Chapter Five Hundred and Forty

"Um…" Charlie started. "Right… well, would it be okay if we came in and had a chat?"

Shandi looked unsure but agreed, stepping aside to let both officers in. They followed her into a tidy lounge and she gestured for them to sit down.

"Can I offer you some tea or coffee or water or something?" she asked politely.

"No, we're fine, thank you," Charlie declined. "Listen, what can you tell us about your friend Daria?"

"Not much really," Shandi said, taking a seat in the armchair across from them. "We haven't spoken for a while. The last I heard, she was somewhere along the coast. A caravan park, I think."

"Yeah, the tallies with what we know," Charlie confirmed.

"Is she in trouble?" Daria asked. "I mean, what am I talking about? She's always in trouble. She is trouble!"

Charlie glanced at Watson who nodded.

"Shandi, we believe that Daria has been impersonating you," Charlie ventured.

Daria looked alarmed.

"Why would she do that?"

"Do you know a man named John Palmer?" Charlie asked.

"I know of a man named John Palmer," Shandi told her. "He's my father. My biological father, I mean. Not my Dad. He's not in my life. I don't know him. I've never known him."

"And Daria knows about him?"

"Daria was one of my closest friends at one point," Shandi explained. "Until we drifted apart. Until she became too wayward. She knew all about my life. Everything."

"Shandi, I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I suspect that she used your identity to defraud your father," Charlie said. "And I also suspect that she's become involved in a serious crime. So if you do know anything of her whereabouts, we'd be very grateful for your help. We do need to find her urgently."

"I really haven't heard from her," Shandi said apologetically. "I mean, I might know a couple of people I could ask? Discreetly."

Charlie agreed, on the promise that it was discreet. They didn't want to spook her.

"Do you want me to make the calls now?" Shandi asked.

They did.


Back in Summer Bay, Irene could barely sit still. She was desperately worried about Lily and how poorly she had been before Will had taken her away. He hadn't even thought to take her prescription from the Doctor. She was also deeply concerned about his state of mind. Where had he gone? What was he thinking? Why had he taken Charlie captive like that? And how had she been so stupid as to believe in him over Alf, one of her oldest, dearest friends?


Shandi had provided Charlie and Watson with a possible address. The two officers were already on their way and one of their colleagues, Blake Henderson was coming to meet them in plain clothes. They arrived at a small B&B, parking further down the street and waited for Blake to show up in his own car.

"Do you think she'll really be here?" Watson asked.

"It's as good a place as any to look," Charlie said. "I mean, our leads are pretty thin on the ground."

"Fingers crossed then."

"Be careful, okay?" Joey said into the phone.

She hung up the phone and put it into her pocket. Angelo hovered nearby.

"Is Charlie following the lead I gave her?"

Joey smiled kindly. She supposed the receipt he had handed over was technically a lead. It had given them somewhere to start looking for Shandi. However, she thought his involvement in the whole thing was stretching it rather far.

"Yeah, she and Watson have gone to find her," Joey told him. "Hopefully they'll be able to bring her back and see if she had anything to do with Penn's death."

She opted not to go into any detail.

"I still miss it, you know," he admitted.

"Being a police officer?" Joey asked.

He nodded.

"I'm fine with it usually," he said. "It's just when something like this is going on, you know? The thrill of an investigation, the chase. I miss it."

"Do you think they would ever take you back?" Joey asked, although she was pretty sure she knew the answer.

He shook his head. When he had left the force, they had made it crystal clear that he would never return. He had swung it once, when he had left jail but there would be no third chance. No way.


Charlie and Watson met with Blake, giving him the instructions he needed to knock on the door and ask after Shandi. They followed close behind but held back. They didn't want their uniforms to scare anyone off.

Blake cleared his throat and opened the door. He approached the front desk where a scruffy looking man was sat reading a magazine. She looked up and smiled.

"Can I help you?"

"Hi," Blake said. "I'm looking for Shandi Palmer? I understand that she's staying here."

The balding, unshaven man looked him up and down.

"I'm not really supposed to give out people's details," he said.

"Is it any hassle to you if you do?" Blake asked.

They had a couple of back up plans but he preferred not to use them. Thankfully, the man shrugged.

"Room seven," he said. "Upstairs."

Blake thanked him and headed up the stairs. On the landing, he sent a quick text to Charlie to let her know, also alerting them to the presence of the guy on the desk, suggesting they waited outside instead. He knocked on the door boldly and with confidence, although the truth was, he wasn't used to doing this sort of thing. He was inexperienced and new to this particular station. He had really just been the only officer available. All he hoped was that he did well and perhaps he would be trusted with more. The door opened and came face to face with Daria, the woman who had lived in Summer Bay as Shandi Palmer.


Robertson was sat on a bench, looking out at the sea. He had been unusually quiet in recent days. He felt unusually quiet. To others, it would seem like the investigation into Penn Graham's murder was gathering momentum but to him, his investigation and all the hard work he had put it was all falling apart around him.

