Angelo reads the report, shaking his head. "This is thoroughly unprofessional work, it's so full of mistakes it looks like a five year old wrote it."
"You didn't give me a chance to proofread it," Georgie replies, feeling the eyes of every other officer on her.
"That's no excuse for this many errors. If I handed this in, this," he looks at the details. "This shoplifter would get off all the charges on a technicality."
"I wouldn't have handed it in until I had checked it over," her voice no longer hiding her anger at the very public dressing down.
"And just when did you plan to hand it in, next Christmas?" He says sarcastically, enjoying the angry flashes in her eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen any officer take so much time to write up a report."
"What's going on?" Charlie asks Hogan when she rushes into the station.
"Rosetta's having a go at Georgie for being slow in writing up the reports and for there being so many mistakes."
Charlie looks at her cousin in concern. "She hasn't had a problem like that in years."
"My little brother has dyslexia and he always said how hard it was when he couldn't concentrate properly and Rosetta's been looking over Georgie's shoulder just about the entire time, making disparaging remarks about her work and totally putting her off."
She hated it herself when people looked over her shoulder, so she could just imagine how Georgie felt, especially when she started making more mistakes. "Surely he's aware Georgie is dyslexic, it'd be in her file."
"I don't think he cares."
Charlie glances at Hogan sharply. "What do you mean?"
"I know Georgie's a pain in the arse at times, but she's a good cop and it's like that guy has been looking for any little excuse to have a go at her."
"I know they've clashed a few times, but I find it hard to believe he'd deliberately provoke her."
"I find it very easy to believe," Aden says. He shrugs when Charlie and Hogan stare at him. "Hey, I've known the guy forever and on more than the odd occasion, I've wanted to punch that smug smile off his face."
"I've got to admire Georgie for her restraint because even I've wanted to thump him," admits Hogan. "That might be about to change," Charlie murmurs, noticing Georgie's stance. "I'd better put a stop to this before Georgie ruins her career." She strides toward the warring pair. "Sgt Rosetta, can I talk to you in your office?"
"In a moment, I'm trying to explain to the Constable the importance of accuracy in a police report."
"Georgie is more than aware of that."
He holds the paper up, shaking it in front of her face. "A child could have done a better job."
Charlie winces at the statement, Georgie's hands tightening into fists. "Sgt, this is not a matter that should be discussed in a public forum."
Annoyed at the interruption, Angelo eyes the Snr Constable before glancing around the room. Every officer was watching them, waiting to see what his next move was. "Redo it," he hands the papers back to Georgie.
"As the Snr Constable is going to be otherwise occupied, I'll need the Constable and her local knowledge to assist me with a lead," Aden says from across the room.
"What lead?" demands Angelo, furious at Aden's interference and continued presence.
"I'd rather not say until I see if it pans out."
Charlie sends him a silent thankyou from behind Angelo's back.
"I'm sure Hogan can finish off the reports," Charlie suggests.
"No problem."
Outmanoeuvred, Angelo concedes. "My office Senior." He strides into his office.
"Thanks Charlie," Georgie murmurs.
"I'm just sorry I wasn't here earlier. Take your time out there with Aden."
Georgie nods, following after Aden.
"There were mistakes galore," Angelo says the moment Charlie had taken the seat opposite him.
"Some people don't like others hovering over their shoulders while they work." Angelo's eyes narrow at the dig. "It makes them nervous and I'm sure her dyslexia was mentioned in her file."
"I don't recall reading anything about it in her file."
From what she had just witnessed, Charlie found herself not believing him. "Well she is dyslexic but it's usually not a problem. Georgie's reports are always in on time and up to the standard expected of all officers."
"Now that I know about her disability, I'll overlook today's fiasco but considering her disabilities," emphasising the plural, "I'm surprised that your cousin doesn't choose an easier job."
"She has a learning difficulty which she's overcome in the most part and neither her dyslexia nor her leg has prevented her from doing her job. Georgie loves being a cop, that's why she worked so hard to come back after she was shot."
"Even though she's completely unsuitable to the wear the uniform?"
"That's your opinion."
