PREVIOUSLY:
"I'm going to put a stop to this." Ignoring her father's furious glare, Charlie heads toward Joey's office just as the shouting stops.
Moments later, the door opens and Morag walks out. Ross immediately heads over to her,
"Well Morag, is she ready to apologise for this ridiculous witch-hunt and put a stop to it?"
"No."
That simple word wipes the smile from his face. "What!" his angry voice carrying throughout the station."
"She refuses to budge."
Ross glares at her in anger and disappointment. "I thought you said you could handle her, Morag."
Keeping her voice even, despite her embarrassment at her husband's boorish behaviour, "I said I'd dealt with her before and Ross, I suggested that it would be better if I spoke to her before you went at her like a bull in a china shop." Morag smiles slightly, "In truth, I don't think anyone can truly handle that woman."
"This is completely unacceptable and I'm going to go right in there and tell her..."
"Ross, I wouldn't do that," Morag warns him.
"Why the fuck not?" his booming voice getting even louder.
"Because she's threatened to arrest anyone who tries to interfere, coerce or influence this investigation in any way."
Ross rocks back in shock, "She's bluffing. I'm an Inspector, she wouldn't dare."
"Oh yes she would," Morag assures him. "I'm a Federal Court Judge but that didn't stop her from arresting me for attempting to influence the leading investigating officer into dropping the case." In the background, Graves covers her mouth, trying to hide her smile at Joey's audacity, once again extremely glad that they were on the same side.
"She actually arrested you?" Ross asks in disbelief.
"Even went so far as to read me my rights. She did agree to drop the charges if I assured her that neither you nor I would attempt to interfere in this case in any way."
Shaking in fury, Ross refuses to believe that he couldn't do something to get this detective to back down. "I'll be calling her superior about this."
"Ross, you can't do that."
"Why the fuck not! I refuse to let some little upstart bitch dictate to me what I can and can't do."
"Think Ross," Morag tries to keep her voice calm as every word is being lapped up by all the officers there. "She just arrested your wife for trying to intimidate her in to dropping the investigation into your daughter and future son-in-law, so if you call her superior, it'll look like you're trying to do the same."
"Damn that bitch," Ross fumes as he is forced to concede for the moment.
"Now, there is some good news; Charlie has been cleared of any involvement."
Ross rounds on his daughter, "Charlie, why the hell didn't you tell me this before?"
"It's the first I've heard about it," Charlie says, stunned and pleased that it was over, at least for her.
"That's something I suppose," Ross mutters. "But what about Angelo, it's wrong the way she is persecuting the poor boy."
"I did manage to convince her that she wouldn't be allowed to reopen the Jack Holden case unless she has new evidence, which she does not."
"I still should never have let you talk to her first Morag."
"If I had allowed you to talk to her first, I'd be sitting in the interview room as your lawyer while she went through her rather lengthy list of your faults."
"What?"
"I've underestimated her in court and it seems we both underestimated her today; she came prepared for your arrival." Ross looks at her in confusion. "Ross, she has a list of complaints made against you by other officers; mostly female officers." Morag glances at the woman who coughed at that, narrowing her eyes as she recognises Graves. "Perhaps Ross, we should discuss this somewhere more private."
"We'll take Charlie's office," not even bothering to ask Charlie for permission as he closes the door behind them.
"Graves, what the hell is going on?"
"Sergeant, why don't you ask Joey that," Graves suggests. Watching Charlie walk towards Joey's officer, Graves shakes her head, annoyed that she hadn't predicted the Inspector's arrival as Joey had obviously done. "Now I know why I never beat her at chess," she mutters to herself.
Charlie knocks and enters, amazed to see the detective sitting calmly at her desk as if nothing had happened.
"Did you actually arrest Morag?"
"There's not much point in threatening to do something if you have no intention of following through with it."
Charlie smiles at that. "I wish I'd seen her face," she muses.
Joey pulls out her mobile, tossing it over to her. "You didn't!" Charlie looks at the phone, chuckling at the image. "How the hell did you manage to get this?"
"There was a moment just after I said she was under arrest where she just didn't react; of course, having a flash go off in her face certainly made her move."
Charlie chuckles again at the image, "You must have had the phone at the ready."
"Let's just say that from personal experience, I know the effect I tend to have on your step-mother."
