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Saint Marie had always been a special place, and by that she did not mean the sea or the woods or its people – all things Ri – some people would not have counted – no, by that she meant that – there were days, weeks even, when the borders between worlds became weak, left things through that ought not to be, and all they could do was try and contain -
Camille knew she should have been worried as always, but instead, lately, she had been wondering if -
She should not have been, naturally. Richard would have been the first to tell her, let her know that this was dangerous and that what was done was done, lives came to an end, that was how it was, and they should know that best of all… yes, she did know, but that did not make it any better in any way, rather the contrary…
Yet when Madame Fury had come into the station and claimed that someone wanted to talk go them from – she had known it was Richard - after all – who would still be around even after - to tell them what to do? Of course it would be him, it would -
But she had been polite, and she gad listened, and the Konger she did that, the more and more she had been convinced that it could be no one else – a very persistent souk, a soul who felt that things did not go as they should, a soul that demanded they check and look and make absolutely sure that nothing went wrong –
Yes, it was Richard, the man she had lost, the man she had –
Life had left them no time. She didn’t know what would have happened if it had, and she never would – and that may be for the best.
But now – there would be a chance to reach him – contact him – be with him again, if only for a short time –
When they had talked it over, she fled to her mother, like a little girl, and she knew just from the look on her face, and she took her into her arms, “Oh Cherie… I know it’s – you don’t have to. I can talk to Selwyn, I can –“
“No, Maman – it’s my duty. He would never forgive me if I didn’t fulfil that – “ no need to explain who he was, no reason to, either, Maman knew.
“Of course, Cherie. I just don’t want you to get hurt –“
“I already was.” It was true. And it always would hurt, even if the pain had softened slightly as time had passed…
This better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, that was what a poet Richard must have read had once written, and she knew it to be true; even so –
But well, here they were, and the Veil was weakening, as often around this time, and Richard wanted to talk –
What could he possibly wish to tell her, she wondered, and for a second, her heart beat faster again, but no – no – not even now would he ever – so it had be something work related, or of that kind at least –
Maybe there was a ghost police, and he was working there now, she thought with a smile that was quickly gone when she recalled it might not be Richard at all. Even Madame Fury herself had pointed out that sometimes, demons and the like pretended to be someone who one had once known to gain entry –
But that risk, she was ready to take. If only she could hear Richard’s voice one last time, even if it was to complain about the heat –
She should have known it would not be that easy, because this was her and Richard they were talking about, and things never were.
They had to go shortly before the Equinox, when the veil would be thinnest, and she – it was stupid, of course, but for one moment she imagined putting on the red dress, the one she had always hoped she would wear for him one day when they were on a –
Nonsense. This was work, and he would never forgive her if she did not show up dressed appropriately. That she still made sure she looked her best – that was something else, and her own –
On the way to the station, she waved at Maman who was standing in front of la Kaz, and she smiled at her, pain in her eyes that Camille knew only too well.
Dwayne and Fidel followed from a safe distance, having decided they would keep an eye on her.
And then they met the medium.
“Now, it is absolutely important that you stay inside the circle” she told her as she drew it. “Outside I cannot guarantee your safety – nothing with a beating heart should cross it, and nothing it without one can.”
She nodded, remembering Richard’s heart being – but no, that was – it was done, and here they were, and at least the murderer was going to spend the rest of her life where she belonged –
“I cannot guarantee that he will – be as he was. Some hold unto themselves, some don’t.”
She thought that if someone would hold on, it would be Richard, but there was – well –
And so, she simply promised she would stay within the circle, and do her best not to –
And really, it might be for the best if he had changed. If she saw once and for all that this was – that he was – then she might be able to move on, lo –
She might be able to move on.
And so, she watched from inside the circle as the medium next to her lit a candle and sang quietly the old incantations that Maman had prohibited her from ever learning when she was young, probably because she had known what she would do –
And then, a gush of wind, the moon was darkened by clouds –
And out of the darkens stepped Detective Inspector Richard Poole, looking like the day she had lost him.
“Good evening, Camille.”
“Richard” she breathed.
That half-smile she had seen on the night of the hurricane, soft and vulnerable and –
“It’s been a while, I think –“
“Yes” she said, her voice trembling, wishing she could reach out – “Yes it has.”
