For Blue1927, just because you're lovely. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Three Hundred and Fourteen

The following morning, a vast number of Bay residents were still talking about Jill's arrival in the Bay. Poor Romeo had been mortified to find her drunkenly flirting with John and had just about managed to convince her to come home with him. Angelo had then vented his frustration at Charlie and Joey for continuing to get distracted. Joey had finally lost her temper and reminded him that there was nothing wrong with caring about their friends, as well as the fact that the whole thing with Hugo was his mess and not theirs. They were merely helping Angelo track the murderer down out of the goodness of their hearts.


Arriving at the Diner for a quick coffee before they both had to go to work, Charlie and Joey were immediately bombarded by Leah who appeared rather flummoxed.

"I just don't understand what he's getting at," the Diner owner sighed dramatically.

"Forgive me for pointing out the obvious," Joey said as delicately as possible. "But have you considered asking him about it?"

Leah mock glared at her.

"That would be the simple thing to do," she agreed. "And for once, I have tried it but he just gets all vague and awkward."

Her topic of conversation was, of course, Elijah. He had been rather cryptically quizzing her about all manner of things, including what she wanted from her life. And she didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Maybe he has a nice surprise for you or something," Charlie suggested brightly. "Don't fret."

Leah looked amused, if a little startled.

"You, Charlie Buckton, are telling me not to fret about something?" she laughed. "When did you chill out so much?"

"Just over a year ago," Charlie said, gazing lovingly at her girlfriend.

They were interrupted by Rachel and Tony storming into the Diner amid yet another argument about Tony's scheduled boxing match with John. Charlie, Joey and Leah watched as Tony stormed back out quickly. Sighing heavily, Rachel came to join them.

"Do you know I can't remember the last time I had a decent conversation with my husband?" she said.

Leah patted her affectionately on the shoulder.

"Is it still about the boxing thing?" she asked.

"He just won't understand how I feel," Rachel complained. "It's not safe. And the whole thing is ridiculously petty, especially in light of..."

She cringed, having very nearly said too much. Charlie studied her expression, trying to read her. It was possible that Rachel was just referring to the knowledge that Hugo was still alive. However, judging by the look of sheer guilt and panic on the Doctor's face, Charlie was certain there was more to it. And she was determined to get to the bottom of it all at work today.

"Maybe you should just give in," Joey suggested, changing the subject back to what it had been.

She too had picked up on Rachel's error but making a big deal out of it here and now wouldn't do anyone any good. Charlie could use the 'information' later but confronting a woman who probably had no deep knowledge of the situation wasn't going to help – especially not in front of Leah. Joey and Charlie found the knowledge of Hugo being alive enough of a burden without pushing it onto their friend.

"No way," Rachel said. "I can't..."

"If something bad happens then you won't want to be arguing, will you?" Joey pointed out.

Rachel chewed her lip hesitantly.

"I guess not," she admitted.

"And if nothing goes wrong then the quicker they can get this pissing contest out of their systems the better, right?" Joey said.

Leah snorted at the description of the match. Joey Collins certainly had a way with words.

"I think Joey's right," Charlie said. "Let them fight it out and then you can all move on."

"I hate it when I have to admit I'm wrong," Rachel grumbled.


At lunch time, Romeo, Nicole, Ruby and Xavier all sat round a table at the Diner. Xavier was typically distracted, lost in his own world. He was relieved to be allowed to see Hugo every day, now that he was staying at the farm. But as happy as he was, he was also terrified of losing him. Ruby was also in a world of her own most of the time. She was desperately worried about the Hugo situation and the effect it was having on her boyfriend. Not to mention the fact that she knew full well that Charlie was working flat out to try and find the man who had nearly killed her and Ruby was sitting on his secrets.

"What's up with all of us?" Nicole wondered, a little exasperated by the mood around the table. "We're meant to be in the prime of our lives and yet here we are, saddled with the doldrums."

She sighed heavily.

"I have family concerns," Xavier said shortly.

