Perfect Match
Chapter 5
... So, this is why I get angry inside sometimes! It's the injustice of some people. But normally I just shrink away when something like this happens, but this person got me so riled, I couldn't help but bite back! In fact, I was quite rude about it! Isn't that strange? Well, at least I know I have it in me when it's necessary! I'm not saying this person is a bad person – they aren't; I suppose it was just unfortunate they arrived when they did and got the rough end of my tongue. The strange thing is, I never thought I would do it to this person in particular!
Browneyes.
Hey Browneyes!
Well, standing up for yourself, or better still, for someone else who is vulnerable, is a good thing. We all experience hurtful and disagreeable people in our lives and to have this 'little weapon' stored away can be quite useful – as long as it isn't shown the light of day too often! Confrontation is fine, but speaking as someone who often has it trust in her face for little or no reason; it can be very discouraging. Only recently, I was confronted by someone whom I least expected to be like that. What made it all the more difficult; shortly afterwards, we were forced to mix together socially. That was pretty embarrassing! Still, I don't expect our paths will cross too often, for which I'm thankful...
Charlie stopped her keying for a few moments and thought about Joey. She'd hardly been off her mind since the incident at the Bait Shop. Why had the young woman turned on her so quickly? Charlie had entered the premises in a friendly fashion, so what had prompted Joey to jump down her throat? And worse still, why did Charlie herself, react to Joey's jibes? Why did she not do what she normally did and act professionally? She bit her lip as she replayed the incident over in her mind. And then there was the embarrassing encounter at The Diner. Neither Charlie nor Joey said a word to each other. Thankfully, Aden and Ruby had been quite happy to chat away the impromptu forty five minutes and hardly seemed to notice the uncomfortable atmosphere which existed between Charlie and Joey.
Charlie was angry with herself. Why had this little occurrence become so important to her? She had already spent far too many hours pondering over why it disturbed her so much. Each time she tried to shrug it off, within no time, Joey's pretty, but angry face was before her again and there seemed no way she could obliterate the image. She shook her head and continued with her messaging.
... So do you like the movies? Who is your favourite actor/actress?
"So what was your problem the other evening?" Aden nudged as he and his ship-mate stacked empty crates ready to load their catch when it was hauled.
"What d'you mean?" Joey asked, not meeting Aden's searching eyes.
"When we met up with Charlie and Ruby at The Diner? You were fine until we went in there."
"It was nothing." Joey muttered.
"It was something, alright! What's wrong, Jo? Did the lovely Senior Constable render you speechless?" He laughed.
Joey shot him a look.
"Don't be childish!"
Aden's mouth dropped open.
"Childish? Moi?"
"Yes, you!"
"Come on Jo! Obviously something must have happened between you two!"
"We'd had words over something which happened at Alf Stewart's shop, that's all. It just made having coffee in the same company, a bit ... awkward, that's all."
Aden chuckled.
"Unlike you to have words with anyone, 'mouse'!"
"Well, I suppose she must have caught me at a bad time."
"Not the dreaded PMT's?"
"Don't be flippant!"
"So what was the disagreement about?"
Joey opened her mouth to speak, but could only visualize Charlie's beautiful eyes beneath her Police cap.
"It was nothing."
"So that means you were in the wrong?"
"It means no such thing! If the Police did regular patrols around the bay, then maybe they could keep the kids under control!" Joey yelled.
"Hey! Whoa! Don't jump down my throat! So is that what you told Charlie?"
"Well, something like that." Joey answered gloomily.
"So basically, Charlie walked in and copped the lot?"
"That's about the size of it."
"Poor old Charlie!"
"Well, she's in charge up at the Cop Shop, isn't she?"
"Yeah, but she can't be held responsible for everything which happens in the bay! If they had Police Patrols out all the time, the residence would soon be moaning that the place looked like Chicago!"
Joey couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, point taken and I suppose I was a little unfair to take it out on her."
"So, are you gonna kiss and make up?"
Joey smirked.
"I'm sure she'd love that - not!"
