Uh oh, here comes trouble... Enjoy! Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen

Charlie and Joey had been released, although Robertson had warned them both that he would want to talk to them again. He'd warned them not to go far but accepted it when they said they needed fresh air. Clasping hands, they walked along the beach, listening to the peaceful sea beside them. Both felt heavy hearted as they wondered what would happen next. Their lives had been turned upside down yet again.

In the Diner, Ruby and Xavier sat together eating their lunch, although not a lot of food was going into their mouths. Ruby had tentatively explained everything that had happened up until the night Grant had been murdered, including Charlie's abduction and torture of the man who had raped her. Xavier just stared. His sandwich remained part-way to his mouth as he tried to take in the idea that Charlie could be violent and out of control.


"I am not in love with Ruby!" Geoff insisted for the hundredth time.

"You said," Aden replied, wishing that he hadn't bothered opening his mouth.

Geoff's denial, however, was only proving Aden's point. He wondered if Ruby felt the same or if she was happy with Xavier. He also wondered if it would be too intrusive to ask Joey what she thought.

"Why would you even think that?" Geoff demanded, beginning to pace.

Aden's phone rang. He answered it eagerly but then sighed when he realised it was a police officer asking him to come down to the station. That could never be good, could it?


Morag stormed into the police station and approached the reception desk. Placing her hands on the top, she towered over Watson who looked more than a little intimidated.

"I want to speak to Charlie," Morag said.

"Um... she... she and uh... uh... Joey... they went for a walk," the younger woman replied.

Morag's mouth formed a grim line.

"Then I want to speak to this Detective Robertson or whatever his name is," she said.

"He's gone for lunch," Watson said.

Morag growled that she would sit and wait. Watson offered her a coffee. Seated at his desk and trying to work, Angelo observed the whole thing.


Robertson stood at the counter in the Diner, waiting for Leah to serve his take away lunch. The plan was to eat back at the station and get on with his investigation, although it was more than a little tempting to hang around the Diner owner instead. However, the first few days, and especially the first few hours of a murder enquiry, were crucial. Thanking Leah, he turned to the exit, pausing to pretend to look at some posters on a notice board. A conversation between two teenagers had firmly caught his attention.


"What are we meant to do now?" Joey wondered. "I mean, this is serious. That guy seems intent on finding us guilty."

Charlie sighed and put her arm around her girlfriend. She wanted to offer some kind of comfort but no words would come. What could she say?

"We didn't do anything wrong," she finally managed. "He can't find us guilty if we're innocent."

Joey gazed at her.

"You do know I didn't kill him, don't you?" she asked.

Charlie's eyes widened and she hugged her tightly.

"Of course! It hasn't even crossed my mind that you could have... Of course you're innocent."

Joey rested her head on Charlie's shoulder.

"Same," she sighed. "I know you didn't do it either."

Charlie nodded a little awkwardly.

"I guess we just have to trust that this Robertson guy will do his job properly."


Aden was surprised to arrive at the police station and find Morag sitting there grimly. He approached her before he approached the front desk.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I presume the news has spread already," Morag said.

"About Grant," Aden nodded. "But I don't understand why they want to talk to me."

"All in good time, young man," said a voice behind him.

Aden turned to find Robertson gliding into the station. He ignored Morag and gestured for Aden to follow him into an interview room. Helplessly, Aden obeyed. Morag approached Watson.

"Is he always this ignorant?" she asked.

"You have no idea," the Constable replied.

Next to her, Angelo cleared his throat and looked anxiously at Morag. She looked him up and down, wondering what he wanted.

"I was just wondering if you'd seen Charlie," he said, twirling his pen between his fingers.

"No," Morag said. "I gather that she and Joey are attempting to clear their heads after everything that's happened."

Angelo nodded.

"So, if someone else within hearing distance is responsible," Morag continued, glaring at him. "Say, someone thought they'd try and be the big hero, impress Charlie by rescuing her from Grant or something, the best thing they can do right now is confess and save her all over again."

"I didn't do it," Angelo said firmly, not breaking eye contact.


"Now, don't worry," Robertson said casually. "You're not under arrest or under suspicion or anything like that. Judging by your file, the last thing you need is for that to happen!"

He grinned. Aden did not.

"I just wondered what you were doing last night."

The Detective settled himself across the desk from Aden and waited. The blonde boy licked his lips and entwined his fingers.

"I was at the Surf Club for most of the night," he said. "With Joey Collins."

"Until what time?"

"Elevenish."

Robertson nodded.

"And how did you get home?" he asked.

"I walked," Aden said. "I'd had a few beers. Joey had had a few more."

"Did you walk Joey home or did you just look after yourself?"

Aden clenched his jaw, not appreciating the insinuation.

