Chapter Five Hundred and Seven

It was a relaxed Saturday morning at Charlie, Joey and Ruby's house. Ruby was at the table doing her homework, which she was feeling rather lazy about, as it was only a few weeks until the end of term. Charlie and Joey were enjoying a rare morning of nothing, lying on the sofa, watching rubbish on the TV before Charlie inevitably had to get up and go to work. She only had a short shift but she really the weekend rota that tore her away from her girlfriend and daughter.

"Ruby, are you sure you're going to be okay tonight?" Charlie asked.

The teenager had sought permission from her parents to go to a bar with Claire and the others, the brainchild of Dex who wanted to had a night out at a gay venue to be more inclusive of Claire.

"I mean, we could discreetly chaperone?"

"Yeah, right, like I want my two Mums hovering while I go to a gay bar for the first time," Ruby remarked.

Charlie and Joey frowned at each other, not sure at what level of offence they should take.

"Seriously, chill," Ruby said. "We'll be fine."

"You won't drink?"

"I swear."

"We're really, really trusting you," Charlie said.

"Trusting me so much that you haven't already had 'a word' with Claire and Nicole?" Ruby asked with a raised eyebrow.

Charlie and Joey looked guilty.

"I will behave myself," she said. "So will Nicole. So will Claire. So will Dex. So will April. So will Indi. So will Romeo. And therefore, so will Xavier. We will be the most boring teenagers in the world ever."


Leah was not happy with her son. She had just received her phone bill and it was absolutely extortionate. Evidently, when she hadn't been paying attention, VJ had been phoning Elijah in Africa and he hadn't had any qualms about how long they chatted for. And now she had to foot the bill. She was not impressed and now she had the unhappy task of telling him so.


At the farm, Marilyn was tired and feeling fretful. She had been trying to finish off her goodbye videos but it had been harder than she had even feared it would be. The truth was, she wasn't ready to say goodbye to the people she loved – not to Sid or Alf or the children. She knew it would be worse in the end to not have done it but it didn't mean that it was easy to find the words to say goodbye.

"Are you okay, Marilyn?" Sid asked kindly, noticing that his girlfriend looked worried.

She took a deep breath and attempted to explain. He listened and then didn't reply. He just looked upset, which in turn upset her.

"I'm sorry," he said eventually. "I just… I can't help you with this."

He stood up hurriedly and left the room.


Charlie had left home and gone to work. After a discussion with Joey and a discussion with Watson, she had arranged a meeting with Robertson. She couldn't stand him but with the support of her partners, both personal and professional, she had decided that it was time to share her theory about Will Smith. Things were looking worrying for Alf and she hoped that looking more seriously into another, credible suspect might turn the heat down on her friend. The more she thought about Will, the more she was sure that there was something about him that just didn't add up. Or, more specifically that did.

"So, what's all this about?" Robertson asked in his usually abrasive manner, gesturing for Charlie to take a seat in his temporary office.

"I wanted to talk to you about Will Smith," she said, getting right to the point.

"What about him?"

"How much do you consider him to be a suspect?"

"I think he may have had something to do with it," Robertson said. "He's basically Alf's lackey. He worships him. If Alf was in trouble or needed help during the murder or ran into a difficult situation, I think it would be a fair assumption that he could have called on Will to help him out."

Charlie shook her head.

"You disagree."

It was a statement rather than a question.

"Tell me your theory then."

"I think he did it," Charlie said. "And I think he was acting alone."

"Well, of course you do," Robertson sneered. "Anything to save your precious Mr Stewart."

"That's not it," Charlie snapped. "I've said repeatedly that when I wear this uniform, I'm a police officer first. It's not about saving Alf. It's about finding the right perpetrator. And I don't think Alf is it. I think Will is a much more likely suspect."

"Don't you watch cop shows, Charlie?"

Charlie kept to herself that she was an infuriating person to watch crime drama with as she spent the whole hour correcting the officers.

"It's never the most likely suspect. Now, if that's all?"

She had obviously been dismissed.


