Chapter 17

The police station was only a half an hour drive from Erin's apartment building she knew the place but had never driven past it for quite some time. In the front lot parking space there was a small group of civilian cars with no other cop cars in sight. The other police cars also didn't park there and instead drove around to the back of the building while, the car Erin and Denan were in parked in the front. The officers got out first then opened up the back allowing Erin and Denan out and lead them inside.

It was a bustle of constant activity inside the station; people were sitting in chairs lined up against the wall waiting to be served, receptionist and officers fluffing around with papers and other important information heavily occupied the front desk. Moving along they crossed through a door, it was less noisy though still quite heavily crowded with office desks and chairs and on either side were rows and rows of private office rooms.

'Follow me.' The officer said he took them past the main foyer towards one of the private officer rooms only pausing for a brief moment to knock on the door. When he got given the signal he opened it stepping inside Erin and Denan went in after him and the door shut. Erin frowned deeply recognizing the now elderly man sitting in the large comfortable leather chair behind an L-shaped work desk.

'Sit down.' The man said motioning to the seats at his desk Erin and Denan did as told and remained silent.

'So Erin. I see you've been doing pretty well since I last saw you.' He said she shrugged her shoulders.

'I do what I can.'

'I know.' He smirked and leaned forward in his chair resting his hands on the desk.

'I received word the other day that you and your friend here invaded someone's private property recently.' He said Erin glanced at Denan.

'Who told you?' Denan asked.

'The property's owner. You know the two of you were lucky to get out alive.'

'We figured as much getting chased by a monster truck.' Erin answered.

'What were you doing there?'

'Looking around, forget about that you tell me why you wanted me to come down here and what this has to do with my father.' She continued.

'Since you're back in town I decided to re-open the case of your father's murder.' He said.

'Why?'

'A lot of things don't add up especially with Royce Major's car dealership getting broken into recently. He and your father had worked close together for years though they liked to keep their business separate. It was no secret Royce was a bit envious of your father.'

'After all your father had an uncanny knack for getting along with people and rubbing up them the wrong way.'

'Let's also not forget you weren't all so innocent yourself young lady.'

Erin said nothing she knew what he meant.

'Were your aware of why he was robbing banks and stores in the area?'

'No. He never told me anything except to do as he said and ask no questions,' She answered.

'And you don't know who might have wanted to kill him?'

'You asked me that question that very same night and I told you no then I'll tell you no now.'

'Sir Erin's return here and the break in at Royce's business can't be the only reasons you decided to re-investigate this case about her father.' Denan remarked.

'Well when a family member returns to the scene of the crime it draws a lot of suspicion.'

'Hang on a second.' Erin interrupted.

'Are you trying to suggest; even for just a brief second I might have been involved?'

'I am not suggesting anything significant, Erin but considering what happened to your father years ago and you not being here over a period of time and then suddenly making a come back, to the folks around here it is a cause for concern.'

'The way you've made headlines with your racing has only added to the suspicion.'

'My father didn't want me anywhere near street racing; said it wouldn't lead me anywhere except for trouble. He wanted me to race like he did back in his old glory days in the dirt. He worked hard to earn everything allowing me to chase the dream of street racing even when he objected to it and he had to pay the price. I don't know how or why it happened but it did. Nobody could tell me the truth and my own mother doesn't even speak to me.' She snapped and standing up from her chair she glared angrily at the elderly man.

'So unless you can tell me what really happened and why he was killed I don't have to elaborate on anything in my life to you.' She added already heading for the door but the lone officer in the room with them stepped in front to block her way. She reacted quickly slamming her fist into his nose he baulked into the door she moved forwards grabbed hold of him and roughly tossed him to one aside.

'Erin.'

She yanked the door wide-open attracting attention from those in the main foyer ignoring their curious stares she strode briskly past towards the main entrance Denan ran straight after her a little surprised by what he had just seen but it made him realize he definitely had a lot more to find out.

'Erin wait up!' he yelled finally catching up with her outside of the station; she didn't turn around when he ran outside she folded her arms across her chest.

'What was that all about?' he asked.

'Nothing.' She said.

