Love Me Love My Dog
Chapter 2
"So, where have you hidden Jessie today?" Georgie Watson asked; looking at Joey as she signed her statement.
"I left her with a neighbour. I guessed it might be a little tricky bringing her in here, especially if your 'Arsy' friend was around." Joey said, placing the pen on the table. "There you go."
"Thanks, Joey. By the way, Angelo is no friend of mine!" Watson was quick to point out. "Oops! Sorry, not very professional to say that, especially in the Police Station!"
Joey grinned. She liked Watson. She was fun and warm hearted.
"Hey, do you ever hit the Surf Club?" Watson asked with interest.
"Yeah, occasionally; why?"
"They've got a band playing tonight; they're doing a tour of coastal towns and I thought I might give it a go. You up for it?"
Joey nodded her head.
"Yeah, sounds like fun! Would love to."
"Super! Meet you there, about eight thirty?"
"Good-oh."
Watson and Joey emerged from the interview room, smiling happily.
"Thanks for this Joey; I'll see Constable Rosetta gets a copy. Give my love to Jessie."
"Yeah, I will."
"I like animal people. You know where you are with them!" Watson suddenly announced as Angelo walked into the station, looking at Joey suspiciously. "They're kind and loyal and don't let you down!" She continued. aiming her shot at Angelo.
"I hope you didn't bring that flee bitten, rat bag of a dog in here with you!" Angelo said ungraciously, as he laid down a file on his desk.
"Constable Rosetta!" Joey said; her gentle voice becoming a little acid. "If you make anymore rude remarks about my dog, I may be forced to let her pee all over your boots!"
Watson turned away, closing her eyes tightly; her face turning puce.
"I beg your pardon! I'd like to remind you ..." Angelo started to say, but was quickly interrupted.
"You'll have to excuse me; I have better things to do with my life than standing here passing the time of day with arrogant arseholes!"
And with that, Joey brushed past the surprised Constable, leaving him with his mouth wide open. Constable Watson crossed her legs in hopes of not wetting herself.
***
Joey felt indignation in her heart as she tried to open the Police Station door, but was stopped at the entrance by Senior Constable Buckton.
"Good afternoon." Charlie said gently; smiling when she saw Joey.
"Please excuse me!" Joey said curtly, and walked out in an irritated manner.
Charlie turned around in surprise as Joey's shoulder brushed against her own in her bid to leave the building as quickly as possible. Charlie closed her eyes, wondering what she was about to walk into.
***
"It's hardly surprising the way you speak to people, Angelo! What else do you expect?" Watson said, glancing at Charlie as she walked in.
"I expect members of the public to have some respect for my uniform!" Angelo insisted.
"Yeah, but they're entitled to some respect in return! She was in here making a statement for your benefit!"
"What's happened now?" Charlie asked, standing in the middle of the office with her hands resting on her utility belt.
"Oh, 'stupid arse' here has been upsetting his witness after she took the trouble to make a statement!" Watson announced, contemptuously.
"Now! Just a minute...." Angelo said, turning around angrily.
"No! You just wait a minute! The pair of you!" Charlie said, her blue eyes flashing dangerously. "I'm fed up with this constant battle of wills which goes on day in and day out; you're disturbing me and your colleagues." Charlie pointed out, glancing around the office at the other constables. "We are supposed to be professionals here! This isn't kindergarten!"
"But Charlie...!" Angelo cried.
"No, Constable Rosetta! I'm not putting up with it any longer! Pull yourselves together or there will be trouble and I mean that!" Charlie said sternly; glancing from one officer to the other. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Senior. Sorry." Watson said quietly.
Angelo gave Charlie an irritated look, but said nothing.
Charlie walked into her office, closing the door behind her. Watson looked at Angelo.
"What?" He said, slamming a box file down on his desk.
Watson shook her head slowly.
"Nothing. Just wondered what an 'arrogant arsehole' looked like."
Angelo muttered under his breath and quietly slipped a file into his desk draw.
