Fatal Attraction

[Zetti]

I knew I had some chapters to catch up on but this is so freakingly good!

I am so excited to read more! x

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Thanks for all the comments everyone. It means a lot. I've begun working on chapter 10 so I hope to have it at some stage tomorrow!!

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Chapter 10

Charlie sat in her office, feeling exhausted. Not by work, but by life in general. As if the stresses and the ordeals of the last few weeks were just hitting her now, and her body was beginning to feel it. She needed a break, a long one at that. All she craved at that moment was time away from everything and everyone. From, work, her boss, the Riverboys, her friends and especially Brax. Although she would never openly admit it, Charlie found it difficult being so near him, knowing that they could be together because of the risk that was involved. Not just for them, but for everyone else around them. Innocent people who didnt deserve to be harmed. Just as Charlie was beginning to clear her head and get back down to her paper work, she was interrupted by a knocking on her office door and the appearance of Constable Watson.

"Charlie, Inspector Joyce wants you out here. It's kind of urgent business", Watson said as she stood holding the door open with her other arm resting on the door frame. Charlie sighed, closing one file, she picked up another and then turned to her collegue. "Look Watson whatever is tell him I'm busy. This paper work is going to finish itself", Charlie said and then turned back to the file in front of her and began writing. Watson stood up straighter and placed her hands in her pockets deciding to continue with caution. "Charlie, Ruby's waiting outside with Morag to give her statement. Joyce is prepping her for the interview now", Watson finished and grimaced slightly when she saw that protective mother look wash over Charlie as she slammed the file shut and rushed out the door. Watson followed suit.

As she exited her office, Charlie walked straight over to the main desk where Morag was standing. "Morag, what are you doing here? We agreed that Ruby wasn't going to give her statement until the time was right", Charlie said in a hushed voice. Clearly annoyed that her step mother had gone over her head like this. "Oh I'm aware of that. Unfortunantly you neglected to ask Ruby when that would be and she has taken it upon herself to take action. She wants to this now and I'm here to support her. As a family member and as a her lawyer", Morag replied knowing full well that when Charlie switched on to protective mother mode she was like a ferocious lioness, waiting to pounce on anyone that could cause her child any hurt or harm.

Looking into Morag's eyes Charlie could see that she only had Ruby's best interest at heart and was well aware that Morag would never alow Ruby to do something without making the young girl think it through first. However Ruby also had an extremely stubborn streak just like her mother, and when her mind was made up, there was no changing it. Even if Morag wanted to. Turning her gaze to the seats outside her office, Charlie saw Ruby sitting down, her cane gripped in both hands fully extended as she waited to be called into the interview room. Crossing the room, Charlie sat down beside Ruby and took her daughters hand in her own. "Rubes are you sure you want to do this now. Because you don't have to. We can rearrange it and I can take you home. There's no rush", Charlie said as she stroked her daughter's arm encouragingly.

"Charlie, it's okay. I want to do this now. I can't keep putting it off forever", Ruby replied squeezing her mothers hand as she stared at the blackness straight ahead. Knowing from memory where the interview room was positioned from where she was sitting. "Okay", Charlie said as she ran her fingers through Ruby's long wavy hair. Just as Charlie's anxiety began to subside, Inspector Joyce appeared from the interview room. "Ms. Buckton, we're ready for you now", he said as he stood by the door with a file in his hand waiting for the Sergeants daughter to makeher move. Nodding her head, Ruby stood up and lowered her cane to the ground. Charlie linked her daughter's arm through her own and guided Ruby across the station, passed her superior officer and into the interview room followed closely by Morag. Once inside the Inspector closed the door and sat down opposite Ruby.

"Okay, Ruby, why don't you start at the beginning, take us through the events of the night as best you can", Inspector Joyce said as he removed a pen from his shirt pocket and prepared to write down any important detail. Ruby's shoulders tensed up a little as the reality of what she was about to do finally registered in her mind. After a minute she felt the gentle hand of her mother resting upon her shoulder, giving it an encouraging squeeze and then lowering to reach for her hand. Taking in a deep breath, Ruby revised the night, more correctly the "story" that Morag, Charlie and Brax had come up with in order to save Charlie's career and to keep everybody safe. Although deep down, Charlie also wanted to keep Brax out of jail as she knew what the other inmates would do to him for being involved with a cop while running a gang.

