Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Four

That evening, having packed Ruby off to spend the weekend with Charlie's father and stepmother who lived in the same town, Charlie and Angelo headed off to work together. It looked like they had another hard night ahead of them. Charlie just hoped that the local serial killer would not be adding anymore girls to his list.

"So, what's the plan?" Angelo asked when he, Charlie and the rest of their team met together.

"We need a strong presence on the streets around the areas that each girl has gone missing," Charlie said.

"So in the Yabbie Creek version of the Red Light District?" Watson clarified.

"Yes," Charlie said. "And if anyone can get talking to one of the girls then that would help."

"Did you manage to find anyone to talk to last night?" Watson asked.

"We tried," Charlie said. "But they're not generally that keen on speaking to cops. Understandably."

"I just don't see how anyone could live that kind of life," another officer, Chelsea commented.

She was fairly new to the station, a pretty blonde in her early twenties.

"That's not for us to judge," Charlie said evenly. "We're just here to protect them."

Chelsea tried not to glare at her team leader. She had aspirations in the police force and the last thing she needed was a bad reputation.

"Okay, so everyone partner up and I'll give you a location," Charlie said, standing up.

"Do I get to partner you?" Angelo asked, trying to be amusing.

"Unless you want someone else," Charlie said a little coldly.

Her boyfriend had pretty much ignored her all day, angry that she'd stayed out all night working. Every time they tried to talk about it, they just ended up arguing. And Angelo didn't seem to understand that this wasn't a normal time in their lives. They had the biggest case that the police station had ever seen and Charlie was both thrilled and terrified to be leading the case. It could make or break her career.

"Of course not," Angelo replied.

"Good," Charlie said.

She turned and handed out location instructions to the rest of the team and then headed into her office to prepare herself. Angelo followed.

"Why are you being so snappy?" he asked.

"Maybe because while I'm working the case of my life, my boyfriend keeps whining that he's not getting enough attention," Charlie said.

She breezed past him and out of the station, heading towards her car. Angelo jogged to keep up with her, painfully aware of how focussed she was on the night ahead.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" he tried. "I just... miss you."

"I'm right here," Charlie pointed out.

"You haven't gone near me in weeks, Charlie," Angelo complained. "At least when we weren't communicating all that much, we were still hot together."

Charlie pulled a face. In all honesty, she had never been all that hot for Angelo. She had never really been that hot for anyone. Having been raped as a teenager, bringing about her beloved daughter, Charlie had stayed away from men for the most part, not that anyone actually knew about what had happened to her. She'd gone on a couple of dates here and there but mostly, she was focussed on work and raising her child. When she had first moved to Summer Bay, where she currently resided, she'd had a brief relationship with a local chef called Roman Harris but he had never been that serious about her. If she took the time to think about it seriously, she had to admit that she'd felt a little used. So, she chose not to think about it all that much. Angelo was probably her first serious relationship but she didn't feel they were all that happy together. They'd moved in together because he had demanded it and between living and working together, Charlie struggled for space.

"We're trying to find a serial killer, Angelo," she said. "I think that's a little more important than whether you get laid regularly or not."

Irritated, Angelo shoved his hands in his pockets and kept pace with his girlfriend.

Dressed in skinny black jeans and a black, low cut, sleeveless top, Joey strolled down the high street looking for business. She'd tried a few clubs and bars but really, it was too early in the night for much action. And even though she liked to pretend that she wasn't anxious about the violence on the streets recently, it unnerved her in a way she couldn't describe.

She paused her step when a car approached from behind, slowing as it got closer. Joey leant in as the window went down and then her heart sank.

"Are you kidding me?" she snapped at the pretty police officer that had tried to talk to her the previous evening.

"Have you remembered anything useful?" Charlie asked, skipping pleasantries.

"I didn't realise I was supposed to," Joey said, beginning to walk again.

The car, driven by Charlie kept in line with her.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"I don't have one," Joey insisted.

"Your punters must have to have something to scream out."

Joey stopped walking and smirked back at her.

"I'll give you that," she said. "That was funny. And highly unexpected from someone who must even find herself boring."

"I can assure you that I'm interesting enough," Charlie replied curtly.

Angelo remained in the passenger seat, in a bad mood and barely paying attention. Joey leant against the car window, too close for Charlie's liking.

"Maybe that's it," she said.

"What?"

"Maybe you wouldn't be so highly strung if you got laid occasionally."

Angelo jerked his head up, looking annoyed.

"Have you ever had an orgasm?" Joey asked.

She studied Charlie's name badge.

"Charlie Buckton," she added.

"I do quite fine, thank you very much," Charlie replied, cursing herself for engaging in the girl's banter.

"Are you sure? Because I come highly recommended," Joey told her. "And I know I said I don't do two for the price of one but for you I might make an exception."

"I really don't need to pay for sex," Charlie assured her.

"She really doesn't," Angelo snapped, annoyed.

Joey studied them and then laughed to realise that they were more than just partners at work.

"Well, if either of you feel unsatisfied, you know where to come," she said easily.

Charlie glanced at Angelo, painfully aware of their earlier conversation.

"We won't," Charlie said. "What we do want from you is information."

"I dropped out of school," Joey said. "I don't know anything."

She started walking again. Charlie kept up in the car.

"You haven't seen anything?"

"Nope."

"You can't help in any way?"

"Nope," Joey said. "And your uniform is putting off my valuable customers so could you go and hassle someone else, please?"

She turned back and leaned against the window again.

"Here's an idea," she said. "Why don't you stop chasing me around and try to find the monster that's murdering people? I hear some people consider that to be a crime."

Without waiting for a response, Joey strutted back down the street.

Next time… Angelo makes a big mistake and Joey ends up in danger…