"One shared by others. Her disciplinary record is far too long for my liking, then there's her past to consider."
"The Academy didn't believe there was anything in her past to prevent her from becoming a cop and while I'll concede that her discipline is lacking at times, it doesn't prevent her from being a good cop. Perhaps you could focus on the positives in her record, like her brilliant arrest rate, instead of just the negatives."
"Did you speak to Sgt Harris like this?"
"When I disagreed with him. I'm second in command which means I have the most contact with the officers and it's my responsibility to see that they not only perform their duties to the best of their abilities, but that they also receive a fair go."
"You think I'm being unfair to your cousin?"
Charlie takes a moment before she answers. Maybe Angelo was just being a bastard because he couldn't handle Aden being here and Georgie was the unfortunate target, but it was looking more and more like her cousin may have been right from the start about Angelo having it in for her. "I think you and Georgie have a personality clash and you've both let it affect the way you deal with each other," she finally answers, keeping her tone even and free of any rebuke.
"I'm a professional Senior, I don't let my personal dislike of someone cloud my judgement. My problem with your cousin, is I truly believe she is unfit for the job, both physically and behaviourally."
"You haven't really given her a chance."
"Her file suggests she's had more than enough chances. Now, I'm willing to admit I was unfair to her today because I had no understanding of her disability, but my opinion of her remains the same."
"She's an officer in this station and deserves to be treated as every other officer." Charlie keeps her expression neutral, despite her growing anger.
"She does her job in a way befitting the uniform, she'll have no trouble from me, but I'll be keeping an eye on her, as I will all my officers. I want this station to run smoothly, Senior and any officer who doesn't meet the standard, will need to get their act together or they'll be going elsewhere." Angelo sits back in his chair. "I expect my officers to act like police officers at all times when they're in uniform, am I understood?"
"Yes Sgt," Charlie replies, silently thinking he should take some of his own advice.
"I'm sorry if you think I'm singling out your cousin and maybe I am, but considering her attitude since I've been here, it's hardly surprising."
Charlie had to admit to herself that Georgie's attitude hardly endeared her to Angelo, yet she didn't deserve to be humiliated like she had been earlier.
"If that's all Senior, we both have work to do."
"There is something more. If you have a problem with any of the officers, I'd like for you to tell me and allow me to deal with the situation, that is my role after all."
"Of course."
Charlie leaves his office, her own opinion of Angelo now less than complimentary.
Angelo sighs heavily once he was alone. He couldn't fault Charlie for standing up for an officer, even if it was her cousin, but he didn't like it, just like he hadn't liked her and that prick Aden interfering.
He was sure Watson was just about to lash out. He'd seen her barely controlled anger, the way her fists kept clenching and he was certain with a few more prods he may have been sporting a black eye but he'd have grounds for suspending her and starting proceedings to have her dismissed from the force. He did feel a little bad using her dyslexia against her, but in this instance, getting rid of a corrupt cop justified the means.
"Everything ok?" Hogan asks Charlie.
"I think we might be in for a bumpy ride."
For the past ten minutes, Aden had driven in silence, giving Georgie time to gather her thoughts. He glances over at her. "If Joey wasn't married to Angie, do you think she and Charlie would hook up?" Aden asks suddenly.
"She is married so that question is redundant."
"It's just that I love Joey like a sister and after today, I was left wondering again why the hell she married that jerk."
"Why are you talking to me about this?"
"Who else am I going to talk to? Their lustful encounter is a big secret after all."
"Obviously not that big of a secret," mutters Georgie.
"I just know Joey, that's why I knew something was up."
"And you leapt to the conclusion that she and Charlie slept together?"
"On the morning of her wedding, Joey happened to mention that she had spent the night with a gorgeous woman and going by what I've seen and picked up since I've been here, it didn't seem that far of a leap to suspect that Charlie was the other woman. It's a shame really, because Joey had this light in her eyes when she spoke of that night and it had me hoping she'd change her mind about the wedding."
"Look, I've got my own problems ok and as long as she's married to that fuckwit, there's really little point in discussing her and Charlie."
