Hi all, I know it's bee a while since I updated this story, specifically, not since March of this year. It is a constant work in progress along with many stories I have going at the same time. I know I have said it before; but I will do my best to have it updated sooner and not have so many months in between. I do have exams coming up soon however next week.

Enjoy this new addition for now!

June 9th 9:52am (AEST): edited slightly.

Chapter 10

'Where are we?' Erin asked confusion in her voice see Denan had driven them to somewhere she had never seen in Olympic City; it looked like they had gone far from the central city and into one of the suburbs.

'Just somewhere safe where nobody will think of looking for you.' He said she burrowed her eyebrows.

'What are you trying to say?' she said. He didn't comment and just focused on the road ahead. Erin noticed the road here wasn't as smooth as in the city; it looked as though a lot of road works had been done in the past few months and it was endless without a single sign of an off road. Denan slowed his car down as the road took a sharp left-hand turn but instead of following the road he took the car to the right and came to a stop.

'Ok so now what?' She asked.

'Come on.' He answered getting out of the car she still didn't know what this was all about though she followed him, climbing out she joined him at the car's front bumper and he stood facing a broken down fence, it was very old with algae growing all over it and even sprouting the odd few mushrooms.

'All right come on I am not going to go any further until you tell me what this is all about.' She answered Denan laughed gently.

'Hey its nothing crazy or dangerous or stupid.' He said.

'So why am I here?' she asked he sighed.

'Because there is something I need to find out with those photos you showed me, I have a friend who might know a few things but, with the cops probably searching for you I think it is best you stay out of sight,' he replied.

'Yeah, I guess you are right. Still though if this friend of yours might know something then I should know about it, and whatever he or she has could provide clues.' She said he shook his head.

'Believe me it is the best idea for you to stay out of the way. If I find out anything you need to know I will. The fridge is full of stuff and the cupboard has been stocked up and the place is a lot nicer then it might look from here.' He said opened the gate and already it looked like it was going to fall off its hinges Erin gave Denan a sideways glance with eyebrows raised but he just smiled and motioned for her to follow. They walked down the old dirty muddy path with its over grown shrubs and down to the house, and upon seeing it she stopped in her tracks and her jaw fell open.

'Oh my god.' She remarked Denan laughed.

'Nice isn't it?' he replied glancing back over his shoulder and scaling up the front steps. It was a two-story wooden house with French-style windows and an old 1980s veranda.

'Like I said it is much better inside.' Denan said Erin quickly scampered up the stairs joining him and he slid a single silver key into the hole turned and the door opened. He stepped aside to let her go in Erin cautiously walked inside and she could feel her heart thump. The floor was polished to a nice matte finish and gleamed in the dim light and she found herself standing in the middle of a large hallway, and directly in front of her was the spiral staircase leading up to the second landing. On her left she saw the entranceway into what looked like the lounge area and on the right-hand side was the dinning area.

'What is this place?' she asked in a whisper Denan stepped up behind her.

'It used to belong to Eddie when he first started. He created a lot of attention for himself in the scene so much so the cops were on his tail lots. During one of his late night races he came across this place and hid out here just laying low until the cops gave up on him.' He explained he shoved his hands into his pockets taking a look around the hallway.

'He usually gets one of the guys to come and check the place and make sure things are in order you know just general stuff like that. He does still use it from time to time but not often anymore especially since the cops gave up catching him,' he answered. Erin turned around staring at him her eyes wide.

'Then he could easily make his way here and find me here and you know he will probably have another go at you.' She said.

'Don't worry he hasn't been back in months and it is unlikely he would just make a decision to come by Eddie isn't like that. Besides he has got far too much on his mind to worry about this place.' Denan answered he started heading towards the lounge room Erin followed him and she let out another gasp. In the lounge she could now see a huge brown leather couch along with two matching old grandfather rocking chairs, in front of the couch stood a frosted glass coffee table and there was a massive TV screen sitting on top of a long rectangular TV cabinet with a space just underneath where a silver DVD player was kept.

'Think of it as a home away from home.' Denan answered.

'Yeah.' Erin said still looking around in awe.

'All right you just stay here be comfortable and I will come back as soon as I got the information.' He said starting to head for the door. Erin didn't say anything she just nodded her head and watched him head out the door closing it firmly behind him she slumped her shoulders and sighed out loud.

'How did it get so out of control?' she said.

'All I wanted was to do a bit of racing and to get dad's shop going, now look at this stupid mess, all because these guys have too much of an ego.' She answered. She walked around picked up the TV remote and slumped down onto the couch, the news channel came on straight away Erin groaned seeing what the report was still going on about the car dealership so she quickly changed the channel and found one with a movie she didn't know.

