Ruined (completed) ✔️

88

Agent Jackson walks into the room. She pulls the seat across from me out and sits in it. Placing her hand on the table she says. "Austin, we're letting you go, now. Before I leave I want you to know how sorry I am that things turned out the way they did for Eliza and you. I never meant for the two of you to be roped into things." She looks at her phone. "Clara's about to enter the building. I have to disappear before she comes here. I don't want her to know I'm alive because if she did she'll tell my sister and that the last thing I want to happen."

"Are you still trying to bring your stepfather down for what he did?"

A smile spreads across her face. "Of course I am. I just have to be patient and wait for him to fuck up. If I keep a close eye on my sister too I'm sure the evidence will appear there more than him. She's known for being sloppy and I'm sure that hasn't changed now." Sliding a card across the table. She whispers. "Call me. If you need anything."

"I will, thanks. Bye Agent Jackson."

Opening the door she walks out and disappears through a set of doors opposite mine. Agent Hogan walks into the room and uncuffs my hands. "You're free to go. Be careful when you walk by Clara. She doesn't seem to be happy with being here."

Dean laughs. "I bet she doesn't." He gives Agent Hogan a piece of paper. "Here are the names of other people I believe to be in cahoots with Casey Jackson. Make sure they all pay for making a great Lawyer lose his license. Now, we have a lengthy process to go through to get it back."

Agent Hogan takes it from him. "Do you know anyone on the board that I can contact? They should know the truth and how Austin was set up for the crime he didn't commit."

Looking at both men I say. "You're not going to contact anyone on the board. I want them to hear the truth from the news and also if I need to go through a lengthy process that's what I'll do to get my license back. I don't need anyone to interfere with me getting back. Besides, having a break seems like fun."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. It's been a long time since I've had a nice long R & R from work. I'm sure you'll be able to find people to take the positions of the lawyer's that you're losing because of the fraud case. If they weren't adamant on getting rid of me all this wouldn't be happening."

I need to find out how she got them to join her side anyway. It shouldn't have been easy for Casey to use them. I thought the people I worked with were smarter than me. It turns out we're all blinded by Casey. She sure knows how to get attention from strangers.

Dean and I walk out of the interrogation office just as Carla arrives at the door.

She struggling in the cuffs and her face is bright red. "You've got the fucken wrong person." She spits at my feet and says. "This is all you're fucken fault, Austin. If you didn't bring that ratchet girl into our workplace a number of us wouldn't be where we are today and that includes you. She's destroying anyone and everything that has to do with you. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't get your money back."

Dean pulls me to the side. "We should get out of here before she sprouts more nonsense. I don't want to deal with her anymore."

Neither do I.

"Have fun in prison with Casey. I'm sure the two of you can bunk together and share stories of how you were fucked over by me." I walk away from her.

She deserves to be locked away too. Destroying someone's career isn't the right way to do things.

Dean's phone goes off as we make our way to the entrance of the FBI Headquarters. "I just got a message from your brother. He picked up your car and is taking it home with him. He asked if I could take you home."

"Okay," we exit the building and head towards the parking lot. As soon as we get to the car Dean looks at me and says. "The only word I keep hearing from you is 'Okay,' what happened to broadening your vocabulary?"

Shrugging I climb into the car. "I don't have much to say, Dean. Everything is out of my control right now. It's easier just to have someone talk for you. Which reminds me I want you to draw up paperwork for my mother to be my conservatorship."

"Why the fuck would you want someone to do that?"

Looking out the window I say. "I need someone to put my interests first and right now I can't do that on my own. Once my therapy is concluded I'm sure I'll be able to make the right calls for myself."

Dean climbs into the car and starts it. "I'll have those drawn up tonight and bring them over in the morning. Is there anything else you need to be done?"

"Can you bring my stuff from the office to my brother's in the morning? I don't want people to use or destroy my belongings. Even though they've probably done that by now." I turn the radio up in the car and I remain quiet for the rest of the drive.

When we get to my brother's house I climb out of the car and turn towards Dean. "You should come in. I want you to be there when I tell my parents what happened tonight."

Dean steps out of the car and he walks with me up to the house.

Before I knock the door swings open revealing my mother. She runs down the stairs and wraps me in my arms. "Austin, I'm glad your home. you need to tell us what happened tonight. I don't like hearing what's been said on the news. I know my son better than they do and all I know is they aren't giving us the full story." She pulls me into the house and we head straight to the dining room where my family is gathered.

"Take a seat," I tell them as I pull one out for myself and sit. "I'm sure you want to know what happened today."

"Yes," they all yell in unison.

Looking over at Dean I gather the strength to tell them everything that has happened today. "The police have been looking for Casey for a week and they didn't have any luck tracking her down. When she showed up at the law firm I called the police and they arrested her. after she was taken the FBI showed up and they took me away for fraud. Until they found evidence that I was innocent. They had to keep me there most of the day to make sure that Clara didn't suspect that something was wrong. They arrested her a couple of hours ago and she went to FBI Headquarters where she's now going through the interrogation I was believed to be mine. Luckily they found evidence that I wasn't part of what happened."

"That girl was never good enough for you, Austin." My father steps forward. "I think you should come home with us tomorrow."

"I agree. Before we leave I have a few things that I want to do. First off is seeing Eliza. I want to give my rights up for our child."

"What?" Dean says. "You were happy when you were told you were going to be a father and now a better woman is giving you that chance you want to give it up?"

"Yes, Dean. You'll have to get that done too and bring it with you tomorrow."

Mom pushes her seat back and looks at me. "What else have you done, Austin? I know you're not thinking clearly."

Dean steps in before I can say anything. "He wants you to be his conservatorship. He doesn't believe he can look after himself properly and wants someone to make better decisions for him. Just until he finishes with therapy."

Dad shakes his head. "You can't ask us to do that for you son. You're able to look after yourself."

"No, Dad." I shake my head. "Everything I've done this year feels like I'm unable to trust what I am doing. Casey's been giving me tablets and I'm not sure if there will be long term effects from me taking them. I also took some the night you were in the hospital. I'm ashamed of not being the man you raised me to be. I need help and that's going to start tomorrow when I leave with you. Please, take over the care for me right now."

Mom and Dad move over to me and they hug. Mom whispers. "Whatever you need we'll do it, Austin. We love you."

"Can you call Eliza and make sure she meets me here in the morning? Tell her it's important. If she has to bring her boyfriend that fine. He should hear what I have to say anyway.

"I'll get on top of that soon." Mom doesn't let me go and her eyes begin to close as she holds onto me.