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 28
"Oh" James's face broke into a smile as he saw Evie come furtively towards him "Hello, what are you doing here?"
She held out her phone as a way of explanation "Technical support" she replied, with a coy smile.
He switched hands with his cigarette and took the phone "What's wrong with it?"
"It's a smart phone" she replied "And apparently it needs a smart person to work it, because I appear to have completed a master reset, without quite knowing how"
He looked at her, slight traces of disbelief on his face before he looked back to the phone, and started to investigate.
"Yes, it would appear you have" he agreed "You must have realised...?"
"I don't know how I did it" she shrugged, lighting herself a cigarette "I...I went to text you and say I'd be done by 5, but, well everything was gone, numbers, texts, everything. I must have pressed something while it was in my pocket"
He looked at her, and stepped closer "And you came all the way over here to get me to fix it?" he asked quietly.
She returned his smile "Not entirely" she hedged.
"Oh?" he prompted, still smiling at her "You had another reason then?"
"Two actually" she returned "I got a request to re-run the blue sheep, so I decided that I'd give your boss the results in person"
"And?" he continued, leaning closer still.
"They're a match, definite case to case link with the fibres" she replied, her tone slightly teasing.
"You have been working with Dr Hobson too long" he grinned "She's rubbing off on you, I meant the other reason, as well you know"
"Oh that" she coloured "I quite fancy the sergeant on the case" she bit her lip, it was a bold statement, for her.
He chuckled "He's a lucky man" he replied, with more than a trace of smug.
She smiled "I'm going to walk home" she told him "But I thought that you might like, some er, dinner?"
"I like dinner" he answered, his own tone now teasing "And I'll take you, I'll have to come back for an hour or so but I'll take you home first, I did promise after all"
"No need" she smiled fully at him and not for the first time in the last couple of weeks, he couldn't wait for his working day to end "It's still light"
"OK" he turned his head onto one side "Are you busy this weekend?"
"Saturday I am during the day" she replied "But usually done by 6 at the latest"
"I was thinking of cooking you breakfast" he said, his face impassive as she frowned until he added "On Sunday morning"
"Ah, oh" she replied, face colouring "Sounds...nice"
He chuckled "Pick you up 7.30?" he asked "Saturday night?"
…...
"Not really done us much good this" Lewis sighed, gesturing with the file Evie had brought in "Case to case, but as you say, none of the Diplomat lot were in the country at the time of the other murders"
"I doubt" James replied "That the cleaning is especially good at the Harton Manor hotel, that could have been there months"
"Exactly, so without CCTV to even trawl through, we're at a dead end again" Lewis sighed "I just know there's something here. Leverick I suspect, was killed for the money, the other two know about it you think? Maybe could have worked it out? Confronted the killer?"
"The different MO's bother me with that theory" James replied "Leverick was killed where he stood. The result of an argument perhaps, quite possibly over the money. I think we need to prod the family again for certain. But the other two were planned, and done by someone who knew how to"
"Hmmm" Lewis rubbed his eyes "We'll have a look in the morning, don't you stop up all night again here either, need you on all cylinders. Mysteries and enigmas"
James looked up as Robbie put his jacket on, he opened his mouth to say something, but a look of self doubt passed across his face and he closed it again. Instead he also stood, collecting his phone and keys.
"Going now?" Lewis asked with a smile "Quick pint?"
"Yeah" James smiled "Quick one"
They headed out of the building, Robbie effecting to have remembered something and he halted, looking at James.
"That little assistant of Laura's brought those results over" he said "Shame you missed her"
"Is it Sir?!" James answered wryly.
"You two seem to, get on" Lewis continued with a speculative look.
"Because we both smoke?" James challenged.
Lewis rolled his eyes "Yeah, that must be it" he replied with sarcasm "Bloody hell James, just ask her out! What's the worst that can happen?"
"I don't know" James replied, his tone equally sarcastic "She's not my usual type, murder and meddling in police investigations seem to be low on her list of priorities"
Lewis chuckled "She's obviously got as much of a crush on you as you do on her. You two could light up Blackpool with all the blushing and smiling"
"Thank you" James replied, deadpan "And crush? Is this 1950's America?"
