Chapter 3 – Watch Out

Charlie's P.O.V

It had been a week since I had last been to work, it was Monday morning and I knew I had to go in. On my way into the station I took my phone out and what felt like the millionth time I pressed the dial button, a few bells later and the phone disconnected. Why was Ruby not answering, it was bad enough that I had to work with Brax and now Ruby was ignoring me.

''morning sergeant...'' I was greeted by Avery, who was manning the front desk,

''Morning, do you know if any files have been sent from the city'' I asked,

''Yeah, sergeant Braxton has already taking them through, he is in the office,''

''thanks...''

Great he was already here, I walked into the office, Brax was sat in the chair and he was on the phone, as soon as I walked in, the atmosphere changed, he shifted in his seat, I could tell his mood had changed, he smiled weakly at me before he went back to the phone,

''I'll sort it... bye'' he disconnected the phone and I was sure the person on the other end did not get the chance to speak.

I went and sat down at my desk and opened my mail, I could see him watching me, I didn't give in, as intimidating as it was, I was stubborn, I casually checked all my mail, then I turned to look at the computer screen, read my emails, signed a few forms, literally I did trivial things and all the time he still kept his eyes on me. When I was satisfied I lifted my head up to look straight across at him. I didn't know why I felt that when I looked at him he probably get embarrassed and turn his face the other way, but no for someone who had been watching me intently for the last ten minutes he didn't flinch at all and met my gaze. We just watched each other until he broke the trance by getting up and walking towards me, why did the hairs on my skin suddenly stand on end. Why was my stomach full with butterflies, unexpectedly I had become self conscious. He came stood inches from me, and placed some files in front of me,

''the new files''

His voice was oh so inviting, I refused to look at him or even acknowledge him instead I opened the first file, it was a report for a warrant to search docking containers, there was a few pages but the one on top, it simply said no find empty. I continued with the next file and like the first it had the same statement. I looked through a couple more when it finally dawned on me that they all stated the same. This case I had been working on for the last 5months, every corner there was a dead end, no new light shone for us to follow. We merely continued trying to piece the pieces together to a jigsaw which was far too complicated. I could feel myself get angry, I grabbed the files and flung them across the room, I then abruptly got out of my chair which collided with the wall behind it. Brax had moved a side and I walked over to the window. I just watched out, it was like the world moved outside while I was confined within these walls. I was the cop, fighting crime but why did I feel like a prisoner in the sense that I could not escape.

Brax P.O.V

It was all a bit confusing for me, I really needed to be filled on this case because from the way Charlie reacted when she saw the files meant something, I didn't know what. She looked frustrated like she needed an escape. I was apprehensive but I needed to ask her to fill me in.

I walked up to her and stood beside her, she was looking out the window and so was I.

I didn't look at her,

''Charlie I need a low down on this case, it's the only way I can help'' it was like I bought her back to reality, she looked at me with remorse, this was confusing because she had nothing to be sorry about.

''erm yeah sorry, okay well basically I will fill you in'' she pointed to the chair and gestured for me to sit down, I dragged another chair next to mine, I sat down and she went to the filing cabinet. I moved things of my desk to make room for the files that she was going to bring over. She came and plonked a file in front of me; it literally was so small that I could not believe that this amount could be classed as a case. I looked at her and she raised her eyebrows at me,

''trust me, you're going to be pulling your hair out soon'' with that she sat down and I moved my chair closer to her.

She took a few pictures out and showed them too me, they were of goods containers.

''so these pictures are of the handful of containers that we have stripped and searched in the last five months. They of containers that are scheduled right to the last minute to be docked to the harbour, they come just after midnight and they are scheduled to leave exactly three hours later. Normal protocol is when a container is docked to either leave or enter our shores; it has to be booked in two weeks prior. However all these containers are booked on the day and leave the same day. It's really quick''

I sat listening to her attentively, something wasn't quite right but I needed to hear more before I asked any questions.