"You will be so pleased with me, Mrs Seca!" Vittorio announced, grabbing Bianca by the waist and spinning her around in his arms.

She shrieked in surprise. He let her down and kissed her. She laughed nervously, reminding him that they weren't married yet and she was still called Ms Scott.

"Not for long!" he grinned. "We're nearly down that aisle."

He kissed her again.

"And I've put a deposit down on the house we looked at!" he told her proudly.

She stared at him in shocked, her mouth gaping open.

"What… what house? We… we haven't been to see any houses yet…"

"The one you liked on the Internet," he said.

"Um…"

He pulled out his phone and showed her. She recalled the house that she had indeed liked on the Internet but she was absolutely reeling at the thought that he had actually put a deposit down on it without her having the chance to see it in person.

"Hang on… you… you put a deposit down on it without me seeing it?" she demanded, annoyed now.

"Yeah…" he said, his enthusiasm starting to deflate.

"Vittorio, how could you?"

"I thought you'd be excited…"

"No!" she snapped. "This is going to be my house! My home! You steamed ahead and I haven't even seen it?!"

"You liked it online…"

"I like pictures of cats online! I don't want to buy them!" she snapped. "I wanted to look round these places, Vittorio. I wanted to choose."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just thought it would be a nice surprise. And your Mum liked it so much and I got carried away and…"

"My Mum?" Bianca yelled.

"Uh…"

"My Mum has seen my house before I have?"

"She was helping me…"

"Sometimes I feel like you don't know anything!"


Robertson was in a thoughtful mood. It had annoyed him that Charlie's theory could potentially hold water. He was convinced that Alf Stewart was the culprit in the murder of Penn Graham. But he couldn't be seen to ignore other avenues and to not have done a thorough investigation. So, ignoring Charlie and taking Detective Graves with him, he got into his car and went off to speak to him.


On her break at work, Charlie headed down to the beach to eat the lunch that Joey had kindly packed for her. Once on the sand, she spotted the familiar figure of Marilyn, sat all alone. She approached her quietly and said hello. Marilyn looked up. She looked like she had been crying.

"Is everything okay, Marilyn?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"I just feel… lost," her friend admitted.

"Can I sit down?"

She nodded. Charlie sat.

"What's going on?" the police officer asked. "Maybe I could try and help?"

"I'm trying to find a way to say goodbye," Marilyn explained. "To the people I love. Before it's too late. And it's just… it's harder than I expected."

Charlie nodded, recalling the end date prediction that Marilyn had told her about before.

"How are you trying to do it?"

"Making tapes," Marilyn said. "Recordings. But every time I start, I do it wrong. I get silly and emotional and I just… I don't want that to be the last memory someone has of me. I want to be strong and funny. I want to be who I am. But it's hard. Harder than I thought it would be."

"You'll get there," Charlie said certainly. "Because you are strong. And funny. And kind. Of course it's hard. Nobody wants to say goodbye. You don't want to say it and nobody wants to say goodbye to you. But you'll get there. In your own time and in your own way."

"I just don't want to run out of time," Marilyn fretted.

"I understand."

Marilyn turned and smiled kindly at her.

"Thank you," she said. "Thank you for understanding me. I don't… I don't think Sid does. And that makes me feel alone. And that makes this whole thing harder. But just talking to you… makes it just that little bit easier."

Charlie was touched. She reached out and held her friend's hand.

"It's probably not that he doesn't understand," she said, although she suspected that he didn't. "It's probably that he's just sad and doesn't want to deal with things. He loves you."

Marilyn smiled sadly and leaned against Charlie's shoulder.

"Thank you," she said. "Thank you."


"So, he just buys a house!" Bianca shrieked. "Just like that! For me! Without me! No consultation! Nothing! The only person he consulted was my mother, if you please. I mean, come on!"

"Well, you could try and look at it as being romantic…" Joey tried.

She had been called into the restaurant for a couple of hours and since then, ended up at a table with Bianca who had been ranting about Vittorio putting the deposit down on the house without her even knowing about it.