"I offered. She said she wanted to clear her head."

"So, it's fair to say that Joey's been stressed out?" Robertson asked.

Aden shrugged.

"I guess," he said, not really knowing what the right answer was.

"Can you tell me what she's been stressed about?" the Detective asked.

"No," Aden said. "That's her business. It's up to her to tell you."

"Do I need to remind you that you're obligated to tell me the answers to everything I ask?"

Aden sighed heavily.

"That Grant guy," he said. "He's been hanging around, making their lives difficult."

"Difficult enough that they'd kill him?"

"No!" Aden said immediately. "Joey and Charlie would never hurt anyone like that."


Charlie jolted when her phone rang. Pulling out her mobile, she sighed when she saw 'work' flash up on the screen. Taking a deep breath, she answered. Joey watched her every move and listened in as Charlie was summoned back to the station. She hung up.

"What?" Joey asked.

"We've both got to go back and talk to Robertson," Charlie said.


Geoff was playing a game of pool by himself when Nicole approached, looking almost as unhappy as he did. She picked up a cue and they silently started a game.

"What's up?" the blonde girl finally asked.

"I'm just worried about Rubes," Geoff admitted. "You know, what with... everything."

Nicole nodded.

"It's all round school," she said. "I hope they're all okay. Have you heard from her?"

Geoff shook his head. That was what was bothering him the most.

"Have you?" he asked.

"I've seen her but she hasn't been up to talking about it really," Nicole explained. "She and Xavier disappeared at lunch time. Maybe she talked about it with him."

Geoff fought a wave of jealousy and attempted to remind himself that Xavier was Ruby's boyfriend – of course she'd talk to him about what was going on. And they no longer lived together so she was unlikely to turn to him the way she had been. But he missed her terribly.


"Are you going to be okay?" Xavier asked.

Ruby nodded, appreciating his support as he escorted her to the police station. She was due to make her statement about Grant's murder and her boyfriend knew how afraid she was. Her head was a mess and he was desperate to support her through it. And for starters, he was providing her with a false alibi. Ruby reached for his hand and he accepted happily, hoping that perhaps things would get back on track for them now.


"Okay, girls, here's the situation," Robertson said.

Charlie, Joey and Morag were seated on the other side of the table looking anxious. Joey and Charlie held hands.

"I've interviewed Alf Stewart, the man who found the body. I've interviewed the both of you. I've interviewed Angelo Rosetta, who seems to think you, Joey Collins, are capable of untold evil."

"No surprise there then," Joey said bitterly.

"What was that?" Robertson asked curiously.

"Angelo hates me," Joey told him firmly. "I wouldn't trust his opinion on anything."

"Why does he hate you?"

"Because I'm Charlie's girlfriend and he wants to be her boyfriend," Joey explained.

Robertson nodded.

"I thought as much," he said.

Charlie and Joey continued to clasp hands.

"Anyway," he said. "Neither of you have an alibi. According to your friend, Aden, you were drunk and emotional last night and went home alone, around the time of the murder. And according to you, Charlie, you were home alone until your girlfriend stumbled through the door."

Charlie tensed. She did not like where this was going.

"Also, I heard an interesting phrase this afternoon," the Detective continued. "It was something along the lines of 'Don't worry, I got rid of Grant for good tonight'."

Charlie and Joey exchanged glances.

"Sound familiar?" Robertson asked.

Neither woman responded.

"I believe Charlie, you said it to Joey and Joey repeated it to Ruby. I think heard her repeat it to her boyfriend or friend or whoever he might have been... Isn't it interesting that Charlie would say something like that on the night of the murder?"

"That's not what I meant," Charlie insisted. "I scared him off... I..."

"By stabbing him?"

"By threatening him with..."

"Threatening him?" Robertson asked.

"Threatening him with legal action," Charlie said quickly. "It was nothing more than that. I swear."

"What about the time you kidnapped him?" Robertson asked.

Charlie blanched.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your sister... daughter... whatever she is, also told her boyfriend all about the time you kidnapped and tortured Grant Bledcoe. With a tazer, wasn't it?"

Charlie swallowed, her head swimming. Morag looked even more stressed and Joey looked like she might burst into tears.

"Don't worry," Robertson said. "It doesn't matter if you confess or not. The body won't lie. Those kind of injuries stay with you for a long time."

Sighing, Charlie rubbed her eyes, feeling like her world was ending.

"So, on the basis of all the evidence I've gathered so far, you two are my number one suspects," Robertson announced. "I haven't got quite enough to charge you yet but you're both to hand in your passports and you're forbidden to leave town. Also, Charlie, you're suspended. You can hand your badge and gun in tonight and Constable Watson will escort you both home and bring back the items I request."

He stood and opened the door.

"Shall we?" he asked.