Oh my god I cannot believe the response I have received with this fic. I was literally gobsmacked that so many of you added me to their favourites and alerts and I'm only one chapter in.

Also thank you to:

Kiwi51, Kylie, mwlouy11, totallymeagain, RoRo90, beebee483, Nayr's Girl, robsam2180, Amyt90, SummerLove-199, xDonnaLoux, Izzy09 and Lyddie01 for all the lovely and positive reviews. Greatly appreciated.

Hope you guys enjoy where I go with this, I'm really excited about this story.

For now enjoy :)

-x-

Chapter Two – Disappearances

Charlie's P.O.V

It was plain and simple, I was the biggest fool on this planet; I had just made a right codswallop with my new partner. Oh I could be so egotistical sometimes. I had received the memo a few days prior to let me know that a new sergeant moving to our station, that's why when he said his name it sounded familiar. It wasn't my fault, the way he was dressed was definitely bordering on surfie criminal. Not top rank police sergeant. Apparently he had solved every case that he had worked on. I literally bolted from the station as soon as I gave him the rundown on the station. I didn't even stick around to fill him in on the case he had come to help with.

I got home to find that Angelo was back from work too. I could hear him cooking in the kitchen, instead of going to him, I ran upstairs to get changed,

''Charlie is that you?''

''Yes can't stop, going out with B, girly catch up…'' okay that was a lie, I had no plans but I was definitely going to ring Bianca now and drag her out of the house. Thankfully after a lot of persuasion, pleading and bribery I got her to agree to go out with me.

A quick shower later, I blow dried my hair, put a smidgen of makeup on to brighten my complexion. I really looked like a resident from the graveyard. I slipped on a lemon tie dyed maxi dress and to finish of the look, grabbed a pair of gladiator sandals and made my way down.

''I cooked for us'' I heard Angelo as he came around the corner from the kitchen.

''Oh sorry but I have had this night planned for ages''

''That's a shame, can't you cancel?''

''No because it's not fair on B''

''I'm sure she won't mind especially if she knew why'' he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer, his lips touched mine, I felt mine tense up and the kiss was dull and there was no passion. It was merely a few seconds long, when we parted, Angelo let out a sigh of content, how deluded was this man, that kiss was nothing to be content about. It was just two cold hard surfaces moving together and failing miserably to loosen and warm each other.

''Plus babe I was thinking we could… you know according to the book, you are at the peak of ovulation so it is the best time you could get pregnant''

''Damn you and your stupid book Angelo, I feel more like a science project than a frigging human'' I snapped at him

''Charlie... I'm sorry but if we want to get pregnant...'' he didn't finish because I walked away and out of the door, making sure it slammed in the process.

Wow that man was really the most patronizing human that I had ever come across. He had no care to how I felt, he just wanted to pump his sperm inside me in the hope that I would get pregnant.

-x-

Bianca and I had been to Angelo's for a drink, I would have loved to get drunk and forget my worries but I had work in the morning. After we left the restaurant we went for a walk along the beach, as we walked along, I could see a blistering camp fire and lots of men attempting to dance, they were just being wild but not disrupting anyone. As we got closer I realised I recognized Daryl Braxton.

''Oh great'' the link between mine and Bianca's arm increased.

''What'' Bianca asked me a little bewildered,

''Nothing come on lets go''

Bianca didn't argue, just as we were going to turn and go up the path leading towards the surf club, I heard someone call my name,

''Charlie, Charlie''

I turned to look around to see Ruby running towards me,

''Oh hi, what are you doing here'' I asked her, for some reason she had a massive grin on her face, but there was something different about her. Her face was sunken, with the light provided by the moon and the blazing fire, her skin was colourless. Her hair was straggly and drab.

'' Well mum there is someone I would like you to meet, ''

''Erm okay'' I was a little apprehensive as who she wanted to show me

''Come on Charlie, down there...'' we walked back to where the boys were, before we got close to them and they came into hearing range, she turned and looked at me, she tried to be stern but her voice was really hoarse, not the bubbly sound that normally escaped her lips.

