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 36
"Ah at last!" a dishevelled man stood from behind Mrs Graham's desk as James entered the room "Someone wearing a tie, I assume that means you're in charge of these monkeys?"
"I am Detective Sergeant Hathaway" James replied coldly "And yes, I am in charge, for now"
"Then give me my slap on the wrists and lets all get to bed hmmm?" Taloy replied haughtily, leaning his hands on the desk.
"Brogan Taloy?" James asked.
"Yes, obviously" Taloy rolled his eyes "I told this idiot that, thought you said you were a detective?!"
"I am" James answered "Investigating the death of Theodore Brookes, your father. We've been looking for you"
"Well now you've found me" Taloy held his arms out to the side "Thank you for the compassion in delivering the news of my father, but as there is no room at the inn, I shall be on my way"
"No" James stared him down "You won't. In addition to the disturbance tonight, we have questions relating to your fathers death"
"He was a useless father, who turned his own son away in his hour of need" Taloy snapped "What more do you need to know?"
"We'll discuss that at the police station" James replied "When you've sobered up"
"Oh I don't think so" Taloy barged around the desk, to be met by a wall of her majesties finest. Bates was as tall as James, but twice as wide.
"Sit down" both officers thundered together, Taloy didn't seem to know when he was beaten and tried to push between them.
James took hold of his arm and pushed him back, and Taloy resisted until he found himself face down on the desk being fitted with Bates handcuffs.
"This is an outrage!" Taloy hissed, kicking back. With years of experience as a beat copper, Bates avoided the flailing legs, James wasn't so lucky, catching a sharp heel or two to the shin.
"Sh..." he grumbled through gritted teeth "I'm adding assaulting a police officer to that as well"
Bates tried to hide his amusement as James glowered at Taloy.
"Get him to the station" James muttered, following them out of the room.
He stopped and glanced back, something bothered him about the room, something from his memory was trying to get his attention but he couldn't pin point it. He shook it off, assisting Bates to take a protesting Taloy from the building and to the waiting police van.
He turned to the female PC and Mrs Graham as they followed them out and watched.
"PC Fallow will take your statement Mrs Graham" he told the older woman kindly "You take care"
"I will, thank you sergeant" Barbara smiled "Remember you're welcome, any time, cup of tea when you are passing"
"Thank you" he smiled at her kindness and turned back to his car.
"Pulled there sarge" Bates muttered out of the side of his mouth with a grin.
James stopped with his hand on the car door and fixed Bates with a look.
"I hope he throws up in your van" he said as a parting shot.
…...
Having spent the day on the receiving end of smart comments, one word answers and monotone explanations of the investigations James was working on regarding the movements of their main suspect, the victim and the other people involved in the case, Lewis had had enough. At 5 o'clock he finally gave up.
Standing and shrugging into his jacket he glared at James.
"You can handle the interview" he said sourly "When the doctor passes Taloy fit"
"Right" James didn't even look up.
"For goodness sake Hathaway!" Lewis exploded "Grow up! You can really be a petulant child at times. No one is forcing you to do anything!"
James looked up, his face carefully arranged into an expression of mild surprise. He found himself looking at the door as it swung violently shut, and he blinked at the bang.
"Yes sir" he muttered, turning back to the computer.
He couldn't get to the bottom of it. The feeling that he was missing something. Something vitally important. The feeling had nagged at him all day, so once again, he started at the beginning, putting things onto logical order, knowing that he needed to find it, whatever it was.
…...
"No home to go to?"
James looked up to see Jean Innocent looking at him from the doorway of his office. He looked at his watch, startled by the comment, it was gone 8 already.
"I could ask the same of you" he replied.
"I'm going now" she told him "And anyway, I get paid more than you to not have a life"
"Nice to be appreciated" James replied dryly.
"You are" she retorted "Enough that I've put you forward for the Inspectors course in Manchester next month"
"I know" he answered tonelessly.
"So?" she wasn't one to beat around the bush, and sometimes he appreciated her directness.
"I'm going" he decided, on the spot, for reasons he didn't quite understand.
"Home or on the course?"
"Both" he said, standing.
"Good" she nodded "I need a DI I can trust when Lewis goes"
"Thank you Ma'am" he said quietly.
"Don't thank me" she answered him "Just don't let me down. I expect results"
"I'm sure I'll do my best"
"I'm sure you will" she nodded "Now, you have leave booked this weekend if I remember correctly?"
"Yes" his eyes narrowed, sensing that his planned weekend of music with the band and some time with Evie wasn't going to happen now.
"I'll see to it you're not disturbed" Jean said "Call it a perk. Danvers can take over on this case until Monday. Start your weekend tomorrow"
"Oh, thank you Ma'am" he looked taken aback.
"Just don't brag about it" she smiled "I don't want to be accused of favouritism"
"Wouldn't dream of it Ma'am" he returned her smile.
…...
James stopped at his favourite take away, picking up the order and then dropping into the late opening shop a few doors down, choosing wine and some other bits and pieces he anticipated needing that night.
Driving in the opposite direction to home, he slowed as he saw Evie's flat in darkness, and her car not there, turning out of the street and heading for the hospital.
He drove carefully, humming along to the music playing as he did, mulling over the conversation he'd had with Lewis a few days earlier about his taste in music, and his feelings for Evie, and apparently, her feelings for him.
He smiled as he remembered the look on his superiors face when he'd denied that love had been mentioned. James thought of himself as someone who didn't give away his feelings easily, he was starting to realise that he may be more transparent. At least to those who had got close. Like Lewis, and Laura, and now Evie. Even Innocent seemed to know him better than he gave her credit for.
…...
"Hello you" Evie answered her mobile with a smile.
"Hello darling" James' smile matched her own "What are you doing?"
"Just finishing up some work" she replied "And going home"
"Just finished myself, for the weekend no less" he said "Was hoping you were still up"
"Had some bits to sort out before my days off" she explained.
"Can I see you?" his voice sounded gruff and she could picture him, looking down, maybe kicking at something distractedly and smiled to herself.
"That's every night this week" she lightly teased.
"Is that a no?"
"It's an observation" she replied.
"A yes observation or a no observation?" Again she could picture the half smile, eyes moving around in his discomfort at possibly opening himself to rejection, she didn't know why he worried.
"A yes observation" she said "I'll be done in about 10 minutes"
"Good" she heard the relief in his voice "Because I'm outside"
"Oh you are are you?" she laughed.
"I drove by your place, your car wasn't there, so I came here, and it was" he admitted.
She laughed "Won't be long"
"Don't be"
...
Oh the joys of technology! I have some net access for the time being so hopefully will get a few chapters uploaded - I haven't been idle on this story!