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 33
James sat, in the dark, looking through the window, a glass of water in his hand untouched. Thoughts were milling in his head, this was the first time he'd been kept awake like this for a while, but the knowledge didn't bother him, or scare him, he knew why and he accepted it. His choices from here on may well need to consider someone else.
He started slightly as warm hands curved around his shoulders, and soft lips kissed his cheek.
"Sorry darling" he sighed "Didn't mean to wake you"
"Come back to bed" she whispered.
He took her hand in his free one and kissed it, then cradled it to his cheek.
"I will" he promised.
"You've got such a beautiful soul James" she whispered, her head on his shoulder.
He smiled "I didn't think scientists believed in the soul"
"I didn't" she agreed "Until I met you"
He kissed her hand again and stood, and she went into his arms, standing there.
"One glass" she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I had one glass of wine, that I didn't finish, before you arrived"
James felt like laughing, crying, blurting it all out, but he held his counsel.
Neither spoke again as they went back to bed, and this time James slept, Evie safely in his arms, where they both needed her to be.
…...
The office of Theodore Brookes was understated, James thought, compared to his home. The secretary, who immediately corrected them to her title, PA, was a mousy woman in her 40's. With an underlying steel.
"Would you recognise this man Marianne?" Lewis pushed a photograph across the desk towards Brookes secretary. It was a still that had been taken from the video of Brookes arguing with the unidentified man in the lobby.
"Yes, well, I think it's Brogan" she replied.
"Brogan?" James prompted.
"Brogan Taloy" she replied "His son"
"Mr Brookes had a son?" Lewis looked at James, clearly wondering how they'd missed such a piece of information.
"They are recently reacquainted" Marianne explained "Oh I know the rumours, most of them true. But way back in his University days, Mr B had an affair with a woman, very hush hush. Brogan was the result"
"And both men only just found out?" James asked.
"No, they've always known" she replied "But Mr B had kept his distance, until Brogan came looking"
"And what was Brogan looking for?" Lewis asked.
"Money" Marianne sighed.
"Did he get any?" James questioned.
"No, nor will he" Marianne took a defensive pose "He's a waster and a drop out, clutching on to a rich father"
"So Mr Brookes declined to support his son?" James pressed.
"He always supported him, until he was 21" she continued her defensive stance "And would have after, but Brogan...he took it for granted, and when he wanted more money for...well to waste, Mr B said no"
"And how...?" Lewis looked at her with speculation "Do you know all this?"
"Because I have to deal with Brogan's incessant phone calls and visits whenever he gets turned away" she replied "I also bought the birthday and Christmas cards and presents over the years"
"Where might we find Brogan?" James asked.
"Try his mothers" Marianne said icily "That's usually where he holes up when the last lot of cash has run out. I'll print out the address"
James stopped as they prepared to leave "You said that he didn't get any money, nor will he" he asked "Who does? Who inherits?"
"I have no idea" Marianne replied "You'd have to ask his solicitor"
…...
James drove to the address they had been given as Lewis fiddled with the radio.
"CD's in the glove" James grinned, receiving a dirty look "It's OK, it's not all chanting monks, there's a couple of Evie's in there"
Lewis snorted with humour "I hope she's got better taste in music than you"
James chuckled "She actually likes some of mine"
"She's humouring you" Lewis replied with wise amusement "Like you do when you first fall in love, you humour someone. And the fact that her CD's are even in here, means you're doing the same"
"Love, Sir?" James kept his face impassive, but he couldn't control his heart rate.
"Yes Sergeant" Lewis told him "Love"
James coughed uncertainly "No one mentioned that"
"Well maybe someone should" Lewis directed at him, James chose not to answer.
…...
"Can I help you?"
The woman's voice was slightly annoyed as she watched James looking through her front windows.
"Sergeant Hathaway" he whipped his ID out and gestured to Robbie "Inspector Lewis, Oxford CID Ma'am"
No matter how many years he did this job, he always felt guilty at being caught prying into someone's home. The woman's voice made him feel like a peeping Tom.
"What's he done this time?" she sighed, dropping shopping bags at the door to get her keys out.
James picked them up as she unlocked the door.
"He?" Lewis prompted "Sounds like you are expecting us"
"With Brogan" she replied "You learn to expect the police at some point"
"So you know Brogan Taloy?" James asked, standing with the bags in the hallway.
"He's my half brother" she answered and gestured to the bags "Kitchen will do fine thank you"
James put the bags onto a kitchen worktop as Lewis followed them in.
"Does he live here?"
"He did" she nodded "Until I kicked him out"
"I thought this was your mothers home?" James questioned.
"It is" she confirmed "She died last week"
"I'm very sorry" James murmured.
"Thank you" she smiled slightly and started unpacking the bags "Not unexpected, not that Brogan cared. He just wanted the will read so he could drink, or gamble, or whatever he does with the proceeds of the estate. Not that there's much"
"So you and Brogan had the same mother?" Lewis asked.
"Yes" she nodded "He's older than me. From some affair with a man when mum worked at the University as a scout. I came along much later, to her husband, my dad"
"And your name?" James asked.
"Felicity" she replied "Felicity Power"
"Felicity" Lewis asked "You said you kicked him out. Any idea where he might be?"
"Probably trying to get money out of his father" she snorted "Came home midday Sunday, drunk as a Lord and covered in blood, that was when I told him to go, and not come back"
"And you weren't concerned?" James asked.
"No" she faced him full on "He'd probably been in a fight, or fallen or something. I truly do not care any more. He put mum through hell, now she's gone, I have no reason to put up with him. I only did it for her"
It was obvious they were almost at a dead end here.
"Would you happen to have a picture of Brogan?" Lewis asked.
Felicity rifled through a cabinet as she spoke "So, what's he done? Bar brawl? Ripped off someone and got caught?"
"We're not sure yet" James took the picture "But we do need to trace him urgently"
"Try the pubs" she said "Or the bookies, or anywhere where you can spend money. I gave him what I had in the house, £400. He took it and left"
"Thank you" Lewis said "Do you happen to have any of his things still?"
"What little he hadn't sold or pawned" she replied "He took"
…...