When an abandoned car is found in the bush, Jack’s instincts tell him that Johnny is getting closer; his suspicions heighten after investigations prove that the guy who reported it missing has connections to the fugitive himself. While the local police prepare to draft in backup from the city and set plans in motion to up the patrols around the Bay, Johnny makes his way to the caravan park and hides out in the grounds. There Tony is stationed as Sally’s ‘protector’, and he’s becoming increasingly aware of something being amiss: jumping at every shadow and wincing at every sound, he soon drops the tough guy image as he realises that he may not be alone. As he reluctantly unlocks the door to check around outside, Johnny moves in – only to be escape unnoticed after being spooked by the timely arrival of Jack. ‘Johnny’s definitely here,’ Jack tells Tony, unaware of his recent brush with the criminal. ‘The question is “where?”’Recipe for revengeDesperate to wheedle his way back into Belle’s life, and knowing that the Bay’s newcomer doesn’t possess quite such an intimate knowledge of his history as business partner Irene, Dom goes to Roman and talks him into giving him a job at the diner. As expected, tempers flare when Irene discovers the identity of their new assistant – whose application both she and Drew are shocked to find has been supported by referee Belle – but Roman stands firm on his decision to hire someone who has so far managed to pass himself off as the model employee. Far from keen on working through the potentially painstaking wait for Dom to slip up before being able to restore order to her classy establishment, Irene instead sets about granting Drew’s wish for hurrying things along by convincing Roman to tell him about a perfect job opportunity in a city restaurant. With Belle’s encouragement Dom agrees to go for interview, leaving Irene to sit back and wait to be proved right.The final chapterReady to leave town for his new writing course, Lucas spends his last night in the Bay having drinks with his friends, with the notable absence of Ric and Cassie. It’s a sensitive subject, and the atmosphere soon becomes awkward when, predicting the futures of those closest to him, Luc speaks of his vision of Cassie and Henk as the happily married couple.

Thankfully, the resulting unusual behaviour is fast forgotten as the next morning Tony, Jack and Lucas revel in some family bonding, all aware that their little threesome is about to be broken up. For Lucas the priority is to leave safe in the knowledge that his father won’t be lonely in his absence – something which, although he may not realise it yet, seems to be a lot less likely than he imagined.

As Rachel watches on, amused by their family antics, it’s hard to miss the fact that Tony is growing ever more attractive to her eyes.


Tagged in