As Time Goes By
This chapter is dedicated to poor 'Purplemonkeyys' who's under the weather at the mo. Get well soon, sweetie! ~S&L~ xx
Chapter 7
"Sir, may I have a quick word, please?" Charlie asked as she stood in the doorway of Detective Chief Inspector Robertson's office.
"Why, yes. Please come in, Constable."
Charlie entered the office. A lot had changed since Sergeant Crosby's departure. For one, the familiarity that she shared with Sergeant 'Uncle Fred' Crosby existed no longer. Robertson was a good and fair officer, but he was not an easily approachable man and Charlie had to brace herself to even knock at his door!
"What can I do for you?"
"Sir, I was wondering, how much do you know about my secondment to Whitehall in the spring?"
The Detective Chief Inspector sat back in his chair and looked at her with cold eyes. He usually had difficulty in retaining eye contact, but on this occasion, he managed.
"I know a little." He answered carefully.
Charlie cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
"Sir, I have reason to believe there has been a leak in security with regard to the 'Austin' case and thought it best to alert you."
The DCI averted his eyes from Charlie's finding it hard to concentrate. It wasn't the first time he had noticed how pretty his Constable was.
"Maybe you should enlighten me." He said, quietly.
Charlie explained to her superior what she had recently experienced and he listened only making occasional eye contact. His lips moved from time to time curling from one side to the other as he fiddled with his fountain pen.
"I know it sounds incredible Sir, but nobody here in Whitstable could have known anything about what happened last spring!"
The Inspector got to his feet and walked over to a cabinet and took out a file. Charlie observed his movement, unable to judge his reaction. He returned to his desk, putting the file down.
He glanced up at Charlie for a moment but blinked and looked away.
"I will give this some thought. Please continue with your other duties and I will speak to you later in the day. In the meantime, please do not mention this matter to any other officer or civilian and do not have anything to do with the young woman, Holden. That will be all, Constable." He said, giving Charlie another quick glance.
Charlie thanked him for his time and left the office.
***
Charlie worked through the day and occasionally wondered if the Detective Chief Inspector had given any thought to her concerns. At the end of her shift, she pulled on her great coat and said 'goodnight' to her colleagues and headed for the Police Station door.
"Constable Buckton!" the DCI called from his office.
"Sir?"
He beckoned her in.
"Constable, I have read a report with regard to your involvement in the Austin case. The report is sketchy. I need more information before I can make any decisions."
"Sir, Martha Holden is a family friend. I don't like to make trouble, but... "
"Yes, Constable, but the law is the law. If this young woman is found breaching it, we must take appropriate action."
"I understand Sir and thank you for taking the trouble." Charlie replied.
"Good evening, Constable." The DCI said, dismissing his officer.
***
Several weeks passed and Detective Chief Inspector Robertson had said nothing more to Charlie about his findings. Charlie began to feel frustrated. She'd managed to avoid Martha Holden; Martha worked long shifts at the factory but occasionally, when she had time off, worked at her Grandfather's pub. Charlie had no reason to visit the public house and therefore, avoiding embarrassment and intolerance on both sides.
That was until three weeks before Christmas. WPC's Buckton and Watson strolled along the main high street in Whitstable, whilst on duty. They talked quietly between themselves, exchanging hopes and wishes for Christmas time.
"Are you at your Mother's at Christmas, Georgie?" Charlie asked, glancing at her colleague as they strolled along.
"As always!" Watson replied, sounding less than enthusiastic. "There'd be hell to pay if I upped and told her that I wanted to do something completely different! You know what families are like at this time of year!" She chuckled.
Charlie understood, well enough.
"Ooh! I just want to post a letter." Charlie said as they approached a red pillar box.
Taking the envelope from her coat pocket, she grinned, and popped the missive, which was addressed to 'The Broadlands Hotel, Victoria, London', in the slot.
"So, if you could, what would you do out of choice?" Charlie asked, interested in her companion's reply as they walked on.
"I'd pack my little old bags and jump the first Great Western Train I could find and head off down to the West Country! I've such happy memories of Cornwall in peacetime. All those Cornish Pasties and clotted cream!" Watson grinned at Charlie and winked.
"What together!" Charlie cried; horrified.
"No, stupid! Have you ever been to Cornwall?"
"Yes, years ago. My family did what they called 'The Grand Tour'. Dad drove us all around the West Country. As I remember, it was fine, that is, until it got foggy! Have you ever been on Bodmin Moor in a Cornish mist? We could hardly see the hands in front of our faces, let alone..."
Charlie's words were cut short as Martha Holden stepped out of the bakers and bumped straight into the Police woman.
