"What do think he wants?" Aden asks Georgie.
"Don't know, but going by the Inspector's look, someone is in trouble."
Joyce says nothing as Charlie takes a seat opposite him. Charlie had known David for a long time and this was the first time she had felt so wary and nervous about what he was about to say.
Observing her obvious nervousness, he finally breaks into a slight smile. "Relax Sergeant, this isn't about you, well not entirely about you."
Charlie allowed herself to relax a little.
"There are to be some changes at the station, starting with Rosetta. Pending the outcome of the assault case, he will be suspended from duty."
Charlie felt herself relax even more. Not having to face him everyday should make things a lot easier at work, not just for her but for everyone here.
"Now, I've also gone over the investigation into the assault on Mrs Rosetta and all is in order. Despite the awkward situation of investigating a colleague, you and Constable Watson followed procedure to a tee, so you can relax about there being any fallout from you investigating your senior officer."
"Thank you David. Um," she hesitates. "There's something you should know."
"About you and Mrs Rosetta?"
"Yes."
He sighs. "I'm not happy with that particular situation."
"I wish I could lie and say I wasn't happy, but I am."
His lips twitch at the smile that flickered over her face. "So I can see. Charlie, did anything happen between you and his wife before she ended the marriage?"
"There were a couple of kisses," she admits. "But nothing more. As long as she was committed to her marriage, Joey tried to make it work and was faithful."
"Aside from a few kisses."
"Well, yeah, but I promise, nothing happened beyond that and Angelo's hardly in a position to throw stones."
"I'm aware of his apparent infidelity with Miss Scott and as long as the personal drama stays out of the station and out of uniform, I'd like to leave it at that."
"It will, at least on my part."
He nods. "That's good to know, Sergeant."
Charlie frowns, suddenly realising that was the second time he'd called her, Sergeant.
"You heard me right, Sergeant."
"I don't understand."
"With Rosetta's suspension, I'm bumping you up to Acting Sergeant."
"Not that I don't appreciate the promotion, even if it is temporary, but I've always kept my old rank, even when I was in charge while Sgt Harris was on leave."
Joyce sits back, templing his fingers in front of him. "Regardless of the outcome of the assault charge, Rosetta won't be placed back in command and I've already put you forward for the position on a permanent basis."
Charlie let the news wash over her. The last couple of days almost seemed too good to be true, she was finally with Joey and now she was in line for a promotion she had once thought was already hers. She should feel bad for taking not only Angelo's wife, but also his position, but she didn't. It wasn't her fault Joey loved her and not him and she had worked hard to be where she was in her career and he was the one who attacked another officer, not her, so it was his own fault he had lost command.
"You are pleased, aren't you?" Joyce asks in amusement.
"Of course I am." She shook her head in disbelief. "It's just a lot has happened recently and I'm just trying to get my head around this."
"You earned this Charlie and if I had had my way, you already would have been Sergeant here, not Rosetta."
"Why did I miss out on the promotion the last time?"
"I tried to convince the promotion board you were the strongest candidate for the position but I was overruled. Personally, I never thought Rosetta was up for the responsibility, but others disagreed and saw him as the bright, rising star of the Force and so despite my objections, he was given the job over you." He grins. "Now I get to say to those who chose him, I told you so." Charlie grinned back at him. "I've always had the utmost respect for you Charlie, which is why I'm once again, supporting you for the position."
"Thank you David. I just really wasn't expecting this."
"You have always been the best person for the job Charlie and you're recent actions just reaffirmed that. Despite your obvious personal interest in the assault of Mrs Rosetta, you kept things professional and by the book, unlike Rosetta. I've been made aware of the problems between him and Watson and while I know she's not always the easiest officer to get along with, that incident with the reports was completely unacceptable on his part, as was his behaviour yesterday. I can understand him being upset about the end of his marriage, but bringing his personal problems and grudges into the station and both times acting in such an unprofessional manner in front of his officers and anyone else who happened to be there is not what is expected of someone in command and only demonstrates how unfit for the responsibility he is, which is why it's doubtful he'll ever be trusted with any command again. As for your position, I can't guarantee with absolute certainty that you'll be promoted to full Sergeant once a promotion board can be convened, but I doubt those who overruled me in favour of installing Rosetta ahead of you will be so willing to overrule me again."
"I really appreciate the faith you have in me David." She chuckles softly, "I thought I was in real trouble when you summoned me into the office by my rank."
"Well, hopefully that will be the last time you are summoned as a Senior Constable. There is another reason why I'm here. With the recent murder and arson, it's been decided that Det. Jeffries needs more assistance, so Homicide will be arriving tomorrow to join the arson investigation." Charlie couldn't stop the groan escaping. "I know, no one likes interlopers and Homicide can be pains in the arse."
"Do you know which detectives?"
"Robert Robertson and a new up-and-coming one called Graves."
"I've heard about Robertson." He was supposedly brilliant but in his case, a right royal pain in the arse and now she felt like Georgie did when they were told Aden was coming, because this time, these D's were going to be encroaching on her turf and her station. My station, she smiles at that.
"I've never met the man, but I've been told the best way to deal with him is to just remind yourself that he's good at his job and knows what he's doing," Joyce informs her.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And I'll leave you to get acquainted with your new office." He shakes Charlie's hand. "Good luck Sergeant."
"Thank you David," she says, savouring the rank.
Joyce had barely left the office when Aden ducked his head in. "Well, looks like you survived."
"More than survived."
"Georgie's gone home with Martha but she wants me to pass on the goss, so give."
