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 22
James approached the bench and sat, it was gathering dark.
"Hello" Evie appeared from the shadows.
He smiled a response.
"Come for your dressing change?" she asked lightly.
"I wish" he grimaced.
"Looks OK actually" she inspected the dressing "Dry, should be able to take it off now"
"Good nursing care you see" he smiled at her.
"That's good" he lit her cigarette as she spoke "That tends to go unappreciated by my current patients"
He laughed through his nose and then gave her a look of pure regret "I have to cancel tonight, murder beckons" he sighed "It's going to be a long one I think"
"I gathered when the body came in, French Diplomat no less" she replied "We can do it another night"
"Are you working Saturday?"
"No I have the weekend off" she replied "At last"
"One of the colleges are playing Hamlet" he looked at her out of the corner of his eye "I thought you might like it"
She eyed him with amusement "Shakespeare?"
He laughed "I don't dislike it" he finally admitted "I just like it done properly"
She smiled "Then yes"
"Good" he smiled "Dinner, after? It's in the afternoon"
"Another picnic?" she asked.
"Restaurant" he told her "Bit cold for gallivanting around the countryside now"
"I'll look forward to it" she replied.
"Any plans for tonight then?" he sat back and relaxed slightly "Now I've stood you up?"
"You haven't stood me up" Evie laughed "You have to work, but yes actually, there's a few from here going out, I'm going to tag along"
With cigarettes finished they both stood and headed for the entrance of the mortuary.
"Enjoy" he said as they stopped a few feet from the door, he rocked on his heels and looked at her.
"You're not going to shake my hand again are you?" she teased lightly.
"Don't" he gave an embarrassed chuckle "Please don't remind me of that"
"It was sweet" she looked away and then back.
"Not something I'm accused of often" his expression amused, and then he leaned down and kissed her gently on the mouth.
"But that's far more satisfying" he said, stepping away and opening the door for her, grinning as her cheeks flushed. They walked along the corridor and Evie stopped by a door labelled 'Lab 1'.
"Don't work too hard" she said, her hand on the handle.
He smiled, hands in pockets and inclined his head, making for the main autopsy rooms further on.
…...
"I don't think" James said, leaning over the body of the young man on the table "That this is what the Chief Superintendent had in mind when she asked us to find him"
"I don't suppose it was" Laura said "Been strangled"
"With?" Lewis prompted.
"Some kind of electrical cord is my guess" she replied, pointing out the marks on the man's neck "Kettle lead or similar"
Lewis nodded.
"Why didn't we get a call to the scene?" Hathaway asked.
"He died in the back of an ambulance" Laura explained "He was found barely alive by one of the hotel employees. He crashed in the ambulance, they tried in resuss but he was gone"
James took in Lewis' face, and the doctors. He realised he wasn't the only one that constant exposure to death was starting to wear down, and they had a good 20 years on him.
James flicked through the file, ready and waiting on the side table. It was a mark of how beaten down these two were at another murder that nothing had been said, suggested or even hinted at where he and Evie were concerned today.
"This is a bit of a dive for a Diplomat" James said "He was registered at the Royal Oxford, this place where he was is the opposite end of the scale"
"Time of death isn't a problem" Laura said "It's on record. There's nothing else on the body, he was found naked, there's no sign of sexual activity. He died from asphyxial pressure, applied by someone else. Hadn't been drinking, no drugs in his system and had a last meal of Calamari"
"We'd best get at it then" Lewis sighed with a small smile in Laura's direction "Might see you later"
"Won't hold my breath" she returned his sad smile.
…...
"You OK?" James asked as they got into the car.
Lewis gave a long sigh "I know the last time we discussed this" he said "You made your feelings on promotion perfectly clear, but that was a year ago, I want to give you a heads up. Laura and I are going to discuss us both retiring when we go to New York"
"Ah" James said "Well, thank you"
"I thought things might have changed for you" Lewis went on "You seem a lot more settled recently"
"I am" James nodded "And I'll think about it"
"Good" Lewis replied "I have enjoyed being back at it, but Laura's had enough, and so have I really. I'm jaded"
"Rather watch Nigella and tend the garden?" James asked.
"Yeah" Lewis smiled "We both would"
…...
"Heads up" James muttered to Lewis as they got coffee from the machine in the corridor "She don't look happy"
Lewis looked up to see the Chief Superintendent marching towards them.
"Tell me it's not true" she demanded.
"I could" Lewis sighed "But I'd be lying"
"Bloody hell Robbie!" she exploded "I've got the home office breathing down my neck and threatening to bring the MET up here. Do you at least have a lead?!"
"We are trying to identify the woman he left with" Hathaway stepped in, not wanting to get caught in this crossfire "We have the CCTV from both hotels and statements from anyone who saw him. I'm tracking down the taxi they took as we speak"
"You're drinking coffee as we speak" she pointed out "You don't eat or sleep until you've solved this, you understand me? Use whoever you need, whatever you need, just bring me the murderer!"
"Ma'am" they chimed together, looking at her retreating back.
"Guess that's a no to my day off tomorrow then" Hathaway grumbled.
"Got plans?" Lewis asked.
"Did have" James huffed.
"Go" Lewis replied "I can do the leg work"
"But Sir..."
"I'm not going to offer twice" Lewis said.
"Thank you Sir"
…...
Guilt was a familiar emotion to James, but there was no trace of it as Evie took his arm the following day and they headed into Oxford on foot from her flat. For once, out of sight, out of mind.