Chapter Four Hundred and Fifty Two
"Are you as bored of these paps as I am?" Charlie remarked, as she and Watson headed out to take their mandatory shift for the day.
"Is it possible to claim to be more so?" her colleague asked tiredly.
"No way," Charlie said. "I mean, have you even heard of this Prince? I mean, he's nice and all that and Bianca's seems pleased they're back together, not that I've seen much of her this weekend. But honestly, when are they're going to get bored and start following Kylie again?"
Watson paused.
"Kylie? Really?"
"What?"
"How stuck in the eighties are you?"
"Hey!" Charlie protested. "Kylie Minogue is still cool."
"Whatever," Watson said.
Charlie trotted to catch up with her.
"She is!"
Dex had a free period first thing and so opted to go to the pet shop instead of straight to school. He had spent the weekend watching Marilyn looking very sad and being comforted by Sid and it had made him miss her. And the fact that Indi and Romeo had been all over each other hadn't helped. Everywhere he looked there seemed to be happy couples swanning around. He felt lonely.
Leah let Irene open up and headed over to the restaurant to speak to Joey. The situation with Penn and Alf the previous day had bothered her sufficiently that she had decided to go over everyone's heads.
"So, he threatened Miles?" Joey said, once Leah had relayed the day's events.
"Yes," Leah said. "Alf doesn't want to do anything about it but Miles, Irene and I are all even more worried than we were before. What do you think?"
Joey sighed and twiddled her fingers.
"I think it's time to tell Charlie," she said.
Dex had wandered round the pet shop, slowly looking at each animal, unaware that he had caught the attention of a young, female shop assistant. He was now in the aquarium and was carefully studying the fish. He had never found fish so fascinating before but right now, he was so interested that he was at risk of being late to school.
"Can I help you?" the young woman asked.
He turned around startled.
"Oh!" he said. "Um… yes… uh…"
He read her name badge.
"Adrian."
He cleared his throat.
"I'd like to buy a fish, please."
At school, Indi and Romeo were feeling particularly coy with each other. Oblivious to their friends, who had all taken note of the fact that they were in their own little world, the couple kept whispering together and wouldn't leave each other alone.
"Indi…" Romeo whispered, sitting beside her in class.
"Yes?"
"I love you," he ventured.
"I love you too," she replied.
"Do you think… we're ready to… take the next step?"
He kept his voice low so that nobody else heard and continued to hold her hand.
"Yes," she whispered back, squeezing his hand.
They kissed just as their teacher entered the room.
"Alright, alright," Miles said. "Enough of that. This is a classroom, not a movie theatre. Now, get out your books."
Romeo and Indi grinned at each other.
"Tonight," Indi whispered, letting go of her boyfriend's hand.
"Tonight," Romeo whispered back.
Charlie was still taking her shift with the press when she received a call from Joey.
"Hey," she said. "How are you?"
"I'm okay," Joey told. "But is there any chance you could come to the restaurant sometime today. Officially?"
Charlie froze.
"Of course. Are you alright? Has something happened?" she asked urgently.
"I'm fine," Joey assured her. "It's just… Alf. And Penn. Leah and I want to tell you what we know."
"So… do you have a name for your fish?" the shop assistant asked, handing the bag of water, containing Dex's new pet over to her customer.
Her lifted the bag and gazed at it for a moment.
"Marilyn," he decided.
The girl chuckled and began to put everything through the till.
"What's your name?" she asked.
Dex looked startled.
"My name?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I'm Dex," he said. "Dexter Walker. And you?"
"Adrian," she said.
Charlie sighed heavily and looked between Leah and Joey, as they sat together at a table in the corner of the restaurant.
"Why haven't you told me any of this before?" she asked imploringly.
"Alf wouldn't let us," Joey said.
"But I'm your partner," Charlie said. "Your friend."
She looked between them as she spoke.
"And a police officer," Joey pointed out. "Nobody wanted you to have a conflict of interest."
"And Alf was very specific," Leah added. "We've been hassling him and hassling him but…"
"He's been adamant," Joey said. "But it's getting dangerous now."
Charlie nodded and squeezed Joey's hand.
"Leave it with me," she said. "I'll try and talk him round."
Dex arrived home happily and set up his fish tank, ready to put Marilyn the Fish into her new home. He really hoped that they would bond and he would feel less lonely. And that after the debacle with Claire, it would distract him from feeling so humiliated.
Alf was surprised to open the door to Charlie. He froze ever so briefly when he saw her uniform and serious face but recovered himself and invited her in.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"I want to talk to you about Penn Graham, if that's okay," Charlie ventured. "Could we sit down?"
At work, Joey was clock watching. Charlie had left her and gone to speak to Alf about Penn and she was more than a little nervous about what would happen and how he would react to them involving the police. Now over an hour had passed and she hadn't heard anything and she was terrified of losing one of her best friends.
