Tracey was dressed and sitting on the couch when Jo got up, she was sitting in silence with no lights on.

'You okay Trace?'

'Am I allowed to go now? I'd like to go home.' Tracey spoke each word slowly and not very convincingly.

'You want to go home?' Jo asked confused, walking slowly up to the couch and sitting down.

'Yes, I want to go home.' Jo had noticed last night but noticing more now, Tracey's ability to avoid answering some questions.

'Why? Why now?' Jo asked her, watching Tracey's face start to squish up with worry.

'Please Jo, just let me go home.' Her words were softly spoken and Jo could tell she was on the verge of tears.

'Just tell me why you didn't want to last night and why you want to know.'

'I don't want to lie to you. Don't ask me them questions.' A slip in Tracey's intelligent way of speaking reminding Jo she was only five.

'Tracey, you trust me?' Tracey nodded. 'Tell me and I'll help you.'

'I can't' she shook her head and stood up. ' I TOLD YOU I CAN'T.' She started yelling again and Jo was taken back again.

'Tracey... shh....' This time even Jo's peaceful way couldn't calm her down; she was worried she didn't know how to deal with her.

PJ walked out and just watched them, not even worrying about Jo controlling her.

'Tracey stop yelling.' Jo's voice quite harsh now. Her tone was nasty but Jo wasn't mad.

Tracey's eyes welled up and she stopped immediately. Her face went back to the way she looked when Jo first saw her.

'Sorry Tracey. But you can't yell at me and expect me to listen.'

'Please don't hit me.' Her voice was quiet and obviously hurting.

'Tracey I would never.' She bent down to her level. 'Ever.'

Tracey smiled and hugged Jo tight. 'I'm sorry, I really am.'

'It's okay. Can you help me help you? Tell me about your family.'

'I don't really wanna go home, but I have to.'

'Tracey if someone is hurting you, you don't have to go home. We will find you somewhere else to live.'

'But I need to look after Jess. Jess can't stick up for herself, she's only little.'

'Tracey, we can look after her too. You shouldn't have to look after you and your little sister.'

'Let me go home Jo, please. If you can, then help us get away, but for now take me home.'

Jo looked around for PJ's support. He nodded.

Jo held Tracey hand as they walked to the door. Jo knocked on the door. She looked around the yard. Quite a respectful looking house, clean.

A young lady answered the door.

'Hello?' Her eyes looked down to Tracey. 'TRACEY,' she grabbed her in a hug. 'Where have you been?'

'Excuse me Mrs. Morgan?'

She suddenly looked back up at Jo. 'Yes?'

'I'm Senior Constable Joanna Parrish. We found Tracey last night. We did not know how to find you. Is there a reason why you didn't call us?' Jo didn't leave room for being polite, quick short sentences. She already didn't like her. Something about her made Jo mad.

'I didn't know what to do, I'm so sorry. Tracey come here sweetie.'

Jo looked back to the car. 'Tracey,' Tracey's head spun around. She pushed herself away from her mother and looked back at Jo.

Lena Morgan looked piercingly at Jo. Jo just looked back.

'Tracey, where is your little sister I've heard so much about?'

Tracey face lit up. 'Jess.' She screamed, she ran into the house.

Jo and Lena stood in silence. 'If you wouldn't mind I'd like to accompany you down to the station.'

'Why?'

'Just a chat about Tracey. We'd like to know why she was laying in the middle of a bush trail crying, and refused to tell us where she lived.'

'Listen the whole family was out for a walk, she ran away. She's a naughty little girl.' Jo face changed to a blank stare, knowing she was lying. 'We tried to find her. We thought she was hanging out near her cubby about half a click up the road.'

'Well she wasn't. Now like I said could you please company us to the station.'

'Jo, Jo here she is.' Tracey walked carefully holding a little girls hand. The girl looked Tracey, about one and very pretty.

Jo bent down, she held out her hands and Jess held out her hands straight away. Very trusting Jo noted.

'Hello little girl, how are you?' She asked in a baby voice. Tracey stood back and beamed.

Lena bent down and snatched Jess up, the jerking motion made Jess let out a cry in surprise. Jo watched as Tracey spun around to her mother letting out a glare that even Jo would be wary of.

PJ took Jo's hands, he spun her around. 'Cheer up Joey.'

'But you know Trace was lying, I know it. Why did she have to go back with Lena?'

''Cos Tracey is 5, Lena is her mother. We will get her out of there, we will.'

Jo paused looking surprised. 'And what? Put her in a foster home?'

'I didn't say that.' PJ went quiet. 'You know how much I love you?' Jo looked waiting for an answer. 'More then this world. More then anything I know.'

Jo giggled.

'I do Jo, I love you more then everything.' He kissed her and she held onto him tight.

It's the loveliest feeling to know you.

It's the loveliest feeling of all.

I don't know what I did to deserve you,

I never thought I'd make it this far.

It's the loveliest feeling to know you.

It's the loveliest feeling of all.

I don't know what I did to deserve you,

I never thought I'd ever make it this far.

'JOANNA PARRISH.' A voice screamed form the main office, Jo broke away from PJ in a hurry.

'Excuse me.' She heard a voice exclaim after it.

'Tracey?' She quietly ran out PJ's office. 'Tracey? Why are you screaming my name out on the top of our lungs?' Jo joked. As Jo reached Tracey she stopped smilingly, 'Trace, what's wrong?'

'You told me I could trust you.'

'You can, you can.'

'No no I know I can, that's why I want to tell you and everyone what happened. Why I hate home and why I'm taking Jess and me and running away.'

Jo glazed over the words and picked out the most important, 'Tell me Tracey tell me.' Jo was now sitting on the floor. She pulled Tracey onto her lap.

Tracey was crying, 'Mummy killed her Jo, she killed her.'

'Killed who Trace?'

'Melissa, she killed Melissa.'

'Trace who is Melissa?'

Through sobs and hiccups, she barely whispered. 'My big sissy.'