The dangers of Smoking.
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 7
Next morning saw a break in the rain and weak sunshine dried up what it could.
"Right, we need to head over to the morgue" Lewis said as they got back into the car "Laura has the full PM results"
James nodded and started the car, pulling out into the traffic.
"Got plenty of fags Jim?" Lewis asked quietly.
"Ye-es" James gave him an odd look "Thank you"
"Oh good, you can have one when we get there then" Robbie smiled to himself as James looked puzzled.
"Wanting a bit of alone time with the Doc?" James teased "Though I can think of more appealing places than an autopsy suite"
"Glad to hear it, so can I. We're having lunch in the canteen first" Lewis chuckled "What do you make of the new assistant? Very quiet"
"Been pleasant enough when I've come across her" Hathaway said, sounding carefully disinterested.
"You know who she is don't you?" Lewis prompted.
"Evie?" Hathaway looked confused again "She's the new pathology assistant isn't she?" the sarcasm was evident.
"Before that" Lewis said "Do you remember the mental health nurse, a couple of years ago, she killed a patient?"
"In London?" James replied, he remembered everything "Yes, wasn't it found that he had been stalking her? And tried to kill her when she knocked him back?"
"Yeah, he'd been released but had a fixation on her that was overlooked" Lewis told him "She got away, and he chased her, she hit him with something, only just survived herself"
"Yes, I remember" Hathaway said "Quite an ordeal I would think, didn't heads roll? Hadn't several members of staff warned that he was unstable and shouldn't be released?...My God, was that Evie?!"
"It was" Robbie said quietly "Laura told me, but no one else knows, so keep your gob shut"
"Yes, yes, of course" James replied, preoccupied.
"Laura said she's fine now" Robbie answered "That she was originally from Oxford, has quite a CV I'm led to believe. Pretty too"
"Yes, she's trained in pharmacology" James replied.
"Seems you know more about her than I do" Lewis teased, chuckling at James coloured slightly.
"I told you" Hathaway replied in a short tone "We've come across each other"
James turned the next corner particularly sharply, causing Lewis to reach out and grab the dash.
…...
Evie looked up as James headed towards the bench, the initial pleasure at seeing him vanished when she saw his expression.
"You know" she sighed as he stood in front of her.
He nodded.
She shrugged "I guess it was only a matter of time before everyone found out"
He sat "Everyone hasn't found out. Lewis told me"
"And Hobson told him" she replied sadly "You know what they say, bad news travels fast"
"Lewis and Doctor Hobson won't say anything" he assured her "And neither will I"
"Thanks" she said, sounding almost sulky.
James looked up, as if gathering strength and then back at Evie.
"Lewis told me to take an break" he said.
"They must want some time alone" Evie replied "Doctor Hobson said the same"
Hathaway chuckled "Well, at least the romance isn't dead, even if everything else may be"
Evie looked at him "But an autopsy suite?" she asked. He noticed with relief that there was a twinkle in her eye, he resolved not to bring up her past again.
"No accounting for taste" he shrugged "Though I do believe they are currently having a romantic lunch in the hospital canteen"
"And you don't get an invite?" she asked.
"I have no desire to be a 3rd wheel" he pulled a face.
"Well we've got coffee and custard creams in the break room" she smiled at him.
"Well who could ask for more?" he grinned.
Lunch was an unhealthy, if companionable affair. They drank coffee, ate biscuits and chatted. Once again, the talk seemed to flow, without awkwardness.
Glancing at the clock Evie sighed "Think I'll grab another smoke, boss'll be back soon"
"Good idea" James followed her out.
"Oh bollocks!" Evie huffed as her lighter refused to spark "Bloody thing!"
"Problems?" James asked with what could be considered a cheeky smile.
"Why do things always pack up when you need them?" she sighed "Thank you"
He lit his own "The law of Sod" he smiled, sitting down.
Evie noticed the smile was more open, and genuine.
"Well Sod" she said "Can sod off"
He laughed "I don't think I've heard you swear before" he observed.
"Sorry" she looked away, her cheeks starting to pink.
"They say that studies prove that people who swear are more open, honest and trustworthy" he told her, eyeing her with amusement.
"They also say that 90% of studies are complete rubbish" she replied, laughing.
He was about to reply when his mobile started to ring. He smiled an apology and walked a way off before answering it. He spoke for a few moments, rolling his eyes at Evie a couple of times and ended the call, returning to his seat, glowering.
"Bad news?" Evie asked.
"The chief super" he said "Makes Margaret Thatcher look like Florence Nightingale"
"From your face" Evie laughed "I thought it was a woman giving you an ear bashing, your mother perhaps, or girlfriend"
He eyed her with an expression she couldn't read, and Evie flushed red.
"I don't have one" he muttered, going red himself and looking at his feet.
"A mother?" she prompted "Or a girlfriend?"
"Neither" he answered, finally meeting her eyes "One is dead, and the other, well, in the words of my gov'ner, I appear to be invisible to beautiful women"
"I'm sure that's not true" she said.
"One would hope" he looked away again, a muscle twitching in his jaw "What about you?"
"My mother is overbearing and a wonderful cook" she said "And no, I don't have a girlfriend" again his expression was unreadable "But that's not a surprise, as I am not gay"
She swore she saw relief on his face for a second, it made her feel a little hopeful for some reason. He gave her a searching look.
"Boyfriend?" he asked quietly.
"No" she replied, finding her own feet now interesting "Not for a long time"
They looked at each other for seconds, neither knowing what to say.
"Hathaway!" silence was shattered by Lewis' voice "Put that bloody coffin nail out an' come in here, we need you!"
He jumped up, shutting down the anxiety he felt.
"I've been summoned" he said.
"I'd better come in too" she said "So until next time"
"I hope so" and he stuck his hand out, Evie frowned, but shook it.
He spun and walked away, not impressed with himself.
Well at least I didn't bow. He thought.
...
A/N - Many, many thanks for the reviews so far, double whammy tonight as I was so pleased with them :) thank you for taking the time and please continue to do so!