"It's not romantic," Bianca told her flatly. "Would you think it was romantic?"

"I don't know," Joey said. "Maybe…?"

"Would Charlie think it was romantic?"

"Oh, no way," Joey said. "She'd lose her shit."

Bianca snorted.

"All major and minor decisions have to be run by The Boss!" Joey grinned. "Buying a house? Wow… no… not romantic!"

She succeeded in making Bianca laugh at last.

"But maybe Vittorio didn't realise he was overstepping," Joey said more seriously.

"Look out," Bianca said, nodding towards the door.

Joey looked up to see Robertson and Graves walking through the door. She grimaced.

"Do you think you can bar cops?" she wondered.

She was relieved when they approached Will instead of asking after Alf who was out the back.

"What do you want from me?" Will asked in his usual mumble.

He had been having a drink and a chat with Angelo who had sort of been working.

"We just wanted to ask you a few questions," Robertson told him.

"Haven't I answered all your stupid questions by now?" Will snapped defensively.

Joey just prayed that Alf wouldn't appear. She knew how protective of Will he was. But alas, Alf appeared within moments.

"What do you want?" Alf asked gruffly.

"We were just asking your friend Will some questions," Robertson replied pleasantly.

"Haven't you hassled him enough by now?" Alf asked.

"That's what I said," Will agreed.

Joey watched how tense he looked. She couldn't help but think that Charlie was onto something.

"So unless you've got something enlightening to say, why don't you just leave?" Alf suggested.

Joey just wished Alf would stay out of it.

"You're really quite protective of you friend, aren't you, Alf?" Robertson noticed.

"I am protective of the people I love, yes," Alf said.

"Would you say you'd do anything for them?" the Detective asked.

Alf stepped forwards. Joey's heart was pounding.

"You are not going to put words in my mouth, Detective," Alf replied.

Robertson smiled pleasantly, nodded and gestured for Detective Graves to follow him out, passing Roo on her way in as they left.

"What did they want?" she asked sourly.

"What do they ever want?" Alf sighed.

He patted Will on the shoulder affectionately.

"Don't let them get to you, mate," he said. "They're only hassling you because they know you're close to me. I'm sorry for getting you caught up in my mess."

"Not your mess," Roo said. "Penn's mess. It's not your fault any more than anyone else's. Penn is the bastard here. And I would say whoever killed him but it sounds like whoever it was did everyone a favour from what I've heard!"

"Well, I wouldn't wish that on anyone but…" Alf sighed heavily.

"Can I get you anything I drink, Roo?" Angelo asked a little too eagerly.

From her table, Joey laughed.

"What?" Bianca asked.

"Oh, just Angelo," Joey chuckled, shaking her head.

Bianca eyed her curiously.

"He practically has a hard on every time Roo walks into the room!"

Bianca spat her drink out in shock and laughter.

"Joey!" she scolded. "I can't unsee that now!"

"Sorry!" Joey giggled, holding her hands up in surrender. "It really is funny though. Poor guy. I don't think she's even noticed him."

"I don't think anyone really notices him," Bianca said with a hint of sadness. "It'd be nice if he found someone. I mean, he's a bit gawky and I know he can be a bit odd sometimes. And in the past… well, downright dodgy but he's nice."

"Yeah, I'd like it if he found someone," Joey said. "We tried online dating but it didn't go well."

"Shame."

"Great! Thanks!" Angelo said loudly, catching their attention again.

Roo looked a little bemused. Joey and Bianca watched them talk a little more before Angelo headed over to their table to clear their glasses and offer them more drinks.

"You look pleased with yourself," Joey remarked.

"Roo has agreed to be a chaperone for the Informal," Angelo said proudly. "Thinks are looking up!"

He headed back behind the bar.

"Do you think he's pleased for the kids or for himself?" Joey wondered.


Xavier's plans with April had fallen through so he headed home instead. Arriving back earlier than planned, he walked through the door to find John looking utterly startled in front of the fridge, chocolate halfway to his mouth. Xavier grinned somewhat triumphantly.

