Hey sorry it took so long uploading this chapter, I was away at the weekend. Please be warned this chapter does contain graphic detailed images.
As she lay in her bed, Ruby's mind kept replaying the events of the last few hours. She couldn't subside the fear that pumped through her veins. A fear that she felt for Charlie. If her attackers were to find out Charlie knew, she didn't know what would happen. Even the idea of what could happen was more than she could take. It hurt her more than the physical wounds she was carrying. Her mind went into overdrive as she tried to think of a way to get out of the trap she was caught in, but there was only one thing she could think of and although she wished it was a last resort, she knew she had to do it........
The next norning, Charlie woke up early. She had this sick feeling in the pit of her stomach that something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure what it was. Lying in her bed she thought of the conversation she had had with Ruby the night before. Relieving it word for word she tried to comprehend just how servere a situation her daughter was now in. That she was now in. If the Westwood gang found out that Ruby had confessed, then both her daughter and herself were at risk. But, as a police officer, she knew if she told them what happened, she couldn't gaurantee that Ruby wouldn't be faced with charges for covering up what she knew about a murder investigation.
She couldn't take it anymore. Her mind was running at a million miles an hour and she couldn't shut it off. Looking at the clock, she came to the conclusion that the only she could settle the sickening feeling was to talk to her daughter. Keeping Ruby safe and protecting her were the only things that mattered in life to Charlie. She wasn't going to stop now. Getting up out of bed, she threw on her silk dressing gown and made her way of her room down the hall and knocked on Ruby's bedroom.
"Rubes, can I come in?", she asked, but no reply came. Knocking again, she couldn't hear any movement from inside the room.
She knocked one last time before the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach began to get progressively worse. Twisting the door knob, she burst through the door and found nothing. Ruby's bed was empty. Completely made up the only thing that lay on it now was the little brown diabetic teddy bear she recieved when she was in hospital. Looking around the room, Charlie made her way over to the wardrobe. Opening it up she found half of Ruby's clothes, were gone. Turning around, she looked at the study desk by the window and propped up against the lamp was an envelope with 'Charlie' sprawled across the front of it. Walking over to the desk, she picked it up and the made her way over to the bed and sat down.
Charlie ran her finger across the writing on the front of the envelope and then flipping it over, she opened it up and pulled out the letter that was inside. Unfolding the page she began to read it,
Charlie,
By the time you read this I'll be long gone. I'm so, so sorry. Although I know this will hurt you, the idea of somebody physically harming you is more than I can bear to think about. And if all it takes to keep you safe is for me to disappear, then so be it.
I never wanted to drag you into this mess, and now that I have, I have to deal with the consequences of my actions. Knowing you, you're probably sitting there preparing to jump into cop mode to find a way to protect me. You always do. And I love you so much for that.
But this is my mess and I need to do what I think is right. I know this will cause you great pain, and for that I am truly sorry But I don't want to lose you. Your the best sister, mother, guardian angel anybody could ever ask for.
When I was little, whenever I had a bad dream, you would always sneak into my room and lay in bed beside me, wrap your arms around me and tell me everything would be alright. Even now, your still there, with your arms open, waiting to wrap me up and tell me everything will be okay.
You've dedicated your whole life to putting me first, my safety, my health, my happiness. Your unconditional love means more to me than anything else in this world and it always will. Please, be safe and learn to love and be happy.
Love Always
Ruby
x x x x
Lowering the letter gripped firmly in her hands, Charlie sat on the bed, her heart breaking as she realised her daughter, the person she cared most for in her life, had run away. Dropping the letter to the floor, she climbed onto the bed. Looking at the bedside table, she picked up the picture frame that held a picture of Charlie and Ruby, Charlie was sitting on the couch, her daughter sitting on her lap, both with their arms wrapped around one another. The last picture they had taken, together. Hugging the picture fame close to her chest, Charlie curled up in a ball and cried, wondering if she would ever stop.
Across town in a run down old bookies, Ruby stood in a dimly lit room, staring at the three men standing before her. Hot tears slowly building in her eyes. Although every bone in her body was screaming for her to be brave, her heart beat out of her chest as she realised that this could be the moment her world goes black. For good. As she gripped the bracelet Charlie gave her, a tear slid down her cheek as she wondered how her mother would cope without her in her life.
