"Shit, I missed. Get us the hell out of here." The screech of tyres reaching Charlie as she holds her frightened daughter under the table.
"It's ok Ruby, I think he's gone," Charlie assures her as they climb out from under the table, Ruby's arms wrapped tightly around her waist for comfort.
"Charlie, Ruby!" Joey comes charging into the kitchen, her arms going straight around both Charlie and Ruby. "Oh god, are you guys ok?"
"We're fine," the three of them remaining huddled together.
"How did he miss?"
"We were lucky. Ruby dropped something and I had just started to bend down to pick it up, when I heard the shot. I grabbed Ruby and pulled her under the table," Charlie shivers at how close the bullet had come as it whizzed just centimetres over her head, grateful she was still alive to be able to hold her family to her.
"I'm just going to check things outside."
"Joey, hadn't you better put something on first." Joey steps back and looks down, completely forgetting that she had nothing on but a towel, having just gotten out of the shower when she heard the commotion.
A few hours later, having said goodbye to Ruby before Irene took her to stay with Morag, Charlie finds Joey at the station going over the evidence gathered that morning. Joey picks up the bag holding the bullet pulled from the wall in their kitchen, showing it to Charlie, "Looks like Samuels is back."
"I want him Joey, he could have killed my daughter."
"We'll get him Charlie." Joey puts her arms around her, feeling how tense her body still was. "How's Ruby?"
"She's scared but at least she should be out of danger at Morag's. She could've been killed Joey."
"It's ok Charlie, she's fine, you both are."
Stepping away from Joey, Charlie starts to pace. "This is too much of a coincidence Joey, as soon as we started getting somewhere with Craven, this happens."
"Someone's definitely worried about what we may find out. If we can catch Samuels, he may be able to answer a lot of questions."
"Once I'm through with him, then you can ask him questions."
Joey moves up behind her, "Charlie, I want him as much as you do, but we have to do this right."
Charlie sighs as she leans back against Joey, "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here with me."
"That's not something you ever have to worry about," Joey says, as she tightens her hold on Charlie, both of them just taking the moment to regather their thoughts. A knock at the door forces them to move reluctantly away from each other.
"Come in."
"Hey Sarge, I've got the evidence box you asked for."
"Thanks Ned."
"Oh, um, I thought you might not have had a chance to eat, so I got you a couple of sandwiches and coffees."
"Thank you Ned, I haven't eaten since this morning."
"Righto, I'll just get back to work."
"You're right Joey, he's a great guy." Turning her attention back to Joey, Charlie's concerned when she notices her rubbing her temples. "You ok Joey?"
"The day's just catching up with me I think. I'm fine. What's in the box?"
"Some of the items taken from Samuels' place. I keep thinking that there's something I've missed." Sorting through the box, Charlie finds what she's looking for and holds it up for Joey to see.
"Yeah, so? It's a photo of Samuels holding a rifle; we've already seen that."
Charlie hands her the photo, "Look again; in the background."
Taking a closer look at the photo, Joey thinks she realises what caught Charlie's attention. "It's an old hunting shack. If he was familiar with the area, he could hide out there and not be seen." Joey hands the photo back, "Charlie, do you think he could really be hiding out there?"
"It's the only place we haven't looked, so if we can find the place, we should at least check it out."
"I think I recognise that bushland; my dad used to take Brett and me fishing nearby. It's a few hours from a camping ground just out of town."
"Any roads or tracks to the shack?"
"There's tracks around the camping and fishing area, but as far as I know, the only way up to the shack is by foot."
"I was afraid you were going to say that."
"We'll need good footwear, supplies for at least a day and a half and rain is forecast, so we'll need wet weather gear too."
"We?"
"I'm going with you Charlie."
"No Joey, I need you to stay here, out of danger."
"Charlie, there is no way in hell I'm letting you go without me. Besides, I know the area, you don't."
"Joey."
"Don't even try to stop me Charlie; I'm going with you, even if I have to follow after you."
Smiling at Joey's determination, Charlie finally relents. "Maybe we should take another officer with us."
"I think Mitchell knows the area."
"Is that wise? He was one of Samuels' friends."
"I wouldn't say that they were friends and he did apologise for not stopping Samuels in the locker room."
"Let him know that we'll be leaving at first light tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Charlie, Joey and Mitchell set out from the camping ground. They walk in silence for the first hour, before Joey stops them for a rest break.
"We've barely covered any distance, Joey."
"Charlie, there's no point arriving at the shack if we're exhausted," Joey says, as she dumps her backpack to the ground.
"I'm going to call Ruby." Flipping open her mobile, Charlie curses.
"You won't get a signal Sergeant, there's no mobile coverage in this area, which is why I brought the radio, so we can keep in touch with the station."
"Now I am glad we brought you along Mitchell."
"I used to camp out here all the time and I've spent quite a few weekends at the shack, so I know the area pretty well."
"How long do you think it will take to reach the shack?"
"At this pace, at least another three hours."
"Three hours!"
"The bushland gets much thicker the closer we get to the shack, and the terrain is also more difficult."
"I guess we better not stop for too long then."
A little under three hours later, the trio comes to a halt, the shack visible in the clearing just ahead of them. Charlie gets her binoculars out to get a better look. "I can see movement in the window." Lowering the binoculars, she turns to Mitchell, "You know this area; what's the best way to approach the shack?"