'Nothing, really wow then I guess that officer shouldn't have been punched.' He remarked.

'He was in my way.' She answered.

'So unless you want the same thing to happen to you I suggest you go back to your little friends,' she added only looking his way for a brief moment.

'I-but-' he tried to speak but she wasn't going to have any of it.

'Whatever it is you've been trying to dig around forget it I have nothing further to add so don't bother. Maybe your cop friend might know so you ask him to find out. I have work to do.' She replied and with that she walked through the car park heading to the main road and when she'd rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. Denan shook his head and sighed this wasn't how it was supposed to go of course he wasn't trying to make her life difficult he was just curious. Most of the time street racing, here was ran pretty smoothly every now and again trouble would stir but not enough to cause the type of commotion and curiosity as it is now. He also knew Eddie and the rest of the crew were up to something he just hasn't been able to figure it out yet.

'Hang on a minute.' He said out loud he half turned around looking at the police station trying to put things together in his head.

'Hmmm.'

Denan walked back into the station the other officers were busy with their own work some of them sat at their desks questioning people, Denan went straight past all of them and returned to the office of the elder man, the officer who had been in the room with them had now gone probably to take care of his swollen nose.

'Excuse me.' Denan replied walking into the office.

'What can I do for you young man?' he asked.

'Well I was wondering, with all this stuff going on because it might have something to do with Erin if maybe someone else might be involved.' Denan remarked.

'What have you got?'

'I'm just making a bit of an assumption here but Eddie and his crew might have decided to get involved.'

'Ah yes Eddie. Well if it turns out to be true then I wouldn't be surprised. Ok I'll look into it.' The elderly man said. Denan nodded his head and left the police station and as he stepped outside for the second time his face fell. Dirt's car had pulled up in the front parking space his drivers' side window rolled down and he leaned against it.

'Well, well fancy seeing you here,' he said.

'What do you want?' Denan asked.

'You've been escaping us far too often and Ed's not happy. He likes to know where everyone is at all times,' Dirt said.

'Really that's funny since you, Chad and Kurt have been running all over the place doing god-knows-what with his permission.' Denan answered.

'That ain't any of your business,' Dirt remarked.

'Fine whatever.' Denan said he stepped around the car and begun walking towards the street.

'Hey! You get in we got places to go.' Dirt yelled after him Denan stopped and turned around.

'What for?'

'Just get in.' Dirt said for a moment Denan pondered this if he wanted to see if Eddie and the others might be behind anything he'd have to stay as close to them as possible. He didn't say any more and walked back to Dirt's car opening the front passenger's side door and got in and within a few minutes they left the police station.

Erin went back to the apartment for her car then headed over to the garage, and now stood outside the entrance surveying the wreck it has been for the last few years she sighed. It was going to take a lot of time and effort to try and get this place back to what it was but even more so just to have it fixed. Then her thoughts turned to the other day visiting the old barn and the strange man who confronted them before the monster truck arrived. She may not have known the man they spoke to though Denan had been convinced the man knew her so perhaps he might have known her father.

'I think I should have a little talk to him.' She said she turned and got back into her car starting the engine and began to drive back to the main road; but the moment she turned two un-marked black Ford Falcons came straight into view their headlights burned directly in her eye line.

'What the hell is this?'

One of the two cars slowly edged forwards she watched it carefully when suddenly it sped up went straight past and further down the street and then hit its' breaks and did a u-turn flashing the headlights back on her again. Erin looked to the second car it hadn't moved it remained still, with its headlights also on full blast. Erin looked between the two cars wondering what she should do this appeared to be some sort of a stand-off but she didn't know why she was in the middle of it; after a few minutes with nobody doing anything she shut off her car's engine opened the door and slowly got out. Moments after she had done so the car doors on the Ford Falcons also opened and four different men climbed out she gasped quietly recognizing their business suits. Though Erin never saw the men who had come to see her father years ago up close or even met them personally she could easily recognize them by their clothing.

'What do you want?' she called out. One of the four men raised a PA system to his mouth.

'Miss. Henderson we have been advised to inform you, to stay out of business.' He remarked.

'What business?' she asked.

