The next four days was a hive of activity for everyone involved, even Charlie, who despite her injury, had insisted on being in her office to oversee everything. Her office had since been converted into an evidence room and Joey had even moved her desk in there as they poured through the mountain of evidence that had been found at the house where Charlie had been taken to, as well as Alf's, Colleen's and Madge's private homes. Though she wasn't actively involved in the investigation, Charlie felt that she was helping just by being there and supporting everyone, especially with the discovery of the videos which had left strong cops like Joey and Hugo completely shaken and ashen faced after viewing. Charlie glances over at Joey who was still haunted at having watched the video of Annie's death and Charlie was glad that Joey had talked her out of viewing it, saying it was something she should never have to see. Charlie shakes her head, wondering if Angelo even knew that those videos existed, videos that not only implicated him in the murder of Annie Campbell but also the rape of dozens of under aged girls. The videos had been turned over to the Federal Police who would finish viewing the 100s of other videos recovered and would file the necessary charges against the men and women who had raped those poor girls.
With the discovery of the evidence they were after, along with Colleen's statement, which had included confessing to murdering Belle Jeffries by sedating her and then forcing her to take an overdose of prescriptions pills, more arrests had been made and more girls had been rescued. Sadly, some hadn't survived their ordeal, like those murdered by Alf, whose bodies were most likely, Charlie suspected, disposed of at sea and even more distressing, was the knowledge that not all the girls would be recovered, with some no longer at the locations they were first sent to. Still, the organisation had been dealt a deathblow, at least on the Australian end, with all the major players now accounted for and everyone took some comfort in knowing that justice would be done, not just for those girls they had rescued, but for those who had been lost. And in a day or two, it would be over for the officers here, at least until the trials, with the investigation being handed over to the Federal Police and also Interpol, who would turn their focus on bringing those involved overseas to justice.
For Summer Bay though, it would take longer to recover from the shockwaves that were sent through the town with all that had happened, but Charlie had faith that the people would come out of this even stronger. She had been pleased when Lance Smart had been cleared of any involvement, but the poor man had been left devastated by what his mother had done and had promptly left town, vowing never to return. Morag was still being investigated though, much to her father's fury and embarrassment. It had been bad enough for Ross' ego when his own daughter had come out as gay and his once step-daughter and lover had turned out to be his own daughter, a woman, who along with his once future son-in-law, had been involved in such a despicable criminal operation, but the revelation his wife's siblings were also involved and possibly his wife, had been too much. Just last night, Shandi had called her step-sister to fill her in on the latest gossip doing the rounds of the courts; Ross had walked out on his wife and Morag was none too pleased with his abandonment, vowing to make his life hell and apparently, she had, totally cutting him off from their joint accounts and ensuring any divorce proceedings were going to be very ugly for him. Joey had joked that the only thing worse than a woman scorned, is a lawyer scorned and Charlie agreed. While she had never really felt much affection for her step-mother and rarely agreed with her views or legal decisions, she had always respected her toughness and the way she could make a grown man shake at the knees with just a simple glare, so in a perverse way, she hoped Morag did make her father's life hell.
Charlie sighs, staring out the window as her mind turns to the one loose end that was still a constant worry. They now had the evidence to convict Angelo for multiple crimes, but he continued to elude them and somewhere out there, she knew he was watching her.
"Hey," Joey says, startling Charlie who hadn't noticed she'd walked up behind her.
"Sorry, I was just going over everything."
"As soon as we have Rosey, it will all be over."
"If we get him."
"We will," Joey assures her, wrapping her arms around Charlie from behind, not caring that they were still at work. "I have no intention of living with my sister and brother longer than necessary so if I have to go through every nook and cranny in town, I'll find that bastard."
Liking Joey's confidence, Charlie suggests they start looking for a place to rent.
"That sounds like a good idea and if we find a place, maybe we should move in straight away, even if Angelo isn't captured."
Charlie looks at her in surprise. "Really?"
