Thanks for the reviews, still plenty of surprises to be revealed

Charlie had barely walked into the station, when Hogan was calling her over.

"Charlie, the body of a young woman has been found."

"Where was the body found?"

"Her body washed ashore further down the coast. They informed us when they realised she might be a part of our case."

"Which case?"

"She matches the description of Noelle Carter."

"The missing crewmember of the Maru?"

"Yes. Her blood type matches one of the samples taken from the deck of the Maru and they're just waiting for formal identification, but they're fairly confident that it's Noelle Carter."

"How did she die?"

"A gunshot to the head."

"Jesus."

"Charlie, semen was found in her mouth and despite the state the body was found in, it looks like it was the result of rape."

"That poor woman," Charlie says sadly. "What about the DNA on the blood found, what's been the hold up on that?"

"There were problems with the equipment that caused contamination of about two dozen samples from various cases and they were forced to rerun all tests; they're sending the DNA results of the blood and semen samples and also the autopsy report this afternoon."

"Ok, thanks Hogan. Give me the results as soon as they come in and inform Det. Collins and Det. Graves that I'll want to see them when the results come in?"

"Sure thing."

"Charlie," Joey knocks on the open door, "Hogan said you wanted to see us?"

"Come in." Charlie waits until they're seated before she drags her eyes from Joey. "Noelle Carter's body washed ashore two days ago."

"What! Why weren't we informed earlier?"

"After being in the water all that time, her body wasn't in very good shape." Charlie swallows, "There were also shark bites on her body which made identification more difficult."

"Oh god," Graves mutters, going a little green as she imagines the state of the body.

"A formal identification was confirmed three hours ago when they matched her DNA to hair samples taken from her place and also to the blood found onboard the Maru."

"I take it that she didn't drown?" Joey asks.

"No, she died of a gunshot wound to the head."

"Any luck on the bullet?"

"Whoever killed her dug it out and they did a fair bit of damage doing it so it's going to be hard to even match the calibre of bullet."

"Fuck, these guys are really starting to piss me off," Joey fumes before noticing Charlie's pensive manner, "Charlie, what else is there?"

"There was extensive bruising and tearing consistent with a brutal rape. Bruising to her knees and palms suggests she was kneeling on her hands and knees at the time and there was semen found in her mouth."

"I take it that there was no other semen found?"

"No, he used a condom, so I'm thinking that maybe there were two rapists."

"It does seem a bit odd raping her, taking the condom off and raping her again."

"The sea water had degraded the sample too much to be relied on in court, but the semen in her mouth came back with a partial match to a Derrick Quaid."

"Do we know who he is?"

"He works around the docks and on various boats."

"So where do we find this guy?"

"He was reported missing by his girlfriend the day after we found the Maru adrift."

"Missing?"

"I have a fair idea where he went missing." Charlie hands her the file. "Derrick Quaid's DNA was a match to one of the blood samples found on deck. He has a conviction for rape, which is why we got a hit on his DNA; he did two months for raping his ex-girlfriend."

"Only two months for rape?"

"She had a record for solicitation and the judge ruled that as a former prostitute, the rape wouldn't have affected her as much and so a lenient sentence was applied."

"What stupid fuck would believe that?" Joey asks, appalled.

Charlie looks down in embarrassment, "Judge Morag Bellingham."

"Oh shit," Joey chuckles, before quickly apologising.

"It's ok, I know Morag's views on things and I certainly don't agree with most of them."

"Did the other blood samples match the missing crewmembers?"

"Yes. Hair samples were taken from their houses and they all came back a match."

Joey flicks through the file on Quaid, finding very little of interest in it, she tosses it back onto the desk. "We know Noelle Carter is dead, so the other two are probably dead also and it's likely that this Quaid guy is shark food too." Joey shakes her head, "It looks like they killed one of their own men."

"But why would they do that?"

"The bullet was dug out so we know they don't like leaving any trace behind, so maybe they weren't too happy that he left DNA and rather than risk him being caught and blabbing, they killed him."

"No loose ends, huh?" Charlie says, chilled by how callous these people were.

"They're certainly dangerous people if they don't even blink at killing their own," Joey says, wishing she could tell Charlie who she suspected was involved.

"Obviously these people had their own boat to get out there which is why I think that we should bring Hugo Austin in."

"For what reason?"

"He's an acquaintance of Derrick Quaid and he has a boat."

"We're going to need more than that if this Quaid guy works around the docks."

"Quaid sometimes worked on Austin's boat and I found out that Austin's boat was out that night."

Graves speaks up, "We have nothing to arrest Austin for, which means he doesn't have to cooperate with us."

