Chapter Eight

Charlie was at work early the following morning, setting to work on the AVO for Joey against Robbo immediately. She had arrested Robbo the night before and although he'd been released on bail, the charges were definitely in motion. With the AVO, Charlie wanted Joey to feel as safe as possible as soon as possible and she wanted to get moving right away. Glancing at her watch, she was expecting her friend fairly soon to sign the paperwork. She was happy that they were finally getting somewhere and Charlie silently pledged to support Joey throughout the whole process. She desperately wanted to be friends for the rest of their lives. Looking up, she smiled when she saw Joey walking through the door of the police station. Her smile faded when she saw how grim she looked and that she had a man following closely behind her.

"Joey, are you okay?" Charlie asked.

Joey glanced between the man and Charlie.

"I… I've come to drop the charges," Joey said meekly.

"What?"

"I've come to drop the charges. I'm sorry."

Joey hung her head.

"Joey, what are you talking about?" Charlie asked.

They had come so far. How could Joey drop out now?

"She's saying she wants to drop her statement," the man said sternly, stepping forward.

"Sorry, who are you?"

"I'm Joey's brother."

"Well, this isn't your decision. It's Joey's and yesterday, she was happy to make a statement," Charlie said sternly.

"And today, she isn't."

"Joey?"

Joey swallowed and gazed into Charlie's eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said weakly.

"Joey, you don't need to do this. Whoever or whatever has got into your head, you can fight it. You can't let Robbo get away with what he's done to you," Charlie pleaded.

"Robbo hasn't done anything to her!" Joey's brother, Brett insisted. "She's making up lies!"

"How can you side with him over your own sister?" Charlie snapped.

"Because she's lying for attention!"

"Of course she isn't! How can you even think that?"

Joey started to tremble with emotion as her brother and friend argued.

"I know my mate! He's not a rapist!"

"Then you don't know your sister because she isn't a liar!"

"Drop the charges now!" Brett demanded.

"Joey, you don't have to do this," Charlie said kindly.

"Yes I do," Joey said sadly. "I'm so sorry."

She slowly followed her brother out of the station.


Charlie ordered the strongest coffee she could possibly think of when she got to the Diner and threw herself into a chair. Her fury over Brett forcing Joey to drop the charges against Robbo, had not yet subsided and she was trying to wrack her brains as to how she could convince her to change her mind.

"Are you alright?" Aden asked, approaching.

Charlie looked up unhappily.

"Don't even ask," she said.

He sat beside her.

"It's not Joey by any chance, is it?"

"How did you know?"

"I saw her getting dragged across town by her brother," he said.

"He's forced her to drop the charges," Charlie revealed.

Aden stood up, ready to force her to change them back but Charlie held his arm.

"We need to do this a different way," she said. "Charging over there is only going to frighten her more."

He sighed and sat back down.

"Get yourself a coffee," she said. "My treat. Let's think of a plan."


Joey sat on the couch. She felt like she was going to be sick. Robbo sat in the arm chair in front of her. Brett stood in between them.

"Now, I want you to apologise," Brett said.

Robbo grinned at her. Joey shook her head. There was no way she was going to say sorry for telling the truth. Why couldn't Brett believe her over his friend? She was his sister for goodness sake!

"Come on, Joey! Let's sort this mess out!" Brett demanded.

"I'm willing to forgive and forget," Robbo said.

Joey stood up. She fled.


Charlie was finishing the dishes when she heard a vigorous knocking at the door. Puzzled, she opened up.

"Joey!" she said.

"Brett tried to make me apologise to Robbo," Joey said tearfully.

She fell into Charlie's open arms. Charlie guided her inside the house and sat her down on the sofa. She brushed Joey hair out of her eyes.

"Everything's going to be alright," she said.

"No, it's not," Joey said.

"It is," Charlie insisted. "You can still get justice, Joey."

"My own brother thinks I'm a liar. Who else is going to believe me?"

"I believe you."

"Honestly?"

"One hundred per cent."

Joey felt overwhelmed. She sank into Charlie's arms.

"Look, why don't you stay here tonight?" Charlie suggested. "We can process your statement first thing in the morning and then we can go and talk to Brett together after that."