'This will do.'

She settled back and got more comfortable on the couch.

Denan turned his car into a building's underground park basement and quickly found an empty space. He switched off the engine and for a few minutes he sat in the car hands resting on the steering wheel.

'I hope this works.' He said, taking in a deep breath he opened the door and quickly stepped out; with the car door shut firmly and the car locked Denan strode out across the car park at the same time he kept his ears peeled for any noise.

'Mr. Kemp.'

Dean immediately spun around almost getting his feet into a terrible mess; he saw a guy emerge from between two cars, he was a slightly older man looking to be in his early 30s dressed in jeans and a loose black t-shirt with his face partly covered with a white baseball cap.

'Sorry?' Denan said.

'You're a friend of Jacob Martin if I am not mistaken.' The man answered.

'Yeah.' Denan remarked.

'Well he couldn't make this meeting with you, something came up at the last minute so he asked me to take his place,' the man said he held out his hand.

'The name's Roger.' He added; Denan considered this; he knew sometimes in his line of work he always walked a fine line but he rarely felt as though something was going on without his knowledge, hesitantly he shook Roger's hand.

'I asked Jake to gather some information about that new driver in our city, and he told me he'd gotten hold of some files that might interest me.' He said Roger nodded his head.

'Yes, Jake did tell me and I have the files right here just follow me,' he replied, turning and walking in the direction he had first come from Denan was keeping a very cautious eye as he followed Roger behind. Roger took them to the furthest corner of the car park and over to his car a deep forest green Mercedes Benz. Roger unlocked the car opened the back passengers' side leaning in he scooped something into his arms backed out and closed the door.

'Here.' He said thrusting the manila folder at Denan, he flipped it open having a quick look at the paper and assortment of photographs he paused seeing a few familiar ones from the group Erin showed him earlier.

'Where did you get these from?' he asked.

'Jake knows a few people as I'm sure you know, he didn't say where exactly, except that he had a friend in the racing scene,' Roger said.

'Ok well thanks. I guess I will be in touch if I need anything else,' Denan remarked Roger just nodded his head he folded his arms across his chest.

'I will look forward to hearing from you again,' he remarked Denan tucked the folder underneath his arm and walked back across the car park to his own car he still couldn't shake the feeling that Roger may not be who he was making out to be and Denan knew Jake rarely missed a meeting with him. He got back into his car switched on the engine and backed it out of the parking space and drove away. Roger watched in silence until the car had disappeared around the corner he then climbed back into his car picked up the phone and pressed the redial button he put the phone to his ear at the same time while listening to the ringing tone he kept his eyes peeled. At last the call was answered.

'Pretty sure I've found her. Yeah she's definitely been here, haven't seen her but I think one of the guys' must be working with her somehow. Ok yes I understand I will be in touch.' Roger replied he ended the phone call and started the car backing it out slowly from the space then putting it into drive with tires squealing he headed out of the car park.

Erin shot up from her sleeping position and with bleary eyes she looked around the unfamiliar room; it took a few seconds for her to get her bearings straight again.

'How long have I been asleep?' she said, giving out a stretch she reached for her phone to check if there were any messages or missed calls but there was none. She got up and made her way to the kitchen now feeling her stomach grow as she passed by the front door in the hallway she caught sight of a figure approaching the house she quickly ducked behind the front door then peered cautiously in the side window pane the figure still continued to approach the house and she noticed they had a folder tucked under one arm and straining a little more she then recognized Denan she let out a sigh of relief and she opened the door he looked up.

'Hey.' He said.

'Hi. So looks like you've been busy,' she remarked nodding to the folder under his arm.

'Yeah just a bit there was just some thing I needed to look at.' He said she looked at him curiously.

'So what's in the folder?' she asked he climbed the steps and stood in front of her but his grip on the folder was tight.

'Its just some stuff you don't need to worry about it.' He said.

'If I find something you need to see I'll let you know about it.'

She arched her eyebrows the feeling she was getting wasn't a good one and she was worried he might know something he wasn't willing to share.

'Do you mind if I come in?' he asked.

'Oh yeah of course,' she stepped aside and he walked inside immediately going to the lounge.

'Did you want something to drink or eat?' she asked.

'Yeah that would be great just what is available.' He said sitting down on the couch Erin watched him for a few seconds she wondered just what he was up to and why, now he needed to be so secretive. She continued on the kitchen and tried not to over think too much; while Denan when he heard her footsteps fade away towards the kitchen he leaned forwards towards the table opening up the folder he spread the photographs across it and picked up the papers. On the first page had easily recognized his friend's hand writing though he had made brief bullet points about the street racers he'd been tracking Erin being one of those racers.