'It would be in your best interest to stay out of harms way otherwise there will be no other choice. We are watching.' He added and before she could come up with another question to ask; each of the four men got back into the cars starting up the engines put them into reverse and sped off down the street leaving her alone. They are watching me? She thought. Things were starting to get really odd around here now, and she was beginning to suspect none of it had to do with her driving abilities. The way it appeared to be unfolding most of it had to do with her father and she still didn't have any idea. She got back into her car and drove off away from the garage, to continue with her plan to meet with the owner of the barn if the man she had run-into earlier was indeed the owner she still wasn't sure.

Denan didn't say a word when he and Dirt arrived at Eddie's hidden hideout the same one Denan had Erin stay in for a short period of time. When they walked up towards the house loud music blared from inside the cars were scattered across the front and the front door had been left wide open.

'You know what it means when the music's on this loud,' Dirt remarked a smug smile on his face Denan ignored him they both walked inside. Chad and Kurt were already seated on the floor in front of the TV playing on the game console Dirt went over to join them though he made a grab for the bowl of crisps on the floor.

'Hey! Get your own!' Chad exclaimed; Denan walked away from the lounge area and left the three to their own game he entered the kitchen nobody there but the backdoor was wide open too, he headed on through and was met instantly by the loud sounds of gun fire. Denan rolled his eyes whenever Eddie came out here to practice his apparent shooting skills it meant he was in a worse mood than normal.

'So you decide to show up.' Eddie remarked after taking a shot he didn't turn around to acknowledge the presence.

'Didn't have much choice.' Denan answered.

'You have crossed many lines, I know that and so do you. This girl's arrival has caused a lot of problems especially for me,' Eddie said Dean folded his arms.

'So she's stirred a few people like you, up the wrong way I don't see how that is causing problems.' He remarked Eddie scoffed.

'You have no idea. She is a lot of trouble thinking she can run around with the likes of us. We've been digging around and she is not one to mess with let me tell you. I have seen her kind before.' He said.

'You've been digging and probably making up stuff along the way. You want people to see her in some negative way and you come out of it being some sort of an innocent party to it all.' Denan said.

'I'm the best racer here and eventually the country and I won't have anybody stand in my way no matter what their story is and what they want to do.' Eddie snapped Denan laughed.

'I find it very strange that you have taken such an interest to ruin her when she was the one to get the jump on you, after all she raced and beat you.' He answered.

'That was a one off.' Eddie growled through clenched teeth.

'Anyway you said you had been digging around so what do you know about her back story with her father?' Denan asked Eddie aimed another shot at his target then turned around.

'Why are you so interested all of a sudden?' he asked suspicious.

'Just answer the question.' Denan replied.

'He made a few bad decisions and was always in with the wrong people. Owed a lot of money and seemed to be constantly on the run from someone.' Eddie remarked.

'How did you find this out?'

Eddie just smirked as he re-loaded the gun and aimed back at the target behind him Denan shook his head he decided to leave Eddie to his target shooting and walked back into the house the rest of the gang were still hanging out in the lounge area reluctantly he went to join then.

'Hey, so did you get told off?' Kurt asked.

'No.'

'Yeah right he told you off didn't he? For going all rebel on us with the girl,' Chad added.

'Look, whatever you want to think.' Denan said he glanced at Melissa she had come to join the boys in the lounge she sat down on the couch with them and she turned to Denan.

'You really should stay away from her, you know.' She said.

'A bit late giving advice Mel.' He remarked she shrugged her shoulders.

'I know her kind.' She said he raised his eyebrows.

'The type that go sneaking behind people's back because they have something to hide but to your face they are all nice and get cozy and everything.' She said he snorted.

'Sounds like you.' He replied she shot him a furious glare; Kurt and Chad tried not to laugh out loud. Dean reclined back in his chair again focusing his attention on the TV everyone's words from today kept going around his head he wasn't able to make sense of it.* There is definitely more Erin doesn't want to tell me. If only I could get it out of her. So far all I know is her dad was up to no good, obviously he was a smart businessman yet he was probably mixing with the wrong people and landed himself in some kind of debt which may have lead to his death. So why did the detective insist the case was being re-opened again? * He thought. His thoughts again pondered the talk with the detective about all the things he mentioned possibly being linked. He seemed to know bit too much and too interested. Then he also had the problem of that Roger man he meant a few days back; the one who seemingly knew his friend Jacob whom hadn't been in touch for a while now. Things were not quite what they seemed these days.