"Charlie, I want more than anything to live with you and our girls and I'm sick of waiting. We might find Rosey tomorrow or it could be some time before we catch up with him and I don't want us to put our lives on hold while we wait. As long as we make sure no one is ever alone in the house, we should be fine, though I'd suggest we find a neighbourhood that's quite busy, which would make it harder for him to go unnoticed."
"I'll contact the real estate agent as soon as we're back home."
Joey chuckles at her enthusiasm. "What about your house, do you still intend to sell it?"
"Yes. I know you suggested the other day that I hold onto it and rent it out like you do with your old place, but I just want to forget about that house."
"Some good things did happen in that house."
"I know and I'll cherish those memories." She turns in Joey's arms, "But it's time to make new memories."
"And we will," Joey agrees with a smirk. "It's always fun making memories."
"Maybe this isn't the best place to be making a memory though," Charlie says, making no move to step away from Joey.
"I'm merely offering a fellow officer comfort after some very trying days."
"Yeah, that might work if we weren't a couple."
"It was worth a try." Reluctantly, they both step apart. "How about I take you out for tea tonight?"
"I'd love that but I'm really not up to anything too fancy."
"What about tea at the diner, followed by a walk along the beach."
"That, I could handle."
Brushing her lips quickly over Charlie's, Joey returns to her desk.
Having finished their meal at the diner, Charlie and Joey were taking a quiet walk along the beach.
"What's going on Charlie, you've been quiet since we left the diner?"
Sighing, Charlie tells her about the man who'd made some ugly comments about lesbians while Joey was in the bathroom.
"Why didn't you tell me, I'd have said something to him?"
"Because I let him get to me when I know I shouldn't."
"Charlie, you're still new to this and while it does become easier to deal with these comments, they do still hurt." She smiles wryly, "I guess I was lucky that when I came out, I had a supportive family to help me, just like we'll help you and Ruby when she's ready to come out."
"You are so lucky to have a family like you do."
"It's your family now," she reminds her, before looking out over the water, "There are times though, when I've wondered how Georgie and I would have turned out if we hadn't had Gina and the others."
"You did have them, that's what matters."
"Yeah, it is."
Walking in silence for a few minutes, Charlie halts when she sees a group of rowdy boys ahead of them.
"We can go back the way we came," Joey suggests.
Charlie shakes her head, squeezing her hand. "Joey, you are the one I've been waiting for my whole life, the one who completes me and anyone who has a problem with that can go and fuck themselves." Forgetting that they were being watched, Charlie leans in, her lips meeting Joey's in a slow, tender kiss.
"Slip her the tongue Sarge," one of the boys yells out, followed by a chorus of wolf whistles which has Charlie blushing but not ending the kiss.
Joey chuckles when they do finally end their kiss, "I like this you."
"I know I'll still have days like today, but now, I know my love for you will help me through it." She cups her cheek, "Together, we can get through anything, isn't that what you've been telling me?"
"You're stronger than you think Charlie, but together, there's nothing we can't deal with."
"I am so glad you walked into my life Joey, because I was heading toward a future as a doormat to a violent man, most likely popping out baby after baby."
"Well, I for one don't want you as a doormat, in fact, I want you to stand up to me, to tell me if I'm doing something wrong or being a bitch." She grins, "I still tend to fuck up at times in relationships."
"You don't say," Charlie teases. "I have a feeling I wouldn't survive your family if I was a doormat and as I intend to spend the rest of my life with you, I will definitely tell you when you're in the wrong or being a bitch."
"Good."
"Joey, now that you've dealt with your past with your sister and it's out in the open with us, I think you'll finally be able to really move forward and learn to be more accepting of peoples love and friendship without having doubts about why someone could love you."
"I hope so."
"Just so you know, I love you, Ruby adores you, Graves looks up to you like a big sister, same as Dex, VJ has a massive crush on you, Leah thinks you're the best thing to ever happen to me, which I agree with, April thinks you're great, so does Nicole and even Roman since he's gotten to know you more in the past week, likes you." She grins at Joey's blush and obvious discomfort. "You're a very lovable person, despite the prickles."