'Something of interest?'

He sat up abruptly and in the same moment he scattered the photographs onto the floor she tried not to laugh seeing the way he panicked walking forwards and stepping cautiously around the fallen photos and placed his drink on the coffee table. She put her drink down as well sat back on the sofa only for a few seconds she then leant forwards and bent down to pick up the fallen photographs; before she placed them back onto the coffee table she inspected the photos. Denan watched her reaction carefully seeing the confusion appearing on her face as each photo registered in her head and the familiarity of it.

'Look familiar?' he asked she glanced up at him.

'How did you find these?' she asked.

'Friend of a friend.' He said she out the photos on the table and folded her arms.

'So this friend of a friend of yours has been following me in all my other exploits?' she asked now looking quite upset Denan quickly put his hand up in defense.

'He never said anything about what he did outside of Olympic City, he just knew of what was happening here and decided to investigate it a bit more, look I didn't even get to speak to him today apparently he had other things on and got and got some acquaintance of his to speak with me.' He answered.

'Right.' She nodded her head still not very impressed.

'What?' he asked.

'I think there is something you're not telling me.'

'Don't be ridiculous,'

'Then tell me the truth.'

'How about you tell me your truth,' he answered she glared at him.

'What are you talking about?' she said.

'Come on, there must be something else you are hiding and if you want me to believe you then now is a god time to start,' he said.

'I did tell you.' She remarked.

'Well I don't buy it.' He answered.

'So you're calling me a liar.' She said hurt.

'You knew the car dealer guy's who had his business broken into, that made me think there is something more going on with you. I am not saying you have told me a lie about what happened to your dad and everything, no I believe that but how else did anyone get hold of these photos?' he replied.

'I wasn't after revenge on the people that killed my dad if that is what you are trying to get at,' she said.

'Then just tell me.' He said she shook her head.

'No.'

'If you want the racers to take you seriously and not act suspicious over your activities then you have to say something, word always gets around fast here and if you don't stand up for yourself the things they can do to you here can be cruel at times,' he explained. Erin leaned back on the sofa still with her arms folded a deep scowl on her face she stared at the coffee table with the photos, out the corner of her eye she noticed Denan staring at her intently waiting for her to speak.

'There is nothing to tell.' She said.

'Ok well maybe you can explain this report,' he said and he picked up a sheet of paper from the folder and held it out to her. She snatched it from his hands her eyes quickly skimming over the page and her face immediately paled.

'Where—where'd you get this?' she asked.

'Same place as the photos.' He answered. She swallowed hard as she continued to stare at the paper; she knew just staring at it blankly wouldn't make it go away she had tried, tried really hard to forget this part of her life even existed; it was much easier to just pretend there was no such thing and move on at least that is what her dad had told her for years.

'Ready when you are,' Denan added taking a gulp of his drink and sitting back more comfortably she hated the smugness in his voice right now.

'Well what do you want to know?' she asked.

'Everything.' He said.

Flashback

'Dad what are we doing?' Erin asked.

'Shhh be quiet for a moment.' Her dad Richard answered. It was 4:35am and still dark outside with just a small sprinkling of stars in the sky. They were parked in a side alley just off the main street but still in clear view of the street. There was not a single car in sight and nobody would walk the streets at this hour, still the traffic lights at the intersection kept to the usual time table changing from red to green to amber then back to red. Richard's phone suddenly beeped he opened up the text message scanned over it quickly then looked at his daughter.

'Erin now I want you to listen to me what I am going to do is very important but it is dangerous, no matter what happens I want you to remember to look after yourself and do not worry about me.' He said.

'But dad.' She began to protest he shook his head.

'No buts you just do as I say. Anything goes wrong and I want to you drive, just drive and do not look back.' He added she nodded her head not quite understanding any of this the only thing she knew, she had to listen and not question it was one of the many lessons her dad had taught her. Richard un-buckled his seatbelt and got out of the car stepping into the alley he cast a quick look up and down the street he closed the car door and leant down in the window.

'Remember what I said,' he said.

'Yes dad.'

'Good'

Richard put his hands into the pockets of his big coat pulled the hood over his head and walked briskly up the street. Erin watched her father's figure continuing to get smaller and smaller as he faded from view at the top end of the street he took a left and disappeared. She vaguely knew that direct was the local bank but she wondered why he would go there and meet whoever it was he had been in contact with recently.

