Watson reached the next intersection and paused. She was a little further behind her prey after she'd stopped along the way to change into her uniform, but she figured it was important. People might get suspicious if she started asking too many questions along the way, whereas a cop who was asking for the whereabouts of some missing women was more likely to get cooperation. The uniform really did have it's uses in her line of work, so she might as well make the most of it, at least for as long as she could get away with it. Her cover could be blown at any minute, so she needed to get to them as quickly as she could.

Which way did they go though? She had no way to know how far behind she was, which made her task more difficult, but certainly not impossible. She was confident she knew her prey well enough to know the choices they'd already made. She smiled and turned right.

Nick looked to the person seated across from him at the pub they'd agreed to meet in at such short notice. It was dangerous to meet like this, but Nick didn't see any other choice.

"You know what to do," he said and he received a nod in return. "Do it quietly and quickly," he told the person. "Robertson will be wanting to speak to his witness again at some stage and I'll only be able to hold him off for so long before he realises something has happened."

"I'll get right on to it."

"Check the Motel first," Nick suggested. "See if there are any witnesses to the direction they went in," he said.

"Trust me, I'll get to them before anyone else does."

"See that you do," he said. "Those two women could bring a lot of people down on both sides of the law, so we can't afford any more cock ups on this," Nick said. "The Braxtons want them dead at any cost."

"What of Watson?"

"Charlie is your priority," he said. "But if Watson gets in your way, take her out," Nick ordered. "She's a wild card in this and given how we know Braxton doesn't abide failures, she's likely to be even more determined to right her mistakes and prove her usefulness to him and that could make her unpredictable and dangerous," he said. "We just can't afford any loose cannons in this."

"I could definitely use her in the chase," he said. "She knows more than others and that could be the key for me in getting to them first."

Nick sat back and considered that. "I don't want her fucking up your own task, but I'll leave you to decide what to do with her should you meet up with her," he said. "Just don't underestimate her or anyone else involved," Nick said. "We're playing a dangerous game here that could see us all ruined."

The man nodded, then stood.

"And Angelo?" Nick said.

"Yeah?"

"No one is to know what you're up to, but if anyone asks, remember the cover story."

"Will do." Angelo Rosetta pulled his ratted jacket on and strode from the pub with a smile. This was the part of his job that he loved the most.

"How do you know this car doesn't have some kind of tracker on it?" Charlie asked of their latest, newly acquired car.

"Same as the last one," said Joey. "It's older than you and comes with a good old fashion engine and dashboard."

"I almost think you enjoy stealing cars," Charlie muttered. She'd been shocked at the ease in which Joey had first broken in, then started the car. Like an expert.

"Call it a misspent youth," replied Joey and Charlie was left with an even greater sense of dread that she was seated next to a woman she knew nothing about.

She'd argue more, except she still felt terrible. She wondered how long before the effects of the drugs wore completely off. God damn that bitch. If she ever got her hands on Watson, she'd give her a headache she'd never get over. Not that she knew where that bitch was. She'd seemed pretty determined to kill them, so would she just give up or come after them? There was nothing on the radio to indicate that the cops were involved, so Charlie had no idea who knew about the Motel incident and who didn't. Had Watson somehow managed to talk her way out of it or did she have other help on the inside? Fuck, she hated not knowing almost as much as she hated that bitch Watson. From now on, she was calling her Watson, since Georgie now seemed too familiar for someone she obviously never knew. Much like the woman next to her. Nick had said a few things about her driver, but what would they find with a deeper probe? And how would she know if they did find something out of place since she couldn't contact them? Part of her still wanted to trust Nick, but her confidence had been shaken to the core and her new paranoia wasn't helping. Joey's words of mistrust had taken root and she now had no idea who she herself, could trust. Most of all, Charlie hated not being in control. It was an unfamiliar feeling and she was hoping it was only fleeting. She needed to regain control, she just wasn't sure it was going to be that easy, since there was no way Joey was going to trust her any time soon and as long as she was cuffed, her options were limited.

