PREVIOUSLY:
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Angelo, I think it's time you went back to work."
"Why?"
A knock at the door makes them both look. "That's why," Charlie sighs at what will no doubt be an unpleasant experience.
"Come in," Charlie calls out, a little surprised that she had actually bothered to knock. Joey walks in, gives Angelo a brief, dismissive look before taking the seat opposite Charlie. "You wanted to talk to me about something Sergeant?"
"I think there's a lot to talk about Detective," Charlie says, annoyed at her easy and confident manner as she sits down without waiting for permission.
"Const. Rosetta, don't you have work to do?"
"No."
"Really," Joey asks in mock surprise. "So of all the police officers in this station, you alone have nothing to do."
"I'm sure Angelo has plenty of work to do, he just doesn't want to leave me alone with you."
"You're perfectly safe with me, Sergeant," pausing to glance at Angelo, "I'm not in the habit of shooting people."
"Listen you," Angelo moves forward a few steps, Charlie's hand on his arm making him pause.
"Angelo," she says gently, feeling how tense he was against her hand.
"Can you get him to sit and beg too?" Not feeling the least bit ashamed of her behaviour when Charlie glares at her.
"Angelo, clearly your presence here makes the Detective forget her manners, so perhaps it's best if you leave us alone."
"Fine," he grinds out through clenched teeth, his anger palpable as he stalks to the door. Just before he closes the door, Joey calls out, "White with none."
"What?" he asks petulantly.
Without turning to face him, "Seeing as you have no work to do, I have my coffee, white, no sugar," she speaks the last part slowly. "I'm sure the Sergeant would like one too." Charlie nods her head in agreement, much to her surprise and Angelo's annoyance.
"Fine, two coffees coming right up."
"I'll have mine without the spit in it," Joey says in all seriousness. Angelo fumes, shutting the door, muttering curses under his breath.
"That last statement was rather childish and totally uncalled for Detective."
"Speaking from personal experience, it wasn't being childish, and I was quite serious."
"People have spat in your drink?" Charlie asks in shock, a little disgusted that people could do such a thing.
"Among other things, which is why I never actually drink it."
"Why ask for a drink if you don't intend to drink it?"
"Asking for a coffee is a more polite way of getting rid of someone than telling them to 'get the fuck out of here', or so I've been told."
Despite herself, Charlie finds herself chuckling at the detective's statement. "I get the impression that you prefer the latter way of getting rid of people."
"It is much more direct but people tend to get a bit upset when you tell them to fuck off, although I find for some people that asking for a coffee can piss them off just as much." Recalling Angelo's anger and annoyance at such a simple request, Charlie can't help but admire the way the detective seems to know exactly how to get under people's skins, even when she knows she's going to be next.
"So Detective, did you get your phone calls made?"
"Yes thank you, I did."
"Well, that's good." They sit in silence for a moment, both of them knowing that there wasn't any phone calls to be made. "Perhaps now you can tell me why Grant was contacted?"
"Graves was merely following your suggestion to confirm your alibi with him."
"And no doubt Grant told you that my daughter and I were with him when Jack was killed."
"Yes he did. Graves got the impression that he thinks very highly of you," her tone indicating she didn't feel the same way.
"Grant and I have always maintained a good friendship and a healthy respect for each other."
"That's surprising, after you forced a kid on him at such a young age."
"I don't know if you're aware of this Detective, but it takes two people to make a baby; Grant accepted responsibility, just like I did for Ruby."
"You were 16, still in school; it must have been tough though, having a child so young."
"We managed."
"Your daughter was what, 5 years old when you became a Probationary Constable?"
"That's right."
"That's a tough age for both parents and child, starting school, all those new clothes; it's a rather expensive time, especially when you're a single parent on a Prob. Constable's wage," her implication to Charlie clear.
"I wasn't on my own; Grant was more than willing to help out with the expenses," Charlie pauses, waiting for Joey's reply, which doesn't come. "Detective, I have never, nor will I ever, accept a bribe in my duties as a police officer."
