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 13
Hathaway and Lewis put the finishing touches to the white board and stood back, viewing the case in a different medium.
"So" James began "We have three victims. Number one, now identified as Malcolm Leverick, ex army, estranged from his son and wife, homeless. Found with a fatal head injury in the woods"
Lewis tapped the board as Innocent looked on "Victim two, Stan 'The Fisherman' Hook. Killed with a lethal dose of Potassuim Chloride, injected into his bloodstream after having a slap up last meal of chocolate, champagne and heroin. Found in a homeless shelter that he frequented"
"And number three" Hathaway continued "Known as 'Sam', still working on a formal ID, but also frequented the same shelter as Stan Hook, had been there the night that he was killed. Found by the river, also killed with a lethal dose of Potassuim Chloride, injected. We found a bottle of medication in his personal effects, possibly for treating low sodium levels, which is one of the uses for Potassuim Chloride. Also some blue wool fibres that don't really belong on him"
"Who issued the pills?" Innocent asked.
"Harvey's chemist" Lewis replied "I have them digging records for who wrote the prescription and who it was issued to"
She nodded "And who are these?" she pointed to a small grouping of photographs in the bottom corner.
"These are other people around or involved" Hathaway told her "This is Barbara Graham, the manager of the shelter, she knew the second and third victims quite well"
"A suspect?" Innocent pressed.
"Witness" James corrected and pointed to another picture of a a man "This is John Jackson, estranged son of Leverick" he indicated a police ID photo of an older woman "This is Mary Jackson, his mother, Leverick's ex wife"
"And they have a motive?" Innocent pushed again.
"Possibly" Lewis' face indicated that he was trying to sound more sure than he felt "The son told me he'd not seen or heard from his father since he left, the wife however, gave Hathaway here the impression that contact was trying to be established, and wasn't being accepted very gracefully"
"And what are we doing about that?" Innocent asked them.
"That's what all this is for" James replied in a haughty tone, tempering it with a more respectful Ma'am as an afterthought.
"Right, sleep on it. Tomorrow, bring the son and mother in for a chat" Innocent turned on her heel and then turned back as both men gaped at her.
"Go on then" she urged "Go and have a life, before Hathaway's head explodes"
Lewis laughed as James looked slightly indignant, before realising that he did indeed have a life tonight.
"You heard the lady Jim" Lewis said "You not got a book to read or a guitar to play?"
James grinned at him "Tonight Sir, no I do not"
"Enjoy" Lewis replied with a true smile, and then his face changed "Hang on, blue fibres on the body?"
James at least had the grace to attempt to look sheepish.
"Wool fibres" he explained "Blue woollen fibres that didn't match anything Sam had on him, and they were clean, in contrast to his own clothes"
"Well thank you for sharing" Lewis said sardonically as James shrugged his jacket on.
…...
"So you ask me out to dinner" Evie frowned at him, her tone light "And take me on a hike?"
He smirked "It'll be worth it" he promised.
"You promised me food" Evie accused lightly as she looked around the open space that surrounded them, he had a point, the view was worth the trek. Her eyes finished on him, he looked pleased and apprehensive in equal measure. She liked his departure from the work suit. The jeans, trainers and jumper some how made him look softer.
"Ah" he set the bag down he was carrying "Mobile cafe"
She frowned at him "A picnic?"
He crouched to the bag, not looking at her "Not what you had in mind?"
"Well, no" she admitted, but her tone told him although it was a surprise, it was a good one "I didn't have you down as a picnic kind of person"
He spread the blanket out and gestured for her to sit down "I am full of surprises" his eyes twinkled.
"Aren't you just" she agreed.
He opened some wine and handed her a glass, taking lids from containers and setting them down.
"Did you make all this?" she asked.
"As much as I would like to claim that I did" he gave her a wry smile "Marks and Spencers take that accolade"
Evie laughed "It's great"
"Really?" she saw a moment of vulnerability flash across his face.
"Yes" she replied quietly "It really is"
…...
Evie lay looking up at the darkening sky as James lay next to her.
"The stars are coming out" she commented.
"Yes" he agreed, putting his hands behind his head and concentrating "Orions belt I believe"
They regarded the heavens, different thoughts occupying each. James felt the unfamiliar peace come over him again.
"Are you getting cold?" he asked.
She turned her head to look at him "No"
He rolled onto his side "I have an extra blanket..." he offered.
"You're so..." she frowned at him.
"What?"
"Polite" she replied with an embarrassed laugh.
"Good manners cost nothing as my house tutor used to say" he chuckled.
"So" Evie turned her head back to the sky "What's that one then?"
He looked in her eye line and saw a formation of stars "Ah" he said "No idea"
Evie laughed "That's a relief"
"Why?"
"You don't know everything then" she replied.
James chuckled again "I'm working on it"
Neither had no idea how much later it was when the sound of his mobile pealed, except that now, it was dark.
He sat up, looking at the display "Sorry" he mumbled, getting to his feet and answering it.
Evie watched him surreptitiously as he paced about, toeing the ground here and there as he talked. Cancelling the call he walked back over and knelt on the blanket beside her.
"Work?" she surmised.
"Yes" he sighed "I have to go, I'm sorry"
The look of guilt and disappointment on his face touched her "Don't worry" she said "It's been a wonderful evening"
He took her hand in his "I'd hoped it wasn't over"
"So did I" she replied, her eyes full of meaning.
He sighed and rocked back, pushing himself to his feet "I'll drop you home"
"Thank you" she said, standing herself "I mean it, I've had a wonderful time"
"So have I" he smiled up at her from where he crouched, packing things back into the bag.
…...
"Is he OK?" Laura nodded to where James stood smoking furiously by the car.
"I don't think so" Lewis replied "He thinks he could have done something"
"How?" Laura frowned "You investigated the death of a baby, it wasn't murder, end of case"
"It's the other kids" Lewis sighed "I think that he thinks that he should have done something other than write a letter, that he should have protected them"
"It's the mother that needed the protection" Laura said quietly as the body bag came out of the house, she noticed James bowed his head and turned away, the heavy burden of guilt on his shoulders.
"Well there's not a lot of investigation needed luckily" Lewis sighed "Domestic violence. The father has admitted it, he's on his way to the station and he'll be charged. It's those poor kiddies, now they're going to be in care"
"Quite possible that's where they would have ended up anyway" Laura said softly "James wants to save everyone, I thought he'd realised that he can't"
"He knows he can't" Lewis eyed his sergeant with sad eyes "He just hates the fact"
Laura nodded "He'll be OK, he's got over stuff like this before"