Apologise for the delay!
Chapter 9
Erin returned to her apartment alone after having enjoyed the bite to eat with Denan. She let him keep the car he'd been driving since last night and suggested he leave his own at hers for a while. Now that she had a little bit of time on her own she had the chance to reflect on all of last night's events. She walked in dropped her keys on the coffee table and sat down on the couch and immediately her body relaxed into the soft material. She stared up at the ceiling though before too long her eyelids began to grow heavy she could easily sense sleep start to over power her.
'Just a light nap will do,' she mumbled she was ready to dose off when the abrupt ringing of the home phone shook her wide-awake.
What the hell?'
Erin sat up and scrambled across the couch to snatch up the cordless receiver.
'Hello?' No response from the other end.
'Hello?' she asked again this time she could just pick up on traffic faintly in the background.
'Ok I know somebody is on the line so just give it up and reveal yourself.' She said but still didn't get a response, Erin was fed up with whatever game was being played she hung up and put the receiver back in its cradle but it puzzled her. Not a lot of people knew her home line number and she definitely didn't have a lot of friends, the ones she did know before she came to Olympic City would be far too busy in their own lives to really care.
'Something isn't right.' She said she looked back at the phone she didn't have caller ID otherwise she would jump at the chance to find out whom the caller was and what they wanted from her. Now Erin had much bigger plans, with the race this afternoon done and Eddie, staying away from her until the time was right for the both of them to challenge each other again she had the opportunity to expand her horizons on the scene.
'Who was that guy Denan was talking about? The one with all the engine knowledge.' She muttered she rubbed her face.
'Best place to start on the net.'
She moved over to her bedroom when she walked inside she saw the messy state it was in having not been bothered to clean it up before she and Denan had left.
'It can still wait.' She said she kicked aside a loose t-shirt and a small pile of pair less socks she walked over to her desktop computer turned it on and while waiting for it to fully load up she got thinking about last night. As much as she liked Denan and enjoyed having someone to talk to and rely on in the races, the fact remained that he still had some involvement with Eddie's team and she worried all of her plans she had set up would fall apart. For all she knew he might just be using the circumstances with her as a stepping stone to further his own racing career, she knew from personal experience in this business it was always difficult to trust people. Once the computer was loaded Erin was about to sit down and start her research but heard a knock at the door.
'Now what.'
She headed out of the room and across the lounge towards the front door and not bothering to stop and ask who was outside she pulled it open. The hallway was empty no sign of anybody around.
'This is just getting ridiculous.' She said she turned to walk back inside but her eyes caught sight of a pale yellow A4-sized envelope tucked under the doormat with part of the envelope's edge sticking out. She bent down and pulled it out from under the doormat flipped it around but there was nothing written on it.
'Ok things are getting really strange now,'
Erin closed the door she was puzzled by the envelope she deliberated with the idea of opening it or leaving it closed.
'Ah what the hell.'
She tore it open taking out a thick pile of photographs and they were a mix black and white and colored photos.
'Oh my god.' She said she immediately recognized the photos, taken from about two years ago while she was still sorting things out with her racing. She continued to flip through all of the photos capturing nearly every single move she made, mixing it with several drivers, even getting angry at them and also of her car during the races. She shook her head dismayed she had been followed over that time and knew nothing about it. At the same time it didn't make too much sense as to why some random person followed her around for those two years and then out of nowhere these photos turn up. She made up her mind she was going back down to the races tonight and she was going to check up on everyone that is there, surely whoever took these photos must be around otherwise they wouldn't have dropped the photos off at her apartment. She shook her head still seated at the table this was baffling to her and now she forgot all about researching about the garage guy. Instead she got up and walked back to the front door grabbing her car keys along the way right now she needed some fresh air, needed to clear her thoughts and try to think of who she might have made enemies over the years and as to why these photos had suddenly turned up on her door step. While Erin waited for the lift to come up to her floor she pulled her baseball cap she had taken from the table on and tucked her hair in then slid on her sun glasses. The lift arrived and when the doors opened she took a surprised step back when a tall lanky policewoman emerged. Her uniform was absolutely immaculate and her knee high boots clicked loudly on the floor Erin kept her head down though from the corner of her eye she noticed the policewoman had a colored tattoo on her arm, she went to walk into the elevator after the woman stepped out but she then bumped straight into someone else. The force of the bump sent Erin stumbling backwards she regained her balance furious she stood up straight and turned on the intruder.
'Excuse me!' she exclaimed the tall man stopped and turned around Erin immediately shut up realizing this man too was dressed in the same uniform.