"If that's the beach-body file you'd better add Miss. Collins' statement to it." Watson said, handing Angelo the document.
Angelo snatched the sheet of paper from Watson's hand and placed it begrudgingly in the file.
***
"Night, Charlie." Watson called, popping her head around the Senior's office door. "I'm just off; unless there's anything else you want me to do?"
"No thanks, Georgie." Charlie said, running her hands over her face. "It's been quite a day!"
"Erm, I'm sorry about earlier, Charlie. I stepped out of line." Watson said, apologetically.
Charlie sighed and stretched.
"Don't worry. It's not the end of the world. Is Angelo around?"
"No. He left hours ago."
"Oh? And where did he go?" Charlie asked with interest.
"Dunno. He didn't say. Just got up and walked out."
Irritation flashed through Charlie's eyes.
"What did he say to our beach-body witness to upset her so much, earlier?"
"Made another rude remark about her dog." Watson replied with a grin.
Charlie took a deep breath and shook her head sadly.
"Idiot. Why can't he learn to hold his tongue?"
Watson shrugged.
"Okay, well I'm off. Are you coming to the Surf Club tonight to see that band?"
"Don't think so. We have a date, and I'm not sure what Angelo has planned yet." Charlie answered; subserviently.
Watson looked at Charlie with pity.
"You really need to get out more, Charlie and by yourself! Make a few of your own decisions for a change! Oh well, see you tomorrow." Watson said, waving the Senior Constable goodbye.
Charlie watched as Watson left her office. She was right, but she enjoyed Angelo's company and when he was away from the uniform, he was usually kind and good fun. Maybe she would suggest they go to the club together to see the band. After all, she really wanted to see them and by all accounts, they were good. She picked up her mobile phone and pressed his contact number.
"Hi, where did you get to?"
"I had something to do." Angelo said evasively.
"Anything I should know about?" Charlie asked, logging off her computer.
"No, not at the moment." He replied, cagily.
Charlie frowned. She must try to curb this attitude problem of Angelo's.
"Will I see you this evening?" Charlie asked, hopefully.
"I doubt it; not sure when I will be back."
"But I thought we had a date tonight?"
"Yeah, well, this takes priority!"
"Angelo, this project you're working on; I think you should tell me about it. After all, I think I have a right to know!"
"Can't talk to you at the moment, Charlie. I'll call you later." And with that, he ended the call.
Charlie looked at her phone in surprise; once again hurt and irritated by Angelo's manner.
***
"Hi Sis!" Ruby called as Charlie entered the house.
"Hey. How was school?"
"School was school, Charlie!" Ruby said with a grin. "Hey, are you gonna come and see that band at the Surf Club tonight?"
"I dunno. I thought I had a date with Angelo, but it seems like he's blown me out."
"That guy's such a loser! Why don't you just get rid, Charlie!" Ruby said, taking a carton of juice from the fridge.
"Because I don't want to!" Charlie replied with a frown.
"I don't know why you're so scrupulous about him; you're obviously not in love with the idiot!"
"Who says I'm not?" Charlie said glancing at Ruby and feeling guilty.
"Well, you did, actually. You don't exactly buckle at the knees every time the guy walks in the room!"
"That sort of thing doesn't last forever, Rubes. We're comfortable together!"
"Yeah, like a pair of smelly old slippers!"
Charlie couldn't help but laugh at her sister's terminology.
"Well, as I say, we're not out tonight, so maybe I'll pop in to have a look at this band you keep on about. What are they called?"
"They're called 'Trail' and supposed to be really good. Yeah! Come on, Charlie. Please come!"
Charlie smiled at her sister's encouraging words.
"Okay, but I'm not sitting with your little gang! I'm sitting with Georgie Watson!"
"And what's wrong with my little gang?" Ruby asked haughtily.
"Nothing, but I prefer the company of my own mates!"
"As long as your little gang doesn't consist solely of that tosser Rosetta, I don't care!" Ruby said, flippantly.
"Ruby!"
Ruby giggled, and walked into the lounge.
