A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 21
Sergeant Charlie Buckton drove slowly around Summer Bay in civvies and in her own car. She had the faxed 'SBF & C' delivery rota on the passenger seat and she stole a quick glance at it as she drove. Her secret involvement in the surveillance of the company could be construed as unnecessary and a time waster for one in her position, but Charlie had more than mere opinion riding on this. Joey Collins, the girl who had let light into her life had asked for help and Charlie had every intention of giving all that she could. The mere thought of Joey made her stomach and heart flip over and she longed for the moment when they could be together again. Summer Bay knew little of their growing affection for each other and though Charlie knew that one day they would have to come out to the world, she was not currently willing to surrender their secret freedom. She wanted Joey all to herself for a little longer and if that meant lying and skulking about like a thief in the night, that is just what she would do.
Suddenly, she spotted a Summer Bay Fish and Crab company delivery van heading for Boggaroo, a town some fifty miles away from where, according to the rota, it should be going. She quickly changed direction and at a safe distance, followed the van.
Angelo Rosetta and Constable Georgie Watson jemmied open the fisherman's shed and after glancing at each other, entered. Angelo shone a powerful torch around; noticing ropes and various forms of fishing tackle. Georgie walked into a cobweb and shivered; desperately pulling the sticky threads from her face. Angelo looked over his shoulder and laughed.
"It ain't that funny!" Georgie hissed.
"From here it looks bloody hilarious!"
"Shush! I hear a car coming!" Georgie whispered urgently; grabbing Angelo's arm, forcing the light from the torch to shine on the dusty floor only.
Angelo, grateful for Georgie's sharp hearing, flicked off the torch light and nudged her out of the shed quickly. They ran for cover into some nearby bushes; their hearts beating rapidly.
Hugo Austen parked his car a little way from the shed and walked casually over. He stopped short as he noticed the crowbar lying on the ground and the shed door a-jar. He listened intently for noises from within. Georgie Watson was sure he would hear her heart beating as it pumped rapidly in her breast. She could hear Angelo's breath as he watched Austen slowly open the shed door and carefully step inside.
"What do we do now?" Watson breathed.
"Stay calm. He has no idea we're here!" Angelo responded.
"But he knows someone has broken in; he might well assume the culprit is still in the vicinity!"
"He will if you don't keep your bloody mouth shut!" Rosetta hissed angrily.
They both drew a hasty breath as they heard Hugo's exit from the prefabricated building. Angelo watched as Hugo took out a pistol from his jacket pocket and took a few steps in their direction. He swallowed and used his arm as a shield in front of Georgie. Georgie was surprised and touched by his gallantry. She tried to melt into the bushes but feared it would not be too long before Hugo would brandish his weapon at them.
"Hey, it's me!" Charlie said, speaking into her mobile phone.
"Hey. How are you?" Joey replied with a smile.
"I'm on the outskirts of Boggaroo!"
"Boggaroo? Why?"
"I've followed one of your rouge delivery vans here, which, according to your rota schedule, should have arrived in Thomastown about twenty minutes ago."
"Shit! Why on earth is he there?"
"Dunno. He's parked up, having a smoke and reading a newspaper at the moment. I'm parked a few metres further along, but watching him in the rear-view mirror."
"Do you think he's waiting for someone?"
"That's my guess! I'm expecting to see another van turn up at any minute to intercept the cargo."
"What in view of everyone?" Joey squeaked.
"No, I think your driver will follow him to a quieter location... then they'll do the exchange."
"My God! This must be what happens when Irene doesn't see the vans pass her house!"
"I'd lay money on it." Charlie said; keeping a sharp eye on her man.
"What will you do when this other van turns up?" Joey asked, feeling a little sick.
"Follow, of course."
"Charlie! You can't be serious! You might get hurt or worse!" Joey wailed.
"Joey, I'm only going to follow and take notes! It's my job; it's what I do best!" The Police Sergeant grinned.
"Charlie! Please don't take any chances... Don't get in their way!"
"Joey, honey... I'll be fine... Hello! I can see a van coming down the street. Better go. I'd be in touch."
And with that, Joey heard Charlie's phone cut off. She swallowed and prayed that Charlie would be safe.
Hugo stopped walking as his mobile phone began to ring.
"Austen."
Watson and Rosetta watched Hugo's face as he listened to his call. His lips curled into a grin and forgetting his mission, turned and walked back to the shed; closing the door.
"G'day, Big 'C'...Good work... Okay, don't be too long and for God's sake tell 'Roberts' to keep her mouth shut this time. She's been laying it on with a trowel. If we're not careful, she'll give the fucking game away and the place will be crawling with cops!"
Steeling a glance at each other, Watson and Rosetta's brows furrowed with this new information.
Hugo climbed back into his car and sped away, leaving a trail of dust which hung in the warm air, silently.
"Well, well, well..." Angelo grinned. "Irene Roberts involved too... Well, there's a thing! The naughty girl!"
Watson could hardly believe what she had heard. Her fingers itched to ring Charlie, but for the sake of appearance, just shrugged her shoulders and joined Angelo who was opening up the shed door again.
Charlie followed the two vans until they turned down a narrow road, leading to nothing but scrub-land at the rear of some old buildings. The light was beginning to fade and Charlie checked her watch; making a note of the road name and time. She parked up a little distance away and got out. Crossing the road, she began to walk down the narrow track in pursuit of the vans. Finding a brick wall which jutted out between the two buildings and giving protection from the vision of the van drivers, she watched as the fish delivery, packed in boxes of ice, was unloaded from the refrigerated 'SBF and C' van and stored away carefully in the other unmarked vehicle. No words were spoken by either driver, though the small, heavily-built driver of the unmarked van was clearly annoyed by something, as Charlie recognised one or two gestures which were being offered.
When finished, the drivers shook hands and returned to their vehicles but not before Charlie recognised one of them. Running back to her own car, she jumped in and pulled away for fear of being recognised by the familiar van driver. Her heart beat with excitement as disbelief flooded her mind. Once on the Yabbie Creek Road, she put her foot down, travelling as quickly as possible back to Summer Bay, wondering just what Colleen Smart was doing driving the other van!
Later that evening, Hugo Austen poured himself a whisky and puffed on an Havana Cigar. He grinned inanely at his guest and chuckled. His guest raised a glass and laughed along with Hugo.
"Well, here's to success!"
"Success indeed!" Hugo echoed, taking a long pull from his glass. "And here's to the next time!"