I'm on holidays at the moment so I'm planning on getting back into some writing, only for a short period and I don't know if I will finish off my other stories I've written it's been so long I don't even remember what I was writing. This story is back to when Charlie was alive, however it doesn't have much to do with the original story plot, instead of Brax moving to Summer Bay and meeting Charlie, Brax and Teagan are together and Brax owns Angelo's where he meets Charlie as she transfers to Summer Bay as the new Police Sargent.
Unconventional Love -
Chapter One: Food For Thought
Brax P.O.V
I was sitting in the office of Angelo's going through the accounts and drawing up a table on the businesses profits for the month when I noticed a small decrease throughout the last couple months, immediately I knew what it was from, Teagan. Even though we have been together for nearly two years I can say things are slowing starting to dwindle out and I found it easier just to stay with her in hope she gets bored and leaves rather than break up with her and cause a massive drama; however that plan was costing me. The thing that attracted me to her was her free spirit; she was strong and would easily put anyone in place if they were annoying her in some way. I liked that, I liked that fact that I didn't have to baby her or protect her from the drunken man's comments or gestures as she would always put them in her place herself.
She is a free spirit and for that reason she no longer asks me if she could borrow some money from the register and she is now always giving free meals or knocking off some of the bill if her friends were to come in, which is fair enough but all those dollars and unpaid bills do eventually add up to a substantial fund and just could we can afford a few bills to go astray doesn't mean we can in a the future.
"Teagan" I call, and wait for a reply, silence. I push myself out of my chair and knock the laptop screen down and make my way into the restaurant. I see her serving a few customers, in a skirt that I have advised is too short and a shirt that is too low cut, she claims it is because I don't like men staring at her in that way but simply it's because this is a family restaurant and an imagine such as Teagan is not appropriate for children to see.
"Teagan" I call as I get closer, she looks up and smiles politely.
"I'm busy at the moment Brax" She gestures towards the family.
"See me when you are done." I say as I walk to the bar and pick up a cloth, wiping down the marble counter.
"What do you want? It's really busy today." She questions after a few minutes.
"You need to stop giving out free meals and knocking off money as frequently as you do. We can't afford it." I say.
"But they are our mates babe, they'd do the same for us." She defends herself.
"I know, but we can't keep doing it. We are down a 2.5% profit, it mighten seem like much now but if this was too continue you will find handbags, shoes, dresses and what not won't be sprouting legs and walking out the door of shops and into our bedroom anymore." I reason, she nods and walks off as another couple walks through the door.
Charlie P.O.V
I open the door to my car and step out onto the bitumen, immediately being able to smell the salty sea breeze that is coming of the ocean down below, my hair blowing in the soft wind. I look around unsure of what to do for the next 3 hours when the removalist truck comes, dad always used to tell me about this place and how he ran the police station here for various years only to move away when mum fell pregnant with me. I grabbed my hand bag, locked my car and removed my thongs and ventured down onto the beach, watching the sea waves move in and take the sand back with it. This place seemed peaceful compared to what I was told about it from my seniors; I was moved here from the city as a promotion in hope to stop the crime that was rippling the little town. Crimes, and gangs seemed so farfetched for a little beach cladded town such as Summer Bay but I needed a change of scenery anyway so I took the job and start tomorrow.
I walked up on the grass approaching the Surf Club, an older man carrying a fishing rod and bucket was washing his catches off under a tap I walked towards him.
"Excuse me, but would you be able to tell me where I could get a coffee around her?" I questioned as he looked up.
"Well, there is the diner around the corner that does coffees and Angelo's but I'd suggest the Diner." He replied.
"Okay thank you." I said as I started to walk away.
"You wouldn't be Ross Buckton's daughter would you?" He questioned, I turned and faced him.
"Yeah I would be." I smiled, nice to know someone who shares some sort of familiarity.
"Well stone the flamin' crows. Nice to know you're here. Are you the new police Sargent everyone was talking about?" He questioned.
"I start tomorrow." I reply.
"Good on you, well I better be off. Nice meeting you, I'm Alf Stewart by the way." He smiled.
"Charlie." I replied as he walked away.
Brax P.O.V
I locked Angelo's up and stored the cash in the safe in the office, collected my keys and headed towards my car. It was a very dark night, the moon hidden by the clouds as I unlocked my ute and got in, turning the key in ignition and traveling towards home.
