Charlie walked into the police station having come back from viewing the body and the crime scene. She was exhausted. The whole ordeal had taken longer than expected and she was now going to be to late home to talk to Ruby about why she was upset. Sitting down at her desk, she flung her cap on it and sank down into her chair, wondering how her day had ended up like it had. Just then there was a knock on the door. Watson strolled in with a file she needed Charlie to sign off on.
"Did you bag any evidence from the scene?", she asked Watson as she glanced over the file she had just been handed.
"We bagged a bullet casing, the clothing off the victim and a key ring that was found at the scene of the crime", Watson listed off. "Some of the city unit think it might be connected to the Westwood gang".
Charlie nodded at her, still glancing at the file. She picked up a pen and signed her name on the dotted line and handed it back her colleague.
"Right, well it's too late to do anything else now. We can review the evidence tomorrow after forensics have examined the body", she told Watson who nodded her head an then left the room.
Looking up at the clock, Charlie sighed. She knew she would have to have an early start in the morning so sitting around the station was pointless. Picking up her cap and car keys, she exited her office. Passing no remark or gesture to Angelo as she brushed pass him on her way out. He watched on as she left. Not once did she look back at him. Jumping into her car, Charlie ignited the engine and headed home, trying to push the the events of the day to the back of her mind.
The next morning, Charlie woke earlier than planned. She wanted to talk to Ruby about yesterday and how school went. But as early as she was, her daughter had somehow managed to leave the house before Charlie could get to her. This worried her. No matter the issue in the past, usually by morning Ruby was willing to sit down and talk to her. But it seemed like things still hadn't changed from the morning before. She thought about driving around looking fro her daughter to see if she could talk to her before school started. However the idea was so banished when Watson called her to inform her that forensics had finished with the body.
As she left the house, Charlie pulled out her mobile and dialled Ruby's number. Disappointment hitting her when it went straight to voicemail.
"Rubes, it's me. Look I don't know what's going on but could you please meet me for lunch at the diner later. I'm worried about you. Bye", she said hanging up.
Jumping into her car she sighed. It was bad enough she would have to deal with calls from her superiors all day but she hated when Ruby wasn't talking to her. Pulling out of the drive way she sped off down the street and headed for Yabbie Creek.
Later that day, Charlie entered the diner. Greeted by Colleen who hounded her with questions about the body that was found. No matter how hard Charlie tried to keep police matters under wraps, Colleen never failed to get the inside scoop and it irritated her to no end trying to get her to keep it quiet. From the corner of her eye she noticed Ruby sitting at a table all by herself twisting her phone around in her hand. She seemed unsettled.
"Uh, Colleen, I don't mean to be rude but Ruby's waiting for me", she said as she bowed out of the conversation.
Making her way around the tables scattered across the diner she finally reached her destination. Pulling out a chair she sat down and noticed Ruby hadn't even flinched.
"Rubes...Ruby", she said waving her hand in front of Ruby's face.
"What?", Ruby said looking around "What's wrong?".
"Ruby looked at her mother with a look of worry that somewhat alarmed Charlie.
"Nothing's wrong. You were a million miles away", she said grabbing Ruby by the arm trying to settle her. "Sweetie, are you alright?", she asked.
Ruby looked at her and realised that her actions and reactions were making her Charlie suspicious, which was the last thing she wanted to do. Pulling her arm away she placed her hands under the table and gripped them tightly trying to settle herself. She gave Charlie a fake smile to hide her anxiety.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's just this whole thing about the guy being shot has me rattled is all", she said, trying to convince her mother that all was well.
"Aw, sweetheart. I'm sorry I should have realised", Charlie said feeling slightly guilty for questioning Ruby's earlier reaction.
The rest of their lunch together remained fairly quiet. Every now and again Charlie would say something just to break the silence. But Ruby barely spoke a word. It was as if she was trying to prevent anything escaping her mouth she didn't want anyone to hear. To Charlie, it felt like her real daughter, the chatty spirited young teenager, had been switched with an alternate reality teenager she didn't know. Before she could push the matter of the day before, Ruby had decided to abandon ship and head back to school. Leaving Charlie as baffled as ever.
