A Pathway of Adversity

Chapter 26

Angelo Rosetta parked his car outside Hugo Austen's house. Walking along the pathway, he had no idea he was being observed by Constable Georgina Watson. Sergeant Buckton had given Watson clearance to pursue Rosetta in hopes of discovering evidence, which might have some bearing in the murder investigation of Irene Roberts. Irene's premature death had shocked and sickened the Summer Bay community and now, they were baying for blood!

Rosetta knocked loudly on the front door and listened for sounds of movement from within. The door was not answered and Angelo stepped back and side-stepping, looked into a ground-floor window. He heard and saw no one. He sighed and walked back to his car.

Watson hunched her shoulders low in hopes of not being recognised as Rosetta drove past. But Angelo had other things on his mind. He had no interest in who might be following him. He needed to see Hugo Austen and fast!

Taking advantage of Marilyn's absence as she popped along to the hospital shop to purchase some tissues for Alf, Colleen moved closer to her brother.

"Alf dear, I need to tell you something while 'big-ears with hair bows' isn't around!"

"Look here, Colleen, whatever you might think of Marilyn, she's gonna become my wife, so I'd much rather you kept the snide remarks to yourself!"

"Alright, Alf Pet, but you must let me say this to you before she comes back!"

"Okay, woman! Spit it out!" Alf sighed impatiently.

"Joey, it's me!" Charlie called from the other side of the door.

Joey let her girlfriend in. She closed the door behind Charlie and turning around, was glad to accept the warm embrace which Charlie offered.

"You're still in uniform." Joey observed as their hold slackened.

"Yeah. I've come straight from work. We're making an announcement on tonight's evening news about Irene. I just wanted you to know before it goes out live. I want to be with you when the statement is read."

Joey was silent.

"Joey honey... Are you okay?"

"Yes." Joey replied quietly.

"We're announcing that it was murder and what injuries she sustained. It won't be pleasant, so I wanted to tell you first."

"Do you want a coffee?" Joey asked, leading Charlie by the hand into her kitchen.

"I'd rather have something stronger, if you have it?" Charlie suggested, as she sat down.

"A glass of wine?" Joey offered.

"Perfect."

Joey poured wine into two glasses and sat opposite Charlie at the table.

"Jo, you already know Irene was murdered... But there's no easy way to tell you how it happened..."

Charlie paused for a few moments, trying to find the best way of breaking the news to Joey, but failing. Instead, she decided to continue regardless. Taking a deep breath...

"She was bludgeoned from behind... Twice... With a heavy weapon. I know it's of little compensation, but she wouldn't have known what hit her."

Charlie hoped this last snippet of information, though of little use, would at least let Joey know that Irene had not suffered for long.

Joey looked into her wine glass. Wine had always helped her mind slip sideways, but since Irene's death, even this had little effect.

Charlie stretched her arm across the table and took Joey's hand.

"Do you have any questions?"

Joey remained silent for a few moments before speaking.

"Yeah. Only one. When are you going to find the heartless bastard who did this?" She cried, angrily.

Alf Stuart, with Marilyn Fisher perched upon one side of his hospital bed and his sister, Colleen Smart perched upon the other, watched television as the news of Irene Robert's murder was announced.

"Strewth!" Alf cried incredulously. "The poor woman! Why would anybody have done this to such a nice person? What reason did they have?"

He glanced at his sister, still bemused by the information she had given him earlier and hardly believing such an incredible story. If what she said was true, then a social time-bomb was waiting to go off. Summer Bay would never be the same again and he did not think he would ever fully recover from it.

Marilyn wiped away the tears which were running down her cheeks. Colleen watched her disdainfully.

"You should pull yourself together, young woman!" She hissed.

"Colleen! How could you snipe at such a time as this?" Marilyn cried. "I thought Irene was one of your closest friends?"

"I'm not saying she wasn't! But all your crocodile tears won't bring her back!"

"Strike me pink, woman! Have you got no feeling heart?" Alf turned to his sister and growled.

