As Time Goes By

Chapter 15

Joey carefully hung up her Wren's uniform inside Charlie's wardrobe. She pulled on a pair of slacks and a thick, warm jumper and made her way back to the kitchen. She put on thick boots, a scarf and coat and popped on her little beanie hat with the tassel. She left the house taking herself off for a walk in the direction of her old family home. She had something to do which she should have addressed a long time ago. Her home was now in Kent and she would be spending much more time in the Whitstable area. She knew she would have to face her past fears at sometime and thought this the best place to start.

***

Joey stood at her old front door. She put her hand up to the knocker and hesitated. Finally, she took a deep breath and knocked twice. She waited, wondering if her brother was indeed, at home.

After a few moments, the door opened and Brian Collins stood in its frame, looking surprised.

"Jo!"

"Hello Brian. How are you?"

"I'm well; I'm very well, thank you. Won't you come in?" Brian said, gesturing towards the hallway.

Joey hesitated for a moment but then smiled and stepped inside. They walked through to the kitchen together and Brian asked her to sit down.

"How have you been Jo? It's been a hell of a long time!"

"Yes, it has." She responded. "I'm well, thank you."

"I heard that you were home on leave. I also heard you were caught in that Doodlebug incident, too! I take it you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm nearly recovered now. It was a bit hairy at the time, but I've been on sick leave. I'll probably be back at work next week."

"Where have you been all this time?" Her brother wanted to know. "I know you joined the Wrens but apart from that, I know nothing!"

"Well, we hardly parted bosom buddies, did we? If it is any consolation, you were down as my next of kin if anything happened to me."

Brian chuckled at his sister's bazaar sense of humour.

"Want some tea?" He asked.

"Love one."

"So, how long have you been back? Where had you been before that?" He asked quickly.

"I'd been stationed at Great Yarmouth, but I've been transferred to Dover; I'm supposed to be there now, but what with my injury, it sort of delayed my start."

"Where have you been living?" Brian wanted to know, but guessing the answer anyway.

Joey took a deep breath.

"I'm staying at Charlie's place." She said slowly, waiting for Brian to explode.

Brian nodded but said nothing.

"I've missed you Jo. I'm so sorry for what I did before. I had no right to interfere in your life as I did. I've cursed myself so many times. But obviously, it didn't make any difference to your relationship, did it?"

Joey looked down for a few moments, contemplating whether or not to tell him the truth. She looked back into his eyes.

"Well, it did, indirectly, as a matter of fact. We were estranged for nineteen months."

Brian looked at Joey; genuinely shocked.

"Christ! I'm sorry love. I had no idea."

"Well, it's all in the past now. Let's just forget about it, shall we?"

Brian swallowed still feeling guilty. He placed a cup of tea in front of his sister and joined her at the table.

"Joey, I want us to be friends. We're both older and wiser and you're my only family. I thought I'd lost you for good! It's so wonderful to see you. Can we be friends?" Brian asked; his eyes full of entreaty.

Joey considered for a few moments and put her cup and saucer down.

"Brian, I can't think of anything I'd like more, but you have to accept me for what I am and that means accepting Charlie as my partner. I know it goes against your principles but she's the love of my life and I can't be with anyone else! If you can't accept that, I might as well put on my hat and coat right now and leave this house forever!" Joey said passionately.

Brian looked at her for a few moments and then nodded his head in acceptance.

"I'm glad you have someone Jo. I hope she deserves you. You were always a good kid. I just wish Mum and Dad were still here. They'd have been very proud of you, Jo." He looked down at the floor. "You're luckier than most. It must be wonderful to have someone to look forward to coming home to."

Joey smiled. She could hardly believe that her brother was accepting her and Charlie as a couple and was happier than she could say.

"It's a wonderful feeling, Brian. I only wish you could be as happy. I take it you've got no one stashed behind the couch?" Joey asked, grinning.

"I should be so lucky!" Brian laughed.

