A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 4
"Look, I've told you before; I'm not comfortable with this... It's dirty!" Constable Watson whispered as she sat next to Angelo Rosetta in a little cafe just outside Yabbie Creek.
"What are you so worried about? I'm the one taking the risks, not you!" Rosetta said, wiping his plate around with a piece of bread.
Watson watched this little display of 'downtown' manners and shook her head.
"No, Angelo, it's not just you taking the risks, it's me too! My job could be on the line here. What if Charlie finds out?"
"To be honest, George, I don't give a stuff what Charlie thinks. She's hardly backed me in the past, has she?"
"Angelo, you betrayed her! You lied to her, lied about her, used her name to further your own cause... what do you expect from the girl?"
"We were supposed to be in love!"
"Love, my arse! The only one you love is yourself!"
Angelo looked affronted for a moment and then a big grin appeared on his face.
"Well, the sex was good – now even she would have to admit to that!"
"You're a scum-bag, Rosetta!"
"Look, are you in or not?"
"I'm not in anything! Okay, I know you want your revenge on Hugo Austen, but why can't you do it legally?"
"You mean talk to Buckton?"
"Well, it's a start."
"Georgie, she's hardly gonna take any notice of what I say, is she?" Angelo cried; exasperated.
"Will you let me talk to her then? Be the go-between, if you like?"
"No, it's my way or nothing!"
"It always has to be your way, doesn't it? Have you got brothers and sisters?" Watson asked.
"Brothers, but what's that got to do with it?"
"Hmmm, I bet you always had to get your own way as a kid or there'd have been tantrums by the dozen!"
"In or out?"
Rosetta was beginning to lose patience.
"In, with conditions."
"What conditions?"
Joey stood at her office window and watched Hugo speed out of the company car park in his new Audi. The wheels spun and the dust of many days without rain formed a cloud as he approached and turned out of the main gates. Joey shook her head and sighed.
"Whatever would Dad have thought?" She said aloud.
"Your old man would have been proud of you, love." Alf Stuart said as he stood in the door way.
"Alf! I didn't know you were there!"
"Your Dad would have been proud of his only daughter; the way you have worked your way up from Deck-hand to Agent. You've done pretty good, love."
"I wonder."
"Course he would, love. He adored you!"
"He adored me when Brett wasn't around."
"Yeah, well, Brett was his son and you know what some men are like about their boys?"
"I know, Alf; I could have forgiven him that, if he hadn't made such a fool of Brett and spoilt him until he was no good to anyone! And now my brother is rotting in prison, just because he was stupid; because he thought the world was his for the taking – or so Dad told him."
"Your Dad was wrong to have done what he did with Brett, I agree, but he wasn't wrong about you, love."
Alf approached and wrapped a fatherly arm about Joey's shoulder.
"Alf, I am worried."
"Worried? What about?"
"Hugo."
"Love, I told you earlier; don't worry about Hugo. He's a little wild, but he's an alright bloke."
"Alf, I have my life savings wrapped up in this firm; your firm – yours and Dad's; don't let him kill it, please!"
"Don't you worry about the firm. Your Dad, had he lived, would have been happy to see the way Hugo is working. Your Dad was one to take a risk; just like Hugo. I suppose that's what I see in Hugo – your Dad!"
"What? Come off it Alf! Hugo is nothing like my Dad was!"
"You don't remember him in the old days, love! The way he used to duck and dive is what made this place tick! We wouldn't be where we are today if your Dad hadn't taken a few chances!"
Joey looked concerned. Alf was seeing Hugo through rose coloured glasses; comparing him with her father, who in his day had been a bit of a rogue, but on the whole, had the company interests at heart. Joey feared the only interest Hugo had, was in himself.
Watson sat in The Surf club, alone, nursing a glass of beer. She stared into the froth in the glass and watched as the little bubbles burst from time to time.
"Hi Georgie!"
Watson looked up, startled.
"Joey!"
"You look like you've seen a ghost!" Joey chuckled. "Can you drink another of those?"
"Yeah, that'll be good." Georgie Watson said, finishing her beer.
Shortly, Joey returned with two glasses of beer and two packets of crisps.