"You okay?"

He turned at the sound of his favourite voice in Summer Bay. Leah stood behind him.

"Fair to middling," he replied.

She came to sit beside him. Things were very up and down between them. He wasn't sure even he knew where they stood anymore, except that he longed for the chance to have a relationship with her.

"You look pretty stressed," she said.

"I just… I… have you ever wondered if you've made a huge mistake and you don't know how to take it back?" he asked.

"Have you realised that Alf didn't actually kill Penn?" Leah asked bluntly but kindly.

Robertson remained looking out to sea.

"Yeah," he sighed. "I think so."


"Who the hell are you?" Daria demanded, looking Blake up and down. "I'm pretty sure this hole doesn't deliver room service."

"Shandi, is it?" Blake asked.

Daria folded her arms, leaning against the door frame.

"I've got a message from Will Smith," Blake lied.

She stood up straighter.

"Have you?" she asked.

"Well, no, actually," Blake told her. "He's run off with his sick daughter. It seems like he's in a lot of trouble and I think you might know why."

"I have no idea," Daria lied.

She attempted to shut the door but he wedged his foot in the way.

"Would you prefer it if I referred to you as Daria?" he asked.

Suddenly, she barged past him, pushing him hard to the floor. She jumped over his legs and ran down the hall. He leapt up clumsily and attempted to give chase but was at least reassured to know that Charlie and Watson would be waiting for their suspect outside.

Daria ran down the hall, past reception and burst out the front door. She stumbled down the steps, wild, blonde hair flailing behind her. As soon as Charlie and Watson saw her, they gave chase. Charlie caught up with her quickly, launching herself upon her, both of them landing on a neighbour's lawn. They landed hard. Charlie pulled out her handcuffs, arrested Daria quickly on suspicion of murder.

"This is ridiculous!" Daria yelled, winded and wincing.

Charlie pulled her to her feet just as Watson caught up.

"I never touched him!" Daria snapped.

"Well, you can tell us your story at the station, can't you?" Charlie informed her.

She and Watson took her to their police car, Blake catching up with them on the way. Watson caught how pale and worried he looked. She patted him on the shoulder.

"You did fine, Blake," she assured him. "You did fine."


Leah picked VJ up from visiting Danny. She glanced at her son who quickly put his phone away.

"Who are you so busily texting?" she asked.

"Nobody," he said quickly.

He put his hand on his pocket, as if to keep it safe. Leah was now extremely suspicious.

"VJ, you know we don't have secrets," she warned.

"I'm just thanking Danny for a nice afternoon," he lied.

Leah laughed.

"Yeah," she said. "You're a good kid but you don't do that."

VJ hung his head.

"Lily," he said. "I was texting Lily."

Leah pulled over to the side of the road. She turned to look at her son.

"You've been in touch with Lily?" she demanded. "All this time?"

VJ looked anxious.

"VJ, this is serious," she said shrilly. "Do you know where they are?"

"Um…"

She requested VJ's phone. He reluctantly handed it over. Leah urgently scrolled through the messages. She put the phone into her own pocket, ignoring his protests. Then she started the car and drove off down the road.

"Where are we going?" VJ asked fretfully.

"To the police station," Leah informed him.

VJ turned an anxious shade of pale and asked if he was in trouble.

"With the police, no," she said. "With me, perhaps."

He shrank down a little in his seat.

"VJ, Lily isn't well and she doesn't have her medication," Leah explained, her voice a little kinder. "We need to help the police find her and bring her home. Do you understand that?"

VJ nodded. His colour didn't return.


Daria had not remained calm on the trip back to Yabbie Creek Police Station. In fact, she had been rather abusive. So upon arrival, Watson had taken her to a cell to calm down before they prepared to interview her. She had requested a lawyer, who Watson was calling now. Charlie sat at the reception desk, taking a moment to breathe and was surprised when Leah walked through the front door with VJ. The little boy did not look happy. Charlie leapt to her feet, hurrying to ask her friend if everything was alright.

"It's fine," Leah assured her. "But it turns out that VJ has been in contact with Lily."

She handed over his phone.

"She and Will are staying in motel not far away."

Charlie scanned the phone, which told her of Will and Lily's whereabouts.

"VJ, you are my hero," she told him.

VJ suddenly looked delighted. He couldn't help but wonder if Joey would feel the same about him too if his messages with Lily would bring her home. She thanked Leah and asked VJ if she would be allowed to temporarily keep his phone.

"Sure," he said. "If it will help. I want Lily to come home."

Charlie hurried to get Watson's attention, just as she was hanging up from the on-call legal team.

"We might have a lead on where to find Will," she said. "I'll explain on the way. Blake, can you take Daria a coffee? We'll be back."

