

"Nice to see you," they smiled at one another.

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