"You predicted that my father would come too though, didn't you?"
"I've never met him, but I've heard more than enough to know there was no way he'd stay away; I'm just surprised it took him this long."
"He's been on leave."
"I would have thought he'd come as soon as you called."
Charlie hesitates, "I never called him; Angelo did."
"Interesting," Joey mutters softly. "I'd have counted on you being on the phone to him as soon as I named you as a suspect."
"Despite what you might think Detective, I'm not in the habit of running to my father whenever things don't go right."
"But your fiancé doesn't seem to have a problem calling daddy."
"I had no idea Angelo had called my father."
"You don't seem all that surprised though."
"Angelo and my father get along extremely well and dad always encouraged Angelo to call him if he ever needed anything. Look Detective, I'm not here to discuss Angelo or my father."
Joey lounges back in her chair, "You're in the clear Sergeant, there's no need for you to be here at all and if you're after an apology, yeah, not going to happen."
"I expected no less Detective. Can I at least ask why you finally decided to clear me?"
"Your neighbour came forward and gave you an alibi."
"Bartlett."
"Wow, I didn't even have to say which neighbour."
"Believe me, I've had numerous dealings with him."
"Well he placed you at your house at the time Moreland was murdered so you've been officially cleared of any involvement."
"Even knowing I was innocent, being officially cleared certainly is like having this huge weight lifted off my shoulders."
"The weight wouldn't look a lot like me, would it?" Joey asks cheekily, making Charlie chuckle again.
"I must admit, having you off my back will no doubt make my life more enjoyable."
"Who said I'm going to be off your back," Joey says in all seriousness.
"I just thought," Charlie let's her voice trail off, once again finding it difficult to keep up with the detective's sudden turnarounds.
"Sergeant, Rosetta still remains a suspect and there are still the problems of the lack of arrest and high crime rate."
"Our arrest rate is going up and I know you still have doubts about some of the officers here, but unless you can provide some evidence or even tell me which officers you suspect, my hands are tied."
Joey takes a few moments to think things through, before deciding to take a chance with Buckton.
"O'Malley, Burton and Joseph."
"Are they in anyway linked to Trevor's murder?"
"I'm not willing to say any more than I already have."
"Then what exactly do you expect me to do Detective?"
"Keep your eyes open and stay out of my way. I don't want to have to be constantly going through you to do my job."
"Is it because you think O'Malley is corrupt why you're keeping Angelo a suspect in Trevor's murder, despite having an alibi?"
"One of the reasons."
"And you're not going to tell me the other reasons, are you?"
"Sergeant, let me be blunt."
"Aren't you always," drawing a smile from Joey.
"Sergeant, where Rosetta is concerned, I don't trust your judgement, nor do I trust your impartiality." Charlie can only nod her head in acknowledgement. "Now, I've taken a chance in giving those officers names to you so I expect you to discuss them with no one, especially your fiancé."
"You have my word those names won't leave this room," before smiling wryly, "For whatever my word is worth to you."
"I am more than aware that I'm not the easiest person to deal with, but for the moment, we need to find a way to work together."
"I'm aware of that Detective."
"Has there been any developments in the case?"
"We've found no witnesses and as was the case the last time, we have very little. The M.E. did confirm that the cuts to her body were made by someone with little experience using a knife in that way. There was one thread found out of place, it was from a black woollen jumper that didn't match any of the clothing found in the house."
"In this weather?"
"If he's covered head to toe in black clothes, it would be one way to hide the fact that he's covered in blood."
"I really hate this guy," Joey mutters.
"I've put out a warning to women whose husbands or even boyfriends are away at work to maybe stay with family or friends until they're back."
"That was a good idea."
Charlie once again feels a slight thrill at the praise, "I just wish I knew when he'd strike again. I mean, all the attacks have been after 6pm, but there was no real pattern with the first seven rapes; it was sometimes 1 to 15 days between attacks."
"You have the warning out there and unless we catch a break in the case, we're just going to have to sit and wait and pray this was just a once off thing."
"You don't believe that anymore than I do."
"No, but one can hope."
"I suppose I should be getting back to my father," Charlie says standing up. Pausing near the door, Charlie turns back. "Detective, what's this list of complaints you have against my father?"
"Your father has a history of being disrespectful to female officers; seems he has trouble believing that they're as capable at their job as the men."
