The Charlton Affair

by MJ Doherty

  Both women gasped when they came together. Bodies pinioned, they kissed greedily, fiercely. Charlie’s hands gripped curvaceous hips, pressing them even closer against her own, moving into them. Leaning back momentarily, Phoebe impatiently released Charlie’s blouse buttons and lifted her bra up and out of the way, exposing perfect breasts. Gasping again, Charlie’s back arched in acceptance of Phoebe’s unabashed caresses. Moaning, Phoebe began to lower her head toward Charlie’s chest.

  Charlie begged in a whisper, “Yes… Please…”

  A loud knocking startled them. Horrified, Charlie saw Amanda standing in the doorway, embarrassed, not looking at them.

  Phoebe blushed violently, but stubbornly held Charlie close.

  “Th…Thanks Amanda,” Charlie choked out, trying not to cry in disappointment, “just give us a moment, please.”

  Amanda nodded.

  Charlie could hear her retreating to the reception area.

  Her breathing ragged, Charlie moved out of Phoebe’s close embrace, fumbling to adjust her bra and close her blouse. She could hear Phoebe swallowing a sob. When she looked at Phoebe, she saw the depth of her pain written across her beautiful features. Charlie ran her fingers over Phoebe’s pale cheek and gently pulled her face down to meet her own. Delicately, Charlie kissed her tear-laden eyes and her lips. Holding her close for a moment, she whispered, “I promise. When this is all over…”

  Phoebe wrenched away. With tears streaming, she almost ran out of Charlie’s office. Charlie followed, worried. Stepping out into the corridor, she called out with as much dignity as she could muster, “Amanda, can you make sure Phoebe gets home safely? And please tell her whatever she wants to know.”

  She stood and watched as Amanda nodded and reached under the reception desk to grab the keys to Charlie’s car before she ran after Phoebe, who was stabbing her fingers at the lift button in the foyer in her urgent need to escape.

  Charlie went back to her desk, sank into her chair and sobbed.

  *****

  Amanda jumped into the lift with Phoebe just in time. Pressing the basement button, she said, “Please let me drive you home.”

  Phoebe pressed the ground floor button, replying in a strangled sob, “I’ll take a cab.”

  Amanda could see that she was trying desperately to regain control.

  “Please, Phoebe, come with me. You know Charlie would be worried if I let you go home alone. Besides, she wants me to fill you in on the investigation details.” Amanda implored.

  Phoebe slowly nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. Amanda led her through the basement to Charlie’s Lexus. After opening the door for her, Amanda looked through the back seat until she found a small box of tissues. After handing them to Phoebe, she jumped in and drove them toward New Farm. Tactfully, Amanda said nothing, waiting for Phoebe to indicate she was ready to speak.

  Eventually Phoebe said quietly, “I’d like to know those details.”

  “Want me to come to your office tomorrow?” Amanda offered.

  “No, I’d really like to know now. Can we go somewhere? I don’t want to go home like this. I need a chance to freshen up. Roman will be all over me if he sees me upset.”

  “Er…I’m so very sorry about that, Phoebe. I should have walked away, but I was worried for Charlie.” Amanda offered softly.

  “Is it really that bad?” Phoebe asked, blushing again, clearly still extremely embarrassed.

  “How about we talk over something quick to eat?” Amanda replied. It was nearly eight and she was starving.

  Phoebe nodded.

  Amanda pulled the car over near a cafe in Brunswick Street, asking gently, “Is this place OK? There are plenty of others we can go to if it’s not.”

  Phoebe replied without looking at the cafe, “It’s fine.”

  Amanda realized Phoebe would be happy anywhere that had somewhere reasonably private to discuss the situation.

  The cafe had an upstairs dining room that was mostly empty. Amanda waited at their table while Phoebe freshened up. She pulled out her mobile telephone and texted Charlie to say that Phoebe needed to talk and they were at a cafe, she would not be able to get the car back soon. Charlie texted straight back asking Amanda to take as much time as she needed, to make sure she got the bill, and to reimburse herself from petty cash tomorrow. She told Amanda to take the car home tonight. Charlie would see her in the morning. Amanda texted back she’d call after she dropped Phoebe off.

