Chapter 11: Smiling at the camera

Summary:

Each time the course of events moves further and further away from what was originally planned, before changing everything for a dream, sometimes nightmare, come true. But that still doesn't free Richard from a past in which he was unhappy and which he thought was dead and buried miles away.

Chapter Text

When Alice sees that this tiresome man has stopped demanding more than a cold beer from Catherine, she decides to speak to her friend:

"Catherine, my dear, am I to understand that you know how to treat these slugs?"

Catherine laughs lightly, making light of the matter.

"Alice, I've always known how to deal with these guys. Worst case scenario, Camille has taught me a couple of tricks to physically defend myself against them if it comes to it. Which so far has never been necessary. And I have the police station phone on speed dial if it turns into something much more serious. Bars have significant potential risks."

Alice looks at her sympathetically as she continues to sip her non-alcoholic cocktail. Arthur has decided he's going to try his hand at fishing so she's on her own today.

"I'm glad to hear that. I suppose my son has briefed you on the etiquette used by bars and pubs in my country, hasn't he?" asks Alice almost sympathetically at the thought of Richard's lecture Catherine must have had to endure.

"Oh yes, no doubt about it. " And, pulling out a neatly ordered sheet of paper, she shows it to Alice. "And, just in case I 'forgot', he has made me a photocopy. This sheet of paper is always kept here in case he asks me for it. But do you know the worst of it?"

"He cares about you, my dear. He can't help it."

"The worst thing is that Camille is starting to get into the same habit. She almost asks me for it more often than he does!"

They both burst out laughing.

"I had hoped my son has adopted some of her habits, not the other way around."

Richard has been nervous all morning. Of course the fact that the ceiling fan in the police station is not working is a key factor.

But the reality is that he is preparing to ask Camille to marry him. They already have the house almost perfectly furnished. It's been a month since Aimée's unfortunate death and Camille seems to have recovered from the shock of it. But she will always remember all the wonderful times they spent together.

And Richard has had the ring prepared and fitted for her. Everything is ready and nothing should go wrong.

Except that he, fed up with the electrician delaying yet again to fix the fan, has decided to try it himself under the watchful and worried eyes of his team.

Everyone knows that having your hands full relaxes the mind and he needs it badly since the night before his parents had been giving him a thousand and one ideas on how to make the occasion memorable.

Now, at the station, as he stands atop a table to reach the fan, "Richard, darling. " In as low voice Camille, who is standing next to him speaking softly to keep it professional, tries to dissuade him. "You just have to wait a little longer. I don't know much more about this subject than you do, but maybe you shouldn't turn off the electricity first?"

The electrical shock Richard gets gives Camille the nod and she forces him off the table.

"If you want to play with something, get that puzzle out of the cupboard! But get down from there right now! You don't need to prove anything!"

At that moment Dwayne's phone starts ringing insistently.

And Fidel, seeing that his superior is a little upset at receiving a shock, urges Dwayne to take the call at once. Richard's added glare makes Dwayne take the call.

And, Dwayne, trying to get rid of an annoying call and to calm his boss, decides to pretend to be the answering machine. All this under Camille's disdainful gaze.

The men at the police station are worse than children! Good thing she's there.

"Yes, Dwayne's phone! Who am I speaking to?" Camille has decided to cut to the chase and steals her friend's phone.

Estelle, one of Dwayne's many lady friends, has found a woman, a tourist who was going to spend 15 days on the island on holiday, dead. She is strangled in the living room of the luxury villa intended mainly for visitors.

Richard won't need that puzzle after all.

The Saint Marie police team rushes over there.

Once at the scene, Richard comments, after studying the crime scene, that he can't help but have déjà vu.

"Speaking French at last, Richard?"

Fidel smiles sympathetically.

"No," Richard assures her. "It's almost exactly like a case that happened in the UK. It's strange."

"Maybe it's the same killer, sir." Says Fidel.

"No, I don't think so. " And Richard tells Fidel, who is going over the syllabus for his sergeant's exam, of the exact subject and date of that particular old case. Amazing memory Richard.

"You solved it, I suppose? Camille comments.

"Not at all. That case was handled by one of my most loathsome colleagues, Detective ..."

At that moment a man enters, who stares in surprise at the corpse.

Richard continues speaking, pointing to the stranger who has just entered.

"...Doug Anderson."

At that moment Richard feels himself back in Croydon, for a second he has forgotten even the preparations for Camille's marriage proposal.

Is the look on Doug Anderson's face also one of dismay?

Camille had a passing acquaintance with Richard's life in Croydon before he met her. Seeing the behaviour of Doug Anderson, husband of the late June Anderson, towards Richard, she cannot help but dislike the man despite his loss. Dicky boy! How dare he?

But what amazes her most is that she sees no real pain in the man. She takes note. Richard is not the only one who knows how to observe a crime scene. And she senses that Richard is a little shaken by the man.

Richard and Camille question Janice, the sister of the murdered woman. Who, by the way, does show herself to be devastated. But they don't get much out of her.