"As long as I don't lose the prickles, cause they're kind of handy to have for work."
"Somehow, I don't think your work will be affected."
"Good, I'd hate for people to believe I was going soft."
Charlie snorts, "I definitely don't think that will ever happen."
"You don't think I'm soft?"
"You're my snuggle bunny, so I know how soft you are," she says with a suggestive smile, "But I'd never mistake your personality and attitude as being soft, except where your family and friends are concerned."
"I can live with that."
Sliding their arms around each other's waist, they continue on with their walk. "Hey Sarge, good to see you looking so good after everything that's happened," one of the boys she recognises calls out as the couple nears the group.
"Thanks Romeo. Don't you have an early start tomorrow?" Charlie asks. Having been thrown out of home by his alcoholic mother a week earlier, Romeo had been taken in by Irene. He'd also quit school and with Irene's help, gotten a job working for her new boyfriend, Lou on his trawler and from what Irene had told Charlie, Romeo was loving it.
"The boat is in for maintenance, so I have the next two days off." He grins at Joey, "I never took you for being gay Sarge, but I gotta admit, she's a big improvement on Rosetta. I've seen you about town but I don't believe we've actually met, I'm Romeo," he holds his hand out to Joey, who takes it.
"Joey. Is your name really Romeo?"
"Nah, it's just a nickname because I leave a trail of broken hearts. My name is actually Todd."
"Funny, I thought Romeo was your middle name," Charlie points out.
"I like the trail of broken hearts story better."
"I bet you do," she mutters, recalling the story of him being caught with a girl in the storeroom at school.
Romeo stares at Joey, "You know, I've always thought you looked really familiar."
"Your pickup line needs a little work."
"It wasn't a pickup line, you really look familiar. I've got it," he raises his hand, pointing at her, "You used to be Joey Watson the surfer, you won some junior competitions."
"You'd have been a little young to have seen them."
"Not really, but I never actually saw you surf, it's just my sister still has the photos from that time." He grins at her, "I had one of you up on my wall until I was 12."
"Your sister?"
"Mink Smith."
"Oh Jesus, Minksy is your sister?"
"Yep. She once told me that her happiest day was when she heard you'd given it away and she was able to finally win."
"Minksy was always better than me, she just didn't believe in herself enough and after seeing the way she's dominated the local competitions since, I'm glad I did choose another career."
"She'll be stoked I ran into you, she had the biggest crush on you."
"Romeo, it's not wise to mention that in front of my girlfriend, especially as she carries a gun for work."
He just shrugs. "Maybe you should join us out on the water sometime."
Joey raises her injured hand, "Not while it's in the cast."
"Bummer. Do you intend to get back out on the water?"
"Once the cast is off. Look, we're going to keep walking, but tell Minksy I said hi."
"Will do."
Joey glances across at Charlie as they continue their walk. "There was never anything between Minksy and I," she assures her.
"I'm glad she's not an ex, because it would have been kind of weird seeing as I know her. Are you really going to take up surfing again because I thought you said it ruins your reputation with the bad guys to see you in a bikini?"
"This is going to be my home though, so it's a little different." She smirks at her, "And I know you like me in a bikini."
"I prefer you out of it," Charlie grins at her, circling her arms around her waist and leaning in.
"Once we're alone on our trip, you can see me out of it as often as you'd like."
Much to Charlie's surprise, Ruby had loved the idea of spending a week on the yacht and was counting down the days, as was Charlie, though for very different reasons. "I'll definitely take advantage of that offer," her lips once again finding Joey's.
Scratching at the beard he had been using to disguise his good looks, along with the dyed black hair, tinted contact lenses and clothes he'd usually never be caught dead in, Angelo watches his fiancée cavorting in public with that whore, more convinced than ever that the whore had some power over Charlie and had poisoned his beloved against him with lies. He knew that as soon as he could get Charlie away from her poisonous influence, she'd once again be happily in love with him. "As soon as you're alone Charlie, you're mine and then we can sail to a new country, start anew." He smiles happily at the thought, "We can start our family Charlie, just like we'd always wanted."