She and Watson were about to exit the building with Leah and VJ when Robertson suddenly appeared. Charlie's heart sank. The last thing she wanted was him interfering. All he had done so far was mess this case up. Suddenly, she was getting somewhere. She didn't need him hindering her and Watson now.

"Are we going on another field trip?" he asked eagerly.

"We think we might know where Will is," Charlie admitted.

"Great," Robertson said. "I call shotgun."

"It's really just a two person job and Watson and I will do fine on our own."

"Well, I'm actually the Detective on this case so…"

Charlie rolled her eyes.

"Look, Charlie, you've done well to identify that Shandi was a fraud, impersonating John Palmer's daughter or whoever she's meant to be," Robertson said evenly.

Leah looked shocked but stayed quiet.

"Now you've got her locked up and hopefully she'll tell us what she knows," Robertson continued. "But this is my case and I want to see it through to the end. Okay?"

Feeling awkward, Leah took VJ's hand and slipped out, climbing into the car and driving away.

"Fine," Charlie said a little grumpily. "You can sit in the back."


Joey and the rest of her staff were busy with the early dinner rush when Leah and VJ arrived at the restaurant. Still she stopped to greet them personally, hugging VJ as she always did.

"And what do I owe the pleasure of seeing my favourite boy today?" she asked.

VJ looked extremely pleased with himself. He was aware that he could still be in trouble with his mother later for keeping secrets. But at least he wasn't in trouble right now and not with Charlie or Joey.

"I was hoping you might have a table?" Leah said. "VJ and I need to talk."

She looked seriously at her son. He frowned. Perhaps he was in trouble right now.

"Oh," Joey said, wondering if things were okay.

"Well, you'll probably hear it from Charlie soon enough but VJ has been in contact with Lily," Leah explained. "She's heading out to find them now."

Joey was mostly pleased but also a little afraid. Normally, she had no issue with Charlie charging out and getting her job done. But after the incident with Will, she had found herself struggling to get to sleep a little, worrying about her partner coming to harm. She wondered how Ruby had coped all these years, knowing her mother (or once upon a time, her sister) was out there, facing all manner of danger.

"Well, that's good news," Joey said. "And well done, VJ for being honest."

VJ smiled a little nervously.

"Well, I did have to drag it out of him," Leah revealed.

"Aww, I'm sure he would have told you," Joey said, ruffling his hair.

She could never find fault with him. He was too cute. Leah tutted at her friend being so soft.

"So, a table then?" Joey offered.

"Yes, please," Leah said. "Oh and do you know the latest?"

Joey felt a wave of gossipy curiosity come over her.

"Shandi Palmer isn't Shandi Palmer after all!" Leah confided.

"Oh yes! Charlie said!"

"What do you mean?" said a male voice.

Leah turned around to find John, sat with Gina at a table. She felt extremely awkward.


Charlie focussed on the road ahead as the SatNav directed her to the address they had found in VJ's phone. Watson sat quietly beside her. Robertson sat uncharacteristically quietly in the back. Charlie couldn't help but wonder if he was regretting the way he had pursued Alf in light of the way Will had run away and now that Shandi had turned up as someone completely different. She hoped that if he was, it meant that he would co-operate with them as they tried to find Penn's real killer.


"Well?" John asked.

Clearly this was not a rhetorical question. Leah cursed herself for her big mouth. She was getting as bad as Colleen.

"Well, um… I just overheard at the police station that um… well, really you should ask for yourself, John," she stumbled. "I don't know the details."

She looked helplessly at Joey who shrugged.

"Why don't you just tell us the details you do know?" Gina suggested more calmly.

"I just heard that they went to speak to Shandi," Leah explained. "Only she isn't the person they thought she was. They mentioned something about her being a fraud?"

"So, I've been ripped off?" John asked.

"John, I'm sorry," Leah apologised. "I really don't know."

John stood up, ready to head over to the police station. He needed to find out exactly what was going on. Gina stood also, paid Joey for their drinks and followed him.

"Well, here's a table for you," Joey said, trying to lighten the mood.

Leah sighed heavily and sank down into a chair. VJ took the other seat.

"So… you just did something you shouldn't have, did you?" he asked his mother.

"Yes, VJ," Leah admitted. "And so did you. So do you think maybe we could call it even?"

Joey laughed to herself as she took John and Gina's glasses away.


Charlie, Watson and Robertson arrived at the motel. This time, there was no pretence. Charlie and Watson were in uniform and they, plus Robertson had no issue with showing their badges to the woman on the desk. Charlie politely asked after Will.

"I'm afraid he checked out about an hour and a half ago," the woman said. "I remember it because I asked him if he was alright, if he needed help."

Charlie paused.

"Why did you ask him that?"

"He looked so stressed," the woman said. "And his daughter… she looked unwell."


Next time… John wants answers, Daria is under pressure and Ruby has a revelation about her parents…