"There you go! You look hungry!"
"Yeah, no dinner tonight!" Watson admitted, splitting open a bag.
"Has that boss of yours given you detention again?" Joey giggled.
"Might have been better if she had! No, I've got a few things on my mind and I'd sort of forgotten about food."
"Anything I can help with?"
Watson went to open her mouth but changed her mind.
"Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to get you involved." Watson said with a smile.
"Police work, huh?"
"Not exactly. Just personal stuff."
"Well, I'm around if you need to vent!" Joey said, with a smile.
"Thanks Jo."
"Hey, isn't that your boss coming in?" Joey asked, nodding towards Charlie Buckton's entrance.
"Oh God! I hope she isn't looking for me?" Watson groaned.
"I thought you and Charlie got on well!"
"We did at one time, but she's the Devil's own daughter now!"
"I know she's had a bit of a rough ride just recently, but surely she isn't as bad as all that?"
"Worse!"
Joey looked towards Charlie who had just ordered herself a beer. She looked tired and out of salts and Joey wondered, not for the first time, why this beautiful creature always looked so unhappy.
Charlie picked up the bottle and looked about for a vacant table. Very soon, she locked eyes with Joey Collins and much to Watson's distress, Joey smiled and silently invited Charlie to join them.
"Hey." Charlie said quietly as she reached their table.
"Hi Charlie. Sit down." Joey said sweetly. "I haven't seen you around for ages. How's your family?"
Charlie and Joey knew each other slightly, but even in a small community like Summer Bay, their paths didn't often cross.
"Good thanks. And yours... I mean, and... how's things with you?"
Charlie recalled the circumstances of Joey's family and changed tact. Having been the arresting officer who took Brett Collins into custody, after he became involved in some illegal dealings; felt slightly uncomfortable in Joey's company.
"Well, I'm still here and breathing, so I guess, I'm okay. Thanks for asking."
Joey then nudged Watson.
"Hey Charlie." Watson muttered without enthusiasm.
"Hi Georgie. You okay?"
Watson nodded and sipped her beer. Charlie moved uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the coldness which now existed between her and her work colleague.
"Well, isn't this nice?" Joey said, trying to keep the atmosphere chirpy. "Crisp anyone?"
Neither Watson nor Charlie passed any comment, but silently sipped their drinks.
After a few minutes of silence, Watson suddenly got to her feet.
"Well, I'm for home. See you guys."
And without another word, she walked away.
Charlie glanced at Joey.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break up your party."
"You didn't." Joey confirmed. "We weren't really a party. I popped in for a bottle of pop and saw Georgie and thought I'd say 'hi'."
"I'm not the easiest person to be with at the moment." Charlie said, apologetically. "It's probably why Georgie has run away. Can't say I blame her." She smiled, shyly. "I've been a bitch to her."
"Well, shit happens, Charlie. None of our lives are perfect. We can't be sunshine all the time, you know." Joey said, trying to make Charlie feel a little more relaxed.
Charlie stared down into her beer. After a few moments of silence, she spoke again.
"I guess I've messed up my life pretty badly. I think I've lost any friends I once had by being stupid and listening to other people; people who were... people who weren't good for me. You see, Joey, you listen to what people say, and you believe them because you think they care for you. You think they know best and would never lead you anywhere you shouldn't be. You let them take over your mind; your life isn't your own anymore. Then, suddenly, it's all for nothing! The person who you'd relied on to lead you through life has gone, leaving you in quicksand and whatever you try to do to get out of it - however hard you struggle - the more you are pulled down, until you're up to your neck in it. Then suddenly, your lips are beginning to taste the salt from the sand as it slowly pulls you under, until you can breathe no longer!"
Suddenly, Charlie gave an involuntary sob and uncontrollable tears rolled from her eyes. Joey, who had watched her companion as she spoke from the heart, felt a stab of regret for this unhappy creature. She took hold of one of Charlie's hands in her own, and with her other, took a clean, paper tissue from her pocket and gently, dabbed Charlie's wet cheeks with it. Charlie looked up in surprise at Joey's kindness, and smiled at the concerned eyes which looked back into her own.