Episode 7361

Extended Summary

Colby runs into Leah and Justin near the Diner. Justin wonders if there’s been any news about the break-in. Colby tells them about the line-up he’s organising. Leah is happy to go but doesn’t think she saw enough to be of help. Nearby, Ari asks Bella, who has just exited the flat, if Nikau’s up there. Bella thought he was at work and Ari says not until this afternoon. He tries to walk away but Colby calls after him, saying he knows he wasn’t with Mackenzie at the time of the robbery. He adds that he wants him, Tane and Nikau to take part in the line-up. Ari says it might help him realise he’s targeting the wrong people and Colby insincerely says he’s always happy to rule out an innocent suspect. Ari and Bella both walk away as Colby gets a call from Sarge about Grace going missing. Justin comes over, having just got a similar call from Tori.

Shortly after, Justin and Colby turn up at the station where Tori and Marilyn are with Murray. Colby takes over and Marilyn says it was her fault because of John falling out of the wheelchair and Tori coming to help. Neither of them saw the thief. Justin wonders if it might be down to Robbo’s enemies. Colby doesn’t think so but says he’ll check with the AFP. Tori worries at the idea of it being payback.

Ari arrives back at the Parata house, telling Gemma and Tane that he hasn’t found Nikau and about the line-up. Tane thinks they don’t have to turn up and blames Ari for hooking up with the cop’s ex. Ari blames him in turn for his unexplained source of income. Gemma reminds them they’re meant to be presenting a united front. She worries what will happen if they can’t find Nikau before the line-up

Colby rejoins the others to say the AFP are convinced it’s nothing to do with Robbo. He gets Tori to reiterate what she’s said and picks up on the fact that she only pulled over because of John. He says it sounds opportunistic and the thief probably didn’t know Grace was in the car. Tori worries that they’ll leave her in the car in the sun. Marilyn thinks they’ll do the right thing. Colby suggests she go home and wait for their call. Justin ushers her away.

At the Diner, Leah gets a phone call from Justin about what’s happened. Marilyn arrives and tells her what Colby said. She’s there so Leah can go and be with Tori, explaining that Alf’s looking after John. Bella has been listening from a nearby table. She quickly pays up and leaves. Meanwhile, Nikau is driving at speed when he hears Grace gurgling in the back seat. He pulls over and slowly looks round.

Bella walks away from the Diner, texting Nikau to call her. Tane appears and wonders if she’s hiding Nikau in her bedroom. Bella points out Colby’s there but admits Nikau was spun out when she told him about the line-up and to call the police if he knew anything. Moments after Tane has walked away, Nikau calls him and says he’s messed up worse than anything he’s done before.

Ari is on the phone to Gemma when Colby and Murray turn up, investigating the car theft and Grace’s kidnapping. Ari lets them in but stops Murray going into the other rooms. Colby is convinced the robbery and carjacking are connected. Murray says it happened at 8.40am and Ari points out he was with Colby at the time. Colby acknowledges that but wonders where Nikau is. Ari suggests he’s out fishing, like them, and they can ask him and Tane where they were at the line-up. As they leave, Colby warns him that the more he hides things, the guiltier he looks.

Nikau waits by the car until Tane drives up. Nikau says the baby’s just a bit grizzly. Tane points out he’s kidnapped a baby and Nikau worries about going to jail. Tane picks up on him calling Grace by name and he explains that Marilyn babysits her. Meanwhile, Tori is continuing to fret as Justin tries to convince her the police will get Grace back. Leah turns up and gives them both a hug.

Tane asks Nikau why he took the car, saying he didn’t have to worry about the line-up if he didn’t do the robbery. Nikau wonders if he should turn himself in but Tane refuses. He finds Tori’s bag with her ID and address in it and tells Nikau to wipe the car down. Meanwhile, Ari tries to tell Gemma that it’s nothing to worry about. Gemma says this was meant to be a fresh start and doesn’t think Ari can fix this.

Tane drops Nikau off near the Diner, saying he’ll sort things with Grace and pick Nikau up later for the line-up. After Tane’s gone, Bella runs into Nikau, who says his phone died. Bella tells him about Grace being kidnapped when Tori’s car was stolen. Nikau suggests it was a mistake and Bella says that’s what Marilyn said.

Tori is starting to panic more and more despite Leah bringing her a sandwich. Justin says he’ll go down the station but Tori shushes him, hearing Grace crying outside. They find her left on the doorstep and Tori and Leah take her inside. After doing a quick check, Justin says there’s no sign of anyone or the car. Tori is just grateful to have her back.

At the Diner, Gemma tells Marilyn it feels like the whole town’s turning against them and Colby’s convinced Ari is behind the robbery. She says it’ll soon be the anniversary of Mikaere’s death and his family want her to take his ashes home. She recalls her grandmother saying the spirit goes back to the ancestors after a year and she feels if she doesn’t take him back to his people, none of them will be able to rest. She goes home, looks at a photo of her and Mikaere and takes his ashes out.

Leah watches as Tori gushes over Grace. Leah says whoever took her obviously didn’t mean to harm her and she’s told Marilyn. Justin comes back in from calling the police, who are still looking for the car and who took it. Tori is glad they had enough of a conscience to bring her back. Leah and Justin still think they should be punished for what they put her through. Tori is too grateful to have Grace back to be angry.

At the police station, Colby is looking at Ari’s police record. Murray tells him about Grace being returned safely but no-one saw anything and the car hasn’t been found. Colby ponders the fact it happened right after they spoke to Ari. Murray reminds him Ari was with him. Colby says that still leaves Tane and Nikau.

Marilyn serves Colby at the Diner and chats to him about Grace being found. As he leaves, Bella tries to get him to stop harassing the Paratas. Colby thinks whoever took the car was running from the line-up and says Nikau doesn’t have an alibi and has nothing to worry about if he’s innocent. Back at the Parata house, Ari berates Nikau. Tane can’t defend him but thinks they’ve covered it. Ari points out that all it would take is one fingerprint or speed camera picture. He says not to tell Gemma, who’s out looking for Nikau. Colby and another officer turn up, wanting to take Tane and Nikau in for questioning about the car jacking and abduction. Ari says to go with him and he’ll meet them there.