When everything was settled at ho, Phoebe and Maureen went to the Basten residence to deliver the last words of his widow. His residence was in an area called Ruby alley in the red district where majority of the less fortunate lived. It explained the reason as to why he had chosen to take part in such a risky job, he was desperate for the money.
He had been like many residents that found shelter in the embrace of the rugged district__desperate for escape.
The buildings in the district were a chaotic mix of brick houses, neon lit establishnts, unfinished skyscrapers and abandoned warehouses. Nearly every wall surface was painted with graffiti, so inspirational and most just ugly.
No matter the ti of day, the air in the district was thick with music from nightclubs, loud argunts, singing of drunkards, and cries of street vendors hawking wares both mundane and illicit.
It was not all bad, the red-light establishnts there were famous for perforrs, courtesans and entertainers which made it a tourist hub.
Despite its grim reputation, many artists flocked to it to find inspiration, steal the original work of lesser-known creators, partake in illicit pleasures or flee from their troubles. It was another reason why the red-light district was famous. You could always see a celebrity or a rich person skulking in the alleys nearly every day.
Maureen was not too happy to be in Ruby Alley. Heck, she was not happy to be in the red light district at all. As always, the streets stank with urine which had ford frozen puddles almost everywhere and it agitated her greatly.
Every campaign round, so politician promised to fix the red-light district and nobody ever did. The cycle of never-ending promises concerning this part of the city was like an accepted political lie.
"Did we have to co here? It stinks Pheebs, stinks worse than the inside of a goblin's anus!" Maureen complained, kicking through the foul-slling snow.
Phoebe chuckled; the sound was soft but mocking. "I don't know what the inside of a goblin's anus slls like aunt but you know the residents of this district, most of them are wary of rich people so its easier to go to Catia than bring her to us. I am very sure that you have been in worse places than this aunt, toughen up." She spoke teasingly.
Giving her niece an eye roll, Maureen rejected the advances from a female prostitute that was wearing her lingerie out in broad day light. A large part of her ass was peeking out and she was unbothered.
"Cover it up, its winter and there are kids here." Maureen shouted to the prostitute.
The kids Maureen was talking about were running through the alley in their school uniforms, on the way to school. They were not bothered by the prostitute like Maureen imagined.
"Fuck them kids." The prostitute answered in a deep voice.
"Oh my God it's not she!!" Maureen exclaid in a squeaky voice.
Phoebe laughed in turn and shook her head. It was never a dull day with Maureen around.
Maureen wrapped her jacket around herself tighter and decided to ask for more information on the matter that had brought them to the alley. "So did this ghost tell you what happened in that underwater hotel by any chance? Is it like the governnt said that it was an innocent accident? Or is it sothing deeper?" She asked multiple questions.
"Unfortunately, we did not talk much before Stanley Basten moved on." Phoebe pulled her lips to one side. "But if that is what they said happened then it probably is, I have been too exhausted lately to watch any news and keep up with the collapse." Phoebe halted her steps for they had arrived at the rickety apartnt building where the Basten's stayed.
"Is this it?" Aunt Maureen asked.
Phoebe nodded and headed straight to apartnt 2B. She knocked once before the door flung open.
The young woman who opened the door in fading grey pajamas had a large mop of disheveled blonde hair and she did not look too pleased to see the guests at her door. She had hollow eyes with dark circles around them. It seed like she had not slept well for days.
"Are you Mrs. Basten? Catia Basten?" Phoebe asked her.
The woman placed one hand to the waist and stared suspiciously at the duo. "Who wants to know?" She boldly asked.
"I am Phoebe Mayfair a shaman and this is my aunt Maureen Mayfair a shaman too. May we please co in." She politely requested.
Catia pulled her lips upwards, browsed through her search engine for a shaman nad Phoebe Mayfair. Her eyes lit up on finding out who Phoebe really was.
"M-Mayfair? You are one of them rich folks from the founding families? What brings you to the poor part of the city? This is a dangerous place for a rich heiress to be." Catia blinked rapidly, inviting the visitors inside her dirty ho. She had not cleaned the house since she had heard of the news of her husband's death.
"Sorry about the ss." She smiled uneasily; her cheeks burned red from embarrassnt. Quickly, she picked up the crumpled tissues from the floor.
Phoebe gave her a little dismissive wave. "We are not bothered by the ss, your husband just died I am sure that you are going through a lot, and a little ss is to be expected." Her tone was soft and comforting.
As they sat down, Phoebe could tell that Maureen's patience was running thinner because of the ss in the apartnt. Her aunt did not like sses, so Phoebe decided to rush through things.
"First of all, I am sorry for your loss Mrs. Stanley. I cannot fathom what you are going through right now. Stanley sent us here because he wanted us to deliver a ssage to you. He wants you to know that he loves you and he is sorry for taking on that job.
He always planned to co ho to you. When he died, he was holding on to your locket. Stanley told to tell you not to mourn him for too long, he also wants you to get married again because you are still young and beautiful." She delivered the ssage.
Upon hearing Phoebe's words, Catia's eyes bled wretched, salt heavy with tears. "How can he ask that of ! How can he ask to forget him? I do not know how to do that?" More tears spilled down her cheeks.
She did not question the ssage because she knew two rich won would not be there to defraud her of the six hundred dollars in savings she had.
Maureen pushed the tissue box closer to Catia. "He just didn't want you to beco depressed my dear, please take heart. The dead rest better when they know that their loved ones continue to live on happily." She told her, her tone was very sympathetic.
"I understand what you are saying, and I know that I should move on but to what? I have no job; Stanley was the one that has been taking care of . Or am I supposed to go back to prostitution? Stanley had saved from that. What other man would want a forr prostitute for a wife! My life ended the day Stanley died." Her words ca heavy with both sadness and regret.
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