"The Braxtons must be getting desperate to do this right under our noses," Robertson said when Nick eventually joined him at the hospital. Telling his wife that her brother was dead had been a nightmare and by comparison, dealing with Robertson felt like a relief.

"Angelo wasn't even talking to us," said Nick.

"Obviously they're covering their bases to ensure Rosetta never had a change of heart." Robertson then said a little more seriously to Nick. "How is your wife holding up?"

"She's shattered," he admitted. "It was hard enough for her to accept Angelo's corruption, this is going to take a little longer," he said. "How did it happen?"

"One of the male nurse's uniforms was snatched from his locker, so our killer strolled right past the guards we had stationed at Rosetta's door," Robertson explained. "Walked right in and smothered Rosetta with his own pillow."

"Any idea who it was?"

Robertson nodded. "He did a good job of keeping his face away from the cameras in the locker room and the corridors, but he missed the cameras the hospital had recently placed in the stairwells after there had been a series of falls," he said. "We got him in all his glory. Hammer Pirovic," he told Nick. "Rosetta was smothered by his own lover."

"I wish I could say I was surprised," murmured Nick.

"The Pirovics were definitely looking out for their own interests, but there was no way they'd risk killing a cop, even a corrupt one, without the approval of the Braxtons. A dead cop, especially one with a connection to them, just brings too much heat on them all, so it's never something they do lightly."

"Well, the heats just been turned up."

"I do love it when they get cocky or desperate and it gets them caught," Robertson smugly said. "I've sent uniforms around to pick Hammer up."

"He won't talk."

"Perhaps, but his lips may loosen if he fears suffering the same fate as his lover if we press him hard enough," Robertson stated.

"I hope so," he said.

"Now, there's another matter that also needs to be dealt with," said Robertson. "I'll need you to finish up here and arrange for the media release."

Nick nodded. "Good luck," he said.

Joey paced nervously at the meeting site. He'd called ahead, letting her know he was nearly here. She was growing impatient. The timing still didn't feel right, as not everything was in place, but she couldn't put this off any longer. It was too dangerous, both by her staying here and for Charlie to be around her.

Charlie returned to the cabin, still feeling a little uneasy over the decision she'd made. It was a relief then, to find that Joey was nowhere in sight, which meant she could put the upcoming confrontation off for a little longer yet. She definitely wasn't looking forward to it, that was for sure.

Dropping her bag on the table, she pulled out her notepad. She'd managed to track down information on nearly all the people on her list, and in two cases, she'd added to the Pros column next to their names, so that they now had more Pros, than Cons. It all might be for nothing though, depending on how the next few hours panned out. She really hoped she hadn't made a mistake.

Charlie looked around the room. It felt weird to be here alone or anywhere alone for the matter. Ever since this had all started, she'd barely had a moment just to herself, so this afternoon had made a pleasant change, yet now that she was back at the cabin, it really didn't feel right. Perhaps it was just her worry for Joey, for as long as they were in eyesight of each other, they knew there was a level of safety around them, but when they were apart, there was a sense of worry. Charlie glanced at her watch. It was 5.30 and still no sign of Joey. That worry was starting to grow a little more concerning.

"Elijah," Joey said as she rushed to give the man a hug the moment he got out of his car. "You made good time."

"I'd been waiting for your call ever since this all kicked off, so I had everything ready in preparation."

"It's a mess Elijah," she told him as she stepped back.

"I'm sorry I ever got you into this," he said. "I taught you those things to keep you safe, I never expected you to follow in my footsteps."

"It's not your fault, Elijah," Joey assured him. "You tried to warn me away, but I couldn't help myself."

"If I'd been a better role model," he began to say, but Joey raised her hand to stop him.

"Elijah, you were one of only two foster parents I had that actually cared for me, and really wanted to be there for me," she told him. "I'll always be grateful for that."

"I just wish I was able to keep you and Aden on longer," he said.

"You weren't to blame for that," Joey said. "It was that bitch's fault."

"Well, I was married to that bitch at the time, so I do bear some blame," he replied with a grin.

"Yeah, but you wised up and traded her in for a better one," Joey said, returning his grin. "How is the wife and kids?"

"Hectic," he said. "She walked in while I was on the phone with you and I didn't think I was going to be able to get away."

"Does she know why I called?"

"Grace knows there are times when she's better off not asking too many questions."

"If this does cause you any hassles later on, just tell Grace to blame me."

"Oh don't worry, I will," he said with another grin.

Joey's expression grew grave. "So, did you bring everything I asked for?" He handed her over the gym bag in reply. "Thank you Elijah," Joey said, taking the bag from him.

"Come back with me Joey."

"I can't."

"Why not?" he said. "I can protect you."

"Because Charlie is in this mess because of me and I can't leave her to the sharks to gobble up before they're all taken down."

"Charlie?" he queried.