“And, how are the others? Not that I think – or that they would be very – just – how are they doing?”
Wasn’t that just like him – she was about to –
And then they were interrupted. “I am sorry, Inspector, but we don’t have much time” Madame Fury said simply “So what are you trying to tell us?”
He looked at her, then nodded. “I understand. Well – it’s – to be perfectly frank – it’s like this – The Veil keeps getting weaker because there are elements on our side” no, this wasn’t’ supposed to be his side, it had never been supposed to be his side – “who want to cross over. So it needs to be strengthened, so that nothing can come through –“
But that would also mean – well – if this really happened, then moments like this would become impossible, and –
She would never see him again.
He seemed to guess her thoughts, for he smiled at her again and said, “Much as some might wish it…” she believed that he had known after all, but then he said, “Even I feel tempted, especially now –“
“Well, do not worry, Inspector” Madame Fury said. “I can close the border properly, and that will be that.”
Did she have to treat him like that – so impersonally? So much like a –
Oh, how she missed him, and how many things she had to tell him, starting with –
“Richard –“
“Camille, I have to close the border” Madame Fury said. “Talking to him will not do any good – “
“She is right” he said, oh so reverently, looking at her as she wished he could have done before all of this, before he had died, perhaps it would not have happened, he would not have gone to that reunion, why should he have – he would have stayed with them, where he belonged – “We don’t have much time, we should not waste it –“
No minute with him would ever be wasted, or had ever been wasted, she had come to realize, and she only regretted that she had never used a single one to kiss him, no matter how he would have reacted.
She reached out, but Madame Fury slapped her hand away. “I warned you to stay inside the circle!”
“You really should, Camille” he said in that soft tone again, and oh, how she wanted – “Now, if I understand correctly, I should be able to help”.
“Yes. It is always preferable when someone from the other side helps out –“
“Then I shall” he said, but he was never looking at Madame Fury, even though he would have considered that very impolite, instead starring at Camille – and how well she understood, she was doing the same, looking now because she would never be able to do it again, trying to get enough in for a lifetime –
I love you, she thought, I love you I love you I love you –
“Yes, Inspector, if you could come a little closer without entering the circle, then you can lock it from your end –“
He nodded. “That would seem to be the best course of action” he said.
“In that –“
“One moment!” he called out, and – she realized that Richard Poole was actually going to –
“We don’t have –“
“I am here, and she is here – and she deserves to hear it, even if I do not deserve to tell her –“
And then it was as if they were the only two people in the world, like that night in the lab –
“Camille, I love you. I – I don’t think I ever felt as much for anyone as I felt for you by the time – I wanted you to know that.” he took a deep breath. “And now –“
She felt her temper flare up, because of course –
But then she had an idea, a crazy, completely –
“Do it” she said quietly, still looking at Richard, and he was smiling at her –
And Madame Fury was chanting again, and she could tell, just like anyone would have, that the door was closing, closing – now – when it was only open an inch, then she would have to –
This was against the rules.
And she should not have. She knew that she should not have, that it was wrong, and more than that, not even possible –
But she grabbed Richard’s arm, and she pulled even as she called out for her to stop –
And then he was lying on top of her inside of the circle.
“Camille?” he asked, blinking in that familiar confused way of his that had at first annoyed her and then –
But she was too busy finding his – yes – there it was – beating strongly beneath her hand – she had made it, she had done it –
“Salut” she said simply, because –
“What have you done?” Madame Fury shrieked. “You cannot – I told you –“
“I just did” she said quietly. “Because this was unfair, and I do not handle unfair well.”
“I can attest to that” Richard, still on top of her, affirmed.
And then Fidel and Dwayne came running up to them –
“Camille – Chief?”
Yes, that was what he had always stayed, no matter how many replacements they had sent from London – and then, of course, they had given up when none of them would stay longer than a few years –
“I” Richard frowned “I am not quite sure –“
But Camille was done with the unspoken words and the dreams and the regrets and so she said, “Don't worry, I am. When do you want to get married, then?”
“I - what - married? Camille -”
And she kissed him because she should have down so a Long Time ago, and she could, and all was well in the world.