Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Five

Monday morning hit and Joey wasn't ready for it. She was painfully aware that Robertson was working tirelessly to bring her down. And she was terrified that he'd invent some piece of evidence just to give her the label of killer and get the job done. She was sure there couldn't be genuine evidence. She hadn't committed murder but her optimism over them being unable to find her guilty if she didn't do anything, was wavering. Sitting at the breakfast table, she felt miserable and the last thing she wanted to do was go to work. But she knew she had to. Hiding away was never going to do her any good.

"I'm going to school," Ruby said quietly as she crept into the kitchen.

Xavier hovered at the door, waiting for her. The atmosphere amongst everyone in the room was heavy to say the least.

"See you later, Rubes," Charlie said from where she sat beside Joey, who didn't look up from her coffee.

The teenager left, giving Joey a sad and lingering look before she did so.

"Joey, you really ought to try and eat something," Charlie said gently, touching her girlfriend's hand.

Joey looked up. The sadness in her eyes broke Charlie's heart.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"What are you sorry for?" Joey wondered. "None of this is your fault."

"Well, yeah, it kind of is," Charlie said. "If someone killed Grant to protect me then..."

She trailed off, hardly able to entertain such a thought. Joey squeezed her hand.

"None of this is your fault," she said. "If anything, I ought to be the one to apologise to you."

"Why?" Charlie asked.

Joey sighed heavily but decided that honesty was the best policy.

"I feel like a horrible person and I know I should be relieved that you're off the hook but... I guess I found this whole thing easier when we were both facing jail. Right now I just feel alone."

Charlie leant in closer. She slipped off her chair and knelt in front of Joey, wedging herself between her legs.

"Joey, I know I can't officially work on the case," she said. "But I swear to you now that I will not let you go down for a murder you didn't commit. I will do absolutely everything in my power to find the real killer."

She reached up and cupped Joey's face.

"The only thing you're doomed to do for the rest of your life is love me, okay?"

Joey grinned. She bent to kiss her.

"I think I can manage that," she said softly.


Ruby and Xavier arrived at school, having barely spoken on the way there. Xavier had tried to talk about the situation but in fear of being overheard, Ruby had shut him down. Certainly in public, she couldn't discuss their false alibi. And besides, she grew tearful each time she thought about it. Yes, she might have just about managed to save Charlie but what was going to happen to Joey? If she ended up in jail, Ruby was certain that it would all be her fault. And she hated herself for it.


Joey was subdued as she, Aden and Geoff pulled out of the marina. She vaguely heard Aden asking Geoff what had happened to his lip, which was cut and looked like it was struggling to heal. But she couldn't engage. All she could think about was that any day now, she might be arrested and formally charged with Grant's murder. And as wonderful as Charlie had been and as much as she knew she would try and save her, there was no guarantee that she would succeed.

"Jo, are you okay?" Aden asked.

Joey remained silent and carried on steering the boat.


Charlie arrived at work a couple of minutes late. Robertson was quick to approach her.

"Late on your first day back," he commented. "I'm surprised at you."

She fixed him with a cold, hard stare.

"Well, I was kind of distracted by the fact that the love of my life is being accused of a murder she didn't commit," she said icily.

He nodded and continued on his way. Exasperated already, Charlie turned towards her office but was stopped by her colleagues, all eager to welcome her back. She thanked them all and gave Watson a hug.

"I need to talk to you later," she requested.

Her junior nodded and got back on with her work. Charlie spied Angelo sitting at his own desk. He looked right back at her.

"Welcome back," he said.

"Thanks," she replied.

"I uh... I heard about Joey. I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

"Of course I am," he said.

It was half true at least.

"Charlie, I don't want you to be hurt," he told her. "And I know losing Joey will be really hard on you."

Charlie glared.

"She hasn't been arrested yet," she said stiffly. "And if I have anything to do with it, she won't be."

He was about to apologise but she stormed into her office and closed the door.


By lunch time, Joey was still feeling lost. She was grateful that Charlie had insisted on lunch. Her girlfriend made her feel safe and that was something she really needed right now. Walking through the Diner, she was grateful to find Charlie already seated.

"Hey," Charlie said, kissing her gently on the lips.

"Hi," Joey replied.

