i hope everyone has had a good easter. This is a little bit shorter than normal. Enjoy the end but no peaking.

As Brax and Heath heard these words they were horrified. Heath suddenly realised that he had now opened Pandora's Box and there was one thing that was true. Now he had opened the box there was no way it was going to be closed ever.

Charlie spoke to him before the two brothers could. "Yes I am Charlie Buckton. I thought it was you who corrupted your sons by forcing them into the life they have led."

The old man and the young woman stood staring at each other. Danny Braxton thought to himself that breaking his eldest son and his pig girlfriend up was not going to be easy.

Darcy stared at the old man with some trepidation. Meeting her grandmother was one thing but he was something else. She had been used to spending time with Brax and his brothers and now Charlie. But this was different. He looked scary and she felt scared. She was glad when Brax told her dad to take scared.

Charlie had sat back down next to Darcy and she was listening to the row that was escalating between Brax and his dad. Brax was telling his dad that he was not staying longer than one night. When she heard Brax tell his brother to take Darcy home she stood up. "I will take her home Heath."

Heath nodded his thanks to Charlie Danny sneered at her. "Aren't you the good little woman."

Charlie watched as Darcy packed her things up and then she walked with her towards the front door. Before they left Heath came over and hugged her goodbye. Charlie picked up her keys and they went outside. When they got outside they could see that Charlie's car was pinned in by both Heath and Brax's vehicles. Charlie went back into the house and put her keys back on the table and picked up Brax's keys. She re-joined Darcy back outside leaving the row that was flaring up inside. Charlie drove Darcy back to her grans.

Darcy had been quiet for a few minutes as Charlie headed for Mangrove River. Suddenly she spoke. "I don't like the big man that Brax bought home. He is scary."

Charlie glanced down at the little girl sat beside her. "He is a bit. But your dad and Brax won't let him frighten you." As Charlie drove towards where Darcy lived with her Gran she spoke to Darcy. "Would you like me to come in and tell your Gran why you have come home early?"

"Yes."

When they arrived at the house Charlie got out and walked up the pathway with Darcy. As they got to the front door Connie Callahan opened the door. The woman stared at Charlie before she spoke. "What has happened? Why have you bought my granddaughter home early?"

Charlie smiled at the woman. "Can I come in and explain. It will be better that way." Connie opened the door up so Charlie could follow Darcy in. Charlie followed Darcy into the house and into the living room. Connie indicated Charlie to sit down.

Connie stared at the young woman in front of her. She looked familiar. Suddenly she remembered. She had met her when her daughter Tegan had been killed in the storm last year.

"What happened tonight?" Connie asked.

"My name is Charlie." Charlie paused realising that she had not told Connie her name. "The brother's dad turned up tonight. He has been released from goal on a legal technicality. Brax thought Danny sacred Darcy so I brought her home."

"Thank you. I worry about her when she is with Heath. I remember him. He's a big brute of a man. He used to beat Cheryl and the boys up. I thought they had thrown away the key. It is a pity they didn't. But thank you for bringing Darcy home. Would you like a drink before you go back?"

"No thank you. I had better get back. I have a feeling that all hell will have let loose when I get back. All of them were building up to a big row when I left. I think Brax has only given him one night then he has to be gone."

"What kind of lawyer gets a rat bag like him out of gaol?"

"A lawyer with no scruples. She got Jake Pirovic out of prison last year so another one would make no difference to her." Charlie paused. "I had better go." She stood up to make a move to leave. Suddenly Darcy came running in from the kitchen. She ran up to Charlie and hugged her.

"Thank you Charlie."

Charlie hugged the girl back. "That's alright Darcy. I will see you when you next visit your dad."

"Danny won't be there will he?"

"Brax said he could only stay one night so I don't think so." Charlie hugged her again. "Bye for now Darcy."

Charlie left Darcy and her grandmother and left to drive back to the bay. She parked Brax's ute before she headed up the path. As she got closer to the door she could hear the row from outside. Heath was trying to persuade Brax to allow their dad to stay but she could hear Brax was adamant that he was only staying a night. Charlie walked in the door and one look at Brax's face told her that he did not want her around his dad. She walked into the kitchen and made a hot drink to take to bed with her. She disappeared into the room she shared with Brax. She sat on the bed and read while she drunk her hot chocolate. After a while she got up and visited the bathroom and went back into the room. From there she could still hear the row continuing. She hoped John and Gina would realise it was a one off event.

Charlie had been in bed quite a while and was dozing off when she saw the light from the bedroom door cast a shadow across the floor. Brax did not put a light on. She was aware that he was quietly getting undressed before he slipped into bed beside her. Usually if he came to bed after her he would snuggle up to her but tonight he did not. After a few minutes Charlie turned over and moved so she could put her arm across Brax's chest. As she did so she spoke to him.

"Brax what has happened? Are you alright?"

He did not speak to her for quite a while before he took a deep breath and replied. "I have told him he can stay one night then he has to go. I shall have to get Mum out of harm's way and then I want you to go and stay with Michelle. It is not safe here for you. He has spent time with Pirovics gang while in prison. Until I know what to do with him…." Brax's voice trailed off.

"I can help with your mum tomorrow. But Brax I am not going anywhere." Charlie paused knowing what she was going to say would worry him. "Dr Jones wants to see me in the next couple of weeks. He might operate to remove some scar tissue. But I am not going to run away from your dad." Charlie raised herself up on her elbow before she continued. "Don't forget assaulting or harming an ex-police officer would land him back in gaol however clever he thinks he is. Now shall we get some sleep." Charlie leant over and kissed him. Brax kissed her then he started to deepen the kiss…

Charlie woke up the next morning. Brax's side of the bed was cold. He must have been gone some time. She turned to look at her watch. It was 9.30. She sat up and sat on the side of the bed. She listened for a few minutes then she heard the front door open and slam shut shortly after. Charlie stood up and put her dressing gown on. After a visit to the bathroom she went out into the living room. Brax was slumped on the settee watching the television. Charlie walked round and sat down next to him. She held his hand and listened to the news.

The next news item made them both sit up and listen. The morning newsreader started to read the story.

"Now a news update on the crash on the main road heading south out of the city yesterday. The victim whose car was involved in an accident with a truck carrying glass has been announced as Ms Hayley O'Connor. The details of how she was killed are not being released. The truck driver escaped with just cuts and bruises."

I hope you have enjoyed that. I hope you can guess how that lawyer met the end.