The dangers of Smoking

Part II

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 30

James turned and stopped along the riverside path, effectively halting their progress and facing Evie.

"I can't believe" he said "That I've hardly had the chance to see you all week and then when I do, not only do I have to share you with a room full of other people, but someone has the indecency to murder someone else"

Evie laughed, unlinking their fingers and wrapping a hand around his tie, slowly pulling him down, he grinned as she did.

"Stop moaning" she said lightly "You don't have to share me with anyone now, but more importantly, I don't have to share you"

"Not moaning" he answered "Just observing, the weekend isn't off to a flying start"

She kissed him softly, releasing his tie and wrapping her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear. He chuckled as he listened and then pulled back to look at her.

"Well that's tonight sorted then" he said, face alight with amusement "What about tomorrow?"

"We'll see" she smiled and he smiled back.

They started to walk again and James shot her several glances, his expression would seem indecisive if she'd seen, but she hadn't. He then smiled to himself as they headed for where the river path turned back towards town, or continued on into the darkness.

He tugged her hand as she went to turn towards town, looking along the path.

"What?" she turned her face towards him.

"This way" he said.

"How drunk are you?" she laughed "That's the wrong way"

"You'll see" he replied, full of mystery.

"See what?" she frowned, but allowed him to lead her forward "It's pitch down there James"

He fished in his pocket, withdrawing his phone and clicking a few buttons, shallow light illuminated the way, he looked at her, and she shrugged, following him. Not for the first time, he was aware of the depth of trust she placed in him, the way she seemed to trust him implicitly, when he'd seen her draw back from others. It humbled him and he wrapped an arm around her, protective of that trust.

"I have something to show you" he explained as they picked their way along the path "I was going to wait...but, well I want to"

"Down here?" she said cheekily, alcohol and comfort with him making her brave "You're a police officer, you should know better"

He laughed "Not that" he said and then glanced at her "Well maybe that, but something else first"

She stumbled slightly as he suddenly stopped and shone his light towards the water, he held onto her until she righted herself and then she followed the light.

"Oh you are drunk" she laughed "We can't just hijack someone's narrow boat, no matter if you are a policeman"

He laughed back "Not someone's narrow boat" he said joyfully "My narrow boat"

"Yours?" she asked in shock "Since when?"

"Since about...Oh two, three months. It was Stan Hooks, I tracked it down as part of the investigation, and well, his cousin said she was going to scrap it, I asked if I could buy it...she gave it to me"

"But why did you want it?" Evie asked "It's a bit big to row anywhere"

He smiled, stepping from the path onto the boat, tugging her hand, she followed.

"Stan built this" he explained "It seemed wrong for it to just be scrapped. He and Mary, his wife, they spent their whole married life here...It just seemed wrong"

She gave him a smile, the smile and he laughed, pleased and embarrassed at the same time. Sentimental at heart, he was revealing something deep about his mostly hidden character to her and she appreciated it.

"Want to see inside?" his demeanour changed to that of a child desperate to show off their prized possession.

"Yes" she replied.

He turned and withdrew some keys from his pocket, unlocking a set of doors and reaching in to flick on some lights. Turning back he took her hand again.

"Mind the steps" he said "Quite steep"

Following him down, Evie found herself in a small room, what looked like a mini version of an aga stood in one corner, surrounded by a half built kitchen, or galley as she mentally corrected herself.

"It's no where near done yet" he warned "A repair yard has done the major work, fixing the hull and such, and bringing the electrics and plumbing up to date. The rest...well I've a few friends that are helping me out in return for free beer"

She followed him through a narrow walkway to another room, he tapped on a wall.

"Shower room" he said "Fully fitted, running water. This is the lounge"

Again, another original feature stood in the centre of one wall, a log burning stove. It looked old, but the glass on the doors was gleaming and it looked as if someone had spent hours restoring it to it's former glory.

"Keep logs up top" he explained "And there's a tank behind there, it heats all the water when it's on"

"This is amazing" she breathed, he smiled and led her through another door.

"It's only one berth" he said, switching on the light "But quite a big one"

Evie gaped as she saw the size of the bare room in front of her, it was easily as big as her own flat bedroom.

"It's huge!" she said.

"I know" he grinned "Most important room, has to be"

She giggled, seeing cushions, sleeping bags and blankets in a heap on the floor.

"Have you been sleeping here?" she asked.

"Sometimes" he shrugged and then laughed "Sometimes we get more drinking than working done"

He moved across the floor, throwing open a set of double doors at the end and stepping up, she followed him onto a deck.

"And this" he announced "Is where you can sit and see for miles, steer from here too, and down there" he pointed to a set of narrow stairs and a door even Evie would need to duck to get through "Is the engine and all the technical stuff"

He stepped behind her, putting his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder as she looked out over the bow.

"What do you think?" he asked quietly, she sensed the hesitation in his voice, the fear of being mocked maybe?

"I think" she sighed "That I was right about you, you are full of surprises"

She felt the vibration through her body as he laughed.

"They kept a diary" he went on "Stan and Mary, together. They travelled the canals, Mary did little odd jobs. Stan sold fish, there used to be a lot in the river apparently, and he went night fishing. They grew stuff in pots on the top and sold it, they were happy here"

"You're right" she sighed "It would have been awful for something with so much history to be stripped and scrapped"

He kissed the side of her face "So that's my little secret" he said.

"Not so little" she chuckled and then turned "But thank you"

"What for?" he asked as she turned fully to face him.

"For sharing it with me"

He leaned down and kissed her, pulling away as the kiss deepened, got more passionate.

"Hmm" he sighed "Time to go I think"

"Do we have to?" she asked, blinking up at him "Can't we stay here?"

"There's no bed..." he protested lightly "And it's dusty and dirty, and I know it's May, but it still gets chilly"

"But there's plenty of floor" she smiled mischief at him "And blankets, and it's...romantic"

"Huh" he looked surprised "I suppose I can give the fire a test run"

She kissed him, smiling "Good"

...

Thanks for the continued support from readers, reviewers, and those who have put this on alert/favourite. Indeed there is much more to come...