The leader of the Westwood gang stood from his chair and looked his victim in the eye. Walking over to an old broken mirror, he picked up a rather large piece of glass, running his finger along the edge to test the sharpness. As he turned around, he saw Ruby flinch and lower her head. Moving closer to her, he placed the glass under her chin and raised her head so she was looking him in the eye. He had threatened her mother's life, beat her and spent the last hour trying to break her down. But now, he knew he only had one last card up his sleeve to play. And for the sake of his own sick amusement, he was finally going to play the ace. Leaning into her he looked her right in the eye.
"You've got a choice to make darling. Now somebody has to go here. And since I know you told your dear old mum about my little antics, then that means, its either you, or her" he said, his voice growing angry as he spoke.
He grabbed a hold of Ruby's hand and placed the blade of glass in her hand and closed her hand back over.
"But I'm not one for tearing a family apart. So I'm gonna let you decide", he said. A sick grin spreading across his face.
With that, he turned on his heel and followed by the rest of his men, left the room, heading for the front of the building. Leaving Ruby alone in the dark, dank unused office. Looking down at the glass in her hand, Ruby began to cry uncontrollably. Without so much as a second thought, she knew exactly what she had to do. Over on the table, she found a wooden object and wiped it down. Placing it in her mouth, she bit down on it. Lifting the blade of glass, she put it to the inside of her wrist, taking a three big deep breaths, Ruby dug the glass down into her wrist. Tearing the flesh as her screams were quitened as she bit down harder on the object in her mouth.
Then switching the blade into her other hand, she shakily placed the glass to the inside of her other wrist, and after a few seconds hesitation, she repeated the act of cutting her wrist, and didn't stop until she was sure the wound would allow her to bleed out. But the pain too unbearable, she spit out the wooden object and her screams filled the room. Her tears fell as she held her wrists out in front of her and watched the blood flow as it covered her arms.
From behind her back, she pulled out a picture from her back pocket. It was a picture of her and Charlie, the same one she had in her room. Looking at the smiles on both there faces. Then her head started to spin, and she felt light on her feet. Falling against the wall behind her, she slid down along it until she hit the floor. Holding up the picture with her bloodied, shaking hand, she kissed it and then, everything went black..........
Sitting against her desk in her office in Yabbie Creek Police Station, Charlie stared off into the distance, her mind firmly stuck on Ruby. She was worried sick, and as much as she wanted to just jump in her car and drive until she found her, another part of her was telling her that maybe she would be safer if she staeyed away until the Westwood Gang was behind bars. But she couldn't silence the voice in her head that was screaming for her to find Ruby and bring her home so that she could protect her.
That's all she wanted, was to find her daughter and hold her in her arms. To see the smiling face she had known for sixteen years and to put the entire mess behind them. Remembering the night before, when Ruby called her Charlie, she should have known at that moment her daughter was pulling away. She hadn't called her by her name in months. Just then a knock sounded at the door and Constable Avery entered with a civilian behind him.
"Senior", he said, snapping Charlie out of her thoughts.
Looking up at Avery, she noticed a woman behind him and then she looked back at her colleague in confusion.
"Mrs. James, this is Senior Detective Charlie Buckton, would you mind telling her what you just told me", he said looking down at the elderly woman.
The woman nodded and then looked at Charlie who was still wondering what was going on.
"I heard you were after that Westwood mob for the murder of that poor young man the other day", she said. "Well I thought you should know, there's an old run down bookies across town. My nephew and works nearby. The Westwood gang hang around there most days, I thought you might want to know in case you were wondering where to start", she finished.
Charlie stood up straight and picked up the phone on her desk. She made a quick call to the city and informed them of the location of the old bookies and the agreed that it would be best if they headed down there as soon as possible. Putting the phone back down, she walked up to the woman and thanked her telling them what she knew and then bounded out into the reception area.
"Alright I need all available officers geared up, there's been a tip off that the Westwood Gang have a local hangout. If we're to catch them we need to act fast. Everybody move", she said.
As she walked over to the reception desk to grab one of the walkie talkies Angelo lept up from his desk and walked up to her.
"Charlie. I'll partner you. You look stressed, you need all the help you can get", he said with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Charlie looked at him and then averted her eyes. Glancing over at Constable Avery.
"Avery, your with me", she said, and with that she walked out of the station and headed for the nearest squad car.