"Alf! Don't excite yourself, darling!" Marilyn said, laying her hand on his chest.

"Get your filthy, gold-digging hands off my dear brother!" Colleen spat. "You're no better than a hussy!"

"That's more than enough from you, Colleen Smart! If you can't keep a civil tongue in your head, you can get the hell out of here and don't bother to come back!" Alf yelled. "That poor woman isn't even cold in her grave yet, and you're acting like nothing in particular has happened!"

"Well, maybe Irene deserved it! Maybe..."

Colleen's words were interrupted by the door to the private room opening.

"What in heaven's name is going on in here?" Sister Tyson cried angrily as she stood in the doorway. "Mr. Stewart, if your visitors can't control themselves in a manor appropriate for a hospital, I will be compelled to ask them to leave!"

Colleen bristled and Marilyn continued to cry. Alf's blood pressure increased and the heart monitor readings rapidly changed. The Sister hastily made her way over to Alf's bedside to check his pulse. She stayed until the readings had calmed down and was convinced that Alf was in no more immediate danger.

"I strongly recommend that you both leave now and allow Mr. Stewart to rest. In future, only one visitor will be allowed in this room, at a time." The Sister forcefully announced as she left the room.

Marilyn, who had now composed herself, looked sadly at her husband to be.

"I'm so sorry, darling. Please, please get some rest. I need you to be strong for me!"

"He'd be a lot stronger without you!" Colleen announced, acidly. "Now, Alf pet, you eat that lovely soup I brought in for you. It will do you a power of good – more than that vegetarian muck!" She said with a smile. "And don't forget what I told you earlier! It's most important that should know just what's happening and who's involved!"

Alf grunted and grudgingly accepted the kiss Colleen offered. She gave a withering glance to Marilyn and swept out of the hospital room.

Charlie turned off the television set and settled back on the sofa with Joey.

"The press will enjoy every moment of this, won't they?" Joey mused sadly.

"They will. It will sell newspapers and fire everyone's imagination for a few weeks, but will spare little thought for her friends and family left behind."

"Charlie. I know it's asking a lot of you, but will you stay with me again, tonight?"

Charlie smiled at her girlfriend.

"Ah-huh. My jim-jams are in my bag." She grinned.

Joey smiled her appreciation.

"Thanks."

Charlie kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"I'll just ring Rubes to let her know I won't be home."

And before picking up her mobile phone, kissed Joey again.

After the disappointing trip to Hugo Austen's house, Angelo Rosetta drove home to consider his next move. He took a tin of beer, cold from the fridge, and opened it. It hissed and a little froth escaped as he put the tin to his lips. He took a long, hard pull and swallowed the refreshing liquid; relishing the flavour as it ran over his taste-buds. As if taking inspiration from the hops, Angelo slammed the tin down on the table and grabbed his mobile phone. Quickly, he punched in some numbers and waited with bated breath.

"You're staying over at Joey's... again?" Ruby asked.

Her heart began to beat a little quicker and she could feel the heat from her chest and throat as they flushed in anger waiting for Charlie's response.

"Well, yeah. Joey needs me right now." Charlie explained.

"What does she need you for?" Ruby asked acidly.

Charlie was taken aback by Ruby's tone.

"Look Ruby, I don't have to give you reasons – just accept that I won't be home tonight, okay?"

"So it's true! You are fucking her then?"

Charlie's mouth fell open in shock.

"Ruby! For god's sake!"

Joey looked up quickly as her girlfriend's tone changed.

"What on earth has got into you?" Charlie cried.

"Well, when I find out that my sister – my heterosexual sister is now getting her kicks by screwing a woman, I tend to get a little disturbed by it!" Ruby shouted; tears gathering in her eyes.

Charlie was lost for words. She felt her head beginning to spin and a few black spots danced before her eyes. Joey quickly propped her up from behind realising that Charlie looked unwell. Charlie dropped the phone without finishing the call and crumpled against Joey.