Will Teague, the person who rented the villa to the Andersons, has found them another temporary home and they leave with him.

When they are alone, Camille asks Richard if he is all right. She has witnessed the affect Anderson has on Richard.

"I'm just surprised, Camille. That man has always baffled me."

"Richard, never forget that the trust, admiration and respect we have for you is due to your great worth as a policeman. What's important here is that you don't focus on those who aren't worth it, OK? You helped me with Aimée, remember?"

Richard looks at her, for a second he seems to understand what she wants to tell him.

"Don't make any rash decisions, promise? That's not your style."

Richard smiles, now he remembers why he wants to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

"Don't worry, but don't leave my side. Doug Anderson is no good. I'm pretty sure he had something to do with all this. He didn't love his wife."

"Richard, what did I just say to you?"

"If it was you lying there murdered, I can assure you that I would not have behaved like him, Camille. In fact, it wouldn't have happened, because I would never leave you alone like he did. Of course, bars have always had a certain preference in Doug Anderson's life."

But Richard hates Doug Anderson. He can't help it. Not just for personal reasons. His former colleague's behaviour as a cop has always left a lot to be desired - and he was admired and imitated by other cops in the station!

So all the orders he gives to his colleagues will only look for any clues to prove that Doug is responsible for his wife's death.

Camille tries her best to get him to regain the serenity and peace he needs to deal with this case with absolute objectivity.

But when she and Richard look at the CCTV footage of Doug buying cigarettes around the time of the crime, the DI says to Camille:

"Aren't you seeing how he's smiling at the camera, Camille? He knew everything that was going on. He's guilty."

Camille decides she'll have to wait for the right moment to try and talk some sense into Richard because she needs to talk to Arthur. Maybe he can do something for his son.

Meanwhile, Richard orders Fidel and Dwayne to stand guard that night at the villa. Richard wants absolutely nothing to contaminate the crime scene.

Rather it is Camille who gives these orders to her colleagues, as Richard is talking to Doug at the station. When she walks in and hears what Detective Anderson is telling him at the time about how cops can bend rules and procedures when it suits them and how Richard never knew how to earn the respect and affection of his colleagues, she decides to intervene.

"I don't know why DI Poole's colleagues didn't like our senior officer when he was stationed in Croydon, but here on the island, Mr. Anderson, he is respected and I would ask you to keep your inappropriate personal comments to yourself. They are of no interest to us, sir. I am deeply sorry about what happened to your wife, but proper police procedures are followed here, I don't know how the police will act in Croydon. I may have to call them and check what you're implying..."

Doug Anderson isn't the only one looking at her in astonishment. Richard does too. And he can't think of anything to say at the time.

But Anderson is no fool.

"I see you've managed to earn more than just the respect of your female officer, dicky boy. Need I congratulate you, perhaps?"

Now it's Camille who rushes forward to get between the two former colleagues. At that moment Richard seems to be pouring fire out of his eyes.

"His name is DI Poole, sir. Will I also have to ask in Croydon if policewomen are required to do anything other than their police work to do their jobs? Leaving aside the use of derogatory nicknames for colleagues, Croydon might be interested to know what image you are portraying of them here on the island... I think I should speak to Commissioner Patterson so he can have a conversation with your superiors."

This time Doug Anderson decides it is not wise to pursue this conversation. Richard Poole is not alone and defenseless here.

"Are you sure you still want to live with me, Camille?"

Doug Anderson seems to be getting him to rethink a lot of things he once took for granted.

The two of them are cuddled together sitting on the steps of the varanda. Technically they are asleep, so they can enjoy some indeterminate time of peace before waking up to the reality of the ghosts of Croydon.

"More than ever, cherie. You helped me with Aimée, I'll help you with that creep Anderson. And, Richard..."

Richard looks at her with doubt on his countenance. He had hoped he could get through this alone, he didn't want Camille to see his cowardly side.

"You're not a coward!"

Richard was so rattled by everything that he has even forgotten that she can read his thoughts.

"I'm not? I couldn't stop the abuse at Croydon and they made my life impossible."

"You were on your own, Richard. You didn't even have the support of your parents like you have now here on the island. Don't you understand? You're not alone now. You have me, my mother, your parents, Dwayne and Fidel, the Commissioner, the towns people. At Croydon, you were on Anderson's turf but here he's on yours. Don't forget that. "

Richard looks at her sincerely and is deeply thankful that she still wants to be by his side.

"Always, cherie, always, you're not getting rid of me!" She hugs him fiercely. "All I ask is that you trust yourself and get that sexy, wonderful brain of yours back on track."

"You think my brain is sexy?"

She sits on his lap and, kissing his neck extremely slowly, looks up at him and thinks with a great look of determination.

"Accompanied by a body to die for - I want you in there right now!"

Richard can't think at the moment, but this time he doesn't care. If this is some sort of French shock therapy to him get over past humiliations, he has to admit it's highly unorthodox… and effective!

And, meanwhile, a certain lizard is running swiftly up his tree. Certainly there are things about human nature even a Loa is not prepared for.