"Maybe if we ask him nicely," Joey suggests, grinning when Graves glares at her incredulously. Shrugging, "I didn't mean me. He seemed to get on alright with Georgie when we went out that day, so we can get her to go and ask him nicely."

"I'll go and speak to her."

"Thanks Graves." Joey turns back to Charlie. "Are you ok?"

"I keep seeing those poor dead girls and now there's another young girl dead."

"We'll get them Charlie, and we'll make them pay."

"I hope so."

"Charlie, why don't you come out with us tonight?" Joey suggests as she stands.

"Us?"

"Georgie, Graves and I are eating at the club tonight."

The idea of spending the night in Joey's company appealed to Charlie, but reminding herself of her mantra, Charlie opens her mouth to say no, "I'd love to."

"I'd better get back to work."

"I'd love to," Charlie repeats once Joey had left. "What the hell was I thinking," she groans, knowing how hard it was going to be tonight being that close to Joey and not being able to do anything about it.

"Well, that was fun," Graves comments when she joins Joey in her office a short time later.

"Graves," Joey says warningly.

"Sorry Joey, but it was hard sitting in there with the two of you pretending to look everywhere but at each other."

"We weren't doing that."

"Joey, I get it, after last night, things are going to be a little weird between you."

"It's sorted Graves." Joey winces as she remembers what she'd done, "Actually, I kind of invited her out with us tonight."

"Oh fuck, Georgie's going to kill you."

"Why, there's nothing going on."

"You could have fooled me."

"Let it go."

"Ok, so where are you and Martha?"

"I'm not sleeping with her if that's what you're worried about. We've had a few drinks and talked but I've made it clear that's all I'm looking for at the moment."

"Georgie wasn't happy when she found out."

"That's not a surprise."

"She wants me to keep you away from Martha."

"Graves, I'm already in, if I walk away completely, she'll suspect something is up."

"Yeah well, just make sure you tell Georgie that before she comes after me."

"I told you before Graves, Georgie's a pussy cat."

"With sharp teeth and claws. I really don't like being in the middle of you two."

"I'll talk to her."

"Thanks and if I were you, I'd try harder to look like you're not trying to avoid looking at Charlie all night, because Georgie will not be too pleased with that little development."

"There is no development Graves," Joey says in annoyance.

"Joey, no one knows you like Georgie does, so if I can see what's going on, then she sure as hell can."

Joey smiles wryly, "Thank god she got lucky last night or she'd be a lot more difficult to deal with."

"This is getting messy Joey and it's not going to end well, especially if Rosetta finds out."

"There's nothing to find out Graves so just drop it before I tell Georgie that you're encouraging me to sleep with Martha and Charlie."

Graves narrows her eyes as she glares at her, "You wouldn't."

Joey returns the look, "We both know that I would."

"You really don't play fair," she complains.

Joey grins, "Hey, I learned from the best."

"Georgie has a lot to answer for," Graves mutters.

Two hours later, Joey was sitting in with Charlie as she interviewed Hugo Austin. "Do you know where Derrick Quaid is?" Charlie asks as she keeps a close eye on his reaction, annoyed when he merely shrugs.

"No idea, I haven't seen him for about a week."

"Was he a good friend of yours?"

"I wouldn't call him a friend, he was more like a very reluctant worker."

"Reluctant?"

"He needed the money but he was a lazy little shit."

"So why employ him."

"Because he was desperate for the money and was willing to work for the minimum wage," Hugo lies easily.

"Were you aware that his girlfriend had reported him missing?"

"How would I? Sergeant, I really didn't know him that well and he only worked for me occasionally." Hugo looks suddenly concerned, "You don't think anything bad has happened to him?" he asks, having a fair idea of what had happened to Derrick.

"His blood was found on the deck of the Maru, along with the blood of Frank and Max Thompson and Noelle Carter."

"Oh shit, not that blood I found?"

"Yes, it also looks like your employee had brutally raped Noelle Carter."

Hugo pales, "Oh god, not Noelle."

"You knew her?"

"Her boyfriend Frank was a dick, but Noelle was always nice to me. All she ever wanted was to be out on the open water," he says softly, clearly upset by her death.

"The bodies of seven girls aged between 11 and 15 were also found aboard the Maru."

"I heard about that." Hugo suddenly sits up straighter as he realises what she was implying. "Oh, hey, no way was I involved in anything like that."

"Your boat was out that night."

"It may have been out but I wasn't. I was with my mother that night, I came back the next morning and then I took my boat out. I was just coming back in when you commandeered my boat."

"So you're saying someone else took your boat?" Charlie asks doubtfully.

"I told you, I was with my mother. We had dinner, I stayed the night and then I came home early the next morning and then I took my boat out and that's the truth."

"Does anyone else have access to your boat?"

"I don't lock it up if that's what you mean."

