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 41
"So that's it?" Jean Innocent glared at them across her desk "Case closed?"
"Yes Ma'am" Lewis and Hathaway chimed in unison.
She stood, reminding James of a tiger stalking it's prey "No weird twists? No last minute revelations?"
"Nope" Lewis said "Files are winging their way to the CPS as we speak for them to decide charges"
She leaned on her desk, James caught the scent of her perfume and was busy deciding if it would suit Evie, the smell was quite pleasing but maybe only on an older woman...? It was quite heavy, Evie needed something lighter...
"Run me through it again" Innocent demanded "This is too good to be true"
James snapped back from his wonderings to look at her.
"I established a link to arsenic" he told her "And when confronted he admitted that he'd obtained it through deception. He also told us where to find the small and easily concealed fire arm he used to shoot Brookes"
"And?" she prompted.
"He says that he wanted a father, not a bank account" Lewis continued "So he decided to prove to Brookes that if all he wanted was money, he could quite easily kill and inherit the lot"
"Only he wouldn't" James added "Because he wasn't in the will, but he didn't know that"
"Well that gives and removes a motive at the same time" Jean pondered "Though if he thought he was in line to inherit..."
"Exactly" Lewis nodded "The solicitor said that Brookes intended to change his will, but they were working on details, nothing was final. When he died, Brookes still left half his brother, and half to the secretary"
"So you're thinking that Taloy tried to kill him and then changed his mind when he realised he wouldn't inherit?"
"No" James answered "Taloy had no idea he wouldn't inherit, up until today. He intended on scaring Brookes, throwing the arsenic at him and shooting him with a low calibre gun to prove his point. Injure, scare, but not kill"
"So...?!"
"Taloy denies any involvement with powdered glass" Lewis continued "But that's OK because I know who did that"
"You do?!"
"The secretary" James nodded "She intended on scaring Brookes into not changing his will. She thought it would make him ill, and she could drip the idea that Taloy had tried to kill him so he remained dis-inherited and she would be the benefactor. Brookes was going to considerably cut her share down when he cut his son in"
"And how...?"
"She put it in his hip flask, knowing that he only took a nip now and again at functions. Not enough to cause serious damage" Lewis informed her "But again, to scare. Taloy and Brookes had their altercation and Brookes went to the bathroom. Taloy followed and 'proved his point' leaving again. Brookes took a nip from his flask to steady his nerves, realised what was going on and bang, heart attack brought on by stress"
"That is just sick" Jean said "Utterly sick"
"Utterly true though" James said "We have both of them for attempted murder, remains to be seen if one or both can be charged with manslaughter"
"Right well" Jean folded her arms "Well done I suppose"
"Ma'am" Lewis gruffed, slightly put out at the 'suppose', both men stood and prepared to leave.
"James" she called after them "A minute please?"
He stopped and looked at Lewis, a smug smirk quickly replaced by a more respectful expression.
"Of course Ma'am"
…...
Laura Hobson yawned and took the file from Evie.
"Another John Doe" she said sadly.
"Yes" Evie replied "It's been marked as a suspicious too, so I've not touched anything, the whole lot went in the drawer"
"Good" Laura regarded her "You know it wouldn't be such a step up for you to go back to uni and complete training Evie, become a medical examiner yourself, you're good"
"I don't know" Evie shrugged modestly "I've spent more time studying than I have working, I like this, I like not having the ultimate responsibility sometimes. Having a good boss helps"
Laura smiled "You're too good to be someone's assistant. Even mine"
"Thank you" Evie replied as Laura opened the body bag.
"Let's see what we've got..." the voice tailed off as she heard the swift indrawn breath from Evie and she looked up sharply, seeing the other woman backing away with a look of horror on her face. There was a metallic clatter as Evie collided with the instrument tray.
"Evie?!" Laura reached out towards her "Are you all right?"
"I..." Evie stuttered "I know him"
"Oh God, OK" Laura covered the face and took a shaking Evie, turning her around and making for her office, calling to other members of staff to return the body and to make tea.
"Sit down" Laura ordered "Before you fall down"
…...
Lewis turned his back slightly on James as Laura explained the situation to him over the phone, he didn't want James over hearing, reacting without the facts, dashing off like some virtuous knight to save the maiden. As much as Lewis knew those would be his own instincts were it Laura in that situation, he had a professional obligation here to the deceased.
"Can she formally identify him?" he asked.
"No" Laura sighed "She doesn't know his name, or anything personal, only recognised him because he stopped her outside work one night, mumbling something about her being watched"
"And she didn't report it?" he cast a look at James furtively, he was absorbed in typing up reports and didn't appear to be listening, though that didn't mean he wasn't. Work 10 years with a man, even one as reserved as Hathaway, and you knew something about him.
"No" Laura repeated "James was there, he scared him off and they decided it was harmless enough, so James didn't file a report"
"Hmmm" Lewis gave James a hard enough look to be noticed, that sounded very un James like behaviour. He usually played totally by the book, well always had unless he had his morals conflicted.
"Hmmm?" Laura prompted.
"We're on our way" Lewis replied and hung up, looking at James again.
"Problem?" Hathaway asked.
"I don't know yet" Lewis muttered "Get your coat, Laura needs to see us"
"Sir?" James prompted.
"They had a suspicious death in" Lewis enlightened "Another homeless man"
"Oh"
"Yes" Lewis gave him a hard look "Evie recognised him, he was the same man that grabbed her that night after work and told her she was being watched"
"Oh" James said again.
"The one you didn't report"
"She didn't want me to" James shrugged "She said he was just confused and probably saw me waiting...no harm done..."
"And you accepted that?" Lewis snorted in disbelief.
James gave a small smile "We argued about it"
"Ah" Lewis nodded "Explains why you didn't report it"
"I thought..." James started.
"Doesn't matter what you thought" Lewis said in an even tone "He's now dead, and I have to investigate that"
"You?"
"Yes, me" Lewis levelled him "You are too close to get involved. But I will give you a lift, if you'd like to see Evie, seeing as you'll be needing the rest of the day off to make sure she's OK"
"Ah" James returned Lewis' slightly sly smile at the 'party line' "Thank you Sir, I appreciate that"