Part 10 of 10
The next day Richard re-enacts the crime, questions the suspects, finds out about the missing .38 gun, and recovers the bullet that smashed the vase. He doesn't find the incriminating book, it's gone, but he DOES notice the new gap on the shelf. He asks Dwayne to fetch the book found on Charlie's body and it matches both the gap and the books on both side of the gap perfectly. So, a red book is missing but it isn't the red book he has in evidence because he remembers there being NO gap previously.
He DOES find the right book later that day when the warrant comes through and he searches the yacht. It's tucked under the mattress and still tacky with blood. When he stands up with it in his gloved hand, he sees the look on Lily's face and this time she is not able to school her expression in time. She makes a bolt for freedom but collides with Dwayne in the hallway.
"Hold her!" Richard commands and so stern is his tone that Dwayne complies automatically despite not having a clue what is going on. Fidel also comes down the galley steps and blocks any chance of escape. As Lily struggles and swears a blue streak at the stupidity of James Oliver Cromwell Lavender, Richard opens the book and begins paging through it, seeing her name everywhere and nodding in total agreement with Lily's assessment of Lord Salcombe's questionable IQ. Then he sees the slender little fingerprint ringed in blood and sighs in sad triumph.
He bags the book, tucks it under his arm and tells Dwayne, "Cuff her. We're going back to the station where I want to check everyone's fingerprints against the bloody print in this book, which, if I'm not mistaken, is that of a woman's. I also want the blood checked against Charlie's."
As Dwayne and Fidel wrestle Lily up the steps, Richard adds rather more reluctantly, "Oh, and round up our cleaner, will you? We have to do everything by the book, process of elimination and all that."
"No problem there, Chief," Dwayne puffs as he stuffs Lily into the little boat, "Camille will be at the station, cleanin' up like she's been doin' every day this week. Very diligent, that girl."
"Yes," his boss says sadly, "she is, isn't she? Oh, I really hope…" but he doesn't finish the sentence. His heart is trembling on the edge of breaking clean in two and he doesn't want to give it any help! All the way back to the station, he fashs himself mightily but he's an officer of the law and The Law must be upheld at all costs... in all matters. Even in matters of the heart! There can be no short-cuts!
Camille looks up with a smile as Richard enters the station but her face shuts down when she sees Lily ushered in and taken to the cells. As the other officers attend to Lily, Richard touches Camille's arm and grits out, "I… I'm very sorry but I have to… have to… um… ask you to assist us in our inquiries. I need to take your fingerprints." At her startled look he adds, "Sorry."
But Fidel is back now and Richard nods at him then to Camille. Fidel nods back and takes her to his desk to fingerprint. She goes quietly, very composed considering the solemnity of the situation.
As Richard stands and watches, his heart in his throat, Dwayne comes out of the back room, sees what's happening, then rounds on his boss, "Chief! You can't be serious! Not Camille! She can't be involved 'cause she…"
Camille's head jerks up and she barks, "Dwayne! Say nothing!"
Richard's head snaps round. He fixes startled eyes on her. He's never heard that commanding tone in her voice before! She almost made him stand and salute! He looks back to Dwayne but the man is shuffling his feet and looking askance.
"Sorry," Dwayne mumbles, "I didn't mean anythin' by it, Chief. I was just surprised is all."
Richard straightens up, "A good police officer never assumes, Dwayne. We must have proof." He sees Fidel is done with the ink and hands him the bagged book.
Fidel grabs up his magnifying glass and everyone waits tensely while he goes over the bloody fingerprint in the book and Camille's still-damp smudges on the white card…until the young man smiles in relief and lays his glass down. "She's clean, sir, this is not her fingerprint."
Richard releases a pent-up breath then unlocks the 'Personnel' file drawer, rifles for a moment or two, and hands another white card to Fidel. Fidel checks these fingerprints against the book and almost immediately nods. Richard bags the card, "Right, it's Lily's fingerprint, verified by her own personnel records. Now, Fidel, I want DNA done on the blood."