Charlie sighed. She was just going to have to play along until the right moment arose. She had a wry chuckle in her mind. This must be how her protectees felt. Helpless.

"Brodie, would you shake it and get a move on," Heath hissed. "We're already losing time."

"Nearly done," Brodie called from behind the tree he was pissing on.

"For fuck's sake," Heath muttered. "Why do we even bother with this useless prick?"

"He's ok," said Pee Wee. "Heath, why don't you leave this to us," he said. "After Ryan bit the bullet, the cops are more likely to be keeping an eye on you, rather than on us, which makes you somewhat of a liability on the road."

Heath nodded in agreement. "Keep me updated every day," he said. "And fucking find Watson while you're at it," he said. "I want her explanation for what the fuck happened in that Motel room and why she delayed in calling us."

"I'll be happy to ask her for you."

Heath glared at him. He knew that look on his friend's face and part of him was still protective of Watson. She'd been a good kid, always willing to help and he wasn't ready to see her dismissed just yet. "Keep your hands off her," he told him. "She still has her value to us."

"And when she no longer has value?" Pee Wee smirked. That bitch had always looked down on him, just because she thought wearing the uniform meant her shit didn't stink and so he was just itching for the chance to knock her down a peg or two. Or better yet, permanently.

"Just don't jump the gun or Brax will have to remind you what disobedience gets you."

"I promise, I won't touch a hair on her pretty little head unless Brax says I can."

"See that you don't," he said. "Oh and Pee Wee, remember you're not going to be the only ones after them, so keep an eye out," Heath warned him.

"Are you talking 'bout the cops?"

"We've got everyone we can spare out looking for them, but we haven't heard from our man yet, so we don't know if the cops are on the trail yet or not, but watch yourself anyway," Heath told him. "The last thing we need is for the cops to nab you two."

"Nah, no way will they get us."

"Don't get cocky," Heath said. "Just find those bitches first and check in with the others whenever you can. Brax believes a coordinated effort is our best chance to get to them first," he said as he walked away.

"Oh we'll definitely find them first," Pee Wee chuckled as Brodie finally finished behind the tree. "Come on Brodie, we have some little birdies to catch."

"Which way?"

Good question. Watson hadn't called in her location, so they really were starting behind the eight ball. So which way? Pee Wee closed his eyes and spun, then stopped. He opened his eyes and pointed. "Let's go this way."

Brodie shrugged. If Pee Wee said that was the way to go, then that's the way they'd go.

"Old Braxy must be shitting his pants if he's sending us all out here," the blonde driver cackled. Tegan Callahan had an attractive face, when it wasn't marred by her constant scowling or smirking.

"All the better for our future, with the huge money he's placed on the bounty," Hayley replied from the passenger seat.

Hayley O'Connor had left behind a lucrative legal practice after she'd gotten into some trouble with the wrong people. To pay off her debt, she'd had to work for the Braxtons as one of their legal eagles. She'd hated it and them, at first, but once she'd paid off her debt and came to realise how much her services were appreciated, she began to revel in it. The hours were good, the pay was excellent, as were the added bonuses. The Braxtons didn't like their employees using their product, but Hayley had become an expert at hiding her addiction from those around her. A little here, a little there, never to any excess so that she was always able to function at peak performance.

But the best bonus of all was meeting Tegan. Her dealer at first, then her lover. Tegan was one of Heath's exes, but as she'd born him his eldest child, it had secured her position within the organisation. Heath was a good provider to both Tegan and their daughter, but Hayley doubted he'd take too kindly to Tegan flouting the rules by supplying drugs to other employees. Tegan didn't seem to care though. She loved the thrill of pushing boundaries, of meeting danger head on. That was her drug and between them, they made a good match.

"Are you ready baby?" Tegan asked.

"Ready baby." This had never been in Hayley's usual job description, but Tegan had begged her to join her on the road during one of her previous jobs and she'd loved it. There was just something so primal in hurting others, it called to her like a drug and after her first time knee capping a guy, the sex between her and Tegan in the aftermath had been so mind blowingly hot, she had wanted to go out and hurt some more people. Tegan had just laughed and fucked her til she was too tired to lift her head, let alone a sledgehammer. Now though, whenever Tegan was sent out, Hayley always went with her.

