Chapter One Hundred and Eighty

Charlie and Joey busied themselves with looking at college courses on the computer and tried not to listen to the serious telling off Leah was giving an unrepentant VJ. The nine year old hung his head and mumbled an apology and his mother informed him in no uncertain terms that he was not to have fun for the whole of the rest of the day and he certainly wasn't allowed to play out with his friends. He offered no objection and went to sit alone in the corner of the mostly empty Diner, looking more than a little sorry for himself.


That evening, Ruby arrived home a few minutes late for her curfew and was relieved when Charlie and Joey didn't complain. She and Geoff had got a little carried away and lost track of the time. Things between them were growing increasingly intense and tonight, they had awkwardly begun to discuss sleeping together. Ruby was a little anxious that she was only sixteen and she was moving onto her second sexual partner so quickly. And Geoff felt torn between his faith telling him that sex before marriage was wrong, and wanting things to become more serious with Ruby. They were in love after all and he felt that this time, unlike with Nicole and Claudia, it really would be a long term relationship. But they had decided not to do anything until they were absolutely sure.


The following morning, Leah took VJ to work with her again. Ruby headed out early to spend the precious last day of the weekend with Geoff and Charlie and Joey lounged around the house for a while before Charlie had to go to work.

"Will you drop me at the beach?" Joey asked when she was dressed.

"Sure," Charlie said, perching on the edge of the bed and pulling her boots on. "What are you up to this afternoon?"

"I just thought I'd go for a walk," Joey said. "Look through the papers for a job. Ponder that college course some more."

"I really think you should go for it," Charlie said. "Even if at the end of it you don't try and run a restaurant or anything, it would be a good qualification to have."

Joey nodded thoughtfully. The tuition fees weren't even half as much as she'd thought they would be and not finishing her course the first time round had always been a regret.

"It's definitely an option," she agreed, reaching out and pulling Charlie to her feet.

The couple kissed and then headed out of the house together.


Charlie arrived at work. As usual, she found Watson working reception and Angelo looking consumed by papers at his desk. He followed her into her office looking unhappy.

"Derrick got bail," he said unhappily.

Charlie pulled a face.

"On the plus side, he has to check in with us every day but it's still not a good thing," he added, sinking into a chair. "And I'm getting nowhere with Hugo. He's at the farm playing happy families with Martha and Bambang. My bosses are closing in and if I don't get to the bottom of this whole human trafficking case then I'm screwed."

He sighed dramatically.

"Screwed how?" she asked.

"Well, I might get transferred or... I mean, I'll probably get transferred after this anyway but..."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" Charlie asked.

Angelo looked offended.

"I just mean that you're not happy here," Charlie said more delicately. "And I know a lot of people have got their heads round you being back but some people still wish..."

"I was rotting in jail," Angelo said gravely.

"I wouldn't have put it quite like that but..."

She shrugged. Angelo sighed again and stood up announcing that they would just have to work harder.


Joey had gone for a nice long walk along the beach. She'd stopped off at the shops and got some local papers in order to begin looking for work. It had only been a couple of days and she was already feeling useless. Charlie's never ending support made her feel special though and she was determined to pay her back one day for everything she had done for her already. Looking up ahead of her, she spotted VJ with his friends. She smiled, thinking Leah must have relented and let him go and play. Watching them, she suddenly realised just how unhappy VJ looked. She approached, feeling concerned, just as Riley pushed VJ over and laughed.

"VJ!" Joey called, jogging up to them quickly. "Come back to the Diner."

Without another word to the other kids, she dragged the little boy off. As soon as they were out of earshot, she asked what was going on.

"Nothing," VJ lied.

"Don't lie to me," Joey warned. "You didn't look like you were having fun with them."

"I'm not," he said unhappily.

"Then why are you hanging out with them?" Joey asked.

"Because I don't have a choice, Joey!" he snapped, storming ahead of her and into his mother's restaurant.


A few moments later, Joey also arrived in the Diner. Looking around, she spotted VJ sulking in a corner. She approached Leah and told her that she thought there might be a problem before leading her over to her son.

"What have you done now?" Leah asked tiredly.

"Nothing!" VJ whined.

He glared at Joey, something he really wasn't used to doing. On a normal day, he thought that she was the most wonderful person in the world – apart from his Mum.

"What did you catch him doing?" Leah asked Joey.

"Nothing," Joey said, sitting down beside him. "But I'm not sure his friends are very nice."

Concerned, Leah also sat down. Both women waited for VJ to talk but he refused.

"VJ, why are you hanging out with them if they're nasty boys?" Joey asked.

"Because I don't have any other friends," VJ admitted. "They said I had to be their friend or nobody's but that's only because they want someone to pick on."

"You're being bullied?" Leah asked.

VJ shrugged. Leah and Joey sighed.

"They keep making me do stuff," VJ admitted.

"Was it this Riley kid who convinced you to mess with the computers?" Leah asked.

"He forced me," VJ said. "And..."

Suddenly he burst into tears. Leah hugged him as he confessed to throwing the water bomb at Miles' car.


"Ugh, is this shift ever going to end?" Charlie asked dramatically, approaching Watson at the desk.

She rested her elbows on in, sighing. Her fellow Senior Constable laughed.

"I believe you have four hours to go," she said.

"But it's ten o'clock!" Charlie complained. "Criminals shouldn't be allowed to operate past my bed time."

Watson grinned.

"Well, technically criminals aren't allowed to operate at all," she pointed out. "That's kind of part and parcel of them breaking the law."

"No one likes a smart arse," Charlie laughed.

"My girlfriend does!" Watson said proudly.

Charlie grinned.

"That's a point," she said. "How are you two fixed for tomorrow night? Would you like to go for dinner with Joey and I? I believe we have to vet her and make sure she's good enough!"

Pulling her diary out of her handbag, Watson confirmed their dinner plans.


Next time... Joey takes VJ under her wing, Miles is assaulted and Nicole finishes her exams...