This is a bonus chapter, especially for the lovely people who have reviewed so nicely. I've been soooo poorly today so each time my phone has flashed at me with an email to say I have a review, it's really helped!
I'm not sure the plot will become that much clearer just yet but you'll find out where Joey is, if not quite where's she's been since chapter one! If it helps, you'll be clued up quicker than the other characters!
Things will become clearer soon though as her story unravels so I appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy the not quite so magical mystery tour! Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Four
November 2008, Indonesia
Hugo Austin arrived home from work. He called his girlfriend's name and sought her out in the large house they shared. She wasn't always that easy to find but he knew she would always be there. They had been in each other's lives for a great many years and there was no chance on earth that they would ever part. One way or another, they were in it for the long haul.
"There you are," he said brightly, smiling.
Joey Collins was sitting in the back garden, planting new greenery for the area that she had grown to care so much about. Theirs had been a life of travel and uncertainty but when they did finally settle somewhere, Joey was careful to make it home. She looked up but didn't smile.
"Hi," she said quietly.
"How was your day?" Hugo asked.
Joey stood up and followed him into the house, setting about making him a cup of coffee. He sat down at the kitchen table and repeated the question. She turned to look at him, studying his face and wondering why they went through the same act every day.
"It was fine," she finally said, not wanting to pick a fight.
It wasn't in her best interests to do that. She continued making his drink.
"Good," he said.
"How was your day?" she asked politely.
"It was okay," Hugo said. "I got a lot of work done."
She grimaced, knowing exactly the kind of work Hugo got up to. It wasn't something she could bear thinking about. This was very much a life she was eager to escape from. It was a life she wondered how she'd even fallen into. She wished she could take the last nine years back.
"Well done," she said.
She put his coffee in front of him and sat down in the opposite chair.
"We've got to leave," Hugo told her.
Joey's eyes widened.
"What?"
"We have to head back to Australia," he said.
Joey thought about her garden and felt sad. She had very nearly got it how she wanted it and she would be sad to say goodbye. The garden offered her the only comfort she had received in years. While she took care of it, she felt like it was taking care of herself. She didn't want to say goodbye.
"Why?" she asked.
"My cousin," Hugo said. "He got shot. He's dead. If I'm going to rebuild my family at all, I have to go and be supportive, show willing. Plus, Jack was a good guy."
Joey nodded. Now that she had a name, she knew she had met him a handful of times. He was a nice guy. She hoped his death had been instant and painless.
"So, we're going to the funeral?" Joey asked.
"Yeah," he said. "We'll be leaving in a couple of days."
Joey nodded but looked unhappy. Hugo sipped his coffee. She had grown skilled at making it just the way he liked it.
"You could always stay here," Hugo said. "I'm sure Suzy would just love to look after you."
Joey looked and felt horrified. She shook her head.
"I'll come," she said. "I'll come."
"Good!" Hugo said brightly.
He stood and kissed the top of Joey's head and announced he was going to cook them something nice for dinner.
November 2008,
The residents of Summer Bay gathered around Jack's grave, saying their final goodbyes to a man they all cared a lot about. He had been granted the police funeral he deserved and the whole station, bar Fitzy who had gone into labour that morning, had turned out, including Charlie. With Fitzy having had to duck out of giving a speech, Alf had asked Angelo to step in. Martha watched tearfully as the man she feared her murdered her husband and left him to die alone and afraid, spoke their final goodbye. She felt sick. Roman Harris, a one time boyfriend of hers, stepped up to comfort her. Martha kept her eyes on Charlie, the police officer who had spent the last couple of days trying and failing to catch Angelo out. Charlie had said that this was the last thing she needed Martha to do. They would be luring Angelo into a trap that afternoon and expected him to have confessed and been arrested before the day was through. For her part, Charlie kept hold of Ruby's hand and held Martha's gaze. Her heart was breaking for her and she wished she didn't have to suffer this way. A few people, including Charlie, looked up when a tall, dark haired man in a suit approached with a smaller woman in tow. He was holding her hand and looking solemn. The woman's face was hidden as she kept her head down, gazing at the floor.
After the service was over, the mourners gathered, making stifled conversation. Martha clung to her best friend, Jack's step-mother, Doctor Rachel Armstrong. Ruby wound her way over to Xavier Austin. He'd been in town a few weeks ago and Ruby had been smitten with him on first sight. He was Jack's cousin and had arrived for the funeral the previous day with his mother, Gina.
"How are you?" she asked kindly.
He shrugged, not seeming to want to talk. He kept his eyes fixed on the man who had arrived late. Ruby turned and studied the couple she didn't recognise.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"That's my eldest brother," Xavier said without warmth. "I don't know what the hell he thinks he's doing here."
Rachel left Martha in Roman's care and went up with Tony to meet the late arrivals.
"It's good to see you, mate," Tony said, extended his hand.
Hugo shook it and smiled with as much enthusiasm as he could. He felt sad about Jack's demise.
"It was good of you to come," Tony added.
"Sorry it was unannounced," Hugo said. "And that we were late. It was all a bit spontaneous."
Joey remained quiet, keeping her head down. She didn't like meeting new people.
"No worries," Tony said. "Like I said, I'm just glad you're here."
"And so am I," Gina said, pulling her son in for a hug.
Rachel squeezed Tony's hand. He felt guilty for not making introductions.
"Hugo, this is my partner, Rachel," he said. "Rachel, this is Gina's eldest son, Hugo and his partner, Katherine."
Joey looked up, her throat a little tight. She forced a smile and shook Rachel's hand.
"It was good of you to come too," Tony said.
Joey kept the polite smile on her face but she just wanted to go back home. She missed the solitude of her garden.
Charlie cleared with Watson that they were ready to go and then headed over to Martha. She offered her condolences and squeezed her hand gently before heading over to Tony.
"I really am sorry for your loss," she said earnestly. "Jack was a wonderful man."
She genuinely felt terrible. Jack had been murdered and nobody had been with him. None of his colleagues had protected him and they had all been caught up with the fire at the community centre. And now, she'd forced Martha to let the man they believed to be his killer, speak at his funeral. The whole thing was sickening.
"Thank you, Charlie," Tony said.
He turned to introduce her to Hugo. Charlie shook his hand and was a little unnerved by the blatant way he gave her the once over, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth.
"And this is his partner, Katherine."
Charlie reached out and shook the girl's hand. They smiled politely at each other and Joey just about managed to raise her eyes. Charlie was struck by just how beautiful the girl was, even when she was presenting herself in such an understated way. She had dark hair, smooth skin and soulful eyes that looked like she had seen too many bad things. Charlie struggled to tear her gaze away.
"Pleased to meet you, Katherine," Charlie said. "I just wish it was under better circumstances."
Joey nodded, trying not to allow herself to be captivated by the police officer. She was stunning. The realisation jolted Joey enough that she withdrew and took hold of Hugo's hand again. Charlie made her excuses and went to find Watson. The time for mourning would come. They had some justice to obtain first.