  Phoebe returned to the table, her eye make up no longer smudged and her hair tidied. Her eyes were still red. They ordered light meals and Amanda began to explain.

  “OK, so the er…conflict,” Amanda commenced.

  Phoebe blushed, looking away.

  “I pretty much guessed what was going on, so please don’t be embarrassed. It’s OK, really,” Amanda tried to reassure Phoebe.

  “How did you guess?” Phoebe asked, intrigued.

  “I connected the dots.” Amanda ticked items off on her fingers as she spoke, “Charlie was majorly depressed after Roman’s party. Sometime that week, I found a picture of you on her computer. She tried to get rid of Michael’s brief very smartly after the party, but of course she couldn’t. That’s out of character for her.” Amanda concluded before adding, “And she never wanted to interview you or speak to you directly. Instead she got me and Darren to do that.”

  Phoebe nodded, saying, “I see. I know it’s a conflict, but how bad could it be if we were to…”

  “Have an affair?”

  “Yes,” Phoebe replied softly, blushing again.

  Amanda replied gently, “Imagine if you were to sleep with one of your client’s wives, and your client’s financial interests were potentially harmed by that… and then all of your fellow professionals found out.”

  “I’d be out of a job pretty quickly.” Phoebe replied, “They might even remove my certification.” Phoebe’s head sank.

  “Exactly. It’s even worse in a small place like Brisbane. The scandal would be huge and Charlie’s reputation would be incredibly damaged by having a lesbian affair with a client’s wife, also the vulnerable victim of a crime, a crime her client has been accused of no less. It would kill her business even if the Legal Services Commission didn’t censure her.”

  Phoebe flinched when Amanda laid it out so bluntly.

  “I’m really sorry for interrupting you. But this just can’t happen right now, for her sake, and for yours. I mean, can you imagine the media attention you’d get?”

  Phoebe flinched once more, “I never want to go through that again. But what if we kept it quiet? It’s just that I don’t think I can stand it…”

  Amanda felt awful seeing Phoebe’s pain. She couldn’t believe how bad her luck was. Someone tried to kill her. Then her husband’s catastrophic past came out. The media shredded her on every channel. She couldn’t even help her husband. Her sternum was broken and on top of that, she’s fallen in love with someone she can’t go anywhere near. She wondered, could it be any worse?

  “If it’s any consolation to you, I’ve never seen Charlie like this. She actually goes gooey whenever your name is mentioned. Not only that, but do you remember how she avoided you at the bail hearing?”

  Phoebe nodded, her expression avid.

  “I have a theory she’s having trouble controlling herself around you. Tonight is a prime example. Charlie is the most disciplined person I know. She works harder than any other barrister I’ve ever worked for. She would normally never allow something like that to happen. For her, it would be like betraying her client.” Amanda paused, thinking. Then she added, “She was almost grateful when I interrupted you. She’s really struggling with this.”

  “I know how she feels.” Phoebe replied, clearly relieved to have someone to talk to about the situation, “I even thought about divorcing Michael. Can you imagine how bad I’d feel if I let him down like that? The media would take that information and make it into something it’s not. The whole situation is so awful.” Phoebe
looked as though she was going to cry again.

  Amanda said gently, “There’s really no way an affair would stay secret for long, you know. Darren probably already suspects, or Roman would let it slip accidentally. Besides, they way she looks at you is a dead give away. Most people are well aware of Charlie’s sexual orientation and if they so much as saw you having lunch with her, there’d be gossip. Don’t forget, your face was on TV not long ago. A lot of people know who you are these days.”

  Phoebe nodded, picking at her food despondently.

  Amanda said, “I’m afraid the rest of the information is more depressing and upsetting than our last topic.”

  Phoebe nodded glumly for her to continue, saying, “We may as well get through all of it.”

