Chapter Four Hundred and Ninety Two
It was a slow morning at Leah's house. She and VJ were still trying to get themselves back into the swing of things and back into their normal routine after such a big trip away.
Leah was making coffee for herself and breakfast for her son when there was a knock at the door. It was Miles, looking cheerful as usual.
"Morning!" he said. "I brought you some pastries, juice and coffee."
"You're the best friend ever," Leah said gratefully. "I'm just not quite with the programme yet."
"She still hasn't done any laundry," VJ complained, gesturing to his pyjamas.
"Do you want to do it?" Leah warned.
He ducked his head down and dived into the breakfast that Miles had brought them.
"So, how are you doing?" Miles asked.
"Not too bad," Leah started.
She was interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Hold that thought," she said, dashing into the lounge to answer the call.
Ruby sat glumly at the kitchen table with Charlie and Joey. She was supposed to be having another driving lesson this afternoon and she just didn't want to go. She felt distraught and humiliated and the last thing she needed was to be trapped in a car with cheating Alex. She had really thought that he liked her and cared for her but it had all been a lie. She should have listened to her parents and to Claire and Nicole in the first place. She should have focussed on her driving and not her instructor. Now she had wasted her time and thrown everything away for nothing.
Leah reappeared in the doorway the kitchen and gestured for Miles to join her in the lounge urgently, leaving VJ to eat the pastries. Miles followed her into the other room, concerned by the look of panic on her face.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"I just got a call from the doctors in Africa," she whispered. "Elijah's been injured. Really badly. He needs someone to come over and look after him. Urgently. Miles, I'm going to have to go right back out there to be with him. He had me down as his next of kin."
She looked close to tears. Miles hurriedly put his arms around her.
"I'm going to have to cancel my lessons," Ruby decided. "I'm never going to learn to drive."
She was so disappointed that she had thrown it all away for nothing.
"No way!" Charlie said instantly. "You can't give up now. You've worked so hard."
"I can't face Alex again after what Nicole saw," Ruby said. "He's humiliated me."
"Well, if you don't want lessons with him, we'll find you another instructor," Charlie said.
"Or you can face him today, have your lesson and tell him what an arsehole he is," Joey said. "And then get a new instructor. Because that's exactly the kind of strong woman you are."
Ruby looked uncertain.
"I agree with Joey," Charlie said.
"But… I just… I don't think I can," Ruby said unhappily.
"Then I'll come," Joey said.
"What, you're going to sit in the back of the car?" Ruby laughed.
"Well, I think that might put you off," Joey grinned. "But I'll hover nearby when you meet him and if you can't say what you need to say then I'll be there. I'll back you up."
"Really?"
"Of course," Joey said.
"Okay…"
"So, you'll go and kick butt?" Charlie checked.
"I'll try," Ruby said.
"Good girl," Charlie said, hugging her.
Leah and Miles sat down on the sofa together, glad that VJ was still happily tucking into breakfast. He was possibly eating breakfast for three.
"Listen, you can't go back to Africa," Miles said. "You and Elijah have literally just broken up. It's way too awkward for you to go back there and play nurse. You can't do that to yourself."
"I can't just abandon him," Leah said. "He wouldn't do that to me."
"I'll go," Miles offered.
"What?"
"I'll go," he repeated. "He and I are good mates. I'd love a trip to Africa. And it would be way better for me to go than you. Plus you can't uproot VJ again."
"You might have to go for weeks," Leah said. "Months, even. He's really hurt."
"It's fine," Miles said. "I'd rather that than you be put in such a difficult situation with your relationship the way it is right now."
"We're friends," Leah said. "Just not… you know. I mean, it's difficult."
"Exactly," Miles said. "It's difficult. You can't go and care for him like this."
Leah sighed heavily.
"I feel bad," she said. "I don't want to put you in that position."
"I don't mind," he said, holding her hand. "I care about you both. I want to look after you both."
