Love Me Love My Dog
Chapter 25
The Police vehicle driven by Constable Ted Matthews slowed down as it met with the mid-day Carnival traffic in Summer Bay. He glanced in his rear-view mirror, checking Angelo Rosetta on the back seat next to Constable Stevens who was riding shot-gun. Angelo sat quietly; looking grave.
Matthew's picked up his radio receiver and alerted the Yabbie Creek Police Station to the traffic conditions.
"Let division know, will you? Over."
"Yeah, no worries Ted. Out."
The car continued to crawl along with the other traffic, trying to avoid Carnival spectators who walked in and out of the road aimlessly and without regard.
"Looks like it's gonna take us a while to get through this rabble." Matthews commented to his colleague.
"Yeah, and no good going down Bay Road coz they've got the road up at the moment." His colleague pointed out.
"Bugger! I'd forgotten that. Pity, coz we could have gone down that way and along the coast road."
Angelo said nothing as he listened to the exchange between the two Police Constables. Instead, his eyes fell upon a discarded screwdriver, abandoned carelessly on the floor, just beneath the back of the front passenger seat. He licked his lips; his mind working quickly, weighing up the odds of his only chance. His heart beat in anticipation as he leaned forward; his hands itching to retrieve the tool without notice.
"Rosetta!" Constable Stevens warned.
"I've got an itchy leg! You don't mind if I scratch it, do you?" Angelo asked sarcastically.
"Whatever." The Police Constable answered; his eyes moving to the crowd outside the car again.
Angelo had not been hand-cuffed; the Chief Inspector thinking it unnecessary as Angelo had quietened down and promised to behave himself.
Angelo took his chance and quickly picked up the screwdriver; hiding it in the palm of his hand.
"Oh, this is stupid!" Matthews ranted as the traffic came to a complete stand-still near Bay Road. "I can't believe how many people have turned out to see this Carnival. Whose idea was it to come this way?"
"Well, I thought it would be better than going the other way out of town coz there's been an accident on the City Road!"
Angelo smiled to himself. This could be his chance to escape. He quickly and dexterously stabbed Constable Stevens in the leg and grabbed the gun from the Constable's utility belt. As the young man screamed out in pain, Angelo leapt from the Police vehicle and began to run quickly towards Bay Road; weaving in and out of the thick crowds; the gun now tucked safely in his trousers pocket.
"Blimey mate, are you alright?" Matthews cried in surprise as he turned around to see what had happened.
"Yeah, get after the bugger!" Stevens screeched, clutching his leg and writhing in pain. "I'll radio base. Just get going!"
Matthews was up and out of the car in a flash. His eyes scanned the heavy crowds making it near impossible to find Rosetta. He stood on tip-toe, looking about him desperately, trying to see above the heads of revellers walking to and fro. He took a chance and headed towards Bay Road.
***
Charlie picked up her bag and took hold of Joey's little hand.
"Come on, let's go pick up Jessie and I'll take you both home." She said, warmly.
Joey smiled.
"I can't wait to see her! And I also need a bath!" Joey said, pulling a face.
"Yeah, I had noticed." Charlie said, laughing, but kissing Joey regardless.
"Well, I can't smell that bad if you're still willing to kiss me!" Joey grinned in delight.
"It's amazing what you can put up with when you're in love!"
"So, you still love me then?" Joey asked with a huge smile on her face.
"A little bit." Charlie laughed.
They walked out into the main office together, still holding hands.
"I'm just off, guys. See you tomorrow!" Charlie called.
Joey smiled, waved and followed Charlie out.
***
The Springer Spaniel barked, howled and whined all at once; her body squirming and shaking from excitement as her mistress made her long awaited appearance. Jessie was beside herself with joy and happiness. But she did not forget her friend Charlie, who stood to one side smiling; witnessing the happy reunion. Jessie leapt up; her tongue catching the edge of Charlie's chin! Charlie laughed and patted the happy, hairy hound.
"Well, thanks for everything, Rosie. I'll be back to work in a day or two; I just want to un-ruffle my feathers a little."
"Take all the time you need, sweetheart. Look forward to seeing you then."
The door opened, and Georgie Watson walked in looking very business-like in her Police Uniform.
"Well, just look at you!" Rosie said in a tone of admiration, which was not lost on Joey and Charlie. "Have you arrived to arrest me or take me for that drink you promised?"
"Play your cards right and you might get both!" Watson replied with a grin.
The girls laughed.
"Well, things are looking up!" Rosie said to Joey; winking her eye.
Joey smiled, glad that Rosie and Georgie seemed to be enjoying each other's company.
"Well, see you guys later." Charlie said, with wave of her hand. "Enjoy your drink... or whatever you get up to! Oh Georgie, did you remember the cuffs? They like those!"
Joey almost choked at Charlie's words and quickly took hold of Jessie's collar; attaching the chain-link lead.
"Come on Officer... take me home!" She said, blushing.
"See what I mean!" Charlie grinned. "The mention of cuffs and she's mine!"
"Charlie!" Joey yelped.
"Coming dear!"
"See Joey... 'tucked up safe and sound'!" Rosie said, giving Joey a wink. "I told you so!"