Lewis realised that he wasn't going to get anywhere, James had gone into his annoyingly smug evasive mode.
"Oh come on, pub, you awkward sod"
James laughed, a laugh that Lewis was glad to hear. It wasn't his usual derisive snort, it was a true laugh.
"Is this revenge?" James asked lightly.
"For you winding me up when I was rather clumsily trying to get things started with Laura?" Lewis raised his eyebrows grinning "Bloody right it is"
…...
And so winter wore on and deepened, and life continued much as it had in Oxford, with murders committed, bodies autopsied and evidence gathered. People were interviewed, hunted down and for the most part, brought to justice.
Robbie and Laura took their trip to New York, and Robbie surprised himself by realising that actually, it was his cup of tea. Nothing was mentioned about retirement for them on their return, they held their cards close to their chest whatever they had decided. But James could sense a mood shift in them, a lightening that pleased him.
Christmas came and went with it's usual round of present buying, relatives making flying visits and abundance of food and drink. Murder didn't close it's doors for the festive season, but all concerned managed at least a few hours with their chosen loved ones.
New Year brought cold weather, and Robbie headed North with Laura for an overdue Christmas visit. A meal was arranged before hand, James strongly suspecting that it was yet another attempt to push he and Evie together. Too late, he'd smiled to himself. It was almost 3 months since they had started being 'single together'. Both were private people, and with the preoccupations of dead bodies, criminals and Christmas, no one seemed to notice their growing attachment to each other.
And the homeless murder case file continued to irritate Lewis as it gathered dust, unsolved, on his shelf.
But it was the meal, in the end, that put Lewis out of his misery where James' love life was concerned.
…...
Lewis rubbed his hand together as James huddled lower in his coat, searching pockets.
"Too bloody cold for that" Lewis said "I'm going in"
James nodded, his attention diverted by Laura and Evie walking toward them, both wrapped in coats and scarves.
"Ladies" he nodded formally, receiving a disbelieving look from Laura and a smile from Evie.
"Hello Sergeant" Laura greeted "His Lordship inside?"
James nodded confirmation, drawing out his cigarettes and lighter.
"Oh of course" Laura said with a sly smile "I'll see you two in a minute"
And she was gone. James handed Evie a cigarette, and lit it for her, standing close.
"Hello" he smiled at her, checking Dr Hobsons departure with a quick glance before kissing her.
"Hello you" she grinned back.
…...
Laura frowned as Robbie headed back in from taking the call outside, it was fairly noisy within the pub and Innocent was talking business. By the look on his face, Laura thought, something that had confused him.
"All right?" she asked as he plonked down next to her.
"I've just seen" he said, pausing to drink half his pint in one go "My Sergeant snoggin' the face off your assistant. They didn't even notice me"
To his further surprise, Laura merely smiled, extending the smile as the two in question joined them at the table to drinks ready and waiting.
"You knew?!" Lewis accused her as James and Evie removed coats, as ever James taking hers before taking his own off and holding her chair while she sat.
"She knew what?" James asked as Laura stifled a laugh.
"I'll get to you" Lewis said darkly, pointing his almost empty pint in James' direction "Well?" he demanded of Laura.
"Oh Robbie" Laura started to laugh, looking at James and Evie as she did "They've been at it for weeks!"
James coughed and looked down, smiling but slightly embarrassed by her choice of words. And fought the urge to correct her. Months Doc, he thought. Evie stared at her and then smiled, taking a drink to cover her own embarrassment. Glancing at James as he squeezed her hand under the table.
"Well" Robbie replied, draining his pint and pushing it towards James "It explains all the sleeping in and singing, mines a pint, you owe me, you awkward sod"
…...
A/N That I suppose could be considered 'End of part 1'. Part 2 will continue in the same fic, but with a 'time skip' forward a few months, so this is going to be a long one, but it will all become relevant eventually...:) Thank you for reading, reviewing and following – I appreciate it a lot. I hope you continue to enjoy!