"You are now looking at Acting Sergeant Buckton," she says, before filling him in.
Joey wasn't sure if she was imagining all the eyes on her while she sat in the diner or not but she was certain she was the cause for some of the whispering going on.
"You mind if I join you?" asks Leah.
"Please."
"Just ignore them," Leah tells her when she notices Joey's eyes darting around the room.
"I take it you've heard too."
"If you mean about you and Charlie, Angelo and Bianca and an arranged marriage, then yes." Joey groaned. "Yeah sorry, but the cops are amongst the worst gossips in town and something like this, was always going to spread like wildfire." Leah smiles encouragingly at her, "If it makes you feel any better, you're coming out looking a little better in this than Angelo."
"I was so worried about hurting him, and he's the one who's been unfaithful. I'm not excusing my own behaviour, but I held off truly being with Charlie until after I'd ended my marriage."
"Can I take that to mean you and Charlie have no longer held off?" she asks with the hint of a teasing smirk. Blushing furiously, Joey nods. "I knew you guys had a history and I've seen the way you and Charlie acted around each other at times, so I can't say I'm surprised that this has happened."
"I did try to commit to the marriage, but I just didn't love Angelo in that way and I couldn't deny what I felt for Charlie any longer."
"You do seem to have a happy sparkle in your eye."
"Oh I am happy," she grins sillily, "Extremely happy."
"I believe in marriage but I also believe people should be with who they're truly meant to be with."
"Charlie and I are meant to be, I pretty much knew that from the moment we met."
"Then I'm happy for you and don't worry," Leah waves her hand around the diner. "They'll be talking about something else soon."
The drugs Bianca had supplied were still buzzing through his system but not even that and the fact she really was a good screw could take away his anger. He'd been in the middle of giving it to Bianca when Joyce had called to tell him he was suspended and that bitch was now in charge. First she'd taken his wife, now she'd taken his job and he bet she was just loving it.
He looked down at the woman moaning beneath him again. Angelo hated her, but it hadn't stopped him earlier, when he'd dragged her to the bedroom, tore her clothes off and fucked her in the bed he'd shared with his wife. It should be his wife moaning her pleasure for him, not some slut.
Bianca groaned as she felt another climax approaching. Her luck had changed when she'd set her sights on Angelo; he was handsome, easily manipulated and controlled and absolutely loaded and, she groaned, he knew how to hit the right spot and whether he liked it or not, now that her claws were in, she had no intention of extracting them. She wraps her legs around his back, holding him as she screamed out her climax.
Leah had stayed to chat for a little longer before a rush of customers had her back behind the counter. Joey had appreciated the talk and Leah's support. She was just about to get up when Ruby sat down at the table.
"Shouldn't you be in school?"
"God, you already sound like my sister," Ruby says with a roll of her eyes. "I have a study break and needed some of Leah's coffee to get me through to lunch." She rests her elbows on the table and stares at Joey. "So, what are your intentions toward my sister?" Joey couldn't help it, she just grinned. "I'm serious," Ruby says.
"So am I, about your sister. I love her Ruby and my intentions toward her are to be with her and love her forever."
"Jesus, I thought Charlie was sappy," she mutters, wondering if she'd survive being in the same room with them together if they were like this alone. "There's no danger of you running back to your husband?" she asks.
"Not a chance, I've even started divorce proceedings. I know Angelo may not make it easy for us but there is nothing that will make me go back to him. Ruby, I'm with Charlie because she's the one I want to be with, she always has been and there is no way I would be able to walk away from her again, even if I wanted to."
"Then I guess we're going to be sisters."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I've never seen her like this, even when she was pining over you, so I know you're the real deal for her and you make her so happy, that's all I have ever wanted for her, especially when she's had to sacrifice so much to stay here with me."
"I know we don't really know each other all that well Ruby, but I hope we can change that."
"I'd like that but I'm warning you, if you hurt my sister, you hurt me and I don't take that very kindly."
Joey smiles. "Fair enough."
"I really am glad you finally saw the light Joey, because I don't think Charlie would have ever gotten over you."
"I never would have gotten over her, either."
"Can we help you Colleen?" Ruby says sweetly to the woman trying shamelessly to listen in.
"I thought your sister was better than that, going after a married woman," her voice full of censure. "Maybe she's more like your cousin than I ever realised."
"Considering how devoted to each other Georgie and Martha are, I hope Charlie is as lucky as Georgie is."
"Colleen, customers," Leah calls out before Colleen could say more.
Ruby pokes her tongue out at Colleen's retreating back. "Nosey old biddy." Joey chuckles. She liked the young girl, seeing both Charlie and a bit of their cousin in her. "She still thinks Martha's only with Georgie because Georgie seduced her while she was an emotional mess after Jack's death."
"Even after all this time?"
"The truth is, she's never liked Georgie or the fact her niece is now in a lesbian relationship."
"Niece?"
"Colleen is Alf and Morag's sister which makes her Martha's great aunt or great pain in the arse, as Georgie likes to say. I probably should be getting my coffee and getting back to school." Ruby gets to her feet. "I really am glad you and Charlie are together."
"Thanks Ruby." Seeing Colleen heading her way again, Joey waves a quick goodbye to Leah, before making a hasty exit. She doubted anything could dampen her high spirits but that still didn't mean she wanted to listen to the opinion of some woman she barely knew. Walking away from the diner, Joey let her mind drift toward her girlfriend, bringing a wide smile to her face.
"Josephine!" Joey stops dead in her tracks at the sound of her father's voice calling out to her.