…2012
Once she'd gotten to sleep snuggled against her wife, Joey had ended up having a surprisingly restful sleep, but now that they were pulling into the car park to the police station, her worries were renewed. Charlie squeezed her hand, offering a smile of support. Joey took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Ok, let's do this."
"That must be the lawyer," Charlie said of the rather formidable looking woman standing with her father.
"She looks scary," noted Joey as they made their way toward them.
"In a lawyer, scary can be a good thing," Charlie told her wife. "Especially if the lawyer is on your side."
"I hope you slept well," Ross called out, making Charlie blush. After last night's louder than planned sexcapades, she'd been rather relieved to find her father had already left for work by the time she and Joey had woken up.
"We slept just fine," Joey called back, with a knowing wink at Charlie.
"Behave," Charlie whispered to her.
"You never say that in the bedroom," Joey whispered back.
Charlie was saved from any further potential embarrassment by her father introducing them to the woman beside him. "Charlie, Joey, this is Morag Bellingham, the lawyer I found for Brax."
Joey stared at the redheaded lady with the stern look, recognition at the name slowly dawning on her. "You're Sgt Stewart's sister, aren't you?"
Morag nodded. "And you're little Joey Braxton."
"You two know each other?" Ross said in surprise, while Charlie's eyes bounced between the two women before settling on the older woman.
"No," replied Joey. "We've never actually met, but the Stewart family is prominent in the Bay area, so I've heard a lot about Mrs Bellingham."
"Joey was just a child and still living in Mangrove River when I moved away from Summer Bay," Morag said. "But my brother has spoken fondly of both Joey and Brax over the years and so when you came to me, I was happy to take Brax's case."
Charlie was still staring at her. "You're Colleen Smart's sister?" she finally said.
The corner of Morag's mouth twitched; it was a common response to those who learned who her siblings were. "We share part of the same blood, but not much else, so you don't need to worry about any Colleen type judgemental comments coming from me." She looked at Ross. "And I'm sorry, I probably should have mentioned I knew of the Braxtons, but as I've never met either of them, it didn't really seem all that relevant."
"It's fine," replied Ross.
"Dad, how did you end up hiring Mrs Bellingham?" asked Joey.
Morag's brow rose at the 'dad' reference from Joey, though she shouldn't be too surprised with the way Ross had spoken of both Charlie and Joey in the last day.
"Simple," Morag answered for him. "He wanted the best, so he came to me."
"And I should know she's the best," Ross said. "Because I've occasionally been on the receiving end of her skills in court. Charlie, you would probably know her better as Battleship Bellingham."
"Oh my god, yes I do," she said. "Thankfully though, I've never been involved in any cases you were on, but I'm well aware of your reputation."
"A well earned reputation," Ross said. "And so is her nickname because she's sunk many a case over the years."
If Charlie didn't know any better, she'd swear that Morag was flushing at the words from her father.
"Is it still ok to see Brax today?" Joey asked of Ross.
"I had everything organised for that to happen Joey, but," Ross glanced at Morag.
"Brax doesn't want to see you," she finished for him.
"What!"
"He doesn't want to see anyone, Joey," she explained.
"But I'm his sister," Joey said with a slightly quavering voice.
"Exactly," Morag said gently. "Joey, he feels like he's let you and everyone else down and right now, he doesn't think he can cope with jail if those he cares about see him caged up."
Charlie put her arm around Joey as her shoulders slumped. "Give him time Joey," she advised. "I'm sure he'll eventually agree to see you, just not now."
"Charlie's right."
Joey reluctantly nodded. "Did he say anything else?"
"Not to the police, but Brax has spoken to me about his activities and has given me permission to fill you in."
"Why don't we head over to the café across the road," suggested Ross. "And Morag can tell us what Brax has told her."
With coffees ordered, Joey sat by her wife's side as Morag started from the beginning, explaining how after a few bad months, Brax had been in danger of losing his business when a friend of his hooked him up with a company that wanted to hire him to import trinkets and have them shipped along with Brax's shipments, because his rugs and carpets offered a good buffer to keep the trinkets from breaking.
"At first," Morag said. "The shipments were legit and when he'd proven himself a reliable man, Brax was then paid to bring in larger shipments and everything was going along just fine. His business was starting to thrive again and he liked the new people he was working with, but then one day, a crate was accidentally damaged and Brax discovered the drugs. He wanted to go to the police, but everything was in his name and by then, he realised he was in too deep and it was not long after that when he discovered just who he was in business with."
"Why didn't Brax come to me when his business was in trouble?" queried Joey. "I could have helped him out." They still had plenty left over from the reward money and she would have been more than happy to give it to her brother after everything he'd done for her over the years.
"Brax is a proud man and for so long, the provider and he really thought he could get himself out of the financial crisis he was in," explained Morag. "Unfortunately, he ended up getting mixed up with the wrong people and didn't see any way out of it."
"And now he's in jail while they're still roaming around, free to do as they please," Joey said angrily.
"If Brax cooperates with the police, then they'd probably be behind bars with him," Morag pointed out.
"But he's not cooperating," Joey muttered. "Does Brax know he'll get a reduced sentence if he talks?"