"And I'm concerned with his family concerns," Ruby added.

"Me too," Romeo said. "I mean, I'm worried about my own. Namely, my alcoholic mother showing up in the Bay and hitting on every man she's seen in about thirty seconds."

He pulled a face of sheer misery.

"And I still miss Aden," Nicole sighed.

"Weren't you attempting to cheer the situation?" Ruby wondered.

"I gave up," Nicole explained. "There is nothing to be happy about."


Having just about managed to escape Angelo, who had reacted to her news of Rachel's little slip up by charging out to Gina's house in a bid to stake the place out, Charlie had escaped the station on her break and met up with Joey outside the Surf Club. As they expected, Tony and John had set up an impromptu boxing ring out in the sunshine and with Colleen acting as referee, the two men were preparing to square up to each other once and for all.

"Yay, she showed up," Charlie whispered, leaning into Joey and pointing at Rachel who was standing clearly in Tony's corner.

"Yay!" Joey agreed.

She stole a quick kiss and put her arm around her.

"How did your morning go?" Joey asked. "Did you get anywhere with... you know?"

Charlie sighed and shook her head.

"Angelo is still fighting to get a search warrant for Gina's place and the farm," she explained. "And to be honest, I really am starting to feel his frustration. It's so annoying to know that that bastard is here, right under our noses and we don't even know how to get to him."

"Well, we can go for our plan any time you like," Joey offered. "You know, for us to try and go round there and see how she reacts."

Charlie nodded. She believed they needed to do it sooner rather than later. Hugo Austin couldn't be allowed to walk free any longer.

"Well, let's head over there after work tonight," Joey suggested. "See what happens."

Charlie nodded and took her girlfriend's hand. She lifted it to her lips and offered a tender kiss.

"Ooh, the magic is about to happen," Joey said, nodding towards the ring, inside which were John, Tony and Colleen.


Jill had been in the Surf Club for most of the morning. She was surprised when it pretty much emptied until Alf explained that there was a boxing match going on. Jill considered going and taking a look but she couldn't take her drink outside. While Alf had not actually served her alcohol, she had a flask that she had added to her orange juice. But unless she tipped the liquid into a plastic container, she couldn't go out with it. And the last thing she wanted was for the barman to know about the additions she had been making to her drinks.


"Have I missed something or has this fight not actually started yet?" Joey wondered.

She, Charlie and several other Bay residents had been sat around the boxing ring for about fifteen minutes. So far, all Tony and John had done was wander round the ring and trade insults. And quite frankly, the trash talk was more embarrassing than anything else

"This is boring!" one guy from the crowd yelled.

"Are you actually going to fight or not?" someone else wanted to know.

Still, Tony and John hesitated. Even Rachel looked bored, and she hadn't even wanted the fight to take place in the first place.

"They have a point," Colleen said to the boxers. "I didn't give up my lunch time to referee a conversation, you know."

People began to up and leave. Joey glanced at her watch. Charlie shifted a little. She really wanted to get back to work and find a way to put the Hugo Austin case to bed, although she realised it would probably take longer than an afternoon.

"Look, if you boys aren't actually going to fight then I'm going shopping," Colleen decided.

Without another word, she climbed out of the ring and headed off on her way. Realising that even Rachel had disappeared, Charlie and Joey made the decision to exit the non event also.


Angelo was arguing on the phone about a search warrant yet again when Charlie knocked on his office door. He was rude to the other person on the line and then slammed the phone down.

"No developments then?" she asked.

"Nope," he sighed. "I honestly have no idea what my next move should be."

Charlie took a seat in Watson's vacant chair.

"Angelo, are you absolutely sure Hugo's here?" she asked as delicately as possible.

"Yes!" he snapped.

"But if he was, wouldn't we have caught him by now?" Charlie pressed. "I mean, he can't stay at the farm the whole time. He has to leave at some point. Surely?"

"Don't underestimate his desire not to get caught," Angelo said darkly.