Fidel jumps to his feet, "Right away, sir," and he hustles to his desk where he simultaneously packages the book and calls Forensics on Guadeloupe. As the young officer works, Richard turns to Dwayne with a gimlet eye and Dwayne begins to fidget harder. "Now, Officer Myers, what were you about to reveal before Camille stopped you?" he intones in the most bossy boss-voice anyone has heard to date.
Dwayne darts nervous glances between the two sets of determined eyes in front of him and doesn't know what to say, "Oh, um, er, I… I…"
A low steely voice sounds behind Richard and he actually wheels around to make sure another person hasn't entered the station without his knowledge… but, no, it is Camille speaking… and yet not Camille at all. Gone is the shy innocent island girl. Here now stands a stranger. "It's alright, Dwayne. You've done enough for me and I won't stand by and see you get into trouble."
She turns cool eyes onto Richard and he feels his heart lurch. Looks like my heart is going to tear in two today no matter what happens, he thinks with despair.
"My name is Camille Bordey, as you know, but what you DON'T know is… I'm an undercover agent working out of Guadeloupe investigating James Lavender for smuggling, money laundering, drug running, possible murder, and other charges that will make a list probably longer than my arm." She shoots out a stiff hand, "Pleased to meet you finally, Detective Inspector Poole."
His hand floats up all by itself and they shake as colleagues, as professionals, as equals… and his heart teeters on the bitter edge of harsh reality. She's a cop. An undercover cop. He knows undercover cops. They're hard as nails with ice in their veins. Highly trained and tightly focused. Nothing and no one gets in their way when working a case. She had only been working her case. He was only a chess-piece in that case. She spent time with him because she HAD to. And now she's shaking his hand in cold thanks and soon she'll be leaving and…
… and she's still holding his hand. He feels her fingers so warm and firm against his, feels the strength and determination in her bones and sinews, feels the tiny squeeze she gives him and the almost imperceptible stroke of her thumb against his palm. And now he feels something else, or he hopes he does, an indomitable will and unshakable intent… with just a hint of menace… and perhaps promise?
His whole arm seizes up as his eyes widen and begin to glow. His hand tightens onto hers as he hears a voice that sounds suspiciously like his own say without the slightest quaver, "Oh, well, that's alright then. Since our cases overlap, I'm sure we will have many long days of work ahead of us correlating the evidence, writing our reports, and filling out the paperwork."
They hold each other's gaze for a moment longer then she releases his hand and he whips the tingling extremity behind his back and bobs on his heels as he adds in a jolly tone, "Welcome back to Sainte-Marie, agent Bordey, which I am beginning to believe could actually BE paradise after all."
He nods to his men and they stand to attention, ready for the next step. "My officers and I have another arrest to perform but we'll be back shortly. Please feel free to use my desk to begin your work, if you wish." He sees her tiny smile and thrills but decorum must be maintained so he picks up his briefcase and heads for the door, his men already half-way down the steps.
Just before he steps outside, he pauses, screws up his courage, and turns to see her watching him avidly. She hasn't moved but her eyes lift to meet his and he almost blushes. For a moment he forgets what he wants to say then remembers. He clears his throat and reaches for the metaphorical brass ring, "Would you care to go for drinks later this evening, agent Bordey? I happen to know a wonderful little place in town that serves perfect tea."
She smiles again, that brass ring morphing into a future gold ring without either of them realizing it. "It would be my pleasure, Inspector, my very great pleasure. Maman has been asking about you."
He licks his lips, nods, and turns away to fulfill his sworn duty.
And so it ends and begins at the same moment, the New Life and Further Adventures of Richard Poole.
END
**whew, I didn't expect this collection to mount up to so many chapters but it's done now. Please join me next week for a fresh look at S1 E2 and the beginnings of a true partnership between our four favourite people… but especially our very bestest favourite couple! S/P**