She then took some sheets and showed me them,

''if you cross reference these booking numbers with the containers, they all seem to come across from the east, again with a only a few coming from the west''

''okay so if we are getting containers from the east, and normal protocol is that they have to be booked in two weeks advanced, yeah'' I stated the facts that she told me moments earlier,

''correct'' she answered,

''so I know all containers have to be registered into the system before they leave their dock's, so if they come from the east, you would need to at least book them ten maybe twelve hours before hand so that we know to clear up a space.''

She didn't reply this time but I could tell she was agreeing with what I was saying, I took the data sheets from her hands; my hand gently brushed hers. She flinched whilst I felt my body tingle. I grabbed a pen and began to highlight the times, after a few minutes I looked at her,

''what are your theories?'' I was intrigued to see what she was going to say,

''Joyce and the pig-headed lot from the city believe it's...''

''ahem I'm from the city'' she brushed my comment to the side,

''they think it's some major drug operation,''

''and you?'' I noticed she wasn't truly content with the theory,

''I believe it's something bigger than that but the problem is I don't know what''

She looked at me whilst I looked down toward the data sheets once again, this time I was working something out. She was right this was a lot bigger than drugs, I was in that side of the business and trust me shipping crop in containers was the most mediocre thing to do not to mention risky. This stuff was best kept in small amounts on the ground rather coming over on water.

''Charlie has anyone been on a watch out for the containers when they are scheduled''

''yes every night, either me with someone else or another two officers are on the lookout. We have come up with nothing; the testing thing is that each time we go they are empty; we run forensics and again nothing. We just seem to be at a dead end. It doesn't help when only a small amount of us are allowed to know about the case.''

'Are you scheduled to go any time soon?''

''yeah tonight''

''right I'll accompany you tonight, plus the less people knowing is a good thing'' she looked at me a little baffled,

''look at the times, if you work it out, the containers are booked exactly two hours before they arrive, they leave exactly three hours after. Not a minute later, not a minute before.''

She scanned the pages and looked at the notes I had added,

''I don't understand''

''Charlie think, think outside of the box, it is simple, break it down''

Okay maybe I should give her a hand I thought to myself after a few minutes of her thinking; I could see the veins in her forehead protruding from underneath her skin,

''how are normal containers booked upon arrival?'

''they scanned''

''and containers that are scheduled last minute''

''they have to be booked manually, they have to keep a log book''

I looked at her and elevated my eyebrows, she looked at me and then back down at the sheets, i saw the smile cross her face, I then knew she had clicked on.

''oh my god I did not see it, if you have a log of all unscheduled containers and they are manually added, your only allowed to schedule a max number of containers like this, they would get picked up on when there is a weekly inspection, however all the unscheduled containers that have been coming in the last two month have been scanned in, hence why we have precise times of arrival and departure''

''exactly, simple I told you''

''they already have the slot free and make sure no other containers are booked, they are only confirmed two hours before to say they will be arriving, also the only thing that is left to the last minute is the content, this is leeway because the content doesn't concern booking in containers. That is a different system all together; we have been looking in the wrong place. Whoever is behind this uses the window really well.'' Charlie was now talking to herself; she was explaining to herself everything that she had missed. She had drifted and was looking through the file rapidly and then she looked at me,

''but Brax why the five hours''

''again it's simple...''

''just tell me this time''

''right okay but you will kick yourself when I tell you but before I do I need confirmation as to whether what I am thinking is right.''

''okay what confirmation do you need''

'' how quick can we get records for contents of containers''

''erm I think it about two days for the last three months''

''nay I need at least a years'' I told her,

'that takes at least three to four weeks, they really picky in giving them because they want to know more information which we are not obliged to give''

''that's fine we just continue with the watch out and when the logs come we will deal with them''

She began to gather the file up to return it to the cabinet.

