CH 22
Week later Tom return back to work knowing his team is there for him. Susan was in hospital for two months. The day she left Anna and tom was with her, they went to the cemetery first so Susan could lay flowers on Nel grave.
That night when Tom arrives home from work he notice Elle wagan outside his house. So when he walk inside he could smell curry and laughter. When he walked into the kitchen he saw Susan and Anna cooking dinner which made him smile
"Last time you two cook together you ended up burning dinner and we ended up having fish and chips for dinner" they turn to him
"Dad we were kids back then"
"Yes i know and is that curry i can smell"
"yes dad and it mild not hot so none of us will get heartburn"
"that good, you got enough there for fifteen people"
"We invite your team over for dinner as a thank you for what they have done for us since the accident" Susan said
"that good of you two"
"elle brought home made fruit salad for dessert"
"that good of her, was there ice cream with it" the girls laugh
"She said you would say that and you will have to wait and see"
"Oh, well I better get change then" then he walked down and into his bedroom when Elle and Tim stood in the doorway grinning
"He in for a surprise" elle said
"Yes he is"
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door, it was PJ, Pat and Maggie showing up with the rest of the deserts. Then the others showed up ten minutes later with the drinks. They all sat down in the living room while enjoying the curry, rice and pitta bread with there drinks.
Then afterwards Tom was wondering what was going on in the kitchen when they girls showed up with the items. "Chocolate fountain" tom said
"Yep" Susan said and she picks up a took pick and stab a piece of fruit and dip it into the fountain then let it drip till it stop and put it in her mouth. Then the others did as well including the kids.
"You know this would be ideal at christmas party this year Elle" tom said
"Yes i know Tom"
Everyone enjoyed themselves for the next hour before Elle and Tim took the kids home leaving everyone to enjoy themselves. Susan return back to uni few days later and Anna head up north to see Brett leaving the house empty.
Month later they get a new team member senior constable Rose Egen from St Davids. She in the same line job as Maggie but lost to Rose. Elle could see how upset Maggie is when Rose showed up and finding out what happen, Elle spoke to Maggie outside about it.
"It a shocker for both you and PJ" Elle said
"Yeah I've been working with PJ for months and then inspector falkner post her to take my place"
"Have you told PJ this"
"I try to but Rose walk in to his office"
"Go and talk to him i'm sure he felt the same way also. He so used to working with you and both a great team together"
"Yeah we are"
"cheer up at least you got him at nights" Maggie grin
"True"
"does Pat know"
"no"
"Ah one day he will find out and when that day comes, let me know"
"Thanks"
"come on let go inside and find out what going on beside Nick getting adam to make him a drink"
"Why not, any biscuits"
"I brought two packs this morning when I got the milk"
"Good Adam got those horrible ones yesterday"
"i know, i soften them up and feed the birds with them, it amazing that they could fly after eating them" Maggie laugh as she stood up and they walk in side
"Or they live" Maggie said
"that too"
When they walk back in side Tom saw them. Maggie walked over to the kitchen. "Everything ok with Maggie" tom asked
"Shocked boss. She was one day withing with PJ the next someone comes here and takes her place. PJ the same but they both know it some thing that they got to get used to"
"Is there something going on that I should know about"
"boss they been working well together and the inspector throw not just them but everyone else a curveball without any notice. Maggie want to become a detective and PJ been helping her till today. Give them time"
"I will now cup of coffee please and biscuits not yesterday's one"
"I'll get you a couple of tim tams so long as Nick hasn't gotten into them yet"
"Thank you Elle" Elle walk over to the kitchen just as Rose walk out of PJ office and went to make herself a drink. Maggie made one for PJ when she saw what Rose got out of the fridge
"Rose you can't have that milk that for Elle"
"So it just milk" she went to remove the top when Maggie saw elle.
"rose use this milk i brought by the petty cash, that milk Elle paid for herself, she can't have this milk"
"Why not it just milk" then she turns when Elle took the bottle out of her hand.
"You heard what Maggie said, this is my milk and any way it no good for tea or coffee" she walk past them to get to a glass
"Why is that" Rose said.
Then they saw Elle remove the top and pour it into a glass when they saw it was yellow colour. "Cause it got banana syrup milkshake flavour in it"
then she put the lid back on the bottle then pick up the glass and drank it in seconds. "That felt good for a while" then she rinishes the glass out and put it in the sink then put the milk back into the fridge. While Maggie walk into PJ office closing the door behind her.
"You must be thirty"
"Kids wanted some. So now you know" then she made Tom a drink and open a packet of tim tams and got two out and took them into Tom's office.
Week later Elle notice the look on Rose face when sargent Jeff Rice walk into the station since he investgation a murder. Elle watch the way the sargent acted with everyone including Rose.
While he was talking with Tom and PJ. Elle manage to stand up and walk over to where rose is who was in the kitchen. "Rose, out side"
"sure" she follow Elle outside where they sat down. Elle turn to Rose.