I opened the door to also find the house in complete darkness, I turned the lights on and the Tv before heading to the fridge and grabbing some food, surprised there was any left. I must have upset Teagan because usually she'd already be home watching tv and making dinner, but she left Angelo's as soon as her shift ended, I'm not entirely sure where she went. It was already 11.30 at night and after I had a shower and a shave I got into my bed and set an alarm for 6.00 the next morning as the breakfast period starts at 7.30. I wasn't asleep long before I felt Teagan slide in beside me, I don't know why but I rolled over and wrapped my arms around her pulling her towards me, I keep telling myself I'm not interested anymore and wouldn't mind if she were to leave but having someone there when you wake up in the morning is a great feeling.
I woke up in the morning and as usual made breakfast, got dressed and had a shower before getting into my ute and driving to work, parking in my designated area and walking towards Angelo's, but something was different. The ground beneath the balcony was littered with shards of glass and as I walked up the stairs I noticed that the door was smashed in and the interior completely destroyed. Chairs were strewn across the restaurant, tables overturned, walls bashed in and bottles destroyed. I walked through the debris of the restaurant and sighed, the problem with being a River Boy is the fact that you have enemies and that always come for revenge. I knew I couldn't take out insurance without a full police investigation and I didn't have the money needed to rebuild and keep us afloat during it, so I dialled the station and with regret called for police. I knew it wouldn't be easy the police and I have a love hate relationship; they would be kicking themselves that Darryl Braxton a non-criminal is phoning for help.
Charlie P.O.V
I walked through the door of the station I now ran and was approached quickly by a small short haired woman.
"Hi Sargent Buckton, I'm Officer Watson and we had a phone call about a break and enter and we need you to respond." She rushed.
"Oh okay, would you be able to give me directions and an offsider and I'll go straight away." I said surprised, not expecting this kind of call on my first day.
"Sorry about this, but we don't really have anyone able to respond to this. The business can be found down on the main beach above the Surf Club. Here's a file on the business owner." She said as she handed me a town map and the file.
"A file on the business owner?" I questioned, flicking through the file surprised on why they would have a one on the business owner.
"Just read it, you might find it interesting." She said sarcastically.
As I was driving towards the location I flicked through the file, his profile was pretty astounding, definitely a known criminal with drugs raids, drunken offenses, domestic disputes as a child and plenty of speeding fines. I could only imagine a man covered in tattoos, medium size, stocky, addicted to narcotics and abusive, this should be an interesting day.
The constable, known as Angus met me at the location, we stood outside just talking for a while as I introduced myself and he did the same. He was quite handsome and seemed very laid back someone who I think I could work with very easily, he was funny, very quick witted by somewhat a little bit uneducated but he seemed good at his job so I didn't mind. He led me through the Surf Club and then up a flight of stairs where the destruction was noticeable, glass shattered all over the floor and the door was definitely forced open. I knocked on the door loudly as I wasn't able to see anyone through the torn up restaurant.
"Sargent Buckton, Yabbie Creek Police." I said formally hoping someone would answer. A dark haired man, quite muscular and at least 6 foot appeared from behind the wall of the bar, he began to walk over and I noticed immediately that he was very attractive. Generally I don't let myself notice such things about a people I have to deal with at cases but I couldn't help it, I shook the thoughts of my mind.
"Where would I be able to find..." I lingered looking back into the file to find the owners name.
"Darryl Braxton is he available at the moment?" I finished, looking at the man who was approaching with a smug look on his face. At that point Angus walked through the door after checking to see where the point of entry was out in the hallway.
"Oh Darryl, it must be weird being on the receiving end of the situation, usually you're the one we are trying to arrest." He said sarcastically. Well I didn't expect this...
"Mr Braxton, we need to ask that you touch the bare minimal as we have forensic officers arriving here shortly and if we find fresh fingerprints of yours on the property it could contaminate any chance of taking any of the perpetrators." I said to him, as I stepped through the broken glass, hearing it crunch under my boots.
"That's no problem...?" He hesitated, holding out his hand.
"Sargent Buckton." I said instantaneously, grabbing his hand and shaking it firmly.
Brax P.O.V
She was beautiful, I was astounded. The cops I usually deal with are short, stumpy women who have a bad attitude to try and prove their power and status within the men of their station but she was different. Tall, toned and brunette she had a firm look about her and I assumed she'd have a strong personality to match and very professional, compared to Angus that is. I felt nervous around her, I'm not entirely sure why.
"Do you have any idea who might be responsible?" She questioned as she looked around.
"No, I don't." I answered.
"No idea at all? From what I can see you definitely have some unfinished business with someone." She replied smartly, she's obviously read my file, from what I can tell all my information about everything I have ever done is in that manila folder she is holding in her hand.
"Well one location where they entered was obviously through the door, and I honestly think that the rest of the smash glass is irrelevant to finding if they entered as they simply could have just smashed the glass to prove a point. However the forensic crew will be able to rule options out. Have you noticed anything missing?" She questioned as she continued to walk over the smashed glass.
