Okay, so I'm watching Big Brother and it has earned you all a bonus update. I wanted Andrew in the final and I wanted Corin out and it's happened. I know a few weeks ago, I was glad Corin was still in and I have this horrible feeling that I do still like her because she really is so funny but... she treated her girlfriend with much disrespect so, I have been anti-Corin for a while now! I keep waiting for her to redeem herself. She kind of did in the interview with Queen Davina. Kind of. Anyway, enough Big Brother rambles... here is your chapter and you may thank the Great British Public for it! I hope you like it. Thank you all for your support. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen
"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" Morag screeched when her husband arrived back.
He was sweaty and dirty and had the vacant expression on his face that said he was battling with his memory. He surprised her when he burst into tears and fell into her arms.
Charlie moaned when she felt Joey snuggle up to her. Her eyes flashed open and she turned to kiss her. Joey smiled and returned her kiss.
"You stink of beer," Charlie complained.
Joey apologised and snuggled up close.
"Did you have a good night?" she asked.
"Not especially," Joey admitted. "It was nice to see Aden but I don't think drowning my sorrows is really my style."
"Were your sorrows about me confessing?" Charlie asked.
Joey sighed heavily and nodded in the dark. She rested her body atop Charlie's and was comforted by her arms around her.
"I'm not going to do it," Charlie said.
"Seriously?" Joey asked, jerking her head up.
"There's no need," Charlie told her. "I talked things through with Ruby and... well, I got rid of Grant for good tonight."
Aden lay in his underwear on top of his bed sheets and gazed up at the dark ceiling. Hearing everything that Charlie had been through at the hands of Grant Bledcoe, had hit him hard. And learning everything she had done recently in retaliation was all too familiar. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his grandfather. Then he saw himself at the point of nearly killing his father. He could so easily have gone through with it. He understood Charlie's plight too well. With everything coming back, it was too much to bear.
"What do you mean?" Joey asked curiously.
"He won't be bothering us again," Charlie said certainly. "There's no way he'll be able to wreck our lives again. We're free."
Joey rolled onto her side and took Charlie's hand. She was perplexed as to how Charlie thought she'd got rid of him.
"Let's just put it this way," Charlie said. "He's got no bargaining chips left."
Joey smiled. The idea of Grant Bledcoe being gone, warmed her heart. She leant in and kissed her girlfriend. Their bodies melted together in the dark.
Ruby lay in her room, completely unable to sleep. Her mind was full of Grant and Charlie and Joey. It was too much for her. Wondering if Charlie might still be awake even at this horrible hour, she crept down the stairs. She approached Charlie's door and then sighed when she heard the distinct sound of kissing and the odd moan.
"At least they're happy," she sighed to herself before heading into the kitchen for a glass of water.
"If you've been drinking and I haven't, does this mean I'm taking advantage of you?" Charlie smirked.
Joey giggled and told her that she could take as much of an advantage of her as she liked. Lying back against the pillows, with most of her clothes on the floor she succumbed to Charlie's every naughty wish.
Alf had stayed late at the Surf Club in order to do the books while he wouldn't be disturbed. Leaving the establishment he headed toward his car in order to drive home. Pausing, he saw a shape on the beach. It looked like a person lying on the sand.
"Hello?" he called.
There was no reply. Sighing grumpily, he headed towards the figure.
"Flamin' tourists!" he complained. "Listen, you can't sleep here! You'll get washed away. You..."
His words stuck in his throat. The man on the beach was dead.
Angelo sat in his car down at the docks, sipping coffee and considering calling it a night. When he'd accepted this deal, he'd just been thrilled to be free and cleared of Jack's death. The responsibility would always remain but he was grateful not to have suffered serious punishment. However, nothing had really turned out as well as he'd hoped. He hadn't managed to win Charlie back, although he knew he would keep trying. And the case wasn't exciting. It mostly just involved a lot of sitting around on his own. He supposed he had hoped maybe Charlie would come in on it with him. But no, he was alone. Just about to head home for the night, he stopped to answer his phone.
Charlie and Joey kissed tenderly, their love making at least temporarily over. Curled up in each other's arms, they both felt happier than they had for a long time, back before the whole truth about Ruby had come out and before Grant had come back into their lives. More than once, Joey had cursed her brother for hitting Charlie with that car. Their whole lives had changed that day. But perhaps there was a way forward now. Perhaps they would be alright. The phone ringing interrupted their intimacy. Joey moaned and protested as Charlie stretched out to answer her mobile. She tried not to get distracted as Joey began to nuzzle her breasts, pausing only when she realised how serious Charlie had become.
"I'll be right there," she heard her say.
She hung up.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's been murdered," Charlie told her.
Ross and Morag lay side by side in bed. He hadn't spoken to her about what had happened in their time apart. To be honest, he didn't really remember. There had been a lot of driving and a lot of sorrow but now all he wanted to do was sleep. Restlessly, Morag stared out of the window, wondering where her husband had gone. So many times, she wondered where her husband went when she couldn't reach him.
"Rubes!" Joey said, surprised to find her girlfriend's daughter sitting at the kitchen table nursing a hot chocolate. "What are you doing up? It's two a.m."
"Couldn't sleep," Ruby said.
Her voice sounded sad. Joey eyed her worriedly and then proceeded to make a flask of coffee for Charlie to head out to work with.
"What are you doing up?" Ruby asked, hoping for a non-graphic answer.
"Charlie's been called into work," Joey explained.
"At this time?"
"Some guy's been murdered," Joey said.
She sounded calm but the idea gave her the shivers and she wasn't desperately fine with sending her girlfriend out to the scene. But she had long ago been forced to accept that dangerous situations were a necessary part of her job.
"Murdered?" Ruby squeaked with wide eyes. "Who? What happened?"
Joey shrugged. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know the details. Charlie appeared, dressing in her uniform and dragging her hair into a ponytail. Joey kissed her and handed the thermos over.
"Thanks," Charlie said. "I don't know when I'll be back."
She turned to see Ruby sitting meekly at the table, having gone a little pale at the news.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Ruby nodded and waved briefly as Charlie headed out the door and to her car. Once alone, Joey made a hot chocolate of her own and came to sit beside Ruby.
"So, what are you really doing up so late?" she asked.
"I just have a lot on my mind," Ruby said. "You know, with everything that's gone on."
"Charlie said you spoke to her," Joey said. "She's not going to confess."
Ruby nodded. Joey thanked her.
"Are things better between you?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah," Joey said happily. "I feel like things are finally perfect again. And I don't know what she's done exactly but Charlie is absolutely certain that Grant isn't going to be around anymore. That's pretty awesome, hey?"
Ruby nodded and sipped her drink.
"I'm glad," she said. "I hope everything will be okay now."
Charlie arrived down at the beach to find it already swarming with police. She approached Watson who looked a little pale, even in the dark. Then she glanced up at Angelo who was standing over the body, taking notes and looking grim.
"Why is my number one suspect attending my crime scene?" said voice that was far too cheerful for this time of the morning.
Every turned to stare at the suited Detective who breezed towards them. He stopped right in front of Charlie and looked her up and down.
"Senior Constable Buckton?" he asked.
"Yes? What's that got to do with you?" Charlie snapped rudely.
"You're my suspect," he replied simply.
Her mind was awash with confusion.
"What are you...?"
"Charlie," Angelo said behind her. "The victim is Grant Bledcoe."