"The woman I'm on the run with."

"A cop," he said, disdain evident in his tone.

"A good woman," Joey said.

"Is she this unforeseen complication you were talking about on the phone?" Elijah stared at her when Joey said nothing.

"Don't look at me like that Elijah," Joey finally muttered as she broke under his intense gaze.

"I thought you were smarter than this Joey," he said.

"What do you mean?" she replied as innocently as she could.

"You've fallen for her, haven't you, that's why you're risking this before time."

"I'm risking this because I don't have a choice," she said. "I've already told you that Ryan's murder has changed things."

"If it was just that, then you would already have just gone to ground and organised the rest of it from there," he argued. "Instead, you disappear and don't contact me until now."

"I didn't have a chance until now."

"You did," he said. "You could have dumped the cop and reached out to me at any time, and then carried through with your plan with a few easy alterations."

"Elijah, I already told you that she's in this mess because of me, and you know me well enough to know that I could never abandon someone who I'd placed in danger," she said. "Not even a cop." Of course there was more to it than that, but Joey really didn't want to have to explain to him why she held off for as long as she had. "This hasn't been an easy ride, Elijah," Joey said instead. "I've had to deal with a couple of corrupt cops trying to kill me, along with Mick and Jarrod."

"I figured that was you when I saw they'd taken a swim on the news."

"Things have just been crazy, Elijah."

"It's about to get even crazier," he warned her.

"I know."

"What exactly do you intend to do with this information?" Elijah asked her.

"I have someone who will know what to do with it."

"That cop you're with?"

Joey nodded.

"Joey, that stuff was meant to be insurance against the Braxtons coming after you, and not for public consumption, except as a last resort."

"It's gone well beyond that stage."

"What happened, Joey?" he said. "What went wrong?"

"They set me up," she said.

"You think they knew what you were planning to do?"

"Yeah, I do, because there was no other reason for me to be there that night, or for them to turn up," she said. "They know my contract terms, and they'd have known the moment they assigned me, that the job didn't meet any of my terms."

"It would certainly explain their desperation in wanting you dead," he murmured. Elijah sighed. "Joey, if you go through with this, there is no going back," he warned her. "You'll have to disappear, and I mean, disappear for good."

"I'm prepared for that," she said. "Provided what I've been waiting for is finally done."

"One fake id with matching papers," he said, handing over a small folder.

"What about the passport?" Joey said as she scanned through the contents.

"You moved up the timeline and a fake passport is not something that can be rushed," he told her.

Joey knew damn well what the hold up was. That greedy bitch had had weeks to get it done.

"How much to speed it along?" Joey resignedly asked.

"Twenty and she can have it done within the next few days, no sooner."

"Damn it," she muttered. "Fine," she said. "I can't stay here while I wait though."

"Once it's done, I'll send word for you to pick it up at the usual place."

"Thanks, Elijah."

"In the meantime, be careful, Joey."

"Always," she said. "What about you Elijah," Joey said with concern. "You took a big risk breaking your cover," she said. "If the Braxtons ever find out."

"The Braxtons have more important things on their minds than looking for me," he assured her. "And I've managed to keep a low profile all these years without them bothering me."

"This is different," Joey said. "After what I'm about to do, everything is going to blow up big time."

"I'm safe Joey, from the Braxtons, from the cops, from all of it," he told her. "Only those I trust implicitly have any idea where I've been hiding out."

Joey nodded. "Just promise me, that once you leave here, you head straight back before anyone can see you."

"Joey, I've been doing this a lot longer than you, so please, stop worrying about me."

"Fine, you stop worrying about me, and I'll stop worrying about you."

Elijah crossed his large arms across his chest and glared at her. Joey just smiled sweetly up at him. He shook his head. "You're a smartarse."

"I learnt from the master," she cheekily replied.

"God I hope my kids don't take after you," he muttered, much to Joey's amusement. "One more thing, Joey," he said. "You avoided answering before, but have you fallen for this woman, this cop?"

"I'm in love with her," Joey admitted.

"Oh Joey," he said.

"I couldn't help it," she said.

"How does she feel?"

"No idea and I'm not about to ask her."

"Are you going to be able to walk away?" he asked. "It's one thing to say you can, but when the time comes, are you going to be able to turn your back on her and walk away?"

"Yes," she said. "I can't stay, Elijah, she'll hate me once she knows."

"It's a hard lesson you've learnt here," he told her.

"Tell me about," she muttered. She walked into the hug when he held his arms open for her.

"A broken heart will mend, but only if you're alive, so don't take any unnecessary risks," he told her, then let her go. "And don't do anything dumb because you let your feelings get in the way."

"I promise, I'll get out of this without a scratch," she told him.

"See that you do."

"I should be getting back."

"Just remember what we talked about."

Joey nodded.

"Be safe Joey."

"You too."