After months of searching for his baby sister, Colby has finally found her. But instead of the happy reunion he was hoping for, Bella appears wielding a crossbow – and it’s aimed directly at him.
In an action-packed week of Home And Away, the long-lost teenager is found at her stepfather’s home.
Colby (Tim Franklin), who retrieved the address from his fiancée Chelsea (Ashleigh Brewer), promised he would let the homicide team take control and find Bella (Courtney Miller).
Instead, he lies to Chelsea and drives out to the property with Dean (Patrick O’Connor).
Colby and Dean cautiously enter the property.
Tim, 28, tells TV WEEK that his character’s actions could have deadly consequences.
“The stakes are raised,” he says. “Colby has been searching for Ross – and Bella – since he was 18, so if he finds him, he will avenge those he loves. He can fall back into old habits very quickly.”
Will his bold plan backfire?
After sleeping in the car overnight, the former River Boys make their move to find Bella. To their surprise, she has found them first.
“She’s brandishing a crossbow – it was like a scene out of Hostage!” Tim says with a laugh.
“He has an idea of what he thinks she is like, but it’s very different. It’s not the reunion he wanted.”
Bella’s not afraid to fire!
A fearful Bella aims the crossbow and orders them to leave. When they refuse, she fires a warning bolt in Dean’s direction and makes a run for it.
“Ross has raised her to be this independent, mistrustful person,” Courtney, 22, adds.
“She knows exactly who he is and sees Colby as danger. Ross has manipulated her that way.”
Knowing his stepfather Ross (Justin Rosniack) could come home any moment, Colby and Dean panic. If he finds them, they’re dead.
In recent episodes, Colby discovered Ross murdered both his parents and has been raising Bella ever since. He even has the evidence to prove it.
“In his mind, he always thought his dad died in the line of duty,” Tim explains. “Apart from finding Bella, it was also why he became a cop – to feel what his father was like.”
Bella greets the duo with her crossbow raised.
Now, he’s desperate to get his little sister out of there before she becomes his next victim. But she won’t listen to reason.
What lies has Ross told her?
Eventually, the boys find her hiding in an old shed. Without thinking, Colby grabs her and bundles her into the car as Dean races to the driver’s seat.
As they pull out of the driveway, Ross appears on the opposite side of the road.
Bella yells for help, but Ross doesn’t seem to notice.
Dean marvels at their good fortune, while Colby has turned pale. He’s just kidnapped his own sister!
Bella yells for help as they leave the property.
Back in Summer Bay, Chelsea fears the worst. She can’t find Colby anywhere and he won’t answer her phone calls. Willow, who knows about the rescue mission, is forced to lie to Chelsea.
Unfortunately, Chelsea’s police instincts kick in and she connects the dots. While she’s understandably angry that Colby lied, she accepts that he’s trying to save his sister.
“He just didn’t want to burden her even more,” Tim says of why he kept the truth from Chelsea.
Upon the boys’ return to Summer Bay, they take Bella to the old River Boys hideout. The 16-year-old recoils in fear as they attempt to chat.
Willow arrives with supplies and is stunned to see Bella in such a state. She demands Colby tell Chelsea the truth – before she finds out herself.
The policeman heeds their advice and confesses everything to Chelsea. Naturally, the law-abiding cop is appalled by her fiancé’s behaviour. But what she does next will leave Colby speechless.
Will she turn him in? Or is it something far worse?
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