Chapter 2

He arrived at the office a lot earlier than usual the next morning. He placed the case that belonged to Sergeant Borday next to her desk. He did didn't want to be seen touching it knowing what it contained. He couldn't stop glancing up at it though. He kept urging himself to ignore it and concentrate on the emails he had to reply to and the reports to read and sign off on but nothing was quite going in. He had to re-read everything.

Fidel's arrival had made him jump out of his skin but being tucked around the corner meant he hadn't been noticed. They greeted each other. Fidel's asked about the conference and the question made Richard snap out of his private thoughts and turn on his professionalism.

"There was some very interesting ideas put forward, some of these strategies could really increase our intelligence gathering and put in place what could be major operations run across several islands that simultaneously arrest whole gangs to shut down smuggling routes completely. This is something I think we should all get involved with and also has the added benefit of being a high profile scheme that the Commissioner will enjoy talking about." Richard said.

"And take credit for" Fidel added

"Ah, but as you know Sergeant Best, we don't do this job for the credit. I like to think of it as a calling. Something that certain people are drawn to do to serve society."

"I was just drawn to the salary" said Dwayne as he slinked into the room, wearing his sunglasses and clutching his head.

"Late night Dwayne?" Fidel asked

"And the uniform, the ladies like a man in uniform." Dwayne continued ignoring the question. "The handcuffs are just a bonus."

"Dwayne, don't ever let me catch you using your official police issued handcuffs for anything other than official police business." Richard said pointing at Dwayne.

"Sure thing Chief, I'll make sure you never catch me." Dwayne replied with a smile that was rudely cut short by loud bang just outside that made him wince.

"Sorry about that" said Camille as she breezed into the room after picking up the black case she had dropped at the top of the stairs. "Dwayne, you need to see my mother"

"What for?" he asked

"You left your handcu-" she replied but Dwayne and Fidel were both gesturing for her to shut up "your hand-er-kerchief in the bar last night"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that" Richard said as he stared at the report on his desk. There was absolutely no way he was going to make eye contact with Camille right now. "I've placed your case by your desk Camille, if you could return the favour?"

"Of course" she replied and wheeled the case over to him, deftly swinging it around and dropping the handle down into place right up against his desk. Then she lent over and whispered "What is a Curly Wurly?"

"None of your business" he snapped back sounding a lot meaner than he meant to. The whole time he continued to pretend to read the report in front of him.

She wondered what she'd done to upset him and then realised sometimes you never work out what upsets Richard. As she walked to her desk he felt guilty, he glanced up one more time while she had her back to him and saw the case by her desk. He was blushing.