''so I'll see you tonight, what time''

''erm nine, can we take your car because Angelo has mine''

''Yeah sure, see you tonight''

-x-

Charlie's P.O.V

''you working again tonight'' Angelo asked as I zipped up my jeans,

''Yeah, you at the restaurant tonight''

''well I want supposed to but I have a buyer for the place''

''a buyer?''

''yep, I need the funding''

''you could have asked me''

''no, an investor is better, this way I only have half the business to deal with''

''okay if that's what you want, I have the money if not'' I told him as I kissed his cheek and made my way out for another night sat in a car, meaninglessly watching at nothing in particular.

-x-

We had been sat for around the past few hours, I looked at my phone and read the time, it read just after midnight, I looked across from where we were parked, as per usual the first container docked, then the second, all the way up to the tenth container. I looked at Brax who just watched, he didn't say anything, neither did I.

For the next couple of days me and Brax were on the watch out, we didn't talk much, we simply sat and did our own thing

Today was the last night for us to watch out for the week. It was 7:30pm and I still had an hour and half before Brax picked me up. I decided to go to Angelo's to get a bite to eat. I walked through the surf club to be greeted by Leah and Bianca,

''Hello'' Bianca greeted me,

''hi, beautiful ladies, having a good time without me''

''erm not really, we would invite you but you always seem to be preoccupied now a days''

''I'm busy with work but I promise tomorrow night we are going to let loose''

''you sure, coz if you don't make it Buckton I promise I will inflict pain on you'' Bianca threatened,

''oooohhh I'm so scared'' this caused the three of us to laugh.

''right guys see you later...'' just before I headed for the steps, I remembered Ruby and I still hadn't heard of she was back... ''Leah is Rubes back?''

She looked at me a bit weary, ''erm yeah she came back this morning''

I didn't respond there was something going on and I without a doubt was going to find out.

I entered the house and walked to the living room, I missed this house so much, it wasn't just a house, it was my home, and it was where memories of me and Ruby lay deep within the walls. It was the same house in which I vowed that I would never let any harm come to Ruby. I looked at the table, I could picture it today like it was just yesterday, how I sat on the table with Ruby's hands in mine and I had to break the news to her that mum and dad were dead. No matter what anyone said I was attached to this house emotionally.

I looked over to the couch and Ruby was sat there with a shrug around her, from the back she looked frail and gaunt, as I went closer and her face came to view, it mirrored the way she looked from the back. I watched her face and she looked up, the way she lifted her eyes up looked so scary, they were blood shot red and puffy, it was like all her energy was taking up by just lifting her eyelids.

''Ruby babe, are you okay?''

She looked at me and tried to nod her head, she couldn't do it. I got up and went sat next to her,

'' Ruby please I am really worried, I have never seen you like this...Ruby don't shut me out, tell me so I can help''

''Charlie I am fine, you don't need to worry''

''Ruby you are not fine, look at you''

''I am fine, I just need some sleep, with my HSC coming up I've not had much''

''lack of sleep does not turn your complexion in to what yours has become, brutal or not, Ruby you look like the dead''

''geez thanks Charlie, way to lift my spirits''

''well tell me what is wrong then''

''nothing is wrong!'' this time she snapped and I saw her wince as the words came out, she then lifted herself of the couch and headed to her room,

''Ruby Buckton come here,''

She ignored me and continued on her way,

''Now''

Again she ignored me, this time I went up to her, I went and stood in front of her,

''let go of me Charlie''

''no not until you tell me what is wrong''

''Charlie how many times there is nothing wrong with me; you need to stop strangling me... You're not my mother'' she screamed at me,

''Yes I...''

-x-

So what do you think, does Charlie tell Ruby that she is her mother and if yeah what is Ruby's reaction.

This chapter might be a little confusing regarding the case but it will all make sense as the story continues :)

Spoilers

Brax tries to get Charlie to open up, does he succeed? And do they share something more than words?

What happens on the final watch out?

Two people dead, is it Charlie or Brax, or maybe both?

Please Review and let me know what you think...

Abz... xX