Chapter Nine

Charlie leapt off the sofa when she saw Angelo coming charging towards her. Joey hurried into the room after him, looking frantic.

"I told you to get out," she said, trying to sound braver than she felt.

"I'm here to talk to my girlfriend," Angelo said firmly. "It's nothing to do with you."

"After what you did to her, I don't think she's likely to ever want to be your girlfriend again," Joey pointed out.

He turned back to Charlie who was pale, frightened and backing away.

"Get out!" she managed.

"Charlie, can't we at least talk about this?" Angelo pleaded.

"You raped her," Joey accused. "Now, get out before I call the police."

Angelo whirled back round to glare at Joey.

"Who the hell are you anyway?" he demanded.

"I'm Charlie's friend," Joey said firmly.

"Please go," Charlie said quietly.

"You heard her," Joey snapped.

She clenched her fists, holding them by her side. Her heart raced in her chest as her need to protect Charlie threatened to overwhelm her. Angelo kept a close eye on her. He watched suspiciously as Charlie found her way to the stranger's side and the girls held hands.

"What did you say your name was again?" he asked.

"I didn't," Joey replied.

She didn't know if Angelo knew about her or not. Charlie certainly hadn't been very open about their relationship when it had happened and as far as she knew, their love was still something Charlie was ashamed of. Not that that mattered now. But in case Angelo did know, she didn't want to be one to make things worse for Charlie. Angelo folded his arms. He glared at her and then at Charlie.

"You're not going to get away with calling me a rapist," he told her.

"You're not going to get away with being one," Joey snapped when Charlie didn't manage to answer.

Angelo laughed.

"Have you got a little crush on her or something?" he asked. "Because she only swings that way on special occasions."

"Get out!" Charlie said desperately.

Angelo stepped forward, approaching her. She shrank back but kept hold of Joey's hand.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Angelo asked.

"You raped me!" Charlie replied desperately.

"I didn't!" he shouted. "You wanted it as much as I did! You were the easiest lay I've ever had!"

Charlie squeezed Joey's hand. Joey used her free hand to pull her phone out, ready to dial the police. She warned Angelo about it. He ignored her and continued to focus on Charlie.

"You've got this all wrong, Charlie," he said, changing tack. "I love you. You and I belong together. I'm perfect for you, better than anyone you've ever been with. We've been through so much together. I don't understand why you're trying to turn everyone against me. All I'm grateful for is that you failed. Nobody believes you. Not even Ruby. You need to give this up, say sorry and admit that you lied. Then maybe there's a chance for us."

The phone was already ringing when Angelo left. Joey hung up when she saw Charlie fall into a chair, shaking and crying. Joey dumped her phone and wrapped her arms around her. She held her tightly and Charlie rested her wet cheeks against Joey's neck. Joey stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"He's gone," she said. "Everything will be okay."

"I'm not lying!" Charlie sobbed. "Why won't anyone believe me?"

"I believe you," Joey said certainly. "So do Leah and Watson. The truth will out, Charlie. It'll just take a little bit of time."

Watson picked up the phone the moment it rang. She was desperate for news from the hospital. If only she could get back that evidence then she could charge ahead and get Angelo arrested for what he had done to Charlie. It made her feel sick to see him swanning around town, being consoled by the whole town for his terrible predicament. She was looking forward to everyone finding out the truth about him, seeing him for what he really was. She wanted him to rot in jail for what he had done.

Angelo left the house and stormed back to his car, irritated that that girl had been there to interfere. He was sure he could have convinced Charlie to take her accusations back if she hadn't been there. Who was she anyway? The only time he had seen her before was when he'd bumped into her yesterday. And to think, he had tried to help her! Starting the engine, he decided to go to the Diner for a coffee before he headed back to work, assuming Leah wasn't around to throw him out. He needed to calm and settle before he could even contemplate doing something useful.

Charlie was still trembling in Joey's arms. She forced herself to sit up and wipe her eyes. Taking a deep breath she looked at Joey.

"He's never going to leave me alone, is he?" she realised.

"He will," Joey said certainly. "He's going to go to jail, Charlie. Then he'll have no choice but to leave you alone."

"Well, Angelo has a habit of getting away with things," Charlie pointed out.

"Not this."

Charlie sank back and pulled Joey into her arms. She held on tight, feeling a little safer by having her so close.

"The whole town thinks I'm lying," she said sadly. "Even Ruby. If Angelo ends up going to jail, they'll just say I've put an innocent man away. They've all forgiven him for what happened with Jack, so if I hurt him, they won't forgive me. Everyone loves him, Joey. Nobody believes that he's capable of that."

Joey climbed off the sofa and came to crouch in front of her beloved Charlie. She held both her hands and looked into her eyes.

