Chapter 15 – The Final Reunion

That evening, the atmosphere in Catherine's was very lively.

'It's so lovely to see you again…and know it's you now!' exclaimed Catherine, giving Fidel a big hug. I knew there was something familiar about you when you came in on Saturday!'

'I know – I was scared you would recognise me and blow my cover but it was going to be awkward not to come here when…when Heather…'

'I know. But justice will be done for her now thanks to all your hard work. Now, let me get all of you a beer on the house!'

'Now that's the kind of beer I like!' exclaimed Dwayne, getting agreement from Jack, J P and Florence.

'How's Camille?' Fidel asked Catherine.

'Oh, doing well at the undercover job in Paris. Loving it. But still not married or even seeing anyone though!'

'It'll happen when it happens'

'I suppose so. I would just love to be a grandma. Anyway, I'd better get back to the bar' Catherine walked off.

'Oh, we were speaking to Humphrey on Facetime just before we got the call about the murder' Dwayne informed Fidel. He's engaged!'

'Oh how lovely, I'm so happy for him!' said Fidel.

'He said he might even come to Sainte-Marie to get married or at least come for his honeymoon!' said Florence.

'Really? I'll have to organise my next trip back for that!...excuse me a minute, please' Fidel looked over to the far side of the bar and saw a forlorn-looking Siobhan setting out a dishwasher-tray of clean glasses behind the counter. She looked up pensively when he approached her.

'Um…hi George, I mean…Vidal?'

'Fidel'

'Right, sorry, Fidel'

'Anyway, I just wanted to say sorry if I hurt you…gave you the wrong idea…'

'Really, don't worry. I'll be fine' she said, putting on a brave smile and turning back to the glasses.

'No really, my behaviour was wrong. But I do think you're a great girl and I'm sure it won't be long 'til some good and lucky guy falls in love with you'

'Thanks…I guess'

Jack had gone to the bar to buy the next round of drinks.

'That's great news about Humphrey and Martha' Catherine commented.

'Yes indeed. I was just thinking we will have to arrange another conference call with them. Perhaps you would like to join us?'

'That would be lovely. In fact, I use my computer behind here to Skype my daughter. Perhaps it might stretch through to the bar to allow them to join the party tonight!'

'That's a lovely idea but I think it's about midnight in London. They will probably have gone to bed'

'I suppose you're right…but maybe we could try a quick call just in case?'

'I guess they'll either answer or not answer!'

'True. Would you mind attempting to move the computer? It's a bit heavy for me'

'Sure. I'll just take the drinks over to the others and get right on it'

Five minutes later Jack was so confident all the connections would remain in place that he was already pushing the computer while it was still switched on.

'Oops!' he shouted as the mouse slid off the small table. He caught it, accidently pressing an icon on the screen and another in the app that opened. Thirty seconds later an exhausted and bedraggled looking curly haired woman appeared on the screen, obviously having just been woken up.

'Allo, maman?...who are you?'

'Oh, I'm sorry. I'm…eh…Detective Inspector Jack Mooney'

'Detective Inspector…ah non, maman…h-has something happened?!' the woman panicked.

'Oh no, sorry. Camille, isn't it? Your mother is fine. I was just moving her computer for her and I accidently activated Skype. I am so sorry to have disturbed you – I guess it must be the middle of the night where you are?'

'Yes, it's almost one am here in Paris. But I'm relieved my mother is OK. I used to work as a Detective Sergeant on Sainte-Marie and there were so many murders!'

'I know, I've just solved one as it happens!'

'Camille, is that you?!' Catherine came through having heard her daughter's voice.

'Ah maman, good to see you'

'I'm so sorry Catherine, I called her by mistake. She was asleep'!

'Oh well, it's always wonderful to hear your voice. I see you and Jack, our latest Detective Inspector, have met?'

'Yes. Oh maman, I thought the worse when a Detective Inspector called!'

'You know me, I'm fine and there are always plenty loyal customers looking out for me, especially the police!'

'Of course, I should have remembered!'

'Well, before you go back to bed, would you like to say a quick hello to your former colleagues? There is a bit of a reunion happening!' Catherine suggested.

'Really? Then why wasn't I invited?' Camille pretended to be offended.

'It wasn't planned, honestly! Detective Sergeant Best was sent here under cover unknown to us!' Jack filled her in.

