When Amy reappeared she found that it was only Dwayne who was waiting for her, and for a moment he wondered whether he too should have made a run for it. He had expected her to be angry, but instead a look of hurt crossed her face that was quickly replaced by indifference and Dwayne began to feel sorry for her.

"I'm sorry, but the Chief is the sort of man who is always on duty," he said, after explaining that Richard had been called away to deal with an assault. He just didn't mention the assault was likely being carried out by Camille at this very moment, judging by the look on her face when she had chased after him. "He could have farmed it out to more junior officers but he likes to handle such matters himself. Doesn't always realise he should take the opportunity to spend time with a beautiful women when he can."

She brightened a little. "Oh don't worry. He was always like that back in England too. I liked the fact that he was so studious..." Dwayne thought that he was going to have to fish around for a new subject when her vanity made a reappearance. "So you think I'm beautiful?" It was false modesty designed to attain a compliment, but Dwayne didn't care. When it came to flattering pretty woman, he was a master.

"Are you kidding? Have you seen yourself! Of course you're beautiful, a real English rose," he told her gamely. She bestowed a gracious smile upon him in return for his attentions.

"And that dress, wow it really suits you," he continued in earnest.

"Oh this?" She said, plucking at the fabric which temporarily gave Dwayne a view of the lingerie she was wearing – the sort that made him swallow hard. "I actually picked this out especially for Richard. I wore one very similar to it on our first date. I, unlike some women, am actually the same size as I was ten years ago!"

Dwayne's eye roamed appreciatively over her figure and she giggled and playfully slapped his shoulder. "Well even if he hasn't noticed. I certainly have." Her giggling stopped immediately.

"You think he didn't notice?"

Dwayne sensed that he was losing her and started to back pedal. "Hey, he's at work isn't he? You know how married to his job he is, if he wasn't I'm sure he'd be here."

"Well, I mean," she sounded suddenly highly anxious. "Surely the right woman would be able to distract him. He and I, we had something special. Didn't we?" Dwayne had no idea why she was asking him, from the sounds of it the relationship though short lived had been 'special' – just not in the way she was clearly hoping for. "Of course you probably don't know all the details of our relationship," she said brightly. "Richard probably wouldn't have wanted to talk about it too much, that would mean recalling what he must have thought he'd lost. Let me tell you, and then you can judge for yourself!"

Dwayne's smile had become slightly fixed. This wasn't what he had been expecting, he would going to have to deploy his entire arsenal if he was going to bring this back around to the outcome that he was expecting. "Oh you don't have to give details. I think I can imagine, pretty girl like you catching his eye..."

She smiled at him again. "Oh you're sweet, but Richard needs more than just a pretty face."

"I don't doubt it..."

"Richard, you see, needs a woman to be rather firm with him." Dwayne got the distinct impression that anybody else would have followed that up with a nudge, wink and an 'if you know what I mean'. He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. "And, under that sort of direction, he can achieve wonderful things. In fact, I would say I had a real influence in turning him into the man he is today."

"Right," Dwayne said – but before he could change the topic by asking her what sights she intended to visit on the island, she carried on.

"It went both ways though, he had a very big impact on my life."

Dwayne frowned at her statement and realised too late that he had basically given her the go ahead to continue. She lowered her voice, "let's just say I haven't found a man yet who can live up to Richard." And she definitely gave him a knowing look this time. Dwayne downed half a gin and tonic from one of the glasses that was on the table, it was disgusting but he didn't care.

"Oh what a good idea!" Amy surveyed the table taking in the 5 additional drinks that she had purchased before one of them had ended up in her handbag. "So many to finish Dwayne, I hope you're in for a fun night!" And polished off half a glass herself.

"I mean really," she said, reaching for another glass. "From all outside appearances, you would think Richard would be a pretty average lover. But I can assure you, from personal experience that is most certainly not the case."

Dwayne could not believe he was about to have to listen to a woman talk about his boss' sexual prowess. Things he would rather be doing than sitting though this included swimming through a pool teaming with jelly fish, getting a colonic irrigation and cleaning out a barn full of goats with bowel problems. And yet, here he was, about to be emotionally scarred for life.

Amy was onto her third gin and tonic. "Being totally honest here," she stopped to check that that was ok, "I mean I can be totally honest can't I?" She didn't wait for an answer as she called Catherine over. "Hi, could you just keep them coming when you see we're getting low. Same as before, slim line tonic, lime and mineral water ice cubes..." She almost didn't stop to draw breath. "Where was I? Oh yes. Richard. Oh. My. God. Dwayne, the man is a genius. Which when you think about it poses a serious problem for me. I mean, no one. No one has even come close." She realised that Catherine was still standing next to them, her mouth slightly agape. Amy seemed totally non-plussed. "Oh, we don't need anything else, I'll let you know if we do." She dismissed her with a little wave.

Catherine, with no choice but to ignore Dwayne's pleading look, picked up the empty glasses and returned to the bar. She vaguely entertained the idea that she might be suffering auditory hallucinations, or needed her hearing testing, but the look of extreme discomfit gracing Dwayne's face indicated that she had heard correctly. Richard Poole was, at least in the opinion of this woman, an amazing lover. It honestly would not have surprised Catherine if he'd never had a girlfriend in his life, let alone one who was apparently willing to chase him across the Atlantic. She picked up her phone, this was not information she could keep to herself. She knew one young woman who would be very interested in what Amy was saying.