Chapter 3 – Friends Reunited

The Honore police station was open at 7:30am on Sunday morning, half an hour earlier than usual as the team had a conference call date. Jack finished connecting all the cables while Officer Dwayne Myers set out four chairs in front of the big screen. Detective Sergeant Florence Cassell was looking in the address book for the relevant number and officer J P Hooper was making tea and coffee for everyone.

'Right, it's time!' announced Jack. 'Got the number Florence?'

'Yes, here we go' the young Detective Sergeant replied. 'zero zero four four…'

Dwayne and J P sat down with their cups as Jack pressed the connect button. Thirty second later a smiling couple appeared on the screen.

'Good afternoon, I mean good morning!' said Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, hitting his head.

'Hello, good to see you!' said Florence. 'Keeping well?'

'Yes, thank you' Humphrey replied.

'Scatter-brained as ever, chief!' laughed Dwayne.

'Yes, well…' Humphrey looked down and smiled.

'And how are you Martha?' asked Jack.

'Never been better!' the woman sitting beside Humphrey answered with a radiant smile.

'I've never seen you so happy!' remarked Florence 'Life in London agreeing with you?'

'Well, it's…cold, it's…crowded, it's…busy' stuttered Humphrey. 'I had got used to the sun…'

'But…?' smiled J P.

'Ah, a great detective in the making – you've figured us out!'

'Eh?' the others turned to J P with puzzled looks but he just continued smiling and pointed back to the screen to draw their attention to Martha who was holding up her left hand, on which was sitting a big, sparkling diamond ring!'

'Wow, you're…' gasped Florence. Humphrey and Martha both nodded. 'Congratulations!'

'You didn't waste time, did you?!' laughed Dwayne.

'Well, we've both been extremely happy since we've been back together and we just knew it was right!' explained Humphrey.

'Well, that's wonderful, you deserve it' continued Dwayne. 'Too bad I can't give you a hug!'

'Or have a celebratory beer with you!' added Jack.

'So when's the big day?' enquired J P.

'Well, we were thinking about next summer, maybe June or July' said Martha.

'We might even get married on Sainte-Marie!' added Humphrey. 'That's where we met and it would be lovely to have all of you with us on our special day!'

'That would be wonderful!' said Florence and everybody else agreed.

'And if we don't get married over there we will at least have our honeymoon in the Caribbean' said Martha.

'Well, even if you do it that way you'll get a second reception here!' Jack assured them.

'This is such great news!' smiled Dwayne.

'So, how's life back at Scotland Yard?' asked Jack.

'Oh, you know…'

At that instant the clock struck eight and the phone rang.

'Excuse me, sir and ma'am' said J P getting up to answer it.

'Humphrey and Martha – I'm not your boss anymore!' corrected Humphrey as he walked off.

'So what's happening on Sainte-Marie?' enquired Martha.

'You know…same old, same old!' muttered Dwayne.

'There was a concert here last night by a folk singer all the way from Scotland!' Jack informed them. 'I can't believe she came all the way to the Caribbean to perform! She's really good as well!'

'Well there's plenty of that here amongst other things' said Humphrey. 'I do like a live show now and again!'

'Um…sir?' J P addressed Jack with a serious look on his face.

'What's wrong J P?' Jack enquired.

'The singer you were talking about that sang here last night?'

'Heather – yes?'

'She's…dead!'

'Dead!' gasped Jack in shock.

'Eh?' cried everyone else.

'Found lying in the dressing room with a fatal knock to her head' continued J P.

'So this must have happened last night after midnight?!' enquired Jack.

'She was found at 1am by the barmaid'.

'Oh, sorry Humphrey, Martha, we're going to have to cut this call short' Jack suddenly remembered they were still watching from their screen in London.

'No worries, I understand' said Humphrey. 'If you need any help in contacting the singer's family or getting any information you need do get in touch'

'I will, thank you' said Jack. 'We'll talk again soon. Goodbye'

'Goodbye!' added everyone else, rather subdued.

'OK we'd better get to the community centre right away!' said Jack picking up the keys to the Defender. The whole team followed him out and they were soon on their way.