"How's your day going so far?"

"It's okay," the boat manager replied, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "I've been pretty grumpy though."

She managed a smile. Charlie kissed her again.

"I've been a bit naughty," she admitted.

"Oh?" Joey asked with mild caution.

"I convinced Watson to let me look through Grant's case file," she explained. "Robertson was out all morning so I had a look. I haven't found anything yet but Watson's pretty determined to get you off the hook so we're going to work together and find some kind of proof that you didn't do anything wrong."

Joey smiled lovingly at her, stroking her face.

"Just don't get yourself into trouble, okay?" she requested.

"I promise," Charlie said.

Their attention was suddenly caught by the sound of someone in distress. Immediately alert, Charlie looked up and was surprised to find Martha staring at the wall, looking like she was going to cry. Together, they hurried over to see if she was okay. On the wall was a barely censored picture of Martha as a pole dancer. It was paraphernalia put up by her council candidate competition, John Palmer.

"What the hell is this?" Martha demanded angrily.

On cue, John arrived.

"If you're entering the world of politics," he said. "Be prepared to fight dirty."

He headed up to the counter to get his lunch. Martha turned to Charlie and Joey, obviously distressed.

"Now what am I meant to do?" she asked.


Joey returned to work and tried to be more cheerful. After all, it wasn't Aden or Geoff's fault that she was potentially up on a murder charge.

"So, what did happen?" she asked, referring to the cut on Geoff's lip.

He shook his head, not really wanting to talk about it.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Just... an altercation."

Joey was surprised. Geoff wasn't really the kind of boy to get into a fight. Nodding and accepting he didn't want to open up, she approached Aden and gave him a hug. He smiled.

"What was that for?" he asked in surprise.

"It was an apology for being a moody bitch," she told him.

He hugged her again.

"Well, in that case, I forgive you," he said. "But for the record, I totally understand where you're coming from. I mean, well, I heard..."

She nodded, glad that things were settled.

"Hey, did you talk to Nicole?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Everything's fine," he assured her.


Angelo headed out to meet his boss. He approached the meeting with trepidation, all too aware that he wasn't making as much progress as was expected of him.

"So, where do we stand?" Detective Danny Cole asked, getting right to the point.

"I really think Hugo's the one to watch," Angelo said.

"And have you been watching him?"

"Yes."

"And?" Cole asked.

"Nothing yet but..."

"Then why are you still watching him? Why aren't you doing anything, Rosetta?"

Angelo swallowed uncertainly.

"Look, I just need more time," he said.

"You've had months and we're nowhere nearer concluding this than when we first got you off the hook," Cole said. "If you're not careful, you'll be going right back to jail where, quite frankly, you belong."

Angelo's palms began to sweat with fear that his opportunity for redemption would be taken away from him before he'd got anywhere.

"With your permission, Sir, I've got a plan," he said.

Cole folded his arms, clearly not expecting much from him.

"I'm listening," he said.


Ruby was on a free period so she went to the library. She was surprised when Xavier approached her. He was meant to be in English.

"Xave..." she said. "I thought..."

"I'm sick and being seen by the nurse," he smirked.

She smiled a little reluctantly and waited for him to sit down.

"Ruby, do you think we've done the right thing?" he asked.

His girlfriend glanced around her uncertainly, afraid of who could be listening. Conversations in public had dropped Charlie in it once before and she was determined not to risk it again.

"You mean by telling the truth about seeing Charlie at the time of Grant's murder?" she asked, glaring at him.

He shrank back a little but nodded.

"I just... what about Joey?"

Her glare got harsher.

"I know we've let Joey down," she snapped. "Don't you think I already feel terrible about it without you making it worse?"

"I'm not trying to make it worse," Xavier protested. "I just..."

She continued to glare. He sighed, apologised and left.


Charlie arrived back at work. Robertson surveyed her with interest that made her uncomfortable. Shuddering a little inside, she headed into her office in order to start work again. However, before she did so, she picked up the phone and booked a table at hers and Joey's favourite restaurant, figuring that her girlfriend deserved a treat. She looked up when there was a knock at her door. It was Angelo.

"Can I have a word?" he asked.

"I'm a little busy..." Charlie lied.

"Please? It's really important."