A Pathway of Adversity

Chapter 47

"Hi boss. She's just doing some sunbathing – not exactly tight on security though. Windows and doors open; radio blaring. You'd think she was trying to advertise the fact that she's at home alone!"

"Hmmm. People like this don't make our jobs any easier, do they? Client complacency is one of my worst nightmares!"

"Shall I pull her, Sir?"

"No. Give her a little longer, but if you notice anyone around or anything odd going on, let me know immediately." Richard Arnold sighed; instructing his officer.

"No worries."

"I'd love to help ya, Hugo mate, but my hands are tied!"

"Give me a break, Doug! You were glad enough of my help when the chips were down – now its pay-back time!"

"That's all very well, mate, but I've got a wife and kids to support. I can't afford to get involved in any more trouble. I've already had the cops breathing down my neck about missing fish stocks – Firstly it was Buckton and now that other officer... Constable Watson, I think her name is, was checking up on things. I don't like it, Hugo – not one bit! It's getting too hot. Too hot for the likes of me. Count me out. Good luck, mate. I hope you get off."

The telephone receiver was put down and Hugo yelled in exasperation.

"The bastard! After all I've done for the little arsehole! I'll fucking kill him!"

"And who might we be hoping to kill-off this week?" Morag asked, standing in the doorway, smiling.

"Richard, I can't believe he's left hospital!" Charlie cried. "I know he was upset, but I didn't think he was strong enough to discharge himself."

Detective Richard Arnold watched Charlie as she anxiously ran her fingers through her long, dark hair. She was certainly an attractive woman. Her tanned skin perfectly contrasted with the white figure hugging top she was wearing. Charlie had just explained her past relationship with Angelo Rosetta and her recent encounter with him in the hospital, but the detective sympathised with the young man; no man liked his woman to lose interest in him over another woman.

"Do you really think he would ruin his chances of getting back into the Police Force over jealously, Charlie? After all, there is a lot more at stake here; he will lose his promised, very glamorous job with a nice fat salary package! He will lose the respect of everyone, including you, Charlie, and get himself into a lot trouble with the Police… and for what? Just so he can pay you back? No, I don't think so. He's no fool, Charlie. He's probably cooled down by now; licking his wounds somewhere quiet and feeling like a total idiot."

"I don't want him to feel hurt, Richard." Charlie sighed.

"Maybe you should have thought of this before telling him about your relationship with Miss. Collins. It may have been kinder to tell him you were seeing someone out of town."

"He would have found out eventually."

"Yes, but hopefully, by then, this business would have been resolved and Joey Collins in the clear… and a murderer behind bars!"

"So I've done it all wrong?" Charlie asked, sheepishly.

"Well, not wrong. You acted impulsively, let's say."

"I wouldn't have told Angelo at all, but he kept pushing me to get back together with him. I just wish I'd…"

"Charlie, what's done is done. We now need to press on! Time isn't with us on this one. There's a possible maniac out there who may be contemplating another murder… we can't take the chance of sitting about stewing over who might have broken whose heart! Now, I know I previously took you off the Roberts murder enquiry, but there's plenty you can do in the background and undercover… and who knows, your 'friend' in the safe house might be able to help you with some very useful information!"

"Mrs. Fisher, would you say that since becoming engaged to Alf Stewart, you've noticed changes in personalities to anyone close to him?" Police Constable Watson asked.

Marilyn Fisher raised her eyes to the ceiling, deep in thought. Watson noticed, and not for the first time, how attractive Marilyn was. Her blonde, well coiffured hair looked silky as she sat in the window seat; the sun forming a soft halo around her pretty face. Her well-manicured nails were painted baby pink which perfectly contrasted with the pretty pale green summer dress she wore, which to Watson's mind, enhanced Marilyn's sea-green eyes.

"Ermm. Well, I'm not really sure. Everyone has been really nice accept… well, one doesn't like to speak ill of people!"

"Any information will be really helpful, Mrs. Fisher." Watson smiled hopefully.

"Well…" Marilyn whispered, after a moment's deliberation. She licked her full, pink lips and sat forward, confidentially. "It's his sister… you know… Mrs. Smart!"

"Colleen Smart, do you mean?" Watson asked, taking notes.

"Yes, that's her. She's Alf's older sister. Do you know her?"

"Oh yes, I'm well acquainted with Mrs. Smart!" Watson grinned. "Go on."

"Well, since Alf and I have been courting…"

Constable Watson lips formed into a smile.

"…She's become so spiteful. I could cry sometimes with the hurtful things she says to me!" Marilyn snivelled. She took out a pretty hanky from her sleeve and dabbed her moist eyes.

"What kind of hurtful things does she say to you?"

"Well, it's more like spiteful hints… like how she thinks I'm only with Alf so I might get my hands on his money when he's… well, you know… But I'm really not, Constable! My late husband, Don, left me well provided for. I don't need any money! I only work at the 'S.B.F & C' to get me out of the house, otherwise I'd die of boredom!" She giggled appealingly.

The constable noted down Marilyn's words and stole an unnecessary glance at her attractive companion.

"But I don't think Alf will be very happy if I make an official complaint about his sister!" Marilyn advised nervously as she watched Watson's progress with her pen.

"These are just notes, Mrs. Fisher. You may be asked to make an official statement at a later date, but it may not come to that." Watson smiled reassuringly.

Marilyn appeared happy with this, so Watson continued.

"How is your relationship with Mr. Stewart's granddaughter, Martha Mackenzie-Holden and her partner Hugo Austin?"

"Martha is very pleasant!" Marilyn replied giving Watson a very toothy smile. "But Mr. Austin…" Marilyn shuddered. "Well, I shouldn't really be saying this, but he frightens me a little!"