"If we circle around a little and come in from the side, we might be able to get right on top of him without being seen."
"Ok, we know that Samuels' has at least one rifle, so keep alert and your weapon at the ready, but don't do anything until we identify that it is him."
Following Mitchell's advice, they circle around to the side of the shack, leaving their backpacks at the edge of the tree line, before moving towards the shack; Mitchell in the lead, followed closely by Joey as Charlie hangs back a bit, keeping an eye on the shack ahead of them. Mitchell and Joey had gotten to within 100m when the shot rings out, striking Mitchell in the chest.
"Get down Joey!" Charlie shouts as they both throw themselves to the ground, hoping they had enough cover to protect them.
"Charlie, Mitchell's dead."
"Get his radio and call for help."
"I can't, the bullet went right through it. Charlie, we need to find better cover."
"Do you think you can make it back to the tree line?"
"I'm not sure."
"You have to try Joey."
"Ok." Keeping as low as she could, Joey begins to crawl back towards the tree line. She had barely gone 15m when two more shots are fired, hitting the ground close to where she was.
"Joey!"
"It's ok, he missed but I don't think I can make it."
"I'll try to distract him."
"Charlie, no!"
"I'm almost at the tree line Joey, I'll be fine. When I give the signal, you have to run. Joey, have you got that, just run."
"Ok."
Charlie takes a deep breath, trying to psyche herself up for what she is about to do. With a quick glance over to Joey, Charlie looks back at the shack. Noticing the figure moving by the side of the shack, Charlie has her weapon at the ready, as she stands up, firing two shots towards the figure, watching with satisfaction as he ducks down. "JOEY RUN! Hearing Charlie's shout, Joey jumps to her feet, running as fast as she could as she hears Charlie firing again and then again.
"Charlie, RUN!" Joey yells as she rushes past her. Firing two more shots towards the shack, Charlie turns and runs, reaching the safety of the tree line moments after Joey. Hiding behind the trees as she catches her breath, Joey glances back towards the shack. "I think it's safe to say that Samuels is home."
"That's not funny Joey and now that he knows we're here, it's too dangerous to stay; we'll never be able to get near him."
"If we're leaving, we better do it now or we'll be walking home in the dark. I just hope that he doesn't follow us."
Retrieving their backpacks, Charlie and Joey set a fast pace, intent on putting as much distance between themselves and Samuels as the darkening clouds above them begin to make the going more treacherous.
"Owwwwwwww," Charlie falls to the ground, clutching her foot in agony.
"Charlie, what is it?"
"I twisted my bloody ankle in a hole."
"Let me look." Taking Charlie's boot off, they both notice the swelling. "It actually doesn't look too bad; can you move it any?"
"Yes, but it hurts like hell." Charlie thumps the ground in frustration, "I'm sorry Joey."
"Why are you sorry, it's not like you planned this."
"Yeah, but I'm going to slow you down."
"I don't care about that Charlie. If I bandage it, do you think you'll be able to walk?"
"I'll try."
Testing her bandaged ankle, Charlie finds it painful to walk, but is determined to carry on. Using Joey as support, they continue on.
"Joey it's getting too dark."
"I know, but I don't want to use the torch in case Samuels is following. We need to find some shelter. I think I remember seeing an overhang this morning not far from here. Do you think you can go a little further?"
"Just try and stop me."
Twenty minutes later, Charlie and Joey are huddled together under the overhang just as the rain starts to come down.
"This reminds me of our camping trips as kids; it always bloody rained. How's your ankle?"
"Still hurts like hell. Did you hear that?"
"What?"
Charlie points, "Over there in the bushes." Hearing the rustling herself now, Joey starts to move out from under the overhand, Charlie's hand on her arm stopping her. "Joey, no."
"Charlie, it's probably just an animal, but I'd rather make sure." Charlie reluctantly removes her hand, "Please be careful."
Flipping the hood of her poncho over her head, Joey moves out from the overhang, muttering to herself, "What the hell am I doing?" Drawing closer to the bushes, Joey jumps when she hears the rustling again. "Please let it be an animal." A streak of lightning lights up the overcast sky, sending Joey tumbling backwards as she comes face to face with a large kangaroo which comes bounding out of the bushes, knocking her over. "Bloody hell!" Picking herself up gingerly, shaking the mud off herself, Joey makes her way back to Charlie, grateful the rain was heavy enough to wash most of the mud off her.
"Have a run-in with Skippy's big brother, did we?" Charlie says, trying to keep a straight face and act concerned at the same time, "You ok?"
"Just a bruised arm and ego. It's not funny Charlie."
"You're right, it's not," stifling her laugh but unable to keep the huge grin off her face.
"Charlie!"
"I'm sorry, but the guys back at the station are going to love this."
"Anything I can say or do to keep this between the two of us?"
"Sorry Joey, the puppy dog look's not going to work this time. This is just too damn good to keep all to ourselves."
"Damn."
"Get out of that wet poncho and come here." Doing as instructed, Joey snuggles up against the warmth of Charlie. "This rain isn't going to let up and it's dark, so I don't think Samuels will be following us at the moment. We might as well get some sleep; it's going to be a long day tomorrow."