Especially for Movie249. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Six

Charlie and Angelo headed out of the station together. Robertson's constant presence was unnerving for both of them so they had decided that they would rather talk alone. Angelo headed for his own car but, adamant that she wasn't going to leave herself in a vulnerable position with her ex-boyfriend, Charlie insisted that she drive. Climbing in and starting the engine, Charlie headed for the beach.


Joey, Aden and Geoff finished work a little early. Their catch had been minimal to say the least so rather than forcing it, Joey had made the decision to call it a day. Her mind wasn't really on the job anyway. She was just disappointed that Charlie would be out at work for another couple of hours. However, she was glad at least that she had a job to go to. Her girlfriend had been more than a little lost without being able to go into work. Now, if only Joey could ensure that she wouldn't be going to jail, she hoped that she and Charlie could live a long and happy life together.

"Hey, Aden, are you doing anything now?" she asked, catching up with her friend.

He shook his head. He was meant to be working after all.

"Is there any chance you could drive me to the supermarket?"


"So, what's so important?" Charlie asked.

She and Angelo trudged across the sand together. When she found a decent spot, Charlie sat down. Angelo followed suit.

"Well, firstly, did you have to tell Joey what I told you?" he asked.

Charlie pulled a face.

"Yes, I did," she snapped. "Of course I did."

"What I told you was confidential police business," Angelo said.

"The whole reason we had that conversation at all was because you were caught watching us make love," Charlie pointed out. "Do you really think I could go home and say nothing? Joey deserves more respect than that."

He nodded, trying to accept that Charlie was understandably protective of her girlfriend. It made him sad.

"So, you took me out here to tell me off or what?" Charlie asked.

"No," Angelo said, shaking his head. "I'm here to ask for your help."


Aden and Joey were quite enjoying themselves as they pushed the trolley round the aisles of the supermarket. Joey had decided that she wanted to cook Charlie a special 'well done for your first day back at work' meal. Joey was personally feeling very down about her own predicament but she was happy that Charlie was off the hook. She wanted to celebrate that and be supportive of the woman she loved.


Charlie stared at her colleague in sheer disbelief. Of all the things she had expected him to say, this was not it. He'd anxiously explained that when he had been in jail, he'd been approached by some people high up on the force who had proposed a deal. He could get out of jail and not face trial for Jack's murder, if he took the lead in a secret mission. That was all well and good, if a little dodgy. Charlie had already known as much. But then he'd said that his mission involved bringing down a human trafficking ring who were operating partly out of Summer Bay. They had key players all over the world but evidence indicated that one of them had recently set up in town. And it was Angelo's job to find out who and bring them to justice.

"And who do you think this person is?" Charlie asked a little sceptically.

Obviously she was aware of organised crime. She was a police officer after all. But she had hardly expected it to come to their little beach town. Angelo studied her face, trying hard not to be struck by her beauty.

"I think it's Hugo Austin," he said.


Aden dropped Joey back home, painfully aware that he would never be in her kind of romantic situation. The days of getting excited over doing something for the woman he loved were long over. And while he might have feelings for Nicole right now, he doubted he would act on them, even if she gave him the chance. And he knew that no feelings he might ever have for anyone in his life, would compare to how he felt about Belle. He had always loved her. And he missed her with every breath in his body.

"Good luck," he said brightly, hugging Joey goodbye. "I hope she likes it."

"Thanks for helping me," Joey said. "I mean, you could stay and eat if you liked?"

He smiled, touched by the offer.

"It looks like a twosome kind of deal," he told her. "But definitely another time."

Joey nodded and watched him leave.


"No way," Charlie exclaimed. "Angelo, this whole thing is ridiculous."

