A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 32
Charlie watched from a distance as Joey left her house. Carrying a bag, Joey walked down the pathway to her car quite casually. A neighbour walked by and called a greeting to the young woman. Joey stopped in her tracks and so did Charlie's heart, but was soon able to breathe again when she heard Joey return the neighbour's greeting and exchange one or two niceties about the weather. Joey soon waved 'goodbye' to her neighbour and opened the car door. Climbing in, her heart was beating wildly but as she was about to pull away, her shaking foot fell off the clutch and the car stalled. Charlie bit her lip and counted the seconds until Joey re-started the engine and pulled away with no more delays.
As soon as Joey was out on the open road, she put her foot down, but was careful to stay within the legal speed limits; not wishing to draw any attention to herself... at least until she got out of the environs of Yabbie Creek.
"Charlie! Where have you been?" Watson hissed.
"I had some business on." Charlie answered without giving Watson a glance.
She walked into her office with Watson in hot pursuit. Watson closed the door and gave Charlie a worried look.
"Charlie, Joey Collins is in deep shit!"
"What gives you this idea?" Charlie asked, re-arranging her desk nonchalantly.
Watson felt a little irritated by Charlie off-hand manner about someone who was supposed to be such a close friend, but kept her cool.
"Shortly after you left, Alf Stewart phoned."
"And?"
"And... He has suggested that Joey Collins is mixed up in Irene Roberts' murder!" Watson squeaked.
"And how does he come to this conclusion?" Charlie asked, dipping into her desk draw for anything, rather than look into Watson's eye.
"Well, he says that someone gave him some information recently, before Irene's death, informing him that Joey Collins had threatened Irene and had also threatened the person that Alf got his information from!"
"That's hardly conclusive evidence, is it?" Charlie replied, slowly.
"It's not hard and fast, but a threat is a threat, Charlie, and we can hardly ignore the fact, especially as Irene is dead! He wouldn't give me any more information, but I think you should have a word with him."
"Who is this other person who Alf alludes to?"
"Alf wouldn't say, but he might tell you if you were to speak to him!" Watson suggested, eagerly.
"I'll speak to him tomorrow." Charlie replied flatly.
"Tomorrow!" Watson cried.
"Watson, this information is 'hear-say'!"
"Yeah! And Joey Collins is out there somewhere, and might be about to strike again!"
"Don't be so melodramatic, Watson!" Charlie replied sharply. "You know Joey Collins is no more a murderer than I am!"
Watson took a breath to retaliate, but decided against. A vision of Joey Collins came into her mind; a young, pretty woman who was as mild-mannered as anyone she had ever met. She blew out her cheeks and sat down in the spare chair opposite.
"Why would anyone want to incriminate Joey Collins?" She asked after a few moments reflection.
"Who knows?" Charlie answered, opening up a lined pad. "Perhaps someone is trying to pass the blame onto Joey. Who can that be, I wonder?"
Watson frowned as she thought hard.
"Well, there's always our old friend Hugo Austen!" Watson suggested, brightly.
"Hugo Austen..." Charlie muttered as she scribbled down the name. "Okay... Motive?"
Again, Watson was deep in thought.
"Well, it's obvious that he's after his own empire, so maybe by polishing off Irene and besmirching Joey's good name, he only has to wait for Alf to kick the bucket before he gets his hands on a very pretty pot of gold!" She piped up brightly.
"Good thinking!" Charlie said, gently guiding Watson's chain of thought away from Joey Collins. "But how will he get his hands on Irene and Joey's shares in the 'SBF & C'?"
"Hmmm... Well, its common gossip that Irene had left her shares to Joey, so assuming that Joey isn't the murderer, Hugo, if he is, will have to get shot of her too!"
Charlie felt her blood run cold! If Hugo had murdered Irene, was it his intention to make Joey his next victim?
"But that doesn't mean that he will get the shares!" Charlie pointed out.
"No, unless he cheats them before he bumps them off!" Watson suggested.
"Have we been able to check Irene's Will since her death?"
"We're waiting for her solicitor to come in for a chat."
Charlie nodded; taking in the information and wondering about Joey and where she was.
"Chase them up, will you? Have you spoken to Rosetta recently?" She suddenly enquired.
Watson blew out her cheeks.
"I'm having a drink with him tonight; I'll see if I can find out what happened when he visited Austen at Colleen's place."
"Good."
"I suppose Hugo will get his mitts on Alf's money if he marries Martha." Watson mused.
"That's for sure. Okay... Let's say that Hugo is the murderer; what would you be doing right now if you were he?"