"Caught you," he accused.

"It was just a small piece…" John tried.

He had been on a very strict diet since his heart attack and Gina had been adamant about it. To the point that she had been on it too in support.

"Well, I'll keep it to myself if you like," Xavier said. "Just this once."

John looked relieved. Then suspicious.

"In exchange for what?"

"You have to throw a bucks night for Vittorio," Xavier told him.

"What? Why? I barely know the guy," John said.

It was a very odd request.

"April wants Bianca and Liam to get back together," Xavier explained. "If you keep Vittorio busy on the night of the Informal then perhaps they have a chance of working things out."

John wasn't entirely sure how he felt about actively trying to sabotage Bianca and Vittorio's relationship. But he also didn't want to get into trouble with Gina.

"Can I finish this line of the chocolate bar?" he asked.

Xavier grinned.

"Go for it!" he said. "I'll text the plan to April!"


Will was in a bad mood when he got home. He was always in a bad mood these days. Lily tried to chat to him, to show him the arts and crafts she had been doing with Irene. But he had just snapped at her and gone off to his room. She had then gone off to her room and cried.

She had then got a text message from VJ, complaining about how strict and grumpy his Mum was being at the moment, not letting him communicate with her ex-boyfriend, a man he had believed would be his Forever Dad. She was shutting him out the way her Dad was shutting her out the moment. Neither of them was happy. And so a plan was formulated.


So far, it had been a fun night. Claire felt a little nervous. It had been a long time since she had been on a night out to a gay bar and she had certainly never been out with a load of straight people, including a load of straight guys, at least one of whom looked terrified that other men might attempt to seduce them any second. But she was really touched by the effort her friends had made. And rather overwhelmed to know that she really could call them friends now.

Ruby, for her part, was feeling uncomfortable. It had nothing to do with being in a gay bar. In fact, she loved the music. She loved the people. She loved the atmosphere. She thought everything was pretty fabulous and actually a lot nicer than any other bar she'd ever been to before.

However, she did not like the girl in the corner that seemed to be checking Claire out. She did not like the idea that they had come here so that Claire could meet people at all. She liked, she supposed, having Claire as her own. Not that she wanted to be with Claire, of course and she very much hoped everybody knew that, but she liked that Claire was always available to her when she needed her. She liked them being best friends and committed to her. She adored her and loved her and didn't want anyone else to have her. And she didn't like the suggestion that that might be unreasonable.


Charlie arrived home later from work than planned. Joey had dinner on the table.

"I love you," Charlie said by way of greeting.

"Oh!" Joey said, smiling in surprise. "I love you too."

They kissed.

"I mean it," Charlie said. "I love you."

"Did you have a bad shift?" Joey asked. "Not that you don't always tell me you love me but…"

"No," Charlie said. "I mean, not the easiest but… I saw Marilyn on my break. She's struggling with this prediction and trying to say goodbye to people and I just… The thought of ever having to say goodbye to you…"

Tears filled her eyes. Joey held her.

"That is a long, long way from now," she said softly. "When we're old and grey and wrinkly."

Charlie laughed softly.

"I love you," she repeated.

Joey kissed.

"And I love you," she said. "Always and forever."


"Aww, go Claire!" Nicole enthused.

Claire had been stood by the bar talking to the girl that Ruby had spotted earlier for a good half an hour. While everyone else was pleased, Ruby was silently livid and not having a nice time. If Claire ended up with a girlfriend, she would really be the last girl left of the shelf. The only person sadder than her would be Dex! Maybe she would even be sadder than him – at least he had had a couple of dates lately. All that had happened to her was being messed around by her driving instructor.

She looked over at Claire and the girl she was clearly getting close to. She looked down at her drink. She wished it was alcohol.


It was dark and cold and VJ and Lily were huddled up together on a park bench. They had each told their parents that they were staying at each other's houses overnight. Instead, they had run away from home and they were not coming back.


Next time… The search is on for the missing children, Lily has a revelation about her father and Roo makes plans to return to the US…