Part 7 of 10

The next day Lily tries her absolute best (which is pretty darn good if you must know) but she simply cannot seem to get Poole by himself. Not only is that mincing little 'maid' always at his elbow but Poole himself now seems to be on guard at all times.

Finally, after a long fruitless day of trying to get his attention, she manages to catch him half-way down the station stairs, grabs his shoulder and swings him around to face her. "What's wrong, sir?" she huffs indignantly, "Why won't you talk to me a'tall no more? We was just startin' to get friendly an' now you're all over stiff an' bossy on me again. What happened? Have I offended you in some way?"

He darts nervous eyes all about but Camille has just disappeared into town and is nowhere to be seen. He is going to have to handle this himself. He takes a deep breath and draws himself up but can't help noticing that Lily towers on the step above him, "Well, um, no, you haven't offended me, not exactly, but, if you must know, I felt we were perhaps getting a little too friendly. As we discussed earlier, there are firm rules in place for a reason. I'm here to do a job and I can't allow any distractions. It bothers me that I haven't gotten anywhere with the Hulme case."

Her nape prickles but she keeps a calm face, "Well, sir, you can't expect miracles, you know. You've only been here just over a week. An' now we have this dead bride case with the grieving parents an' all. The Hulme case will have to take a back seat until this poor girl is avenged, don't you think?"

He huffs an exasperated breath, "Well, yes, I suppose. It's not like we have another team to put onto it, do we? I'll just have to burn the midnight oil, I guess."

She smiles, taps his shoulder, "Yes, why don't you an' me work late tonight, hmm? I'm sure you'd like a little quiet time, just us goin' over the files, you workin' the white board, me makin' cups a tea." She tries to ease down onto his step but he blocks her and keeps her at arm's length.

"Here now," he snaps, "I thought I made myself perfectly clear, Sergeant. There will be no…"

She frowns suddenly, "Oh, yes, you made yourself perfectly clear back on your beach on that first day, didn't you? You was happy to have me around then, weren't you? In fact…" her eyes narrow and she nods tiny, "… yes, in fact, you was so happy that I really thought you cared for me."

His jaw drops, his eyes alarmed, "What? Well… well… I… I…"

She smiles then, a tiny triumphant moue, "Yes, you did, you made me think I was special. Are you that type a man, sir? The type to lead a young woman on in hopes of maybe takin' advantage?"

Now he's shocked, "Ad-VAN-tage? Me? Oh, no, no, you're mistaken. I would NEVER…"

She drops her eyes sorrowfully, "Oh, to be taken in by smooth words an' green eyes. What a fool I was to think that someone like you could see somethin' in someone like me. I'm just a trustin' island girl searchin' for love in all the wrong places, aren't I? Ah, me." She sinks her face into her hands and whispers, "What's a girl to do? Who can she turn to? Who can she tell?"

He pales to milk, "T... T… Tell? Surely you aren't thinking of reporting this conversation, are you? It's ludicrous! Who would believe it?"

She sniffs behind her hands, "The Commissioner an' me mum was good friends, I'm sure he wouldn't turn a deaf ear."

Poole backs down a step, "Now, see here, there's no need to threaten me in this manner. We have our schedules and our jobs and I expect you to abide by your sworn duty as an officer of the law!"

She smiles then, a fat happy grin, "Oh, I'll abide, sir, I always do, but I'd abide a lot happier if we worked close together." She takes a step down and whispers, "On ALL fronts, if you follow."

He swallows dryly and begins backing down the stairs, holding his briefcase in front of himself like a shield, "Um, no, I don't think I DO follow. In any case, I'm off and you're not. Please return to the station and finish your shift." He pauses at the bottom of the stairs, "And do NOT under any circumstances show up at my place again for any reason without my permission or knowledge! If you do, I may be forced to speak to the Commissioner myself!"

She frowns as he hustles away across the parking lot. Damn! He called my bluff. Still, I might be able to work on his sense of nobility. If I can create the slightest bit a doubt in his mind that he DID lead me on (whether he meant to or not) then I can continue to distract him. James is sure Poole will never put two an' two together an' he's already ditched that incriminating book so there is NO way we can be tied to Charlie's death. No way a'tall. So thinking, she blithely climbs the stairs and goes back to her desk.

END – part 7