Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Nine

That afternoon, Hugo headed down to his boat. He had a few diving lessons booked and he was looking forward to escaping for a little while. Between Martha's joy over running for Council, and the comments he'd overheard about her semi-nude body strewn across the Bay, he had had quite enough. He looked up when he heard footsteps but, rather than seeing his next client, he saw the suited and booted figure of Detective Robert Robertson. Peering up at him against the glare of sun, Hugo wondered what he wanted.


"Hey, Charlie, I've had a tipoff," Angelo said, closing them into Charlie's office.

"What kind of tipoff?" Charlie asked.

She wondered if she really wanted to get involved in this case. She'd waded through the files Angelo had given her and it looked heavy beyond her wildest dreams. Although it would do a lot for her career and she and Angelo did have the chance to save lives, it was a big deal. She was starting to think that there was too much in her personal life to cope with all of this as well.

"Someone has reported some dodgy activity down the coast," Angelo said. "About thirty minutes from here. Are you up for going?"

Nodding, Charlie hauled herself out of her chair and followed him towards the exit.


Ruby approached Xavier at his locker and presented him with a daisy. He eyed her curiously, having hardly spoken to her all day.

"What's this?" he asked.

"I couldn't find an olive branch," she said sweetly.

Despite himself, Xavier smiled and accepted the flower, tucking it into his locker.

"Thank you," he said.

Ruby beamed at him and pulled him into a hug, apologising for being such a terrible girlfriend.

"It's okay," he said softly, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. "I know things have been really tough for you."

She nodded, promising that she was going to change.


Xavier had only been home from school for a few minutes when Hugo came bursting through the door.

"What's up?" the younger man asked, worried about Hugo's fretful face.

"Tell me you didn't lie to the police," Hugo instructed, folding his arms across his chest.

Xavier blanched, busying himself without pouring a glass of juice.

"What are you talking about?" he mumbled.

Hugo stepped forward and firmly grabbed hold of his arms.

"Did you lie about seeing Charlie that night?"

"Of course I didn't!"

"Look, mate, I know you love Ruby and I know things are tough for you right now but lying to the police to try and keep her isn't a good idea," Hugo told him.

"I'm not lying!" Xavier insisted. "It'd be a pretty dumb thing to do, wouldn't it? To give a false alibi to someone accused of murder?"

"Yes, it would be extremely dumb," Hugo agreed.

"So, unless you think I'm a total idiot, believe me when I say that what Ruby and I told the police was true."

The brothers stared at each other for a few long moments. Sighing, but not entirely convinced, Hugo let Xavier go. Without another word, he left the house.


Angelo and Charlie drove back to Summer Bay in silence. Sitting in the passenger seat, Charlie looked out of the window. Their tipoff had led them to arrest some drug dealers but although that was a good thing, it didn't help them with their case.

"Sorry for dragging you along," Angelo said, glancing at her.

"I said I wanted to help," Charlie pointed out, still looking through the window.

"Yeah, but it was a waste of time," Angelo sighed.

He felt like the whole case was proving to be a waste of time. And time wasn't something he had plenty of. If he failed in his mission, he could easily be sent right back to jail.

"We caught a couple of dealers, didn't we?" Charlie said, trying to stay positive. "That's a good thing."

"A good thing that their local cops could have done," Angelo pointed out.

Charlie turned to look at him, remarking that he really was a glass half empty kind of guy. He sighed, reminding her that he never used to be.

"You'll get back on your feet," Charlie said certainly.

"I hope so," he said. "I thought..."

He trailed off.

"You thought what?" she asked.

"I guess I thought that getting out of prison would be different to this," he admitted. "I thought I'd really be able to make things right again. And while I know Martha will never truly forgive me for what happened, I'd hoped I would have made more progress by now. I thought I might get my life back."

"You've got your life back," Charlie said.

"I'm the town leper," Angelo said sadly.

"You're not. I mean, obviously Martha isn't going to start inviting you round for Christmas dinner but she tolerates you. Most people are friendly. The way you helped Irene did you a lot of favours. And once this case is solved, things will get better for you. You're on the verge of bringing down and evil, criminal gang."

"Involving Hugo Austin," Angelo reminded her unhappily. "Martha's boyfriend. Jack's cousin."

"It's not your fault that he's involved," Charlie said. "Everyone makes their own decisions and they have to live with them. But things will get better for you. I'm sure they will."

