Chapter Four Hundred and Seventy Seven

Charlie had hardly slept. She was terrified of the meeting ahead of her and the trouble she was likely to be about to get into. She couldn't eat the breakfast that Joey lovingly made for her and just about choked down her coffee.

"Call me when you finish, okay?" Joey requested, kissing her goodbye. "I'll be thinking of you."

"Thanks," Charlie said, stealing one more kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too."

With a heavy heart, Joey watched her partner leave for work.


Shandi went over to visit John at his hotel, armed with an ulterior motive. The two hadn't exactly bonded since her arrival in Summer Bay but they had spent some time together and she thought he was okay. She wasn't really the type to get close to people.

"So, what's going on with you?" he wondered, putting a coffee down in front of his daughter.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, one minute you're on dates with Miles Copeland and the next I see you hanging out with that Will Smith guy," he said.

"Will and I are together now," she said. "Things with Miles were just casual. He's a nice guy but not really for me. I mean, I'm a free spirit and he's… a teacher."

"Nothing wrong with being a teacher," he said quickly, thinking of Gina.

"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to offend you. Teaching is cool if you like that kind of thing. But I'm not really one for rules and regs, you know?"

He chuckled.

"I get it," he said. "Sometimes I wish I was a bit more free spirited."

"Well, it has its draw backs," she sighed, pleased to have an in.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not exactly a path paved in gold," she said.

He looked as concerned as she hoped he would be.

"Are you short of money, Shandi?" he asked.

"Oh, I'll be fine," she said. "I always get by."

"If you're short, I can always help you out," he said. "Honestly. I'm more than happy to set you right."

"I couldn't ask you to do that," she said.

"No, please," he practically begged. "I've missed out on so much of your life. I want to help you now. As your father."

Shandi gratefully accepted.


Charlie sat in the upstairs meeting room with Superintendent Nick Parrish. He rarely came to local stations and worked in the city so the knowledge that he was in town filled her with dread. From what she knew of him, he had once been a Constable in Summer Bay itself but had left many, many years ago to travel before returning to the force and working his way diligently up the ranks. The only thing she was grateful for was that Detective Robertson wasn't present for the meeting.

"Good morning, Charlie," Nick said. "Please sit down."

Charlie sat.

"Good morning, Superintendent," she said awkwardly.

"Please, call me Nick," he said. "I'm not bothered about formalities."

She nodded nervously.

"It's been a long time since I was here," he said. "Lots of memories. Good and bad."

"Yes, I heard you used to work at this station," she said.

"I did," he said. "I was always conflicted. My younger brother was always in trouble."

Charlie chewed her lip. She didn't know what to say.

"He straightened out in the end though," he said wistfully.

"That's good," Charlie replied quietly.

"But back to the present day," Nick said more proactively. "I've had a report sent to me from your temporary Detective… Detective… Robert Robertson."

"Yes," she said.

"An accusation of withholding information on a murder investigation," he told her.

She'd spent all night debating what to do. Should she deny the accusation? Admit it? What was the best course of action?

"Could you tell me what happened?" Nick asked.

"Alf Stewart is a friend of mine," she explained. "Separate to the case, he told me something personal about his past. It may or may not have some relevance to the case. I don't know. But he told me as a friend, not as a police officer, a fine line I'm sure, having lived in Summer Bay, you've had to tread many a time. In this case, I opted not to reveal this information to Detective Robertson. I may well have been wrong and made an incorrect choice as a police officer but I felt as a person, as a friend, I made the right one. I don't believe that Mr Stewart had anything to do with the possible death of this man, Penn Graham. And I feel that we should be investigating the case in more detail instead of focussing on one suspect. I didn't feel it was morally acceptable to betray a confidence unless it had a genuine bearing on the case. If it had, I assure you, I would have been straight over here to report it. My duty as a police officer comes first and foremost. But I didn't feel that this piece of information bore any weight or directed us to Mr Stewart's possible guilt."

Her words came out far more evenly than she had expected them to. Her heart felt like it was about to explode.

Nick nodded thoughtfully. He scribbled down a few notes.

