A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 16
The two figures walked slowly along the sandy beach. Dawn was breaking and the first streaks of rosy, daylight touched the lighthouse with its long, slender fingers, highlighting its grandeur against the sleeping town. The tide had changed and its earlier gentleness was now replaced by a more turbulent hand. The force of the waves crashed against the rocks where the couple had lately resided; talking of their lives, past and present. The hours had passed quickly and the dark night was now no more.
"My God! Look at the time, Charlie!" Joey cried, glancing at her watch.
"I shall have to be going on duty shortly!" Charlie sighed. "Dark circles around the eyes will be the watch-word of the day!"
"For me too!" Joey laughed.
The girls fell into silence, but simultaneously changed direction and headed for the grassy bank. Climbing up, Charlie suddenly stopped.
"Joey... you will help me get through this, won't you?"
Joey turned to face her companion.
"I'll always be here for you, Charlie, no matter what happens."
"What happens if I can't...?"
"We'll face it, if it happens." Joey replied with clarity.
"But what if I hurt you?"
Joey pondered for a few moments.
"Well, that will be my problem." She sighed resolutely and continued to climb the bank.
Charlie's brow furrowed and two frown-marks which, had calved their way between her eyebrows of late, became more prominent than ever.
"Joey, I don't want to hurt you!"
"Then don't!" Joey smiled back at the nervous Police Sergeant.
Charlie's frown increased as she hurried to catch Joey.
"Don't keep worrying!" Joey chuckled, and with her fingers, tried to smooth out Charlie's anxious brow. "Whatever will be, will be. We can't read into the future, so there's little point trying to predict what might or might not happen. All I know is, at this moment I've found you and hope our life-paths are destined to travel in the same direction for whatever time we are blessed with. We can't ask anymore than that."
"Joey, you are the sweetest person I know. You have a way of making me feel safe and secure; I...I trust you." Charlie said sincerely.
Joey gently smiled at Charlie's revelation. She wished she could have returned the sentiment, but just now, it would have been too much to expect Charlie to promise any such undertaking. Instead, she took Charlie's soft hand in her own and kissed her finger tips.
"I'm glad you can trust me Charlie. I swear to you that I will never break that trust if it's within my power. I only ask one thing of you in return... If you find you are struggling and can't go on, please tell me; talk to me about it! Never say or promise things which you can't guarantee."
Charlie understood and nodded her head.
Joey continued to hold Charlie's hand until they parted company at their respective cars.
Angelo Rosetta finished clearing up after another busy night at The Diner. It had long been a secret wish to run his own eating establishment; carrying on the Rosetta family tradition and thus, making his parents proud of him. They owned restaurants managed by his brother and cousins and it had long been their wish for Angelo to follow suit, but the lure of a more powerful career had taken him along a different pathway; leading him eventually to Summer Bay, meeting Charlie Buckton and getting involved with Hugo Austen. His involvement with Hugo had cost him dearly; his job, his reputation and the woman he loved... Charlie.
Securing the doors, he left The Diner and walked home. Switching on the light, his eyes fell upon a pile of photographs; freshly printed out that morning and now awaiting his perusal. He made a mug of instant coffee, and picking up a magnifying glass, sat at the table and began to scrutinize the photo-images which he had taken during his secret visit to the poker game attended by Hugo Austen. A sudden knock at the door caused him to jump and glare at it in annoyance. He turned the photographs face down and left his seat.
"Hey Jo!"
"Hi Alison! Come in!"
"I just wondered if you'd managed to speak to Charlie about those reports yet?"
"I did. She doesn't hold out much hope on using the reports alone, but I've heard from the Police auditor and she starts on Wednesday."
"That doesn't give us much time to get things in place! How do we tell Mr. Stuart without exciting suspicion?" Alison asked; pulling a grim face. "You know how he likes to get everyone properly checked-out before allowing them to work for us, casual staff included! Diane in Payroll was moaning how when she's working in HR, Alf keeps poking his nose in and causing her problems!" She grinned.
"Well, I've explained everything to Irene Roberts and she's in with him now, going over one or two things before 'Hugo the Great' drags himself into work. She's gonna drop it into the conversation, casual like. Your pretend 'cousin' comes free and gratis; he won't turn that down, will he?"
Alison chuckled.
"If anyone can convince Alf not to throw a fit, Irene can! I just hope he buys it. I wonder if this Police Auditor has the same hair colour as me. It will make it seem more authentic. He's no fool you know."
"You're right; he is no fool, but he's loved-up at the moment; fingers crossed, a 'would-be' accounts clerk won't excite too much interest."
"Loved up?" Alison asked with interest.
"Oh yes! This morning, he announced his engagement to Marilyn Fisher, no less!"
"So why the sudden change of heart?"