"Then we'll just have to make them," she said. "We'll prove what he did to you, Charlie and everyone will be so damn sorry for how they've treated you. They'll see him for what he is. And they'll see you for what you are."

"What am I?" Charlie wondered.

"An incredible, beautiful woman with a heart of gold," Joey said.

Charlie laughed bitterly and wiped more tears away.

"How can you possibly say that after what I did to you?" she asked. "I mean, Joey, what are you even doing here? Why on earth would you come running after I..."

Joey moved closer and took her hands again.

"Charlie, you really hurt me," she said honestly.

Charlie bowed her head in guilt.

"But that was a long time ago. I went away, I healed from what happened and I..."

She stopped, having been about to say that she'd come back for her.

"I'm not going to keep punishing you for making a mistake. And you cheating on me when we were together, doesn't stop me from being your friend. After what you've been through... it all feels kind of immaterial. You called me because you needed me and I'm not about to turn you away, okay?"

Charlie chewed her lip and pulled Joey into a hug. She held her tight and never wanted to let her go again. When she was with Joey, she felt stronger. She wondered if Joey had felt that about her when their roles were reversed. And if she had, she hated herself more for the way she had let her down.

"Why didn't you come home?" she asked quietly.

Joey swallowed and worried over what to say.

"I just... I guess I wasn't ready," she lied. "I'm sorry. Maybe I could have helped you if..."

She trailed off. Charlie looked at her properly.

"I wish you'd come home," she said honestly. "I've missed you so much. But I do understand. I hate myself for what I did. I've never blamed you for hating me too."

Joey reached out and stroked Charlie's face, insisting that she had never hated her.

"And I do still think that you're incredible and beautiful," she said. "And that you have a heart of gold. It's a heart I adore."

Angelo arrived at the Diner and approached the counter. Colleen smiled brightly at him and then offered concern over his health.

"You seem awfully tired," she said.

Angelo sighed.

"Well, with everything going on..." he said. "It's kind of hard to take."

She nodded sympathetically and put her hand on his.

"I don't know how Leading Senior Constable Buckton could do this to you," she said sympathetically. "As if you would do such an awful thing! You love her! You always have. Honestly, Sergeant Risotto, I hope you know we're all on your side."

"No, we're not, " Leah snapped from behind her, making her jump. "Get out!"

Colleen withdrew her hand and frowned at her boss.

"Leah..."

"You raped my friend," Leah said sternly. "And while you might have the wool pulled over the eyes of every mug in town, you don't fool me. I know what you did to Charlie. I was the one who picked up the pieces after the mess you left her in. And I swear, you are not going to get away with this for very much longer."

Angelo swallowed. Colleen looked worried.

"Now get the hell out of my Diner," Leah warned. "If you dare show your face in here again, I'll call one of your colleagues to drag you away."

"Charlie is going to come out and admit the truth," Angelo said, leaning forward and resting angry hands on the counter top. "She's going to admit that she lied and then you, Leah, are going to have a damn big apology to make for me."

He turned and left. Leah just glared after him.

"Why won't you believe that he's an innocent man, Leah?" Colleen asked.

"Because he's not!" Leah shouted.

Everyone who wasn't already looking turned to stare at her.

"I don't think that Sergeant Risotto is capable of..."

"Of what, Colleen?" Leah challenged. "Of killing Jack and then lying about it? Of befriending his widow and speaking at his funeral? Of striking a deal to get out of jail? To lie to every single one of us as to why he was here in the first place? Of stalking Charlie? Or of violating her so badly that all I could see of her was blood and tears and the broken shell of the person she used to be?"

Colleen made a few vowel sounds but didn't really know what to say.

"You didn't see her," Leah said.

She turned and addressed everyone in the Diner, especially Ruby, sitting in the corner with Xavier.

"None of you saw her," she said. "A year ago, you all hated Angelo and now all of a sudden he can do no wrong. Ever since she came to the Bay, Charlie has done nothing but protect you all and keep you safe. She's worked so hard for this community and now, just as she needs you, you're all turning your backs on her. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

She looked directly at Ruby.

"Especially you."

With that, she stormed out.

Watson headed back into the station looking pleased with herself. The hospital lab had found the original evidence taking during Charlie's medical exam. The person processing her had been off sick for the last week and so had not got around to destroying it. Now, it was safely in the hands of the police department's lab and Watson had made it very clear that if it should get lost again, she would safely assume that Angelo Rosetta had influence over someone working there and she would not stop until she found out what and brought them both down. Judging by the way a guy sitting in the corner had gone slightly pale, she knew, should the worst happen, exactly where to start. She glanced at Angelo in his office, staring into space and looking stressed. She glared at the back of his head, determined that he was going to be sorry he'd ever laid a hand on Charlie Buckton.