A Pathway of Adversity

Chapter 5

The sea crashed against the land, sending a spray of salty water into the air. The sky was dark; apart from a million stars which blinked above, looking down at the solitary walkers on the beach.

"I don't really know Angelo that well... apart from the time he was friends with Hugo Austen." Joey said as she walked by Charlie Buckton's side.

"Hugo Austen is a crook!" Charlie announced, looking straight ahead.

"I know."

"Yet you still work with for him." Charlie said, turning to look at her companions face in the moonlight.

"I work for the company, Charlie; not for Hugo Austen." Joey corrected.

"But he's the leading light up at the 'SBF and C', isn't he?"

"He thinks he is." Joey said, casting a flat stone out into the ocean.

"Surely Alf Stuart depends on him though?" Charlie quizzed.

"He does, but that doesn't mean that Hugo runs the company! There are a lot of good people up at the 'Summer Bay Fish and Crab' and without them the company will go down the proverbial pan." Joey advised sadly. "I just wish..."

Again, Charlie looked at Joey.

"Yes?"

Joey licked her lips.

"I just wish that Alf didn't think the sun shone out of Hugo Austen's arse!" Joey laughed.

"What's your interest within the company?" Charlie smiled.

"I have some shares." Joey grinned, proudly. "I've invested some money, but most shares were left to me by my late father. He was one of the co-founders with Alf Stuart back in the dark ages. Unfortunately, he was a gambler. He played several hands of poker one night with Mr. Austen and lost most of his shares to him. Austen is an opportunist and was in there like a shot! My father never really got over it. He started to drink heavily and it was only a matter of time before he lost it. He was only tolerated at the 'SBF and C' because Alf had a soft spot for him. He remained there until his death, two years ago."

"I'm so sorry, Joey." Charlie said, warmly.

"Thanks." Joey replied, quietly.

After a few moments of reflection, Charlie continued.

"So Hugo won his position within the company?"

"As good as. Alf liked him anyway. He'd started going about with Martha; showing her a good time. Martha was all loved-up and highly recommended him. Alf was impressed and wanted him to take over where my father left off."

"So really, Hugo Austen is sitting in a chair which you should occupy?" Charlie suggested.

"Well, maybe my brother Brett should be." Joey said without thinking.

At the mention of Brett, Charlie felt uncomfortable again.

"I don't believe it was ever my father's intention that I should be up there with the stars. Don't get me wrong, he was happy for me to be an employee of the company and encouraged me to buy a few shares, which I did on my twenty first birthday, but he saw me as no more than... any other employee, really." Joey said, shrugging her shoulders and digging her hands deep into her pockets.

"Do you find yourself resentful of Austen?" Charlie asked, picking up a piece of drift wood and tossing it absently into the foaming tide.

"I hate his guts, but what can I do? He won his position from my father, fair and square; bad luck for me, huh?"

Charlie frowned.

"You think that Austen is an honest man then?"

Joey was silent for a few moments; wondering if she should tell Charlie what she suspected. She was a Police Sergeant after all, and at this stage, Joey was reluctant to involve the law in her private investigation of Hugo.

"Why do you ask?"

It was Charlie's turn for thought.

"It's just that... I know he was thick with Angelo Rosetta for quite a while, and shortly before Angelo was busted, he and Hugo had some sort of... disagreement, which resulted in them coming to blows. I never did find out what it was over, as Angelo told me that it was all in hand. Like a fool, I believed him. But I do wonder if..."

"I know they were really good mates; Angelo often met Hugo after work and they'd take off somewhere and by all accounts, wouldn't be back until the early hours. Martha raised merry hell, I'm told!" Joey giggled.

"Yeah, I remember those late nights." Charlie said, looking out at the ocean. "Angelo told me he was doing some special investigation work for H.Q. Turns out it was a lie... like all the rest." Charlie muttered resentfully and kicked the sand.

Joey was thoughtful for a few moments, wondering if she should ask Charlie for advice.

"Charlie... I think that Hugo is up to something, but I need to look into it. If I should ever need some help or advice, will you be able to help me?"

Charlie smiled at her new friend. She hadn't noticed before how large and dark Joey's brown eyes were, and the moon had framed her pretty, young face to perfection. She had a sudden impulse to touch her soft apple cheeks, but propriety stopped her. Instead, she smiled and linked her arm through Joey's.

"I've talked more to you this evening than I've talked to anyone for months, Joey. Thank you for that. And of course, anything I can do to help you, I will. I'll give you my personal mobile number; if you ever need me... for anything, just call."

Joey smiled and felt a tingle of delight as Charlie's hand squeezed her arm. Charlie was the most incredible looking girl she had ever seen. Her blue/grey eyes sparkled in the moonlight and its beam lit up her whole face, highlighting its beauty. Her long, dark hair was loose and the soft night breeze, made it ripple against her shoulders. Joey swallowed, suddenly experiencing a feeling she hadn't felt for so long. She could hardly tear her eyes from Charlie's lovely face; her heart beat increased and her breathing became irregular. Eventually, she pulled herself together and remembering her manners, thanked Charlie for her kindness.