The next few days were a whirl of activity for Richard. He had to call his parents to let them know his details of when he was coming back, but more importantly that he was moving. Bizarrely his father seemed more excited about the fact that he was moving into newer quarters than anything else, but his mother of course wanted to know all about how things were going with Camille.
Richard (being Richard) had not really gone into much detail about his feelings (oh that word!) about her when he snuck in a fleeting visit back home after accompanying a prisoner back to the UK. But he did not miss their shared looks as he showed them some pictures of the team, and his mother teased him about finally putting a VERY attractive face to the name he so often mentioned in his emails.
For once his father seemed genuinely pleased about his promotion – maybe it had something to do with being the first ever Met officer in this newly created role. Whatever happened to him, who ever came after him, he would always be the first DCI of the Commonwealth Division. Oh well, so long as his father was happy, Richard supposed all would be ok when he shared his plans to make his home Saint Marie.
Mind you, at this rate Camille might dismember him with his trusty boy-scouts hunting knife and put him in the packing case that had housed Lucy, his "precision optical instrument"…
"For God's SAKE Richard, we can put it in the Defender and drive it to the house, you could even WALK with it in your arms, you do NOT need to put it in the case!" she yelled.
"I am NOT walking across sandy roads – and she is not an "it," Lucy is a preci…"
"I KNOW… it is SO important to your future that you DON'T finish that sentence."
Catherine, Fidel and Dwayne listened from outside the shack with a mixture of amusement and concern.
"You think someone should go in and sort them out? We will NEVER even get the first things over to the house at this rate?" said Fidel, nervously.
Catherine shrugged and walked in to the house.
"Have you two quite finished? It's just that we're having a house-moving party for you at the bar and we haven't managed to get ONE suitcase of yours in the car yet."
The pair looked like sheepish children caught misbehaving.
"Ok Maman – let's get the easy stuff over to the house. Richard can figure out how he gets the OTHER woman in his life over the house himself," retorted Camille as she grabbed a box with kitchen equipment and headed out the door without a second glance.
Richard sighed and looked at Catherine. "It's just it's a pre…" She quelled him with a look.
"Richard, my dear – this is a big thing for her … you know? You realise?" Catherine said, now really wondering whether this was indeed the right thing for either of them.
"Leave Lucy for now, and let's start loading the simple stuff into the Defender so that the first stuff can get over and then come back for it?"
He looked at Catherine who was regarding him with some amusement, and then picked up his suitcase and headed out to the Defender.
Although Richard had brought back more clothes and some things (like Lucy) had been shipped from home, there was really not too much to be brought across – there was more to be brought over from Camille's apartment, although Richard knew better than to point out this fact after they were still bickering over a single trip for the now dismantled and packed away Lucy.
Even Richard knew when to quit – after haranguing poor Fidel and Dwayne as the three of them manoeuvred the case up the stairs to the little attic room and balcony where she would now live, the prospect of spending his evening lovingly unpacking her would have to wait.
Catherine never needed a reason to throw a party but "Moving Day" seemed to be a good enough title.
Richard and Camille seemed to put all the arguing of the day behind them as they closed the gate and strolled into town. Catherine just hoped that he wouldn't head to the attic room when they got home again!
After a fun evening of reminiscing about all the good times the team had at the shack, Richard was feeling quite nostalgic for the fact he wouldn't have a tree growing through his front room.
"Well perhaps I can give you one in a plant pot as a housewarming present," boomed a voice from the doorway as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson appeared.
As always, Richard seemed to be flummoxed in the presence of the big man, so it fell to Catherine to offer the Commissioner a drink and offer him a seat, while Richard continued his more than passable impersonation of a statue.
"The new DI is flying out, as we speak. He will arrive tomorrow and will have this weekend to get over his jet-lag – I was wondering if I could prevail upon you, Inspector, to accompany me to the airport to meet his flight."
"Look on the bright side chief," Dwayne piped up from across the table, "He might have even less luck with luggage than you!"
Amidst the laughter, Richard nodded, catching Camille's eye as she looked a little rueful - she had her own plans for christening the house.
Never mind – she would make the most of the evening, if she had to give him up in the morning.