The car was idle she remained unmoved from the drivers' seat staring at the two-story house. All of the curtains had been drawn although the lights were on in every single part of the house. It made it look like the occupant was terrified of the dark. Erin knew she had been in this exact spot before; one of the many memories she had of coming by the area and not just the one time with all the money. On one such visit her dad as always told her to stay in the car while he sorted out his 'business'. She had seen him and another person though not sure it was a man at the time standing at the front door. At first they talked in mild tones without much going on and as the minutes passed their voices grew louder and louder hands waved in various directions sometimes pointed directly at each other. When their conversations finished her dad stormed back unhappily to the car mumbled under his breath for a few minutes before driving the both of them back home.

'Well then time to see what all these conversations came to,' she remarked, opening the door she climbed out and took in a deep breath. This wasn't something she'd normally do go to a stranger's home and talk to them especially a man. Whatever this man, the one she and Denan had seen earlier was going to say she knew she needed the truth he had showed signs he must know her. Erin walked briskly down the short gravel path towards the front steps she had barely reach the first one when the main door flew open the light from inside scattered the darkness forcing her to shield her eyes for several minutes.

'Well, well look at what we have here. Thought you would have learnt your lesson about coming near my property.' The gruff man said. Erin, after adjusting to the light lowered her hands staring up at the figure.

'Monster trucks don't scare me.' She answered.

'Big and tough just like your father.' He added smugly she frowned.

'How do you know my father?'

The man laughed.

'Everyone knew about him around these parts. He was a clever man knew how to deal with people and get what he wanted. Always thought he could outsmart even the smart ones. Guess that didn't' last long,' he said.

'You said you knew nothing about your burnt barn.' She replied changing the subject, again the man laughed much to her annoyance.

'It doesn't appear to have mattered because clearly you know better,' he answered.

'If I recall, my dad had come by and visited you plenty over the years.' Erin said.

'What is it to you?' the man asked as he rubbed his chin.

'You must know what he was doing then maybe he tried to broke some sort of business with you.' She remarked the man shook his head.

'Not in the slightest. Like I said your dad was smart he knew who to trust and not trust. He picked the right people. It was me whom wanted to work with him.' He answered this surprised her.

'So he said no.'

'Obviously. I convinced him the best I could but he was stubborn. Said he already had enough business partners that were giving him the finances he required so he didn't need anyone else. For years I tried to make him change his mind but he never relented. Then when things got tough he came to me; said I could do him a favor; and if I did he would re-consider,' the man explained.

'That's why he had some of the money stashed in your barn building.' She said he nodded his head.

'Yes.'

'Did you set it on fire on purpose?'

'Why?'

'Well; it was your building there was money in it and for whatever reason it got destroyed.'

'I told you before it had been destroyed long before I knew anything.' He answered beginning to get agitated.

'Fine. Oh, by the way in case you don't know the cops told me they're re-opening my dad's case so who knows what they might come and ask you.' She said smugly, and even in the poor light she noticed his expression frown a little.

'Stinking cops putting their noses where it don't belong.' He mumbled. Erin turned on her heel and started walking back to her car.

'You had better watch your back.' He called out after her, Erin halted for a moment turning around she looked back to him.

'And why is that?'

'Enemies are everywhere.' He replied, and himself turned and walked back inside his close slamming the doo closed. She shook her head she figured someone out there didn't like her father. The threatening notes she had read bothered her. The one where it said whatever earnings would go to this Mr. Warner, she didn't know him. She didn't even know her stepfather, he barely spoke to her when she was living with him a few years ago. He acted like she didn't exist, gave her looks of anguish as if she'd done something wrong. Her mother had told him why she had come to live with their family and all Erin could remember him saying was,

'As far as I am concerned she is never going to be part of this family. She is your responsibility not mine.'

Not that it ever helped her mother was pretty weak around men, probably why she ended up with four kids and two husbands.