Chapter Text
The prosecutor gathered up the papers into a folder and rose.
“The case looks solid. Thanks to you and your team, this looks like a win. I’ll let you know if I need anything more.” He shook hands with Richard, nodded to the others as he passed them, and left the building.
“Right,” said Richard. “That’s the robbery case finished. How are we doing on the Bardon murder? Has the autopsy report come in?”
“Not yet, Chief,” answered Dwayne. “You want me to call over to them?”
“No, let’s give it until the end of the day,” said Richard as he walked to the refrigerator for a bottle of cold water.
“I still think the wife did it,” said Camille.
“Why do you always suspect other women?” asked Richard.
“The wife is always the first suspect in a husband’s murder. And she didn’t seem to be at all upset by his death.” Camille’s French accent always seemed to get stronger when she argued with her boss. Dwayne noticed it and smiled. He and Fidel exchanged amused looks. They always enjoyed the verbal tennis match between the two detectives.
Richard, as usual, became irritated by Camille’s increased Frenchness. “Perhaps she is reserved, a private sort of person. Not everyone shows their every emotion, you know.”
Oh yes, I know that, thought Camille. Aloud she said, “I know, I know, she’s English. So you’re telling me that an English woman won’t cry when her husband dies?”
“No, that is NOT what I’m saying. English people grieve when a loved one dies.”
“Ah HA!” Camille cried triumphantly. “She didn’t cry because she isn’t grieving. She isn’t grieving because she didn’t love him. She hated him and she killed him!”
Richard stared at her. “Honestly, Camille, if that is your idea of a logical—”
“RICHIE!” Everyone turned to look at the woman in the doorway. She ran to Richard, and threw her arms around his neck. Much to the amazement of his team, Richard wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
“I’ve missed you so much, I had to come down here to see how you are. The flight was ever so long. I have a week’s holiday, isn’t that brilliant?”
Camille studied the newcomer, or what she could see of her, considering how she was buried in Richard’s embrace. Her accent gave her away as English. She had light brown hair, medium build—not skinny, not fat. She was babbling about Richard not telling her he was going to be away for so long and he just let her go on and on. Camille was surprised. Who the hell was this woman anyway? And what was her relationship with Richard? She called him Richie! And she was touching him and hugging him and fussing at him. And he didn’t seem to mind. This was more physical contact in a few minutes than she had observed in all the months Richard had been on Saint Marie.
Well, she thought, there’s no reason he would tell us about a girlfriend back in England. But it must have been serious if the woman felt confident that she could just show up unannounced. Richard was not exactly the spontaneous type. Camille had taken to stopping by Richard’s bungalow once in a while, but she was never sure how welcome she was. THIS woman was quite sure she would be welcome. Camille’s thoughts were interrupted by Richard’s voice.
“Meg.”
Ah, so the woman was called Meg.
“Margaret!”
The woman continued giggling and talking.
“MARGARET JUSTINE!”
Camille gasped as Richard clapped his hand over Meg’s mouth.
“I’m delighted to see you, Sweetheart, but you’re interrupting our work.”
From behind Richard’s hand came a muffled “Oh, sorreee!” He dropped his hand and she turned to face Richard’s team.
“I am so sorry! But I haven’t seen Richard in so long! I’m looking forward to learning all about Saint Marie and meeting his friends. And the lizard! I can’t believe he has a pet lizard!”
“It isn’t a pet; it just lives in my house.”
Camille looked at Richard and raised her eyebrows as if to say, Meeting your friends, Richard. Aren’t you going to introduce us?
He took the hint. “Meg, this is—”
“Let me guess! Camille, well obviously, you’re the only woman on the team. And you’re Dwayne, and you’re Fidel,” she finished, nodding at each of them. “Right?”
Dwayne and Fidel nodded and grinned at Meg. Her happiness was infectious. Camille smiled to be polite, but something kept the brilliance out of her smile as she waited for Richard to finish the introduction.