Hi everyone! I am so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time! If you are still reading this – thank you! I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Six Hundred and Two

"Have I mentioned that I don't like evening shifts?" Joey complained.

Charlie smiled, leaning in to kiss her fiancée goodbye.

"Me too," she said. "I'll pop in when I can."

Joey nodded and stole one more kiss before waving her off. Charlie headed out. Joey watched her, enjoying the view of Charlie walking away in uniform. It was something she doubted she would ever get tired of.

"My fiancée is so hot!" Scott teased her.

Joey blushed.

"Don't cheek your boss," she warned playfully.

"But my boss is very cool," Scott protested. "She doesn't mind."

"Hmm…" Joey said, heading into the kitchen to get started on the mounting dinner orders.

"What's up with you?" Brax asked, almost as soon as Angelo arrived for his shift at The Pizza Oven next door.

Angelo stiffened, feeling tense and anxious.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "Nothing's wrong with me."

"You're limping," Brax said.

"I'm not," Angelo lied.

He had agreed to let Sid treat his leg. Nicole had sent him over the farm that morning. She hadn't felt able to go with him because of the baby and he was glad she had stayed at home. The house was chaos with George not settling and Marilyn looking like a zombie. He thought it would be upsetting for Nicole to see and didn't report on what he's witnessed. But Sid had cleaned his wound and bound his leg, for which he was grateful. He had also agreed not to report it, for which he was even more grateful; he knew he had put him in an awkward position ethically and legally.

"You are," Brax accused. "What did you do to your leg?"

"My leg's fine," Angelo insisted.

Without warning, Brax kicked him. Angelo screamed in pain in a rather higher pitch than he felt was manly.

"You're lying," Brax said. "I didn't kick you hard enough for it to hurt that badly and even you aren't that much of a baby. What did you do to your leg? Maybe a dog bite? Did you follow us last night? Get chased off?"

Angelo didn't know what to say.

"What were you hoping to find out? What did you think we were up to?"

"Something illegal," Angelo said.

"And?"

"I got chased and bitten by your vicious dog before I could prove anything,"

"We were pig shooting," Brax said. "And unfortunately, it's not a euphemism for cops – current or sacked."

"I don't believe a word you say," Angelo said, sounding braver than he felt. "You're involved in some serious shit. I know you are. And I am going to prove it."

"Well, good luck when you're broke and desperately looking for a job," Brax told him, squaring up to him.

Angelo took an awkward step back.

"What?"

"Do you really think you can stumble in here waving your pathetic threats around and I'm still going to pay your wages? Are you that much of an idiot? Get the hell out of here. You're fired."

Angelo stared at him for a moment, cursing himself for being so stupid. Then he turned towards the door, aware of all the eyes of the lazy, entitled River Boys watching him.

"Hey," Brax called.

Angelo turned, hoping he might have just been messing with him.

"If you want to come shooting with us next time," he said. "You're more than welcome. We can prove our innocence. Maybe you'll even catch something."

"Thanks," Angelo declined. "Hunting isn't really my thing."

"Really?" Brax said. "I heard you're a good shot. Kicked off the force for murdering your buddy, weren't you?"

Angelo turned and left to a slow clap from the River Boys. Brax headed back behind the bar, wondering who he would find to replace him. Angelo was annoying but he was a good barman.

Charlie and Bianca were on their way over to speak to the Surf Club, having had a tip off from John that Heath was there. Their hope was that they would be able to arrest and search him on suspicion of dealing, with the new information they had from Liam.

"Have you heard anything from him or Bianca today?" Watson asked.

"Joey spoke to Bianca this morning," Charlie said. "Liam feels pretty awful. He doesn't remember all that much. Bianca's struggling too. He swears that it's done – he's never going to touch another pill again."

"Does she believe him?"

"She hasn't committed."

Nicole dragged herself off the sofa and reluctantly answered the door. She was surprised to find Indi hovering there. They hadn't spent all that much time together since Nicole had given birth to George.