"No," she said, drawing away. "It should be me. It should be me. Thank you. But it should be me."
Ruby felt heavy hearted as she prepared for her driving lesson that afternoon. She was disappointed that she had messed up her lessons for some futile non-relationship. And she was desperately disappointed that once again, she had lost her chance to fall in love again. Once more, things were over. Pat, Miles, Xavier, Liam and now Alex. All had come to nothing. She was very good at liking people and sometimes, as in the case of Pat and Xavier, they even liked her back. But at the end of the day, nobody stayed. Nothing ever lasted. She was destined to be alone for the rest of her life, she was sure.
Leah had gone out for a walk to clear her head, leaving Miles with VJ. She still hadn't told her son about Elijah. She hadn't found the words. If only he had been injured while they had still been out there. Or not at all!
"Hello there," said a cheerful voice. "You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."
She smiled weakly as she allowed Detective Robertson fall into step beside her.
"Elijah has been injured out in Africa," she explained. "Oh, that's…"
"Your boyfriend," he said. "I'm a Detective, remember? I detect things."
She managed another smile.
"Well, he's my ex-boyfriend now," she reminded him. "He's been hurt pretty badly. He needs me to go out there to look after him."
"Why you?" Robertson asked.
Leah sighed heavily.
"I'm down as his next of kin," she said. "We were together… sort of… when he flew out there. And he doesn't really have anyone else."
"But you're not together anymore," Robertson pointed out.
"I know," Leah said unhappily. "I mean, Miles has offered to go out there on my behalf but…"
"But?"
"I feel like it should be me," Leah admitted. "He would do it for me. Regardless of our situation. So I should do it for him, regardless."
"Well, if that's how you feel," Robertson said reluctantly. "But I think it's a big ask. You've got all these mixed up feelings inside you that you're trying to settle. You've got your son to think about who also must have a lot of feelings when it comes to you and Elijah. And then there's your business, which you've already been away from for a long time. I think it's quite a lot to ask to go back out there again to look after him. But you… you do what you need to do."
Joey hugged Ruby and let her walk over to Alex's waiting car, an open phone call between them so that she could hear what was being said. She hoped that her girl could say what she needed to say and get things off her chest. She hoped by the end of today, she would feel empowered and strong and ready to face life again.
Charlie sat at her desk, distracted at the thought of Ruby having to face up to Alex after he had used her. She knew she had Joey on her side but she wanted to be there too. She hated being stuck at work when she could be by her daughter's side, protecting her and supporting her. She hoped she would hear a good report on what happened as soon as possible.
Miles had left Leah to speak to VJ. He had begged her again to let him take her place and she seemed to be wavering. But for now at least, she needed to tell her son about Elijah's injury. Everything had happened so fast. He didn't even know yet that she and Elijah had gone their separate ways. He thought they were still together. Everything was coming to a head faster than she wanted it to and everything was so confusing.
Sitting in the Diner with a coffee, he looked up when a shadow fell over him. He wasn't happy when he saw that Robertson was standing beside his table.
"I have nothing to say to you," he said.
"It's not about Alf or Penn Graham," the Detective said.
"Then I really have nothing to say to you," Miles said. "Now please let me drink my coffee in peace."
"I heard that Leah's ex is out in Africa, injured," Robertson said. "That she might need to go out there to look after him."
He sat down, uninvited.
"That's right," Miles said. "What has it got to do with you?"
"I care about Leah," Robertson said.
"Well, she's not interested in you," Miles snapped. "Leave her alone."
"That's not what I mean," Robertson said. "I mean, I'm worried about her going back there and getting emotionally tied in with a man who she's trying to break away from."
Miles sighed.
"I'm worried about her too," he admitted.
"So, what do we do about it?"
It was hard to hear exactly what was going on in the car but Joey was doing her best. Ruby sounded anxious but she too was doing her best.
"What's up, Ruby?" Alex asked. "You don't seem yourself today."