"So you're saying anyone could take your boat out without you knowing."
"Look Sergeant, I think it's fairly obvious from the look of disgust I saw on your face that day, that my boat needs a lot of work, so I leave my keys in the ignition."

"You want someone to steal your boat?"

"Not steal, borrow. I made it known that if I'm not around, people can take my boat provided that they leave the money in the cabin when they bring it back."

Charlie looks at him incredulously. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Sergeant, I don't know what happened that night because I wasn't in town but if someone took my boat out, then filled up the tank and cleaned up after themselves." Hugo shrugs, "Let's face it, it's a dump on board so if anything was out of place, I wouldn't notice."

"I think you're lying."

Hugo smiles as he leans forward, "I'm not lying Sergeant and your Snr Constable will confirm that when she's checked up on my alibi."

"Do you always take your boat out alone?" Joey asks.

"Not always, no, just sometimes when I like to dive alone, stupid and dangerous I know, but I like the solitude."

"Have you heard any whispers about human smuggling?"

"No I haven't, now, can I go?"

"Watson should be here shortly, until your alibi is confirmed, I'd like you to stay."

"Am I under arrest?"

"Not yet."

"Then I can walk right out that door and you wouldn't be able to stop me."

"That's right."

Hugo and Charlie sit there staring at each other while Joey watches on, feeling the tension building until there is a knock at the door a short time later and Watson enters.

"Sorry Charlie, his mother confirms his alibi."

Hugo grins, "I told you."

"Fine, you're free to go," Charlie says in disappointment.

Hugo stands, pausing as he thinks something over, "Sergeant, I really hope you catch these animals."

"That smug prick knows more than he's letting on," Charlie fumes after he struts out of the room.

"Most likely, but his alibi checks out Charlie. His mother confirmed that he had arrived at her place at 5pm and didn't leave until about 7am the next morning," Watson says. "It takes about 2 hours to get back to Summer Bay from where his mother lives."

"Damn it." Charlie sighs in frustration. "Is there any chance his mother is lying?"

"It wouldn't be the first time a mother had lied, but there were other guests there who have all confirmed his alibi."

"Shit."

"It's getting late, why don't we call it a day," Joey suggests.

"We still on for tonight Joey?"

"Yes. I hope you don't mind, but I invited Charlie."

"The more the merrier. Maybe we should invite Martha," Watson says, enjoying the look of horror on both women. "Just kidding Charlie."

"Please don't do that Georgina, I know that she's my step-sister but we're hardly friends."

"I'll see you guys tonight."

"Do you and Martha ever get along?"

"Not really," Charlie says sharply. Still hating the way that Martha had looked at and touched Joey that day in the diner, she feels suddenly nervous there alone with Joey. "I've got a few things to do before I leave here, so I'll see you later."

"Bye." Joey watches her leave, curious again at the way Charlie had reacted when Martha's name was mentioned.

Angelo panics when he hears that the woman's body had turned up and Hugo had been interviewed.

"They know about Derrick."

"Fuck, if you two had just kept your dicks in your pants I wouldn't have had to have killed him."

"You didn't have to kill him Martha, this is all your fault."

"No, it's your fault Angelo. You have no control and Derrick always followed your lead."

"I've had it Martha," Angelo shouts.

"Angelo, would you get a grip and stop panicking like a little school girl."

"It's easy for you to say you cold hearted bitch," he says as he advances on her.

Martha smiles cruelly at him, "Think of your son Angelo." Angelo seethes as he struggles with is anger. "Back away Angelo," her calm voice striking even more fear in him. "Angelo, just act normally, you have no connection to Derrick so they have no reason to suspect you."

Angelo takes a deep breath, wanting more than anything to break Martha's neck. "What about the fag?"

"Unlike you, Hugo knows not to panic. Besides, he doesn't know what happened that night."

"But he knows we took his boat out."

"And he knows to keep his mouth shut." Martha watches him carefully, noticing the nervous twitches. "You know what Angelo, we have a little problem with one of our suppliers, so you're going to pay a visit and oversee the entire thing for a while."

Angelo stares at her, horrified by the suggestion. "I'm not leaving Charlie."

"I'm not giving you a choice."

"You can't do this Martha, you can't expect me to just leave for a few days."

"It maybe longer than that and it's not as if you're going to be missed," she smirks at him, "You're still in the spare room, right?"

Refusing to bite, Angelo points out that he's a cop and can't just disappear.

"You have quite a bit of leave stacked up, it's time you took some."

"How do you know that?"

"I know you're entitled to leave Angelo and you're taking it."

"And if I don't," he asks in a moment of defiance.