"We need to go on a night out," Indi said urgently.

"Um… well, I mean, I'm not really…"

"Please?" Indi said, barging into the house. "I lied to Keiron that I was too busy to see him, as I was going with you to see a band so now I have to do that."

"Okay. Hang on, who's Keiron and why don't you want to see him?"

Angelo threw himself onto a bar stool and ordered neat whisky. Joey eyed him with concern.

"What's happened?" she asked.

"I lost my job," he said. "Again. It seems to be a pattern."

"Wait," she said. "Brax fired you?"

"Yep," he said. "He didn't like that I investigated him."

Joey furrowed her brow.

"You investigated him? What do you mean?"

She reluctantly poured his drink, waving her hand when he tried to pay her. It didn't feel right when he had just lost his job.

"I know he's running an illegal business," Angelo said. "I followed him last night. I was trying to prove it. And all I got out of it was bitten a dog and then the sack. Congratulations to me."

"Angelo, I'm sorry…"

He downed his drink.

"You know what, Jo? You actually should be sorry. Because I wouldn't have anything to do with that bastard if it wasn't for you. If you hadn't sacked me when I made one little mistake then I wouldn't have been working for him in the first place."

"Hang on," Joey said. "I rehired you immediately and I apologised…"

"It was too late by then!" he argued. "You're so damn forgiving of everyone else, aren't you? You funded Romeo's damn business after he screwed your daughter and made her the laughing stock of the whole Bay! I mean, how does that even happen? He didn't get fired!"

"Romeo's mistake had nothing to do with the business," Joey said, trying not to rise to the bait. "Angelo, you're my friend. But you were also my employee. You made a huge mistake. And I regretted firing you as soon as it happened. I tried to take it back but you were too blind drunk to pick up your phone. And then too stubborn to change your mind. You decided the grass was greener. And it turns out you were wrong. I accept my part in it but it's not all my fault. You made your choices."

"Well, my choices were a reaction to yours," Angelo said. "So yes, I do blame you. Another whisky. Please."

"I don't think that's the greatest idea you've ever had," Joey advised.

"I want another whisky!" Angelo shouted.

"Is everything okay here?"

"Oh look! The guy who stole my job!"

"I didn't take your job, darling," Scott informed him cheerfully. "The post was perfectly vacant when I arrived."

Joey felt comforted by how easily Scott handled people.

"Now, a whisky was it? Is that the drink of the maudlin or the furious?"

He patted Joey on the arm, allowing her to walk away.

Charlie and Watson approached Heath, who was leaning against the pool table at the Surf Club, talking closely with another dodgy looking guy. They approached with no warning, surprised Heath, who jumped and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Heath Braxton?" Charlie said cheerfully. "I've been hearing stories about you."

Nicole was feeling rather light headed. She had only had a few drinks out of solidarity with Indi, who had told her about Keiron, the intense guy who didn't seem to want to take no for an answer. It felt like a long time since she had let her hair down, gone to a bar and listened to live music. She couldn't help but wish that Angelo was here. On a date with her. Unfortunately, he was working. Perhaps she could go and visit him at The Pizza Oven later… But for now, she was having a lot of fun.

Across the room, Indi was having less fun.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Keiron, who she was not pleased to see.

"Random coincidence," he said. "When you said you couldn't come out, I decided to meet up with some friends. They suggested we come here. I had no idea that this was the band you were seeing."

To be fair, she reasoned in her mind, she had deliberately not mentioned the name of the band. She hadn't wanted him to turn up.

"Where are your friends?" she asked curiously.

"Oh, they've gone home," he lied.

The truth was, he had followed her. He was desperate to spend time with her, even if she was pushing him away. They were destined to be together and he was determined to make her understand that.

Angelo was definitely drunk. Scott had poured him into a table in the corner where he wouldn't bother anyone too much. He hadn't got any more free drinks after that first one. And at least he had more or less stopped being abusive. Scott had taken charge was doing a good job of keeping him in his place. Joey was very grateful.

