A Pathway of Adversity

Chapter 35

"This can be clarified by head office." Angelo stated sincerely.

Charlie looked on curiously.

"Head office? What have they got to do with it?"

"Charlie, I was pulled by head office to do a special job which involved keeping a close eye on some of the residents of Summerbay. I had to get involved with the seedier side of some of our residents, including Hugo Austen and his like. As it happens, we got on pretty well, as you might remember but unfortunately, my reputation went down the pan, fast!"

Charlie shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"And?"

"Well, head office weren't too worried about this coz it made it look better for their investigation. They told me that whatever happened, I was to follow through at any cost. Pity it didn't work out. Perhaps they'd have backed me."

"And us?"

Angelo looked sheepish.

"Yes... And us, my angel." He said, reaching out to touch Charlie's hand.

Charlie moved her hand away and looked embarrassed.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't, Charlie! It would've blown my cover!"

"So, you were more than happy for me to live unhappily for so many months; allowing me to imagine that you were involved with all sorts of filth, and knowing it was driving me crazy!" Charlie yelled.

Angelo swallowed and looked down at the floor.

"Charlie! I apologize from the bottom of my heart, but you must let me continue."

Charlie nodded allowing Angelo to continue with his story.

"After I was kicked out of the service for getting involved with those druggies, I knew the only way I could stay in the bay was to buy The Diner from Leah; or my family did. That way, I could keep an eye on Austen and his cronies and also make sure you and Ruby were okay. I do still love you so much Charlie and I hope to God we can be together again, one day!"

"Just get on with your story, Angelo." Charlie said, flatly.

Angelo nodded and continued.

"Do you remember that guy Lou who owned the fishing fleet?"

"You mean Lou who was engaged to Irene Roberts? When he died, he left her all his money, didn't he?"

"Yeah, that's the one... Well, there was a bit more to the story than him just falling over board and being munched by sharks!"

"Go on..."

"Well, it would appear that Lou wasn't the happy-go-lucky chap he gave the world to think! He was a drugs baron and kept the West coast on much of a high, most of the time! Irene found out about this and tackled him over it. Well, they'd both been drinking and Lou got a bit handy with his fists. He gave Irene a couple of beautiful black eyes and a broken rib."

"Nice fella!"

"You bet! However, Irene got her revenge. That night, after he fell asleep in a drunken-stupor, she smothered him!"

"Irene!" Charlie cried, standing up.

"Yep! Anyhow, afterwards, she started to panic coz who would believe her that he was a no good punk? So she called a very old and trusted friend..."

"Was his name Ron, by any chance?"

"Yeah! Ron Collins! How did you know?" Angelo asked incredulously.

"Just something I read recently which makes a little more sense now."

"Well, to cut a long story short, Ron helped Irene get rid of the body by taking it out in one of his fishing boats and dumping it way out at sea. It appears that their association went back years; well before he was married to his wife, in fact!"

"So they weren't 'carrying on'?... Irene and Ron?"

"Oh no! Irene had been genuinely fond of Lou and had every intention of marrying him, but he started to show some of his true colours and she didn't like what she saw."

"Oh my God! So how come she was still on such good terms with Joey's... I mean Ron Collins at this time?" Charlie asked curiously.

"Believe it or not, a rumour put about by no other than Colleen Smart or 'Colleen Stuart' as she was known then, broke the relationship between Ron Collins and Irene many years ago! There was some jealousy between the two girls; Colleen was also in love with Ron!"

"Ron must have been quite a man!" Charlie frowned.

"Well, I wouldn't know about that. All I know is, there was one big bust up between the three of them and the couple fell apart. Shortly afterwards, he met his wife and went on to live happily with her and having two kids."

"Brett and Joey."

"That's right! You seem to know a lot about this already?"

"Go on..."

"Well, even though Ron and his wife had lived happily together for some years, Irene was brought back into Ron's life by saving his wife's life."

Charlie's mouth hung open in surprise.

"What happened?"

"Rose was pregnant but against doctors orders. She realised that she was having a miscarriage and due to the family telephone being out of order, dragged herself out into the street as Irene was passing by and begged for help. Irene got her back inside and into bed and then ran knocking on all the neighbours doors until she found someone with a telephone and called for an ambulance. Her quick thinking saved Rose's life, even though she lost the baby. Irene then became a close friend to both Rose and Ron and their young family, and after Rose died several years ago of a heart attack, stepped in and became a surrogate mother to their youngest kid, Joey."

"So what happened about Lou?"

"Well, not only did Ron help Irene get rid of Lou's body, he also helped her when she came into Lou's money; investment wise, etc."

"But wouldn't this have been about the time when Ron lost his shares in the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, you're a step ahead as usual. Ron lost his money, but not in the way that everyone thought. He didn't gamble or drink his shares away as rumour would have it; he was blackmailed!"

"What?" Charlie choked.

"Our friend, Mr. Austen somehow found out about Lou's death. I still don't know how, but he used it to his advantage and got Ron to sign over his shares in the Summer Bay Fish and Crab Company to him. Poor Ron didn't stand a hope in hell!"

"Then why didn't he tell someone?"

"And get Irene in bad? The woman who eight years previously had saved his wife's life? No way!"

Charlie could hardly believe her ears.

"But why didn't Irene say anything?"

"Ron wouldn't let her! He said the best thing she could do was to look after his daughter and leave the shares which she had invested in the 'SBF&C' to Joey to secure her future!"

"Blimey! I don't know what to say!"

"Ron was tired of living; he'd lost his wife who was also his best friend. He'd seen his son, put in prison for getting into bad company; friends of Mr. Austen, no less, and now he feared for his daughter too. So, he drank himself to death, leaving Joey to Irene's complete care. A sad old story, huh?"

Charlie sat in silence, trying to digest what Angelo had regaled.

"Only one question; how do you know all this?" She asked after a few minutes.

"Irene Roberts contacted me six months ago. Even after what she had seen happen to me with regard to my dismissal, she trusted me enough to tell me her story and express her concerns and worries regarding the 'SBF&C'. She swore me to secrecy as she knew it would affect Joey. She told me I could use what information I needed if it would help put Austen away, but begged me not to involve Joey's name. She was a good woman; she loved Joey like her own. The sad thing is, Austen or one of his kind, somehow found out about Irene's little history and started to blackmail her. They tried to use her to benefit their own plans and schemes for the 'SBF&C' and when she wouldn't play ball, got nasty with her. They threatened to harm Joey if she didn't follow their orders. From what I understand she helped them at times, but I guess her death proves that she refused once too often. I received a hastily scribbled note dated the day of her death, but arriving the day afterwards. All it said was it had gone too far and she feared for her life." Angelo said solemnly. "But it was all too late."

Charlie nodded.

"Yeah, I know. Angelo, I don't know what to say! Thank you for telling me, but you can't blame yourself. Joey is in a real jam at the moment. The town want her brought to justice but I know she will get none! I had to get her away, I had to..."

Angelo stretched out his hand and Charlie allowed him to take it. He felt her shaking and squeezed it gently.

"Charlie, I know that things have gone bad between us, but I hope one day you will forgive me for the deceit and the way I treated you. And perhaps one day we might even..."

"No, Angelo. I forgive you totally, but my life has moved on and with someone else now. I can't ever go back to what we had; even for the good times."

Angelo nodded his head sadly.

"I understand. But at least you forgive me and don't feel so bad about me now?"

Charlie nodded.

"You will always be special, Angelo." She said, and leant over and kissed his lips.