Camille and Humphrey drove in silence the entire way to the Fredrick's secluded villa. Humphrey was thinking the whole time about Camille and if she was feeling okay, he had no idea why, he was just really concerned. They pulled up on the Fredrick's expensive drive and got out of the car. Humphrey walked up to the house and rang the bell. Camille followed him very slowly. When Camille got to Humphrey's side a middle-aged woman answered the door wearing thick sunglasses and a bright orange bikini.
"Yes, what do you want?" The woman snapped. The corridor behind her was painted warm terracotta and the floor was marble.
"Mrs Fredrick?" Humphrey asked, she nodded, "Honoré police, we found a body on the beach this morning and we believe that she was at this house last night." She continued to look straight at the officers, her expression didn't change.
The woman shrugged and said with no hint of compassion in her voice, "Who?"
Camille spoke for the first time, "Katrina Oatley." Mrs Fredrick gave her a dark, dirty look.
"You'd better come in," Mrs Fredrick said coldly, "Ignore the mess." Mrs Fredrick pulled Camille and Humphrey by the arms before they had time to protest.
"Anne! Who is it love?" yelled a male voice.
"The police," Anne replied; she flicked her dark brown hair from her also tanned face, "That's my husband, George." She told them in the same icy manner. They walked into a vast lounge; it would've been beautiful if it wasn't so messy, there was rubbish everywhere, you could see there had been a party. There was a gigantic television on one wall, a large stereo and a long, glass coffee table. There was someone lying across the white, plant patterned sofa. Anne huffed as she threw the persons legs of the sofa.
"Move Melissa," She commanded. A girl sat up, she must have been about fourteen; she had long dark hair, the same as Anne's, but apart from that she looked utterly different; she was wearing a loose pink dress with little, black boots.
"Who are these people?" She asked in a strong French accent-also different to Anne- peering at Camille and Humphrey curiously.
"The police, Katrina has been killed," Anne stated blankly. Tears formed in Melissa's eyes and she buried her face in her hands.
"Are any of the other guests still here?" Camille questioned, eyeing Melissa carefully then looking back to Anne who nodded.
"Yes, they all are," Anne said, "None of them felt save to go home." Camille's confused face asked the question she didn't have time to, "They were all pretty drunk." Anne said with a slight glare at Humphrey who was looking around the room for any signs of clues. His phone then rang.
"Mmm…. Okay…. Yes… I'm coming back now…" Humphrey said into his phone, then snapped it shut and looked to Camille, "Dwayne wants us back at the station."
"Anne, can you give us the names of the other guests?" Camille asked. Anne rolled her eyes and gave them the names which Humphrey then wrote down on his napkin. Anne then quickly showed Camille and Humphrey out before they had a chance to properly talk to George, Melissa or any of the others, she slammed the door the instant they were out of it.
On the way back Humphrey's phone rang again. It was Dwayne.
"Their names are Anne, Melissa and George Fredrick, Harry Smith and Stephanié Thwaites…. Yes… we're almost there now… yes I get it's urgent, we are just pulling up," Humphrey told Dwayne down the phone. Camille and Humphrey got out of the now stationary car.
"That Anne was very rude," Camille said as they walked up the stairs to the station.
Humphrey replied, "Yes, definitely." They entered the station to find Dwayne and Fidel both staring intently at Dwayne's computer screen.
"Dwayne, what is so urgent?" Humphrey asked. Dwayne wore a serious expression as he looked at Humphrey something that was very unusual for him.
"I searched each one of the suspects including Blanche and the only one who did have a criminal record?" Dwayne told him. Camille made a bit of a noise as she went and sat on her desk.
"Melissa?"
"No, Katrina."
"Hmm…"
"The crimes vary from shoplifting to assault," Fidel informed.
Camille looked shocked, "So what you're saying is they are all criminals?"
"Pretty much," replied Dwayne, his eyes flicked back to the computer screen, "Oh and Anne is not Melissa's real mother."