"Your little boy's fingers start arriving. Make up some story Angelo, but I want you out of Summer Bay tonight."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I don't trust you to keep it together while the cops are sniffing around. Take the time, get your act together and then you can come back after a week or so."

"I hate you."

"I don't give a fuck Angelo, just do it and if I find out that you've defied me, the last thing you see before I kill you is your little boy's lifeless body. Now get packing and fuck off, I have to go to work."

Defeated, Angelo leaves.

Charlie arrives at the club early, cursing softly when she sees that Martha was working tonight.

"Hey Charlie," Martha calls out in greeting, "You and Angelo out for a night on the town?"

"No, I'm meeting Georgina, Joey and Graves for dinner."

"Oh that's nice, you making friends and all," Martha says sweetly. "I'll be sure to come over and have a chat."

"Aren't you working?"

"You're right, I am. So is Angelo all alone tonight then?"

"No, he's had to go to his parents place in the city."

"Something happen?"

"Cut the crap Martha, we both know you could care less about my life so stop pretending to be interested."

"I was just trying to be friendly but if you want to be a bitch about it, then fine." Martha smiles at something over Charlie's shoulder. "Joey, you're becoming quite a regular."

"I wouldn't go that far Martha."

"So are you guys here to cheer Charlie up?"

"Sorry?"

"Oh, she hasn't told you."

"Martha, shouldn't you be getting back to work?" Charlie interrupts her.

"I was just greeting my customers Charlie."

"There's someone waiting to be served," Charlie says, jealous at the casual way Martha had greeted Joey. Martha looks at the bar, sighing when she sees the customers starting to line up. "I'll try and find some time for you later Joey." Martha smiles sweetly, "Watson, so nice to see you again."

"Martha," Watson says with little enthusiasm.

"And it's Graves isn't it, I don't think we've been formally introduced?" Martha holds her hand out to Graves, only to have it knocked away by Charlie.

"She's married Martha."

"That's never stopped me before," Martha says with a knowing smile at Joey before sauntering off to the bar.

"Is she always like that?" Graves asks, feeling like a piece of meat after the way Martha had eyed her and Joey.

"Usually worse," Watson pipes up. "If it has a pulse, Martha thinks it's fair game, male or female."

Wanting to change the subject, Joey asks Charlie why Martha thought she needed cheering up and then listens on with interest as Charlie tells them that Angelo had come home, packed a bag and left, yelling out something about his mother being in an accident. Sharing a look with Graves, Graves excuses herself for a moment as she ducks outside to make a call.

Charlie laughs again at the sisters antics while Graves sits there with a long, suffering look of resignation. Graves leans over, "Don't worry Charlie, you get used to them."

"I can't believe how different they both are."

"Oh yeah, they bring out the worst in each other."

"I don't know about the worst," Charlie murmurs, her eyes firmly on Joey as she jokes with her sister.

"Georgie, it's your shout."

"Since when?"

"Since you lost the bet."

"I only lost because you cheated Joey."

"I did not."

"You did too."

"I did not cheat," Joey argues. "Charlie, Graves, did I cheat?"

Graves holds her hands up, "I'm not getting involved."

"Charlie?"

Charlie grows uncomfortable as Watson and Joey stare at her. Shrugging, "Sorry Joey, it looked like you cheated."

Joey mutters under her breath about being ganged up on.

"Ooo, is poor little sis pissed because she got caught out."

"What are you, 5?"

"Oh god," Graves rubs her temples as Watson and Joey start up all over again.

"Huh!" Joey cries out in victory a few minutes later. "You can't accuse me of cheating that time Georgie, so it's your shout."

"Damn it Joey," Watson adds a few more curses under her breath as she goes to get their drinks.

"Ok Joey, how did you cheat that time?" Graves asks.

"Joey cheated?" Charlie says in surprise, not having seen anything this time.

Joey shushes them. "It's not cheating if you don't get caught out."

"You've been listening to your brother too much."

"I didn't know you and Georgina had a brother," Charlie says, surprised once more.

"We don't have a brother, but I do have a couple of foster-brothers." Joey pushes her chair out, "Make sure Georgie doesn't water down my drink," Joey orders as she heads to the toilets.

Washing her hands in the basin, Joey looks in the mirror to see Martha enter behind her.

"Martha, what are you doing here?"

"I thought that should be obvious," moving behind Joey and circling her arms around her. "Better here than out there Joey," kissing her neck, "Come home tonight."

"Martha," Joey turns in her arms, "I told you before that I..." her words cut off by Martha's mouth. Repulsed by her touch, Joey suddenly finds herself imagining it is Charlie in her arms as their kisses grow more passionate. "Martha, stop," Joey pleads when Martha's hands find their way under her top. "We can't do this here."

Martha caresses her face. "Come home with me Joey."

"Get the fuck away from her!"