BRAX'S POV:
"So up until just recently your mother wasn't gambling?" our solicitor questioned
"That's right, but then the loan she'd taken out got complicated and she had to do it to get some quick cash" I informed him
"What do you mean the loan got complicated?" he inquired
"The loan shark she borrowed the money from said she owed him more, and to get him off her back she gambled and gave him the money she won" I explained
Our solicitor nodded his head in understanding and jotted some notes down… "And do you think your mother got a taste for gambling again?"
"I don't know. I'd like to think not, but you never know with her" I admitted
RICKY'S POV:
"Okay, well that concludes today's meeting" our solicitor informed Brax and I a while later "we've got a very good case so far. If there's anything else you can think of, just let me know"
"Thank you" Brax replied, shaking his hand
"Yes, thank you" I mirrored, also shaking his hand
"You're welcome. I'll see you out" he stated, opening the door for us both
"Why are we here?" I questioned as Brax pulled into the surf club car park
"I'm going to get the books" he informed me "do you want a pizza or anything?"
"Pizza, wedges and some garlic bread would be good, thanks" I replied
"Hungry?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at me
"What makes you think that?" I asked, smirking at him as he kissed me softly and climbed out of the car
We arrived back home twenty minutes later, Heath making his way out of the bedroom…
"Sorry about earlier" he admitted
"No problem" Brax replied, patting his shoulder as we walked into the kitchen
"So how did it go?" he questioned as he followed us through
"Good" I informed him as I started to organise our food "our solicitor says we've got a really strong case. I'm guessing you want some of this?"
"You're a mind-reader, Erica Sharpe" he proclaimed, throwing his arm around my shoulder
"Heath…" Bianca's voice whimpered a minute or so later
"Baby, what's happened?" he questioned as he hurried over to her, sitting her down on the sofa
"I don't know" she admitted "this guy just came out of nowhere and told me that if we didn't get him the money Cheryl Braxton owed him then we'd be in for it"
"Mum, again" he proclaimed, throwing his hands in the air in frustration
"Heath, calm down" I sighed "did he say anything else to you, B?"
She shook her head, signalling no… "What do we do?"
"What do you think we should do?" I questioned, turning to Brax
"Would you be willing to make a statement for threatening behaviour, B?" he inquired
She nodded her head, signalling yes…
"Then we phone the police" he informed me
"How about I just go find him and thump him instead?" Heath suggested
"What good's that gonna do?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at him "I'll phone the police, Brax will finish organising our food and you go sit with your girlfriend"
He sighed heavily and sat down on the sofa next to Bianca, pulling her into him. Making my way back into the kitchen, I pulled my phone from my handbag… "It's just one thing after another"
Brax smiled at me weakly and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him as I called the police…
Poor Bianca, poor everyone, like Ricky said, it really is just one thing after another…