Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Nine

Angelo was already at work by the time Charlie arrived the next morning. She presented him with a coffee in the back office where he was photocopying posters pleading with the community to come forward with any information they might have about Lou's death.

"How much faith have you got?" Charlie asked.

"Slim to none," Angelo admitted. "But I guess it's worth a shot. I don't know, maybe posters around town and Irene's sad face will make Hugo confess."

"Do you really think it was him?"

"It could well have been," Angelo told her. "What do you think? It was your theory."

"I don't know," Charlie sighed. "I still... I mean, I'm not his biggest fan but I hate thinking that someone we know, someone we live with, could actually be capable of the things we're accusing him of."

"I really think he's guilty as sin," Angelo affirmed.

Charlie nodded.

"Mostly I just feel sorry for poor Martha," she mused. "After everything she's been through..."

Angelo slammed the lid of the copier down a little too hard, making her jump. He left the small office without another word. Charlie was just about to do some photocopying of her own when Watson poked her head around the door.

"Hey," Charlie greeted warmly.

"What's his problem?" Watson wondered, noting that Angelo had stormed past her.

"Don't ask," Charlie replied.

"Anyway, John Palmer's here to see you."

Charlie pulled a face. She couldn't stand the guy after what he had done to Joey, even if her departure from the trawler may well be leading to positive things eventually.

"Any idea what he wants?" she asked, wondering if she could ethically ditch him.

"Something about Miles and Ian Radcliffe."

Charlie followed her out of the room, hoping that this too could lead to something good.


Joey was back behind the bar and feeling possibly even perkier than she had the day before. It might only be a two week stint but she was happy about it and glad that she had come to the decision to go back to college as well. Plus, she and Charlie were going into the city to see a show that evening to celebrate the new direction her life was taking.

At eleven o'clock, Aden sauntered in looking rather pleased with himself. He pulled up a stool and ordered a coke, smiling broadly.

"You're looking far too pleased with yourself!" Joey remarked, pouring his drink.

"Says you!" Aden smirked. "You look like the cat that's got the cream!"

"I'm just a happy person," Joey said, holding her hand out for his cash.

He slapped the money in her hands and sipped his drink.

"Mind you, I guess I'd be grinning all the time too if I went to bed with Charlie every night," he joked.

Joey's mouth hung open for a moment before telling him not to be so cheeky. Putting the money in the cash drawer and handing him back his change, she smirked and leant on the bar.

"She is damn hot," she conceded.

"And I really like looking down your shirt!" Aden said.

Blushing, Joey stood up straighter and told him off again.

"Why are you misbehaving so much today?" she asked.

"I got a job," Aden revealed.

"Seriously?"

"I've kind of had to sell my soul to get it but, yeah!"

Joey high fived him, careful not to lean down too far. That was definitely the last time she let Charlie recommend an outfit. For a woman who had never been into women before, she certainly had a thing for cleavage.

"How did you have to sell your soul?" she asked a little cautiously.

"I got a job at the Sands Resort," Aden explained. "But first I have to take the owner's daughter to the school formal."

He pulled a face.

"Hooker!" Joey accused playfully.

He threatened to throw his drink over her.

"It's not so bad," he mused. "I get to go to a party. I've still got my suit from last year, although, here's hoping it's not quite such a disaster."

He shook his head at the mere memory of the last school formal. Belle, along with Kane and several others had nearly died. Joey was glad that she had only been on the outskirts of the community then. She had been told by various locals since then that Charlie had been quite the hero that night.

"I forget you're still a baby," she teased, lightening the mood again.

"Oldie!" Aden replied.


Charlie was seated with a cup of coffee on Miles's couch, trying to convince him to talk to her about what was going on with Ian Radcliffe.

"You can't help me, Charlie," he insisted. "So don't bother trying."

"Of course I'm going to try," Charlie replied. "For starters, you're my friend. And secondly, as a police officer, I'm obliged to follow up any leads. And I was informed today that Ian has been heard bragging that he's fleecing you for all you've got."

Miles shook his head. Ian had demanded ten grand in exchange for him not pressing charges. Even if he had that kind of money, he still had no idea what to do about it.

"Honestly, Charlie, it doesn't matter," he said. "Just forget about it."

"I can't do that," the police officer insisted. "Look, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on. Meet me halfway."

"There is no half way," Miles said firmly. "I've lost my girlfriend, my baby and now my job and I'm assuming I'll probably end up in jail for a crime I didn't commit. I know everyone thinks you're Super Cop or something but even you can't bail me out of this one, okay?"


