Part 2 of 3

Richard looks down in surprise then back up into gentle fading eyes and he feels almost sorry to have to say, "Sorry, Jeremy. I am firmly heterosexual… not that it's doing me any good... but there you have it."

Jeremy waits a beat then slowly takes his hand back, swirls his drink, and smiles a bit sadly, "So, no luck with the ladies, wot?"

"Women are a complete mystery but I keep hoping for a miracle."

Jeremy sighs deeply, "Ah, just as well, I imagine. I can't ask you to leave paradise, now can I?"

Silence… the shadowy movement of a bowed head. "Ah, I see. You don't agree? Isn't this paradise?"

"No, not for me. I can't stand the heat."

"Well, A/C takes care of that."

"Haven't got any. Not at home and not on the job."

"Ah, pity. And there's the problem with women, of course. English women are bad enough at home. Down here they seem so much worse... imperious and very pip-pip, don't you know."

"It's not an English woman causing my problem."

"Oh, sorry. I just assumed…" A deeper sigh, he turns to look out on a moonlit sea he cannot actually see. "Well, perhaps you can practice on your brave Sergeant. I couldn't actually see if she is as lovely as she sounded, of course, but I could see her colours. She's like an exotic bird… and so slim and lithe." He turns back to Richard, "Yes, she could definitely help you…" and pauses as he processes the deep silence and stillness of the shape beside him. A long moment then the deepest sigh of all, "Ah."

Together they contemplate the vagaries of Life.

Jeremy breaks the silence, "It's not fair, really, is it? Why does love and physical attraction have to be so fraught with uncertainty?" At Richard's continued silence, Jeremy continues, "I mean, here's me at the end of my admittedly frivolous usefulness, facing God knows what back home. No doubt my parents have several women lined up for me to choose from so I can finally settle down and produce an heir, Lord help me. And here's you, trapped somewhere you don't want to be and in love with someone you are denying yourself. I imagine your folks are pushing you for grand-kiddies as well?"

A shadowy nod. A sad breath.

Jeremy smiles and pats Richard's arm, "I'd take you home in a heartbeat, if I could. But I can't, can I?"

Another shadowy movement, definitely not a nod.

Jeremy turns back to the sea, "Ah, well. So much for a happy ending. Don't suppose you have a brother or a cousin…?"

"Sorry. I'm it."

"You certainly are," Jeremy says gallantly but his heart isn't in it. He is feeling very sad and alone. He glances one last time at the man beside him, wonders one last time how it might have been, then straightens up and tells Richard something he needs to hear, "Does she always stand behind you like that, at your right hand, protecting your back?"

"Who?"

"Your lovely Sergeant."

"Well… yes, I think she does. I can't see her there, of course, but I'm sure she does."

"She's fierce as a tiger."

"She's fierce, all right. If I tried anything with her, she'd tear off my arm and beat me with it. She almost dislocated my shoulder there by your pool."

"I know. I heard most of that little exchange. Very entertaining. My hearing is sharper now and I don't think she WOULD tear your arm off. Even the fiercest of beasts has a soft spot for someone special."

"I doubt there's a man alive brave enough to try it."

"Oh, I don't know. Do you know when I saw you the clearest? When she stood behind you. She glowed with such a light that I saw you most plainly. I liked what I saw. I know physiognomy. Your body type almost always has certain… attributes… that are most pleasing."

This time the silence is hot, "It's not something I talk about. No one knows."

"No one? Anywhere? Oh, that's so sad. Richard, you make me sadder than I already am."

"Sorry."

"You shouldn't be sorry, you should be happy. She burns for you. I saw it. I heard it. And you burn for her, you as much as admitted it here tonight. Why don't you take a chance and give it a go?"

"I would need you to fix my broken nose if I did 'give it go', or fish me out of your pool, or re-attach whichever arm she wrenches off. She's just too dangerous."

"But Richard, words are more peaceful than action. I'm not saying you march up and snog her. I'm saying you just tell her. Quietly. With as few words as possible so she understands you the first time. What could it hurt?"

"Oh, you don't know hurt… well, maybe you do. Rejection is a very hard thing to face."

"But it's just words, dear boy. Words don't leave actual scars. Words can be taken back, changed, tried again. Words are always better than rude action. I mean, you rejected me just now, didn't you? It hurt a little but we're still friends, right? Plus now we understand each other much better. It's possible to strengthen a friendship even through the most awful disappointments."

Richard is nodding and thinking maybe he SHOULD take a chance. A quiet chance. He could practice his few words until he gets it just right then see what she does. Maybe he'll write her a note and post it from 10 miles away. That ought to be far enough for safety.

"There is ONE thing you can do for me… and for my team…"

"Anything I can do for you, I will. Ask away."

"The Commissioner says he will give us an 18-hour deadline on the next case. Can you please dissuade him of that? It's giving us conniptions."

"Hah! Conniptions… too droll. Yes, all right. I'll speak to him in the morning. But… for now… can I invite you into the Jacuzzi for a relaxing…"

Richard's cell phone buzzes. He waits a beat to answer it, not quite believing the invitation was offered. He must NEVER tell Dwayne. "Sorry, Jeremy, I have to take this. Murder seems to happen here a LOT."

"Quite right. Go ahead. I'll get us some fresh drinks just in case it's a crank call or something."

It IS a crank call. Camille is on the line, upset and distraught, "I'm at your place and I just happened to see Lucy and I just happened to look through her and she just happened to be pointing at Tipping's yacht and I just happened to see him touch you and I'm just wondering…" She runs out of breath and the nerve to keep talking.

Richard looks up as Jeremy returns with the drinks and sees a flash of moonlight in the vicinity of his little beach house. Lucy must be pointed right at him. "Can you see me?" he quietly asks the phone.

A long pause, "Yes. Oh, Richard, don't…"

End – part 2