"I had gone around to Casey, my boyfriends house, that night. I was going to help him study for a make up exam he had coming up. When I arrived, his brother Heath was there. But he left a couple of minutes later to drive their mum to some poker game", Ruby said licking her lips to moisten them as she could fell them drying up. Inspector Joyce jotted down the details and then looked up at Ruby. "When did things start to go wrong?", he asked, wanting to push the interview along to the heavier facts. Ruby rubbed her brow and then grabbed a hold of Charlie's hand, squeezing out her nervousness with a tight grip. This didn't go unnoticed by Charlie, Morag or indeed even Constable Watson.

"A couple of hours after I arrived, when it was dark out, Casey and I heard noises coming from outside. Case, he just thought it was mum staggering home drunk from the poker, so he got up to go out and help her and I went with him. His mum is hard to handle at the best of times I thought he could use some help", Ruby explained. The Inspector wrote down what Ruby said and then returned his focus to the young girl. "What happened when you went outside?", he asked her as he gazed between Ruby and Morag, who he knew was acting as her lawyer. "When we got outside, we looked around but couldn't see anyone, so Casey walked out onto the street to see if he could see anything. That's when I felt someone grab me from behind. They placed their hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming", Ruby managed as she felt the tears beginning to form.

"When Casey saw me he tried to run to me but two guys, I couldn't see their faces, the grabbed him and tackled him to the ground. They picked him up and they put both of us in the back of a van and they took off", she continued. Inspector Joyce eyed Ruby curiously. She seemed extremely nervous, but he out it down to stress and the fact that she'd only recently survived a vicious attack with her life. It was understandable that she would be shaky. "Ruby, we know from talking to the paramedics who arrived at the incident that Casey's brothers and your mother and grandmother were at the scene. How did they know where to find you?", Joyce asked. Wondering how one of his own officers knew where to go. Charlie stiffened when she realised that Joyce was trying to catch her out.

"The guy who was leading the whole thing, he kept making phone calls to Brax, Darryl Braxton, taunting him about holding me and Case hostage. At one point some of the other guys were out riding their dirt bikes around the same area that Heath rides his. I guess when he heard the noise in the background he put two and two together", Ruby said, rather convincingly much to the relief of both Morag and Charlie. "What happened then?", the Inspector asked as he returned to writing down his notes. Ruby hesitated for a moment. Knowing that she was about to talk about the most horrific part of the whole ordeal.

"After a while the boys locked me and Casey upstairs. It was and hour before they returned. When they did Casey tried to tackle one of the guys but they ganged up on him and fought back. They dragged him downstair and when I tried to follow the guy who was in charge, he hit me pretty hard and I fell to the floor. Everything went black after that, I guess I lost consciousness", Ruby said her voice beginning to break as the tears began to streak down her face. Raising her hand to her face Ruby removed her sunglasses to reveal her scared eyes. Amazingly to Watson and Joyce, only for the scaring around Ruby's eyes no one would guess she was blind just from looking at her. Although in their job they had seen some pretty disturbing things so this seemed minimal to them. Unlike to Ruby or her peers.

"When I came around, the whole place was covered in smoke. I could barely breath", she said her tears falling harder. "I walked out of the room to look for Casey. I checked...I checked all the rooms and when I opened one of the doors there was... a small explosion and I...I remember feeling like I'd... like I'd been hit in the eyes... by... by shattered glass it hurt that much. It's the last time I remember being able to see", Ruby tried to get out between breaths. Her breathing was becoming heavy and rapid. She clutched her chest as if trying to relieve it of the pressure she felt being placed on it. Charlie rubbed Ruby's back and said her name trying to get her daughters attention but Ruby's just kept struggling to breath.

"Rubes, Ruby", she said as she stroked Ruby's hair and clutched her daughters hand close to her own chest. "Okay that's enough we're done", Charlie said. Inspector Joyce nodded and stood up. "Okay, we'll take a break an continue when Ms. Buckton has calmed down and had time to gather her thoughts", he said as made his way for the door. "NO!", Charlie responded forcefully. "No were done now", she said and returned her attention back to her daughter who's breathing was slowly beginning to regulate itself. Joyced inhaled a deep breath and looked at Watson who seemed concerned for collegues daughter. With that he turned on his heel and walked out of the interview room.

