CH 6
When the last man was interviewed and was taken back to the Cell, Elle passed
Tom a cup coffee before he walked into his office.
"Hey Elle, Wayne said that Adams is here."
"Yeah, he's talking to the boss, Falkner called and updated him about this mess, so he came up here to get the latest update in person. He knows about the three men and Frobe's confession."
"Okay, where's Maggie?"
"She finished work an hour ago. Chris will keep an eye on her while Forbes is at the pub."
"That's a good idea."
An hour later, Elle knocks on Tom's door and opens it. "Elle, what can I do for you?" Tom asked, looking up. She noticed that the TV was on with one of the tapes on the desk and the other playing.
"I'm off now, Boss, see you at the pub tonight?"
"Sure. Does Roz know about the three guests?"
"Falkner had them transferred to St David's half an hour ago where they can keep an eye on them."
"Okay, good. See you at the pub then."
"Yup. Are you okay, Sir?" she asked Adams.
He turned to her, "Yeah, I just looked at the video of Tom and Ken Forbes, nasty piece of work."
"At least we have evidence of what he's done."
"That's true. We were just starting to watch Constable Doyle and this Glenn Richie guy."
"Okay, are you staying at the Imperial, Sir?"
"Yes. I checked in before coming here."
"Okay, see you later then."
"Yep, sure will." Elle closed the door then left to do some shopping before heading home.
That night at the pub, Elle talked to Nick and PJ. Maggie wasn't in a sociable mood after the day she had, so she was sitting quietly. While they were talking, they noticed a guy walk in and go over to talk to Chris.
"He looks like an old copper," Nick said.
"Yeah, I wonder who he is."
"I'll find out," Elle said. She walked over to the bar and stood next to the guy who had just come in.
"Hey, do you know where I can find Maggie Doyle?" the newcomer asked. Chris and Elle look at each other.
"And you are, Sir?" Elle asked him.
"Pat Doyle, Maggie's dad." That shocked both Elle and Chris.
"Can I see an ID, Sir?" Elle asked.
"Are you a Copper?"
"No, but when a stranger from out of town comes in here to look for someone … one can't be too careful these days," Elle responded.
"Smart and beautiful, your husband is one lucky guy."
"He was."
Pat took out his police ID and showed to Elle. "Sergeant Patrick Doyle," she read and passes his badge back.
"Pat," He said, extending his hand.
"Elle Cole." They shook hands.
"Chris, can you let Maggie know that she's got a surprise visitor?"
"Sure thing."
"Oh, and call Tom while you're at it please."
"Okay, thanks."
"Those two blokes who are looking at us, the tall one is Nick Schultz from the highway patrol and the other one who fancies himself is Hashem."
"Senor Detective PJ Hasham."
"Yeah, I know"
"You've done your homework, or Maggie's told you."
"Maggie told me. She told me that her ex-boyfriend, Patterson's here also."
"Yeah, he is." Elle turned to PJ and Nick and smiled at the guys.
"If you two would stop gorging yourselves and get your asses in here, he won't bite," she said as she turned back to Pat.
"You always talk like that to Coppers?"
"Only the ones which I know and who understand me."
"What about Tom Croydon?"
"Some days, he's a big teddy bear."
Pat laughs. "Him, a teddy bear, this I've got to see."
"One day." Then she turns around, "Nick, PJ, Sargent Pat Doyle, Maggie's dad." They shook hands.
"So, how's my little girl doing?"
"She is doing great. Did she tell you about her first night here?"
Pat grins, "the vodka spray? yeah, she told me."
"What else has she told you? Sir?" PJ asked.
"Call me Pat. She told me a bit about each of you. She also told me about what Glenn Richie and Ken Forbie were trying to do to her."
"Don't worry, Pat, Ken Forbes is in a lot of trouble."
"What do you mean?" Pat asked.
"Dad! This is a surprise!" Maggie said as she walked up and hugged him.
"What is wrong with me surprising my little girl? How are you?"
"I'm good, Dad, but you're not here to see me, are you."
"No, that's a side perk. I got a call this afternoon asking me to talk to you about dropping the charges against Forbes."
"It's not going to work, Dad. Ken Forbes is up to his neck in trouble with the law."
"What do you mean?"
"Maggie, let's talk in the parlour," Elle suggests.
"Good idea." Maggie, Elle and Pat walk into the parlour and sit down. Maggie filled Pat in on everything that had happened and how they got Ken and Glen to confess, including the three men's arrest.
"Maggie, I had no idea it was this bad. Murder and attempted murder, bloody hell!"
The door opened, Tom and Adams walk in.
"Tom, Superintendent Adams…"
"Pat. Chris called and told me that you showed up. I hope your not here to cause any problems."
"More of the other way around," Elle said.
"Meaning?"
"Tell them, Dad," Maggie said.
"I received a call this afternoon, I don't know who it was, it was anonymous. This guy told me to talk to Maggie here to get her to drop charges against Ken Forbes. I didn't know what the hell was going on, so I took some time off work and come up here to find out what sort of mess my little girl got herself into. She told me everything that happened. Now I know why the guy wants me to talk to Maggie. Well, I'm backing my little girl all the way."
"That's good to hear," Tom said
"She's my little girl. So how is she doing?"
"She's doing great despite a rough start."
"Which one, the shooting of the dog or the vodka spay?" Pat said grinning.
"Vodka spay?" Adams asked. Elle told the story of what had happened, causing him to laugh.
"Well, it's better than puking all over the inspector's shoes on graduation day."
"You, Sir?" Maggie asked grinning.
"No, not me, Tom here."