Constable Watson looked sheepish for a moment, but quickly pulled herself together.
"I was unreasonable the other night. I'd promised to help, then, I let you down. I'm sorry."
Angelo Rosetta narrowed his eyes as he looked for Watson's hidden agenda. His strong arm supported his weight as he leaned against the door frame.
"Well, if you're certain you want to remain in, you can have a look through those photographs on the table; see if you notice anyone missing or any irregularities." He said, pointing to the pile.
Watson nodded her head and entered the room. Rosetta watched her with interest; more than a little surprised by her change of heart. He and Georgie Watson had never been the best of buddies, so why the guilt trip for Watson? He shrugged his shoulders and returned to his coffee.
"I could do with one of those!" Watson advised with a grin.
"Irene, what I don't understand is why Alison didn't tell me herself! She should have advised me sooner. I am the Managing Director, after all."
"But I'm on the board of directors, ain't I?" Irene said, with force. "She asked me three weeks ago! Doesn't that count for anything?"
Alf nodded his head.
"Granted, but what's the point in asking you, if you're not gonna tell me until three minutes before the kid starts! S'trewth woman!"
"Alf love, I've told you and apologized. I can't do anymore! What's the big deal, anyway?"
"You know I like to get all our staff checked-out first! After all, remember what happened with that kid without a permit?" Alf said, irritably shuffling papers on his desk.
"Yeah, and if Hugo flippin' Austen had kept his grubby paws to himself, it wouldn't have happened, would it?" Irene pointed out. "His trouble is he can't keep 'it' in his pocket!"
"But she was an illegal immigrant, Irene!"
"Which Hugo didn't seem to mind at the time! It was pointed out by Human Resources that the paperwork didn't match-up! His words were, "She's only here for a couple of weeks; why worry?' The dirty little..."
"Well, Hugo won't be happy if he's not informed." Alf muttered.
"Darl, she's an Aussie kid, who wants to get a bit of work experience with us for a couple of weeks, just to see if it suits her for a future career! She's hardly gonna challenge him for his job, is she?" Irene cried, raising her hands above her head. "Besides, it's got flaming naff-all to do with him! Why should a little trainee girl in accounts bother him? She won't be costing us a dollar, after all. And besides that, she's young Alison's cousin! What better than to keep it in the family?"
"Irene, he likes to know everything that goes on around here. He's most particular." Alf sighed.
"You mean he wants to check her out before any other hot-blooded male comes sniffing around, huh? If you ask me, it's a good reason to keep the news about the new girlie under wraps!"
"Okay, well, what's done is done. But I can't see him taking kindly to the news." Alf said, picking up his mobile phone. "He doesn't like strangers being around the place."
"And why might that be? Has he got something to hide?" Irene asked; quick as a flash.
"You know better than that, Irene."
"I'm not so sure, darl. Still, I suppose being economical with the truth is his privilege!" Irene said, rising from her seat.
"Do we have to go all through this again, love?" Alf sighed; running fingers through his thinning hair.
"We wouldn't if you got rid of the little rat!"
"Irene, I've told you before; the company won't survive without Hugo; he almost runs it as it is... and apart from that, from now on, I'm going to be taking more time for myself. I have some plans of my own."
"Yeah, so I hear. Congratulations Alf love. Marilyn's a nice kid. Not sure how that crack-pot of a sister of yours will take it though!"
Alf paled at the thought.
"Flaming 'ell. Colleen! I'd forgotten about her!"
"Well, that's one thing about Colleen, darl; she won't ever let you forget this one in a hurry!"
Ingrid Peters presented herself at the reception desk of The Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company. Marilyn Fisher asked her to take a seat and enquired if she would like some refreshment. Ingrid, a very, pretty young woman, smiled sweetly but refused. She looked about the reception area; taking note of certificates of excellence presented to the 'SBF & C' in the wholesale trade. She spotted a Company photograph and stood to examine it closer. She wondered with interest who were the 'Goodies' and who were the 'Baddies', and as she waited, played a little guessing game; trying to 'Spot-the-Rotter'.
Marilyn telephoned Alison, the Financial Controller; informing her of the visitor.
Alison, trying to shield her excitement from Martha, hastened down to reception to greet her 'cousin' whom she hoped would wheedle-out the bad guys sooner than later. On her way, she called into Joey Collins office; giving her the good news.
"Bring her into see me on the way back." Joey said. "I'd just like a quick chat before she starts."
"No worries." Alison waved.
After greeting the young woman as one might welcome a member of one's family, Alison led the way back to Joey's office.
"Joey, this is Ingrid Peters, the Police Auditor; Ingrid... Joey Collins." Alison said.
Joey gasped in amazement as her eyes fell upon the most breath-taking blonde she had ever seen.