S1 E6 – Diamond In The Rough
Part 1 of 4
DI Poole applies his initials on the last and final report with a heartfelt flourish then shoves back into his chair, caps his fountain pen (the recovered Visconti Medici Rose… but that's another story), and secretes it safely away in the secret recesses of his jacket. He then reaches his arms up high, laces his fingers, and releases all the day's tension with a bone-cracking stretch.
Across the room, DS Bordey doesn't look up from her own paperwork but she smiles nonetheless. Her voice is low and amused as she flutes, "All done, are you?"
"Yes," he replies swiftly and with relief. "This one was harsh, Camille. Fratricide resulting in a young widow and a fatherless child, a trusting friend facing financial ruin and possible divorce, a gambling ring free to act with impunity on our fair isle, the misery of blood diamonds… oh, all of it! And for what?"
She stopped work several moments ago to look up and listen then shrugs, "I dunno, what?"
He frowns, "All so Benjamin Lightfoot could indulge in foolish games of chance. I mean, it's one thing to lose your best Smasher to a better opponent – but to lose your home? And don't stop there – let's gamble with someone else's home too! To not only ruin your own life but also that of your family and friends? What kind of person does that?"
Camille nods sadly, "Benjamin never touched the joint bank account, he left everything in place for Abigail… I guess he still had hope of rescue. What's a smasher?"
He huffs, "Only so she wouldn't find out about his gambling addiction. Pardon the pun but his whole life was a house of cards ready to collapse. It's the big marble used to knock your opponent's Marleys out of the ring."
She blinks with amusement. This man and her mother are the only people she can have two separate conversations with at once.
He sighs deeply, folds his hands upon the desk top and gives his DS a very troubled look.
She stiffens. She knows this look. He's troubled by something he can't understand and needs her help. Will he ask? Will he reveal a tiny bit of his mind to her? If he does, she will move heaven and earth to help him.
His gaze drops then lifts then drops again as he slowly says, "And yet his wife said he was perfect. Even after she knew the truth, Abigail Lightfoot still loved him." He falls silent, studies his DS for a long moment then murmurs, "Why, Camille? Why would she do that? How could she put up with him in life and in death?"
Deep brown eyes lift to meet bright green… and he shivers. He senses he's asked a very important question but he doesn't know why. He stills, knowing that he may not understand her answer… but trusting that she will try to fill in the blanks of his soul.
Her voice is slow, halting, like she's telling a secret that shouldn't be told, "She did it because she loved him. She didn't 'put up with him' – she loved him just as he was. Some women try to change their men, usually after marriage but the time to change a person is before marriage. Knock off the rough corners, smooth the splintery edges, soften the harsh surfaces, maybe even help him loosen up into a gentler person.
He chuckles uncertainly, "Sounds like you're building a basement…"
She nods, "Not a basement, a foundation, something solid and safe and dependable so you can trust the rest of your life to it, your life, his life, and the lives of the children. A place of safety and peace, of refuge and acceptance. A home."
His face is solemn, "All that? It's a wonder people pair up at all." Something in his voice warns her he's not satisfied with his understanding of human motivation yet. She harkens harder as he leans back in his chair and studies the slow moving fans above. "And then there's the Owens. She gave away their life savings without consulting him. I thought sure they would divorce and yet they're still together. How could he forgive her? Why would he do that?"
She sighs. It's so simple… how can I make him understand? "Because he loves her, that's why. Alex gave Benjamin that money out of the goodness of her trusting heart and Phil knows that. He may hate the reason their money is gone but he knows she's a good person and won't desert her in anger even though they're losing the business and next will be the house." She covers her face and groans, "I wish there was some way to help them… a reward or something for helping you catch that smuggler… but nobody cares, do they?"
He suddenly looks pensive and bites his lip, "Don't they? I wonder…"
She watches him think for several moments then just has to ask, "You wonder what?"
He comes back to himself with a jerk and stands briskly, "Oh, just wool-gathering." He begins shoveling files into his briefcase, "Time to go home, it's been a busy day and I need tea."
She is quick to stand and take her purse out of a drawer, "Shall we go to La Kaz?"
He presses his lips together then shakes his head, looking genuinely contrite, "Er, no, not tonight. I'm very tired and there's something I need to research." She tries to keep the disappointment off her face as he passes her desk, "Good night, Camille."
"Good night," she mutters, settling back down to complete her shift and wait for Fidel and Dwayne to come in to relieve her. She feels cheated. She'd really hoped she'd pried up a corner of his clueless male mind and let in a little light about love and devotion but… no… it seems he still doesn't understand.
Minutes later, she hears footsteps ascending the stairs but then hears part of a conversation that upsets her quite a bit.
END – part 1
