Well, we're reaching the climax of 2009. So far, I have written as far as March 2010 so updates are starting to catch up. But just so you don't keep hoping, I'm keeping Angelo for a little while longer and I have big plans for where his stupidity will take him. But rest assured, he will never get near our Charlie! In fact, he's going to go off her fairly soon and start crushing on someone else... Anyway, on with the story! I hope you like it. And thank you to everyone who has been reviewing. Also, in some exciting news (for me, anyway), I might well be looking into self publishing my novel as an e-book in the very near future, if anyone would be interested in reading it. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Two Hundred and Seven

"So, do you have any New Year's resolutions?" Ruby asked.

She, Geoff, Joey and Leah were seated round a table, having worn themselves out dancing. Hazem was at the bar getting a round of drinks. It was approaching one o'clock.

"To actually complete college this time around," Joey grinned.

"Is this the catering thing?" Geoff asked.

"Yeah, I only had a few months to go before I dropped out so they said I could take a foundation course thingamy-jig to get my qualifications," Joey explained.

"Thingamy-jig," Leah teased. "Is that the official course title?"

Ruby giggled.

"No-one likes a smart arse!" Joey remarked.

"You must do!" Ruby said. "You are dating my mother, after all."


Hugo was annoyed with himself for wasting so much time. He had only gone to the shipping container in order to check on the prisoners, like he'd promised he would. Then he had only to tie up a few loose ends in order to ensure Martha's safety. His plan had been to obediently go back to Indonesia with Suzy and then make his escape forever. The last thing he had expected was to find Charlie unearthing his secret. If he had been afraid of any cop discovering the truth, it was Angelo and with the incident the other day, prompting his bosses to suspend him, Hugo had believed that he was safe again. But apparently Charlie had been investigating him all along.


"I think I'm going to go home," Xavier said.

He had no idea why he had even bothered to stay out at all. He wasn't exactly having a good time. All he could think about was Hugo as he tried to piece together the shreds of memory. He was certain that something was wrong but couldn't quite figure out what.

"Oh, come on," Romeo said. "Relax. It's New Year after all."

He spoke with more jubilance than he felt. While Xavier couldn't stop thinking about Hugo, Romeo couldn't stop thinking about Annie, wondering what she was up to tonight and if she was having fun without him.

"I guess..." Xavier sighed.

He stood up. A memory hit him hard. He sat back down again.


Angelo was just about to give up and leave when the front door of the house opened. He watched in horror as Derrick dragged Martha outside, opening up his car again in order to sling her inside. Without really thinking it through, Angelo launched himself at Martha's captor. Martha fell to the floor while Angelo struggled with Derrick, pinning into the floor and punching him until he passed out.


Pulling up at the docks, Hugo cut the engine and glanced back at Charlie. She was still out cold and he worried for a moment that he might have killed her. He had hit her pretty hard with his gun and the last thing he wanted was to have to deal with another dead body. Sighing heavily, he pulled out his phone in order to call Suzy and explain that he had been delayed.


"We have to go to Port Heron," Xavier said urgently.

"What are you talking about?" Romeo asked.

"Port Heron," Xavier repeated. "Hugo's in danger. We... we have to go there."

"Why?"

"Because he's in danger!" Xavier yelled, as if his friend was stupid.

"Mate, you're not making any sense..." Romeo said, refusing to move.

Xavier hurriedly tried to explain that on the day Hugo had fought with Derrick at his boatshed, they had been arguing about a shipping container. He knew, from various trips with Hugo for work, that that was closest place to go.

"Xave, I really don't think..." Romeo tried.

"Mr Stewart!" Xavier hollered when the Surf Club owner walked past, collecting glasses.

Alf turned in surprise.

"I need a favour."


"Angelo, what the hell is going on?" Martha cried, getting to her feet.

Angelo stood up rather breathlessly, his hand bloodied and his heart racing. Wiping his knuckles on his jeans, Angelo regarded Derrick on the floor and then turned to Martha.

"You've got caught up in some serious stuff," he told her. "But it's okay. You're safe now. We'll..."

"What has Hugo done?" Martha asked, interrupting him. "They kept talking about cargo and that Suzy woman and Hugo. I'm so confused. I don't understand."

"Hugo and Suzy, and this guy here, have been involved in human trafficking," Angelo explained.

Martha immediately felt sick.

"The whole reason I returned to the Bay was to bring the organisation down," the police officer continued. "I didn't want to do it at first but I realised how important it was. I've been trying to make things right and..."

He sighed heavily and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Hugo couldn't be involved in something like that," Martha said, although her faith was dwindling. "I mean, how could he be? How could he do something so terrible?"

"Look, I need to take you to the police station," Angelo said. "We can talk about it properly there."

He led her towards the car. Then a shot was fired. Angelo tumbled to the ground.


"I wonder where they're off to," Joey said.

She was still missing Charlie and had tried to call her a couple of times but got no answer. She supposed that she was busy trying to track Derrick down.

"Maybe Alf offered to give Xavier a lift home," Ruby mused. "He hasn't been having a good time."

"What's wrong with him?" Geoff asked.

"He keeps thinking that Hugo is in some kind of trouble or something," Ruby explained.

Without another word, Joey leapt up and followed Alf, Xavier and Romeo out of the Surf Club.


"I will be with you as soon as I can," Hugo said, irritated. "I just have to sort something out first."

He looked at Charlie, still unconscious on his backseat. He'd imagined having the pretty police officer at his mercy on more than one occasion but this hadn't been quite the scenario he had envisioned.

"What do you have to sort out?" Suzy barked down the phone. "You'd better not be forgetting that I've got Martha. Or worse, Derrick has got Martha. And she'll be dead before sunrise if you don't make the plane."

"I'll make the plane," Hugo snapped. "Just give me a little more time."

He hung up and then braced himself to deal with Charlie.


In a panic, Martha grabbed hold of Angelo and slung him into the backseat of the car. Derrick had shot him in the leg but was still dizzy and confused from being knocked out. Stumbling round to the driver's side, Martha was relieved to find the keys still in the ignition. She started the engine and attempted to flee. Still a little bewildered, Derrick got into his own car and gave chase.


"What do you think has happened to Hugo?" Joey asked urgently.

"I have no idea," Alf said. "Ask Xavier. He's the one panicking."

Joey turned to Xavier, who was remarkably pale.

"I don't know," he said. "Just... something about a shipping container and that Derrick guy. I just have a feeling..."

"Charlie's investigating him," Joey blurted out, not caring if she had broken a confidence. "And she was heading to Port Heron looking for Derrick tonight. That's why she left the party."

The boys exchanged anxious glances.

"What's she investigating Hugo for?" Xavier asked. "What does she think he's done?"

"I don't think we've got time," Joey said. "Can I go with you to Port Heron?"

"Plenty of room," Alf said, turning towards the car.

Xavier, Romeo and Joey followed. Sitting in the backseat, Joey tried to call Charlie again but once more, there was no answer. Next, she called Watson at the police station.


Charlie woke up feeling sick. Her head swam and she fought the urge to vomit. Sitting up quickly, she only felt worse but realised that she was in a moving vehicle. Adjusting to the lack of light and trying to steady her stomach, Charlie tried to move, only to realise that she was in her own handcuffs. She was also on a boat.

"Hugo?" she managed to yell.


Next time... Martha, Angelo and Derrick have an accident, the refugees are hospitalised and Joey and Watson try to track Hugo and Charlie down...