Tegan grinned and snaked out her hand, grabbing Hayley behind the head. She pulled her into a passionate kiss, ignoring the road and the car swerving as their tongues duelled.

"The road," Hayley murmured against her lips. Tegan kissed her again, before returning her attention to the road, just as a car honked and veered sharply to the right to avoid a head on collision. Tegan laughed and put her car on the right side of the road, her heart racing in excitement.

"You're crazy," Hayley said with love, her eyes darting to the rear vision mirror. The other car had wiped out a stop sign, but the occupants appeared ok. "They're probably going to report us."

"Good thing I have my lawyer with me," joked Tegan. "Relax baby and enjoy the ride."

Hayley undid her seatbelt and snuggled next to Tegan's side. The hilt of Tegan's knife nudged against her hip and she felt turned on by it and the danger it represented. She couldn't wait to see Tegan at work again. To see her kill. Oh god, she was already wet in anticipation. They better get to those bitches first.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't see which way she went," Nicole told Angelo when he'd arrived at the Motel. She was the fourth person to say the same thing of both Charlie and Joey and of Watson.

"I guess she probably went to meet up with her girlfriend after she checked out," Nicole suggested.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he said. "Well thanks for your time." Nicole smiled when she received another 50 for that day. With the extra 100 the lady had given her before she departed, things really were looking up for her.

Angelo raced back to his car, his phone already dialling as he got in. "The Motel was wiped clean by the maid after Watson gave her money to do an even better bang up job with her cleaning than usual," he said.

"Witnesses?"

"None who could say they saw any of them leave," Angelo replied. "There was a car that was stolen from nearby sometime during the night," he told him. "Charlie and Joey might have taken it, because according to the maid, the car they arrived in was still in the lot when she knocked on the room door this morning. Watson must have taken it when she left, because it's not there now."

"Fuck," Nick said.

"No tag?" Angelo guessed the source of Nick's frustration.

"Protective services never uses tracking systems on their cars as a safety precaution," Nick explained. "It's just too risky for hacking and such."

"Then I'll track them the old fashion way."

"Do you have any idea at all which direction they went?"

"No, but it will be away from the city," he said. "That's what I'd do if I was trying to run from the trouble they have on their tail."

Stu Henderson admired himself in the mirror. He smiled. It was a smile that had stripped underwear off many a woman.

"You're looking in the wrong direction," Casey bemusedly said of his best mate. "We were meant to be on the road a couple of hours ago."

"No reason for me not to look good on the job."

Casey chuckled. "You're nuts," he said.

"I'm just being me," he said. "Have you said your goodbyes to the missus?"

"Don't call her that," Casey snapped. "We're not married yet."

"You knocked her up and so you're marrying her."

"Why do I have to?" he complained. "Heath has three kids to three different women, yet he has no intention of marrying any of them."

"True, but then you're not Heath," said Stu.

"It's not fair," he muttered. "Brax lets Heath do as he pleases, yet he expects Kyle and me to tow the line and do as he wants."

"That's because Heath won't be taking over the business, you and Kyle will be."

"Heath's older than us."

"He's dumber than dog shit though and would ruin the business within a week."

"It's not that he's dumb, he was just never very academic at school." Casey knew the feeling. He always struggled with school because he had learning difficulties, but unlike Heath, he was always willing and able to learn in other ways, which was why Brax was grooming him to join Kyle in eventually taking over everything. He still had the brains, even if he couldn't read properly.

"Because Heath is dumb as dog shit," Stu insisted. "He's more useful to Brax in other ways, which is why he allows Heath to do as he pleases."

