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Chapter 7: 'Two cases?

It's not all good news for Camille. Richard has recovered, it's true, but he's going to be kept in hospital for almost a week.

The little Poole children will remain with the Pattersons. Selwyn seems to adore them. Although the children will be coming to the hospital almost every day.

The Commissioner explained this to the Poole couple when all the visitors left, including the unruly and tearful children Camille and Richard Poole Bordey. Richard has tried to reason with them as to why they cannot stay with him in the hospital room, but the little ones have not listened to reason.

Richard feels that this is where they have left their mother.

Although Richard has had to use great willpower not to run away from the hospital after them.

When the Poole marriage had calmed down a bit after the (temporary) farewell to their children, they began to listen calmly to Commissioner Patterson.

'I'm very glad to see you awake, Inspector. But I have... asked the doctors at the hospital for you to rest for a week. I need you to be fully recovered. It has frightened us to see you in such a deep coma, you have to understand.'

As Patterson says this, he looks at Camille, who is still paler than usual. Selwyn does not forget what his wife has told him about Camille's suffering. And he, well, he has learned to appreciate Richard Poole quite a bit too. Not just because he's one of his best assets for the island.

Camille does not interrupt the Commissioner. She has certainly been very frightened. She still can't help a few shivers at the thought that Richard might have disappeared from her and her children's lives.

Richard looks at his wife and his superior not believing what he is hearing.

Is he going to be a prisoner in the hospital?

Commissioner, you have to understand that we have a very important case on our hands...' Richard begins to explain, to implore, but Camille, not Patterson, interrupts him.

Richard, James Porter is already behind bars. His fingerprints were on the chocolates. And Fidel found the contact on Porter's phone who supplied him with the psilocybin, the substance that nearly killed you.'

Richard looks at her and, stroking her hands to reassure her, continues with his idea of how to pursue the case.

Camille, I'm alive. Even in a coma you know very well that I felt you by my side. But I need to work. Could you at least bring me a whiteboard and the case reports? I know it's already solved. But we're still missing what drove Porter to try to kill Professor Norwich. Although I suspect it may well be to steal his literary legacy. Can I do that?'

The Commissioner laughs heartily and replies:

'I don't see any problem, Inspector. Perhaps it would be good if you could also look into that other matter the sergeant mentioned, the one with the Tainos. And it would also be good for you to review the cultural activity that you and the professor have prepared for the island. I don't trust Porter's proposed changes.'

Richard is glad to have homework so he doesn't get bored. And he begins to think about what the Tainos of the dream or whatever might have in common with this cultural activity of the shared mythology between the United Kingdom and Saint Marie.

Camille and Patterson observe that he is re-linking ideas and she, taking Selwyn aside, asks him:

Thank you, Commissioner, I really appreciate it. The hospital has also asked me to stay with Richard. They are also going to do some additional tests. I'll still be in control of the station, though, and I'll be sleeping at home for a few nights. Only you could force him to stay here.'

The commissioner smiles at her with affection and care. Camille Poole is another rising asset for Saint Marie. And for the Patterson couple. They consider the Poole children their grandchildren.

As Patterson leaves the hospital room, Richard asks Camille:

'You're not leaving, are you? I'd like to talk to you about something that just occurred to me.'

She laughs. She loves it when he behaves like that. Richard Poole could no longer live alone.

She finishes saying goodbye to the Commissioner and returns to her husband's side, sitting on the bed with him.

'Really? Tell me about it then. This afternoon Dwayne will drop by to give you all the case reports. From Cambridge they're sending the evidence they have against Porter to the station. Is that it?'

Richard shakes his head.

'No, but... very good work. I still want to see those reports, though. Thank you. No. I remember what we discussed about that cultural site or walk. I think I know what those Tainos in the dream were trying to tell me. Their cultural legacy is missing.

Camille remembers that they studied this people when she was very young. In school. Not that she paid much attention. Not that there was much information about them either.

Richard, there is not much to add. I'm afraid there will be cultures that will always remain a mystery. There are no records.'

Richard looks at her with a strange smile.

'Camille, in a way they have not only saved the Professor's life, but yours and mine. Although I think they were only trying to save Norwich's life and you and I have collaterally benefited. I believe there is a perfectly valid scientific and biological record to recover that culture.'