Watson noted this down.

"Frightens you! In what way?"

Marilyn looked around her quiet sitting room as if expecting someone else to be listening to their conversation.

"Sometimes he looks at me as if he hates me!" She whispered. "And he keeps eluding to what might happen when Mr. Stewart – I mean, Alf… oh dear… well, when he… 'Passes'. I just wish he wouldn't say things like this!"

"What sort of things does he elude to?"

"Like he… he might have to 'persuade' me to pay back any money which Alf might leave me. But you see, Alf and I have an agreement! He's not leaving me anything in his Will."

"Nothing at all?" Watson looked up in surprise.

"As I said, Don left me well and truly provided for. So what do I need Alf's money for? So I asked him not to! I said that by rights, it was Martha's! Alf wasn't happy at first, but I think he saw the sense of it in time."

"And did you tell Mr. Austin this?" Watson asked.

"Good Lord, no! None of his business!" She replied, grinning.

Joey poured some water straight from the fridge into a glass. Raising it to her lips, she took a gulp and felt the ice-cold liquid flow over her throat. She closed her eyes and savoured. After a moment or two, she opened them and sighed with pleasure.

"That hit the spot!" She murmured to herself.

Then, something caught her eye. A flash of sunlight came from a group of bushes about twenty five metres away; just outside the safe houses perimeter. She blinked and stared hard but could see nothing.

"Seeing things." She mumbled as she wandered back into the garden, drinking.

Suddenly, the bright flash caught her eye again but this time, she knew it wasn't just fluke. There must be something or someone hiding out there. She froze – could it be someone looking for her? Perhaps Irene's killer? After a few moments of hardly breathing, she quickly moved over to the blanket where she'd left Charlie's mobile phone. Picking it up, she dialled Charlie's number. Charlie's mobile phone rang and rang but no one picked up.

"Charlie…Charlie! Come on, answer!"

"By the way, Charlie…" Richard Arnold called as Charlie was leaving his office. "You might have a word with your little friend – the one who's safe in the country!"

Charlie shifted uneasily.

"Sorry? What do you mean?"

"The young lady whom most of Summerbay wants to hang up by her ears!"

"Joey?"

"Yes, indeed… Joey!"

"What sort of word?" Charlie asked warily.

"I took the liberty of asking one of my men to keep a discrete eye on Ms. Collins, and just as well I did!" He grinned.

"Why? What has happened? Is she ok? Oh God, Richard! What's happened?"

"It's ok! Calm down!" Richard reassured. "I thought it prudent to keep an eye on Joey. I'm concerned that your visits, back and forth, might arouse suspicion."

Charlie felt herself paling.

"Should I stop visiting?" She asked quietly.

Richard sat back in his chair and chewed the side of his inner cheek.

"I don't think that is necessary – I would only advise you to vary your visiting times."

Charlie nodded her head but did not comment. Her mind was considering what danger she could be putting Joey in.

"My man will keep a discreet eye on her and report back to me."

"Has he made contact with her?" Charlie wanted to know.

"No. And I'd rather you didn't mention his whereabouts or purpose to Joey; it may frighten her."

"Yes, Sir." Charlie obeyed and turned to leave.

"One thing more, Charlie…"

Charlie stopped and looked back at the superior officer.

"You might also mention that leaving doors and windows open, and playing loud music in a safe house is asking for trouble and strictly against rules!"

Charlie starred back in astonishment.

"After all, not so many days ago, you informed me that Joey was beside herself with fright! Seems she's taken leave of her senses or has got very complacent since. I would prefer it not to be the latter as keeping someone in a safe house is a costly business and then, having to explain any ill consequences as a result, may irritate the powers that be. I don't want to receive the sharp edge of his tongue and I'm sure you don't. Get it put right, Sergeant!" Richard instructed soberly.

Charlie left the Police station feeling irritated. What was Joey thinking? By her actions, she was inviting trouble and into a place where she was all alone and help was more than an hour's drive away. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the phone used to contact Joey.

Joey maneuvered herself, stealth-like into the house. Once inside, she quietly closed the door and locked it. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply; her heart pumping wildly. Who was out there? What was their intention? The radio continued to play. Suddenly, the announcer introduced the news on the hour.

"In Summerbay, the hunt still continues for the murderer of popular resident, Irene Roberts. The fifty eight year old was brutally bludgeoned from behind and left for dead in a quiet wooded area on the outskirts of Yabbie Creek. The Police have recently questioned one suspect, and a trustworthy source has reported that another suspect may have disappeared into thin air before being questioned. The hunt continues….

A health enquiry has begun in the small community of Rosewonger, just East of Boggaroo, where dozens of residents have been struck down with food poisoning. Each victim has provided Yabbie Creek Hospital with necessary samples and details of recent foods consumed. One of nine elderly residents, who have been in a critical condition since entering Yabbie Creek hospital, has died today. Mavis Halliday was eighty three years old and had lived in Rosewonger all her life. The Minister for health has announced that a full enquiry must be fast tracked as the situation in Rosewonger is quickly escalating into epidemic proportions…"

Joey heard the last report but hardly took notice. She was still being hunted down but by whom? She wasn't sure. It now seemed that even the safe house no longer lived up to its name. She must get away… but where? Was there a place to go where no one would think of looking for her? Of course! Summerbay! While every Summerbay resident with a grudge was out scouring the surrounding towns and countryside, she could quite easily steel-in at night fall and hide up somewhere. She had friends who would cover for her and in the meantime, she might even be able to clear her name. She wouldn't take her car as the Police had details of this and it would be a dead give-away. She tip-toed into the bedroom; grabbing a backpack and packed everything necessary to help her hike home.