"I made no such accusation Sergeant."
"You implied it."
"No, all I said was that raising a child is expensive and all the more harder when you're a single parent."
"The implication was there."
"I'm sorry if you felt that way, perhaps it's a guilty conscience?"
Charlie rubs her temples, trying to dispel the headache she was getting, the calm demeanour of the woman opposite her not improving her mood. "Detective, is this a formal interview?"
"You were the one who requested this little chat; or should I say, demanded it," Joey tells her. "Sergeant, you should remember, that while you are still a suspect in a murder enquiry, you should consider yourself under caution every time we talk."
"Somehow Detective," spitting out the last word, "I doubt you will let anyone forget why you are here."
"Maybe we could continue this later, when you're feeling a little less," pausing as if to find the right word, "delicate."
"Thanks for the concern Detective, but I'd like to get this over with so I don't have to deal with you any longer."
"That's too bad, because you're stuck with me until I find out who murdered your Constable or someone chooses to confess." Joey waits a moment to let that sink in. "Now, would your ex lie to protect you?"
"No he wouldn't and I'm sure your colleague would have told you that Grant's wife was also with us that night."
"She may have mentioned something along those lines."
"You really are unbelievable," Charlie leans forward in anger, "you accuse me of things when you know I have an alibi."
"People lie to cover for those they care about or those they owe something to."
"Except you know damn well that's not the case here. You know what Detective, this is pointless, my relationship with my ex-boyfriend or the fact that I was a teenage mother has nothing to do with this current investigation."
"But everything to do with the death of Const. Jack Holden."
"For which I have an alibi. Jack's death is a closed matter, you have no right to be questioning me or anyone else on this matter." Charlie sits up straighter, feeling more confident. "That case is closed Detective, as is this line of questioning."
Joey allows Charlie a few moments to enjoy her victory, before taking it away. "I intend to reopen the investigation into the shooting of Const. Jack Holden."
"What!" Joey had timed her statement to perfection, the sound of mugs shattering on the floor as Angelo stands at the door in shock.
Joey looks down at the mess, "I can see why they thought you might have been incompetent when you mistook a man in a police uniform for a perp when you can't even manage a cup of coffee."
"That's enough Detective!" Charlie shouts at her, her anger getting the better of her yet again.
"I was merely commenting on his clumsiness."
"No, you weren't, you were being a..." Charlie cuts off her reply, cursing her own stupidity for having allowed herself to be manipulated into this position, realising this is exactly what the detective had been leading her towards. Taking a couple of calming breaths, ignoring the knowing look on Joey's face, Charlie turns to Angelo. "Just leave it for the moment Angelo, I'll clean it up later."
"Oh I don't mind if Rosetta stays for this, this does affect him after all and he'd probably be listening through the door anyway."
"Detective, I won't warn you again about your attitude."
Joey continues on as if she hadn't heard her. "You really shouldn't leave the floor wet like that, it's a serious OH&S issue, so why don't you grab a mop Constable and get cleaning."
Charlie senses Angelo's struggle to keep a reign on his temper, feeling her own about to boil over again. "Angelo, could you please leave and make sure no one comes through the door?" Glancing at Joey, "I'm sure the Detective and I can manage not to break our necks slipping in the coffee." A slight nod and smile from Joey.
"Are you sure Charlie?"
"Angelo it's fine." Angelo offers one more furious glare at the detective before stomping out of the room.
"Charlie is it? Do you always let your junior officers address you so informally?"
"This is a small station Detective, we're all a little less informal here."
"Of course, then again, you are sleeping with the guy so I guess you can't get any more informal than that. You are aware of the regulations, aren't you Sergeant?"
"Regulations?"
"The one that says you shouldn't be doing what you're doing with the Constable there."
"Angelo and I were together before I became the Sergeant here."
"You're the senior officer of this station, it's inappropriate for you to be sleeping with a Constable."
"We're engaged and soon to be married."
