Chapter 18: Music and Monsters

Summary:

Camille seems to have lost her usual self-assurance, which Richard is gaining with each passing day. A personality swap? And Dwayne is happy to help his friends get matched - as long as they don't match him, of course.

Chapter Text

Its evening and Richard is sitting alone on the terrace of a bar where tonight the event of the century is taking place. According to Dwayne, of course. It's a concert by the great Solly Jackson and The Venerators after a long absence. The truth is that the place is buzzing with crazy fans who have never given up hope of seeing their hero in action again.

And when the DI observes dozens of people still entering the venue, he smiles because he realizes that these people, this audience, will never settle for anyone other than Solly.

Richard is still a young man, although sometimes Camille loses patience because of his concern about their age difference. He must be careful because, young or not so young, Camille's fingernails are sharpened if she sees him talking to another woman, any woman. Unless she's a witness in a case or, straight up, a murderer who's going straight to jail. And even then...

When he pulls his ear plugs out, Richard decides that today the world is right and he's happy. It's a perfect moment.

He begins to remember how he got into this mess...

Camille is leafing through a fashion magazine. When she was in Paris she realized that she had been out of touch with the changes in the fashion world in general for quite some time.

Richard looked at her for a second thinking that it was incomprehensible that she should have doubts about his fidelity. According to her, now that everyone knew they were a couple, more than one woman on and off the island now knows that Richard is worth the trouble.

Of course he laughed heartily at such subjective observations, but all it did was make her angry with him. Trying to stop thinking about it, Richard tried to start a conversation:

"I read recently that men's and women's brains are basically the same, it's just that they work differently."

Dwayne looks at him somewhat confused.

Fidel immediately replies:

"It seems to be true, sir. But they also say it's very difficult to study the brain because we could never be objective. We can't live or think without it.

Camille jumps in:

"Well, I'd say it's already been proven that women can live just as well as men without them."

Richard tries to explain. It seems that lately they're starting to argue like they never argued before. It's official: the honeymoon is over.

"I didn't mean that..."

Dwayne interrupts him, seeming to have found something to say.

"I think what those studies mean is that women are more devious. They know how to get what they want. Some of them manipulate men in general quite well. That's why I don't tie myself to just one woman."

Richard can't help but think Dwayne has a point. The reality is that Camille does what she wants with him.

"Do you think I manipulate you, Richard?"

The DI is very surprised, is he dreaming now or is Camille able to read his mind outside of their dream encounters as well?

"Of course not! It was Dwayne who..."

"Yes, but you've been thinking too long."

So that was his mistake...

As Camille still doesn't believe him, she has decided that she will have a conversation with him this afternoon and that there will be no special night of any kind after that talk. She doesn't want him to feel manipulated by her.

Fidel is looking the other way and Dwayne is starting to look for a distraction, any distraction. Just to dilute the tension in the air.

"Camille, do you remember Solly, the singer?" he asks her, trying to distract her from her anger.

The change of conversation throws Camille off a little, but she remembers immediately who Dwayne is talking about.

Richard has completely lost track of the conversation.

Dwayne bravely carries on, "Tomorrow night Solly's band is getting back together to play. After that they're releasing an album and they've already got a tour lined up. You could all come along. I want all my friends to come with me."

Camille looks at Richard with disdain.

"I don't want to force anyone. But, Dwayne, you can count on me."

"And me." Fidel adds. It's been too long since he's been to a concert.

Richard finally catches up and says rather huffily, "I think the invitation included friends, so I think I can consider myself invited." Richard can't help but feel irritated. The spectre of rejection still flutters from time to time even after all these years.

"Of course you can, Chief! You'll be more than welcome. You know we want you on the island." Dwayne replies.

Back to the night of the concert...

Richard smiles remembering last night after their talk and... making up. They were clear on several points. They really love each other, even if they argue sometimes. They have decided that they will work on that. Also that Richard knows how to manipulate his Caribbean goddess just as she manipulates him. They seemed to be at peace.

But he senses that Camille is not at peace tonight. She is restless and nervous. It's her character. But he'd swear that Camille is bothered by something. Richard makes a mental note to find out what's wrong with her.