"Nothing, I've noticed nothing. The office hasn't been touched which is where the safe is located so all the money is still here, no liquor has been stolen just the bottles been smashed, everything I can think of is accounted for." I said.
"Well whoever did this is smart, my best guess on why they didn't take the bottles of alcohol is the fact they each have a serial number on the back, making for easy tracking if ever found." She said naturally as if it were common knowledge, she was smart.
I heard someone bounding up the stairs; Buckton was obviously surprised and by habit put her hand onto her utility belt right beside her gun.
"Brax!" I heard Teagan yell.
"It's only my girlfriend, don't worry I said." Looking towards her belt, she put her hand back towards her side.
"Oh my god what a mess, who did this?" She questioned as she looked around, grabbing a tipped over chair and pulling it upright and grabbing an unbroken bottle left on the table.
"Please do not touch anything." Buckton demanded.
"Excuse me! You don't have a right to tell me that." Teagan spat.
"If you are planning on letting some of us work, then yes you will leave and not touch another thing until the forensic team has been through and printed everything." Buckton defended herself calmly.
"Teagan, just leave I'll call when I know anything." I said looking at her.
"So you are just going to let her talk to me like that?" She questioned, glaring at me. All the while Buckton remained cool, calm and collected just watching Teagan's move with Angus standing protectively behind her. I looked at Teagan roughly, luckily enough she got the picture and left, tipping over the chair that she just picked up, Buckton sighed.
"I'm sorry about her." I said as I shook my head.
"Does anyone want a coffee?" Angus questioned after I finished.
"Yeah just an espresso please." Buckton said politely.
"No I'm right mate." I said as he left. I stood there arms folded watching her as she walked around taking various photos of the destruction. She was obviously an active person, her arms and legs very toned but she was still so petite and quite tall, I surprised myself that I was taking so much notice of a police officer.
"So where are you from?" I questioned after the silence got to me.
"The city, I only moved here yesterday." She replied as she continued with the photos.
"I guessed that, I haven't seen you around before I would have noticed." I said automatically, she looked up.
"Would have noticed?" She questioned.
"Yeah I would have noticed." I smiled looking up and down, she just laughed slightly blushing.
Angus P.O.V
I was walking back up the stairs when I heard Charlie laughing, I walked in the destroyed restaurant with the coffees and saw her, cheeks slightly blushed she looked at me then looked down and continued to take photo's Brax grinning and looking at her, the tension definitely noticeable. I walked over and handed her, her coffee before taking the camera off her and taking more photos for evidence.
We waited for another 2 and ½ hour for the forensic team to show up, and when they did Charlie and I off sided for another 3 hours of evidence taking just in case they needed anything done or clarified. Brax was obviously hanging around Charlie, not too sure whether he was wanting information on who or how they may have done it or simply just to be near her. He was clearly interested, can't blame him, she's on another level compared to the woman he's with now.
Charlie and I were walking back out towards the patrol car when I threw her the keys to the car.
She climbed into the car and moved the seat forward and as I was putting my seat belt on I said.
"It didn't take you long."
"What didn't take me long?" She questioned.
"One day as a Police Sargent and you already have someone sniffy around you." I said smiling at her.
"He was not 'sniffing' at me." She laughed.
"I'm not judging, I don't mind the bloke he's alright a bit on the rough side but he seems like a decent man, just caught up with the wrong people." I said as she reversed the vehicle and drove towards the station.
"What's his deal? I don't get it. His file tells me he is rough, dangerous almost caught in drug rings and yet you meet him and he's polite, respectful almost charming." She questions clearly confused.
"To you he may seem all those things, before you were here and when he was still caught in with the drugs he was violent and top dog, he would enforce his rules and ensure he was respected throughout his people." I answered.
"What about his family?" She asked as she took a left.
"He runs them; his father left him, his mother and two brothers at a young age. His mother is an alcoholic and I guess the only way in order to get food on the table was to start dealing drugs from his father friends in hope of getting a few dollars to get food on the table. From what I have gained from his records he was a beach bum with a dodgy reputation and a massive chip on his shoulder, but within Mangrove River he was known as a surfing legend and something of a hero to the kids especially. He conquered the most treacherous rocks and rips at Wilson's and made his rivals look soft, he was the most fearless and reckless and that translates into respect in his world. I don't think he was looking for respect but once he gained it he had the power and influence any teenage boy wanted, so he was determined to keep it. This is what led him to what he is today." I said as she turned into the station.
"Food for thought..." She lingered, clearing immersed.