As Ruby made her way out of the diner and in the direction of school, she was startled as someone grabbed her from behind, placing a hand over her mouth to drown out her screams. She closed her eyes and felt her body shake as she was slammed into a wall. She opened her eyes and found she was pinned against it by the man who confronted her the day before. He had one arm across her chest holding her against the wall and his other free hand was gripping Ruby by the jaw, looking at her menacingly.
"I was brought for nice little trip down to the cop shop this morning. Asked me a couple of questions about about a some murder", he said as if replaying a story to a friend. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?", he asked.
"I didn't say anything, I SWEAR!", Ruby replied, trying to convince him of the truth.
The man began laughing at her. He looked down, then looked at around at his other gang memebers. Turning back to Ruby he smiled at her. Then without flinching, he sent a right hook crashing against Ruby's face, again and again. He continued to laugh as he watched Ruby sink to the ground. The taste of her own blood in her mouth and dripping from her nose. She lay there crying as four grown men stood there, howling with laughter like a pack of wolves.
From across the way she could see Charlie walk to her car. Her mind was screaming at her to call out to her mother and end this misery. But her heart couldn't bear the idea of anything happening to her. So she lay there and listened to the laughter. Watching as Charlie stepped into her car and drove off. Leaving her behind. She looked back up at the thugs and saw the ring leader and bend down to face her.
"If the cops show up at my door again, next time this will be the least of your worries", he said, and then stood back up.
Ruby looked at him groggily. Her entire body shaking with fear. He looked down at her laughing. Then with one hard, quick swift, he kicked her in the side. His foot practically inplanted in her rib cage. Ruby screamed out in agony as he felt the cracking of broken bones. Tears streaming down her face as she lay there in a battered heap. Crying as she watched her attackers walk away. The pain was unbearable. With nothing else she could do. She lay there and hoped that the pain would subside so she could get home.
At Yabbie Creek police station Charlie browsed through the bagged evidence. She was hoping to find something that would guide her to some answers but tiredness and frustration were setting in and everything was beginning to become a blur. She picked up one of the bags. Inside was a key ring. It had a picture of the city on it wrapped in a silver frame. Charlie thought it looked familiar, but she couldn't think where she had seen it before. Then again, if it came from the city, more than like hundreds, maybe even thousands of people had them.
Just then Watson walked in looking for the evidence so forensics could process it for fingerprints. Handing her all the evidence bags on the desk, Charlie stood up and prepared to leave for the day when a fellow officer walked in and informed her that Principal Bartlett was on the phone looking for her. She sat down at her desk and pressed the line to connect her to the call.
"Charlie Buckton speaking", she said answering the call.
"Miss Buckton, I'm glad I caught you. I was wondering if you knew why Ruby never returned from lunch this morning. I don't want to jump to conclusions, she's a well behaved young girl, but I am curious", he said with a stern voice.
"Um, no I'm sorry I don't. But believe me I will get to the bottom of", Charlie said. Angry that Ruby hadn't showed up at school, and then worried it might having something to do with her strange behaviour earlier.
Hanging up, Charlie picked up her car keys and made a hasty exit. Her shift was over and she didn't need someone coming up with a reason for her to stay. Jumping in her car she headed home. Almost breaking the speed limit along the way. She wanted to talk to Ruby and find out what was going on. Turning down her street, she passed by the first few houses and then pulled into her driveway. She lept out of her car and bounded up to the front door. Pulling out her house key and opening it up.
Bursting into the house she called for her daughter but got no reply. She walked up to Ruby's bedroom door, opened it and peered inside. The only thing she found was room her daughter's school uniform laying on the floor. Walking out of the room, she walked down to the kitchen and and glanced around, still finding nothing. Then from behind her she heard the bathroom door open and Ruby emerged, wearing a long sleeved blouse and jeans. Just as Charlie was about to catch a glimpse of her, Ruby turned her back to Charlie and made her towards the front door. With the intention of leaving.