"That doesn't make it any less inappropriate."
"Detective, clearly you are looking for any excuse to get at me, but I can assure you, that my relationship with Angelo was discussed in full with my superiors before I accepted the promotion; I have their full support."
"It must be nice having a father of high rank with high ranking friends."
"I have no say in what my father or his friends do."
They stare at each other for a few moments, Charlie wanting nothing more than to reach over and slap that confidence out of her.
"Now where were we when we were so rudely interrupted by Rosetta's incompetence. Oh, that's right; I was saying that I intend to reopen the investigation into the shooting of Const. Jack Holden."
Charlie closes her eyes, feeling exhausted and confused, knowing it had been a mistake to not have ended this conversation earlier. "You have no right to dig up old wounds like that. Jack was my friend, he was Angelo's friend and I doubt his wife will appreciate you opening this up again."
"I heard she had forgiven him, but I wonder if she'd be so willing to forgive him if I prove your Constable wasn't incompetent, but that he was a cold blooded murderer."
"You're just trying to use Jack's death because you have no evidence on Angelo in Trevor's murder and nothing on me."
"Sergeant, very few officers have ever been killed, yet two have been murdered in this tiny town in less than three years." Letting it sink in, "Don't you find that rather alarming?"
"Yes of course it's alarming."
"Two deaths Sergeant, your fiancé was responsible for the first one and I'm betting he had some involvement in the second, either directly or he got you to do his dirty work for him."
"What are you trying to do here Detective? Push me until I confess to something I didn't do?"
"You were there the night Moreland was murdered," Joey reminds her.
"I told you why I was there."
"That's right, you did. You wouldn't have any idea who called the sighting in do you," Joey asks, not really expecting an answer.
"Actually I do," Charlie holds the answer back, enjoying the surprised look on her face.
"You do?"
"It was the assistant of the owner."
"Damn, it was just a coincidence," Joey mutters under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Charlie asks, though she heard her muttering quite clearly.
"You were saying it was the owner's assistant?"
"She told me when I checked the boss' story that she was sick of the secrecy and realised her boss was never going to leave his wife, so she decided to out their relationship by calling the cops in to investigate while he was there after hours."
"Except you didn't file a report."
"Like I said, there wasn't anything to report because there was no prowler and as far as I know, the wife still remains blissfully ignorant to her husband's infidelity."
"You'd know all about that."
"I don't appreciate your constant attacks on my relationship Detective. Angelo and I are very happy together; we don't need to look elsewhere."
"Fair enough. So why did Rosetta request that he patrol with O'Malley the night that Moreland was killed?"
"What?" Charlie asks, a little lost as she struggles to keep up with this line of questioning.
"Rosetta usually patrolled with Georgie, yet that night, he requested a new partner and you agreed to it."
"I didn't ask why."
"You didn't ask, yet you agreed to it?"
"I assumed it was because Angelo and your sister had had a falling out; it wouldn't have been the first time."
"Shouldn't they have been told to work it out?"
"I didn't think it would hurt to pair them with other partners for a night."
"And who did O'Malley usually partner?" Silently thanking Graves for finding out this little bit of information.
Charlie hesitates, "Moreland. O'Malley usually partnered with Moreland."
"Do you have any idea what Moreland was doing at that site when he was killed?"
"No. After I changed the patrol roster, I decided that Moreland was experienced enough to patrol alone."
"Obviously not."
"Moreland shouldn't have been anywhere near that site and he never called anything in."
"Maybe because he didn't think he needed to, especially if someone he knew arranged a meeting."
"There's nothing in his phone records to show he received a call and unless you want to accuse your own sister of setting him up, she was the only one who used the police radio at the station during that shift."
"The meeting could have been arranged earlier."
"Yes, it could have, but don't you think that that would exclude Angelo; after all, if Moreland was suspicious of him, he'd hardly agree to meet him."
"Unless Angelo had someone else arrange it for him."
"You have any proof Detective? No you don't, you have nothing except fanciful theories."
