Page 78 of Not Another Rockstar
“We’ll find out who did this,” Lena assured Phoebe. “I’ve given my statement to the police, and they’re already looking into it.”
The police?Phoebe thought, uncertain.Are they going to blame this on me? Will I be framed for this, like the break-in?
All that work… Phoebe looked at her aching hand and knew she wouldn’t be able to create such a volume of work again anytime soon.
“I have nothing for another show.” Phoebe’s thoughts slipped out.
It felt like her career was over before it began.
“Even if you did, I think it’s best for everyone we put a pin in any more public shows,” Lena said.
They should have cancelled this morning when they had the chance.Phoebe felt like she needed to sit down as she absorbedthe information. All those years of work, and she’d only had one successful show.
An officer approached them. “You can go now,” he told Lena. “There’s nothing else we need from you.”
She thanked him, and he left with the firefighter after promising to keep them updated with any developments. Phoebe shook her head; she’d heard that promise before.
“Could you take me home?” Lena asked. “I don’t want to drive.”
“You don’t even have to ask,” Axel said, and Phoebe offered her a reassuring smile.
They walked back to the car in silence, the tang of the smoky air stuck in her throat. After a quick text from Axel, the driver pulled up, and Axel got in beside him. Lena climbed in the back first, and Phoebe went to open the other passenger door, but froze when she spotted Gunther Sheen in the crowd of phones. At first, she thought her eyes were lying to her, but then the headlights of the car highlighted him. He wore a navy baseball cap and a dark jacket, but she knew it was him. Her stomach dropped, and rage replaced her sadness.
This arsehole burnt down the gallery and hung around to watch the show. It’s been him all along. Toying with us.
Phoebe slammed the door on Axel and Lena and started towards Sheen. He hadn’t noticed her singling him out from the crowd. By the time Axel caught on and called after her, Phoebe had tackled Sheen to the ground. He grunted as he hit the pavement, and the crowd around them divided quickly.
“Why would you do this?” she screamed in his face.
His eyes wide in sheer terror, Sheen shouted for help. She grabbed him by his collar. He didn’t fight back, which only infuriated her more.
“Why can’t you leave me alone?” Phoebe wasn’t going to let him play victim, to turn this on her. Some startled shouts andscreams came from the observers as she shook him. She kept him pinned. She wanted him to hurt, and the white-hot rage killed her fear and the pain in her hand. She balled a fist ready to strike, and howled as she was ripped away from him.
“Get off him!” A cascade of orders rained down on her, but she couldn’t let him get away.
“Don’t let him get away with this again! He’s the one who did this,” Phoebe shouted over the sea of voices. Axel had hold of her, while another officer got between her and Sheen.
“Are you listening to me? Don’t help him!” Phoebe barked, watching in disbelief as a firefighter helped Sheen up and quickly scanned him for any injuries. Sheen refused an ambulance when the firefighter asked.Give me a few more minutes with him, and I’ll make sure he needs that ambulance.She wanted to laugh at the care he was shown. She didn’t care about the cameras on her. Sure, this was probably being live streamed—her only regret was being forcibly removed before she did any real damage.
“Phoebe, please,” Axel pleaded with her. The haze started to lift as she heard his comforting voice. His eyes locked with hers, forcing her to look at him. “Take a deep breath.”
She hadn’t realised she wasn’t breathing.
“Arrest him!” Axel shouted at the officers.
“Calm down, sir! We’ve no cause. If anything, we’ve cause to arrest her for assault,” the officer sneered.
“Arrest me, but please arrest him too,” Phoebe snarled, wishing she’d wrapped her hands around his neck. “He’s the one who set the fire, who broke into my studio, who has been harassing me!”
“Think what you want, but I didn’t set the fire,” Sheen argued, shaking his head violently. He didn’t deny her other allegations.
“Then what the hell are you doing here?” Axel barked, and the officers got between them.
“I got a text to come here. I didn’t know who it was from, but I was curious,” he said, fumbling for his phone.
“You’re a shitty liar,” Phoebe shot back. Once again, he was blaming some secret shadow to cover his tracks. “You get a random text, and you just show up somewhere that happens to be a gallery showing my work?”
“When money’s promised, yes.” Sheen’s smug reply nearly sent her back into attack mode.
