Ruined (completed) ✔️

96

Mom's sitting in the car when I walk out of the therapist house. She looks up as I climb into the car. "How did it go?"

A smile spreads across my face. "It went well. I think the more times I go things will get easier for me and I'll be able to move on from all the stuff that's happened in the last couple of months."

She places her hand on my arm. "You'll get through it all. If you ever need to talk your father and I are here too."

"I know." Mom pulls the car onto the road and we head in the direction of home. "Dad wants me to work for him at the construction site, but I'm not sure what I want to do while I'm here. I still have to spend time on my case against Casey."

She takes her eyes off the road for a moment. "You can do both, Austin. Work for a couple of hours in the morning at the construction site and then come home around one and work on the case. That way you're splitting your time between two things. Isn't Dean supposed to be helping with the case too?"

"He is," I admit. "Sometimes, I like to go over things. Just in case something is amiss. I'm a perfectionist that way. Also, that's why the documents that were slipped into mine went noticed by me. I know every case I've been given and I make sure that everything is perfect before I move onto the next thing."

It doesn't take too long before we're pulling in front of the house. Stepping out of the car I walk to the trunk and pull the grocery bags out and head up to the house. I wait for Mom to open the door and we head to the kitchen. Placing the bags on the table I help put everything away.

Once all the groceries are put away my phone goes off. Picking it up I see a message from Dean

Dean: Are you at home?

Me: Just got in. Why?

Dean: I have those documents for your mother. I added everything she wanted into it.

Me: Thanks, Dean.

Dean: You're welcome. Also, the other partners have suggested that I drop you as a client as they think I'm better use elsewhere.

Me: Are you dropping me?

Dean: No, I told them that too. I even said to them that I will start a firm away from them.

Me: What did they say?

Dean: They weren't happy with it, but they need me on their team as I have the highest paid clients. All of my clients would have left if I did.

Me: What about my clients? Who's taking care of them?

Dean: I took them on. It took a lot of persuading on my part, but when they found out that you and I close they wanted to take a chance on me.

Me: I'm glad they're with you, Dean. If I do get my license back I won't be returning to the office. I've been thinking about starting a firm myself.

Dean: When you start it I want to be part of it. We're going to make a great team.

Me: I know. How long until you get here?

Dean: About an hour. You should watch the news. There's something interesting playing on the news. It's worth your attention, my friend. I've been hearing it all over the news.

What could be interesting on the news? I hate listening to the scare tactics they like to put on us.

Me: I'll do that right now. Talk to you later.

Dean: Bye,

Walking into the living room I turn the TV on and see the FBI at a house.

That's Casey's place. I never knew this about her stepfather. I didn't know kids were living at the house. I never saw them when I was over there.

News Reporter: This afternoon the FBI entered a gated community to take down Nick Samuels. He's been number one on their list for years. While they were taking him down there was a shootout. Three Children, two women and twenty men were on the premises. One woman was shot dead before the male was arrested and taken away.

The camera zooms on the three kids and they have the same blonde colour hair as Casey. They are hugging her and crying.

Did she have kids? Why are they acting like this with her?

An FBI Agent walks over to her and I see that it's Angela. Casey's sister and she's crying as well. They embrace each other.

Mom walks into the living room and looks at the news. "What's going on here?"

"Casey's stepfather was arrested at his house and her mother was killed during the shootout. Do you think I should call her and see if she's okay?"

She grabs the remote and points it at the TV. "You're not going to get in touch with that woman. She can deal with this shit storm. It looked like she had someone from the FBI taking care of her. Why would the FBI take care of a horrible person like that?"

Patting the seat next to me. She takes a seat and looks at me. "Her sister is the agent. The same one that she blamed Eliza and me for killing. It turns out the sister went with the FBI after she was pronounced dead. She got help with faking the death. Eliza and I were just scapegoats for what happened in Casey's mind. Everything she did to us was for nothing and she gets her sister back, but she's not the same woman her sister remembers her as. Reality isn't what she expected."

Mom shakes her head. "Do you think that girl knows what love is?"

"No," placing my hand on Mom. "She never had the same upbringing as me. I got parents who loved each other. Worked hard to provide for the family. You gave Calvin and me everything we wanted. For Casey it was different. I'm not sure what kind of different, because she wouldn't talk about it. I don't think her stepfather loved her mother. There could have been some abuse in the relationship, but that's speculation at the moment."

Mom nods. "You know the last part wouldn't be surprising. Considering those kids look a mix between Casey and the stepfather."

I was thinking the same thing.

Knock, Knock.

Standing up I say. "I got the door. It's Dean with the paperwork that you wanted to be changed." I move over to the door and swing it open. Standing on the other side is Casey, the three kids and Angela."

What the fuck are they doing at the house?

Crossing my arms I look at Casey and say. "What do you want?"

She pulls an envelope out of her shirt and gives it to me. "This is the money I got for the apartment. It's all in there. When I disappear I'll give you the rest."

"You're not going to disappear Casey. You need to go to prison for what you did." I look at her sister and my eyes narrow at her. "How can you help her? She's done a crime. She should pay for it and then after the time is done she can disappear and no one will come looking for."

Angela wraps her arms around Casey. "I can't let her go away. She's done enough time for us both. She needs to be free, Austin. Please, let me make that happen for her."

Shaking my head I say. "No, it's not fair that she destroys people's lives and give the money to someone to help them with their company. I can't let you help her, Angela." I turn my attention to Casey and say. "Please, Casey. Don't do this. If you do, you'll be looking over your shoulders for the rest of your life and I'm sure that's the last thing you want to do. Think about those kids."

She grabs the kid's hands. "Sorry, Austin. I am thinking about my kids. They need me." Casey walks away with her sister in tow.