She jumped when her phone sprung to life.
"Charlie?" she answered urgently.
"Jo," Charlie replied.
"What happened?"
"He's refusing to make a statement," she told her. "I tried. Honestly, I did."
Joey sighed and closed her eyes.
"Was he mad?" she asked anxiously.
"Honestly… I don't know," Charlie admitted, wishing she could be more reassuring. "He was just… quiet."
"Okay," Joey said, quiet herself. "Thank you."
Leah was unhappy when she hung up from Joey.
"He won't make a statement," she told Irene and Miles, who had gathered round to find out what the outcome of going to the police had been.
"Why not?" Miles exclaimed, frustrated. "He's got so much support!"
"I don't know," Leah said, shrugging. "I mean, what more can we do?"
"We can go to the police ourselves," Miles decided. "Officially."
He turned and left the Diner.
Charlie sat back in her chair and rubbed her face. She was frustrated and worried. She wished Alf would make a complaint against Penn so she could go after him and try to sort this situation out. She was desperate to put her arms around her girlfriend and tell her that everything would be alright.
"Knock, knock," said a voice.
She turned to find Watson in the doorway.
"Tell me you have good news," Charlie said. "Any good news. About anything!"
"Miles is here," Watson said. "He wanted to make a complaint about Penn Graham. I don't know if that counts as good or bad."
Charlie stood up.
"Good enough," she said.
Feeling pleased with himself as usual, Penn sauntered into the Diner and approached the counter.
"I'll have a latte," he declared.
"You'll have nothing from here," Leah said firmly, her lips forming a thin line. "You're not welcome."
"That's not very nice," he said, mock offended.
"You're not very nice," Leah said. "And one day, you'll get what's coming to you."
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise."
"Well, maybe I should make a complaint about harassment against you," he said.
"That'd be quite ironic," Leah said. "Considering the way you've treated certain people in this town."
"I think I've been perfectly pleasant," Penn said. "In fact…"
"Penn Graham?" a female voice said behind him.
He turned and found him face to face with two uniformed police officers – Charlie and Watson.
"That's me," he said breezily, determined not to show that he was rattled.
"I'd like you to come with me to answer some questions, please," Charlie said, leading the way.
"What's the about?" he asked.
"I think it's better discussed down at the station," Charlie said.
She gestured towards the door.
"Shall we?"
He glared at them both before following them out.
It was the end of a long day and Joey was glad to be home, although no happier. Alf had visited the restaurant, angry with her, Leah and especially Miles for involving the police in the Penn situation. He ranted for a good ten minutes before walking out, leaving her in hurt, stunned silence. And to make the situation worse, it had all been for nothing. With no real evidence, Charlie hadn't even been able to charge Penn with anything. She'd been forced to let him go with a stern warning.
"I just… wanted to help," Joey said sadly, bundled up into her girlfriend's arms.
Sitting on the sofa, Charlie held her tightly.
"I know," Charlie said. "And together, we'll work towards that. But it might just take a bit of time before we work out exactly the right way forward."
"And in the meantime, I might lose one of the most important people in my life," Joey said, her heart breaking.
"You won't lose him," Charlie said. "I won't let that happen."
"He hates me, Charlie," Joey said, bursting into tears.
"Alf doesn't hate you," Charlie tried to assure her. "He loves you. He's just… lost."
Joey hugged her tighter, burying her face in her shoulder.
Romeo and Indi were in Romeo's bedroom, kissing fervently, having decided that tonight would be the night that they took their relationship to the next level. They had been together for a while, they were in love… it felt right.
Indi closed her eyes, as she felt Romeo clumsily fumble with the top button of her shirt. She suddenly froze and pushed him away. Leaping off the bed, she ran out of his room in tears, fleeing the house. He sat on the bed, hurt and confused, wondering what he had done wrong.
"Is there anything I can do?" Ruby asked, sitting in the armchair in the lounge.
Joey was still cuddled up to Charlie.
"I'm okay," Joey sighed heavily. "Thanks."
She didn't want her step-daughter to worry.
"You don't need to lie to protect me," Ruby said. "I can deal if you're feeling sad. I want to support you like you've always supported me."
Joey smiled and reached out a hand. Ruby moved to join in the cuddle.
"Everything will be okay, Jo," she said. "Everything will always be okay."
Romeo sat on his bed, desperately calling Indi but his girlfriend continued to ignore his calls. He still had no idea what he had done wrong or what had upset her. He was hurt and upset, worried and confused. He just hoped that she was okay.
Next time… Watson and Charlie puzzle over how to deal with Penn, Ruby and Nicole have an unwelcome idea and is it the end of the road for Marilyn and Sid…?
