Jo Masters noticed the woman instantly, her long blonde hair trailing her tall figure, her skinny yet somehow curvy body was hugged by tight white jeans and a pink top that left the lower part of her stomach on show, that was sort of thing that drove Jo wild. Jo had been tasked by Smithy to deal with the neighbourhood watch that had started up on the Jasmine Allen, Smithy was convinced they were a smokescreen and more trouble than they were worth, she knew she needed to be on her way but at that moment she found herself glued to the spot staring at the woman who was yet to even notice her. "Can I please speak to Stevie Moss, I have been waiting thirty five minutes, does she even know I am here?" the woman asked. Jo headed over, all thoughts of her own cases forgotten
"Hello" the woman spun round to face her, her eyes a hazel brown colour and so deep Jo felt herself get lost in them, her full lips smiled at her and Jo mentally kicked herself as she watched the woman brush her locks from her face and she caught sight of her wedding ring "I'm Sergeant Masters, can I be of assistance?"
"Not unless you are hiding Stevie under your hat"
Jo began to laugh "Unfortunately not, I can see if I can contact her for you"
"Her phone is switched off and she is not at home, so I'm guessing she is here"
"Can I ask what it is you want to discuss with her?"
"You can ask" the woman replied sarcastically, Jo noticed the woman's eye line move "Oi, I want a word with you!"
Smithy turned to the voice and let out a loud, noticeable sigh "Charley I am working"
"Have you sorted it with Stevie"
"I will"
"You just remember what a good friend she is to you. She was really upset last night"
"I know, I will talk to her"
"Good, you better. Now seen as you are the organ grinder and the monkeys are useless, can you find Stevie for me?"
Jo was about to interrupt when the voice behind them startled them all "Charley, what are you doing here?" Stevie asked
"Causing me agro, I don't need" Smithy retorted
"Oi, you really upset her last night, you're lucky I haven't nutted you"
"And I don't need you to fight my battles Charley"
"And this is hardly the time or the place" Smithy spoke
"Okay. I'm going" Charley kissed Stevie on the check "Drink tonight?" she asked "The Dragon on Spiecer Street?"
"See you tonight" Stevie replied
"Who is that?" Jo asked turning to Stevie as Charley left
"My friend Charley"
"Sergeant Masters I am sure I asked you to head down the Jasmine Allen" Smithy interrupted
"Gov" the woman disappeared and Smithy looked to Stevie.
Part of him was desperate to talk to her but really he had no idea what he was going to say, he gave her a genuine smile "I'm sorry" he whispered
"Me too. Friends?" she asked
"Always darlin'". With that he walked off, knowing their friendship was that easily repairable because of the fondness they have for each other, but now he has to dig a little deeper under that mask to see just what Charley was talking about.
The pub was quiet when Charley arrived, only a few people sitting at the bar. She headed over and ordered two drinks. Stevie wasn't here yet, which wasn't unusual for her, Stevie was always late for everything. Stevie had also sent her a rather cross text, about coming in and shouting at her boss, which Charley didn't see as a big deal, they clearly fancied each other so he would let her get away with murder. Charley wasn't entirely sure how they hadn't ended up together, Smithy may be a player but he was a different man when it came to Stevie. Stevie had only ever been hurt in the past and although she told Charley regularly she would trust Smithy with her life, she wouldn't trust him not to break her heart. "Hello" the cheery voice broke her from her train of thought
"Oh, hi, you're erm"
"The monkey from the station this morning"
"Oh god, I am so sorry. I was so angry with Smithy and you just got caught in the crossfire" pausing she watched as the woman pushed up onto the next barstool "Can we start again. I'm Charley, can I get you a drink?"
"Thanks, I'll have a pint please" smiling she leant forward "And seen as I am not in work, how about you call me Jo instead of monkey?"
"Deal. So you work with Stevie?"
Jo knocked back some of the pint the barmaid had given her and nodded "Yes, more so in the past before I transferred from CID to uniform"
"Isn't that going backwards, I always thought you were meant to go from uniform to wearing your own kit?"
"Most people do, I went to uniform for a promotion though, so it was a step up for me"
"So you work with Smithy more now?"
"Yes, he is my boss" she took another mouthful "Stevie and I are equal ranking but in different departments"
"Why anyone would choose to work with him over Stevie I don't know"
"It wasn't really about choice, it was career progression"
"Believe me, I have a few choice words to say about Dale Smith"
"Any different to the ones last night?" Charley wobbled on the barstool at the sound of his voice and turned round to him, he had a t-shirt and jeans on, he looked good but different, his hair was messy and his eyes tired
"Oh there's a surprise, Stevie and I arrange a drink and you turn up"
"I was meeting Jo actually" Smithy answered
Charley looked towards the woman who nodded, a bit like one of the Churchill puppies from the back of cards "Oh, are you and him?" waving her arms between the two Charley found herself lost for words
"No, God no" Jo was laughing through her words "He is not my type"
"What are you two doing here?" Stevie approached the three and Charley held her drink out to her
"Just having a drink, we are going to get a table, if you would like to join us?" Jo replied
"Yes, we are right behind you" Charley replied before beckoning Stevie near, Smithy and Jo had walked away and sat at a table by the far window "What is with Smithy looking so casual?"
"He isn't on the pull"
"Ah, so what's the deal with them two, I bet they're secretly married"
"No, Jo is gay actually" Stevie replied before letting out a groan as she looked over "I guess we should head over".
The four had been sat at the table about forty minutes, Charley had spoken about her career as a nursery nurse, she had since given up and become a kept woman, a housewife and a mother. Jo had spoken about past cases and her fear of spiders, which had been news to Smithy, but he didn't think to Stevie. Stevie had been the reason he had come out this evening, Jo was a good friend and always a laugh but he had asked her for a drink tonight to stop himself looking like Stevie Moss' stalker. "Fancy a game of pool?" he glanced up as Jo spoke from the beer coaster he had taken to destroying to notice the woman wasn't talking to him
"Sure" Charley replied and the two began to disappear
"They seem to get on well" Stevie was smiling across the table at him
"Yeah both strong personalities, they would either get on brilliant or clash"
"A bit like us"
A smirk outlined his face "Absolutely" he replied. He went silent for a few moments "Are we okay?"
"Yeah, it's not the first time we have had a row Smithy"
"No I know, I just hate it when you are mad at me" he swigged his beer and glanced into her eyes "Charley said I needed to get to know the real you" Stevie's eyes filled with sadness and she diverted them from him "What did she mean?"
"Nothing"
"I thought we were mates"
"We are Smithy but there are things I can't tell you, that I can't tell anyone"
"You have told Charley"
"She is different"
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't judge me, she doesn't objectify women and she will never hurt me"
"I don't judge you, I would never objectify you and I would die before I hurt you"
"I know but"
"But what?"
"You're a man Smithy. There are things I can't tell you" he looked hurt and she frowned "Personal things"
"I understand" he replied, he didn't and she wasn't stupid enough to believe he did
"I am going to go Smithy. See you tomorrow" she pecked his cheek before heading to the two women and doing the same to them and then disappearing out the door.