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 21
"So do we just drop the homeless case?" James asked "I know we have nothing on the other two, and Leverick seems to be a mystery wrapped in an enigma, but still..."
"Isn't that what you do?" Lewis asked "Mysteries and enigma's?"
"Only in my spare time" James replied "Usually I'm too busy with policing"
Lewis rolled his eyes "We'll play it by ear" he said "If looking for this French Diplomat, should take us in the vicinity of the Jackson household, well it'd be silly to waste the trip wouldn't it?"
"It would indeed Sir" James replied "But it does all feel a bit political. Dropping three murder cases of homeless men to find someone who probably got drunk and passed out somewhere he shouldn't be"
"Passed out drunk?" Lewis frowned.
"I looked him up, good old google" James said "He's a bit of a playboy by all accounts, not the first time he's done a disappearing act in a foreign city"
"Who reported him missing?" Lewis asked.
"Secretary" James replied "Went to wake him this morning, no one there. Staying at the Royal Oxford, with a secretary, two security and a press officer"
"What's he doing here?"
"According to his blog, 'Taking in the historic sights of England whilst maintaining Anglo-French relations'"
"Bunking off in Oxford then" Lewis surmised "Lets go and talk to his staff, maybe that'll take us in the vicinity of a pub"
James laughed "Maybe it will"
…...
Lewis drank deeply at his pint, ignoring the slightly frowning manager of the hotel.
"Blimey" James commented "You needed that"
"You have no idea" Lewis agreed "Running around looking for missing people, Innocents taking the mick"
James laughed "Last seen with a prostituée blonde" he read from his notebook, affecting a French accent "According to the secretary"
"Blonde prostitute?" Lewis frowned "This place is a bit high class for ladies of the night"
"I don't think she meant literally" James replied "I think we'd probably say 'Brassy Blonde'"
"French as well" Lewis sighed sardonically "No end to your talents are there?"
"Google translate" James grinned.
Lewis took another drink "So he's gone off with a 'brassy blonde' and got lucky, no crime there, unless he was paying for it, which quite frankly, I don't care about"
"Some luck" James looked at his watch "He's been missing fifteen hours"
"The secretary was jealous" Lewis mused "I think she's reported him for revenge, she's obviously in love with him. The others didn't seem that bothered"
"Maybe she's just worried" James replied "Plus she's the only woman, the men probably think the same as you"
"Which you don't?" Lewis asked.
"I don't know yet" James pondered "I'll try and ID this woman when they get the CCTV and then take it from there"
"Well don't spend all night at it James" Lewis advised "You'll be really annoyed if he turns up safe and well after all your efforts"
They were interrupted by the manager, he placed a DVD onto the table.
"CCTV footage" he said in a barely audible whisper "I trust that this is going to be handled discreetly"
"Oh absolutely" James replied "We are the very souls of discretion"
The manager looked at James, as if he were trying to work out his sincerity. From the way he spoke, his obvious education, he could be considered 'one of us', the look on his face however, leant itself to mockery.
"Thank you" the manger backed away.
"See?" Lewis finished his pint "Taking the piss in your head again"
"But it's such fun" James replied as they stood to leave.
…...
James rubbed his eyes as he tapped more buttons, and winced as he dislodged a contact.
Blinking rapidly he managed to get enough vision back to see, but the gritty feeling in both of his eyes told him he really needed to take them out. He slept in them too often, or kept them in too long without sleeping. Except for last night, he realised. He'd taken them out, for the first time in a long time. He looked at his watch, just after midnight.
He considered something his uncle had once told him.
James, a woman wants to know you think about her, doesn't matter when, where or why, she doesn't care about that bit, she just needs to know that you care.
He looked at his phone, his fathers answering tones filling his head.
You'll make him as soft as you! James son, what a woman needs is to know her place, like your mother. If she's out of the kitchen, she damned well better be in the bedroom! None of this romance rubbish.
James had secretly wondered at his paternity for a long time. He was far more like his uncle than his father in temperament. When the man had died, he'd taken solace in God, but truth be told, maybe that was the first crack in his faith, because it still hurt. No matter how hard he'd prayed, he had felt immensely lonely.
He picked up his mobile and typed a message, hitting send over Evie's name before he could change his mind.
Morning without you is a dwindled dawn*. I hope you slept well.
He cast it aside, calling up another database on the computer, trying to match the surprisingly good image of the woman that Phillipe Barrinau had been seen leaving the Royal Oxford with almost 24 hours before. He'd been at it for a couple of hours with no joy and was starting to think Lewis was right.
"You turn up hungover after I've been up all night" he told the image on the screen "I'm going to be very cross"
He smirked at his own sarcasm and hit play on his Ipod, filtering it through the speakers softly. Taking a mouthful of coffee he pulled a face.
"Ugh" he glowered at it, it was cold.
Flicking through the database for a match he picked up his mobile as it bleeped at him.
What hath night to do with sleep?**
"Hmmm" he regarded the message.
Apologies for waking you, I intended for you to get that in the morning.
He stared at the computer screen, fighting the urge to rub his eyes again.
"Bugger it" he huffed "I'll find you tomorrow"
He turned the computer to standby and stretched, yawning. His phone announced a return message.
You didn't I'm still awake, watching a film. I was trying to impress you by quoting Milton.
He laughed, putting his jacket on.
You don't need to impress me, but thank you.
The next message came through as he got into the car.
How is your head?
He sat and replied before firing the engine.
Better, I'm looking forward to needing the dressing changed by the way.
Her reply came back almost immediately.
That's not normal...
He laughed again, typing his response.
It is when your nurse is beautiful. Get some sleep, I will ring you tomorrow.
…...
* Quote by Emily Dickinson.
* Quote by John Milton form Paradise Lost