"I'd be keeping a very low profile!" Watson replied without hesitation.
"Quite so. Have you seen anything of him since Irene died?"
"No! I haven't seen him since I followed him to Colleen's bungalow."
"So, this certainly begs the question what he was doing at Colleen's that day!"
"Do you think that Colleen Smart is mentioned in Alf Stewart's Will?" Watson asked.
"It's a thought." Charlie answered. "But I think it's more than likely that Alf's Will may have recently changed. His engagement to Marilyn Fisher would suggest that she will be provided for and handsomely, which will probably mean 'shares'!"
"So you think Marilyn could be in danger?"
"Well, not in immediate danger, but certainly she'll be worth keeping an eye on."
"Should I speak to Joey Collins; just to see if she knows anything?" Watson asked hopefully.
"No! You leave Joey to me. You can be far more useful speaking to Marilyn. Ask her about her feelings towards Hugo; in a light and fluffy way. Don't give her reason to believe that you are investigating him; just say it's part of our investigation with regard to Irene's death."
"Speaking to all the principle players, you mean?"
"Just so!" Charlie grinned. "Thanks for your input, Watson."
"No worries, boss!"
Charlie watched as the constable left her office and she breathed a sigh of relief. She hoped she had managed to steer Watson's enquiring mind away from Joey Collins for the time being, and in doing so, trusted that the eager constable might trip over some other useful information. Charlie flipped open a local telephone directory and looked up the name, Doug Smooter.
Joey followed Charlie's instructions to the word. After an hour of constant driving, she pulled over at a little road-side cafe. Ordering a coffee and sandwich, she took the envelope which Charlie had given her, out of her pocket and examined the directions to the safe house. After her small repast and a visit to the ladies room, she continued to drive a little in the direction of a small town called Bradley Bridge where she procured a box of provisions which would last her for at least five days; milk, bread, butter, cheese, coffee, some pressed meats, pasta, rice, fresh vegetables and a few tins of canned fruit and fish would be an ample varied diet for anyone.
She stopped once or twice, checking directions on a map, as her satellite navigation system seemed unwilling to take her too far out of town before becoming confused. Following one or two very narrow lanes, she at last found a small, wooden cottage far away from anywhere, just as Charlie had suggested, and pulled up outside. The sun was setting fast and the light of the bright day faded within moments. Joey took the cottage key from her pocket and pushed it into the key hole. The key easily turned and the door opened.
"Doug! Thanks for coming out to meet me." Charlie said, waving to the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company Dispatch Manager.
They had arranged to meet at the lighthouse at seven o'clock.
"Hey Charlie! How's it going?"
"Good. Ermm... I wondered if you'd mind if I ask you a few questions concerning the death of Irene Roberts?"
Immediately, Doug tensed and looked about him uncomfortably.
"Well, in truth, there's not much to tell." Doug muttered.
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" Charlie suggested with a captivating smile.
Doug could not resist the pretty face and relaxed.
"How can I help, Charlie?"
"A little bird tells me you gave Joey Collins some advice today?"
Doug's complexion paled and he swallowed uncomfortably.
"I take it my information was correct?" Charlie asked with a winning smile.
"Joey has spoken to you then?" Doug asked hesitantly.
"Just tell me why you gave her a warning to 'watch her back'?"
Doug looked about him nervously.
"Look Charlie! I gave Joey a little 'heads-up', that's all! I didn't expect her to go blabbing to the cops!"
"She didn't blab. She was worried and spoke to me as a friend. I know there's a bully around and I just want to make sure that everyone's playing nicely together. After all, what with the death of Irene Roberts, its looks as if someone isn't playing the game. So, come on, Doug! Drop me a name as a mate. I'll see that the information you give is kept confidential." Charlie promised.
Doug still looked uncomfortable but could see that he had little choice.
"Last week, my life was threatened if I didn't do certain things." He said, wiping his perspiring brow.
"What type of things, Doug?" Charlie asked.
"I had to get some money. I had no choice! He threatened to kill me if I didn't! I've had to re-mortgage my home!"
"Who threatened you, Doug?" Charlie asked gently.
"I-I don't wanna say!" Doug said, moving to one side and trying to pass Charlie.
"Doug! Please! Another life may be on the line if you don't say!"
Doug paused and looked back at Charlie.
"All I'll say is; he won't stop at anything to increase the size of his empire! But she's as bad!" Doug added nervously.
"She?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Yeah, if you ask me, she's worse than him! Now you must excuse me. My wife will be wondering where I am." Doug said, hastening away.
Charlie watched until he was out of sight.
She! Who was 'She'?