Chapter Five
Aden was unhappy. Joey had suddenly left her dream job without any kind of explanation and then when he had set her up with a job at the Surf Club, she had walked out on that too. He knew she wasn't work shy so there must be something up. Every time he saw her these days she looked sad and withdrawn and she seemed to be hanging out with Charlie a lot. Spotting the police woman in the Diner getting her morning coffee, Aden decided to catch up with her.
"Charlie!" he called.
Charlie spun round, facing him.
"Aden, hi. How are you?"
"I'm worried about Joey," he said, deciding to skip the small talk.
Charlie nodded slowly.
"I noticed you've been hanging out with her. She won't talk to me. What gives?"
"You really need to discuss it with her," Charlie said awkwardly.
"How can I when she won't open up?" Aden pleaded. "She doesn't even know you and she seems to trust you. I've been working with her for weeks and she won't talk."
"Look, just keep trying with her, Aden," Charlie said. "That's all I can suggest. Have patience."
Aden sighed and nodded, still unsatisfied.
"Can I help indirectly?" he asked.
"Just… just be nice to her," Charlie suggested.
Joey was at home doing the breakfast dishes when there was a knock at the door. Panic flooded her. What if it was Robbo? She was grateful not to have had to put up with him round the house since he had attacked her. Brett had been busy enough that he hadn't seen much of his old school friend recently. Clenching her fists, not that that would do any good, she made her way to the front door and opened it a crack. Maybe it's Charlie, she thought hopefully. It was Aden. He was the next best thing, although she didn't really want to see anyone at all.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she replied.
"I haven't seen you in a few days. I just thought I'd come and see how you are."
"I'm fine thanks," she lied. "How are you?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I miss seeing you around."
"I miss you," Joey admitted.
During their time working together, Aden had become a good friend to her. She couldn't help but harbour a little resentment over the fact that if he had just done what she had asked and stuck around on that fateful day, she might not be in this mess now. But how could he have known? And it wasn't like she had been nice to him that day. Why would he have bothered to do as she asked anyway?
"So, do you want to hang out or something?" he asked.
"I've got stuff to do."
He looked disappointed. She felt awkward.
"Well, you could come in for a coffee if you want," she said.
He brightened up. She let him in.
Charlie spent most of the afternoon researching Robbo and felt like she'd struck gold when she'd discovered his violent past, although reading about what he was capable of made her feel sick. He'd been involved in a couple of bar fights but most significantly, he'd raped and beaten an ex-girlfriend of his. The photos had been horrific. Officially, it had been a stranger who had done those terrible things to the woman but the Doctor who had treated her – Rachel – had suspected Robbo and Charlie agreed. In light of what he'd done to Joey, she knew she had to investigate it further. She knew she had to do whatever she could to help Joey out of this mess.
"Joey, has someone hurt you?" Aden asked.
They had spent a couple of hours making small talk. She looked stricken at his question.
"What?"
"Has someone hurt you? Has Robbo done something?"
"No. Why?"
"Just the way you've been acting and I know you've been spending time with Charlie."
Joey leapt to her feet.
"What has she been saying?" she demanded.
Aden got to his feet and put his hands out defensively, trying to calm her.
"Woah! Joey, wait! She didn't say anything. I swear. I asked and she wouldn't tell," Aden assured her.
She looked into his eyes, trying to decide if he was lying or not. Finally she realised he was telling the truth and sat down again, regulating her breathing. He sat down too.
"Joey, if there is something to tell then you can trust me," Aden said after a moment.
"I know, I just… I can't talk about it," Joey said.
They looked up when they heard a knock on the door.
"That'll be Charlie," Joey said.
She stood up and headed to the door with the same fear she always had, although she felt comforted that Aden was behind her. She opened up and smiled when she saw Charlie there.
"Hey, you ready?" Charlie asked.