Yeah well, if he keeps going as he is, Brax might cut him loose, Casey thought to himself. He just hoped that when Bianca's baby was born, that he looked like Brax and not his uncle Heath. Brax would never kill Heath, blood was stronger than that, but if he ever found out his wife and brother were having an affair, he wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of Heath and possibly even cut him out of their lives. Casey didn't want that. Sure, Heath was an idiot to be fucking his sister-in-law, but that was Heath. He loved women and fucking, Casey just wished his brother would learn what a condom was. Three kids already, possibly another on the way and who knew how many Braxton bastards were out there. Both his eldest brothers had been mansluts in their teens and while Brax had grown out of it and committed to one woman, Heath never would. It wasn't the first time Casey felt different to both Heath and Brax and it seemed as if he and Kyle were the only Braxtons to ever take their time to lose their virginity. Kyle still hadn't at 21 and Casey had been 17. It was just Casey's unfortunate luck that his first time had ended up in pregnancy and so now he was stuck with a woman he could barely stand, yet would marry on his 18th birthday if Brax had his say.

"Ok, I'm ready," Stu said after patting the last hair in place.

"Remind me why we're doing this when Brax already has everyone else out there?"

"Because we have no fucking idea where those women are and the more eyes out there, the better."

"And what are we meant to do if we catch them?"

"What do you reckon," said Stu.

This was the part Casey hated. He loved his brothers dearly and wanted to be like them, but blood made him squirm and he'd thankfully never had to pull the trigger on his brother's order. Until now. He was going to be a dad in a few months and Brax believed now was the time to prove he was a man. And a Braxton. Even Kyle, who was a lot like Casey in temperament, had gone on his initiation the other night. Lucky bastard, thought Casey. Not for having already done it, because Kyle had secretly confided in him that he'd wanted to puke after seeing Ryan's brains splattered everywhere, but for having an excuse for not being out there now. Kyle was the most intelligent of them all and had an astute business sense, which was why Brax had encouraged him to go to business school and so he was too busy studying to go hunting like he had to. Even Brax and Heath weren't going, though he guessed he could understand why they had to stay back. The cops were no doubt watching them closely, just like they always watched. Sometimes Casey wished he'd been born into a different family.

"Move your arse, Case," Stu ordered. Casey sighed and grabbed his bags. He was hoping they wouldn't be the ones to find the women as he followed after Stu.

Joey eyed the horizon. The sun was starting to set and they'd need to find somewhere to rest for the night. Unfortunately, they weren't as far ahead as Joey would have liked. The city may be behind them now, but not far enough. They could keep going and drive through the night, she thought. Joey knew she could go without sleep, only she also knew that every night that she did, the less alert she'd be, which was why she'd found a secluded spot off the road to sleep for a few hours last night, with Charlie slumbering in her drug induced sleep by her side in the car. The other thing she was kicking herself for, was the hours she'd wasted driving around some of the suburbs while she thought of some place to go. The city had been her life for so long, it was her safety net. She knew where to hide, where to lose a tail, whereas out here, beyond the city limits, was country she was unfamiliar with. And she hated the unknown.

Charlie stirred next to her. She'd been dozing for the past hour and she herself was getting tired again. They'd driven all day, only stopping occasionally to relieve themselves and stock up on food. Over all, it had been a rather uneventful day and for the most part, Charlie seemed to be cooperating, but Joey wasn't sure if that was still the after effects of the drugs or she was waiting for her to drop her guard. That was never going to happen. Joey had no intention of trusting or dropping her guard with anyone or in any situation. She was going to stay at the top of her game, alert to even the smallest…her thoughts were interrupted by a yawn. Damn, it must be the motion of the car that was making her more drousy than usual. They'd definitely need to find somewhere to sleep and she wasn't sure if she wanted that to be in the car again. There had to be a hotel or motel somewhere on this road.

Two hours later, matters were about to be taken out of her hands when a beep alerted her to a problem.

"Damn, we're running low on petrol," Joey muttered.

"Guess you should have checked the gauge before you stole it," Charlie sleepily said from the passenger seat.

Joey just scowled at her. She had checked it, but it must have been a faulty reading. She tapped the gauge with her finger and it fluttered back and forth with each tap, before settling toward empty. "Damn," she muttered and hoped like hell there was a petrol station nearby. Being stranded out here on the open road was the last place they could afford to be.