All That You Can't Leave Behind

[I love music]

I never would have suspected you had "writer's block", it was a great chapter!

“Holden!” McGrath said stepping between them. “Look we’re not actually related. You can check it out. I’ve just had an interest with Jake and Nina since they were kids because I’ve wanted to help them. That’s all.”

McGrath's got me really baffled now. I thought I had him sussed as a baddie from the moment I met him.

Nina said nothing. She simply grinned, knowing that her mere presence was infuriating Beth.

Loved that, Adia! Exactly how Beth would make her want to act when she automatically assumed Nina was behind the drugs. Also loved the way Beth and Irene were so worried about Matilda and Belle when Nina was the innocent party. Poor Nina! I really like her a lot.

[Zetti]

“Holden!” McGrath said stepping between them. “Look we’re not actually related. You can check it out. I’ve just had an interest with Jake and Nina since they were kids because I’ve wanted to help them. That’s all.”

best bit! hehe

[xsianx]

Don't let any harm come to Martha!

Darren needs to brought down! with a bump. I noticed on friday how they all call him Darren at the cop shop.

[Martha_Jack]

I hope Martha is going to be ok.

Update soon. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shortie_689]

That was great Adia!!! I love how Jack caught them out but I don't want anything bad to happen to Nina or Jake or Johnny for that matter haha!!!

Why do I get the feeling that Jake and Nina have been bought in to help bring down Johnny and his gang!!! You can't break apart Nina and Johnny they are perfect it is like a real relationship that should be on the show and Nina and Jake should be real characters!!! I think that you should send your story to the seven script writers and then they can pay you and use alllllllll your GREAT IDEAS and bring in Nina and Jake and make a great couple out of Johnny and Nina!!! Sounds good to me!!!

Keep it up buttercup and please update soon maybe even with a little of the Nina and Johnny fluff that you know that I love sooooo very much!!!

Sasha xx

[bay girl]

Oh no, Martha. I hope she will be okay.

[Adia]

Thankies guys for your comments. I tried not to be too mean to Martha...

ChapterSeventyNine:

Jack sat down next to Tony and rubbed his forehead in frustration. He was trying so desperately to figure everything out, but there were so many things flooding into his mind.

“Jack, the Superintendent called,” Lara said handing him a cup of coffee. “he wasn’t happy about being woken up, but he said he’ll be here early tomorrow morning.”

“That’s great. Thanks for that.” As she walked away Jack got a sudden idea. “Hey Fitzy?” he called out to her. “How much do you know about McGrath. His family I mean?”

Lara turned back, surprised by Jack’s question. “Umm, not a lot really. He has two kids, I think both of them are at Uni?”

“What about other family? Brother’s, sisters you know nieces… nephews?”

“I wouldn’t have a clue Jack?” Lara sighed. “Why are you so interested anyway?”

“Do you mind if I use the computer for a minute?” Jack asked her.

“Jack…” she said hesitantly. “You’re suspended remember?”

“Oh come on Fitzy, I’ll only be a second. I just need to follow up on a case that I was working on.”

“Alright then, but if McGrath catches you…”

“He won’t. I promise.” Jack got on the computer and looked up Jake's file again. He clicked on the family history tab and waited impatiently for it to load. There was nothing there of interest. The names of his parents, both deceased for the last 15 years… Derek Rogers and Michelle Clemmens. Died in a car accident. Neither of them had criminal records, not even a blemish next to their names. Jack sighed.

“Hey Lara, what’s McGrath’s wife’s name again? Susan something right?”

“Susan McGrath?” Lara answered smartly.

“Her maiden name Fitzy! Her maiden name!” Jack exclaimed.

“Oh I remember! Callan. Her name was Susan Callan… she told me at the Christmas party last year actually. I don't know why? How random was that?”

Jack looked up the name and whether or not it was associated with Jake and Nina. McGrath had been right. He had no family connection to Jake and Nina at all.

He pushed the keyboard away in frustration. “Damn it!”

“Jack?” Tony said walking over and patting Jack’s shoulder. “Take a break eh? Why don’t you go and pick up Martha. She’ll be waiting for you…”

Jack nodded. “Yeah, I just… I thought I was onto something you know?”

The door of the interview room opened and Belle and Matilda walked sheepishly out, like they were being greeted at the airport or something. Belle cried and ran straight into Irene’s arms. “Thank God you’re here Irene,” she sobbed.

Irene hugged her back and comforted her the best she could. “You girly, are going to send me to an early grave. I was so worried about you…”

“I’m sorry Irene, I promise that I won’t so anything like this again.”

Rocco and Ric were the first ones to get to Matilda. Ric wanted to hug her, but he let Rocco have his moment with her.

“I was so scared Rocco,” she said sadly. “I really thought that I was in trouble.”

“Hey it’s okay,” Rocco said lightly brushing her hair off her face. “I would never let anything bad happen to you. Never.”

Ric smiled, but stood there awkwardly before Matilda reached over and hugged him. “Thanks for coming down here Ric,” she whispered.

Beth stood at the back of the group angrily eyeing up the closeness between her daughter and Rocco.

“Right Matilda,” she said pushing her way through. “I’m taking you home…”

Matilda frowned. “No, I’m not going anywhere with you. I would rather sleep in the cells.”

“Maddie,” Tony pleaded. “Let’s just go home tonight and we can sort things out in the morning okay?”

“No, I can’t. I’m sorry,” she said wiping a tear from her eye. “I want to stay and wait for Nina.”

“Nina’s going to be a while” Lara interjected. “Besides Matilda, we need to send you home with a parent or guardian.”