Charlie sighs, "My father's kind of stuck in a time warp with some of his attitudes."
"I must say that I'm surprised, considering his own daughter is a Sergeant with her own station and he is married to Morag Bellingham."
Charlie smiles sadly without saying anything.
"Oh and Buckton," Joey calls out just as she was about to close the door. "I'd suggest drawing the blinds when you're changing and showering." Charlie takes a moment to wonder what she meant, before blushing with embarrassment when she realises how Bartlett must have known she was still home.
Charlie takes a deep breath before entering her office, finding her father very much at home behind her desk.
"Where's Morag?"
"She went to drop out bags at your place."
"You're staying with us?"
"Angelo invited us when he called. What the hell were you thinking Charlie by not calling me earlier and what is this bullshit I hear about you reprimanding Angelo for a little bit of a scuffle with a homo."
"He was on duty and it was more than a scuffle."
"Who cares if he bashes up some queer, they all belong in jail anyway."
"Dad!" appalled at her father's attitude.
"Angelo is your fiancé Charlie, he deserved your support not for you to fuck up his chances at his next promotion with this pathetic reprimand."
While silently thinking Angelo had damaged his own chances at promotion, Charlie tries to reason with her father. "He was a Constable on duty and in uniform who assaulted a member of the public in front of another cop, what was I supposed to do?"
"Nothing. Jesus Charlie, even that detective didn't charge him so that should have been it."
"I didn't have a choice. Det. Collins," just the mention of her name is enough to make Ross' nostrils flare, "Made it obvious that she still expected me to reprimand Angelo or it would have looked like I was letting Angelo get away with it just because we're engaged."
"You see," he throws his hands up in disgust, "This is the problem with having a woman in charge, too weak to stand up for her officers."
Charlie feels her shoulders drop in the face of her father's criticism.
"Charlie, your stupid decision could have cost Angelo his next promotion and for what, to appease some interfering bitch who was trying to put you away for murder."
"I was doing my job as Sergeant of this station," hating the way her voice sounded so weak.
"Well you're not doing a very good job," he tells her. "Now, when are you and Angelo going to get married?"
"We're getting married in a few months, you know that."
"I don't understand why you've waited this long Charlie. I mean Angelo is a great guy, strong, confident and honest; what more could you want in a husband?"
"I will marry him daddy."
"You've been together for over two years Charlie, you should already have been married and had at least one baby by now," shaking his head in disappointment at her. "Why don't you move the wedding forward and make a start on giving me my first grandchild?"
As usual, his rejection of Ruby cuts deep. "You have a grandchild, her name is Ruby and..."
"And what?" His voice chilly. "Charlie, I allowed you and your mother to defy me by not getting rid of that child when I ordered you to, so don't expect me to have anything to do with her."
"She's your flesh and blood."
"No, she's a constant reminder of the shame you brought to the family by having that bastard and I'll never forgive you for that. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was listening to the sniggers of people calling my daughter a slut? Even worse was that they were right. Jesus Christ Charlie, why couldn't you have just kept your legs closed instead of fucking the first guy who showed any interest in you."
"It wasn't like that. And it's not like you can talk."
"What did you say," he demands and he strides over to her.
Finding her courage from somewhere, Charlie looks up at him as he looms over her. "You were fucking Morag while mum was in labour with your son and when he was still born, you didn't even have the decency to stay with your wife, no you went running back to Morag."
"Don't you ever talk about that again," he warns her, waving his hand threateningly at her.
"Nothing I have done has ever been good enough for you."
"Don't be stupid," his voice lacking any conviction. "Charlie, you did extremely well to find a man like Angelo, don't blow it by being stubborn. Marry Angelo and start having babies, that's what would make me happy."
"What about what makes me happy?"
"If you love Angelo, what's the problem?"
"Maybe I don't want to put my career on hold to have babies just yet."
"Career?" He says as he laughs at her. "Charlie, the only reason you made Sergeant was because I pulled strings. I knew Angelo was having trouble with some of those idiots trying to hold him back, so I made sure you got the promotion and the station."
"I don't believe you."
"Angelo is a strong man, this station needs his kind of leadership, not this namby-pamby bullshit you've got going. Within a year, Angelo will be Sergeant which works out well, because you will be home with my first grandchild. Once he's proven he can do the job, you step aside and Angelo steps up."