***

Joey left Brian's house, elated. She hadn't dreamed that their meeting would be so calm and have such a wonderful outcome. She could hardly wait to tell Charlie her news and skipped along whistling a tune, making for home. As Joey walked along, by way of a change, she walked towards The Old Neptune pub. As she neared, she could see a figure craning their neck out of an upstairs window. Joey focused her eyes and recognised Martha Holden. Joey slowed her step, absently wondering what Martha was looking at. She turned her head in the same direction and saw WPC Watson, hiding behind a fence further along the road. Joey stopped and wondered what Georgie Watson was up to and then wondered if Charlie was involved too. She furtively looked about her and hid behind a lobster shed on the edge of the beach. She looked back up at Martha in the window and noticed Martha had a black object in her hand, which resembled a gun! Joey's eyes widened in apprehension. She quickly took the route she had just arrived by and doubled back using an alleyway which led to the other side of the pub; a view which Martha didn't have. She walked quietly around in hopes of being able to alert Georgie Watson, but suddenly, her mouth was covered over by someone's hand and her body dragged into the bushes.

"Don't yell out, Jo, it's only me." Charlie whispered, releasing Joey from her grip. "What are you doing here?"

"I was trying to warn Georgie Watson that Martha's upstairs and has a gun! I could see her with it in her hand! And I'm sure she can see Georgie!"

"Bloody hell! How on earth did she know we'd be here?" Charlie asked quietly. "Martha didn't see you, did she?"

"No, I don't think so." Joey said, taking Charlie's hand. "What are you going to do?"

Charlie considered for a few moments.

"I've got to warn Georgie, somehow! Jo, I don't want you involved in this. Go back the way you came and go home!"

"Not bloody likely!" Joey said quickly. "If you think I'm leaving you here with that mad cow with a musket, you've got another think coming!"

Charlie closed her eyes, knowing by the stubborn tone in Joey's voice that she wasn't going to leave easily and tried to think of plan to keep her out harm's way as much as possible.

"Alright. When you saw Georgie, could you have spoken to her without Martha seeing you?"

"I don't know. Perhaps if I'd thrown a stone or something, Georgie might have realised that I was there, but I wouldn't swear to it!"

"Well, it's worth a try. Now I want you to stay here and if you hear or see any trouble, go straight into the pub and get help, alright? But you are not, and I mean NOT, Joey, to go anywhere near Martha. Do you understand me?" Charlie said, looking into Joey's eyes; her hands firmly clutching her arms.

Joey nodded.

"Good girl. I'll go back the way you came. Wish me luck."

Charlie was about to move, but Joey caught her hand.

"Charlie, don't take any risks, please!" Joey pleaded.

Charlie smiled and leaned forward and placed her lips on Joey's, not caring if anyone saw.

"I love you." Charlie whispered and moved swiftly away.

Joey swallowed, watching Charlie quickly run along the alley and then moved position to watch for her appearance at the other side of the pub.

***

Martha Holden loaded some bullets into her gun and checked the window again. She was sure she had seen a Police Officer behind the fence. She knew it would be Charlie Buckton.

Charlie, as quietly as she could, hurried down towards the other side of the pub. She could see Watson quite clearly behind the fence as Joey described. Then, her eyes lifted to the window Joey had spoken of and saw Martha Holden standing, peering out of the window. Charlie looked about her for a small stone. She picked one off the beach and as accurately as she could, lobbed the stone somewhere near to where Georgie Watson was hiding. The stone fell onto some grass nearby, but not near enough to alert Watson. Charlie picked up another stone and tried again. This time the stone hit Georgie's leg.

"Ouch!"

"Watson!" Charlie hissed as quietly as she could.

Georgie Watson looked around and Charlie put her finger to her lips. Watson acknowledged her with a wink. Charlie signalled for her to walk away. This time, Watson nodded curtly. Charlie watched Martha as Watson disappeared. She knew by Martha's expression that she was confused and that meant dangerous, too. She watched Martha leave the window assuming she would go back down stairs and probably leave the pub in search of Watson. She quickly ran the short distance from one side of the pub to the other and found Joey and dragged her up the alley.

"What's happened?" Joey asked, panting.

"She's probably going to leave the pub any second now! Run up the alley and find Watson. Tell her what's happened and send her back down here, quickly!"

"But Charlie!"

"No buts! JUST DO IT!" Charlie said through gritted teeth. "Please!" She added anxiously.

Joey pleaded with her eyes, but she knew it was no good. She dashed off in search of Watson leaving Charlie to Lord knows what fait.

Charlie watched as Joey frantically sprinted away.

"You think you're so darn clever, don't you, Constable Buckton?"

Charlie took a deep breath and slowly turned around to face Martha Holden as she stood, pointing a revolver at Charlie's head.