  Amanda told her everything she knew about the Rawlins’ deaths, how the muscular man had arrived when was breaking into the house and then everything Edna Baxter had said. She left the contents of Honore’s childhood journal until last.

  Amanda could see Phoebe was beyond saddened. She was devastated.

  “Does Michael know any of this?” Phoebe asked tearfully.

  “Not yet,” Amanda replied, “he seems a bit fragile at the moment.”

  “Please don’t tell him until he’s stronger,” Phoebe begged.

  “I’ll pass that onto Darren and Charlie. I think Darren wanted to tell his psychiatrist and let him tell Michael,” Amanda replied.

  “I wish he never had to know at all,” Phoebe said vehemently, adding, “Disgusting! How could anyone do that to a little girl?”

  Amanda shrugged, saying matter-of-factly, “It’s a lot more common that most people realize.”

  Phoebe looked at Amanda. “I suppose you see a lot of it, working with barristers?”

  “Charlie does her utmost to stay away from defending people like that, but it’s unavoidable at times. Mostly I hear stories from my Dad. He’s been in the police for more than thirty years.”

  Phoebe nodded, suddenly looking exhausted.

  Amanda paid the account and drove her back to Roman’s place, staying long enough to make sure she made it through the security gate before driving off.

  Hitting the bluetooth option on the screen, she dialed Charlie. It answered on the first ring.

  “How is she?” Charlie asked without preamble.

  “Shattered,” replied Amanda directly.

  Charlie sighed, “What a shitty situation. I’m so sorry you’re in the thick of it.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m worried about you two.”

  Charlie paused and then said, “Er…Thanks. For…”

  “It’s OK. Don’t say anything,” Amanda interrupted, “I can see you really like her.”

  “No, really. You saved both of us from a world of hurt. Most people would have walked away. That took guts.”

  “Please, it’s fine. I just had a feeling that if it started, it wouldn’t stop.” Amanda replied.

  “You knew?” Charlie groaned, “I thought I was doing such a good job hiding it.”

  “I figured it out, and I think Darren might be close. Your eyes go all gooey when you look at her.”

  “Jesus,” muttered Charlie. Changing the subject, she continued, “How’d she take the investigation information?”

  “To be honest, it was gut-wrenching watching her absorb it. She’s pretty torn up, worried about how Michael will cope when he finds out, especially the part about his sister.”

  “Families can be so fucked up sometimes,” Charlie commented.

  “True.” Amanda responded. “Do you want me to drop your car over to your place now?”

  “Good idea, I’ll drop you off at home and then you can take tomorrow morning off to make up for losing your entire evening sorting out my crazy life.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Inspector Marsh demanded, “What do you mean, it’s not Rawlins? You were sure it was him!”

  Sally patiently went through the autopsy information with him again. She explained that according to the pathologist, he just wasn’t tall enough to have murdered Sanchez.

  “Fuck! That’s opened it right up,” he said, rubbing his shaved head tensely.

  “Yes, sir,” Amanda replied.

  “What about the other crimes?” Marsh demanded.

  Sally’s face remained blank as she said, “We’ll have to keep investigating.”

  “What else do you need to make the breakthrough?”

  “Something that connects him to the man we have on CCTV. Possibly the same man the wife said attacked her,” Sally explained.

  Marsh frowned.

  “Sir, all we’ve got is the iPad in his bedside table. His finances check out. The mistress alibied him for the attack and he was also with her at the time of the car crash, although we know the iPad could have been activated on a timer, or scheduled task.”

  “What’s his motive for those? Does his alibi still hold up now she’s dead? Is there anyone who’d want to remove his alibi?” Marsh barked at Sally.

  “Sir, it’s the classic scenario. He leaves the wife for the mistress, but doesn’t want lose too much money in a divorce and gets to pick up the insurance pay out too.”

  “I remember reading the payout was five million. What’s Rawlins actually worth? What does five million mean to a man who inherited a fortune?” Marsh asked.

  “Sir, going back to your earlier questions, we haven’t discovered any enemies of either Michael or Phoebe Rawlins. Michael Rawlins has ninety million dollars in investments with a New York financial company. He’s never touched a cent of it,” Sally replied.

