The lights in the house flickered, and there was some trembling. Pictures fell from the wall and in the kitchen glasses shattered. The Gabriel house alone was experiencing it's own earthquake.
Phoebe remained steady and unaffected because she knew what was causing the house to shake but her parents panicked and screamed. In a move that did not even surprise her anymore, both of them rushed to protect Ruth, covering her with their bodies.
Their actions served to anger the Saxon spirit all the more. In a time of danger, instead of protecting their daughter, they were choosing to protect someone else. What kind of parents were these?
The spirit was about to increase her power when Phoebe shook her head, stopping her. It was no use scaring them because nothing was going to change. Her broken heart would not be mended this way.
"What a ridiculous pair you two have become?" she said sadly. "I bought you a house worth so much money, almost half of a million but you cannot even allow me have the bedroom i wanted. I came home but you did not cook any food i like but you cooked for Ruth. I said i didn't steal Ruth's man but you called me a slut and a whore.
You want to force me out of the city and now, in a time of danger you are protecting Ruth while i, your biological daughter stand here, out in the open. Who has changed, you or me?"
The lights went out as soon as she aired her thoughts. Phoebe took advantage of the darkness to walk away while her parents came back to their senses.
Her father started shouting in the direction where he thought Phoebe was standing. "The Mayfairs will not be happy if Ruth is injured while she is here. Why can't you be more understanding of the situation? Ruth is not like you, she lives in a wealthy family and she was raised like a princess. Even one small cut on her body is a big deal."
Phoebe walked past Evelyn who was hiding behind a couch. Her friend tried to convince her to stay such that the family can iron out their differences but Phoebe continued to walk towards the door, she found her shoes and walked out of the house. She didn't bother to wear the shoes and she walked out in the slippers.
Although darkness had fallen as the night had arrived, it was brighter outside than it was inside the house. The reflection of the moon and stars plus the street lights and the lights of the neighboring houses enabled her to see clearly.
She walked as quickly as she could to her car, opened the doors and sat inside, staying still for a while. The Saxon spirit sat in the passenger seat and it didn't say a word. It could tell that she was in a terrible mood and it was understandable why. The things that had transpired in her home were unbelievable.
It wanted to suggest that Phoebe do a blood test but it wasn't sure if this was the right moment to make the suggestion.
Phoebe moved after five minutes, she rested her entire body against the steering wheel of her car and started crying, soft little sobs to ease her broken heart.
"Child..." The spirit called slowly, "Maybe they...."
It stopped, clammed up and disappeared into the bracelet.
Phoebe in the meantime screamed and slammed her right hand against the steering wheel over and over, taking her rage out on the poor inanimate object.
When she started feeling better, she took a deep breath and got her phone. She opened a dashboard and got a business card with a phone number which she had been hesitant to use for a while. It was the number belonging to a detective that she often gave clues which she got from ghosts whose death had not been natural.
The problem with him was that he was too arrogant and overly eager to climb the ladder. He had started relying on her too much to help him with his cases so she stopped going to him.
"Hello, this is detective Shark, who am i speaking to?"
"Its me, Phoebe." she answered coldly.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite ghost seeing partner that abandoned me after accusing me of using her. I knew you would be back one day. You cannot avoid me forever Phoebe, after all, you owe me one."
"I paid back my debt Shark. You have solved at least thirty murders and received two promotions thanks to me. It's your turn to do me a solid. I need a favor, a big one."
"You always need big favors, like erasing all your records or a fake identity, surveillance footage, information on others, all things which can result in my demotion or termination if i am found out. That's why you are still in my debt. You may have stopped helping me but you still owe me Phoebe, big time."
"Tit for tat Shark, i know how you work. I need you to investigate me."
"Do you mean investigate something for you?"
"No, I mean me."
"Who?"
"Me, Phoebe Gabriel. I need you to investigate my life right from my birth. Investigate my parents too and Ruth Mayfair, plus her parents."
"Why?"
"If i had the answers i would not be coming to you now, would i?" she retorted.
He snorted. "I have a case that i am working on, a high profile one which is giving me a headache. If you agree to help me then i will take it as the go ahead to begin on your problem."
"What case?"
"The death of Susie Isles, the lead singer of Dear girls, that girl group. If you watch the news, i am sure that you have seen it. It's everywhere and on every tongue. The public has put us all under pressure and my superiors are on my ass to solve it as soon as possible.
I am burning the candle at both ends but getting nowhere. The thing is, i have about sixteen suspects, many stalkers and many angry anti fans but no conclusive evidence that points to someone specific and i can't speak to the dead so i am stuck. If you promise to find me some answers, i will do the same for you."
"Deal."