"GET OFF ME YOU AUSSIE WENCH," Ryan yelled at the woman who was now playfully tonguing his ear.
"My…we aren’t a happy camper are we," the woman cooed.
"You noticed then," Ryan hissed.
"Why can't we just have a bit of fun," the woman pouted.
"Because of the gold band on my finger, that's why," Ryan sneered.
The woman's pout turned to a wicked smile. She slid off Ryan's lap, crept around the side of the chair and removed Ryan's wedding ring and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Hey, leave that alone," Ryan pleaded.
"But darling…it’s ruining my fun," the woman mused and handed the ring to one of her heavies. "Flush it," she added.
The heavy nodded and left the room.
"You fucking bitch…I've never wanted to slap a woman before but Christ you're quickly changing my mind," Ryan snarled.
The woman sauntered back over to Ryan and slapped him hard across the face. "Fuck you," she breathed and left the room.
"So where are you heading Baz?" Drew asked as he turned down the radio.
"Adelaide," Big Bazza replied.
"Shit…that's nowhere near Sydney," Drew cussed.
"Boy, you really are geographically minded," Colin mused.
"Hey, I know Africa is a continent ok…and so is Europe, Asia, the Americas and Antarctica" Drew scorned.
"And Australia," Colin added.
"Australia is never a continent," Drew gasped.
"Is too mate," Big Bazza huffed.
"What I want to know is why Canada isn't a continent," Colin sighed.
"You would," Drew jeered.
"Well, it shouldn't be tied in with your moody teenager of a country," Colin retorted.
"I agree…you yanks…you fink you own everythin' and are best at everythin," Big Bazza chimed in.
"Hey, I'm not the whole of America here…just one man…I don't make any of the big decisions," Drew squealed.
"Yeah, neither does that Bush wanker," Big Bazza chided.
"Bush wanker…I think I've just discovered a new derogatory term for Australians," Colin mused.
"How long to Adelaide?" Drew groaned.
"Three days," Big Bazza perked.
Drew let out a silent scream and Colin turned the radio back up.
"You hungry?" Greg asked, taking a quick look at Gina who had been quiet most of the way.
"More than I thought humanly possible," Gina replied and looked over at Greg.
"You wanna stop in this town?" Greg asked.
"Yeah, why not. We should be safe since we nicked their car anyway," Gina mused.
Greg parked the car opposite a small café. Greg and Gina crossed the road together and were about to enter the café when two familiar figures wandered out. It was Brad and Ritza. They stopped dead and the seconds of silence began to quickly pass.
"Brad…where the fuck have you been?" Greg hissed.
"Now Greg, I can explain…" Brad swallowed.
Greg noticed Ritza, and looked from her to Brad and back again. "Please don't tell me you're fucking her."
Brad looked at the pavement.
"Ah hello…just a little question…what the hell is going on?" Gina huffed.
"You're going off at me…I see you've gained a blonde," Brad cussed.
"Nah, that's just Gina," Greg replied nonchalantly.
"Gee thanks," Gina grumbled.
"Brad, we should go," Ritza mumbled.
"Are you going to answer my question?" Gina hissed.
"Gina this is Ritza Crispin…the psycho bitch who's trying to kill us," Greg announced.
"And you're fucking her?" Gina scowled at Brad.
There was a brief silence, before Greg announced, "What totally baffles me right now is that she must know who you are…am I right?"
"Of course I know," Ritza snapped.
"What? You know and you let me talk about zoo keeping?" Brad gasped.
"It’s not what it looks like," Ritza pleaded.
"What it looks like is not only have Drew and Col gone missing but now Ryan's disappeared as well," Greg spat.
"Oh man," Brad winced.
Ritza let out a heavy sigh. "Look I'll explain everything…just not here," she said calmly.
"Fine but we take our car," Greg demanded.
"Well technically it’s still my car," Ritza mused.
"Don't get smart or you'll get my size seven up your arse," Gina scowled.
"And I won't stop her," Greg nodded as they piled back into the car.
After escaping Nimbin and getting lost more times than they could count, Chip and Wayne were beginning to tire of the whole situation.
Gina leant over and whispered to Greg. "She doesn’t know who you lot are."
"'Spose," Brad shrugged.
"Well that's the fifth time I've tried Ryan's mobile," Chip sighed.
"How are we supposed to find out anything if no one is going to call us and we can't call anyone?" Wayne grumbled.
