Chapter Two Hundred and Twelve

Knowing he had no other option and no hope of saving himself, Hugo answered every question Charlie and Angelo threw his way. He explained his relationship with Wayan and why the man was afraid of him. He admitted to being involved in human trafficking but made a point of adding that for a long time, he had wanted to escape that life.

"So, you just wanted to turn your back on all the misery you caused?" Charlie demanded.

"I wanted to leave that life behind," he said. "I wanted to settle down with Martha, make a go of my diving business, be normal."

"Why didn't you?" Angelo asked.

"Because Suzy wouldn't let me," he said. "Because I was in too deep."


Gina sat at home with Xavier and Martha. After such a late night, Bambang, who was still in Martha's care until his father was well enough to look after him, was napping in the spare room.

"I just can't believe that Hugo could be involved in something like this," Xavier said, shaking his head.

"I suppose that's why he's been out of our lives until now," Gina replied bitterly. "I honestly thought that he'd come back home to be with his family. I thought he cared about us and wanted to develop a relationship with you. I believed every damn word that evil liar said to me."

She wiped her eyes furiously. Martha sat still in her chair, unable to give voice to her feelings.


"Tell us about Lou DeBono," Angelo instructed.

Hugo blanched. He'd forgotten that in his arrogance, he'd told Charlie the truth about what happened that night. Glancing at her, he shuddered at the way she looked so hatefully at him.

"There was a fight," he revealed. "Derrick shot him but he didn't die. He attacked me and I tossed him overboard. I guess he drowned."

"And got half eaten by a shark," Charlie added. "Let's not forget that pleasant image."

Hugo swallowed.

"It was an accident," he said. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

"Minus the poor, innocent, vulnerable people you dragged over to Australia, promising them a better life," Angelo said.

"They paid me," Hugo reminded them. "Nobody forced any of them on board. They made the choice."

"That doesn't make you any less evil," Charlie replied.


Ruby and Geoff held hands as they walked along the beach together. Ruby had been less than happy that her mother had insisted on returning to work so soon, especially to interview Hugo, but she'd had no choice. Joey had made her promise that she'd get the interview done and then go home. And she was waiting for her at the police station to ensure that she didn't run off anywhere or get herself into any more trouble.

"She'll be okay, Rubes," Geoff said gently. "Joey will look after her."

Ruby nodded but remained unconvinced.

"I just can't believe how close I came to losing her," she said. "There's so much stuff I wouldn't have had the chance to say."


"What was your plan last night?" Charlie demanded.

Angelo looked at her, wondering if she would be okay for the rest of the interview. Her voice was already shaking a little and he suspected that she was finding everything harder than she was prepared to admit.

"I had to move the people in the shipping container and then I was meant to go to the airport to meet Suzy," Hugo said. "We were going back to Indonesia together. For good."

"And then what happened?" Angelo asked.

"Then she fucking interfered!" Hugo snapped.

"Excuse me for try to save the lives of the poor bastards you nearly killed!" Charlie yelled back.

"If you'd have just left it alone..."

"Do not try and blame me for being the monster you are!" Charlie argued. "Don't even try!"

He sighed heavily and rubbed his temples, mumbling an apology.

"Were you going to kill me?" Charlie asked.

"No," Hugo replied.

"What was your plan?" Angelo asked again.

"I was going to dump you near the island," Hugo told Charlie. "Then I was going to get on with what I had to do and call someone to tell them where you were when it was already too late to catch me."

"And that's when Suzy showed up?" Angelo asked.

Hugo nodded.

"And that's when you were going to leave us both to die out there," Charlie said.

He looked a little startled.

"Joey and Watson told me exactly what was going on when they arrived to save me," she said. "And I can promise you now, you're going to jail for as long as I can get the judge to agree to."

Noticing that she was trembling and seemed to be fighting tears, Angelo touched his colleague's arm.

"Why don't you let me take it from here?" he suggested. "You should go home and rest."

Charlie looked between Hugo and Angelo and then nodded. Standing up, she hurried out of the room and into Joey's arms, more than ready to go home.


The atmosphere in the Diner and indeed in the whole of Summer Bay, was solemn. Even Colleen was struggling to gossip and nobody had met the New Year with much excitement. News of Hugo's criminal activities had got around rather quickly and hardly anyone could believe it. And everyone was worried about both Charlie and the refugees who were fighting for their lives.

"And you, you poor thing," Colleen said when Alf approached.

He hadn't much relished the idea of fixing his own lunch and was struggling with the images of what he had experienced the night before.

"It's the prisoners I feel sorry for," Alf said. "They're the ones suffering."


Alone with Hugo in the interview room, Angelo switched off the tape recorder. He sat down opposite the man he had grown to hate, clasping his hands together in front of him on the desk. Leaning forward, he looked Hugo directly in the eye.

"I have a proposition for you," he said.


Geoff, Ruby, Joey and Charlie all arrived back at the house and Charlie was more relieved than even she expected to be. She cuddled up with Joey on the sofa while Ruby fussed around her, fixing her a drink and making snacks for everyone.

"I'm so glad you're safe, Charlie," Joey said. "I thought I was going to die when I thought I was going to lose you."

"It takes more than Hugo Austin to finish me off," Charlie told her with more conviction than she felt.

She managed a smile. Joey leant in and kissed her.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said. "I was so worried."

"Well, I gather that I'm only okay because of you," Charlie pointed out. "So, thank you for saving my life."

Joey blushed, feeling a little shy.

"I just did what anyone would have done," she said.

"You were amazing," Charlie insisted. "And I will never stop thanking you."


Against her better judgement, Martha approached the police station. Hugo was about to be transferred to prison while he waited to appeal in court. He had asked to say goodbye to the woman he loved. Martha had reluctantly agreed to see him, although love was far from what she was feeling towards him right now. He had endangered her life. He had destroyed people. He had nearly killed Charlie. He was not the person she had known and loved.

"Martha..." the handcuffed criminal said as he was escorted towards her.

"How could you have done all of those things?" Martha wondered.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry for everything."

"I don't forgive you," Martha said honestly.

He nodded unhappily as he was led away. Suddenly, a hooded figure approached and shot him.


Next time... Charlie struggles with nightmares, Miles returns from his drinking binge and Aden tells Charlie and Joey what happened with Nicole...