Chapter 3: Immersed in the Case

Summary: It has been published a little earlier than I thought, but I want the whole story to be immersed in this time. Everyone is already preparing for the important task of finding a home for Jemima.

Chapter Text

Camille and Richard are in James Lester's private plane on their way to the Arc. This time Catherine has been a little more pissed off by the "new life as law enforcement officers" that her daughter and husband seem to have adopted. If in the end she was right not to consider Richard the best option for her daughter after all! Too complicated! Camille replied in a moment of the little discussion:

"That shows that it is perfect for me. You will have to recognize that I need action. And Richard has far exceeded my expectations. You can believe me that he manages to really surprise me, and that is not easy with me. Sometimes I would say too much. " She shut up then, after all she doesn't want to worry his mother. "In short, maman, I am happy with him. But I can promise you that I will always argue with him. I don't want him to think that he no longer has to work hard for me to be happy, even if that's the truth. I promise we will be back as soon as possible. Let Fidel, Dwayne and Juliette help you! You will need reinforcements. "

Richard has been able to tell his wife a bit about the whole thing. For Camille, it all comes down to finding the relatives of a helpless girl. Of course she will try his best. What must have happened! What Richard has omitted is that they must still investigate it in the time of Jemima. That changes things. He doesn´t judge history, history is what it is, but he understands that all times have their injustices and those of the 19th century, although it may be considered in a certain way the golden age of scientific discoveries, humanly had its great imperfections. Although also the XX and what they wore from the XXI …

He put his reflections aside, they were close to taking off and what he did best was to use the data cold enough so that no information, no clues, escaped him. He put all his passion into it. Well, not all of it, while at that moment he was looking at Camille.

The trip has been quick and uneventful this time. Richard has taken the opportunity to explain to Camille, in the light of day and without pressure of any kind, part of the history of his beloved country. Although he has no plans to return to it. His heart is already elsewhere. Camille listens to him with pleasure.

"You know, Richard? You are not aware of your speaking skills. Of course I ´m not just any listener. But you live the story. And you get those who listen to live it too. I would like you to also immerse yourself in the history of my family and the island. " Richard stares at her. He thinks that she is offended because she has not given him any talk about the history of the island. Camille looks at him and understands what he's thinking "No, it's not that I don't care what you're telling me! It's just that I'm sure I could learn something surprising coming from you, even if it was something from the island where I was born. I like to listen to you, you know that. You managed to solve the mystery of the slaves! And I was delighted to know that in the end they got to be free. I really liked that. "

Richard is flattered. But they don't have much more time for more. They have already reached the ARC. Their suitcases will be taken to the ARC apartment prepared for them. James Lester is waiting for you.

They find that James Lester is as busy as ever. Richard can't explain how his wife can handle having him away from home for so long.

James Lester is discussing with Captain Becker what the latter considers so essential: armored vehicles (suspiciously similar to tanks) more than necessary to defend against the attacks of gigantic animals. They still have in mind what happened not too long ago when so many anomalies invaded the entire world.

"I think it was more than clear that this phenomenon is something that occurs cyclically. Nothing similar is expected for a long time. And I don't think it necessary to remind you, Captain, that when you told me about the tanks on that first occasion, I was joking. And I have to say that I am more than proud to have a team that didn't need tanks to save us from that crisis. From what I see they are more than competent. "

Captain Becker looks at him with the confidence to try again in the future.

"Yes, sir" And he leaves, he has a meeting with Jess Parker in the ARC cafeteria. He doesn't lose his cool, he never loses it. Will try again and again. What he doesn't know is that James Lester has already made a mental note of his comments and takes them into account more than the Captain thinks.

When James turns around to supervise the work of the rest of the staff he meets his cousin, DI Richard Poole with his charming Detective Sergeant Camille Poole. He approaches them promptly to greet them with affection, at least with his customary affection.

"How nice to have you back here! Always a pleasure." He says looking at Camille. Richard looks at him, but he knows he can trust him. No problem.

"James. I see that this has changed a bit. I see new faces. In Saint Marie we also had, as we informed you, more than one unpleasant surprise from the anomalies. But we were able to solve them with the help of the army. I think it was the first time that they visited the island of Saint Marie." He comments. Lester nods.

"And more than one has promised to return for their vacations. Tourism benefits from everything that happens on the island, even if it is not always welcome. And we had to inform Dwayne and Fidel of part, but not all, of what´s happened in the ARC. Of course they will be discreet, although it is difficult for Dwayne not to use his experience in that field with his conquests. They are professionals after all," Camille ends.

"When you settle in and rest a bit, I will take you to Emily and Jemima. In principle it shouldn´t be more than a routine matter. Anyway I have left you all the information that we have so far to review it" Lester informs them.