"Don't you start!"
They laughed again.
"See you guys later." Charlie said, heading for the door.
"Georgie," Joey said, looking back at the smiling Police Officer. "Thanks for everything."
Georgie Watson just winked her eye.
***
Angelo ran and ran; his heart pounding as if it was about to explode. He had to keep running; he had to put as much distance between him and the tracker as possible. He had climbed high, heading for the cliffs in hopes that anyone following would only be chasing on foot. This way, the odds would be in his favour.
***
Georgie and Rosie sat on bar stools at The Surf Club, both sipping on something long and cool.
"Georgie, are you definitely over Joey?" Rosie asked seriously.
Georgie looked down into her drink for a few moments considering Rosie's question. She placed her little finger into her drink and withdrew it slowly; looking into Rosie's eyes. She then ran her wet finger seductively along Rosie's lips.
"Come out to dinner with me and I'll prove to you just how over her I am!"
Their lips began to move nearer to each other when Watson's mobile phone started to ring.
She took a deep breath and sighed.
"Sorry, Rosie."
Rosie shrugged. She understood about being on call.
"Georgie Watson."
"Georgie, its Ted. Rosetta has escaped! He stabbed Frankie Steven's with a screwdriver and got clean away in the Carnival crowds and I can't find him anywhere! Base has been informed. Can you tell Charlie? They've put a search out, but they'll be lucky to catch up with him at the moment. The Bay is solid! Tell Charlie I'm covering the south side if you two can do the north."
"S'truth! Is Frankie alright?" Watson said, looking at Rosie as they sat facing each other.
"An ambulance is on the way to pick him up. He's lost a lot of blood, but I think he'll be okay."
"Okay, I'll let Charlie know! Thanks Ted!"
Watson's face turned white and her heart started to beat rapidly.
"Georgie, what on earth has happened?" Rosie asked resting a comforting hand on Watson's knee and looking with concern at her pale face.
"Rosetta's on the run!"
***
Jessie started to whine as Charlie drove along Cliff Road. She had purposely travelled this way to avoid the Carnival revellers.
"Ruby is travelling with Alex, the bass player in that band, 'Trail'; they have a float which they are playing from today. She sent me a text a while ago. She sends her love."
"That's kind. So, is it a bit serious with this fella then?" Joey asked with concern. "After all, he's likely to be moving around the country a lot and then he'll go back home, won't he?"
"Well, I did warn her. Actually, I need to have a chat with her. When Dad and Morag turned up the other night to discuss your arrest; I have a feeling he was there. Ruby came out looking very sheepish and did mutter that she would talk to me later. Of course, since then, I've hardly seen her. Just hope they're being sensible."
"I'm sure they are, Charlie. She's not her sister's, sister for nothing you know!"
"I'm not exactly sure if I'm the right role model for her!" Charlie laughed. "I know she's nearly seventeen, but she's still my little sister."
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Charlie."
Suddenly Charlie's mobile phone began to ring.
"Get that for me, please Jo?"
Joey delved inside Charlie's trouser pocket; the girls exchanged a silly grin and giggled as Joey groped around.
"Well, I'm sure it's in here somewhere!" Joey teased.
"Joey! It'll ring off by the time you get it out!"
Joey laughed and pulled out the phone.
"Senior Constable, Charlie Buckton's phone.... Hi Georgie, what's up?"
Suddenly the phone went dead.
"Charlie! You're phone's out of charge!"
"Oh damn. I'd forgotten to charge it, what with everything that's been going on!"
"And I haven't got mine, so we're a lost cause!" Joey said, grinning.
"Georgie was probably inviting us out to dinner with them tonight or something." Charlie mused. "Anyhow, isn't it nice to be completely alone and out of touch?"
Jessie quietly woofed on the back seat; just a little reminder that they weren't completely alone!
***
"Damn! Her phone's gone dead!" Watson cried in frustration.
"How about Joey's phone?" Rosie suggested.
"When she was arrested, Charlie took all her possessions home, so no phone! Oh shit! Nothing for it, I'll have to leave you and get on the search. I'm really sorry, Rosie. Perhaps we can..."
"I'll be waiting for your call." Rosie said warmly.
Watson grinned. She leaned forward and gently kissed Rosie's lips.
"Mmm, I could get used to this!" She smiled.
"I certainly hope you do!" Rosie grinned back in return.
***
Rosetta found a small, grassy mound and lay his stomach flat against it; checking his bearings. He coughed and spluttered and spat out congealed saliva which had built up from his exertions. He closed his eyes and wiped away the sweat which was running down his face. He checked his watch and then turned over onto his back; his face looking up into the blue sky. Suddenly, his eyes closed in pain as his head throbbed uncontrollably.
***
"Charlie, as we are passing, do you mind if we give Jessie a quick run? Bless her, she's been cooped up for so long and could do with stretching her legs. And I could do with a breath of air myself!" Joey said, playing with Charlie's long pony-tail.
"Yeah, anything for you and your hound!" Charlie smiled and pulled off the road onto the soft grassy verge.
They climbed out and Joey opened the back passenger door and Jessie jumped out; rushing off as fast as her legs could take her, along the grassy headland.