"Ruby, what's going on?", she asked with a stern tone as she chased after Ruby into the living room, but getting no reply as Ruby continued towards the door. "Ruby answer me!!", she shouted grabbing a hold of Ruby's arm.
Ruby yelped in pain and grabbed a hold of her arm. Charlie stood back slightly when she heard Ruby's small scream. Stepping up to her daughter, Charlie placed her hand on the side of Ruby's lowered head and gently turned it upright so that she was facing her. When finally caught a glimpse of Ruby's face her eyes widened in shock. String back at her was a swollen burst lip, a bruised nose that was still bleeding slightly and a black eye that was swollen shut. As soon as she saw it Charlie's mind started racing...how did this happen?...she thought. Still shocked by what she was looking at.
"Oh my God", she said, her voice shaking as she saw the tears stream down her daughters battered face. "Who did this to you?", Charlie asked. Waiting to hear a name so she could pounce into action and arrest the thug who did this to her daughter.
"It doesn't matter, just leave it", Ruby said through her tears.
"WHAT? Ruby, your face is swollen and bruised, of course it mattes! Who did this to you?", Charlie asked again. "Ruby whoever did this has to pay. Please tell me, I'm your mother", she pleaded as Ruby stood there in silence crying her eyes out as her mother stood over her waiting for her to answer.
"I can't...if I tell you it'll make things worse, they'll come after you...."Ruby started before trailing off, realising she had said to much.
She walked over to the couch and sat down shakily, her knees wobbling as her tears continued to flow. Charlie stood watching her. Worry growing as Ruby's words echoed in her head. She walked around the couch and sat down beside her daughter. Placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder she pleaded with her daughter to tell her what was wrong. Promising that she would get them protection from whatever or whoever was causing the problem. Looking into her mother's concerned eyes Ruby finally broke down and confessed.
"I know who shot that man in the alleyway.......I saw them do it", Ruby said, looking at the stunned expression plastered across Charlie's face. "I wanted to tell you so bad...but...they saw me. Tey told me they knew you were my mum and if I said anything they would come after you. I was so scared...I didn't know what to do", Ruby said as she began to cry uncontrollably.
Charlie sat there stunned into silence. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her daughter had witnessed the type of crime Charlie worked so hard to protect her from and she was suffering for it. Putting aside her police facade, her motherly instincts and feelings pushed their way to the surface and Charlie found her heart breaking for her daughter as she realised that Ruby ended up like this trying to protect her.
"They did this to you didn't they?", Charlie asked placing a hand on Ruby's back showing she was there to comfort her daughter.
Ruby didn't answer, she just nodded her and cried.
"Come here", she said as she went to pull Ruby into her embrace.
"Ow", Ruby screamed through her tears, squirming for Charlie to release her.
Charlie looked at her daughter and noticed she was clutching her side.
"Let me see", Charlie said, putting her hands on Ruby's top waiting for her to lift her arms so she could lift the top up and see what Ruby was hiding.
Looking as Charlie, Ruby could see the wrry etched across her mothers face and lowered her arms. Charlie began to lift the top as gently as she could, watching Ruby flinch when she was getting closer to the source of pain. Then as she continued to raise her daughter's top, she began to notice the black and purple bruising creeping up along Ruby's rib cage. The inconsistant grooves on Ruby's side suggesting to Charlie that a couple of the ribs were indeed broken. She could feel tears beginning to well up in her own eyes as she stared at the damage.
"Oh god", was all Charlie could manage.
"I'm so sorry Charlie", Ruby said as she buried her head intoher mother's embrace.
Charlie wrapped her arms around her daughter. Drowning her in kisses and rocking her back and forth.
"It's all gonna be okay, I promise", Charlie said through her own tears.