Erin gave out another long tired yawn a check of the time confirmed it was now 5:45am, the smell of morning appeared and now the street had the inkling one or two cars every fifteen to twenty minutes pass through the intersection. She also noticed some drunken kids stumbling along the street their loud voices carrying for blocks, some even still had bottles of drinks in their hands swaying as they walked. A few passed by the alley she was in but nobody gave her a second look. Suddenly she heard loud alarm bells bringing through the air she sat up right and looked in both directions she hoped any second she would see her dad come running down the street waving his arms in the air for her.

'Come on dad.' She said anxiously waiting to him. From the same corner she had seen him disappear into an hour ago she spotted a small group of men similar to her dad's age race around big sacks slung over their shoulder she craned her head more to get a better look.

'Dad!' She cried seeing him. Richard made gestures with his hands at the other men all of them nodding their heads. Richard opened the door he flung the sack he was carrying straight into the back of car he yelled more instructions to the guys they ran over and also duped the sacks into the back, just then a the bright red, blue and white lights of police cars and their loud blaring sirens echoed through the early morning.

'GO!' Richard yelled, all of the guys except for one scattered away down the street disappearing around the corner probably to their own cars.

'Dad?' Erin asked feeling worried now he came to her side and bent down.

'Do you remember what I told you?' he asked she nodded her head.

'Then do it.'

'But-'

'I said no buts go now.' He replied. At this four police cars sped into view flying up the street.

'NOW!' He yelled; Erin quickly kick started the car's engine slamming on the accelerator pulling her car out into the main street just as the police cars came close; but her sudden movement cause the cars to hit their brakes as to hit her while Richard and his friend took off down the street themselves.

'Stop right now!' a voice screamed over the car's PA system the two men continued to run and Erin drove madly down the street she dared not look in the rear-view mirror as the police cars immediately gave chase.

She'd driven for nearly 2hours trying to escape the police cars as they continued to chase her down, and even at one point they requested help from a helicopter. It took a lot of her skill to dodge the now early morning traffic, using as many short cuts she knew to keep her distance from the pack. Finally the police had given up instead turning their attention to the men they were initially after and Erin was able to drive several miles out of the city where she found an off-road, sneaked under a old bridge and stopped. It was nearly 8am the morning sun in full view a few white fluffy clouds hung in the air. She turned off the car's engine sat back for a moment closing her eyes that had to be one of the closest calls she has had with the law.

'Where is dad?' she mumbled, and opening her eyes again she looked into the back seat at the sacks piled up burrowing her eyebrows she wondered what was just so important inside for them to dump it with her. Erin un-buckled her seatbelt leaning over she grabbed one of the smaller sacks tugging it across and onto her lap it landed with a soft thump and she proceed to open it up. Her eyes widen and her jaw fell open her hands trembling in fear as she reached inside her fingers brushing over the items; her head a complete mess of thoughts numerous un-answered questions surrounded her the sweat began to appear on her forehead as her dad's odd behavior in the last couple of weeks began to make sense.

'Oh my god.' She said.

End Flashback

Denan kept his eye on Erin she rather shamefully kept her head down when she'd finished speaking, even now the horror of that experience still felt fresh in her mind.

'I…I'd rather not say anything more of it.' She replied he sighed.

'It wasn't what you had come to expect from your father.' He said she shook her head.

'No. I looked up to my dad for everything and I believed that what he had taught me was always the right way and the choices he made were for me.' She answered.

'Being involved in that, it was a shock to the system I'd never known him to be so willing to break all the rules. Maybe that was one of the reasons as to why him and my mother split up she couldn't bare seeing him do all this stuff while lying to her every time.'

'Well sometimes we have to make sacrifices,' he said.

'I guess so.' She said.

'So what happened to the stuff? Did you dump it, return it, or give it to your dad and his friends?' he asked.

'It's not written into the report so I'm guessing no evidence was found.' He added.

'My dad got in touch with my later that day said to take it to some warehouse place out of the city; when I got there he and his friends took it all out and he told me to go home pack some stuff and get out of town for a week or so; and when it was safe to come back he would let me know.'

'When I came back I asked him what had happened and he just acted like the incident had never even happened just swept it under the carpet; if I pressed him for more information he would say it was not any of my concern and he was happy I did as he asked right there and then.' She explained.

'Do you know where the warehouse is?'

'I vaguely remember it.'

'Why?'

'I think its time to take a trip back and find out where those items went.' He remarked Erin with raised eyebrows and a shocked expression glared back at him.

'You're being serious.' She said.

'Yes.'