THREE

"I'm not really sure what I can do for you," said Peter. "My secretary said you mentioned something about finding a book? I'm interested why you would come to me and not a private investigator. I represent people in court I don't recover missing or stolen objects."

"Yes, well," said Victor nervously, "this particular book is something very special. And it's my understanding that you may be uniquely able to find it for us."

"I still don't understand," said Peter. "Look, I only agreed to see you because I have a policy of never turning away people who need a lawyer but can't afford one. But from the looks of you I'd hardly say you're indigent or underprivileged. I think you might be better served with a private investigator or a book dealer or someone like that."

"Mr. Coleson," said Phoebe, "please, if you'll just give us a moment to explain. Uncle Victor, I think you'd better tell him who you are."

"Who he is?" questioned Peter. "I don't understand."

"Mr. Coleson," began Victor. "Peter. I hope you don't mind if I call you Peter. I've heard a lot about you. Although we've never actually met we do have some, uh, shall we say, mutual acquaintances."

"What sort of mutual acquaintances?" questioned Peter.

"My daughters were Piper and Phoebe Halliwell," said Victor.

"Really?" questioned Peter. "And just what sort of things have you heard about me?"

"Well," said Victor, "they told me that your father was Cole Turner. And that you were part demon. They also said that you were a good friend and that you could be trusted. That's why I've come – we've come – to you now. Someone has taken the Book of Shadows from the manor and we need to find it."

"I see," said Peter suspiciously. "And I'm just supposed to take your word on all that?"

"It's all true," said Phoebe. "He was the father of the Charmed Ones and we've come here to ask you to help us find the Book of Shadows. It disappeared from the manor sometime in the last few days."

"I'll admit you almost had me," said Peter. "Everyone knows the Charmed Ones are dead. They died a few days ago when their manor blew up. So who sent you? Some demon looking to get his hands on the book? Because I gotta tell you that's not going to happen."

"We're telling you the truth," said Victor.

"Of course you are," said Peter sarcastically. "It wouldn't be the first time a demon tried to use me for their own purposes. And I don't deal with demons any more. Or didn't your 'daughters' tell you that?"

"Actually, they did," said Victor. "That's why you're here. You decided to give up representing demons in the human courts and devote yourself to representing those who couldn't afford good legal help."

"That's right," said Peter. "So I suggest you go back to whatever demon sent you here and tell him I'm not interested."

Victor looked at Phoebe. Obviously Peter was not about to believe what they were telling him.

"I guess you need to show him," said Victor.

"Show me?" questioned Peter. "Show me what?"

"Well," said Phoebe, "if I understand it correctly, no matter what we tell you is in strictest confidence. You can't ever reveal it to anyone for any reason."

"That's true," said Peter. "Attorney/client privilege is sacrosanct."

"Peter, what I'm about to show you can never leave this room for any reason," said Phoebe. "I think you'll understand once you see it."

"See what?" questioned Peter again.

Phoebe snapped her fingers and the illusion of Julie Bennett vanished replaced by her own visage.

"Nice try," said Peter. "But I've run into shape shifters before. That proves nothing."

"How about the last time you visited us at the manor?" questioned Phoebe. "Have you told anyone about what happened then?"

"Only my fiancé," said Peter. "Why?"

"Because you came there to kill Cole," said Phoebe. "You had been tricked by some demons that belonged to a group called the Hellborn Alliance who claimed to be with the Brotherhood of the Thorn. They used you to get Cole away from us so they could kill us only we were able to discover who they were and vanquished them before they could kill us."

"Which could be known to any demon in the Hellborn Alliance," said Peter. "That proves nothing."

"True," said Phoebe. "But what about what happened after that?"

"What do you mean?" Peter asked.

"About your mother?" questioned Phoebe.

"What about my mother?"

"You had always said that only your mother had the right to forgive Cole for what he had done to her. So my sisters and I were going to summon her spirit so you could speak with her. Only Leo wouldn't let us. And we finally found out why."

"Go on. I'm listening."

"He wouldn't let us summon her spirit because he didn't know how that summing would affect her. Because she was made a White Lighter after her death."

"You couldn't possibly know that. No one knew that."

"No one except the girls," said Victor. "You said you told your fiancé. Do you think she told anyone else?"

"No, of course not. She'd never do that."

"So if you didn't tell anyone and she didn't tell anyone, how do you explain that I know about it?" asked Phoebe. "And one other thing. After we found out that you mother was a White Lighter, the Elders bent the rules about them severing all contact with their pasts. They let her stay for a few days so you two could spend some time together. Even if someone should somehow figure out everything else, how would they know something like that?"

Peter stared at Victor and Phoebe trying to decide if he believed them or not.