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Chloe slowly nodded after Phoebe couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence. The two of them continued talking through the steps of their plan like this was any other supernatural investigation. Chloe understood that the routine helped ease Phoebe's nerves about dinner this evening.
"I guess the only question left is regarding the role of Graveside Mysteries." Chloe speared some fruit with her fork. "Are we going to film everything we do from here on out, or are we going to drop the pretenses?"
Chloe popped a piece of melon in her mouth and chewed while waiting for Phoebe's answer. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure how to reply. On one hand, a lot of people liked the thought of being on camera. Fifteen minutes of fame tended to go a long way in getting people to talk. The flip side was just the opposite, and such attention had others shying away from the limelight.
"I vote that we use the podcast as our cover for now," Phoebe replied softly, glad that she had already eaten most of her breakfast. She pushed away her plate and reached for what was left of her tea. "We say that someone called in about seeing the spirit of my sister roaming the road that goes past my parents' home."
"Wait," Chloe exclaimed as she stabbed her fork into a piece of pineapple, leaving the handle sticking up in the air. She then mumbled something about how she should have grabbed the bottle of vodka in her apartment. "Let me get this straight. Are you saying that you're not going to tell your parents the truth? Pheebs, I don't think—"
"No, no. I'm going to tell my parents the truth," Phoebe emphasized in reassurance. "I'm talking about the town and our audience. The so-called sighting gives Graveside Mysteries the excuse it needs to start documenting everything we uncover without revealing…"
Phoebe waved her hand to indicate her ability to perceive Jenna's spirit. Betty was approaching their table with a fresh carafe of coffee. Chloe reached out and placed her palm over her mug.
"As much as I would love more coffee, two is my limit, Betty. Hey, you wouldn't mind putting an apple fritter in a to-go bag for Lilith, would you? I've talked her into teaching me how to crochet. The poor woman has no idea what she is in for."
Betty laughed, which had been Chloe's intent. Phoebe kept her eyes fixed on the table as their waitress walked away to collect the apple fritter for Lilith.
"I think your plan will work," Chloe said without missing a beat. "We'll stick to the story about a ghost sighting, which will give us more leeway. I'll post on our blog something vague so that the broader audience has something to chew on without giving away our location. We've gone a few months without giving an update on our next supernatural investigation, and the masses aren't too happy about it.”
“The episodes about the banshee mystery are still running,” Phoebe pointed out, not too concerned that their listeners and viewers would tune out. “That should buy us some time.”
“I know that you already called Chief Bennett, but are you sure you’re ready to do this? Come clean with your parents? Look into Jenna’s death?”
Phoebe nodded her reply. Her response was to every one of those questions. Truthfully, she had been ready for eleven years.
She tossed her crumpled napkin next to her plate and slid out from the vinyl booth, standing to collect her jacket from the hook.
Chloe followed suit before securing the strap of her purse over her shoulder. Phoebe hated purses, and she preferred to keep her driver's license and credit cards in her phone case. She led the way toward the front of the diner, pausing long enough to pay their bill and have Chloe collect the apple fritter.
The little bell above the door chimed as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"You should head back to the yarn shop to give my mom that treat," Phoebe said, knowing full well that Chloe wasn’t going to like the morning plan. "Meeting with the chief is something I need to do on my own."
Chloe parted her lips to instantly protest the idea, but Phoebe held up her hand.
"I've known Chief Bennett since I was a little girl. He is more likely to talk to me alone than with someone he hasn't met yet."
Chloe frowned, but she eventually caved with a huff that blew her long bangs out of her eyes. Her silver bracelets jingled as she turned to walk across the street.
"I'll start on the whiteboard with the names you mentioned earlier, but don't leave me with your mother for too long. If Betty knows about your meeting with Chief Bennett, then so does your mother."
Phoebe winced, not having thought through the day's schedule all that well. She had been hoping to find something in the report that supported her theory before coming clean with her parents.
"Do what you can, Chloe," Phoebe called out. The cold wind had picked up, causing her eyes to water. She blinked to clear her vision, and her gaze was immediately drawn to something across the street. "I shouldn't be too—"
It was as if her entire body had been slammed into a concrete wall. The air rushed from her lungs, and every muscle in her body seized up, locking her joints in place. She was basically paralyzed, suspended in time and space.
There, standing just outside the entrance to the yarn shop, was Jenna.
The ghostly form was unmistakable. Jenna’s long damp hair clung to her hollow cheeks, and her empty gray eyes stared blankly back at Phoebe. Her sister’s silent plea was heartbreaking and terrifying all at once.
It took Phoebe a moment to find her bearings. Once she was confident that she could speak in a steady voice, she shifted her gaze back to Chloe, who had already reached the other side of the street.
"On second thought, do you mind catching a ride over with my mom for dinner tonight?" Phoebe called out, preventing Chloe from asking if anything was wrong. "There's something I need to do first."
It was obvious that Chloe would have argued against the change in plans, but she must have noticed Phoebe's change of demeanor.
"Be there at six o'clock, Pheebs. I'm serious!"