After a couple of minutes, Charlie, Morag and a tired looking Ruby room emerged from the room. Morag said her goodbyes and told Charlie she would take Ruby home and get her settled. Once they made their exit, Charlie was deflated when she heard the stern voice of her superior officer saying her name from her office. Turning around Charlie walked into her office and Joyce closed the door with a slam. "How dare you undermind me during my interview", he said his hand holding firm on his hips, "My daughter was having an anxiety attack. There was no way I would allow any interview to continue in that situation. Especially not when it's my child", Charlie said, defending her actions. Joyce crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the Sergeant.

"You're right", Joyce said and Charlie nodded her head in relief as sat against the edge of the desk. "Which is why you're off the case", he said as he made his way for the door. Charlie stood up and turned to him. "With all due respect sir I don't think that's necessary", she tried to reason with him. "I'm sorry Sergeant but you have too much of an emotional connection to this case. I have no choice but to remove you from further investigations. Although with that young Braxton kid gone AWOL we may not have a case at all", Joyce said and then he walked out of the office leaving Charlie on her own. Sitting down at her desk Charlie placed her elbows on the table and placed her head in her hands. Watson walked in and placed a file in the cabinat. Sitting back Charlie looked at her work partner and sighed.

"Why do we do this job?", she asked as Watson stood by her desk. Looking down at her bosses desk, she tapped at one of the photo frames. "That's why", she said and then returned to her work station outside. Charlie sat there for a moment then sitting up she picked up the frame Watson tapped at and gazed at the picture inside. She rand finger over the image of her daughter and smiled. Realising why it was she continued to work the job she did. She did it to keep people safe. But more importantly she did it to keep Ruby safe. Which was one of the main reasons why she became a police officer in the first place. Resting against her chair she smiled. One of these she would need to thank Watson for keeping her sane.

The next day Charlie watched from a distance as Heath and Ruby discussed self-defence tactics. Trying to come up with ways that were suitable for Ruby's situation. Heath gazed up towards the Surf Club and spotted Charlie watching them. Making his excuses he bounded up the sand towards where she was standing and gave her a cheeky smile, knowing it would give her a rise. "G'day Buckton. It's unusual for you to be checkin' me out on informal business. You finally realised who the better Braxton is eh", he said, his grin growing wider. Charlie glared at Heath, her death stare almost piercing through him. Sha gazed at Ruby. Her focus lingering on her daughter for a moment before returning her stare to her least favourite Braxton.

"I don't know why you're hanging around Ruby. The idea actually perifies me. But she see's something in you. I don't know what that could be but whatever it is it's put a smile abck on her face", Charlie said almost having to force the words. "But I am warning you Heath. If you're just doing this to mess with Ruby or get back at me and you hurt her, I will hunt you down and I will kill you with my bear hands", she said spiiting the words out like venom. Heath gazed down at her rubbing his beard with his hand. "You know that's not a very nice way to thank someone for saving your daughters life. Would it have made a difference if it had been Brax", he said purposely trying to wind Charlie up because of how she talking to him. At the mention of Brax's name, Charlie's face contorted.

"See that's what I thought", Heath said laughing and pointing at Charlie's facial expression which said more than words ever could. "If you want start lecturing a Braxton not being trustworthy you might want to start lookin' a little closer to who's been in your underwear, officer", Heath said and then made his way back down the sand to where Ruby was sitting waiting for him. Charlie watched as Heath walked away, a tear escaping her as the sting of his words. Wiping it away, she glanced in Ruby's direction and then made her way into the Surf Club to meet up with Bianca. Hoping that she wouldn't bump into Brax while she was there.

An hour had passed and Ruby and Heath were talking when Heath spotted a dodgy looking character staring at him from the boat shed next to the Surf Club. "Hey come on, it's gettin' late. Should probably get you to the Surf Club before your mum has me arrested for abduction or somethin'", Heath said as he stood up and helped Ruby to her feet. "Ah don't worry about it. She's just protective of me. She'll back off. She just needs time", Ruby said as she linked arms with Heath. Walking up the sand the man that was watching Heath gestured for him to go over to where he was. Stand here, I forgot my phone. I'll be back in a sec", he said and ran over to where the man was. "You got everythin'?", he asked the man. Looking down, the man handed Heath a small bag of pills, which Heath shoved in his pocket.

