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 26
"You stay here and talk to the parents" Lewis said when James joined him again outside the autopsy room "Find out what his working relationships were like. I'll go back to the nick and have a crack at Odette"
James nodded wearily, but didn't reply, Lewis looked at him with concern, pushing himself again he thought.
"Ring me when you're done" Robbie added "I'll pick you up"
"No need Sir" James forced a smile "The walk will do me good"
…...
"Odette" Lewis stood leaning on the door of the interview room "Now I know you've already had a chat with my sergeant, and of course, you are under no obligation to stay, as you are not under arrest, but I'm sure you'll agree, we need to find the person who murdered Phillipe?"
"Aucun commentaire" Odette glowered at him.
Lewis sauntered over and sat in the chair, a quizzical look on his face "No comment?" he asked "When the man you love has been killed, murdered? I think I'd have a comment or two in your shoes"
"Who have you been talking to?" she demanded in flawless English.
Lewis smiled, sometimes the oldest tricks were the best "Someone who knows you both. So, unrequited love or did you have an affair?"
Odette looked decidedly uncomfortable "We spent time together" was all she allowed.
"Of course you did" Lewis agreed "Probably more time than anyone else, right? I mean I gather from your files, that the French Consulate provided, that you have been with Phillipe from the start? Must have been hard, seeing him rise through the ranks, always trotting along behind clearing up his little indiscretions. Or big indiscretions, if some sources are to be believed. And all the time, just willing him to see right what's under his nose..."
"Phillipe was a fine man" she said with dignity, holding her head high "He deserved better"
"Than a by the hour girlfriend?" Lewis challenged.
"Than to die!" she spat back.
"So who do you think did it then?" he asked "Who gave him what he didn't deserve?"
Odette regarded him "You will never get to the bottom of this. The French Government will, as you English say, close ranks"
"Oh so you're expecting a ticket home any time now then?" Lewis asked "And case closed?"
"That is the way it will happen" she agreed.
"No, it is not" Lewis said.
"French Diplomat" she said haughtily "We will all be back in France by this time tomorrow"
"Not if I arrest one of you for Phillipe's murder" Lewis leaned forward "And right now, you are the front runner. You weren't at the hotel at the time of the murder, where were you?"
"Aucun commentaire" Odette replied "And now, as I am not under arrest, I have things to arrange for our return to Paris"
"Like I said" Lewis watched her as she stood "You are free to go"
"I know" she replied with a dark look, and left.
Lewis stayed where he was, sighing. And then retrieving his mobile.
"Hathaway" he heard the voice answer.
"James?"
"Yes Sir" James replied "I haven't changed my name in the last hour"
"You're getting to be a bit of a bitch" Lewis said dryly before continuing "Anything useful?"
"Not really. They aren't the type of parents that think their offspring is a Saint, but they didn't see much of him. There were always rumours, but then there always are" James replied.
"Rumours about him and Odette?" Lewis asked.
"Amongst others" James confirmed "Gay, Bi sexual and into S and M, to name a few"
"Hmmm, Odette is rattled, threatening that the French Government will sweep it under the …..."
James cut him off "Just a sec, call waiting"
Lewis listened to silence, tapping his fingers impatiently until James returned.
"Sorry" he apologised "That was forensics, the body guards prints are all over the room"
Lewis rose "Right then you'd best get back"
"Just walking through the front door" James replied "Sergeant?" Lewis heard "The others can go, Aldrick LeBonchure, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder..."
Lewis smiled and hung up the phone.
…...
"So" James leaned back in the chair, his frame looking uncomfortable in a confined space, like a cat perched on a window sill "Why did you murder the man you were supposed to guard?"
Aldrick sneered, but didn't reply.
"C'mon Aldrick" Lewis almost laughed "We have evidence you were in the room, not just outside. Did you disturb something? Jealous? Fighting Odette's corner? What was it?"
"You English!" he muttered "So uptight in your traditions and beliefs!"
Lewis and Hathaway exchanged amused glances and James leaned across the table.
"See we thought Odette was the one in love with him" he said "But it was you, wasn't it? Refuse your advances did he?"
"Non!" Aldrick replied heatedly "He constantly...always trying to make himself something he was not! He need help to sleep with a woman! With me? Non, it magnifique!"
"That" James' lip curled " is a little too much information"
…...
"So good old fashioned jealousy then" Lewis said as they faced each other across the office.
"With all the scandals, womanising" James replied "Seems Phillipe was desperate to stay firmly in the closet"
Lewis' lips twitched "Same could be said for a lot of men"
James regarded him "God has given you one face, and you make yourself another" he said quietly.
"That's Shakespeare isn't it?" Lewis sighed.
"Yes Sir" he replied "It is"
Lewis smiled and shook his head. He knew that James took some kind of pleasure from the rumours that abounded around his sexuality. He refused to ever confirm or deny either way, rather seeming to enjoy watching people trying to put him into one box or the other, or the one in the middle, as was occasionally suggested. He suspected it had come from strict Catholic beliefs, but being a man of few words unless it was warranted, Lewis had referred to the old adage that actions speak louder than words, and he'd observed quite a few such 'actions' over the years. He'd even joined in with this game of Hathaway's at times, when asked by someone particularly brave if his sergeant was gay, responding that maybe they should ask him themselves, and that was usually enough to end the conversation right there.
"Right lad" Lewis stood and stretched "Let's go and make the boss's day and then a well earned pint I think"
"Thank you" James inclined his head "But I have plans tonight"
"I hope they involve a bed" Lewis said abstractedly, James smirked, missed by Robbie as he put his coat on "'Cos you look done in"
"Oh" James frowned at his computer.
"Oh what?!" Lewis exclaimed with impatience.
"Case to case link" James murmured "There were fibres taken from the Barrinau scene that match some taken from one of the homeless murder scenes"
"Huh" Lewis said, interest piqued "Aldrick?"
"Can't be" James said "They weren't in the country when the murders were committed"
"Know what I think?" Lewis asked.
"I'm sure I'm about to" Hathaway drawled.
"I think it's waited this long, it'll wait until tomorrow"
James looked at him, unsure.
"If you don't switch that computer off and have some down time" Lewis threatened "I'm going to discipline you for every derogatory remark you've ever made to me"
"We could" James stood and turned the computer off "Be here a while then Sir"
…...
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