"The Truth Hurts"

Sorry to keep you guys waiting for this update. I'm sure you've been dying to know...umm oh I dunno...what the hell have I done?

Hmm well what can I say to the readers out there that was shocked by the cliffhanger...oh look that's all of you :P - umm...sorry :)

JSCO81 - Crazy writing...? This is me you're talking to lol :P Have I never done that before...okay mabe not this extreme... :)

Lil20 - Yes I've come out of hiding just to post this update...but will be back in hiding once again once it's posted...

CJ4eva - Well maybe not a fly 'cause a fly's never done anything to her before - but Grant on the other hand...

Fili - Joey on the beach with a fishing knife?? You guessed it again you lil murder mystery buff! Quit doing that! You're ruining the mystery - hahaha jk! Oh I can't shock you anymore...wow that kinda hurt my feelings lol jk :P

Bethers85 - I was waiting for someone to call me on Joey been distracted the last few chapters...what's been going through her mind? Keep reading this fic to find out!

Funkyshaz - Welcome back! Missed you and your reviews! Hope you don't disappear again :P And what a chapter to come back to and review :) Sorry for the speechlessness - hope you can still type to review :P Joey overpowering Grant...anything's possible - she's a tough lil nut!

Movie249 - Mega shocker it was...prepare yourself for many more coming up...

Oniz - Me? Issues with Joey? You're crazy...okay maybe you're onto something... No I love the character of Joey, but 'cause she was only such a short term character I feel there's more flexibilty with her character as opposed to Charlie for my fics 'cause we know so much more about Charlie. But this lil twist could bring a lot of changes to Joey...hmm what kind of changes though? Oh yes light will be shed over the following few chapters I have lined up...

Okay enough from me...umm enjoy reading guys :)

Chapter Forty-Eight

"You're right...you can end your investigation of everyone...I'd like to make a confession...I did it...I'm the one that murdered Grant Bledcoe," Charlie repeated in her mind, unable to comprehend Joey's words. The next few seconds felt like an eternity to Charlie, as she was unable to process the words from Joey's mouth. Feeling her body constrict in a panic, and her mouth dry up, Charlie finally croaked out, "No." Joey looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry."

Charlie grabbed the back of Joey's arm, trying to pull her around to face her, but Joey refused to budge, "No...this isn't happening. That's not what happened...Joey you did not do this! I know you and you are not capable of this. Joey tell him that you didn't do this...look at me!" Joey yanked her arm from Charlie's grip. Detective Robert Robertson stared at the young woman in front of him who had just confessed to the crime, he too was completely blindsided by her confession...even right from the start...I thought she was innocent.

Remembering his initial surety that Joey wasn't involved in this crime, Detective Robert Robertson took a step forward, "Ms. Collins I appreciate the way you went along with my joking as a way to get a confession but I don't think Ms. Buckton here appreciates this joke as much as I do." Detective Robert Robertson watched in apprehension as Charlie began almost shaking violently, as she kept desperately repeating on a loop to herself, "This can't be happening. This can't be happening."

"I'm not lying," Joey insisted anxiously, trying everything possible to block out Charlie's cries, "I'm telling you the truth...I killed him." Detective Robert Robertson crossed his arms in front of his chest, "Ms. Buckton doesn't seem so sure...and I'm not all together convinced...Joey if you're covering for someone or..." Joey took another step forwards, holding out her handbag in front of her, Joey shakingly pulled something out of the bag and handed it to the Detective, "Is this enough proof for you?"

Detective Robert Robertson swallowed hard, unable to comprehend how he had managed to catch Grant's murderer without barely lifting a finger...all he'd done was been his charming eccentric self and Joey had fallen in front of him with a confession he never expected. And now he was holding a piece of evidence that he recognised instantly.

Detective Robert Robertson gripped the item tightly, almost double checking he really was holding it. Charlie began breathing erratically as she stared at what Joey had handed the Detective. Joey looked at the floor ashamed, still refusing to look at Charlie, her heart breaking at every second she couldn't look at her.