"I understand where you're coming from," he said, having known Alf from years gone by. "You know that Detective Robertson wants you suspended?"

"I have no doubt," Charlie replied. "We've always had a rather fractious relationship."

He nodded again.

"I've looked through your file," he told her.

She knew it was colourful in places.

"However, I disagree," he said more cheerfully. "I know what it's like to be the senior officer in a small town such as this. In fact, in exactly this town. You need to do your job but you also need to do right by your community and the people you know and love. I've listened to you and I believe that had you believed Alf Stewart confided something dangerous or guilty to you then you would have broken his confidence and followed the letter of the law."

"I would have," she promised.

"I also believe that you're a competent and worthy police officer and you would be able to tell the difference between someone's personal pain and something relevant to a case," he said.

She was very grateful to him.

"So, while I think now is the time for you to step back from the case," Nick continued. "Your role on this force remains intact."

"Thank you," she said gratefully. "I understand about the case. I agree. I think that's the right decision. I think I can be a lot more useful in other areas. But thank you. Thank you for understanding."

"Of course," Nick said, standing up and reaching across the desk.

They shook hands.


Today was the day. Xavier was sick and tired of his Mum being stuck indoors alone every night watching soap operas and of seeing John moping around town all the time. If they weren't going to get themselves back together then he would have to make it happen himself.

He picked up the phone and called April.

"I have a project," he said. "Mum and John have to get back together if it kills me."


Charlie had called Joey to tell her what Nick had said. Joey had been more than relieved and had ordered her girlfriend to come over to the restaurant for lunch.

She hadn't spoken to Robertson on her way out. Once upon a time they had had a tolerable working relationship but that was pretty much dead now, she was pretty clear on that.

"Charlie!" a voice called, as she was getting out of her car outside the restaurant.

She turned and saw Alf getting out of his car.

"Charlie, I'm so sorry. I think I got you in trouble," he said, jogging up to her.

"Oh, honestly, don't worry," Charlie replied. "I had a meeting with my superintendent this morning. Just now, in fact. And it's all fine. I've been taken off the case but I'm not in trouble."

"Are you sure?" Alf asked.

"I'm sure," she promised.

"Robertson tricked me and…"

"It's what he does," Charlie said unhappily. "But can I give you some advice?"

He nodded.

"I know whole heartedly that you didn't do anything to Penn but not being upfront with the police is making you look like you have more than a relationship with his mother to hide," she said. "I'd be upfront and honest and hopefully Robertson will back off and start looking for the actual guilty party."

He patted her on the arm and thanked her.

"Are you going in?" she asked, looking up at the restaurant.

"Tables won't serve themselves," he said.


Gina was sat at a table in the restaurant, waiting for Xavier. She was rather touched at being invited to lunch by her son. Her heart sank then, when John walked in and Angelo brought him over to her table.

"No," she said. "I'm supposed to be having lunch with Xavier."

"Apparently, I'm supposed to tell you on behalf of Xavier, that you've both got to sit there, enjoy your lunch, paid for by Xavier and April, and talk until you work things out," Angelo replied.

He pulled out a chair for John who sat down awkwardly.

"Now, what would you like to drink?"


Across the room, Charlie and Joey were at their favourite table by the window.

"So, he was really nice?" Joey asked.

"Yeah, really nice," Charlie said. "I've not met him before but apparently he was Constable here year and years ago. Alf probably knows him actually."

"Alf knows everyone!" Joey chuckled.

Charlie nodded in agreement.

"But anyway, I've been taken off the case, which suits me fine but I'm not in trouble and I can go about my day to day duties as I normally would," she told her.

"Well, that's such a relief," Joey said.

"And I spoke to Alf," Charlie said. "He apologised, which he didn't need to. And I told him to just be upfront. To prove himself innocent by being open about everything. We know he's got nothing to hide. He didn't do anything so Robertson won't be able to prove that he did."

"Sounds like good advice to me," Joey agreed.

She held Charlie's hand across the table.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"I could cope with you telling me a few more times," Charlie grinned.

Joey leant over and kissed her.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too."