  “What?” Marsh exclaimed, deeply shocked. After recovering, he looked at Sally scathingly.

  He snarled, “Seems to me a man that’s worth that much doesn’t really need another five million. Sounds like you’ve fucked this up from the beginning.”

  Sally carefully kept her face neutral as she replied patiently, “Sir, he’s never accessed the money. Apparently, he’s never even acknowledged the money. In fact, he keeps everything about his past and his true identity a secret. If he were to maintain that position…”

  “I see.” Marsh said, “You’re saying it doesn’t matter how much he has tucked away, because he’s never touched it.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Marsh glared at her. He replied, “Bullshit, Detective Sergeant. I want you to start all over again. And get me an interim investigation report by the end of the day.”

  “Yes, sir.” Sally struggled to keep a lid on her anger.

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Get out and get going.” Marsh dismissed her in his usual style.

  *****

  Phoebe sat in the comfortable chair in Doctor Brigg’s counseling room. These appointments are the only thing keeping me together, she thought. Oh, and Roman and Mark, of course. Phoebe was waiting for Doctor Briggs to respond to her last comment.

  “I see. She has a conflict of interest. If the media get hold of it, they’ll have a very juicy story,” he reflected back at her.

  Phoebe nodded. “Yes. And if that happens, and then Michael finds out, he would feel so betrayed. I could never do that to him.”

  “But didn’t he betray you in exactly the same way?” Doctor Briggs asked softly.

  Phoebe frowned. “I’ve never really thought of it that way” she replied.

  He looked at her over his glasses. “How have you thought of it?” He asked, his eye probing hers.

  “I guess I was too caught up in my own problems to think about it too much. Then I just focused on how horrible things were for him. I mean his childhood was so shocking…and now I know it was even worse that I thought.” Phoebe replied, struggling to keep her emotion in check, eyes glistening.

  Doctor Briggs handed her a tissue in a soothing gesture, waiting for her to be able to go on.

  “But you’re right. His affair was a betrayal. But by the time I had a chance for it to sink in, I was already so worried for him. I mean, I remember wondering why he couldn�
��t just have said to me that things weren’t working for him instead of going behind my back. But I know now that sometimes things just aren’t that simple. Maybe he thought it would blow over and he was worried about hurting me?” Phoebe said, struggling to make sense of what had happened. “I suppose I think his affair was just another way for him to find something that helped him to escape. I don’t know. It can’t have been easy for him. To always have this…nightmare behind him? Besides, it’s not as if we were ever really on fire, if you know what I mean.” Phoebe added, blushing mildly.

  “Go on,” he replied.

  “I’d describe our relationship as warm and loving. Kind of comfortable. Like an old shoe that fits well. Nothing like the kind of thing I feel for Charlie. Or what I imagine he felt with her, that poor woman.”

  “You feel sympathy for her?” Doctor Briggs enquired in a softly curious tone.

  “I do. She didn’t deserve to be killed just because of her relationship with my husband.”

  “You’re convinced that was why?”

  “I don’t think it could be a coincidence.”

  “The police haven’t come up with anything yet?”

  “They wouldn’t tell me if they did, but I don’t think so,” Phoebe frowned again, not enjoying the tack things had taken.

  “And now you’re taking a step toward independence by moving out? Do you feel ready to leave the safety of Roman’s home?” Doctor Briggs asked solicitously.

  “I admit I’m scared. But it’s the right thing to do. I do have an ulterior motive though,” Phoebe admitted.

  “What’s that?” Doctor Briggs asked in his mild voice.

  “I’m actually too scared to buy another car. I’m going to get a place close enough to walk to work. At Southbank, I hope.”

  “Ah, well we can work on your fear of cars. We’ll start that at your next appointment, if you like?”

  Phoebe nodded reluctantly, a little sick of facing things.

  “Thank you for referring Michael to me, by the way.” Doctor Briggs smiled at her, “I’ll see him next week.”