"You know sargent Rice"
"Yeah i do"
"You want to talk about it"
"you wouldn't understand"
"Try me"
"I used to be married to him"
"Oh how long were you married for"
"Ten years, the worse ten years of my life"
"what happens"
"He hit, slapp punch and kick me. It go so bad i ended up in hospital three times"
"Why didn't you leave the first time it happened,"
"He had a hold over me. I try to leave but he dragged me back till i was transferred to ST Davids when he was in melbourne. While there i divorced him. I thought it was finally over when I got the letter, but it turns to hell when he was transferred there last year"
"He started beating you up"
"no, he call or show up at my place all hours of the day or night. One time he show up drunk, the neighbours call us in. I was on duty. My partner was a friend of Jeff and he told him that we give him a lift home. I wasn't impress and i told him so after dropping jeff off at his place. The barsard told Jeff the next day. He show up at my place and slap me and told me not to tell his mates that they shouldn't take me home, his words. When i show up the next morning with a bruise face he make a smart remark about it and laugh like it was a big joke. I learn to keep my mouth shut after that"
"Till you came here, I've noticed the way you act with everyone here Rose and I can tell you this. They do not tolerate any sort of abuse at all, they hate it. They seen enough domestic abuse in there time. Look talk to Tom and PJ about Jeff, you will be surprised how understanding they are"
"they would side with him since he is best mates with everyone in there"
"that is where you are wrong. What Jeff done is wrong, he might think it not wrong or it your fault, but it is not your fault, it his, he the one with the problem not you"
"I'll think about it"
"ok, now I need to go to the loo again" she manage to stand up.
"Stay out here for a bit if you like"
"thanks" Elle turn and walk into the station.
When she return back to her desk, she saw Jeff and PJ walk into PJ office talking more about the case. Elle walk over and knock on tom door then open it and walk in closing the door behind her
"elle are you ok" She manage to sit down.
"I just had a talk to Rose about Sargent Rice"
"What about him he nice guy and good copper"
"Looks can be deceiving boss" he put his pen down and took off his glasses as he sat back in his chair
"Meaning"
"He the scum of the earth and his mates in st davids think the sun shines out of him laugh at his comments or jokes especially when a female copper walk in the station black and blue" Tom look at Elle in shocked
"Are you saying that sargent Rice been beating up female officers"
"One" Tom thought about it
"Rose"
"yes, she was married to him boss and he put her into the hospital three times, she finally devorce but he been stalking her, ring here showing up to her place banging on the door. The neighbors called the police on one of their own especially when she on night shift."
"Why doesn't she report him"
"Boss the police force is a man club, that what she thinks, I told her that it not like that here. She cautious after what she told me, she doesn't know if she could trust you and the others here"
"I had no idea the hell she been going through"
"Talk to her or talking to Maggie first and get her to talk to her a women point of view might help"
"Good idea and since Doyle is back send her into my office" Elle manage to stand up
"sure" She walked out of tom office to see Maggie and Nick joking around
"Maggie the boss wants to see you"
"Oh Margert what have you done wrong now" Nick said just as Rose walk back into the station and heard what was being said.
"I have done nothing wrong, for that smart remark i would love to have a coffee thank you" then she walk into tom office and close the door while Elle walk over and sat in her chair.
"She joking right"
"nope while your at it Nick a glass of raspberry milk and grapes that in the fridge please"
"What did your last slave died of" he said getting up from his chair
"I don't have a slave, i have a very sexy husband and great workmates who at the moment at my beck and call" She said grinning
"Yeah, yeah"
"don't be cheeky Nick, how many times you ask me to make you a drink when I'm making the boss one"
"I don't know"
"Three times a week so it nice if you and the others return the favour"
"Yeah alright"
"good" then she turned to Rose "Are you ok"
"Yeah i will be"
That night Maggie showed up at Rose place since she lives five houses down from her place. Maggie got Rose to open up to her about working the police force since she a copper to. They talk about different things, then Rose open up about Jeff.
Maggie listen to what Rose was telling her. Maggie was shocked with what she was hearing and understand where Rose is coming from. While Maggie went to use the loo there was a knock on the door. So Rose went to see who it is. When she looked through the peephole she saw it was Jeff.
"I know you are there Rose, open the door"
"go away Jeff"
"open the door or i'll break it down" Rose turn when Maggie stood in the doorway, she heard what Jeff said.
"No, go away Jeff and leave me alone" He pounded on the door
"Open the door now" he said yelling
"no, go away" She look through the peephole then quickly stood back when the door broke which also shocked Maggie. He storm into the house
"I told you to open the door then this wouldn't of happen" he said angry
"I told you to go away, how did you know where I live"
"I asked Cooper, he gave it to me" then he punched her in the face which cause her to go down on the ground
"Stop right there sargent" he turn in shocked to see Maggie there looking angry. "Sargent Rice i'm placing you under a rest for breaking and entering in officer house, property damage and assault of a police officer"
"You can do that i out rank you"
"Rank got nothing to do with what I just witnessed tonight. Rose are you ok" she got up
"I will be"
"You woman are all the same"
"not all of us" Maggie said as she walk over to the phone and dialed a phone number from Rose phone.
"PJ it Maggie can you come around to Roses place… Sargent Rice assaulted her and cause damage to the house… I'll call him" then she hung up
then she made another call when He went and attack Maggie by ripping the phone from her hands and hitting her with it. Rose went and hit Jeff when he hit her also.