"These pics Look familiar?"

After a short pause, the girl nodded and answered honestly, "Yeah. I worked on those last year. They were supposed to be homework and I was going to turn them in, but all of a sudden they were gone. I don't know what happened.”

Erica smiled and showed her some more pictures.

“And what about these?"

“Those paintings... Hey! I painted those myself. But what's this?

That's not my signature! Who signed these? Phoebe? Those are my paintings! The backdrop here is my hometown. What's going on?" She was now visibly upset.

Erica took back her phone and said, “To put it bluntly, she took your paintings and put her name on them. You mad?"

“Of course! Those are mine, not hers! Why in the world wouldn't I be pissed?" Her fair face flushed with anger.

“Then sue her!" Erica suggested.

“Sue her?" The two words stunned her.

“It's a major pain in the butt to take someone to court and I don't think I have the cash for a lawyer..." She was just a struggling student. She did have a part-time job, but she might not be able to afford these fees.

With her chin in her hands, Erica smiled innocently and offered, "Don't worry about money or a lawyer. As long as you're willing to sue her. you can just testify in court on the day of the trial. Don't worry about anything else. I got this!"

“Why do I not need to worry about money? Are you fronting me?" The girl really didn't have money, but she still wanted to sue Phoebe for art theft.

"Yeah, sort of. Just consider it a permanent loan. All I need is for you to collect the evidence that can prove they are your paintings

We'll appear in court together!" Erica said.

Her words seemed to give the girl a charge. She grabbed Erica's hand and exclaimed, "Wow, Erica, you're the best!"

Erica smiled sheepishly, “It's not Like I'm doing this for nothing. I get something out of this, too!"

In order to put Phoebe at a disadvantage, she had someone investigate the skeletons in her closet.

“Okay, I'll go back home and find everything I can!" The girl let go of her hand, turned and left the library.

As soon as the girl left, Erica's phone rang. It was Matthew.

“Where are you?" he asked.

“At school!" she said in a relaxed voice. Obviously, she was in a good mood.

The man chuckled.

“Don't strain yourself too much and ask Hyatt to carry your camera. Call me if you need anything."

“Well, there is something you can do Erica adjusted her tone to sound sweet and innocent. It did wonders for Matthew's mood.