Joey had spent a fair amount of time chatting with Aden, who had wandered off to have lunch with Nicole. Apparently things were not going so well between her and Liam since she had told him she wasn't ready to sleep with him and Aden was determined to be the most supportive friend possible. Both he and Joey were aware that he was attracted to Nicole but Aden had made it very clear to himself and his friend that he would never act on it. It was too soon and he couldn't betray Belle in such a way, not to mention that Nicole was seeing someone and had expressed no interest in him.

Alone again and with the bar very quiet, Joey busied herself with aligning the drinks bottles and making everything orderly.

"Working hard?" a voice teased.

Joey turned and laughed. Xavier leant on the bar and thanked her for her advice the previous day.

"Did it help?" she asked.

"I made it a bit worse but then I made it a bit better," he said. "I've apologised to Mum and Palmer and I swear to do my very best to accept that they're dating or whatever."

He pulled a face at the thought but then managed a smile.

"Good," Joey said.

Romeo approached, greeting Joey warmly and asking Xavier if he wanted to shoot some pool.

"I said I'd help Tony at the gym," Xavier said. "Sorry."

He wandered off.

"Joey?" Romeo asked hopefully.

"I don't think it'd look too good if Alf came back and found me neglecting my post," Joey said. "But I can keep you amused with light hearted witticisms."

She grinned. Romeo hopped up on a stool.

"How's your day been?" he asked.

"Pretty good," Joey said cheerfully. "I've booked an appointment for the morning so that I can enrol at the college."

"Really?" Romeo said thoughtfully. "You want to go back to school?"

"I'm going to finish the catering courses I started when I was round about your age," Joey explained.

"Catering?"

"Charlie has this whole idea where she thinks I can be a chef and run a restaurant or something crazy like that," Joey explained. "I think it's a bit adventurous but I figured it's worth getting the qualification. Technically it was one of the two things I wanted to do when I was a kid."

"The other being...?"

"Trawler work."

Romeo nodded. Joey laughed and told him he didn't need to be polite.

"It's probably not a lifelong ambition for most people," she admitted. "But it's a family thing. I loved it. But honestly, I think that time has passed. And I'm ready to take on a new challenge."

"I've been considering going back to school," Romeo admitted. "Mrs Austin thinks I should enrol at Summer Bay High and actually finish this time around."

"What do you think?"

"I don't know," Romeo said. "It's a bit... scary. High school wasn't exactly the best time of my life."

"Nor for me," Joey revealed. "College wasn't either. But maybe through people like Charlie and Gina, you and I are getting the chance to reclaim what we lost and make it right."

Romeo studied her thoughtfully.

"Do you really think so?" he asked.

"Why not?"


Charlie had finished her shift and she couldn't wait to get out of the station. The plan was to meet Joey at home, get changed and then drive out to see a show. Without having had a chance to see her girlfriend all day, Charlie was very much looking forward to a night out. She was eager to let her hair down and have fun and to forget all about Miles and Ian, poor Lou DeBono and the theory that Hugo was some kind of criminal mastermind. She paused on her way out when she spotted Miles walking through the door looking even more stressed than he had earlier in the day.

"Miles!" she greeted.

"Are you working?" he asked, noting her bag.

"I was just about to go home but..."

"I'll come back," he said, clearly disheartened.

"No, no, it's fine," Charlie said. "I've got time if you want to talk."

"It's just... I went to see Ian Radcliffe," Miles admitted.

"Miles..."

"I think he's the one who hurt his son," the teacher blurted out.

"Okay, why don't you come in here?" Charlie said, leading him into an interview room and gesturing for Watson to join them.


It was late when Charlie and Joey finally climbed into the car to return home. They had seen Mamma Mia on stage after a rather more hurried dinner than they had intended, due to Charlie being home late from work.

"Can I?" Joey asked eagerly as soon as Charlie had started the engine.

Chuckling, Charlie nodded. Joey swiftly put the CD soundtrack they'd bought on the stereo and cranked up the volume. Smiling, Charlie reversed out of her parking space and turned in the direction of home.

"I had a lovely evening, by the way," Joey said sincerely.

Charlie reached out and squeezed her hand.

"So did I," she said. "We should treat ourselves more often."

"Hell yeah!" Joey enthused.

She turned the music up louder and they sang along to the music for the duration of their journey.


Next time... Charlie finally manages to clear Miles of all charges, Joey enrols at college and Aden is furious when Liam refuses to take Nicole to the formal...