"Yeah, but I'm sure you'd love it!" Aden grinned wickedly.
Joey's cheeks burned.
"Hey! Someones blushing!" He teased.
"Shut up!" Joey replied, as she threw a dead fish at her friend.
"Watson!"
Constable Watson left her desk and made off in the direction of the 'barked' summons.
"Yes boss!"
"Watson, put out two more regular patrols around the bay... Get them to concentrate on the area around the wharf and down by Alf Stewart's shop. There have been a few incidents down there recently."
"Don't think we have the resources, boss!"
"Well, find them!" Charlie said, glancing at the constable.
"Charlie, we have three down with flu at the moment! You've sent Jones and Smith out to investigate the missing litter bins and Constable Bryant is in Sydney collecting those reports you need. That only leaves me and Roberts, who's on the desk!"
Charlie frowned.
"Okay, I'll finish what I'm doing here, then, I'll go out."
"You, Senior?"
"Well, someones gotta do it and I'm not having members of the public pointing the finger of scorn at me again!"
Watson frowned.
"Someone been stirring the pot, boss?"
Charlie looked up quickly.
"No, not exactly; just made the point that we don't have enough regular beat officers. She's right. A little more uniform around the bay won't hurt."
"Whatever you say, boss."
"Is there anything pressing at the moment?"
"No boss."
"In that case, I'll be off in ten."
Aden jumped from the trawler and Joey threw him a thick rope. The rest of the crew secured the fishing vessel and Joey made ready the fish stocks to be unloaded.
"Quite a good day!" Aden said, as he climbed back on board.
"Yeah, but I could do with getting home for a shower! It's one of those days when I can't get the smell of fish out of my nostrils!"
"Thought you'd be used to it by now!" Aden chuckled.
Joey grinned.
"Well, I am but..."
Suddenly her attention was caught by Senior Constable Charlie Buckton who was walking about the Wharf. Aden's eyes followed Joey's.
"Hey! That's Charlie. Wonder what she's sniffing around for?" He asked with a frown.
"Fish?" Joey quipped.
Aden chuckled.
"You're cute. Seriously, wonder what's up?"
Charlie looked up as she heard the fish crates being unloaded. Aden waved her over, much to Joey's distress.
"Aden, hey! Looks like you've had a good day!" Charlie said, observing the heavily laden crates.
"Yeah, fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high!" Aden grinned.
Charlie's blue eyes roamed the boat for Joey. When she saw her going about her work, Charlie's heart gave a little thud in her chest. She bit her lip and studied her beautifully toned figure. Her sun-tanned arms were slender, but strong as she helped pick up the heavy crates and carried them along the boat ready to be off-loaded. Joey looked up suddenly and caught the Police Officer watching her. Joey felt tingles all over her body and suddenly became as weak as a kitten. She stumbled and swore quietly under her breath.
"So what are you doing around here, Charlie? Is there trouble?" Aden asked, folding his arms.
"No, just a routine check." Charlie replied; still watching Joey as she laboured.
"Oh, so nothing to do with recent events down at the Bait Shop?"
Charlie looked up sharply.
"I err... well; we like to take on board suggestions from the public where we can better our services in the community, so we're upping our foot patrols."
"Surprised to see you doing it, though!" Aden grinned and glanced at Joey who was wiping her hands on an old rag.
"Well, I don't want people thinking just because I'm the Senior Constable that I don't pull my weight or get my hands dirty from time to time!" Charlie replied, watching Joey also.
"Anyway, I'd better be off. I'll see you around, Aden!"
"Yeah, see you around. Hey Charlie! We're going to be at The Surf Club tonight. If you've nothing better to do, why don't you join us for a drink?"
Charlie glanced in the direction of Joey again; assuming the 'we' Aden referred to included the pretty deck hand.
"Err, thanks Aden, but I'm busy tonight."
"Oh, shame. Well, see ya!"
"Yeah, bye Aden."
Charlie took one more look at Joey, who just happened to look up at the same time. Charlie smiled weakly but scurried away.