"This is harassment and you know it!" Heath protested.

"We're just asking you to come in for questioning," Charlie said patiently. "An allegation has been made that you're dealing and we need to talk to you. It's normal procedure."

"What if I don't want to talk to you?" he asked stubbornly.

"Then we can arrest you," Charlie replied. "Do you want that?"

She hoped he would. Then she would be allowed to search him. If he had drugs on him, she would have some chance of making some charges stick. Right now, although she wasn't about to let onto him, she didn't have all that much to go on legally right now.

"I don't really care," he said, pushing past her.

"Heath, you can't just walk away from us and pretend this isn't happening," Charlie told him.

"I can do whatever I like!" he insisted. "You keep coming for me and I keep escaping. What does that tell you? I am above all your stupid laws! I am so much better than you!"

He attempted to push past Watson but she stepped in his way. He shoved her hard. Charlie immediately grabbed him, pushing him against the pool table.

"Heath Braxton, I am arresting you on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and on suspicion of dealing class B drugs," she drugs.

She ignored the protests of his friends.

"You can't do this!" he yelled. "I need to speak to Brax."

"You can make your phone call at the station," Charlie said.

She checked that Watson was okay. Watson nodded and helped her guided Heath outside to the car.

Nicole needed to go home. Indi reluctantly accepted a lift from Keiron. She didn't want to get in the car. She didn't want to rely on him. The more time she spent with him, the more unsettled he seemed. However, he seemed like her only option. She needed to get Nicole home safely. She had tried to call Angelo and Roo but neither of them had picked up. She didn't know what else to do.

"Wow, what's his deal?" Sandy asked, nodding towards Angelo as she approached Joey at the bar.

"He got fired," Joey said.

Sandy hopped up on a bar stool and ordered a beer.

"Oh really? Where? I might be looking for a job."

Joey laughed. Sandy grinned.

"At your brother's bar," Joey told her.

Sandy frowned.

"I won't bother then," she said.

"You don't want it or you don't think you'll get it?" Joey wondered.

"A bit of both," Sandy said. "We're not on great terms right now."

"Because you came out?"

Sandy shrugged and sipped her beer.

"That and… because I left and… I don't know. I don't think he's ever going to understand me," Sandy said. "He's Mr Heteronormative and I'm… me. Honestly, I don't know if I should even stick around here. Maybe it was better when I was away. Heath won't even speak to me. Nor will my Mum. Brax is… awkward."

"You should stick around," Joey told her.

Sandy looked into Joey's eyes for a moment.

"Casey really wants to spend time with you," Joey said. "If Mr Heteronormative and his moronic brother don't care, it doesn't matter. They're missing out. I don't know your Mum but hopefully she'll come round. What I do know is that Casey is so happy you're back."

"How do you know?" Sandy asked.

"He told me. And he hasn't stopped telling Ruby either. Stick around for him."

"I can take it from here," Indi said awkwardly. "It's not far to my house and I need to see Nicole in and make sure she's okay."

"No way," Keiron said firmly. "I'll help you get Nicole indoors and then I'll drive you home. No arguments."

Indi felt horribly awkward. How was she meant to say no? Deciding to deal with Nicole first, she climbed out of the car and opened the back door, helping her wobbly, drunk friend out of the car. Just as she and Keiron approached the front door, it opened.

"I am so sorry I missed your call!" Roo said. "I was at the movies and my phone was on silent. Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Indi said, Nicole dragging on her neck. "Just a little… tipsy."

Roo reached for her friend.

"I'll look after her," she promised.

"I can come in and help," Indi offered, silently willing Roo to understand that she needed her.

"Honestly, you have a good rest of the night," Roo said. "I'm sorry I wasn't more useful earlier."

"See, she's fine," Keiron said, taking Indi's hand and leading her back to the car.