As all three of them stood in the middle of the station, Detective Robert Robertson finally looked back up at Joey, trying to decide what he should do before all the other cops in the station became aware of Charlie's reactions and came over to see what was going on. But he was too late, as Angelo strolled into the station, back from his break.

Angelo noticed the two girls and the Detective standing there tensely. Wanting to mind his own business so that Charlie didn't bite his head off again, he strolled straight past them all...but stopped in his tracks as he noticed the Detective holding something...oddly familiar, "Huh...that's Grant's tie. Wasn't he wearing that the day he was murdered? God is that...blood splattered all over the tie? Where'd you come across that piece of evidence?"

Angelo paused uncertainly as he observed the looks on all three faces in front of him...Detective Robert Robertson looked shocked, Joey began sobbing quietly, and Charlie looked...completely devastated doesn't even begin to describe it... Angelo turned to Detective Robert Robertson, "Did I say something wrong?"

Detective Robert Robertson jerked straight into action, pulling the tie away from Angelo's gaze, "Ms. Collins come with me to the interview room. I need to interview you right now." "What's goin' on?" Angelo asked confused, but no one answered him. Detective Robert Robertson took his free hand and gently grabbed Joey by her arm, his hand moving to the small of her back as he began to lead her away from Charlie and Angelo.

Charlie shook herself out of her shock, suddenly sprinting and grabbing Detective Robert Robertson by the arm, attempting to pull him away from Joey, "No stop! You can't take her anywhere. This isn't...real. I know you didn't do this Joey. Please...why are you doing this?" Detective Robert Robertson shrugged out of Charlie's grip difficultly, "I need to talk to Ms. Collins alone Charlie, I won't tell you again." "No! I won't let you," Charlie yelled at him, ignoring her colleagues who had started gathering around them, confused about what was happening.

Detective Robert Robertson glanced back at Angelo, commanding loudly, "Hold her back Rosetta!" "But I...ah..." Angelo struggled to make sense of the situation. "Angelo, hold her back!" Detective Robert Robertson ordered him forcefully. Charlie ignored Detective Robert Robertson's command, this time reaching out to take Joey's hand trying to pull her away from the Detective.

Before he or Angelo could do anything to pull Charlie away from Joey, Joey pulled her own hand out of Charlie's grasp. "Don't Charlie...please just...you can't change what I did," she sobbed. Charlie tried to hold her back again, but this time Angelo didn't need to be ordered to do his job, as he stepped forwards and took hold of Charlie gently so she couldn't force herself between the Detective and Joey. Detective Robert Robertson nodded at Angelo before he placed his hand on Joey's shoulder and led her into the Interview Room.

As Charlie turned around and tried to push Angelo away, he gently pulled her towards him, allowing her to collapse against him. Looking up at everyone around him, Angelo glared, "What are you all looking at? Get outta here and get back to work!" The other cops immediately made a move away from the pair, scattering out of the station or to their desks. Seeing most of them at their desks, staring at the pair out of the corner of their eyes, Angelo dragged the desolate and shocked woman into her office.

Closing the door behind them, Angelo tried to pull Charlie against him to rest against his chest, but suddenly found the woman he loved sobbing uncontrollably as she started to push him away, then began beating her fists against his chest. Angelo allowed Charlie to beat him for a moment, allowed her to express her anger and sadness. He knew Charlie was never one to share her pain with anyone, so let her take everything out on him. At least it means she's feeling something and not ignoring the pain.

Eventually Charlie gave up beating her fists against Angelo's chest and stepped back until she backed into the wall, and collapsed to the floor in a flood of tears and confusion about what had just happened. Angelo swallowed hard, wanting nothing more than to rush to her side and scoop her up into his arms, to promise her he would make everything right and take away her pain.

Instead he picked up the phone.

***

Next time - Joey's interview with RR where she'll tell him what happened the night Grant was murdered...

What did she do...? And is there a loophole that Charlie will find that'll set her free...? Or will CJ be torn apart forever...?

Questions...comments...anyone?