Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Three
The next morning, Charlie and Joey headed out to the Diner for breakfast. They invited Ruby to come with them on the promise that Charlie would then drop her off at school but the teenager had declined and seemed very out of sorts. Charlie was worried but her daughter hadn't wanted to talk about how she was feeling. Joey had advised Charlie to leave it and wait to listen to Ruby when she was ready. Settling down at a table, they perused the menu that that they already knew far too well and then Joey headed up to place their orders and have a word with Irene.
"Hello, love," the older woman greeted warmly. "How are you and Charlie bearing up? I heard..."
She sighed unhappily.
"That's kind of what I waned to talk to you about," Joey said seriously.
Irene gave her full attention.
"Do I still have a job?" Joey asked.
"What? Of course you do!" Irene said. "Of course, love. Goodness knows we all know you and Charlie would never have laid a hand on that man. Even if he was a monster."
Joey smiled in sheer relief.
"Thank you," she said.
Irene patted her hand.
"Try not to worry," she said. "It'll all blow over. They'll find out what really happened and then you and Charlie can move on with your lives."
Joey thanked her again and obeyed when Irene bustled her off to sit down and go and keep her girlie company.
Aden went for a run along the beach before he started work. He felt like he had been drinking to much beer and eating too much junk without exercising properly for a while so he was determined to get in shape. He sped up when he saw Liam walking across the sand in his direction.
"Aden," the other man said.
Aden attempted to ignore him but the former rock star blocked his path. Annoyed, Aden stopped and glared at him.
"What?" he snapped.
"Look, I just wanted to try and clear the air," Liam said.
"A hundred years could pass and the air would still never be clear between us," Aden said, shouldering him out of the way.
"I just want to make things right," Liam protested.
"Then you shouldn't have stolen my wife," Aden snapped.
"She wasn't your wife when..."
"You shouldn't have messed around with drugs when you were out of rehab, all the things that went on... they shouldn't have happened either. And you shouldn't have used Nicole."
Liam blanched.
"She told you about that?"
"Yeah, she did," Aden replied. "So get the fuck out my way."
Charlie dropped Joey at work and gave her a particularly passionate kiss goodbye. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with the rest of her day. Usually she enjoyed her days off but now she knew it was longer term, if not permanent, she didn't know what to do with herself. She'd packed clothes for the gym and was planning on venting her frustration there for a while. She and Joey had arranged to have lunch together and then she wasn't entirely sure what she would occupy herself with for the afternoon. She hoped she wouldn't turn into a pathetic loser who just filled her time until her partner was around. While she loved Joey with all her heart, she didn't want to become more dependent on her than she already was. Right now, she felt like she would die if she lost her. She had come to need her more than she had ever believed she'd be comfortable with. She was comfortable with her love for Joey but she never wanted to lose her independence.
Robertson was surprised, when he arrived at work, that Angelo wasn't at his desk. Watson was around so he sent her off to the Diner to get him a coffee. She opened her mouth to object but closed it and hurried away, obviously wanting to keep on his good side. He went over to his teddy bear and checked he was still recording everything. Each night when he left, he took the tape with him and put a new one in. Watching his station unawares was always very telling. He was specifically interested in Angelo. If Charlie hadn't committed murder, then Angelo was next on his suspect list. He had named Joey as a prime suspect but he hadn't yet figured out what he thought of her yet. That would take time.
"Hey," Angelo said.
Charlie looked up from the exercise bike she was working to the extreme. She forced a smile and then put her head back down in order to focus on her workout.
"How's it going?"
Charlie paused and looked up at him.
"I've been suspended from a job that I love and I'm looking at going down for a murder I didn't commit," she said. "So yeah, I'm just peachy."
Angelo sighed and moved closer.
"I wish there was something I could do to help you," he said.
She looked at him and felt some compassion when she realised that he was being completely genuine.
"Thank you," she said.
He nodded and moved to the weight machine. Charlie checked her watch and carried on cycling.
Joey and Geoff exchanged concerned glances. They had been at work for three hours and Aden had barely taken a breath during his constant rant about Liam.
"And that Romeo kid he's hanging around with... He's going to mess him up. He's a bad influence and..."
"Aden, breathe!" Joey begged. "I'm this close to drowning myself!"
Geoff laughed loudly but stopped abruptly when Aden glared at him.
"It's just... it's hard enough living without Belle without having that bastard hanging around here," Aden said sadly.
Joey moved forward and hugged him.
"I know," she said gently. "I know."
Robertson headed out of the station to get lunch from the Diner, hoping he might get Leah to change her mind about him. He doubted he would be in the Bay long, only until the murder case was solved, but while he was around, he was keen to get to know Leah. She seemed so nice.
"What can I get you?" the Greek restaurant owner asked rather impolitely when she saw him.
"A date?" he asked hopefully.
"No chance," she replied.
Her voice was bitter and he couldn't help but admire her for her loyalty to her friend.
"A chicken salad then," he said. "And maybe a few minutes of your time?"
Leah called his order into the kitchen and then turned back to him, not smiling.
"I already said no to a date," she said.
"Not a date," Robertson said. "You live with two of my prime suspects. I need to interview you."
"But I don't know anything," Leah said, suddenly losing all her irritated confidence.
"You'd be surprised," Robertson said. "What time can I expect you at the station?"
Leah sighed heavily.
"I finish here at two," she said. "But I have to pick my son up from school at three thirty so I don't have much time."
"That sounds fine to me," Robertson said, handing over his cash and accepting his lunch.
"Someone's eager," Aden commented as he, Joey and Geoff stepped off the boat for their lunch break.
Charlie was eagerly waiting for them, smiling and clutching a picnic hamper. The policewoman waved. Joey couldn't help but smile and feel excited to see her.
"I wish I had a hot girlfriend to bring me lunch," Geoff said.
Joey raised her eyebrows.
"Not that I think Charlie's hot. I mean... um, she is but... um... I..."
"Stop digging, Geoff," Joey smirked before bidding her colleagues goodbye and skipping up to capture Charlie in a hug and a kiss.
Geoff and Aden both felt a little nostalgic. Geoff dreamed of being able to share such moments with Ruby and Aden desperately missed those moments with Belle. Together, the boys headed to the Diner together.
"So, what's all this?" Joey asked as she and Charlie headed towards the beach.
"Well, I was at a loose end so..."
They sat down on the blanket Charlie had provided.
"Expect this fairly regularly for the time being!"
She began to pull items of the blanket but Joey interrupted her with kisses. Wrapping her arms around Charlie's neck, she decided to show her just how much she appreciated her – at least as was publicly decent.