Oblivious, Roo took Nicole into the house and shut the door.

"And what could these be?" Watson wondered sardonically, when Heath turned out his pockets at the police station.

The contents included keys, a wallet with a surf board on it, two phones – one being a burner – chewing gum, some weed and a packet of pills.

"They're headache tablets," he replied, just as sarcastically.

"Bullshit," Watson said. "And that'll be easily proved."

"Constable Henderson will take you to your cell until we're ready to interview you," Charlie told him. "It's a pretty busy night so get comfortable. We might be a little while."

Heath glared at them and followed Blake to the familiar holding cells, wondering how Brax would get him out of this latest disaster.

"Keiron, this isn't the right way," Indi said anxiously.

"I'm taking the scenic route," Keiron replied. "This has been such a lovely night. I just don't want it to end."

"A lovely night?" Indi half laughed. "Taking my friend home because she got so drunk she could hardly stand? It's hardly the best."

"Any night I get to spend with you is the best, as far as I'm concerned."

Indi shifted uncomfortably.

"Hey, um… I'm a little tired," she said. "Could we just go back? I really want to get home."

He ignored her.

"Where did you go?" Joey wondered when Sandy reappeared at the bar, looking pleased with herself.

"I got myself a job!" the blonde replied triumphantly.

"A little tactless don't you think?" Angelo slurred from the corner.

"I don't know you or care about your problems," Sandy told him bluntly.

She sat down in front of Joey.

"What's the job?" Joey asked. "Not with Brax?"

"No way! I listened to you about Casey and I decided to stick around. So I went downstairs and I sweet talked that John guy. He's running the gym at the moment as part of the Surf Club and I got myself a job there. Go me!"

"Go you!" Joey enthused. "A drink of your choice on the house?"

"Well, I am not about to say no to that," Sandy said.

"Keiron, you're starting to scare me," Indi said. "I need you to let me out of the car. Please?"

"I just want to spend time with you," Keiron said. "Don't you understand?"

"Understand what?"

"We're meant to be together!"

"Meant to be…? What are you talking about? We hardly even know each other."

"And that's why we need to spend more time together. So you can fall in love with me," Keiron explained.

He sounded so weirdly reasonable.

"No, Keiron. No. Just… no. You need to let me out of the car and you need to leave me alone. For good."

"That's not going to happen," Keiron told her flatly.

Realising she had no option, Indi unstrapped herself. Before he could stop her, she flung herself out of the car.

"You've got my brother," Brax stated, barging into the police station. "Again."

"He's broken the law," Charlie replied. "Again."

"Well, you're not interviewing him until his lawyer's available," Brax said.

"Fine by us," Watson said. "He's welcome to fester away in a cell as long as he wants. Best place for him."

Brax was about to snap back at her when Charlie's phone interrupted them. She stepped away to answer.

"Charlie!" Romeo's voice sounded urgent.

"Romeo, are you okay?"

"No," he said, sounding out of breath. "Indi… she called me. She's in danger. From some guy."

Charlie was half running out the door, leaving Brax and Watson looking confused. She jumped into her patrol car.

"Where is she?" Charlie asked.

He gave as clear a location as he had. Charlie put the phone onto speaker and drove fast.

"I need to call her back," Romeo said.

"Go," she said. "Call me if you need to. I'll be as quick as I can."

He hung up. She switched on her lights and sirens, hoping she wasn't too late.

Indi jumped, as her phone rang and she desperately hoped the sound wouldn't give away her location. Her heart thumped in her chest as she whispered Romeo's name.

"I've called Charlie," her ex-boyfriend said. "She's on her way and so am I. We're coming to get you, Indi. Don't worry. You're going to be okay."

"Thank you," she managed, tears threatening, as she prayed that Keiron wouldn't find her.

She could hear him calling her name from not too far away.

Next time… Ruby has an announcement, Roo has some home truths for Angelo and will Charlie reach Indi in time…?