Episode 6862

Extended Summary

Justin sees a car coming but it drives straight past. Another, rather posh-looking, car comes from the other direction. It pulls over and Hazel gets out, commenting on the family resemblance. She says she hasn’t got Ava with her and asks for the money. Justin produces an envelope but won’t hand it over without seeing Ava. Hazel tells him to get in. Colby and Murray, in plain clothes and an unmarked car, watch from further down the road. They radio the station to run a check on the plates and follow from a distance. Meanwhile, Mason is on the phone to Tori as Willow arrives at the Morgan house. He says there might be good news about Ava soon, then realises he’s said too much and tries to clam up. He eventually shows her the ransom note. Raffy turns up with John, who has been clued in. Mason thinks it will be over soon but both Raffy and Willow think they don’t have a clue what’s going to happen.

At the Diner, Roo is feeling bad about talking to Coco while Maggie’s undergoing treatment. However, Leah thinks she did the right thing and both of them worry about the pressure Coco’s under and that old problems might resurface. Leah tells Roo she needs to speak to Ben and Maggie. At the hospital, Maggie checks that Ziggy’s had no ill effects and Ziggy quips that she’s lost all feeling down her left side and is developing mutant powers. Ben turns up with the blanket requested and they wonder what’s happened to Coco. Ben finds he has missed calls from Roo.

Hazel drives Justin to another remote spot, saying she’s not taking him to Ava, just away from any ambush he might have planned. Justin still refuses to hand over the money without seeing Ava. Hazel makes a video call, telling the person on the other end not to talk but just to put Ava on. Justin sees her and she says she’s OK but they are cut off before she says anything else. Colby and Murray are nearby: The car is stolen. They radio for backup and creep closer on foot. Justin and Hazel are at an impasse: Justin won’t hand over the money without Ava, Hazel won’t hand over Ava without the money. Hazel says Justin should be careful who he associates with and gets back in the car, preparing to leave. Colby wants to go closer to take a photograph of her but Murray stands noisily on a twig. They break cover, identifying themselves as police. Justin protests they’re nothing to do with him but Hazel drives off. Later, at the police station, Justin berates Colby for interfering while Colby similarly criticises Justin for acting without them. He asks about the video call but Justin can’t give any useful details. Colby tells him they need to work together.

Raffy frets as Justin arrives home without Ava, blaming the police for interfering. Willow wonders who called them, since it’s only the family that knew. Mason pointedly notes John knew but Raffy tells them it was her and that she was worried. Justin is furious and ends up storming out. Mason also asks Raffy what she thought she was doing and she leaves upset. John goes after her after giving Mason a disapproving look. Later, Justin comes back in and Willow tells him Mason’s with Raffy, adding that it wasn’t Raffy’s fault. She thinks the kidnappers will want the money and asks about the woman he met. Justin recalls what she said about associates, wondering if she meant Ash or Robbo, and says she looked like someone’s grandma: Shortly, dumpy, messy brown hair and a harsh voice. Willow, suddenly alert, asks if she had grey streaks in her hair. Justin realises Willow knows her. Willow says it’s about her.

Leah serves Roo at the Diner before Ben arrives. Roo explains to him about Coco’s assignment and admits she hasn’t been in school all day. Ben understands and thanks her for telling him. Down by the beach, Coco complains to Ryder and says he doesn’t understand. Ben turns up and asks Ryder to let them talk. He tells Coco he’s spoken to Roo. Coco says she can make up her marks. Ben says they’re worried about her. He understands it’s hard to pretend everything’s normal, hence his putting off starting work, but tells her they need to keep going.

Maggie is undergoing the transplant at hospital as Ben fills her in. He says Ziggy’s taken Coco for a walk. Maggie has heard about a camp for the children of cancer patients and thinks it could be good for Coco. She thinks Coco would be glad of a reason to get away. However, when Ben puts it to Coco, along with Ziggy and Ryder, on the beach, she refuses to leave Maggie. Ziggy agrees and asks about school. Ben quips that he’s cleared it with the principal. Ryder think it’s a good idea: Coco keeps saying he doesn’t understand, so now she can be with people who do. Ziggy is forced to accept the logic and she and Ben tell Coco it’s up to her, while passively indicating they want her to go. Coco gives in but says she’s doing it for Maggie.

At the Diner, Raffy is beating herself up for going to the police but John tells her she did the right thing. Mason turns up and agrees, apologising to her for blaming her. John leaves them alone. Meanwhile, Justin and Willow head to the police station and tells Colby the kidnapper’s Hazel Easton, Boyd’s mother. Colby gets Murray to look up the address while Willow gives him a precise of their history with Boyd and explains Hazel is the brains behind him and more dangerous in her own way. Murray provides the address and another detail: Boyd has been paroled. At the Easton house, Hazel is pacing and snaps at Ava when she asks where Justin is. She gets a phone call and tells Ava there’s been a change of plan and to get her things.

Justin wants to go with Colby but he refuses, leaving him at the station. Colby leads the police in storming the house but it’s empty. He finds a drawing Ava did of Buddy. Colby heads back to the station and shows it to Justin, who is frustrated that Colby has no plan other than waiting for the kidnappers to make contact. He says he can have undercover officers watch the house to see if anyone drops off a note but Justin thinks the police have screwed up twice and doesn’t want them involved. Willow backs up Colby, acknowledging that it’s her fault and asking Justin to let them fix it.