"Okay, thank you very much for sharing that."
"You, Boss? No way," Elle said.
"I was younger."
"A rebel, aye Tom?" Pat said chuckling.
"No comment."
"Let's go, get a drink, and reassure Nick and PJ that we are still alive," Elle said.
"Capital idea!"
Returning to the bar, they found PJ and Nikk.
"Everything okay?" PJ asked.
"Yes, fine," Elle answered.
"What can I get you all?" Chris asked. Chris served their drinks, and they returned to a table.
"Elle, Maggie said you own your own company."
"Yes, a building and renovation company. It was my late husbands."
"What's the name of it?"
"Cole and Family."
"I've heard of it. Isn't there was another called Cole limited."
"That's the in-laws. They've got branches in major cities, whereas I've got them in four towns and Melbourne."
"And you work here at the station?"
"Yes, I do. I've been volunteering for the past couple of years. Boss here gives me time off when I have to attend business meetings and such."
"Elle here, she's employed over a hundred workers just here and in St Davids alone."
"That's great that you are keeping your late husband's business going and keeping all those workers employed," Pat said.
"Thanks. There aren't many businesses that employ apprentices."
"You do?" Pat said.
"Yes."
"She's also a major supporter for several different charities, and she provides scholarships as well, Dad."
"Well, you sure have been busy."
"I have."
"Maggie said you've been buying homes and fixing them up."
"I have. PJ and Nick are in one, and at the end of the month, Maggie's should be complete."
"I should come back and see the house when it's finished."
"You don't have to, Dad."
"I want to."
"Ahh, that would be a good time to have that party, Mags," Nick said.
"Party?" Pat said.
"Housewarming party, Dad."
"Oh, then I'm in," he said grinning.
"Great, just great."
"Hey, Pat, got any stories about Mags here to share?" PJ asked, just as Chris walked over with the drinks.
"Don't you dare, Dad!" Maggie exclaimed.
Ignoring Maggie's objections, Pat began telling them two stories; they were all laughing, and Maggie was blushing.
"I can picture you doing that, Maggie," Tom said.
"Well, Boss, I'm trying to picture a younger you puking all over the inspector's shoes on graduation day."
"What?" Nick, Chris and PJ said shocked.
"Thanks a lot, Doyle," Tom complained, making Maggie grin.
"Revenge can be sweet," Elle said
"Chris, did you know about that?" PJ asked.
"No, way to go, Tom, did Nel know?" Chris asked.
"No, she couldn't make it."
"She will tomorrow," Chris said, smiling as she returned to the bar. They talked and laughed for the next hour before they all went separate ways for the night.
The next day Superintendent Adams returned to Melbourne, and everyone went back to work. Pat went to check out the house Maggie was going to be moving into. He could see the old villa being done up and a garage out in the back of the house. Next, he drove around to see what other homes Elle had worked on. Finished with his self-tour, he went to the pub to talk to Chris. When he arrived, he saw Maggie, PJ and Wayne there
"Chris, are Glenn Richie and Ken Forbes still here?"
"Yeah, I believe that they are signing out this morning."
"Thanks."
"What's going on?" Pat asked when he walked over to where Maggie and the others where sitting.
"Not now, Dad," Maggie said, as they saw Ken and Glen walking downstairs with bags in hand. Glenn saw Pat and freaked, shocked at seeing him there. PJ waited for the bill to be paid. Both Maggie and PJ approached the two, read them their rights, cuffed them and took them outside. Tony Timms with the news crew, was there waiting with a camera and he began taking photos and asking questions.
Pat and Chris watched from the doorway as both men were put into separate cars and brought to the station.
"I hope Forbes gets life for what he's done," Pat said.
"I agree," and they went back into the pub.
It's Friday night, and everyone gathered at the pub. Pat was taken back when he saw Elle and the triplets walk into the dining area. The kids ran over to their favourite uncles to be picked up and perched on their knees.
"Who do we have here?" Pat asked.
"This is Timothy Junior, TJ for short, Victoria, and James," Elle introduced.
"I bet they're a handful."
"They can be; they just like their father was." Elle then walked over to the bar and passed three sippers to Chris to be filled.
"The usual, Chris."
"Sure thing." While she waited, she turned around and smiled at the group.
"Maggie told me over breakfast this morning about what had happened to your husband. And she told me about these three." Pat said.
"I told her that it was okay to tell you. Did she tell you how spoiled they are?"
"She did." They all continued to chat while enjoying dinner.
Pat noticed how well behaved the kids are as they were enjoying their fish bites and chips. After dinner, they were laughing about something that Maggie did when Chris appear at the table.
"Hey, you will want to see the news," Chris calls over them.
Going around to the bar, they all watched as the news was showing Ken Forbes and Glenn Richie being arrested outside the Imperial for bribery and other charges. Also mentioned were the names of the three men, along with their photos, and the charges against them. Constable Johnson and Timothy Cole's names were mentioned as well, along with the arrest of Claire Thomson, and Peter Cole in connection to the case. They were stunned when they heard Maggie and Elle's names mentioned as well. Then they watched as Superintendent Adams give a press conference about what happened. When it was over, Chris turned the volume down.
"Now everyone now knows what happened," Chris said.
"Yeah," Pat said.
"I would love to stay," Elle said, "but it's almost the kid's bedtime. Come on, Kids, say good night." After saying goodnight, Elle took them home.
"She's really great with them," Pat said.
"Yes, she is. Nel will be looking after them tomorrow."
"Really? Where? At your house?"
"No, at her place."
They ordered more drinks and continued their evening socializing.