Chapter Two Hundred and Ten

Suzy grabbed her gun the moment it fell within her reach again. Without time to fire it, she used it to hit Charlie firmly over the head again. The police officer, who was already suffering the after effects of the same kind of injury, collapsed onto her. Suzy pushed her roughly out of the way. She hit the deck hard, unconscious. Standing up, Suzy was about to dispose of her assailant, fully prepared to dump her and let her drown, when someone else attacked her from behind. Everything went black.


Light was beginning to dawn on Summer Bay. Martha remained seated with Tony in the hospital corridor, waiting for some kind of news. Still nobody had heard anything from Hugo, and Martha didn't know how she even felt about him anymore.

"Martha?" Rachel said, appearing in front of her.

"How's Angelo?" Martha asked, surprising herself.

It was strange how one night could change everything. Only yesterday, she had felt nothing but hatred towards the man who had killed her husband, even if she could just about accept that it had been an accident. It didn't change the fact that Jack, a good man, a good cop and a good husband, was dead at barely thirty years old. But tonight, she could have been dead too. And even if it had all been rather clumsy, Angelo had saved her life. And he'd put himself at risk in order to do it.

"He's fine," Rachel said. "He's making a statement to the police now but he was lucky."

Martha nodded.

"And that man? Derrick?" she asked.

"He's dead," Rachel confirmed. "His injuries were too severe. There was nothing we could do.


Hugo didn't bother to protest as Watson unceremoniously handcuffed him to his own boat and prevented him from going anywhere. He watched as she turned to Joey who had leapt into the fray without hesitation and knocked Suzy out. Stepping onto Suzy's boat, Watson checked her for injuries and then handcuffed her also. Nobody was about to escape on her watch. She turned to Joey who was holding Charlie, calling her name and desperately willing her to wake up.


Detective Cole entered the hospital and found Angelo in a side room.

"You caught Derrick," he said by way of greeting. "But what about Hugo?"

"I haven't seen him," Angelo admitted. "And I'm fine by the way."

Cole leant closer.

"If you've screwed this whole thing up, the fact that you stink of booze will be the least of your problems," he warned.

Angelo swallowed uncertainly.

"We've taken one player out," he said. "And I'll make sure Hugo's next."


Charlie fought the urge to vomit as she was transported back to the Bay. With Hugo and Suzy both retrained and Joey at the wheel, Watson had radioed back to the station to tell her colleagues what had happened. She had then been informed that Angelo, Martha and Derrick had been involved in a car crash. The beginning of 2010 was proving to be very busy indeed.

"What's going on?" Charlie mumbled.

Joey reached out to hold her hand, torn between needing to comfort her and wanting to get her to the hospital sooner rather than later. Fortunately, Watson stepped in, crouching in front of the Senior Constable.

"We're getting you to hospital, okay?" she said gently.

"Hugo!" Charlie said, suddenly panicking.

In another corner, still handcuffed, her captor looked up.

"We've got him," Watson assured Charlie.

"Suzy?" Charlie asked.

Her head was pounding and she was not enjoying the motion of the boat on the water.

"We've got her too," Watson said, glancing back at her other prisoner and wondering how she would even begin to write a report on tonight's events. "You did good, Charlie. You rescued those people and you're bringing two criminals to justice."

Charlie nodded and closed her eyes, wishing for sleep.


Angelo discharged himself. He was sick of being stuck in the hospital bed and only mildly relieved that nobody had opted to breathalyse him. Appearing in the corridor, he spotted Martha sitting between Gina and Tony with Bambang on her lap. Hesitantly, he approached. Martha stood and against her own better judgement, pulled him into a hug.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said earnestly.

Angelo nodded and managed a smile, thanking her for saving his life.

"Does it hurt?" Tony asked, nodded towards the police officers bandaged leg.

"A bit," Angelo admitted. "But I was lucky. Thanks to Martha."

"Derrick died," Martha told him.

Angelo nodded, although he wasn't sad.

"Angelo, what on earth is going on here?" Gina finally asked. "What has my son got to do with any of the chaos that happened tonight?"


Joey, Watson, Charlie, Hugo and Suzy arrived back on dry land where a team of police officers were waiting for them. Hugo and Suzy were both taken separately into custody. Watson told her colleagues to keep them there until she got back. Then she and Joey took a barely conscious Charlie to the hospital.


Next time... Bambang is reunite with his father, Angelo gets his job back and he and Charlie lead the interview with Hugo...