"Yes, but Brax believes the only way to protect his family is to keep his silence and considering who these men are, he's probably right," she said. "The Sharpes are very dangerous men."
Charlie caught her breathe. She'd heard about the father and son team who were suspected of being behind a major organisation involved in drugs, prostitutes and protection rackets and even if only half of what was said about them was true, they were definitely not the sort of men you wanted as an enemy.
"And with the recent bashing of an undercover officer, the police are even more determined to bring the Sharpes down, which is why the prosecutor is playing hardball; if Brax won't help them, then the prosecutor will seek the maximum prison term and since the charges against Brax are for importing large quantities of hard drugs, then he is facing a very long time in jail."
"Oh god," murmured Joey.
"The police have offered Brax protection, but it's not his own safety that he's worried about and so he's doing the only thing he believes will protect his family and I think everyone needs to accept that."
"I want to be there for him just like he's always been there for me," Joey said.
"Joey, the best thing you can do for him right now, is to give him the space he needs and accept his decision to remain silent."
"Is he even refusing to see Casey?"
"Yes."
"Poor kid." That had to be so hard for her nephew, but she also knew how incredibly hard it had to be for Brax to turn his son away.
"There's something else you need to know," Morag said. "Tegan wasn't as convinced that Brax's silence would ensure their safety, so fearing that she and Casey would be targeted by the Sharpes, she's taken Casey and left town."
"Where to?" Joey asked, concerned for her friend and nephew.
"For the moment, I'm the only one with her new address but if you want to contact her, I'll have her call you or you can send any letters to me and I'll make sure she gets them."
Joey would do anything to protect Ruby, so she couldn't blame Tegan for taking Casey and running, but she was going to miss them and moving to a new place was likely to add extra difficulties to Casey on top of his father's arrest. At least Casey was older than Ruby was when their life had been uprooted, but she knew from personal experience that leaving everything behind and going into hiding was hard.
"Joey, I'll keep you apprised of everything going on with Brax, but right now, there's nothing more for you to do here."
"I can't believe I have to leave without seeing my brother," she murmured unhappily.
Charlie held her hand. "It can't be easy for Brax to push you away."
"But I have to let him do it," Joey said. "At least for now."
Charlie waited by the door of the café with Morag and her father while Joey went to the toilet.
"Charlie," Morag said. "Brax has a message for you."
"He does?"
"He says you're the best thing that has ever happened to his sister and he wants you to take good care of Joey and Ruby."
Part of her had always believed that Brax would have preferred Joey with someone other than her and so for him to say that, it meant a lot. "Tell him he has my promise that I'll love and protect them forever."
She had spent the night tossing and turning, her mind refusing to let go of something Joey had said and despite her best efforts, Bianca found she couldn't stay away, nor could she forget that kiss. The more she had thought about it, the more she started to believe that Georgie had kissed her back. Hell, she had even opened her mouth to her, hadn't she? "Shit," she muttered. She'd replayed things so often by now, she was no longer sure what was reality and what was just wishful thinking on her part.
Now, with her standing outside her friend's hospital room, she was about to find out one way or the other. "And if I'm wrong," she thought, "Then I've probably already stuffed up our friendship anyway, so I can hardly make things any worse today, at least I hope I don't." Bianca was close to losing her nerve and leaving when Georgie called out.
"I know someone is there."
Taking a deep breath, Bianca stepped into the room and stopped short. There was a look on Georgie's face when she saw her, a need in her eyes that suddenly propelled Bianca forward and in moments, her lips were on Georgie's once more.
After saying goodbye to Morag and her father who had to return to work, Charlie and Joey made their way back to where their car was parked.
"Oh my god," Joey said when she saw who was leaning casually against their car. "Nick!" she yelled and flew into his arms.
"Careful Joey, you'll crush me to death," he joked. Of all the people he'd protected over the years, only Joey and Ruby had gotten under his skin and he considered all three of them family.
"It's just so good to see you."
"You too."
"How did you know we'd be here?" asked Charlie when she'd given him a quick hug.
"I've been stationed here for a couple of months now and I heard Brax was going to be here today, so I came in on my day off as I figured you'd be here to."
"A lot of good being here did," Joey muttered. "Brax doesn't even want to see me."
"Yeah, I know," he said. "I'm sorry about everything Joey."
"Do you know what's going on with the investigation?" Charlie asked him.
Nick shook his head. "I'm not privy to the intricacies of the investigation, but I've heard the odd whisper that there is another big deal going down soon and they may finally get the Sharpes."
"Would that help Brax?"
"Joey, the only one who can help Brax is himself, but if the Sharpes are finally caught red-handed, then it might encourage him to speak up."
"Then I hope the bastards are finally brought down."
"Look, how about I take you guys to lunch and we can catch up some and you can meet my new girlfriend," suggested Nick.
Charlie's brow rose. Ever since his marriage to Lucinda had ended, Nick had been playing the field and this was the first time she could recall him using the word girlfriend in relation to any of his dalliances.
Guessing her thoughts, Nick grinned. "This one might be serious."
"Then maybe we should meet her," Charlie said and looked to her wife.
Joey wasn't exactly in the mood for lunch, but it would be a good distraction and she'd like to catch up with their friend, so she accepted his invitation.
