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 40

Lewis wasn't surprised to see his sergeant already at his desk come Monday morning, James was usually in before him, before anyone.

"Good weekend Jim?" he asked as he took off his jacket.

"Yes sir" James smiled back "I did as a matter of fact. You?"

"Not bad at any rate" Lewis returned the smile, one of the things about Hathaway was that his mood seemed to affect those around him when it was a good one. He was sort of uplifting, Lewis thought. Not that he'd tell him that in a million years mind...

"However" James started and Lewis pulled a disappointed face.

"Posh word for but" he sighed "There's always a bloody but..."

"Indeed" James agreed "PM final result on Theodore Brookes is in, heart attack brought on by stress. Most we can aim for is manslaughter, attempted murder, GBH maybe, aggravated assault..."

"Yes thank you sergeant" Lewis held his hand up to stop him "I get the picture and I know the system. We'll do what we always do and present the evidence, it's the decision of the CPS"

"However..." James smirked.

"Another posh but..."

James laughed through his nose "A good one this time. They charged Taloy with the shenanigans on Friday, and then bailed him..."

"How is that good?!" Lewis huffed.

"Patience is bitter" James said with a decidedly cocky twist to his voice "But it's fruit is sweet"

Lewis gave him an impatient look and James carried on.

"Aristotle" he said "Wise man. Anyway, they bailed him to appear this morning, yesterday and then promptly re arrested him on suspicion of murder, giving us another 48 hours"

"Excellent" Lewis looked mollified "And have they made any headway?"

"He admits having an 'altercation' with Brookes" James answered "Yet denies any involvement in arsenic, powdered glass or gunshots. Although..."

"How many words do you have for but James?!" Lewis teased lightly.

James laughed, a rare sound in their office, but less so recently "Several. But is such a benign word don't you think? I like to shake it up a bit, for instance there's yet, also a bit boring I know. Then we have however, and although, also fairly common. Then there's still, though, except and the phrases never the less, on the other hand..."

"Shut up Hathaway" Lewis rolled his eyes "Wish I'd never asked..."

James smirked back "He denies any involvement, or even being there at the time of death. The CCTV is inconclusive and there are no witnesses either way, his alibi is he was walking, alone"

Lewis nodded "And would he have access to these things?" he pondered "Could he get a hold of arsenic? Anyone can grind glass, but it must have been in a flask of some description or SOCO would have found trace in a glass. But..." he gave James an amused glance "Does he have access to a gun? Or did he have?"

"That'll be my afternoon sorted then?" James sighed.

"But.." Lewis gave a smug smile of his own "First, lets go for a confession, we still have him for a bit longer?"

"24 hours longer" James agreed and stood.

"I'll go in now, see what you can dig up and join me"

James sat back down and watched his superiors retreating back.

…...

"Sir?" James had tapped on the interview room door and poked his head in.

"Interview suspended 15.35" Lewis said, following him out.

"Anything?" James asked him.

"Denial after vehement denial" Lewis said "You?"

"Tenuous links to arsenic, none to firearms at all" James said.

"Then lets see what he's got to say" Lewis said, opening the door. This time James came with him, holding a folder that he carefully placed on the table before drawing himself a chair.

"Interview recommenced at 15.38, Sergeant Hathaway is now present in addition to those already named" Lewis said, sitting again.

"Mr Taloy" Lewis began as James folded himself as awkwardly as ever into the chair beside him and Lewis realised he'd miss this, he'd miss the all too knowing and haughty look that Hathaway gave someone in this situation. It was usually enough to get a reaction, to open the dialogue. The amusing thing was, he only usually used it when they had very little evidence. It made people think that they knew something they were holding in reserve and had succeeded on more than one occasion, in the suspect tripping over themselves.

"Mr Lewis" Taloy replied smartly.

"Inspector Lewis" James corrected.

"How's your shins?" Taloy asked politely.

"Sore" James' expression was deadpan.

"I appreciate you dropping the assault charge"

James didn't miss a beat, although he wasn't aware that he had dropped the assault charge.

"My pleasure" he nodded.

"I had nothing to do with my fathers death, I swear" Taloy finally stuttered. The words were the same as those he had told Lewis, but his tone was off, scared.

Here we go Lewis thought He thinks we know something, nice job Boy Wonder.

"I would tend" James drawled, opening the folder "To disagree"

…...

James carefully and precisely laid out a picture and two print outs on the desk before Taloy and waited. All he had to do was wait. Taloy did not disappoint.

"What are they?"

"This" James straddled his fingers across the photograph "Is your sister. These" he pointed to the printed sheets "Are print outs of the records from where she works, a factory that makes car batteries. One is for visitors and the other is for her department, where she handles the ordering, receipt and storage of several toxins used when making high end car batteries"

"Well..." Taloy huffed "I'll be on the visitors log, it's not illegal to visit my sister at work!"

"It is if you order yourself some arsenic" Lewis remarked "And then use it to try and kill someone"

"They have very strict controls on things like that" James observed "So stealing it was out of the question, you'd be found out straight away. No, you visited your sister on these dates" James indicated Taloys' name highlighted on one sheet "And it coincided with the ordering, and receipt of this shipment of arsenic..." James indicated the other sheet "You then wiped the log, but not completely, so it would appear the order was never made, and helped yourself to the arsenic. Not flawless however because it was added to their inventory when ordered, and showed as missing on their monthly audit"

"That's preposterous!" Taloy cried.

"Yes, I think so too" Lewis replied "Your sister was on the verge of losing her job before Sergeant Hathaway here intervened and discovered what happened. Didn't that bother you? That she'd lose her income and possibly face criminal charges because of you?"

"I didn't do anything..." Taloy insisted.

"Sir" James gave Lewis a look "If I may speak freely, murderers don't tend to worry about ruining others lives when they don't worry about taking one"

"I didn't kill him!" Taloy insisted "I wouldn't have let him drink it!"

James issued a small smile of triumph at Taloy.

"Start talking" Lewis ordered "And this time, the truth"