Part 3 of 4

"No, Mr. Gardiner, of course not. I only wanted a meal and followed my nose. Otherwise I still wouldn't know this place existed." He studies the big man briefly then gestures, "Won't you join me? I'm trying to 'blend in' to island life since it looks like I'm going to be here a while. Would you like a coffee?"

Jacko purses his lips then calls in through the door, "Two coffees, Lanny, iffn you please." He then sits in Joolee's hastily vacated chair and leans back as Lanny brings two steaming mugs out, plunks down cream and sugar, and bustles away looking very relieved.

As Richard stirs in cream, Jacko sips his black and rumbles, "You sure put the wind up ever'one but now it's all OK, yah?"

Richard nods, "Yah, I mean, yes. No harm done and it's probably better I know about this place then not, considering my position in the community." He thinks a moment, "Um, do my officers know?"

Jacko nods, "Oh, yeah, most people know. We're very low-key. We try not t' make trouble but… sometimes… trouble finds us, hey?"

Richard nods, understanding all too well, "Visitors?"

Jacko shakes his head, "Not as much as you'd suppose… but yah, sometimes the young 'uns hear 'bout us an' want t' prove themselves a bit. Tha's mainly why I hang out here. Lanny's my brother-in-law an' I gotta watch out fer family, don' I?"

Richard readily agrees, "As all good brothers should."

Jacko is watching Richard closely, "A' course, it don' hurt that I kin make friends here…"

Richard stiffens, "I most certainly do not pry into people's private lives."

Jacko smirks, "Yah, yah, I know, yer pure as driven snow, ain't yah?"

Thinking back on his earlier thoughts about his DS, Richard mutters, "Well, I try but sometimes it can be a struggle, you know?"

Jacko nods, "Oh, I know a'right. Take that officer o' yours…"

Richard frowns, "Which one? You'd better not interfere with either of them else I'll have to get involved and it could get unpleasant."

Now Jacko laughs, "Naw, naw, I'm not talkin' 'bout the men! Those two are beyond help! I'm talkin' 'bout that hell-cat you had at my front door!" At Richard's amazed look, Jacko nods, "Yah, ever'one in town knows 'bout HER! Couple o' my cousins tried t' ask her out. She turned 'em down flat. No one quite knows what t' think 'bout her." He squints at Richard, "But, you, you seem t' have the knack." He hitches his chair forward, "Tell me, Chief, wha's the secret?"

Richard shuts his mouth with a snap, "The… the… secret?" Jacko nods, all seriousness. Richard can't stand the silence so he mutters, "The secret… to getting along with my Sergeant?" Jacko nods again. Richard sits back, nonplused, "Well, I don't… I don't rightly know. We hated each other when we were first forced to work together…"

Jacko chuckles, "Oh, mon, that story allus gets a good laugh in the bar! That wiley ol' fox sure can pick 'em! An' he got YOU t' stay, didn' he? Oh, yah, he's a sly one , our Commissioner."

Richard feels his cheeks heat up. Thank goodness it's dark now. "Yes, he's a sly one all right."

Jacko pats Richard's arm, "But the man's dedicated t' the island. He has our best interests t' heart… so iffn he wants you then you belong here. Count on it. You should trust him."

"I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him," Richard grumbles and Jacko laughs again.

"So," he sums up, "you got no advice fer me t' hand on t' my cousins 'bout yer hell-cat?"

"Don't call her that!" Richard barks. "She's the best officer I've ever worked with, she's brave and strong and true. I trust her with my life and…" He stops talking at the look Jacko is giving him. "What? What's that look for? It's the truth, she's a force of nature and…"

Jacko props his chin into a palm and grins, "Oh, I don't doubt any o' that. She's certainly alla that an' more. I'm just wonderin' iffn she knows you love her."

END – part 3