He stops his reverie when he hears a woman crying hidden not far from where he is and can't help thinking that he's not the only one who doesn't like this kind of music. He's been brought up to be a gentleman, or try to be, so he goes close enough to see the flashy pair of sandals the mystery woman is wearing.

He doesn't get any closer because...

"Richard!" The voice belongs to Camille.

And Richard, who is getting to know her, decides not to go any closer to this damsel in distress.

"Richard, we're waiting for you. Do you want to come in? She looks everywhere before continuing to speak. "I know you don't like it, but as a DI, it's good that you let yourself be seen, that people think you're interested in their ways... Dwayne is on edge! He keeps asking about you. Besides, if you behave yourself, I'll put back on that little outfit I brought back from Paris."

Richard looks at her with a smile and puts his earplugs back on. He takes them off as soon as he sees the angry look on his girlfriend's face.

"You've convinced me." Is his terse reply.

But before he leaves, he looks for the crying woman. No one is there.

"Richard!"

Camille, seeing that he is somewhat scattered, decides to take him by the hand and doesn't let go until the show ends before it begins.

"Don't you think they went a bit overboard with the staging?" asks Richard as he and Camille relax with beers on the veranda of his shack, listening to the waves of the sea.

The concert was certainly impressive. Part of Solly's staging involved arriving in a coffin. Of course, when Solly's assistant opened the lid in amazement at the lack of activity, Richard thought that the singer being dead inside was just too much.

And now they have a new case. Poor Dwayne!

"And didn't you go a bit too far with Fidel?" asked Camille next.

"If I hadn't stopped Solly's wife from leaving before we could question her, believe me, Camille, Fidel would have been in for quite a dressing down."

Camille looks at him sardonically:

"I'd say he got it anyway, didn't you make mistakes when you started out in the police force?"

Richard is thoughtful. Of course he made mistakes! And worst of all, he can't be sure whether any of them caused serious human damage or not. Richard just wanted to help Fidel not to make the same mistakes he had. Part of a DI's job is to encourage the careers of his commissioned officers. And Fidel has a good chance of promotion.

"Of course I've made mistakes, Camille. That's why I don't want Fidel to go through what I did."

Camille looks at him with a smile...

"And what were those mistakes, Richard?"

"They would seem silly to you today, Camille. It's not worth talking about them now."

"We'll leave it for another day then."

She gets up and gives him a kiss before preparing to leave. She needs to get her thoughts in order too.

Richard looks after her and calls out:

"Camille. What I'd really like to know is what's got you so upset? You don't seem to feel as you always have. Not always."

Camille sighs and turns away.

"When I get my head straight, I'll tell you, Richard. I promise."

As he watches her leave, he remembers his promise to himself that he will talk to her tonight. One way or another.

"Richard, you know we shouldn't see each other tonight. We need to rest."

Its Camille, who, having been transported to Richard's shack, has been forced to clarify certain terms with him.

Richard gets out of bed just to hug her.

"I just want to talk to you. To know what's wrong with you. Maybe between the two of us we can figure it out."

Richard is dressed in dark blue striped pyjamas and Camille is wearing a light nightgown, which he tries to ignore. This is not the time to enjoy one of their passionate encounters.

When she realizes that she can't get out of talking to him, she tries to start from the beginning.

Now they are both sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard and enjoying the soft, gentle air conditioning that only appears in their dreams.

Richard notices that she seems calmer now.

"Do you remember Sara, the girl who runs the pet shop on the island?"

"No." Richard answers with absolute sincerity. "Is that necessary?"

She shrugs and smiles.

"Not really. We went to school together and, as I suspected, the whole island has picked up on our relationship."

"What's the problem?"

Camille gets a little serious and continues:

"Sara's grandmother's card game friends have told her that some people think you just want to have fun with me. You know, like I'm a souvenir of the island that you'll enjoy until you leave..."

Richard looks at her very seriously and interrupts her:

"We've been over this. I came here to stay. You and I haven't really decided how yet but I love you and I'm not going to give you up. Are you telling me that you now believe the ignorant gossip on the island and that's why you feel so uneasy? Trust me, Camille. You can do that without reservation."

"I didn't believe them. They have no idea how special our life together is, in reality and out of it. Remember when your parents called you to ask what they should send you to the shack?"

Richard nods.

"It wasn't that long ago. Of course I remember."