"I know you were kissing some girl on the beach after you kissed me in our lesson the other day," Ruby accused.
Her voice was calm and even, which was not how she felt inside at all. She watched Alex looking awkward for a moment. He sighed, trying to work out exactly how to play things.
"I'm sorry," he said eventually. "I didn't think you and I were suddenly in a committed relationship after one kiss."
"I'm not saying we were," Ruby said. "But a little bit of respect would be nice."
"Look, I didn't exactly cheat on you," he ventured.
She looked at him quizzically.
"The girl I was kissing… that was my girlfriend," he admitted.
"Your girlfriend?" she asked, alarmed. "I thought you'd broken up?"
"I… lied," he said. "I just… I thought…"
"You thought what?"
"I thought we could just have a bit of fun," he said.
"Behind your girlfriend's back? I'm not that sort of girl!" Ruby protested.
"Not what I heard," he muttered.
At the other end of the phone, Joey was ready to punch him.
Miles threw up his hands helplessly.
"I've already offered to go in her place," he said. "It was the first thing I suggested. I've said I don't think it's a good idea for her to go back out there – for her sake, for Elijah's or for VJ's. But she won't listen to me. She won't hear it."
Robertson leaned in a bit closer.
"Might I suggest you do whatever it takes to make her listen?" he said.
Miles narrowed his eyes.
"And if you succeed, perhaps you might find that the police decide that there's not enough evidence to continue pursuing the Penn Graham case and they decide to scale things back a bit?"
He stood up and patted Miles on the shoulder.
"Just a thought."
He left.
"Excuse me?" Ruby snapped, outraged. "What the hell are you trying to say?"
"Just that I've heard about you," Alex said, not awkward anymore but downright rude. "You've slept with guys before and you practically threw yourself at that teacher of yours."
"I've slept with one guy before – one! And we were in a long term, committed relationship," Ruby argued. "Not that I need to explain myself to you."
"What about the teacher?" Alex said. "You wouldn't have gone for it if he'd have said yes to you? And me? You've been turning up to our lessons practically begging for it! I mean, what the hell was I going to do? I'm a red blooded male. I've got a girl throwing herself at me with absolutely no dignity at all. How am I supposed to say no?"
He and Ruby both jumped when Alex's door was flung open.
"Hey!" he protested, as Joey yanked him out of the car.
"Don't you dare speak to my daughter like that!" she yelled.
"You're the butch one then!" he remarked.
"Do you want to find out?" she threatened.
Ruby scrambled out of the other side of the car, distraught at what Alex had said to her. But she was determined not to fall apart in front of him.
"You are absolutely disgusting," Joey said. "You are unprofessional. You are immoral. And I'd advise you to get out of my sight before I really lose my temper."
Ruby stepped up behind her, catching hold of her hand, needing her comfort.
"See you later, Ruby," Alex said, getting back into the car.
"No, you won't," Ruby and Joey said in unison.
Holding hands, they both watched him drive off. When he was out of view, Ruby fell into Joey's arms and sobbed.
Miles returned to Leah's house and the atmosphere was tense. Leah had told VJ about Elijah being injured and also that she and Elijah had come to the end of the road regarding their relationship and now he was upset.
"Leah, I really think I should go in your place," Miles said, when they had sat down in the lounge together.
"Miles, I want to go," Leah said. "It should be me. They called me."
"Only because of an old next of kin," Miles said. "And because you were the person they knew."
"But… he would be there for me," Leah said.
"It doesn't matter," Miles said. "Look, I'm sorry. I feel strongly about this. You've seen VJ's reaction. Going back there will just confuse him more."
"He'll understand…"
"No," Miles said firmly, thinking of Robertson's word to him earlier. "No. I'm sorry. I've made the decision for us both. I've already booked my ticket and I fly out tonight."
"What?" Leah asked, shocked.
"I'm going," Miles said. "I'll keep in touch with you and let you know how he's doing. I've let Elijah know that I'm coming and also that you wanted to come but that I've overruled you. I know it's bold of me but I've taken the decision out of your hands. Okay?"