"Why the hell don't you watch where you're walking, you stupid cow!" Martha yelled.
"I beg your pardon?" Charlie said, her hackles rising.
"I think, Mrs. Holden that you had better run along." WPC Watson advised, stepping between the two women.
"I've done nothing wrong!" Martha spat, glaring at Charlie. "She's the one who pretends she's going to sleep with someone then gets them arrested for no good reason! And she's a-a pervert!"
"Mrs. Holden, I'm not going to warn you again. I suggest you go home!" Watson said; her voice becoming severe.
Watson pushed Charlie to one side and guided Martha away.
Charlie swallowed and blushed at Martha's very public attack and shifted uneasily as a crowd began to gather.
"You haven't heard the last of this!" Martha yelled as Watson forcibly helped her to the other side of the road.
"Alright everyone, the show's over!" Watson said as she walked back towards Charlie.
"Oooh!" The crowd moaned feeling disappointed.
"Thought you'd 'ave let 'em get to round two, at least!" Said a man who nudged his companion and laughed.
"Or at least a submission!" Grinned another.
"Come along now!"
The crowd dispersed, muttering and giggling at the unusual spectacle.
"Thanks, Georgie. Don't know what I'd have done without you!" Charlie said, with a smile of gratitude.
"All part of the service, love!" Georgie Watson said, smiling back at her colleague. "Though why you get preferential treatment, I'll never know!"
"Preferential treatment? What do you mean?" Charlie asked as they began to walk again.
"You know! The Chief ordered me to keep a close eye on you."
"What for?" Charlie asked, wondering what the Detective Chief Inspector was up to.
"I dunno. But he was very urgent in his orders. 'Make sure that Constable Buckton is accompanied at all times when on duty'; they were his very words!"
Charlie exhaled, blowing her cheeks out slightly. Was the DCI worried about something relating to the Hugo Austin affair?
"Do you think I should report this?" Charlie said, glancing at Watson.
"Well, she was verbally abusing an officer of the law and you know what that means?" Watson said, with a smile.
"The law is the law!" Both women chorused together and laughed.
But Charlie was shaken by Martha's attack. She had been friends with Martha for a long time and they were indirectly related, by marriage. How could she do such a thing?
Charlie shivered and wrapped her coat about her.
***
December 23rd, 1944
"Charlie!" Ruby screamed excitedly.
"What?" Charlie replied, wrapping up her last Christmas present. "Don't come in, Ruby!"
"It's snowing!" Ruby exclaimed, standing outside her sister's bedroom door.
"Okay, it's snowing!"
"Charlie! It's Christmas and it's snowing!" Ruby urged, jumping up and down.
Charlie opened her bedroom door with a smile on her face.
"Come on then, show me!" She said, allowing her younger sister to take her by the hand and hastily guide her to a window.
The sisters watched as large, white, lace-like shapes fell from the dark grey sky.
"It'll cover, won't it?" Ruby asked eagerly.
"If it continues like this, I wouldn't be at all surprised! But I hope it won't be too deep." Her mind racing ahead to Joey's long journey from Great Yarmouth the following day.
Ruby looked at her sister's anxious face.
"She'll get here by hook or by crook, you know she will!" Ruby said, digging Charlie in the ribs. "Knowing Joey, she'll walk!"
Charlie blushed and laughed.
"Am I so transparent?" She asked, grinning at Ruby.
"Not much!"
"Oh, Ruby! I can hardly wait for tomorrow!" Charlie said, feeling butterflies dancing around in her stomach in anticipation.
"What did you buy Joey for Christmas?"
Charlie blushed again. She didn't want to admit to her sister what she had planned, so instead reminded Ruby of her promise to collect holly boughs to decorate the lounge for Christmas day. Ruby tutted.
"Can't Vince do that?"
"No. You are taller and can reach those branches with plenty of berries on."
"When are Dad and Morag arriving?" Ruby asked as they walked into the warm kitchen.
"Some time on Christmas eve. Probably late afternoon. Now, you know I won't be around after lunchtime tomorrow, so I rely on you to entertain them if they pop by!" Charlie replied, picking up a raw carrot from the pile on the table and biting into it.
"What time is Joey's train due in?" Ruby asked, taking a bite from Charlie's snack.
"About two o'clock. My leave starts at midday, so it will give me plenty of time to get up to Liverpool Street Station to meet her." Charlie said with a broad smile on her face.
Ruby watched as her sister transformed into a love-sick puppy.
"What are you grinning at?" Charlie asked, as she caught her sister's smirk.
"Nothing!" Ruby said, laughing. "Happy Christmas, Charlie!"