"Who is?" Camille asked.
Dwayne looked at his small audience, "Katrina."
"So, then why does she have the Fredrick surname?" Humphrey asked looking curiously at Dwayne.
"Anne adopted her and she was originally George's daughter," Fidel responded. Humphrey went to his white board, took up a pen and began to get all the information down, Dwayne printed pictures and attached them to the board.
"We need to go back and talk to Anne, I think," Humphrey said and left the station yet again. Dwayne casually walked over to Camille, she looked up at him.
"Are you okay? You seemed a little off earlier," Dwayne asked.
Camille gave her weak smile again, "It reminded me of…" her voice trailed off.
"Yes, it reminded me too," Dwayne said and patted her shoulder lightly, "It even reminded Fidel."
Tears formed in her eyes again as she said, "It's just so unfair, we had just got used to each other."
Returning to The Fredrick's got even more of a cold welcome.
"You again?" Anne snapped, "If you're looking for the others they have already gone."
Humphrey smiled, "Actually we are looking for you." She pulled them inside again. This time they were met by a cleaner house and George instead of a distressed Melissa.
"Mrs Fredrick?" Humphrey asked, "Is it true that you are not Melissa's mother?"
"Yes, what would make you think that brat was related to me?" Anne retorted with a glare. Mrs Fredrick who was now wearing a loose fitting white dress obviously didn't like being questioned.
"And George is the father?"
"How is that any of your business?"
Humphrey looked straight at her, "We just need to know."
"Yes, George is the father," Anne looked a little uncomfortable, "He had an affair with that Katrina, god knows why, she wasn't exactly pretty."
"How did it make you feel?"
"I really don't see what this has got to do with you," Anne said furiously, "I much preferred that other silly man, what was his name? Richard? I can see why he got killed though, he was rather annoying."
"How dare you?" Camille raised her voice, "DI Poole was an honourable and respected man!"
"Really, because I found him ridiculous and contemptible," Anne replied.
"You don't have describe yourself that way," Camille replied in her mischievous manner, trying to make light of the heated situation. Anne huffed and slapped Camille. Camille pushed her heavily to the marble floor.
"Call Fidel," She yelled at Humphrey, when Humphrey stood there looking confused she yelled, "NOW!"
Fidel arrived quickly arresting Anne for assault to an officer; little did anyone know she used her phone call to talk to the Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. His familiar figure darkened the doorway causing all four of the now present officers to turn around.
"Commissioner!" Dwayne said surprised quickly closing the game on his computer.
He smiled amused by Dwayne, "It's alright team, I just want a small chat with Sergeant Bordey." Camille stood up shocked by him calling her by her official title, then she that there was a prisoner so that could be the reason why. She followed the Commissioner on to the porch; inside Dwayne moved closer to the window, shortly followed by Humphrey, Fidel didn't move, shaking his head at his other eavesdropping colleagues.
"Camille," the Commissioner said in a friendly manner, "Anne Fredrick called me; she said you insulted her, why?"
Camille looked at him then to the wooden porch flooring, "She insulted Richard's memory."
"I think that maybe you should take a back seat on this case, maybe you need a break."
"No… I'm fine- honestly!"
The Commissioner smiled, "I like your enthusiasm however I will have no arguments, you will go home and work in the office on your return."
"But…" Camille began to protest.
The Commissioner looked at her sadly, "There could be trouble if you don't."
"Fine," She replied knowing that this was one battle, try if she might, that she wouldn't win. The sound of footsteps going back into the office caused Humphrey and Dwayne to return to their seats rapidly, Humphrey accidentally knocked a pot plant off of the window sill, the smashing breaking the now eerie silence. Camille entered first, not catching any of her colleagues' eyes, and picked up her bag, she then left quickly.
"She is not feeling herself at the moment, so she will be taking a back seat on this case," The Commissioner said, and then he smirked at the broken plant pot, "Not likely you didn't know though, you might want to pick that up." He turned on his heel and left chuckling.