"Okay," Leah said, breathing a genuine sigh of relief. "Okay. Thank you."
She fell into her friend's arms and hugged him.
Charlie arrived home earlier than planned but she was desperate to be there for her daughter. She wanted to make a complaint to the driving school that Alex worked for. The way he had behaved towards Ruby was unacceptable. And she was not prepared to accept it. But those decisions could come later. For now, she had ice cream and chocolate and she just wanted to be a Mum to her daughter.
She walked through the front door and found Ruby and Joey cuddled up on the sofa. She took off her bag and her police belt and came to snuggle up with them both.
"I'm sorry he was so horrible, darling," she said gently.
"He was really horrible," Ruby said.
"I know," Charlie said.
"Joey nearly decked him," Ruby said, managing a small smile.
Charlie managed a smile of her own.
"I mean, officially I object but well done," she said.
Joey laughed.
"He called me butch!"
"He should check out my uniform!"
"I think he'd like it," Ruby complained.
"Well, it does have its perks," Joey said.
"Really not the time, guys," Ruby complained.
They both apologised.
"Anyway," Charlie said brightly. "I have ice cream. I have chocolate."
"And you have a ridiculous amount of chick flicks that we will permit you to put on for the evening," Joey said.
"Really?"
"For one night only," Charlie said.
Alf knocked on Miles's bedroom door, confused as to why he was packing a suitcase.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
"Africa."
Alf was shocked.
"That's a bit drastic, isn't it?"
Miles continued packing, explaining that Elijah had had an accident and needed someone to be with him.
"Well, it's good of you to go, mate," Alf said. "We'll miss you, of course. But I hope you get a nice holiday out of it if you're not trapped in a room the whole time."
"I'm sure I'll manage to have some fun while I'm gone!" Miles chuckled, zipping his suitcase up. "Gina was really good about letting me finish term early."
He stopped and looked more serious.
"Listen, I suspect that Robertson might be out of our hair sooner than we thought," he added. "But… keep it under your hat, okay?"
He headed into the bathroom to pack his toothbrush, leaving Alf in the doorway, looking confused.
Charlie, Joey and Ruby were just about to settle down to a DVD when Charlie's phone rang.
"Sorry," Charlie apologised, answering it. "Hey, Watson. You okay?"
She knew she was on shift tonight.
"Hey," Watson said. "You'll never guess what."
"Hit me," Charlie said.
"Robertson is out of here," Watson said.
"Excuse me?"
"He's said that there isn't enough evidence on the Penn Graham case and they're scaling back the investigation," Watson told her. "He's heading back to the city within the next few days. He'll monitor things from there but unless anything major comes to light, they're leaving it as a cold case."
"Are you joking?" Charlie exclaimed.
Ruby and Joey were hanging on her every word.
"Nope. I mean, talk about a sudden turn around!"
"I know!" Watson said. "It's like he's suddenly got bored and can't be bothered."
"Something must have happened," Charlie said. "You don't just drop a case like that. Especially a murder case. Especially if you're Robertson. And especially when you've been hounding an entire town to death over it. He's been trying to put Alf in jail since he got here as well as kick me out of my job."
"He's dropping the case?" Joey squeaked.
She quickly put her hand over her mouth in apology for interrupting her phone call.
"Well, I just thought you'd want to know," Watson said. "I'd better get on before he catches me gossiping."
Charlie laughed.
"See you tomorrow."
They hung up.
"What's going on?" Ruby and Joey wanted to know.
"Robertson is scaling back the investigation and going back to the city within the next few days," Charlie said, still not quite able to believe it.
"How come?" Joey asked.
"No idea," Charlie said. "But there has to be an ulterior motive. There always is with him."
Next time… VJ tries to cope with Leah and Elijah's breakup, Charlie puts Alex in his place and there's a major development in the Penn Graham case…