"I miss you," John said honestly. "I miss you every second of the day."

"I miss you too," Gina admitted, sipping her wine.

He looked hopeful.

"But…"

His hopes were dashed.

"I just feel like this whole thing is a stumbling block we can't get over."

"And I just feel like the whole thing has been completely blown out of proportion," he told her.

"Are you calling me a drama queen?" she asked. "Because that is not the way to get back into my good books."

"Not at all," he said quickly. "But I think you feel hurt because you've misunderstood my intentions. And I understand why but honestly, I proposed purely because I love you. For no other reason."

She looked sceptical.

"But I do understand that my timing was poor," he continued. "And I wish you'd just give me the opportunity to make things right between us."

"I just think it's too late," Gina objected.

"Please… Let me try…"


Robertson felt like he ought to just move into Summer Bay House, he was there so often. Although he didn't think he would be very welcome. He never got a terribly good reception. But now, armed with Detective Graves, a team of four officers and a warrant, he rapped on the door and was greeted by an anxious looking Nicole.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm here with a warrant to search the premises," he said.

She always felt confused when she spoke to him. He was always cheerful when he was speaking about serious, unhappy things. Was it just to bewilder the people he was talking to?

"What?" she asked. "Why?"

"Because I believe you may own an item of clothing linked to a murder we're currently investigating," he replied bluntly. "Can we please come in?"

She stood, staring at him with her mouth open.

"Can we come in?" he asked. "I mean, this warrant already tells me I can come in. I'm just being polite."

She mutely stepped aside and watched the team fan out around the property. She reached into her pocket and called Alf, feeling panicked.


Charlie and Joey were just finishing their lunch when Alf approached their table urgently.

"Joey, I need to go home," he said.

"What's going on?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Robertson's at the house," Alf told them. "He's got a warrant. He's searching the place for some sort of clothing. He's scaring the hell out of Nicole."

He looked at Charlie.

"Can you do anything?" he asked.

"I can't," Charlie said apologetically. "I'm off the case. I'm sorry. I can't interfere."

"Just go home and support Nicole," Joey said. "And stay calm."

"Especially stay calm," Charlie said.

He nodded and hurried out of the restaurant.

"Will they be okay?" Joey asked her girlfriend.

"It's hard to say," Charlie said. "He must have something if he has a warrant but I don't know what it is. I know we don't want him focussing on Alf but we don't want him focussing on Nicole either. Although, her motive is blindingly obvious."

Joey sighed.

"I'm guessing this isn't the way he planned it but Penn did say he was going to destroy everyone's lives," she said.


"Well, even if you don't want to get back together today, I promise you that I am never going to stop trying," John told Gina. "I've wasted too much of my life doing the wrong thing, being with the wrong people, being unhappy. You are the love of my life and I refuse to let you go."

Gina was touched by his passion.

"I'll think about it..."


Alf arrived at the house to find police officers combing the place. Robertson was in the lounge with Nicole, who looked very scared.

"Alf!" Nicole said, spotting him.

She threw herself into his arms.

"What's going on?" he asked, hugging her protectively.

"We're looking for evidence to link Nicole here to the murder of Penn Graham," Robertson said easily.

"Bored of hassling me, are you, so you're going for a vulnerable teenager?" Alf accused.

"A vulnerable teenager with plenty of motive," Robertson said. "So, Nicole, you were telling me about how Penn made you believe that you were HIV positive."

Nicole looked extremely anxious.

"Yes, that's true," she said, not letting go of Alf. "But that was ages ago. We broke up and had nothing to do with each other after that."

"When was the last time you saw each other?" Robertson asked.

"Ages ago," Nicole said. "I avoided him. I didn't want anything to do with him."

"Can you remember the last time?"

"Probably when he told me what he'd done with the needle," Nicole said. "But that was weeks ago. I haven't seen him, spoken to him, had anything to do with him since then. I swear."

Robertson nodded.

"We'll see what the evidence brings up," he said.


Next time… Miles wants the truth from Alf, Bianca is unsure of Vittorio and Colleen has lots to tell Robertson…