"Nevertheless, I'd like to interview O'Malley."
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
"There's no reason to interview him. He and Angelo were on duty and both have already given statements to that effect."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right; he'd just lie any way."
"Detective, while you are in my station, you will show respect to my officers."
"Respect is earned," Joey reminds her, getting little satisfaction as her insult hits home. "Belle Jeffries assault was never solved." Caught completely off guard by the sudden change in direction, Charlie can do nothing but stare blankly at her. "After she retracted her statement against Rosetta, no one else was ever questioned, why was that?"
"What has her assault got to do with Moreland's murder?" Regretting her words as soon as she said them. "I forgot, you think their deaths are connected."
"Until her death is ruled a suicide, I have no option but to think there is some connection in their deaths when they happened only days apart. I know you have a low opinion of Mrs Jeffries, but someone assaulted her, she named your fiancé, then she retracted her statement, only to make another one in which she accused Rosetta of threatening her to withdraw the assault allegation."
"I've checked with the other officers Detective, no one knows anything about this so-called second statement."
"Except Const. Welsh."
"Cam? He resigned over two months ago."
"Were you aware that Const. Welsh was under investigation for corruption and was forced to resign or face charges?"
"No, but maybe you should be looking at him for Trevor's murder, because he sounds like a much better suspect than Angelo or I."
"Well he probably would have been a good suspect if he hadn't been in police custody at the time. I was just made aware last night that he had made a formal statement admitting that he had knowingly looked the other way when crimes were committed, but he refused to say who else was involved or who paid him to look the other way. He also admitted to removing the original copy of Belle Jeffries second statement and threatening Moreland to drop it."
Charlie sits there, still in shock. "What's going to happen to him?"
"As of 10 hours ago, not a whole lot; he was released on bail yesterday, he went home and ate his own gun."
"Oh god." Charlie looks away, trying to regather her thoughts. "I'm surprised you aren't trying to pin his death on us too."
"His wife and daughter inadvertently witnessed it, so there's no doubt that it is suicide."
"I can't believe he would do that."
"What; the corruption or the suicide?"
"Both."
"Just goes to show doesn't it, that anyone could become corrupt with the right incentive. I guess now, that's three dead officers from this station, one of them most definitely corrupt. How deep does this go Buckton? How many more police officers are going to die to cover up the stench of corruption here?"
"I don't know anything," hearing the weakness in her own voice.
"How could you not? Welsh was corrupt, your fiancé shot dead a man who had expressed some concerns about his partner tampering with evidence, Moreland was shot dead..."
"Hang on; if you're talking about the development site, Jack was mistaken, he realised that later when tests showed that the samples collected weren't switched, they were contaminated because they were improperly collected and stored."
"By Rosetta. Even a rookie knows how to gather and store evidence to avoid contamination. It really is amazing how his incompetence knows no bounds, no wonder he's been passed over for promotion time and again. Then again, even with his ability to avoid punishment, one look at his record is enough to make a good honest copper wary of him." Emphasising the word honest as she smirks at Charlie, "Accessing private phone records for personal gain, shooting dead a police officer and then lying during the official police investigation, poor evidence gathering, all of which probably should have seen him dismissed from the police force, and let's not forget that he's been accused of assault and threatening witnesses and now another murder. For a lowly Constable, he sure does lead a charmed life, it's almost as if someone more senior is protecting him, don't you think Sergeant? I mean one could get the impression that he could do whatever he pleased without the fear of consequences, including getting away with murder."
"I'd like you to leave now Detective."
"I have a few more questions."
"No you don't."
"What are you trying to hide Sergeant?"
"The only thing I'm trying to hide is my complete dislike for you Detective, now get the fuck out of my office."
Joey leans back in her chair, a slight smile on her lips as she studies Charlie. "Whatever is going on in this station Sergeant, I will find out," Joey stands up, "and put a stop to it." Joey leaves Charlie alone, her confidence completely shaken by Welsh's betrayal.
