I N C U L P A T E
verb [in-kuhl-peyt]

To involve in a charge; incriminate.

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THUD! THUD!

"Ma'am if you do not let us in we will be forced to break this door down!" The officer yelled, continuously knocking with his fist. You looked around in panic, unable to determine how to react correctly.

"I-I told you that we have done nothing wrong! Leave us alone, you have the wrong household," You responded at the top of your lungs and-

CRASH!

The door broke in and the officer stepped inside, his boots stomping on the wooden floor. You jumped in fright, backing away as he gripped his baton tightly in his hand with the intentions of attacking.

"Where is Mr Robbie Turner?" The officer questioned and you gulped.

"I-I... Don't know-"

"Withholding information from a police officer in an investigation is against the law Ma'am," He lets out a long exasperated breath then reaches into his coat pocket to take out an envelope, "This is an arrest warrant for Mr Turner."

He shoves passed you and starts searching the house for Robbie. You ripped the envelope open and started reading the contents of the letter which stated that your brother Robbie had stolen a box full of rare crop from a neighbouring farm owned by the Bateses, who were going to be contributing the produce for the annual town fare. On top of that, it stated that Robbie even slaughtered three of their pigs in the middle of the night to get back at them for having disputes over land ownership.

You furrowed your eyebrows in disbelief. Sure, your brother was known for his devious actions and mischief around the town ever since he was a child but... all this stated in the warrant was beyond shocking for you to read.

You denied it, it couldn't be true.

"Officer, this cannot be-"

CLANG! THUMP!

You jerked at the loud noise coming from Robbie's room. "Robbie?" You called out and stepped ahead when the Officer rushed out holding Robbie's hands behind his back. You gasped in right at the sight, moving back towards the wall to avoid any further conflict.

"I did no such thing, PLEASE BELIEVE ME!" Robbie cried out, looking at you with hopelessness as he was pushed out of the house.

Your mind was telling you to chase after the officer, but your body wouldn't let you move. You were frozen on the spot, incapable of making the slightest of changes in your posture.

As the stomping footsteps grew softer, you watched as Robbie was dragged across the dirt road and into a small black police car.

You felt your heart thump within your chest as the silence grew deafening. You looked to your hands that were still gripping onto the arrest warrant with your life then you ran out the back door of your house and into the backyard, where your mother was tending to the crop, unaware of what just took place inside the house.

As she hummed to herself, you ran up to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her with fear. "MOTHER THEY TOOK ROBBIE!" You yelled and she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Pardon me, have you gone mad girl?" She shook her head and tipped the watering can over to water her white roses.

You lifted the arrest warrant right to her face and waved it about. "A police officer came storming into our house not less than five minutes ago and handed me this document! They took Robbie because they think he stole the Bateses crop and slaughtered their pigs!" You explained in a rush and suddenly, she acted with urgency.

You told her that the two of you would go to the police station and sort the issue out but before you could finish your suggestion, she cut you off.

"We shall wait till father gets home [y/n], alright? He will surely know of the right thing to do," She argued and you sighed.

You crossed your arms and sulked. You loved your brother dearly, he meant the world to you. He was not that much younger than you and he's the only best friend you have. You can't have him in jail for something that you are sure he didn't do.

You started walking back into your house with your shoulders slumped from disappointment and impatience of waiting for your father to return from work at the post office.

But as you stepped through the main door, something snapped inside you.

You couldn't let the Bateses win. You would bet your life that they had something to do with Robbie's capturing, they likely framed him. They've always despised him.

You clenched your jaw and shook your head in fury. You grabbed your coat and placed the arrest warrant in your coat pocket then shut the house door. You peeked into the backyard to make sure that your m mother was still occupied then you jogged down the pathway and onto the dirt road.

*****

Half an hour later...

Along your way, all alone as the cold breeze made you doubt your confidence, you contemplated every single outcome that could occur with your meeting with the Bateses. You had initially thought of going straight to the police station and fighting your way to winning Robbie back but going through with the Bateses and having them admit their dastardly plan felt much more satisfying.

You came across their house soon enough and you walked up to the house on the pathway. You raised your fist as you took a deep breath then knocked on the door with your knuckles. You felt your heart beat faster in anticipation.

CLICK!

"Yes?" A woman, the maid, opened the door and asked.

"I-I would like to speak with the woman of the house," You requested firmly and she nodded her head, gesturing for you to step into the house.

Your boots clacked on the wood floor and you waited nervously. You looked out of the window, then glanced down the hallway. You walked into the kitchen then exited the house using the back door. Immediately, you found yourself in their garden.

You bit your lip and you looked into the window for any sign of the Bateses. You didn't want them catching you snooping around.

You walked through the crop patches, spotting an apple tree, potatoes, carrots, onions, a lemon tree, tomatoes-

You reached the end of their growing crop and raised an eyebrow. You glanced around and clenched your fists in rage.

You stormed back into the house and hastened to the main room where Mrs Bateses was talking to her children.

"You framed him! How could you do such a thing?" You exclaimed and it caught her by surprise.

"Julia, what on earth is she doing-"

"YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE HOT PEPPERS!" You stepped towards her and yelled.

"Excuse me young lady, do not use that tone with me!" She responded back loudly and you raised a finger at her.

"I do not care about who you think you are! You framed my brother for something he did not do," You argued, "How could he have stolen hot peppers when you have no patch for them to grow in your garden?!"

"Leave immediately, Miss Turner!" She pointed at the door and glared at you. The maid, Julia, held your arm and tugged you away but you snatched your arm from her.

"No wait, you shall not get away with this! It is unfair a-a-and my brother hasn't done a thing wrong-"

Mrs Bateses' walked towards you with anger boiling within her, " Not done anything wrong? He has caused problems for almost every family in this vicinity, he is reckless and he needs to be taught a lesson."

"And you seem equipped with the authority to take ownership of that?!" You challenged and she raised her brows.

"If no one else in this bloody town will do something about him then I shall!" She spat then turned back, "Now, out of my sight!"

You sucked in a sharp breath. "No," You stated and tightened your fists and she looked at you with disgust.

"What did you say?!"

"No, Mrs Bates," You said and walked over to her slowly, "I'm not leaving until you let my brother go."

"And why would I ever do that or you and your sorry family?" She squinted her eyes and you leaned towards her.

"Because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO," You said with your teeth gritted.

She scoffed then walked away from you. She was putting you on edge and you couldn't attack her in any situation, even if you wanted to.

"Stop trying Miss Turner, your brother deserves to be stuck in jail," She nodded at the house boys, who pulled you by your arms towards the main door.

"No no no, wait please!" You shouted, "Mrs Bates please, WAIT!"

She raised her hand and the houseboy let go of you. "I-I-I'll work for you!" You said quickly then steadied your tone of voice, "Tell the police that it was a misunderstanding and let my brother go without any charges."

"And what?"

You clenched your jaw, not surprised that she would want something in return.

"I... will work for you for a month-"

"Three."

"Three months?!" You looked at her with disbelief then rubbed your forehead. After a lengthened moment you mumbled, "Alright, you have a deal."

She stepped up to you and put her hand out. You shook it and forced a smile on your lips. While you looked into her scheming eyes, you could only imagine how Robbie would react if... no, 'when' he would find out.