Part 6 of 6

It's six o'clock that evening. Dwayne and Fidel are having a few beers at La Kaz, reassuring Catherine who, for once, is frankly shaken by everything they've told her about that day's scare and almost – ALMOST – even looking guilty.

Dwayne's sharp eye sees this and he just has to ask, "Catherine, do you know sumpthin' about what happened to the Chief and Camille last night? He only had tea, right? I'm thinkin' that you might know about what caused this near-disaster. Don't you think the same, Fidel?"

Fidel looks at him and suddenly understands what his partner means, "I think so. Catherine, did you put something in their drinks?" Seeing the woman bite her lip, he huffs, "You DID, didn't you? Do you have any idea what you almost caused? The Chief fell into the sea in the middle of the night and spent hours floating in a daze! Camille could have been hurt real bad too. Do you know that if the Chief hadn't shown up when he did, Camille would be under arrest for suspicion of manslaughter right now? I was actually on the phone to the Commissioner!"

Dwayne gawps. It´s only the second time he's seen Fidel so angry and he's kind of scary. Rather like when the Chief really loses HIS temper, going all quiet and shivery like this.

Catherine's eyes sink as she frowns and says nothing.

Dwayne interrupts, "Easy, Fidel! Catherine understands and I'm sure she won't try anythin' again." He turns to face the contrite woman, "So, what really happened, Catherine?"

Catherine stands upright at the bar, signals to one of her employees not to disturb her, and confesses, "Last night I saw them fighting again. Such heat! They were almost caramelizing each other but even so I saw that they weren't getting anywhere as usual. Do you know Clarisse, the healer woman who lives in the center of the island?"

Dwayne nods but Fidel just looks confused so Catherine adds, "Well, I went to visit her last week, just to ask if there were any herbs, roots, whatever, something that would make people loosen up a bit... and she gave me this powder." She takes a small envelope out of her pocket and gives it to Fidel.

Fidel takes it, looks to Dwayne, and Dwayne nods. They would analyze it right away to find out its possible effects. Most island medicine is safe but it pays to be sure.

Catherine sighs, "Camille is getting past a certain age and she won't look at anyone else except that impossible Englishman! So I thought if that's who she wants then she will have him! I put Clarisse's powder into their drinks and… I don't know… maybe I doubled the dose… just a little bit… just to make sure, you know?"

She is silent for almost a minute as the men contemplate the power of a mother's love before she continues, "I truly regret it, I do! And I'm grateful that there was no greater misfortune to regret on top of all this." She reaches for the phone, "In fact, I will call Camille right now and tell her everything."

Dwayne takes her hand, "You should wait, Catherine. Right now they're restin' or arguin' or makin' one of those grand-babies you wish for… but whatever they're doin' they're together and they're fine. Trust me, it's for the best."

Fidel and Dwayne get up from the table, Dwayne still reassuring Catherine as Fidel sends a quick text message to Camille informing her that everything is under control and that no one has to rush back to town if they really don't want to. He grins as he presses 'send'.

As they walk back to the station, the two men decide to keep Catherine's part in all this a secret, especially from the victims themselves!

After all, it wouldn't be very nice for Catherine to have to live down that fact that today's adventure was a completely accidental but almost successful assassination attempt on the islands' two top cops!

END

*And there you have it, it was fun and we hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it. 'Enjoyed', that's the right word, isn't it, Isa? Isa? Oh well, she'll forgive me sometime, haha. S/P and Isainparadise bid you adieu.*