Camille looks at her husband curiously. She thinks she understands what he is talking about.

'You're talking about DNA, aren't you?'

Richard smiles.

'I knew you'd understand what I want to tell you. You always do.'

'What a remedy! I've married a science buff. So I talk to Professor Norwich and we look into... DNA? Just like that.

Richard clarifies to his wife:

'Just tell him to look into mitochondrial DNA. Especially the DNA of the inhabitants of the Caribbean, of Saint Marie. See what he finds. And, above all, how he could put it into the activity that brought him to Saint Marie.'

Camille lies down next to him, getting him to lie down to rest. She hugs him gently and says:

'So we have two cases, a possible case of usurpation of literary research rights, so to speak. A case that also almost resulted in the murder of three people and another 'case' of cultural reclamation of a village. Is that correct, my love?'

Richard kisses her on the forehead and whispers in her ear:

'I couldn't have said it better myself. You have no idea how happy I am to be alive. And not just because of those wonderful little monsters we have as children. You know that at the end of my dream I already knew that the Camille next to me was not you, and the teacher was not Norwich. I really felt very lonely. That's why I cried out for help. I don't mind admitting it. I love all of you: the children and you.'

Camille whispers:

'And so do I. Always.'

After a moment's silence, Richard says:

'And I'll never taste another chocolate bar again.'

She would have laughed at that comment, but she couldn't. She was already falling asleep. Richard fell asleep a few minutes later.

After a proper rest, later that afternoon Richard and Camille were in his hospital room studying all the documents that Dwayne had brought them.

Fidel accompanied him. It was a rare occurrence, but he promised he had his mobile phone in case anyone called and would be right back.

'I just wanted to inform you that we have already received by email all the information we were promised by Cambridge University, sir. Porter had indeed started proceedings to put the entire Norwich bequest in his name.'

Richard asked Fidel:

What about the professor's wife, Jade? What about the professor's children?

James Porter managed to get Jade Norwich to sign a waiver of her rights to her husband's intellectual work. Before coming here I informed her to start the claim for her rights to her husband's work. She was furious. And not just because Porter was trying to assassinate her husband.'

Camille sighs:

'I think Porter is safer in the cells now. If I were her, in the same situation as her, he wouldn't be alive right now. Of course, in a way, Jade and I are in the same situation!'

As Camille makes to get out of bed to go to the hospital bedroom door, Richard holds her back with an iron hand on her arm.

Geoffrey and I are fine, Camille. I appreciate your murderous intentions towards my assailant, but I can't let you ruin your life for someone like Porter.'

'Richard, I was just going to scare him. I wasn't planning to kill him!'

'I know, Camille...' at which point Richard asks Dwayne: 'where is Jade right now?'

'Don't worry, Chief, she's with her husband. The professor has insisted that she be with him to sort out the whole mess Porter has made of the Norwich papers. Apart from talking to Cambridge on the phone, they have already communicated with their children. The professor is also preparing the DNA of the island or something'.

Richard is happy. Everything seems to be going according to plan.

Thank goodness. I wonder...No, I'm sure the professor's assistant will serve his sentence in the UK. But away from Cambridge too.'

Fidel and Dwayne smile at their superior's comment. Jade, like Camille, has proved to be a tough cookie.

Richard continues his presentation of the case:

'But I don't think we should worry about Professor Norwich's impressive legacy or his life. Both are safe at this point.'

Dwayne comments:

'It's a coincidence that it was at Saint Marie. It's funny how everything has turned against Porter here on the island.'

Camille replies:

'Dwayne, there's no such thing as coincidence.'

Fidel, before leaving, finishes with a:

'Isn't it a coincidence that the professor's evil and ambitious assistant has crossed paths with the only police team that has been able to stand up to his overweening ambition?'

Richard begins to suspect that certain entities in both places, England and Saint Marie, have been in contact to prevent the murder of someone who was fighting to save them from oblivion.

The next day, due to the small crowd that visited the Poole's in the hospital to consider further action, it was decided to have breakfast in an area of the hospital garden perfectly sheltered from the strong Caribbean sun.

The small crowd consisted of the Poole Bordey's young children, Dwayne, Fidel, Professor Norwich and his wife Jade.

Richard was forced to ride in a wheelchair...

Professor Norwich had no choice but to wonder how it was possible that he had overlooked a certain detail...