"Why should I step aside?"
"Charlie, this job isn't for you. I mean look at the mess you've got here all because you're too naïve to have seen that you had a dirty cop in Welsh."
"Angelo didn't know either."
"You're the Sergeant Charlie, it's your job to keep your officers in line, something you're clearly incapable of doing."
"Georgina's next in line, not Angelo."
"Charlie, I won't have you arguing with me on this." Charlie drops her head, once again made to feel like a child under her father's overbearing and intimidating manner. "Now I'm sure this Georgina is a somewhat capable officer, but this station needs a man in charge and I can't see anyone more suitable for the job than my son-in-law."
"Angelo my boy," Ross greets his future son-in-law warmly as Angelo returns to the station. "Hey, Ross," Angelo greets him just as warmly, hoping that now Ross was here, his problems were over now.
"Let's step outside, boy." Angelo follows Ross outside.
"Ross, please tell me it's good news."
"I'm sorry my boy, Charlie's been cleared but she's still after you."
"What the fuck is her problem, I have an alibi but she's still after me," Angelo fumes as he paces.
"For whatever reason, she has it in for you, but she'll be forced to drop it soon."
"Really?"
"For the moment I have to step back, but I assure you Angelo, no son of mine will be railroaded by some jumped up little whore."
"Can't we get something on her, make her back down?"
"As soon as you called I put some of my people onto her; she's a disrespectful, arrogant troublemaker, but there's never been a hint that she's dirty or has ever done anything outside of the law."
Angelo stops himself before he suggests they just plant the evidence, knowing that despite all appearance, Ross had little time for corrupt cops. Cops who bent the rules a little and used their position to gain advantages and bully people was ok, but breaking the rules and actually being dirty was a big no-no for Ross.
"Most of the cops that were spoken to don't like her, but they do respect her. No, we're just going to have to bully her and force her down, which shouldn't be too hard."
"Ross, I don't think it will be that easy, not with her."
"Morag said much the same thing, but everyone has a weakness, we just have to find it. I do have some good news for you though."
"What?"
"I had some words with some friends; even with this ridiculous reprimand Charlie was forced to put into your file, there's no way you're missing out on your promotion this time."
"Ross, I don't want any favours," Angelo tries to keep the excitement out of his voice.
"Nonsense. You've earned it my boy; besides, it wasn't your fault that you missed out on the last promotion, it was those false assault allegations that little whore levelled at you." Ross slaps him on the back, "This is just righting a gross injustice and by the time we're through, you'll be the new golden boy of the force."
"Thank you Ross."
"Angelo, you're going to be my son and I want to see you reach your potential. You're a fine officer, it's just unfortunate for you that there are some who don't appreciate officers with a firmer hand. I assure you Angelo, that once your promotion is through, this station will be yours in no time."
Angelo is stunned by that, "What about Charlie?"
"As much as I love my daughter, she just isn't suited to police work and certainly not to leadership, whereas you, my boy, are."
"If I take her job from her..."
"Angelo, for god's sake, toughen up. Get her pregnant and she'll be quite happy to sit at home and play wife."
"I want that more than anything Ross, but..."
"But what?"
"I want to start as soon as we're married, but Charlie wants to wait."
"Ridiculous. Be a man Angelo and put your foot down."
"It's not that easy with Charlie."
"Of course it is; she's a woman isn't she and she's not getting any younger. I've already told her that I'm disappointed she hasn't given me a grandchild yet, so just keep at her and she'll cave in like she has her entire life."
"She didn't cave in over the brat," Angelo comments, knowing Ross' feelings for Ruby.
"That was my mistake, I should have been a lot firmer in forcing her to go through with the adoption, but her mother interfered and talked her into keep the brat. Now, why don't we go out tonight and celebrate your impending promotion," forgetting that they had another reason to celebrate; his daughter being cleared.
Leaning against the wall around the corner, listening shamelessly in, Joey is appalled by the Inspector's attitude and opinion of his own daughter.
Walking along the beach a little later, Joey notices a lone figure sitting dejectedly on the pier.
"Your father is an overbearing arsehole," Joey says as she sits down next to Charlie.
"He wanted a son," Charlie explains.
"That explains why he's all over Angelo."
