Chapter 9

It had taken Melinda a while to answer Parker's questions and get him up to speed with what she knew. I sat patiently, waiting for Melinda to finish her explanation. Parker was silent afterward. I didn't think he was sure what to think.

"Did I answer all the questions you had?" Melinda asked.

"I think so," Parker replied.

"Come with me; we need to call your family." Parker and Melinda left the lounge room to call Uncle Seeley and tell him that Parker was safe. I crossed the room to the window, facing the front yard. The sky was still dark outside. I wondered if Uncle Seeley was in a panic after realising Parker wasn't in bed. It didn't take long for Melinda and Parker to return to the room.

"What did Uncle Seeley say?" I asked.

"He wasn't happy about the early call; although he was more mad about Parker leaving. Seeley will be here by midday. I've asked him to meet us at my store," Melinda replied. "What did you tell him about... well me?"

"I told him nothing. It's easier to tell people face to face."

"What will you tell him though?"

"The truth. It may be hard for Seeley to hear-" I snorted.

"Try believe."

"-But he might need to hear it."

"Uncle Seeley is an FBI agent. I might not know much about him since I was banned from seeing him when I was young, but I do know that he doesn't believe that people linger after death. He believes that a person goes to either heaven or hell based on what they have done during their life."

"That isn't true."

"He doesn't know that." For a few heartbeats, Melinda and I stared at each other; not wanting to say another word to one another, in fear of another argument taking place.

"Excuse me Melinda," Parker piped up, "Would it be okay if I get some sleep? I'm really tired." Melinda broke eye contact with me.

"Of course," she replied, looking to Parker, "I'll fetch you a blanket." Melinda went out to the hallway and opened a cupboard. She rummaged through it, searching for a blanket that would keep Parker warm. Parker walked over to the couch and lay down on it. Within seconds, he was fast asleep. A smile crept over my face and the lights dimmed to a very low setting.

"What are you doing with the lights?" Melinda asked, as she came back into the room. I shushed her.

"He's asleep," I whispered back. Melinda gently draped the blanket over Parker and turned the lights off.

"Good night Isabelle," she said, "I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night," I whispered back. Melinda went up the stairs to her bedroom. I stayed where I was, almost in a meditation trance; waiting for morning to come.

#

I snapped out of my trance at the sound of rapid knocking coming from the front door. I looked up. Melinda opened the door and a man came in. he had blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a grey suit with a blue undershirt and a black tie. He was ranting about something he had found. Melinda tried to slow him down; but for a little while, he ignored her.

"Rick!" Melinda finally called out, jolting Parker from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes and looked at me.

"What's going on?" he groaned, in a half asleep tone.

"A friend of Melinda's I guess. I'll go ask for them to keep it down." I moved from where I had been standing for the past few hours, over to where Melinda and the man called Rick were.

"Can you get him to be quiet?" I asked as Rick continued to rant on, "He just woke Parker."

"Oh god, I'm sorry. I forgot he was here," Melinda replied. Rick stopped talking and looked over.

"Am I missing something?" he asked, "Am I not entertaining enough to keep your attention?" Rick held a grin on his face before a look or realisation washed over him. "Is there a ghost here?" I frowned. Melinda must have seen, because she quickly introduced me.

"Rick, it's Isabelle; the spirit I told you about."

"She's here right now?" Melinda nodded.

"Yes, and you just woke Parker."

"Parker? Who's Parker?"

"He is Isabelle's cousin. He came here by himself to ask why he could see her." I looked up at the clock on the mantel piece above the fire place. It read 11AM.

"Melinda," I spoke, "Is it time to go yet?" Melinda looked at the clock and nodded again. she flicked her eyes back to Rick.

"We have to go," she said, "We are meeting Parker's father at the store to try and explain everything."

"Oooo, I would love to meet Isabelle's Uncle. I'm coming with you," Rick replied, in an excited tone. I was taken aback.

"He doesn't know that Uncle Seeley is FBI does he?" I asked, a grin spreading across my lips. A slight smirk lifted one side of Melinda's mouth. She looked at me with an amused look.

"Let's go," she continued. We went outside and Melinda, Parker and I all piled into Melinda's car, while Rick got into his. We drove down the road and into the centre of the city, which took us about half an hour. Melinda parked her car out the front of her shop on the opposite side of the road. The three of us got out. While Melinda unlocked the door to her shop, I passed through the glass. When Melinda, Parker and Rick got inside, Melinda kept her 'closed' sign showing to the public. She turned to Parker and I.

"Your father should be here within the hour. You can hang around here for a while if you want or I can give you some money and you can get a treat from the bakery." Parker was about to reply when I cut in.

"I'll take him to the bakery. I want to spend some more time with him before Uncle Seeley arrives." Melinda fished through her purse and pulled out a few coins.

"Go have fun," she replied, "But be back the moment you have bought something." I nodded.

"Don't worry; we'll be back as soon as Parker has found something." Parker and I left the store and crossed the plaza and entered a small bakery. Parker browsed the selection of sweets, wondering what he wanted. I was quickly scanning the items in stock, when my eyes rested on a slice. It had a pastry base, custard filling and white icing on top.

"Have you tried one of those?" I asked, pointing to the slice. Parker shook his head ever so slightly; not wanting to attract attention to himself. "It's called a vanilla slice," I continued, "It is a really good treat to have; order one." Parker looked at it for a few seconds before deciding on it. The vanilla slice was put into a paper bag by the baker. Parker paid for it and we left to go back to Melinda's store. The moment we got back inside, a car squealed to a stop outside. We all turned and saw Uncle Seeley get out of the car; a look of pure rage on his face.

"Uh, oh," Parker and I said in unison.