“What’s going on with Nina?” Rocco asked worried.

“She took the blame for the drugs.” Matilda whispered. “She told the police the drugs were hers.”

“What?” Rocco gasped. “So she’s in trouble now?”

“Why would she do that?” Ric asked.

“I don’t know, but it’s not fair. I feel so bad.”

“Look what matters is that you’re safe and out of trouble now,” said Ric.

“Do you think that Sal will let me stay with her tonight?” she asked them.

“No Matilda, you are coming home with me!” Beth yelled.

“Mrs Hunter, this is a police station,” Lara snapped. “Please keep your voice down. Matilda, ask Sally if you can stay with her. As long we know that you’re going to be safe tonight, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Grandad will be here in a minute,” said Ric. “I’m sure that it will be fine.”

Jack looked at watch and put on his jacket. “Guy’s I better get going,” he sighed. “Martha will be waiting…”

[Adia]

ChapterEighty:

Johnny smiled as he crept into the surf club. His heart was pumping. The adrenalin hadn’t quite started to rush yet, but he knew he’d be getting his fix soon enough. It was dark, but there was a dim light where Martha was standing, carefully counting the cash. He silently directed the rest of the gang and they all began to sneak in amongst the shadows.

Martha grinned. She had never seen so much cash in her life. She looked at her watch and started to quickly pack everything away.

The music cut out and the sound of smashing glass echoed in her mind as someone grabbed her and put their hand over her mouth.

She tried screaming as loud as she could, but her cries for help were muffled as the person carried her away from the bar. She struggled, but their grip was firm and rough, as they fiercely dropped her onto the ground.

“Make sure she’s out of the way…” she heard a man shout to her attacker. “And boys, grab everything that you can. Take some grog too… we can celebrate afterwards…”

The guy twisted Martha’s arms behind her back and started tying them up.

“My husband’s a cop,” she threatened him. “You won’t get away with this?”

“Oh really” the guy sniggered. “Well you tell super cop that I think he has a very pretty wife. And if she’s not careful… she won’t be pretty for much longer.”

Martha spat in his face. He laughed and wiped it away before slapping her.

“Don’t do that again.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s been a long time since I was with a pretty girl…” Martha was as scared as she had ever been. The look in his eyes…

“Hurry up with that chick and grab some gear you idiot!” the man yelled angrily at him. “You’re wasting time. We haven’t got much longer!”

The guy tied a hanky around Martha’s mouth and tightened it forcefully at the back of her head.

“Perhaps we will meet again,” he whispered sadistically as he pushed her into the gym. “And next time we won’t be interrupted.”

Johnny stood at the counter shoving all the cash into his bag, watching his mates ransack the place. He grinned ecstatically, like a small boy unwrapping his Christmas presents. He rummaged through the bar and took all the bottles he could. “Start wrapping it up guys,” he yelled. “Two minutes and we bail from this joint…”

He was loving it. He was in control and everything was going to plan…

“I hope you dealt with that chick properly,” he said when the guy came back.

“Of course Johnny…”

“Shut up man!” Johnny whispered shoving the guy. “Don’t be an idiot. I hope you didn’t say anything stupid to that girl.’

“No…”

“You better not of…” Johnny said angrily. “If any of us get fingered for this, we’ll know who to come and take care of…”

Johnny looked around the surf club and then at his watch. ‘Alright boys, let’s get out of this hole…”

Martha sat in the gym shivering with fear. She hoped desperately that they were all gone and that the guy would not come back for her. She prayed for Jack to hurry and find her.

“How awesome was that!” Johnny yelled as the gang started filtering around him in the park. He passed around some bottles of alcohol, panting heavily and grinning from ear to ear.

“Right, you all know what to do. We’ll meet up tomorrow at my place and everyone can grab their share then. Stupid cops probably won’t even notice anything till the morning anyway,” he laughed.

He picked up a bottle of tequila and thought about the next fix that he wanted. He smiled… pulling out his phone and started to text her.

Karl came along and tried to take the bottle from Johnny’s hand, but he angrily snatched it back.

“I think you’ll find that’s mine mate,” Johnny snapped.

“You not going to share it…” Karl asked him.

“I’ll be sharing it, just not with you.”

“Where are you headed then?”

“None of your business,” he said getting right in Karl’s face. “And you don’t even think about going back there for that chick…”

“What? What are you talking about man? Why would I do that?”

“I know that look in your eyes you idiot. You keep your mouth shut and your pants on. And don’t even think about her again. You do anything to drop us in it, and we’ll come after you.”

“Don’t you trust me Johnny?”

Johnny scoffed at him and walked off. “I'm not stupid enough to trust anyone…”

Jack pulled up outside the surf club and sat in the car. He tapped the steering wheel impatiently, wondering why Martha was taking so long. After a while, he’d had enough, and decided to go in and get her.

He walked in casually until he saw what had happened. Anger and worry hit him instantly as he yelled out Martha’s name, praying that she was still here and alright.

He heard muffled noises coming from inside the gym. He ran over and pushed his way through the doors where he saw Martha.

Her cheeks were stained with tears and Jack could see the fear in her eyes. He untied the cloth form her mouth and started untying the rope around her hands. She sobbed hysterically while he hugged her, trying to calm her down.

“Jack!” she cried.

“Don’t say anything” he panted. “I’m here now. I’m here…”

[xsianx]

I'm torn I like Johnny but I don't like Johnny.

Brilliant writing as always!

[Martha_Jack]

Oh Jack saved her, two updates. :):)