As the alarm went off, Richard woke with a start and for a fraction of a second had a little panic. He was in a strange bed, albeit with the wonderful sight of a naked Camille lying next to him, but no chickens, no tree… and then he realised where he was, stretching out with a little smile.
Feeling him stirring beside her, Camille inched closer, stroking her hand gently across his chest. Richard smiled a little more as her hand moved purposefully down as he brought his hand up to start caressing her arm, working up before switching its allegiance to her breast. She rolled back gently and he followed…. And then the snooze function on his phone went off, killing the mood quite thoroughly.
He groaned in annoyance – god was this how it was going to be? Obligation to duty was not a new thing for Richard, but waking up next to a gorgeous and sexy woman who, for reasons that still eluded that sharp brain of his, wanted to spend her time naked in bed (and a few other places) with him.
That same beautiful woman was looking at him now with some amusement.
"Go on – get up – you are no use to me if you are fretting about being late for the Commissioner – go have a shower and I will get you some tea."
"You're a marvel – have I told you that?"
"A few times, normally after we have made love. A lot!"
She laughed as she swung herself elegantly out of bed, and sauntered to the door, collecting a small robe that barely covered her leaving Richard imagining what it would be like to undo the robe's tie, pull the robe aside and….
"Richard seriously, get up. You don't want to be late for the Commissioner, or my new boss!"
It felt oddly comfortable to be grabbing a slice of toast and having his tea with Camille pottering around, and he could put up with feeling ever so slightly nagged as she hurried him out the door for him to meet the Commissioner's car.
Selwyn Patterson watched from behind the wheel as Richard self-consciously paused to wave before hurrying down the path to the car.
"All settled in then, Inspector?"
"Um yes, thank you. You know a few boxes to unpack of Camille's but I dare say she'll have everything squared away by the time we get back. Umm what time ARE we expected back?
"Well I suggest we take the new Inspector to the shack, and then maybe arrange to collect him for welcome drinks and a meal at Catherine's – she is organising her usual Sunday meal for the team, not too late, just in case Inspector Goodman is feeling a little jet lagged – does that sound like a plan?
Richard just nodded.
As the people coming in off the flight started to filter through, Richard's mind started wondering, remembering what it had felt like to meet the Commissioner for the first time, the sweltering heat, the annoyance of his lost luggage – he quite missed the fact that a tall, gangly individual and edged up to them, the Commissioner being resplendent in his uniform, while Richard had opted for his suit trousers and a crisp shirt but no tie and jacket – Camille had been QUITE firm about that.
In rumpled lined, Humphrey Goodman took in the scene – the portly but impressively bearing Commissioner and there was something about the outgoing Inspector – he looked wistful but welcoming, in a harried kind of way. Humphrey held out his hand to introduce himself.
"Hello yes, well I'm Humphrey Goodman, of course"
"Well of course," said the Commissioner with some amusement, before turning to Richard. "And may I introduce soon to be Detective CHIEF Inspector Richard Poole"
Richard extended his hand.
"So what's he like?" – Camille had not let up since he got home wanting to know every little detail – was he tall, young, how young – in truth Richard was a little worried she'd fall madly in love with gangly being and forget all about him!
Just as quickly as he had the thought he banished it – but suddenly there was (quite literally) a new sheriff in town, and he couldn't help but put his nose out of joint.
He made his excuses and wandered up to the attic room where he had set up Lucy. Feeling slightly stupid for thinking it, he consoled himself that she would never get all excited over a new copper in town.
Mooching about upstairs he failed to hear Camille creeping quietly into the room with a fresh cup of tea.
"Hey – are you worried I will run off with the new guy," she asked shyly?
"No." he said, pretty unconvincingly.
She smiled and set the cup down – he had adopted the large wicker chair that used to be in the shack and was sulking, reading a book and she sat on the arm and kissed the top of his head.
"You know – it's just because I want to work well with him, and you know – make you proud."
Richard looked at her in surprise "Proud? I don't…."
"We worked so well together, and now – well we won't see each other every day at work… and I just want to get along with the guy…"
Richard felt vaguely stupid for feeling grumpy but he couldn't help it. He opted not to say anything, prompting Camille to try and snuggle closer in the armchair. There was a benefit to this not-knowing-the-right-thing-to-say lark!
