The judge started to read out his verdict. "Sergeant Buckton you have been cleared of any wrong doing in the case against Jake Pirovic. If you had not been so meticulous with your paperwork things would be very different. As for Darryl Braxton. He has appears to have been very lucky and not acquired a criminal record and due to your excellent paperwork whilst using your relationship with Mr Braxton to investigate him means that will remain on your record. If ever he or any of his family are found guilty of any serious crime and should you be involved with him you will be brought back here. You will be fined two weeks wages for the evidence box being stolen. Even though it was subsequently recovered. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Charlie answered.
"You are free to go. I hope Mr Braxton thinks as high of you as he claimed then he should make sure he stays clean."
"Thank you sir," Charlie replied.
Charlie and her lawyer left the room. She had to go to an office and sign paperwork to do with her fine and the end of her suspension. Her boss Inspector Joyce was in the office. He handed her the paperwork. He watched her sign the papers and took them off her.
"You were very lucky today," He said. "It was down to your paperwork. If you had not been so fussy about it you would have been out. My advice to you is making sure those two keep their noses clean permanently. You are a good officer Buckton. Why do you think I never accepted your resignation?"
"I think they plan to Sir. Heath has found out recently that he has a child and he wants to be a good dad to her. Brax wanted to look out for his brother Casey and made sure he got had a better life ….."Charlie tailed off.
They saluted each other and Charlie left the office. She rejoined her lawyer. She thanked him for his hard work. They both left the building and went their separate ways. Charlie unlocked her car and drove to her Aunt and Uncles home. They were pleased with the result. Michelle tried to persuade her to stay another night and drive home in the morning.
"At least eat with us before you go," Her aunt said.
"Thank you Michelle. I would like to stay but I want to get back to see Ruby," Charlie replied.
"And Brax," Her aunty teased. Charlie smiled. She went up to her room and packed her bags. When she took them downstairs Michelle handed her a coffee.
"Have this before you go," She said.
"Thank you," Charlie said. She drank the coffee. Charlie hugged her Aunt and Uncle goodbye. "Thank you for all your help."
"I'm glad we able to help," Her Uncle Bob said." You will have to come back and see us again. Bring Brax with you next time. It will be good to meet him."
"Thank you, I will try to bring him," Charlie laughed. "If we are together."
Bob helped he put her bags in her car. They waved her off. Charlie left the house to drive across Sydney and north to Summer Bay. She stopped to buy petrol before she left the city completely. She continued her drive north. Due to the rush hour traffic it made her journey longer than what it should be. It was dark when she parked outside Leah's.