A Proper Charlie by Louise Wise Read Free Book Online Page B

corner of her mouth free of tomato relish. Dean, Melvin’s partner, was attacking a steak. Melvin, knife and fork politely balanced on his plate, dabbed his lips with the serviette. He picked them up and began to cut into his Sunday roast.
    ‘ Why can’t you see through him?’
    They were talking about Andy. Or rather Melvin and Dean were trying to put her off Andy.
    ‘ There’s nothing to see through. I bet he’s dusting my flat now, bless him. Hoovered all round, he did.’
    Melvin and Dean glanced at one another.
    ‘ He was so upset when I accused him of seeing another woman. Practically crying even.’
    ‘ He’s upset?’ Melvin said. ‘Doll, don’t you think that you had a right to be upset? I mean this isn’t the first time, is it?’
    Charlie scowled. ‘Trust you to bring that minor blip up.’
    ‘ Blip? Doll, someone’s got to wise you up to that pillock.’
    ‘ OK guys,’ Dean interjected. ‘Let’s just agree to disagree about Andy, shall we? Before Charlie decks you anyway, Mel,’ he added as Melvin opened his mouth to speak.
    Melvin looked at her, then slid his hand across the table to lay his hand over hers. ‘Sorry, babe. If Andy makes you happy then who am I to complain?’
    ‘ We’re going to have a baby together.’
    Melvin began to cough. He sipped his orange juice as tears formed in his eyes. ‘Don’t do this to me, doll. Tell me you’re joking?’
    She grinned.
    ‘ Bitch.’
    ‘ That’ll teach you for your dad act. So, are you going back to work after lunch?’ she asked, changing the subject.
    Melvin shook his head. ‘I’ve done all I can. The new headline went out today and my phone hasn’t stopped all morning. I need the afternoon to recover.’
    ‘ Is anyone, er, asking the prozzies questions?’
    ‘ I guess the police are interviewing everyone, babe. I’ve always wanted a serial killer on my patch, this is so exciting.’ Melvin forked a carrot and pushed it into his mouth.
    ‘ That isn’t certain though, is it?’
    Melvin shook his head, swallowed, ‘No, but it’s just a matter of time.’
    ‘ But what I meant is, are we, er, journalists, you know, making enquires,’ she fenced.
    ‘ Of course, babe, they’re following the police around all over the shop.’
    ‘ What about the women?’
    ‘ What about them?’
    ‘ Is no-one doing a story on them? Everyone is concentrating on this “Gentleman Abductor” but the prostitutes in general aren’t having their views told.’
    ‘ Do they have views?’
    ‘ Mel!’
    ‘ And even if they did would they be worth knowing? Babe, what they are doing is immoral, and I haven’t time for people like that.’
    ‘ Yet you have for a murderer?’
    ‘ No time for him either. I just want to sell newspapers.’
    Charlie pushed the rest of her jacket potato around her plate. ‘So, no-one is doing a story on the women?’
    Melvin laughed at her. ‘Not at this moment, no.’ He patted her hand. ‘Stop worrying, babe, and just carry on with your brilliant secretarial duties, sweetie, and leave the investigation to us sleuths.’
    He couldn’t have known how patronising he sounded. She knew Melvin would react badly to her going out onto the streets to conduct her own interviews. To say Melvin was over protective was an understatement. She dropped her probing, deciding there and then to keep her article a secret.
    ‘ This merger with Globe could be the making of you,’ Dean said proudly. ‘What with this new story and all.’
    Melvin nodded at him. ‘Everyone’s really worried about redundancies, but I’ve a positive feeling about this now.’
    ‘ Wish I shared that feeling,’ Charlie said.
    ‘ Yeah, me too, then you’d stop mooching around feeling sorry for yourself.’
    ‘ I do not!’
    Melvin grinned. ‘I wonder if Sir Don has seen my headline yet?’
    ‘ Would he read it?’ asked Dean. ‘He buried his wife Friday, didn’t he? I mean, if something happened to you, I’d not want to sit around reading