He put his arms around her and buried his face in her neck-line, god he loved that murmur when he found just the sensitive spot. She pulled away a little so she could kiss him, deeply, thoroughly.
"What time is Sunday dinner at your mum's" he murmured, trying to hold on to all of her at once as she shifted position to sit astride him in the chair.
"More to the point, you didn't tell DI Goodman to come here did you?" she said, gasping as his hands removed her top, caressing her and drawing her to him
"No… we'll go get him," he mumbled as his hands removed her bra leaving him free to kiss and lick her breasts, now so temptingly in front of him, as Lucy was well and truly forgotten for the afternoon.
Humphrey had tried to take in all the details the Commissioner had bombarded him with on the drive to this shack on the beach. Yeah – Sally will NOT want to stay here. He supposed he would have to get to work finding a place. Maybe he could ask Poole some house-hunting advice.
It had been interesting meeting him – the grapevine seemed to say that he was unliked and unpopular, but he was sure he detected a fair bit of almost fatherly pride going on with the Commissioner and Poole. Hardly surprising, he had reduced the crime rate pretty convincingly and he was being made a DCI AND heading up the new division.
Humphrey winced. Sally had hinted that he was aiming too low – after all why hadn't they offered HIM something like that – he'd been a DI for ages. Anyway – hopefully when she arrives in a week or so it will be a fresh new start, he thought as he tried to shake off the tiredness from the trip.
He wandered out onto the veranda, curious as to the small bowl of water and what appeared to be mashed up fruit which was attracting all manner of bugs.
"Ahh – that's for Harry – the lizard," he heard a woman's voice call out. A vision of island beauty was making her way towards the shack… Humphrey stepped back involuntarily, catching the bowls with his foot, spilling the contents across the boards.
"Dammit" he growled to himself.
The woman bounded up the steps and he was speechless…
"Oh don't worry – We can sort out another bowl – there should be some mango in the fruit bowl in the kitchen."
He stared at her quite unable to move… until she snap-pointed back into the shack.
"Oh right, yes – I saw some stuff – ok ummm let me go … ummmm"
As he walked back through the shack, his mind was racing – who was this woman, and why did she move around the place like she'd always been there.
"Hello – you all set?"
Humphrey came out to see Poole striding up to the veranda.
"Hi again – can I introduce you to your Detective Sergeant – Camille Bordey." Humphrey was struck dumb. No, Sally would not be happy at all. He stumbled forward, his shoes now sticky with kicked over mango as he extended his hand.
"Pleasure, oh or should that be enchanté"
Camille smiled "See Richard, a little French goes a long way." Richard gave her that half smile she loved – he imagined there might be some French phrases coming her way tonight then in that case.
"Come on then – we need to head over to the bar, -Catherine's Sunday dinners are now legendary, and you'll get to meet the rest of the team – that is if you're ready?"
Humphrey was trying to kick off sticky mango from his shoes. "Yes, all fine – let's go."
It did not go unnoticed that this vision of loveliness, well his new DS was holding hands with DI Poole. And Humphrey was a little taken aback when the owner of the bar threw her arms around Bordey in a massive embrace and even gave Poole a kiss. They were a friendly lot here!
Of course during the meal he finally figured out that Poole and Bordey had some kind of thing going, and Patterson didn't seem to mind, and the bar owner was her mother, but he wasn't quite sure who else was with who. One of his officers to be, Myers seemed to be all things to everyone, judging from the women he was approaching all night. He quite liked the quiet and thoughtful Best though – newly minted sergeant, so that was good to know.
"So when is your wife arriving?" Humphrey roused himself as he realised that Poole was talking to him. He guessed he ought to call him sir? "Ummm she's flying out in a week or so. She's sorting out our house in the UK – we're renting it while we're here, umm sir?"
"Oh I think out of hours, you can probably call me Richard."
Humphrey was struggling to stay awake and Richard ad Camille offered to walk him back. As they saw him safely in to the shack, he stood on the decking steps and watched them walk up the road until they disappeared into a house up in the distance. Lucky devil Humphrey thought.
He dialled his home number and was surprised to get the answering machine. He left a quick message for Sally – hopefullyhim talking to answer phone wouldn't be loud enough to wake her – she'd hate that, he thought to himself.