"Fair enough." Aden turns the car left.
"So what's this lead?"
"There isn't one, I just figured after all that shit back at the station, you'd like some time with your girlfriend, unless you'd really like to go back."
"Why are you doing this?"
"To piss off Angie and I'm trying to curry favour with you so you'll put in a good word with Belle for me."
"Belle makes her own choices."
"Not even one good word?"
"Fine, I'll tell her you're a cheerful person."
"Not quite what I had in mind, but it's a start. Seriously though, Angie was a total bastard and I got you out of there before you gave him exactly what he wanted."
"Smashing his face in might have been worth losing my job over."
"He'd have you in jail on assault charges in an instant. The best way to deal with him, is to show that he doesn't get to you."
"He does get to me."
"And I bet he enjoys every second of it, though I suspect your restraint and our return put a dampener on things for him." He glances over at her, the back of her head to him as she stares out the side window. "Georgie, Angie's developed a deep dislike of you and nothing you can do will change that, but if you don't give him what he wants, he will back off eventually."
"On to the next victim."
"That's the way he works, though he's usually more subtle than he was today when he does it; back there, he just looked like a bullying jerk. You know, I actually think that when things aren't going the way he wants, it makes him feel better when he finds someone's weakness and exploits it."
"It hasn't been a weakness in years."
"I'm not talking about your dyslexia. You're spirited, opinionated."
"You forgot bitchy, judgemental and stubborn," Georgie adds as she turns to face him.
"No I didn't," he flashes a grin to take the edge off it. "You have a lot of qualities and it all makes you an interesting woman, but it also gives you a certain attitude that if a man like Angie can exploit, he will use it to bring you down."
"I'm aware of that."
"Then don't let him win. Georgie, you're a good cop, you have good instincts and if you actually believed more in yourself, you might surprise yourself how far you can go in the Force."
"Can you really see me as a Sergeant?"
"Not in charge of a station, no, but a Det. Sgt, sure, I can see that."
"Are you kidding?"
"The only thing holding you back is yourself."
"I am who I am."
"You could be so much more."
"You sound like Gina."
"That your mother."
"God no, my mother thought I'd amount to nothing, just like her. Gina's the principal at Summer Bay High, she was also the first teacher to bother to find out why I found it so hard and to encourage me to make something of myself."
"It sounds like she believed in you and you must have believed enough to go to the academy."
"It's this place," she says, staring out the window again. "It brings out the worst in me while sucking the life out of me."
"Why do you stay?"
"I only came back because of Jack but I stay now for my family."
"I remember reading about that police shooting in the city. Jack really had no choice."
"I told him that and so did everyone else, but she was a 16 year old girl and she was dead because Jack shot her. He knew he had no choice, but it nearly destroyed him having to do it and he couldn't handle the job in the city after that, it's why he transferred here."
"And you chose to follow him here?"
"I wasn't given much of a choice. The press was painting Jack out to be some cold-blooded killer and let's just say my defence of him kept in line with my reputation, so when another position opened up here, it was strongly suggested I transfer as well, even though it was my hometown. I guess they were willing to overlook that fact as they figured Jack was one of the few who kept me in line and it put me far enough out of the way not to cause trouble while the Force settled with the girl's family so that the whole thing would just disappear." Georgie stares out the window again. "Jack was my best friend, my mentor and a great guy who needed a friend, so I accepted the transfer." She shakes her head, "The press was like vermin back there, but at least here we didn't have to read it on the front page of every newspaper."
"Is your sister like that?"
Georgie looks over at him, a wry smile finally breaking across her moody features. "Are all our conversations going to end up talking about Belle?"
"Set me up on a date and I promise not to quiz you about her anymore."
"I can't make Belle do anything, so you're on your own there."
"Any tips then?"
"Run far away."
Aden laughs, preparing himself for the challenge, his mind also turning over how Joey would react to all of this. Though Joey tended to defend her husband most of the time, she hated anyone being taken advantage of or being made to feel bad, so he had a feeling that husband or not, she'd be far from happy with Angelo. Oh, if only he could be a fly on the wall when Angelo got home that evening.