'Never mind.' She answered walking into the lift the man shook his head and continued to follow his colleague she had stopped outside of the first apartment and preceded to knock on the door. Erin impatiently waited until the lift arrived in the basement car park and as soon as the door opened she made a mad dash for her car. There was no telling what those police officers were up to and if they were indeed looking for her then she needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. She unlocked the car jumped in and locked the doors she grabbed her phone scrolling through her list of phone numbers she stopped and for a few seconds she toyed with the idea of letting Denan know what was going on; but she then quickly changed her mind and put her phone away she started the engine.
'If he needs me then he can come and find me.' She remarked a sly smirk on her face she drove to the exit the roller door opened up and she sped across the open car park but unknown to her the cops had seen this from their vantage point upstairs. Erin casually drove along the quiet street taking in the scenery for once; she had driven down these streets numerous times but never had taken in the sight as it had always passed by in a fuzzy blur of colors. She went to turn left at the intersection and the moment she made the turn she heard the sounds of a police siren.
'That is just great,' she said she manage to catch sight of the police car as it came into view.
'Pull over!' a sharp voice called out over the PA system.
'Ha!'
'Like that is going to work for me.' She answered shaking her head, the police car started to speed up Erin didn't quicken her pace she let them come a little bit closer.
'Come on now just a little more,' she remarked. The police car quickly drew up near Erin's car she kept her eye on them waiting for just the right time to make her move.
'A little bit closer come on I know you can do it.'
As if right on cue the police car drew up even with her Erin smirked.
'Just the way I like it.'
'Pull over right now!' the PA system called out, she could see the two officers talking to one another pointing with their hands over what to do next to try and make her stop.
'Well I think you should pay a little more attention to this,'
She swerved her car across and straight into the side of the police car sending it sliding across the road, and as it did so she put her foot down and sped ahead of them.
'Told you so!' she said glancing in the rear view mirror and seeing as the police car tried to get back in line.
It took sometime before Erin was able to lose the cops and she also got lucky after getting tangled up with another group of local street racers in the inner city. She ducked into a side alley a couple of blocks away from where she had last seen the cops, then after parking her car she slipped her hat off chucking it inside the car and before closing the door she saw her white denim trench coat lying across the back seat.
'Hmm that might come in handy,' she said she pulled it out and slipped it on. The sounds of wolf whistles interrupted from near by she glanced over her shoulder and a bit further down the alleyway a group of four guys stood leaning against the wall they had bottles of drinks in their hands.
'Oh please give me a break.' She mumbled ignoring them she sorted out her appearance then locked up her car and walked down the alleyway. When she got near to the group of guys one of them reached out and took hold of her arm.
'Excuse me?' She asked he leaned into her and smiled she had to hold back her breath smelling the alcohol coming from him.
'Now, now what is pretty little lady like you out here all by yourself?' he asked.
'That is none of your business.' She snapped his friends chuckled.
'Well then what do you say you come and hang out with us? We can always make more for more,' he added.
'No thanks.' She answered prying his hand away from her arm.
'Hey.' He exclaimed making another grab for her; Erin took only a few steps from him she spun back around swinging with her right-hand connecting with the guy's cheek.
'What the fuck?' he yelled stumbling backwards into his friends some of them moved aside to get out of his way while two helped him to regain his balance.
'Just who the hell do you think you are woman?' he screamed holding one hand to his cheek and Erin stood and stared back at him she folded her arms.
'It is of no importance to you.' She said. She looked around at the guys' other friends they showed no fear but none of them wanted to come forwards.
'I guess I might see you around some other time. Oh and if you are ever interested to come looking for me then it would be best if you come and mix it down on the black top.' She answered the guy rolled his eyes still with his hand against his cheek.
'I will get you,' he mumbled she smirked.
'We'll see.' She replied turning away from them Erin went on her way choosing to walk to her left up the little slope. Some of the shops here were still open and it was a wide variety of clothing shops and just one small bookshop. She continued onwards by passing more shops with a few people still mingling around she didn't fail to notice the girls dressed down almost nothing with their mini skirts and low cut tops. Erin knew of a car dealer in this area she had mixed with him a few times over the past year while making her establishment and he was the only person she had been in contact with since the accident with her dad. As she kept on walking she came in contact with more people old and young; many of them just doing a big of casual shopping others hanging out together going out for a meal. Erin soon found the car dealer but was surprised seeing five police cars parked on the curbside a roll of yellow 'Do Not Cross' tape set up around the perimeter of the dealer entrance.
'What has happened?' she mumbled.
'Car dealer got broken into early hours of the morning.'
Erin quickly spun around Denan stood behind her; he had changed clothes and looked even more refreshed then when she was with him earlier.
'How do you know?' she asked.
'I was in the area so I went to take a closer look,' he replied shrugging his shoulders she cocked her head wondering about this, it seemed far too much of a coincidence for him to just be 'in the area' and going to find out about what happened at the car dealer and then come to find her looking around.