''Okay dearest sister of mine, don't freak please, not here anyway…''

She knew me as well as anybody, I didn't care, if it was something to freak about, then that's definitely what I would do.

As we walked closer I noticed who we were going up to, it was Daryl and I'm sure the other one was called Heath, the one that had tried to act smart and got walloped instead. The third lad amongst their company I didn't recognize.

''Charlie this is Casey... my boyfriend...''

The boy she had referred to then stuck his hand out and I took it,

''It's nice to meet you, Ruby's told me a lot about you'' he spoke with sincerity, ''these are my brothers...''

''Yeah yeah Casey we met her before, but you, now I don't think my eyes have had the pleasure to have seen you before hot stuff'' I looked at heath who was referring to Bianca, she was blushing as her eyes danced with lust. I lifted her left hand up, and waved her hand in front of him,

'' she's married you idiot'' he ignored me and continued to watch Bianca, it looked so perverted but she was lapping up the attention.

Brax's P.O.V

I watched as Heath and Bianca sat talking, Charlie was sat next to them, she wasn't engaged in their conversation, instead she looked a lot like a third wheel. I walked up to her and sat beside her.

''Chaaa... oh sorry sergeant Buckton'' I greeted her,

''Oh ha-ha very funny Daryl'' she replied, her expression hadn't changed, in them few moments I realised she was one tough nut to crack.

We sat talking for a while, there was no convo, it was more me asking questions and her answering simply yes, no or she totally ignored the question prompting me to work even harder to get her talking. Heath and Bianca had moved and were slow dancing along with Casey and Ruby and a lot of the other RB's.

''So you Ruby's sister?'' I asked, she tensed up but didn't reply.

''So you working tomorrow, I am so maybe see you there''

''Yeah if I'm lucky I'll miss ya'' she replied bitterly

''okay fair enough...''

''Daryl why don't you go and tell your brother to release my best friend so we can go home.''

''I could but then where is the fun in that''

She got up and was about to go away, I pulled her back down and she fell back to her original position.

''what do you think you're doing?'' she screamed at me,

''Why you so uptight, it's not very attractive you know''

'' You know nothing about me Daryl so quit doing my head in''

Okay she was definitely going to be a tough one to crack. We sat in an awkward silence, she was playing with her hands, and I was concentrating on her left hand, looking for a glimpse of any bling to indicate she was married.

''so you single then Charlie'' I could tell by the sudden stopping in playing with her hands and her face totally changed, she looked at me before replying, it was fake and forced,

''No Daryl I'm in a loving, strong relationship'' I didn't believe her, I would have pushed her for more info but I didn't want her thinking that I was interested.

''Anyway I'm going to head home, can you tell Bianca and Ruby if they ask'' she got up and then walked away, I got up and ran after her,

''okay I know you and me are not best buds but let me walk you home, you don't know who might be lurking around, there is some pretty dangerous people about''

For the first time that night I saw this women smile, I am not joking, radiance beamed from her face lighting up this dull night. Slowly, really slowly I think I was thawing her out.

''And how do I know you're not dangerous Daryl..'' she questioned me

''That's a risk you have to take''

I walked her to outside her house.

''Thank you Daryl, I'll see you at work tomorrow'' she then leant forward and kissed my cheek. Completely innocent but as she moved her head back, I moved mine towards her, the look on her face was definitely of shock, she thought I was going to kiss her, as much as I wanted to, I thought best not to, instead I brushed my lips across her cheek and whispered in her ear... ''Call me Brax''

With that I walked away, I could feel her eyes on my back so I turned around and did a salute, she quickly turned her face around, I'm sure I just made her blush...

-x-

The next day I went into work, there was a spring in my step, I knew exactly why it was there, I was looking forward to see Charlie but how disappointing when I got into work she had called in sick. Great just when I thought I was breaking down her hard exterior.

