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 31
Monday morning, phone calls from Innocent and post mortem results came around far too fast in Lewis' opinion. After a disturbed nights sleep on Saturday and most of Sunday spent with a hungover and less than impressed Hathaway, interviewing half of Oxford, Lewis hoped this would be a simple one.
He was to be disappointed.
"Good morning Gentlemen" Laura said as they pushed their way into the mortuary "I'm afraid I don't have a definitive cause of death as yet"
Hathaway retained his aloof expression as Lewis sighed.
"I'm a pathologist" Laura told them "Not a miracle worker, I've only just finished, and I don't have a cause of death, I have three possible causes of death"
"I thought that the locum said arsenic?" Lewis asked "James smelled almonds"
"He had it all over him" Laura agreed "But hadn't ingested any"
"Can't you absorb arsenic?" James asked "Through the skin?"
"10 points to the man in the pink tie" Laura smiled "But no cigar, he had it on his clothes, and the skin, and mucus membranes. Like someone threw it at him, but it was fresh, limited absorption. Blood work will tell more, but I don't think it's that"
"So someone threw arsenic at him" Lewis frowned "And then...?"
"And then he died"
"And the blood?"
"From broken glass" Laura replied "He ingested a quantity of crushed glass before he died. It had a sandpaper effect on his mouth, gullet and stomach, but he was dead before it could do any major damage. He would have been pretty uncomfortable, but he hadn't lost enough blood for it to be fatal"
"Someone fed him broken glass?" James asked with disbelief "Forced?"
"No" Laura replied "Probably in a shot of whiskey, taken in one go, he will have swallowed it quickly, before he realised. It was a rush job I think, glass is usually powdered and fed to someone over time when used as a murder weapon"
"Comforting" Lewis muttered "So powdered glass didn't kill him, and arsenic didn't kill him, any idea what did?"
"And my third answer" she grinned and pulled the sheet back, revealing a small and round hole in the victims chest "Bullet wound"
"Is it April fools day?" Lewis asked Hathaway with a scowl "She winding us up?"
"I don't think so Sir" James replied in a resigned tone.
"Nope" Laura said "He was also shot, but that didn't kill him either. Very small bullet, and it only lodged into the muscle, would have smarted a bit, but again, not fatal"
"Smarted a bit" James repeated under his breath.
"So what exactly do you have?" Lewis asked.
"Right now" Laura replied "Three attempts at murder, but whilst awaiting the test results, an open verdict"
"Oh God, what on earth...?!" Lewis huffed.
"You can ask God, Sir" James rocked on his heels, grinning "Though in my experience, He likes us to work these little riddles out on our own"
Lewis fixed him with a sour look "I liked you better when you were a miserable sod" he said "Go and see what trace SOCO found, I know you're dying to get in the other room anyway"
James didn't even bother to deny it, merely smiled and headed for the door.
…...
James took in the scene in the other room and decided he didn't like it very much.
"Ow c'mon Eeevs!" someone persisted "It's just a night out!"
That's what I call her, he thought furiously.
"Don't call me that please" she said quietly. They both had their back to him and James waited, he was pleased to hear her say she didn't want someone else calling her that.
Evie continued "It's been a long day, and it's not done yet Gordy, I'd love to, but I'm tired and just want to go home"
Ah, 'Gordy', the annoying little ….. person that obviously doesn't like no as an answer.
"Just one drink?" Gordy wheedled "Please?"
Evie turned and saw James in the doorway, her face flushed and Gordy also turned sensing her hesitation.
"Hello Sergeant" she rambled "What can I do for you?"
"Blood work?" he almost snapped "From Theodore Brookes?"
"Right, yes" she turned back, but Gordy stood in her way "Excuse me" she muttered.
Gordy edged slightly, meaning Evie had to squeeze past him, he looked triumphant. James strode forward, controlling the urge to knock the smugness off his face.
"Making any headway?" Gordy asked, the double entendre not lost on any party in the room "On your case obviously"
"That's what I'm here for" James towered over him, using his height as intimidation.
"Well good luck" Gordy grinned at him, not giving an inch "Hope you find out whatever it is"
"I am trying to" James replied, his face closed "But you're in my way"
"Oh!" the younger man made a show of moving away, and James felt more comfortable between this man and Evie.
"Well, I'll see you later Evie" Gordy said "James"
"Detective Sergeant Hathaway" James replied coldly.
"Of course" the grin was infuriating.
James glared after him as he left, only turning when he felt Evie's hand on his own.
He glanced at her "I'm sorry darling" he said "But he really pisses me off"
She smiled and looked down "He's just lonely I think, gets a bit enthusiastic when someone is nice to him"
"You're nice to everyone" James turned and looked at her properly and smiled "Even me"
"Are you coming round tonight?" she asked "So I can be nice to you?"
He huffed a little laughter "I thought you were tired"
"I am" she admitted, her fingers making patterns on the back of his hand "Someone kept me awake last night"
His eyes met hers and the intensity took her breath away "I'd tell that someone if I were you" he said quietly "Though it's not like you need beauty sleep, you're always beautiful"
She smiled shyly and leaned into him, resting her face between his neck and shoulder "I don't want to tell him" she sighed and then pulled away, realising where they were "He's pretty wonderful, he's worth it"
James breathed in, they were so close, standing there and he couldn't get enough of this, he didn't think he'd ever be able to.
…...
James held a groan as he saw Innocent stride into the office, she always strode, he mused, when she had something to shout about.
"Cause of death?" she demanded.
"Open as yet" Lewis replied.
"Suspects?"
"Without a cause of death Ma'am...?" James tried.
Jean fixed him with a withering look "I thought it was arsenic?" she shot back "Surely just need conformation? You must have some ideas?"
"He was almost poisoned" Lewis began "Almost killed by powdered glass, and almost shot to death"
"Well he's not almost dead" she retorted.
"No Ma'am" Lewis replied "Very dead, we all agree on that"
"Then?"
"We are following various lines of enquiry" James replied.
He received his second withering look in as many minutes "And is that what I tell the Chief Constable?" she asked, her tone like acid "Because he thinks that had he been there, the perpetrator would be languishing at her majesties pleasure as we speak"
"Maybe he should have gone then Ma'am" Lewis said "Instead of delegating"
"Thankfully" she gave them a rueful smile, dropping the aggression "I resisted the urge to tell him the self same thing. I'm cap in hand here boys, what can I tell him?"
"That we are awaiting a definitive cause of death?" James suggested "Before pursuing the list of suspects we have? To aid in a speedy apprehension of the murderer?"
"I knew there was a reason I like you" Jean pointed at him before leaving the office as fast as she came.
"Well done" Lewis nodded.
"Thank you Sir" James replied "Have something here" he paused the CCTV "Mr Brookes arguing with someone in the lobby about half an hour before he died"
"Who?" Lewis frowned.
"I don't know, has his back to the camera, I'm going to keep looking" James muttered.
"Give it to Julie" Lewis stood "Got an address to go with those keys he had in his pocket"