Pulling into Ivan's driveway was strange. It's kind of like a ghost town. As we got closer to the house we notice a car parked next to Ivan's truck. Uncle Harry reaches behind his seat and pulls out a shot gun.
He looks at me. "What you never know." He laughs.
We climb out of his truck and walk toward the door. A faint smell of fire fills the air.
"Is someone staying here?" Derek asks me.
"I thought the property has been seized?"
"Well we are about to find out." Uncle Harry says.
Uncle Harry opens the door quietly and steps inside. Derek and I follow and notice a fire going in the fire place. Derek and Harry look at each other, when I man walks out of Ivan's office with his head down. When he looks up and sees us standing there I notice it's Tom, Brad's dad.
"Tom?" I say questioning.
"Ella? What are you doing here." Tom asked.
"How about you tell us." Harry demands.
"Ivan asked me to come here and destroy his paper work on his clients since its personal information. They are going to put his house on the market so I have to get rid of his personal stuff. I've been packing his stuff up for the past week."
"Tom I left my book bag here. Do you mind that I grab it?"
He nods and I head toward the office. Suddenly he's walking past me.
"Wait Ella I'll check to see if it's in there. There's all kinds of stuff everywhere and I don't want you to trip."
"Really it's ok Tom I'll be ok." I said stepping past him. I walk into the office and there are floor boards pulled up. "What the hell is this Tom?"
"Ella it's not what you think. Ivan and Nancy don't need to be in jail. I'm trying to help them."
"And Brad does deserve to be in jail?" I ask.
"Brad's in jail too?" Tom questions.
"Yes your lovely wife and adopted son framed him. He has nothing to do with any of this." I say.
"What have you destroyed?" Derek asks.
"Nothing. I found the floor boards he hid everything in and set the stuff on the desk and went to start the fire."
Harry steps past all of us going toward the desk. Thumbing through the papers he finds a few sheets with Brad's name on it. "Here." Harry hands me the paper. "This is the proof we need. They were dipping into his stocks too." Harry pulls his phone out of his pocket and turns to Tom. "I'm going to call the police and you will tell them everything."
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Tom asks.
"Brad's lawyer. So unless you want to go to jail for destroying evidence or want to have a part in your son being in jail I suggest you tell the police the truth."
Harry called the police and I stand next to Derek. I don't know why but I feel like for whatever reason I need the protection just in case. Derek places his hand at the small of my back and I feel the warmth through my shirt.
"The police will be here in a few minutes." Harry says.
I step outside and call Courtney. I fill her in with what's happening. She's shocked when I tell her Tom is involved with it too. I see the police coming up the driveway and hear Tom and Harry yelling at each other and Derek trying to break it up. Telling Courtney I have to go, Harry is busting through the glass window, knocking me to the ground and there's a sharp pain that radiates through my chest.