As they raced across town, Charlie couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She knew that if the Westwood Gang were caught, wherever Ruby was, when she saw that, she would return home to her. That's all she wanted. She didn't care about the case, she didn't care about the job or the praise she would get for a job well done. She just wanted to hold her daughter. Then there was a part of her that wanted to kill every single one of them for what they had done to Ruby.
Just as she was about to get lost in her own thoughts, Avery pulled the car up behind the others, across from the old bookies. Stepping out of the car, Charlie and Avery pulled on their bullet proof vests and joined the other officers. The gang car was parked outside. A good sign that they were there. Then without warning, one of the officers kicked down the door and the others followed him in. Charlie, Watson and Avery in hot pursuit.
Before they could say anything or do anything, the officers had the gang members face down on the floor. All handcuffed and frisked for weapons. Charlie stood and watched them all as one by one they were dragged out of the building.
"CHARLIE!!!", Watson shouted from the back of the building.
Charlie looked back startled and without a seconds hesitation, she ran straight for the back office, brushing past every officer in her way. Stopping at the door she spotted Watson behind the desk and noticed she was bent down over a lifeless body. Charlie called for and ambulance over her walkie-talkie and then walked into the room. As she walked around the desk her heart dropped.
"Oh my God!!" she screamed.
Running around to the other side of were Watson was crouched and crashed to her knees, picking up her daughters lifeless body and pulling it into her embrace. She lifted Ruby's bloody arms and looked at the deep cuts on her wrists. The tears streaming down her face when she realised what Ruby had done. She grabbed both Ruby's arms and pulled them close to her, the blood soaking into her shirt. Looking down she noticed something in Rubys hand and pulled it out. Opening up the crumpled up object she looked at the picture and finally broke down.
Cradling Ruby in her arms, she looked up and found Avery standing at the door looking down in shock.
"The eh......the Westwoods claim they had nothing to do with it", he said, the sight of all the blood making him nauseous.
Charlie looked down at her pale lifeless daughter. She raised her head and let out a painful cry as she realised that Ruby's wounds were self inflicted. Because she wanted to protect her mother. Leaning her head against her daughters, she kissed her daughter and held her tight. Waiting for the emergency services to arrive and save Ruby's life.
From the doorway, Watson and Avery stood watching over the mother and daughter, they felt for their boss and they felt really bad for Ruby. They had gotten to know her over the last two years and seeing her in such a terrible way hurt them almost as if they were family. They really liked her. She was a good kid. Just then Angelo appeared at the doorway. He was about to run in and embrace Charlie, but Watson stood in his way.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?", she said scowling at him.
"I want to wait with Charlie", he said trying to push his way through.
Just as he was making head way Charlie looked up and spotted Angelo. All she could feel was anger looking at him.
"Get out", she said, then as if going into meltdown she began to scream when he refused to leave, "Get out, get out, GET OUT!!", she roared.
Then with Avery grabbing him by the arm, he left. Realising that it was time to let go of Charlie.
Charlie watched as Avery led Angelo out of the room and out of the building. Then turning back, she looked down at Ruby and planted a kiss on he forehead, rocking her as she held her in her arms. Looking down at Ruby's wrists she placed a hand over them and kept a firm grip. The blood still flowing. The paramedic burst through the door and placed the trolley bed by the desk. Avery walked up behind Charlie and tried to release her grasp of Ruby. But Charlie just clung tighter, until the paramedics stepped in and removed Ruby from her embrace. Leaning back into Avery, Charlie cried as she watched the paramedics pad her daughters wrists to stop the bleeding.
Looking at her own hands Charlie saw the blood on her hands and she could feel herself heaving at the sight of it. She swore the night Ruby was shot she would never allow another drop of her blood to be shed again. At that moment she realised she had failed. As the paramedics placed Ruby on the bed trolley and raised it back up, Charlie leaned forward and planted a kiss on Ruby's forehead and then grabbed a hold of one of her hands, walking along side the bed and out to the ambulance. Avery and Watson watched on as the ambulance sped off.
To any reader fed up with Ruby being messed about like this I'm very sorry. But my next few chapters are going to focus mainly on Charlie and I needed a way to get Ruby out of the picture for a while. So please, be kind. I promise good things will come Ruby's way soon. Thanks for reading and please review!!
