*Nicole and Danielle are close friends of Camille's, introduced over on the AO3 site in 'Early Days: collection #1' stories 'Across A Crowded Room' and 'Across A Crowded Room 2' plus upcoming cameos in 'The Wedding of Richard and Camille'.*

Part 2 of 5

La Kaz

Fifteen minutes into her 'date' and Camille is in a dark corner on the phone to one of her island besties. "Nicole, you better get down to 'La Kaz', I found another English! He's perfect for you… well, almost perfect, a bit younger, a bit stouter, but sooo Richard! I'm calling Danielle next so you'd better hurry if you want… oh, OK! Bye."

So it is that, ten minutes later, DI Ricketts' unsuccessful wooing of Poole's DS is interrupted most happily by the jostling appearance of not one but TWO beautiful ladies who find him much more interesting than Camille does. They bracket him, shutting Camille out, relegating her to the far end of the table as each vies for his attention.

Into this confusion comes the next unexpected, indeed shocking, arrival, that of DI Poole himself. One minute Camille is watching and laughing at her friends' antics, the next minute her humor dries up and she's staring up into haunted green eyes.

"Poole!" Ricketts blurts, "Aren't you on duty?" His manners almost fail him at this sudden intrusion of one male onto another male's patch. Testosterone simmers in both breasts... English testosterone, true… but it simmers hotly none the less!

Richard spares the man a keen glance then looks back to Camille, "Well, yes, but I have to pick up my supper so…" He waves a hand back over his shoulder in the direction of the kitchen.

Camille snorts. She knows full well that tonight's menu is all seafood so she also knows his given reason for being here is bogus. Imagine that... Richard Poole… lying. She indicates the empty space beside her chair, "Care to join us while you wait?"

"Yes!" He quickly hooks a chair neatly into place and inserts himself between Camille and the rest of the table, giving his back to everyone else. He looks like he needs to get something off his chest… and she suddenly can't wait to hear it. She leans in, making him lean in...

… and Danielle is slightly jostled during this maneuver. She turns to give Richard a look… then pauses… and studies him quite thoughtfully. Camille sees this and her hackles go up. She very carefully extends the fingers of one hand to just touch the edge of Richard's sleeve and levels a laser beam right between Danielle's eyes. Danielle gets the full blast, quickly turns back to Ricketts, and sees Nicole has gotten a whole five seconds ahead of her! Got to catch up!

Richard looks from Camille to Danielle then down to his sleeve… had he felt something? By the time he looks back up, Danielle is vamping Ricketts and Camille is watching with evident relish, both hands in plain sight on the table top. He leans in to whisper, "I think La Kaz has mice."

She's startled out of her assumed nonchalance, "Mice? Why do you say that?"

"Something small and hot and velvety just grazed my wrist. Will you tell her or shall I?"

She smiles, "I'll handle it, don't worry about it."

Ricketts finally decides that with three lovely ladies at the table he can afford to be magnanimous, "Hey, Poole! You weren't kidding when you said the women down here are beautiful… but you never told me how smart and funny they are too."

Richard is pinned by three pairs of female eyes that seem to slice ribbons off him. He flinches internally but manages a smile, "That was confidential information, just between coppers." He turns aside to Camille quickly and whispers, "I had to say SOME thing… he was making inappropriate queries about you."

She arches a brow, "And what if I welcome queries? What if I follow in the footsteps of other female officers and pair up with a colleague? Who are you to make that decision for me?"

He blanches quite visibly and can't seem to find a reply.

END - part 2