Episode 7362

Extended Summary

Bella runs into Mackenzie outside the surf club and asks if she’s seen Ari, since no-one’s at home, Nikau’s not answering his phone and Colby’s after them. Mackenzie says Ari had nothing to do with the Diner break-in. Bella realises she has no idea what’s happened today and asks if she ever talks to Ari. Meanwhile, Colby brings Tane and Nikau into the station and goes to take Nikau into the interview room. Ari appears and wants to go in with him but Colby says he’s over eighteen and doesn’t need a guardian. He also intends to have the line-up afterwards. Tane stops Ari forcing the matter and Ari says Nikau gets a lawyer at least and not to say anything until then. Ari isn’t keen on Tane calling one of his dodgy lawyers but eventually gives in.

At Salt, Bella is telling Mackenzie how Colby’s got it in for the Paratas. Mackenzie thinks Colby’s professional. Bella explains Colby’s theory that someone took the car to get out of the line-up and didn’t know Grace was in there. Jasmine has come in and overhears the last bit, asking what’s happened to Grace. She rushes round to the Morgan house where Justin and Leah are with Tori and Grace. She is reassured Grace is fine but Tori won’t let her hold her because she’s trying to settle her. Jasmine wonders why no-one called her. Justin, looking annoyed, says Grace was the priority.

Nikau remains silent as Colby says he’s not recording this, saying Nikau seems like a good kid and he’ll feel better if he owns what happened rather than carrying it around. Nikau doesn’t answer so Colby asks where he was at 8.40am and 3pm. Nikau says he was working and Bella saw him at 3pm. Colby says someone returned Grace at that time. Nikau refuses to say any more.

Jasmine continues to fret about Tori leaving the keys in the ignition. Justin calls it a freak accident but Tori comes back from settling Grace and agrees with her. Justin says the guy that took the car is to blame. Jasmine says she can’t help wondering what Robbo would think. Justin politely but firmly suggests she go. When it’s clear he means it, Jasmine says they know where she is if they need her. After she’s gone, Tori tells Justin that Robbo would be furious.

Tane finishes a phone call to his lawyer and tells Ari that none of them have to say anything. Colby brings Nikau out but wants to take his prints, saying they’ll compare it to the ones on the car. Ari asks if they’ve found it and Colby says they’re working on it. Tane tells Nikau they’re going. Colby protests that he’s supposed to interview Tane and have the line-up and threatens to get a court order. Tane says to get his people to call his people. Colby tells Ari to talk sense into him and Ari says he’s making perfect sense.

Gemma greets the trio when they arrive home. They tell her they didn’t go through with the line-up but make out that was why they were at the station. Gemma asks if it’s done and there’s a long awkward silence. Nikau starts to say he freaked out but Ari gestures for him to stop and he just says Ari and Tane looked out for him. Gemma talks to them about it being close to the anniversary of Maekere’s death and how she wants to take him home so they can all find peace. She asks for them all to come with her.

Mackenzie tells Bella that things are going well with Ari but they’re not at the L word stage yet, refusing to discuss comparisons with Colby or the fake alibi. She turns it round, asking Bella about Nikau. Meanwhile, Gemma tells the others that the family are setting things up at home and they’ll be gone until it’s done. Nikau agrees to come. Ari says he’ll call his boss to arrange time off and Tane says he’ll arrange flights. Ari looks reluctant for a moment, then thanks him.

Ari arrives at Salt and tells Mackenzie that the line-up got called off and they’re heading back to New Zealand. He says there’s rites that should have been performed when Mikaere died but because he was shot by the police they didn’t get his body in time. Mackenzie says Gemma can have as much time off as she needs. She asks if she should give him space until then but Ari wants to spend time with her. Meanwhile, Bella runs into Colby at the Diner. She initially takes his down mood as evidence that Leah didn’t pick any of the Paratas out of the line-up. Colby says they refused to do it and he’s going to prove they’re involved in the carjacking.

Justin finds Tori in the corridor having just checked on Grace. Tori is still feeling guilty about what happened and says Robbo would never have taken his eyes off Grace. Justin says Jasmine isn’t judge and jury about what Robbo would think and he wouldn’t blame her. Tori doesn’t feel like a good mum. Meanwhile, in the gym office, Jasmine posts on the forum saying a friend left her baby in the car. She soon gets several supportive responses saying no mother should do that and she should have the baby taken off her.

At the Parata house, both Gemma and Nikau decide to go to bed. Tane answers a knock at the door and finds it’s Bella looking for Nikau. He notes he’s glad she’s not a cop and lets her in. Bella knocks on Nikau’s bedroom door, then goes and lies down next to him on the bed. She says neither of them feel like talking so they should just lie there. She places her hand next to him and he takes it.

Next morning, Colby receives a visit from Jasmine at the station. She asks if it’s illegal to leave a baby alone in a car. Colby realises she’s talking about Tori and says it’s not as if she went shopping. He advises her not to worry about it and says that going after Tori won’t help anyone. Jasmine, in a rather cold manner, agrees that getting upset won’t help anyone.

Nikau is working near the bait shop when Tori appears with Grace’s pram. After shooting her a few furtive looks, he helps her lift the pram onto the pier and asks how she is. Tori says she was terrified she’d never see Grace again and can’t believe she left her alone. Nikau says she was just trying to help John and adds that someone said that. Tori says she’s just grateful that whoever took her brought her back.

At Salt, Jasmine has a heated phone conversation with a lawyer, saying a baby’s in danger, she should have rights as the stepmother and her husband’s dead. Mackenzie asks if that’s about Tori. Jasmine says apparently it’s fine for her to leave her baby in a car. Mackenzie tries to calm her but Jasmine insists Grace is in danger and walks away.