He begins to understand what Camille is getting at, though. He knows he's made a mistake. Another one.

"Your mother in particular asked you if you had something to tell her. Before you go on, you know that news flies from police station to police station. I'm sure she was thinking of a woman."

"Yes," Richard continues for her. "Your mother isn't the only one who wants grandchildren, honey. I made a stupid mistake and replied that there was nothing to tell. That it was business as usual. I just didn't want her to ever talk to me about grandchildren or anything like that again. And I made you invisible. Is that what you were trying to tell me?"

"Yes. The talk with Sara meant nothing. But if you added it to what you didn't tell your mother..."

Richard has already made up his mind. It's actually not entirely true what he has told Camille as an explanation for the conversation he had with his mother when she called him from the UK. But Camille must not know that yet.

"Camille, I'm an asshole. An unmitigated asshole. Yes, I'm very serious about you. I would never, I repeat, never, ever use you to 'have fun' with you on the island. And you know that better than anyone around us. I'm already settling in here and I had forgotten that, from time to time, we have to tell those we love, those around us, how much we love and need them. And in your case too, how much I adore you."

"I think I've made a mountain out of a molehill, haven't I, Richard?"

He hugs her tightly.

"When we keep things to ourselves, we don't realize it and we create monsters. We feed them ourselves. I'll call my mother tomorrow. But I warn you, you'll know almost instantly because she'll call you after she talks to me and pepper you with questions. But..." he interrupts himself, staring at her..." you brought this on yourself by thinking strange things".

When Richard wants to hug her again, he is dismayed that she is fading away without finishing what he wanted to say.

And he is fading away too…

When Richard wakes, he is a little confused and very angry to discover that he has exchanged the company of one lady for another. Specifically, a lady who crawls with a hissing sound that makes his hair stand on end.

Richard hates snakes! He fears them to the utmost degree. He can't help it. And in a state of great nervousness, he hastily calls Dwayne, who is on duty tonight.

Of course, Dwayne immediately calls Camille and the two of them rush off to their Chief's shack lest he do something stupid and hurt the poor, panicked snake. Also, Dwayne wants to make sure Camille and Richard are back on good terms. Just because he doesn't want to tie himself to any one woman doesn't mean he doesn't love to see his best friends paired up and happy. Fidel and Juliette make a wonderful couple and are about to expand their family. As for Richard and Camille, well, they are the way they are, but they can't help needing each other.

More women for Dwayne!

As they drive down the Chief's lane, Dwayne says, "Sergeant, you should consider staying with the Chief tonight. He may be feeling a little nervous. I'd offer to stay but I can't, I snore."

Camille laughs out loud because the truth is she wants to finish celebrating with Richard since those ghosts in her mind were just that, malicious ghosts of her own making.

"Dwayne, you've got some nerve! But..." she starts to say as Dwayne parks the vehicle in front of a very stiff and paralyzed Richard who is out on the veranda armed with a strange stick," I think he needs me. And I'll listen to you. Get the sack and let's go save that poor snake."

Once they have reached Richard and reassured him, even though he insists he is fine, Dwayne discovers that the snake is Curtis's pet from Solly's gang and immediately puts the confused animal in a sack.

"They sent that snake to kill me, didn't they?"

Dwayne prefers Camille to be the one to tell his Chief the truth.

"That poor harmless snake couldn't even serve as a 'warning', Richard. But tomorrow morning we'll talk to Curtis as soon as we can. I'm staying with you tonight. No matter what you say."

Richard looks at Dwayne a little embarrassed.

"I'm leaving now, Chief! Have a good night!"

Notes:

The car overhaul has really taken up more of my time than expected. Anyone who knows anything about the Spanish custom of having the car inspected at the vehicle inspection will know what I'm talking about. (ITV in Spain). But everything went well! As always, thanks to Sweepeaspatch for reviewing the chapter. Her suggestions and ideas are excellent - thanks for your time and accurate suggestions! Always! Thanks to OldProf1942 for your always kind and accurate comments (your stories have magic) , to farfromhome for your equally kind comments and for your suggestions and ideas you've given me! I love all your stories, with their very different styles! And I include those stories (also equally good) that don't exactly belong to DiP (Bridgerton (love her! Great job!), Primeval (cool!), etc...