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 55
The hospital staff were quick and well versed in emergency arrivals, and Evie was no different. James stood with his arms hanging by his sides as they spirited her away, a nurse taking essential details from Lewis.
After a tense 10 minutes, the doors to resus opened and a nurse rushed out to collect equipment.
"Excuse me?" James had rocketed to his feet and barred her way.
"I'm sorry" she pushed past him "I can't tell you anything other than we're doing what we can for her, some kind of drug overdose, if we know what she took..."
"Thank you" he whispered as she disappeared back into the room, catching Robbie's eye he spoke louder "I need some air..."
"Come on" Robbie stood, pausing at the reception desk "Inspector Lewis" he introduced himself "Any information on Evie Bennett, please send someone outside to find me immediately"
"Certainly" the receptionist replied.
…...
Drawing deeply on his cigarette James leaned against the wall. His mind was whirling, but none of it was useful, at all. It was a mish mash of burned out cars, Evie looking at him, smiling at him, then looking so frail and ill in his arms. Of Evie...
"Would she?" Lewis ventured to James "Take something do you think?"
"Why?" James directed back.
"Maybe she was drunk...?" Robbie hesitated "Remorseful about what happened...?"
But his only answer was a stiffening of his sergeants body, his sharp eyes narrowing with what Robbie would describe as...hate.
"YOU!" James suddenly shouted.
"Of all the bloody luck..." Lewis huffed as James exploded into action, running at full speed towards the small figure in the blue scrubs that walked across the car park. Lewis knew that had had no chance of catching James, and part of him didn't want to. This little shit, his mind said, deserved a couple of slaps.
"What the hell did you do to her?!" James demanded as he reached Gordy, pushing him backwards violently, the other man stumbled but regained his balance.
"She came onto me..." Gordy tried "I didn't really want to but..."
"That's not what you said last night" James shouted, grabbing Gordy by the scruff of his neck "But I'm not interested in that. What did she take? What did you give her?"
"James...!" Lewis tried to shoulder between them, but James gave no ground at all.
"What do you mean?" Gordy's face was the picture of innocence.
"She's dying in there!" James answered, this time his voice dropped in fury "I know that you drugged her, it's the only explanation"
"I didn't..." Gordy looked panicked.
"If you know something" Lewis said, the pieces that James had obviously fit together already falling into place for him now "You had better tell me, now"
"GHB" Gordy said "But just a bit..."
James dropped him as if he were on fire and took off back into the hospital, leaving Lewis staring at the smaller man.
"Police intimidation" Gordy rattled "You're his superior officer, I want something done!"
"You want to be grateful" he said "That he's got more important things on his mind. Turn around"
He held his hand cuffs up and with the absence of movement from his prisoner, he propelled him round and cuffed him soundly.
…...
Alerted by the hospital grapevine, Lewis found Laura waiting outside resus with James on his return.
"He's on his way to the station" he told them both.
"What did he say?" James asked.
"That can wait" Robbie replied kindly "Any news?"
"Now they know what they're dealing with" Laura intoned "They can do much more, but it's just a waiting game at the moment..."
James sighed deeply and ran his hand across his hair "I should have known.."
Lewis looked at James "What exactly do you know?" he asked "Tell me what happened"
"I...I went round yesterday, on my way back from the interviews" James faltered, trying to focus, he knew it could be important "Evie was going out...with some people she works with...I...I made her late" he remembered "She asked me if I wanted to go, but I was heading back to work... I dropped her in town about 9, nearly an hour late. Her phone was going mad..."
"Yes, what time did you go back...?" Lewis asked.
"About one" James said in a flat tone "She text me...said I should see what I was missing"
"And Gordy was there?" Lewis asked "And Evie was flat out?"
"Yes" James looked desolate, he couldn't believe he'd been so stupid to believe she'd do that full stop, but not with him.
"So that's a window of what?" Lewis frowned "Four hours. Now I'm assuming that the GHB in her system, wasn't given to her until she left the pub, others would have noticed"
"She text to say she was heading home about 12" James said "And then again at half past to say I should see what I was missing..."
"Assuming that she left for whatever reason with Gordy" Robbie mumbled "At 12, and that he sent the next text, she has to have been drugged just before she left. Laura, I need to speak to your guys at the mortuary, see what they know"
"I'll round them up" she said.
…...
James opened his eyes as the door the Evie's room opened and Laura came in with Lewis. He watched as Laura looked through the chart at the end of her bed.
"No lasting damage" she said "She'll be awake soon, they managed to reverse the effects. Bit rough for a few days but..."
"I know" James replied quietly "She's been awake, sort of. She recognised me"
"That's good" Laura gave him a smile that he took as pity, Lewis sat on the other chair and leaned forward.
"James, I have to ask you this..." he faltered "Last night, when you called on Evie before she went out, did you...did you have sex?"
"What?!" he replied "Why?!"
"There's no easy way to say this" Lewis said quietly "They did a sexual assault kit, it was positive for semen"
James looked at Evie, she was sleeping still, peaceful. He didn't want to think about that, about what might have happened after he left her there...vulnerable and alone.
"Yes, we did" he whispered "I...she had just got out of the bath..." he stopped his out loud memories "How many donors?" he asked straight.
"Just one" Laura assured him "And no signs of force, just the usual..."
"He wouldn't have to use force would he?!" James said savagely "She was barely alive!"
"We don't know anything yet" Lewis soothed "If your DNA matches the...sample then we can assume that the...intercourse was you and her, not him"
"Assume?" James said, aghast "Do you think that'll be enough for her?!" he pointed to Evie "That it's enough for me?!"
"Forensics have it as highest priority" Robbie assured "Innocents orders"
James tried to feel grateful, but he couldn't. He felt nothing but overwhelming guilt.
…...
Thanks for all the support :) I told you I was being too nice – and it's not going to get better any time soon...mwha ha ha!