'What's wrong?' he asked seeing her look she gently shook her head.
'Um—no, its fine.' She replied.
'I wasn't following you if that is what you were thinking,' he said she smiled.
'I didn't think you were; don't worry I'm probably just thinking a bit too much at the moment. Just had a few troubles earlier so its bothering me a bit.' She answered.
'Ok come on.' He said motioning with his head the two walked in the opposite direction.
'So what made you come this way?' he asked.
'No reason.' She said he raised his eyebrows.
'What about you?' she asked hoping to change the subject.
'I can't talk about it.' He said the frown coming across his face Erin was intrigued by his comment.
'Did something happen?'
'No.'
He sounded annoyed.
'Are you sure?' she asked cautiously.
'Yup.' He replied still irritated and it was clear from his frown he definitely didn't want to talk about it.
'There is something I'd like to show you.' She said he looked at her and noticed she had a troubled look on her face.
'What is it?' he asked but she shook her head and placed a finger to her lips.
'Not hear just follow me,' she answered lowering her voice to a whisper and she lead them back towards the alleyway to where she parked her car. However to Erin's dismay those guys she had encountered earlier were still lingering in the same spot she sighed quietly Denan came to a stop next to her and gave her a nudge.
'Is something the matter?' he whispered she cleared her throat but shook her head keeping her eyes on the group.
'It is nothing I can't handle.' She remarked she straightened up and strode purposefully forwards and she made sure she didn't even give a look at the group of guys.
'Back again I see.' The guy said a sly smile spread across his lips she ignored him and kept on walking.
'You deaf or something? I was talking to you,' he added his friend quietly sniggered but he brushed them aside and started to follow Erin.
'Hey.' Denan said interrupting him; the guy only glanced back to look over his shoulder.
'Stay out of this boy it has nothing to do with you.' He said Denan though completely ignored him and walked quickly to them Erin had already stopped at her car and she had the back seat door open. Denan had walked a lot quicker then the other guy did and as the two men approached Erin and her car; Denan had walked very briskly getting in front of him getting in his way.
'Just what the hell do you think you are doing boy?' the guy demanded.
'If you want to talk to her fine but you'll have to go through me first.' He answered he stood firm arms folded across his chest.
'Get out of the way what I do right now has got nothing to do with you it is between me and the girl.' The guy answered Denan still didn't move.
'Fine I will make you move,' the guy said he stepped up closer to Denan and Erin could see his fists were balled up in readiness to throw a punch and he did just seconds later but Denan quickly grabbed hold of his arm twisting it behind his back and throwing the guy onto the ground. His friends, still stood on the other side of the alley did not move they were too shocked.
'Get off me you idiot.' The guy grunted from the ground.
'Keep your mouth shut.' Denan answered and in further emphasizing his point he kneed the guy in the back, causing him to cough and splutter.
'Next time if I were you think twice before you try those moves again because you may not be so lucky.' He said.
'Get gone.' He added and with that he stood up dragging the guy to his feet and finally releasing his arm the guy went stumbling forwards though was quick to get his feet he spun around.
'You'll pay for that! I'll make sure of it!' he yelled.
'Yeah sure I'd like to see you give it a try,' Denan answered the guy shook his head and still mumbling under his breath he returned to his friends and they exchanged a few words and they mob started to make their way out of the alley. Satisfied Denan held the smug smile on his face he turned around and walked over to Erin, she hadn't moved from where she stood next to her car still with the door open. She stared at him with wide eyes her mouth struggled to close after watching the scene.
'Something the matter?' he asked still with the smile.
'I—I-wow.' She said.
'He needed to be put into his place that's all.' He answered.
'Anyway you said you had something to show me,'
'Yeah. Here take a look at this.' Erin replied she handed the envelope with the photographs in it, he sorted through each one carefully not saying a word.
'Where did you find them?' he asked.
'Somebody rang the doorbell and must have took off and all that was left was this stuff outside of my door. But even before that I had a really strange phone call too.' She said.
'Something is going on, I'm telling you someone's been following me, or they possibly knew I'd come here. I don't know.' Erin answered.
'Calm down we don't know this has happened for sure. It could all just be a bit of coincidence although with the ay you announced your arrival the other night it must have brought up a few questions.' Denan said.
'That is why I wanted to talk to the guy who owned that car dealership place. He is the only other person whom knew what I was doing before I got here and he worked really close with my dad too.' She added.
'Ok this is what we are going to do.' He said.
'We'll leave your car here, don't worry it'll be fine its unlikely anybody is going to look in this alley, and you are going to come with me.'
'Why?'
'Just do as I say and don't ask any questions,' he answered; Erin kept her mouth shut she closed the car door locked it up, Denan put the photos back into the envelope and the two walked briskly out of the alley.