"Yeah, they pretty much hit it off the moment they met." Charlie sighs, "My father always makes me feel like I'm some disobedient five year old."
Feeling some compassion for this woman, Joey cuts off her comment about Angelo and her father being very similar types of men. "Was your father ever abusive to you or your mother?"
"What!" Charlie looks shocked. "My father never laid a finger on me."
Recognising the look, Joey smiles in understanding, "He may not have abused you physically, but I bet he put down everything you ever did, always told you what you had to do to make him happy."
Charlie nods, "It wasn't so bad at first because he just ignored me, but when I got pregnant and he was forced to take notice, it was like I could never do anything right. I had straight A's, I was captain of the netball team and made the state side every year up until I got pregnant and despite all my success, all he ever saw was a pregnant teenage daughter. He never even came to my graduation from the Academy or called to congratulate me when I made Sergeant."
"You're a Sergeant in charge of your own station, most father's would be proud of an achievement like that for someone your age, I mean, what's there to be disappointed in?"
"Because I'm the one in charge and not Angelo." Charlie stares out over the water. "And if I believe dad, then the only reason I got the promotion was because he got it for me. I'm nothing more that the caretaker until Angelo's ready to take over."
"Sergeant, that's absolute bullshit. I've seen your file, you didn't need any help to get the promotion, you did it all on your own and your father is going to have to be a miracle worker if he thinks Rosetta will ever be offered a station to command with his record."
Charlie gazes at her in bemusement, "I thought you didn't have a very good impression of me or my abilities."
"I think you've mishandled situations and there are areas where you're lacking and where Rosetta is involved you have a serious conflict of interest, but considering how new to the job you are, you haven't actually done that bad a job." Charlie stares at her in amazement at what for Det. Collins sounded like praise. "Sergeant, I know I've kind of given you the impression that I think you're one of the most incompetent cops ever, I was just trying to keep you off balance, to force you to see things."
"You've been treating me like that and making me feel bad just to make me see what you want me to see?" Charlie asks in disbelief. Joey grins a little sheepishly and shrugs her shoulders. "And what do you want me to see Detective? How you see Angelo?" Joey stays silent as Charlie shakes her head, still a little overwhelmed by everything. "Detective, I know you have it in for him, but Angelo really is a great guy. I admit that I didn't always think that of him, but when I saw how devastated he was after what happened with Jack, how much pain he was in, I guess I felt sorry for the way people were abandoning him and before I knew it, we were lovers," Charlie blushes a little as she remembers their first time, still ashamed that she had allowed it to go that far, especially as they were at work. "Look Detective, whatever you think of Angelo, everyone here eventually saw what I saw; that he's a wonderful man who made a tragic mistake."
"I will never see him as you do Sergeant and it sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself about him than me."
Charlie gazes back out across the water, "I never had doubts about Angelo until you came."
"Really, not even deep down?" Joey asks gently.
Charlie closes her eyes, refusing to see.
Joey smiles in resignation, "You know Sergeant, for a woman who's engaged, you don't talk a whole lot about planning your wedding."
"I've had other distractions, you being a major one."
"And here I was thinking it was because you're only marrying him to please your father and Rosetta."
Keeping her eyes closed, Charlie shakes her head, "I'm marrying Angelo because I love him."
"You need to work on being more convincing Sergeant because you don't sound like a woman who's excited to be getting married."
Placing her hand on Charlie's shoulder as she stands up, Joey leaves it there, her touch sending tingling sensations through Charlie. "Open your eyes Sergeant, before it's too late." As Joey walks away, Charlie recalls the day of her engagement. Having no idea what Angelo had planned when she walked into the room, Charlie can still remember her shock when she saw Angelo standing next to her father. Remembering how her heart was beating with fear when Angelo got down on bended knee and proposed, feeling the pressure to accept under their expectant gazes, she had allowed Angelo to put the ring on her finger. Charlie smiles sadly as she remembers how happy her father had actually been for her, the one time she felt she had done the right thing by him. Now thinking back, she realises he wasn't happy for her, but happy for himself; he was finally getting what he always wanted, a son. Twiddling the ring on her finger, Charlie gazes at it, wondering who's dream it actually represented as her tears splash down on it. Wiping away the tears furiously, Charlie realises she had put off going home long enough.