Angelo nodded, telling her that he knew it was crazy but it was absolutely certain that someone was operating out of the Bay and he really believed that Hugo was it.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

She didn't particularly like the guy and she had never quite forgiven him for hitting on her when she'd been vulnerable. She was just relieved that she hadn't done her usual and gone for it, thus sabotaging her relationship with Joey. That was always the kind of person she had been and she'd made mistake after regretful mistake in her life. But for the first time ever, she'd been sensible enough to know that if she took the easy way out and denied her sexuality, she'd lose Joey's love forever and it hadn't been something she was prepared to do. She loved her too much to ever leave her.

"Without going into specifics," Angelo said. "The timings match. He's definitely got more than a dive business going on. And he lived in Indonesia."

"So?" Charlie replied. "Why does that matter?"

"A lot of the people we're suspicious of are also there," Angelo told her. "Trust me, Charlie, everything fits."

"This is too much," Charlie stated.

Angelo's heart sank.

"And why are you telling me all this anyway?" his ex asked.

"Because I'm stuck," Angelo revealed. "I'm getting pressure from above to solve the case quickly and I need help."

"From me?"

Angelo nodded.

"Why me?"

Her tone was sceptical but he was quick to explain that she was the best cop he knew and if anyone was going to help him turn this into a success, it was her.

"But I don't even believe the story," Charlie pointed out.

"I can give you the case file to read," Angelo offered. "It's fairly damning."

Charlie sighed heavily. She turned to study his face.

"How exactly did you think coming back to Summer Bay, after everything that happened with Jack, that coming to arrest his cousin – and Martha's new boyfriend – was ever going to make things right?"

"Well, I didn't know it was Hugo until recently."

"Is that why you spied on me and Joey?" Charlie asked. "You thought we were capable of something so evil?"

Angelo shook his head quickly.

"No," he said. "I swear. I never thought either of you were guilty. But I had to cross you off my list. I'm sorry."

Charlie nodded.

"Will you help me?" Angelo asked.

"I'll think about it," Charlie replied.

She glanced at her watch, surprised by how long they had been out together. Standing up and dusting the sand off her trousers, she told him she had to get back to the station to finish a few things before going home to see Joey and hopefully take her out for the evening in a bid to make her feel happier.


An hour later, Joey was preparing to begin cooking. Leah and VJ were out for the evening and Ruby had said she was going round to spend the evening with Xavier so she and Charlie had the place to themselves.

"Hey," Charlie greeted cheerfully when she breezed through the door.

Joey beamed at her.

"Hey," she said, moving closer to give her a hug and a kiss.

"What's all this?" Charlie asked, gesturing to the food piled up on the table.

"Oh," Joey said. "I was going to cook you a romantic meal."

"Oh," Charlie said.

Joey was surprised to find that her girlfriend was disappointed instead of pleased.

"Did you have plans?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Um... well, I booked a table at our restaurant," Charlie explained. "But it's fine. I can cancel. This is nicer."

They smiled self consciously at each other, both wanting to make the other happy but not entirely sure whether home cooking or dining at a restaurant was the way to do that.

"The ingredients will keep," Joey said brightly. "We can..."

"But you've gone to so much effort," Charlie said awkwardly.

"And so did you," Joey replied sweetly.

Charlie laughed.

"I picked up a phone," she corrected.

"But you put thought into it," Joey pointed out.

Smiling, Charlie pulled Joey into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"So did you," she said.

They broke apart when Ruby flounced through the door looking unhappy.

"I thought you were hanging out with Xavier tonight," Charlie said, worried about the stress etched on her daughter's face.

"We argued," Ruby sighed.

"Would you like to sit down to a nice dinner with us?" Joey suggested.

Ruby's eyes lit up. Charlie studied her girlfriend curiously.

"Why don't you two hang out in the lounge while I cook and then we can all sit down together?" Joey suggested.

"Thanks," Ruby said, although she still felt terribly guilty around the woman who was essentially her step-mum.

She headed up to her room to get changed. Charlie turned to Joey.

"We can go out for dinner tomorrow night," Joey said. "Just the two of us. But right now, I think Ruby needs the company. Is that okay?"

Charlie nodded, pulling her into another hug, whispering that she was undeniably perfect.