"What about I asked about?", he asked. The man glanced around and then, removed a military hand knife and handed it to Heath. Turning to cover himself, Heath slipped it out of the case and smiled. The placing it back in the case he stuck the knife down the back of his combat board shorts and handed the man a handful of cash. "Good lookin' out mate", he said and with that the man walked away. Just as Heath was about to walk off he spotted Watson and Avery driving up towards the Surf Club in a squad car. Running back to where Ruby was, he greeted her. "Here let me carry that", he said removing her bag from her shoulder. "Uh, thanks", Ruby said with a laugh.

Glancing around, Heath made sure no one was watching as he slipped the bag of pills and the knife into Ruby's bag. Intending to remove them once the coast was clear. Unfortunantly, Charlie and Bianca appeared ahead of time. "Hey Rubes, you ready to go?", Charlie asked grabbing a hold of her daughters hand. "Yeah I was actually just coming to find you", Ruby said. Charlie turned to Heah and noticed that he was holding Ruby's bag. "I'll take that", she said and slung the bag over her shoulder. Heathsliterally bulged out of his head as he realised the mistake he was after making. "Let's go", Charlie said. "Thanks for today Heath", Ruby said hoping that she was glancing in the right direction. With that the ladies left. Leaving Heath with a huge headache to try and fix.

That night after dinner, Charlie and Ruby were sitting watching t.v, when they both decided to head for bed. Standing up Ruby stopped in her tracks. "Oh damn I need to check my levels", she said as she turned to head for the kitchen to grab her insulin and BSL monitor. Charlie stood up quickly and placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders turning her in the direction of her room. "I'll get it, you go get ready for bed. I'll follow you in and check your levels", Charlie said. Ruby thanked her mother and with outstretched arms to guide her, she made her way to her room. Walking out to the kitchen, Charlie picked Ruby's bag up off the floor and placed it on the tall table in the middle of the room.

Opening it up, Charlie rummaged for all of two seconds, when her eyes feel upon foreign objects she knew had nothing to do with her daughter. Removing the bag of pills and the knife, Charlie placed them on the counter and then placed both her hands on either side of the table. Lowering her head, she inhaled deep breaths, to calm herself and to stop the urge she had to go over to the Braxton house and rip Heath's head off. "Charlie", came Ruby's voice from her room. Charlie looked up. "I'm coming", she said loud enough for her daughter to hear. Reaching into the bag she removed Ruby's diabetes kit and placed Heaths "gear" back into it and hit the bag under the key stand beside the door. Deciding to deal with him in later.

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Next Time:

*Charlie vents her frustration to Bianca about Heath

*Later she has a heart to heart with Brax. Can he convince her to give them another go?

*Alf rants about the Riverboys to Irene and Leah and Papa Bear is not impressed

*April and Ruby discuss the future. But can Ruby see a bright future living as a blind person?

I know some people like the soft side of Heath, but a bad boy can't be changed overnight. There will be a lot of different shades to this character so as of yet his fate either lies with the side of good or bad. I wonder which he'll choose.

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Oh forgot to say thanks to everyone who commented on my story. I really appreciate it. <3

[Inactive User]

Great stuff! Update soon xx

[Red Ranger 1]

Wow!Joyce was right to take Charlie off the case, she is too involved.Liked the brief showdown between Charlie and Heath, they both made some good points.Heath still being dodgy was surprising but believable, interested to see where it goes.

[JosieTash]

Intriguing that Charlie got benched form the case.

Loved her threats to Heath … and his response

Such a “surprise” that Heath’s still dodgy [pills & knife in Rubes’ bag]

ADROING this fic !!!!!!!

[Dingo x]

Great chapter,

Can not wait for more (:

Please update soon. xx

[HighwayUnicorn]

The part between Charlie & Heath was really good. Another great chapter.

I look forward to seeing where this fic goes. The preview sounds brilliant too.

Well done.

Love Carina xxx

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Thanks so much for all the comments everyone!! It means a lot. Hopefully I'll have time to start the next chapter tomorrow. So I hope you stick around to find out what's going on in Summer Bay.