"Perfect. We'll greet the rest of the staff if that's okay with you. By the way, if we're lucky and this is resolved quickly, we'd like to say hi to Karen and the kids. They've grown quite a bit by now." Richard comments.

"Of course. They're almost teenagers now. They'll be delighted. I'll let Karen know, she has a big social agenda. You know, she says she does more for my work that way than staying home."

"I'm sure of it" And they head to his apartment promptly.

Lester is left thinking about his family. His sarcasm is quite pronounced, his authority too, and even because of that they think that he doesn't care much about his family. They matter to him a lot. Perhaps Abby Maitland, and Connor Temple by extension, are the only ones who know him just a little bit better. He adores his family and protects them with all the means available to him. And one of those means is apparent indifference. His job is dangerous and he will always keep them away from him. He doesn´t forget Jess Parker, she does indirectly know all that. Because he always talks about her, and although apparently not with flattering comments, he talks about his wife after all.

Half an hour later, in the apartment, Richard and Camille have read the available documentation of the case (they will treat it as such). Unfortunately they don´t have much information and that is not good. Logically they have not been able to get much information from the girl. Emily didn´t know Wales at the time. The time yes, but she never traveled to Wales.

Richard talks to Camille about how the poorer classes lived at that time. Almost in an aseptic way. He doesn´t like to adulterate history. Or perhaps to be able to move forward with the case and serve more useful. Strong emotions don´t normally help you solve cases. Camille can't help but make more than one comment, but she knows she has to be professional if they really want to help the girl.

"So where do we start, Richard? Do we know Jemima? Surely now she remembers at least his siblings" she says.

"It's not a bad idea. But first of all, I think we should eat something and get some rest. If that's okay with you, we ask that they bring us something right here while I reread this and then we spend twenty minutes. The trip is already beginning to take its toll on me. I remind you that you haven´t married a young man" he smiles at her.

She laughs and replies:

"What you like is being constantly told how wrong you are. You are human!" and she laughs.

About an hour later, more or less, they are ready and finally meet Jemima.

The girl stares at them, especially at Camille, it´s strange to see someone like her normally. Of course, everyone in the building behaves normally in situations that Jemima is not familiar with at all.

"It has in her favour that she´s still very small. She will adapt easily. The problem is when we have to return her to her relatives," Emily explained.

"I see" comments Camille. But he has never taken it personally. The girl looks at her strangely, not with hatred or superiority. "The natural curiosity of children will help her, I'm sure of that." She reassures Emily.

Richard and Lester stare at the girl. They, especially Lester, see the problem in this whole situation.

"Emily, have you managed to find out more about Jemima?" James Lester asks her again.

"I'm afraid not. I've tried with drawings, with associations of ideas, nothing ... She doesn't seem to have or remember siblings, uncles ... I think a "godfather" took her under his wing."

Everyone looks at her strangely except Richard.

"You know. Someone who would teach her to steal, break into houses, things like that ... I highly doubt he could get much more." Emily continues.

"Then there would be no choice but to try to contact that person and question him" deduces Lester.

They all look at him very serious. They are already on slippery ground.

Emily breaks the silence:

"I don't see another way out"

James Lester looks at Richard. As always, he had already anticipated events and discussed it with Richard.

"Sounds good to you then, right, Richard?" make sure before continuing.

Richard nods and Lester continues.

"Then I'll send a team with a portrait of the girl. Fortunately, photography had already been invented around that time. I think Emily, Richard, Camille and Captain Becker should go. I think that even if I didn't want to, Matt will join to the team. Risks as little as possible, please. She is just one more girl for the context of that time and her "godfather" shouldn´t give too much trouble. He would soon find another child."

In the next half hour everyone is ready. Actually James Lester already had almost everything prepared.

While they are preparing for the raid, Richard comments to Camille:

"Camille, I think you can imagine that for you it's just another undercover job, right? Because you know what I'm talking about" Richard looks at her worriedly.

"Richard, I'm not going to break down. I know how that time worked. As you would say, it´s what it is. Don't worry about me. I'll be Emily's maid or something like that. By the way, Emily doesn't know how to talk to me either, poor Emily. It won't affect my self-esteem, don't worry. We have a mission and it has to be accomplished, that's all. For a moment I was afraid that James wouldn't let me join the team. " Camille said.

Richard smiled at her calmer.

"I was sure you would understand. I also wanted to clarify it because my attitude, that of the rest of the team, will also have to be different, you know."

Camille laughed and replied:

"I'll put myself in a situation, don't worry. I'll imagine that I'm the person you met at the beginning of all this time, remember? The one who hated you, the one who didn't want to work with you. It will be easy." And winks at him.

"Come on, let's go and don't hate me too much. That then you'll have to return to harsh reality"

And they left to meet Matt, Emily and Becker on their way to 19th century Wales.

Notes: What could have happened in Saint Marie during the days when anomalies emerged all over the world? That's another history...