"Well, Joey and I are going to surprise Martha with a visit after work tonight," Charlie informed him. "So, we'll call you and let you know how it goes. If she let's us in then maybe he's hiding somewhere else. And if she doesn't then we'll really know something's up. But I'm going to request search warrants for her place and for Gina's tomorrow myself. Maybe if there are two people badgering for them then they'll hand them over at least to shut us up."


"Everyone's gone," John remarked, looking around him from inside the ring, but careful to keep Tony in his eyeline.

"Yep," the school teacher sighed. "I guess this whole thing really was stupid."

John nodded glumly.

"Call it off?" he said, extending his hand.

"It's off," Tony, confirmed.

The two men shook hands and then parted ways.


"This is a pleasant surprise," Joey remarked when Elijah approached her at the bait shop. "Fishing on your afternoon off?"

"Actually, no," the Reverend said, sounding a little shy. "I just... had a question to ask you."

"More questions?" Joey asked, recalling her earlier conversation with Leah.

Elijah looked baffled. Joey opted not to explain. Getting involved in other people's relationships wasn't advisable in her experience.

"Well, anyway," Elijah said. "What... um... Do you happen to know Leah's views on marriage?"

"Well, she's been hitched twice so she's either really pro or she's turned against it," Joey said. "I'm not sure. Why?"

She picked up a bucket of bait intended for a customer who had phoned ahead to plan a late afternoon fishing trip.

"I'm going to propose," Elijah revealed.

Joey squeaked as she dropped the bucket on her foot.


Alf was unimpressed. For a bar that didn't serve alcohol before five, his afternoon patron, Romeo's mother was becoming extremely worse for wear. He was annoyed at her flouting of the rules and also deep concerned for her son. He knew Romeo had a difficult relationship with his mother and as flattering as she had been all day, he could understand why. She should be focussing on building a relationship with her child, not drowning all her sorrows in one afternoon.


"It's just... don't you think it's a bit too soon?" Joey said, having hopped around a little in pain before allowing Elijah to help her deal with the bucket.

"Do you?" he asked, sounding bewildered.

"Well, you've only been together a little while," Joey said.

"But we love each other."

"I know," Joey said. "But don't you need a little more time to pledge your entire life to each other? I mean, you're still in the honeymoon phase where everything is fluffy clouds and rainbows. Maybe you need to get into a more established routine, get to know each other a little better before you rush into anything."

Elijah stood and shook his head.

"I appreciate your advice, Joey," he said sincerely. "But I love Leah and I already know I want to spend the rest of my life with her. So I don't see any reason to wait."

Joey groaned as she watched him depart. Turning, she walked straight back into the bucket and landed in a heap on the floor.


Charlie finished work and drove straight down to the bait shop to collect Joey. The plan was to head over to the farm and try to gain access. If Martha wouldn't let them in, then they would only be able to conclude that she had something to hide.

"Hey," Joey greeted, climbing into the passenger seat.

"Hey," Charlie greeted, leaning over to kiss her.

She pulled away abruptly and wrinkled her nose.

"You stink!" she complained.

"I had two arguments with a bucket of bait and I lost both of them," Joey explained.

Charlie continued to pull a face.

"Sorry," Joey mumbled. "But I do work in a bait shop!"

She pouted, making Charlie chuckle. Holding her nose dramatically, she leant in and kissed her. Joey quickly pulled her closer, knocking her arm away from her nose and pressing their bodies as tightly together as the seats would allow.

"Bait germs," she smirked when they finally parted.

Charlie snorted.

"I'm sure I can survive," she said. "Martha, however, may not so what do you say to a shower?"

"With you?" Joey asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"Not with me!" Charlie clarified, pulling away from the curb as Joey complained loudly.

"We have a police operation to complete," Charlie pointed out. "Shenanigans can wait."

"Not too long," Joey sulked.

"Not too long," Charlie promised.


Next time… Martha won't let Charlie and Joey in, Elijah proposes to Leah and Jill needs to be carried home…