'Just like me a few years ago!...Wow! Fidel is now a Detective Sergeant? That's fantastic. Just let me get a dressing gown on and brush my hair a bit and I'll say a quick hello!'

'You look fine, cherie!' Catherine assured her.

Jack got the computer out while Camille got ready.

'What's this? Are we going to all talk to Humphrey and Martha again?' asked Florence.

'Let them join the party!' agreed Dwayne.

'Well, that was the original plan' said Jack, 'but due to a faux pas on my part someone else has ended up saying hello to us instead…'

'Oh? Who?' they all asked as the screen came to life again.

'Camille, how are you?' gasped Fidel. 'I was just asking after you!'

'Hello Fidel, I'm fine thank you. How are you? Congratulations on your promotion!'

'Thank you, it's been a couple of years now. And I'm well, thank you. How's Paris?'

'It's good, yes, challenging! Hello Dwayne, Florence, how are you all? I don't think we've met?' she looked at J P.

'Oh, this is J P. He joined us just after you left and I was promoted' Florence introduced them.

'Nice to meet you J P'

'Nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you'

'Good things I hope!'

'So, is there someone special in your life?' Dwayne smiled at Camille and raised his eyebrows.

'Oh no, not for some time. Work tends to take over'

'Well don't forget to have some time for yourself!' Florence told her.

'Now that's good advice!' Catherine hinted.

'I guess you would have worked with Humphrey Goodman?' Jack asked her.

Camille almost froze. 'Y-yes, we were partners for eighteen months, before I left the island. Um…how is he?'

'Oh fantastic!' said Dwayne. 'He's getting married!'

'That's…great!' There was a pensiveness in Camille's voice.

'Do you think you will come for the wedding?' asked Fidel. 'I'm hoping to!'

'I don't know…I'll see if I can get time off work'

'Well, I guess we'd better let you get back to sleep now. You'll have an early start in the morning, no doubt?' Catherine rescued her daughter at that point.

'Yes, I do. There's an ongoing case I'm working on and I have to be somewhere at 7am'

'Well it was good to talk to you and I'm sorry once again for waking you!' Jack concluded.

'Oh no worries and it was nice to meet you, and you J P, and to catch up with the rest of you. Good night!'

'Good night Camille' they all shouted.

'Bon nuit maman'

'Bon nuit' said Catherine, terminating the connection. Jack returned the computer to where it had been previously.

'Poor Camille seemed a bit taken aback when you told her about Humphrey' J P observed. 'Um…did they have history?' he whispered to his colleagues.

'Well…almost' said Florence.

'He had a crush on her for several months but was too afraid to tell her' Dwayne filled him in when Catherine had returned to the bar. 'By the time he did she had already accepted the job in Paris so nothing ever happened between them'

'I got the impression she maybe regrets her decision to leave him' observed Fidel.

'Hmm' they all wondered.

As Jack returned to his colleagues, Catherine put some lively ska music on and customers began to take to the floor for a dance. Fidel went over to the bar again.

'Listen Siobhan, I am leaving here tomorrow, but do you think we could dance, just once, and part as friends?'

'I suppose so!' she smiled and they got up together.

'Looks like I just got here on time!' the police table looked up to see Darlene making a surprise appearance and putting her arm around Dwayne.

'On time for what?' Dwayne looked sheepishly around his colleagues.

'Oh, you know well!' And with that Darlene dragged him up to the floor as Catherine re-appeared at the table.

'Remember when I let you stay with me when you didn't have a place to stay?' she addressed J P.

'Yes…?'

'Well, there's a tradition in this town where you thank you former landlady for her hospitality by asking her to dance!'

'Really?'

'Don't fall for it!' laughed Florence.

'Well that was a terrible joke!' laughed J P. 'But since you were such a fantastic landlady, and since you are still very kind to us all when we come in here…would you like to dance, madame?'

'Sure, thought you'd never ask!'

'Well…looks like that just leaves us' Jack turned to Florence.

'Yes, I suppose someone has to keep an eye on our colleagues up on the dance floor!'

'I guess so, but on the other hand…would you like to dance, Florence?'

'Hmm…OK!'

And with that the whole team and their friends began a relaxed and happy evening drinking and dancing and having a well-earned break from work.