"Useless bloody technology," Chip grumbled and was about to switch the phone off when it rang.
"Hello," Chip said bewildered.
"Hey, how are ya?" Colin perked.
"COLIN," Chip turned excitedly to Wayne. "It’s Colin."
"Calm down…it's not that exciting."
"Trust me with the last few days we've had…anything is exciting."
"I bet I can up your last few days."
"Go on then."
"I'll tell you when I see you…I've got Drew here too."
"He's got Drew with him," Chip perked to Wayne. "How is he."
"Irritating."
"I can imagine."
"Hey, is Ryan there?"
"No…we split up a couple of days ago."
"Oh, have you heard from him."
"No…not for the want of trying."
"What about Greg or Brad."
"Greg went with Ryan and Brad disappeared when he followed Ritza."
"Shit! Can't you guys stay together?"
"Apparently not."
"Look…we're heading toward Adelaide…how about we get off in Katoomba and you pick us up."
"You're kidding me right?"
"No, why?"
"Let's just say we're more than familiar with the place."
"Ok, well we should be there in two hours."
"Ok…we'll get there as quickly as we can…nice to hear from you Col."
"Thank you," Colin perked and hung up.
"Too Katoomba my good man," Chip perked.
"I can barley contain my excitement," Wayne sarced.
"Ok, ok," Ritza said, taking a deep breath. "Everything that has happened to you guys…everything…was not down to me. It was down to my sister Rona. My father was well into the gangster kind of thing. Well from what I know it was more extortion by force. He gave it up after getting himself shot, so my brothers decided to take over and eventually landed themselves in prison. So Rona decided she'd take over, make it work. I helped for a while, made a quick buck. When I tried to get out of it she threatened me, I knew too much you see."
"Yeah, the history lesson is fascinating Ritza…really," Gina sighed.
"She was the one that ordered me to storm into the hotel room and take you back to her house. I couldn't have been happier when you escaped, I didn't really try to catch up to you," Ritza said meekly. "I thought it was all over, and then Rona told me her plan, to go to LA and get Drew…I don't know how she found out where he lived."
"The note was signed by you though," Brad pointed out.
"Oh no…that was Rona," Ritza grumbled, "I didn't even leave Australia."
"You mean that was Rona who attacked me in the shower?" Greg gasped.
"Well it certainly wasn't me," Ritza said somewhat horrified. "Rona decided that Drew knew too much, that's why she wants to kill him. She was actually looking for the tall guy, Ryan when she found you."
"Why?" Gina asked.
"He saw me shoot Gino…but I didn't kill him…he had a bullet proof vest on…but it was the only way to escape with the drugs," Ritza replied.
"Damn you for destroying my dictaphone," Gina said, glaring at Greg.
"I had to laugh when I found that sports bag was full of flour…Rona was fuming though," Ritza sighed.
"What about Colin…why did you take Colin?" Brad asked quietly.
"Once again Rona hoped Ryan was there…but then she decided Colin would be a wonderful way to lure him there anyway," Ritza shrugged.
Ritza fell silent and cracked her knuckles, before she turned to Brad.
"I promise I never meant to lie to you…but you knew who I was right?"
"Yeah," Brad grumbled.
"I mean I'm hardly going to forget a bunch of kooky American tourists like you and your friends am I?" Ritza smiled.
"Why the hell not?" Greg whispered back.
"Well your show is only on once a week at 4am…and I guess she doesn't have cable," Gina mused.
"Remind me to write a letter of complaint," Greg nodded.
"Brad," Ritza breathed and sat her self on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
"So were you just leading me on?" Brad asked.
"Baby no, were you using me?" Ritza cooed.
"No…never," Brad half-whimpered and pulled Ritza into his lap.
"I say we check out the kitchen," Gina sighed.
"I'm already there," Greg chided as they both headed in the direction of the kitchen.
"Wait," Ritza gasped, pulling away from Brad.
Greg and Gina stopped and turned around.
"Look…I don't know what Rona has planned but whatever it is I'd be really worried about Ryan if I was you," Ritza announced.
"We are, and Colin and Drew," Greg stated.
"Trust me Colin and Drew are fine…they got away…but I know she has Ryan," Ritza said seriously.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Brad perked. "Lead the way muffin," he added smiling like a goof at Ritza.
"Muffin," Greg and Gina mouthed to each other disgusted.