There was no point me being at work when I had not had the lowdown on the case so I went home. The inspector had rang saying the station would call me upon Charlie's return, until then I had time of… not that I was complaining but I really wanted her to come back, it was good being within her presence.

I got home and got changed into some board shorts and a top; I grabbed my surf board and was going to go surf. Before I went to the beach I went to the national park.

As instructed, Heath and a few of the other boys were already there doing what had been asked. They were cutting the latest crop. I walked up to the boys, gave all of them a manly hug and hand shake,

''Good going guys...You not helping Heath…''

''I thought it best I don't get my hands dirty, anyways how was work''

''It wasn't, the other sergeant didn't turn up so I got the day off''

''Not bad, not bad, you can give us a hand then''

I looked at him before mimicking what he said earlier… '' I think it best I don't get my hands dirty'' we both laughed before he jumped onto the hood of my Ute and we watched the boys work.

After about thirty minutes one of the boys, Brodie came up to us,

''Brax you got a buyer for this crop?'' he asked me, my mood suddenly changed, rage built inside me, the boys never asked questions, they knew the rules, I didn't involve them in that side of the business.

''Why would that be of interest to you, may I ask''

''Erm I was just wondering''

''Well stop wondering and go do what you get paid to do''

''Knob head'' he muttered as he turned around, he thought he said it slowly and that it was inaudible but I heard it. I grabbed the back of his shirt, he turned around, and I grabbed him from the neck and pushed him against the Ute,

''To me it feels like someone is getting a bit too big for his boots'' He was shaking under my grasp

''No Brax, I'm sorry, I just...

''Just what Brodie…''

''Come on Brax leave him, let him go, he's not worth it'' I heard Heath as he pulled me off Brodie.

I stood back and regained my composure; I walked to the driver's side and got in. I started the Ute and Heath jumped in, Brodie was still in the same position, I revved my engine which startled him and he moved to the side before I drove of...

-x-

Charlie's P.O.V

It had been a few days since Brax had walked me home, I couldn't get him out of my head, he was embedded in my thoughts so much so that I couldn't go into work and face him. It was stupid but I had no idea why I didn't want to be in his presence. There was something mysterious about him and I really wanted to dig deep and find out what it was.

I had rang work saying I was sick and unable to make it. Things with me Angelo weren't that great either, he ignored me and I ignored him. I was happy that we weren't talking, it suited me just fine.

Today was a scheduled day off so I decided to go and see Ruby and see how she was going and how things were with Casey. He seemed like a genuinely nice lad and I didn't feel like I had to lay down the law with him. His brothers were a different cup of tea; they didn't look legitimate to me, even if one was a cop...

I arrived at Leah's, Ruby had not moved out when I moved in with Angelo. She liked him but not so much that she wanted to live with him. Also she didn't like the idea of moving in with her sister and her boyfriend.

I had brought snacks and a few DVD's thinking that we would make a day and night out of it.

''Rubes... '' I shouted as I entered the house,

''Hey Charlie is that you'' Leah spoke as she came around into the kitchen

''Hey where's Ruby, I thought I'll come and see her and have a catch up''

''Oh she's not here, she's gone away again''

''Really when did she go, she didn't mention anything''

''Erm some time yesterday afternoon, she just left a note saying don't worry I'll see you in a couple of days''

I didn't understand Ruby would do this every few weeks she would disappear and then would come back after a couple of days. The thing that worried me was where she went; she never spoke about it and would ignore any questions. I really needed to get to the bottom of this.

-x-

So there you go guys, Brax is still very much involved in what the river boys do, he is still the leader and being a cop is just pretence to be legit.

Also any ideas as to where Ruby keeps disappearing off too, has she been roped in to the RB's way of life or is she keeping a bigger secret…

Please review, would love to think where everyone thinks I'm heading with this story.

Spoilers

Charlie and Brax discuss the case.

Ruby is back, will she tell Charlie where she has been and will the past be dragged up. Is Charlie about to reveal that she is not Ruby's sister but her mother?

Abz… xX