Free Those of the Margin: a Paranormal Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 2) by T Patrick Phelps Page B

Robby's always going on about what Mr. White said or what Mr. White did." Maggie paused. "Jack is not the best father in the world, Derek. I know he loves Robby, but his work takes him away from home an awful lot. He's missed all but one or two of Robby's soccer games and most of the parent-teacher meetings at school. Jack's gone at least two or three nights every week."
    "Think he may feel that Robby sees Ron as a father figure?"
    "If he does, it's his own damn fault." Maggie's face blushed. She glanced quickly into the living room to see if Robby heard what she had said. Robby sat, transfixed with his video game. "Sorry," she said to Derek. "My marital problems aren't your problem to worry about."
    "No worries," Derek said.
    "Are you married, Derek?" Maggie asked, her eyes flipping from Derek's to the dining room table.
    "My wife, Lucy, was killed in a bank robbery a little over three years ago. I was a cop in the city back then and watched the whole thing happen."
    "I'm so sorry," Maggie said, returning her hands onto Derek's. "I should have remembered that you told Robby that your wife had passed. I guess I was just too worried to pay attention. I'm very sorry."
    "It's okay. You had a lot of things on your mind."
    "You told Robby that you saw your wife, or your wife's spirit recently? Did I hear that correctly?"
    "In my last case," Derek said, "I was shot in the stomach and started to bleed out. Right before the paramedics brought me back, I believe I saw my wife's face. Not sure if was her spirit or what it was, but I know that I saw her."
    "And I know what I saw in Robby's room less than an hour ago," Maggie said, her hands again pulling away from Derek's. "I walked into his room after hearing someone or something talking with Robby, and I saw a man's shadow cover its face and then disappear into his wardrobe. I know what I saw just a certainly as you know you saw your wife."
    "I don't doubt you nor do I doubt Robby," Derek said. "There's just a lot of things I don't fully understand yet, but I promise you that I will figure this whole thing out."
    Maggie smiled at Derek. Her brilliant green eyes, moist with tears, charged Derek's soul with feelings that seemed both foreign and familiar to him. Familiar, as these were the same as those he felt when he was first falling in love with his wife. Foreign because for the first time since the day his wife died, his feeling's target was not his wife, but someone else, someone new.
    "About Ron White" he said, pushing back the unsettled feelings welling up in his body, "he said that Robby told him about 'Phillip' before he said anything to Robby about ghosts. Not sure if I believe him, but he also suggested that the name 'Phillip' was an interesting name for a ghost. He made no bones about his belief that I should investigate the name 'Phillip.'"
    "And?" Maggie said, leaning closer to the table. "Did you find anything out about the name?"
    "I did. Father Flannigan told me about a bunch of psychologists in Toronto that conducted an experiment. They called it the 'Phillip Experiment,' and the results were very interesting. I was still talking with Father about it when you called. While I'm very interested in learning more about the 'Phillip Experiment' and how it all fits into with your son, I'm more interested in how Ron White seems to know about it."
    "He's had a lot of time to read since his stroke, "Maggie suggested. "Maybe he read about it?"
    "I don't think so, but maybe. I have to find out more about Mr. White before I can make any assumptions."
    "He really is a sweetheart, Derek."
    "I also found out something else that I need to tell you. It's about your husband and his father. This may be upsetting but know that I don't have all the facts yet."
    "If you're going to tell me that Jack murdered his father, I already know."
    Derek's mouth fell open.
    "I've heard things about the night Jack's father died," Maggie said. "Jack's mother, who is quite a prize, I must say, gets all