"I think I'll just leave town when the mission's over," Angelo said.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"It's not like I've got any friends here."

"I'm your friend," Charlie said, albeit a little stiffly.

"Only a few days ago you were accusing me of being a pervert," Angelo pointed out.

"With good reason!"

"I know but still..."

He sighed.

"And anyway, Joey hates me."

"She doesn't hate you."

"She does."

"She's not capable of hate," Charlie said certainly. "She's too wonderful for that."

She allowed herself a small smile at the thought. Angelo grimaced.

"She doesn't like me though," he said. "Which means that despite your best intentions, you and I are never going to be close friends. Life doesn't work that way."

"You're right," Charlie said reasonably. "We're not going to be crazy close. Joey isn't keen on you and I'd never want to upset her by hanging out with someone she doesn't like. But it doesn't mean I don't care about you and it doesn't mean that I'm not going to be your friend."

He managed a smile.

"I guess that's better than nothing," he said.


Ruby hadn't gone home. She'd said goodbye to Xavier and her friends and then headed to the beach. Joey was always telling her that the sound of the waves could calm even the worst storm in someone's heart so she was determined to try it. She felt terrible for the way she had been treating her boyfriend but she felt worse now that she had made up with him. It had all been so disingenuous. She loved him. Of course she did. But she knew she didn't want to be with him and if he ever uncovered the memory that she had dumped him before his accident, then he would know too. For now, he was blissfully ignorant and he'd put himself on the line in order to protect her and her family.

"I want a word with you."

Ruby turned to find Hugo towering over her. She stood up quickly, immediately nervous.

"About what?" she asked timidly.

"About the way you're treating my brother," Hugo said. "And about the way you've made him lie to you to save your sister or your mother or whatever the hell Charlie's calling herself these days."

"We haven't lied," said Ruby, although there was a definite tremble in her voice.

"I know you've lied," he said. "And I totally get why. But you should not be dragging my poor brother into your mess!"

He stepped forward. Ruby stepped back. She tripped and crashed onto the sand. Hugo took another step forward.

"Hey!" yelled an angry voice.

Hugo turned to find Joey running up to him, demanding to know what was going on.

"Your... I don't even know what she is to you, the situation is so fucked up, but your step-daughter has dragged my brother into your mess and I don't like it."

Ruby stood up, dusting the sand off her school uniform.

"Ruby has done nothing wrong," Joey said. "She and Xavier only told the truth."

She tried to ignore the nagging doubt in her mind that Ruby and Xavier were both lying. But to question their story could put Charlie in peril and Joey would rather go to jail for the rest of her life than have Charlie suffer.

"We all know they're lying!" Hugo yelled. "And it's Xavier that's going to suffer!"

"Whether you think they're lying or not, doesn't give you the right to start pushing Ruby around and intimidating her," Joey said firmly, looking Hugo directly in the eye.

She reached a hand out to Ruby who came to stand behind her, grateful for the protection.

"I'll do whatever the hell I like if it means protecting my family," Hugo warned, stepping closer to Joey who did not back away.

"Then so will we all," Joey warned.

"I want to talk to Ruby," Hugo said. "Alone. Get out of my way."

"I don't think that's going to happen somehow, do you?"

Hugo glared at his brother's girlfriend. He'd been watching her mistreat him for weeks and now he had had enough. Without thinking, he attempted to push past Joey. She pushed him back, wedging herself squarely between him and Ruby.

"Do you really think getting physical with me is going to do any favours?" Joey asked.

She thought about what she knew of his involvement with Angelo's case. And she remembered the way he had hit on Charlie when she had been broken and vulnerable. The position she was currently in was terrifying but she had to do whatever it took to protect Ruby.

"I'd love to see you up on an assault charge."

"What is your problem?" Hugo yelled.

"You intimidating my Ruby!" Joey yelled back.

Growling in frustration, Hugo stormed away and left them to it. Joey visibly deflated. Conflict wasn't her thing at all and she wasn't quite sure where it had come from. After what had happened with Robbo, she never thought she'd square up to a man again. Ruby hugged her, whispering her thanks.

"Of course I'm going to protect you. It's only what Charlie would have done," Joey said bashfully.

"Yeah but Charlie's my mother," Ruby pointed out as the girls sat down on the sand together.

"Well, I love her and I love you," Joey said. "You and Charlie are my family. I hope."

"We are," Ruby confirmed. "I don't think I need to tell you how Charlie feels but for the record, I love you too."