A Deadly Lesson (Storage Ghost Murders Book 5) Page 5

  The second came from Tom - ‘They’re a bunch of lying criminals! Don’t go anywhere near them. They trick people into selling their homes at ridiculously low prices, they get them to pay a low rent to begin with. Then the thieves increase the rent so that no one can afford to pay them. It happened to one of my mates, he ended up moving out of his house because he couldn’t afford the rent that those thieving sods made him pay! His house is now for sale at double what those scumbags paid him. Keep right away from them! What I want to know is how do they know when someone is having trouble with their mortgage? It’s an inside job, that’s what it is. Search the Internet, you’ll find the truth.’

  Grace sat back and looked at the message again. She was inclined to believe Tom, rather than Bertha. Julianne’s company was up to no good. Did Julianne have contacts at the bank still? Did they let her know when one of their customers was in trouble? Did the informant get a cut of the profits? Grace had another thought. Didn’t Abbie say her dad worked at the bank? Was he the informant?

  Had Abbie found out what Julianne and her dad were up to? No, Abbie said Julianne’s business had started up after she died. But still – maybe Julianne had been making plans about setting the business up, and Abbie had found out about it.

  Hmm. She was going to have to speak to Julianne.

  Grace hadn’t noticed Abbie was behind her until Abbie let out a gasp. “I can’t believe Julianne’s involved in something like that! That Tom must be lying! Creep!”

  Grace turned to face Abbie. “You said that on the morning of your birthday, you and Julianne were arguing. Can you remember any more about the argument?”

  Abbie’s face screwed up in concentration. Her confused look was suddenly replaced by a horrified one. She said, “I remember! I knew about the company. I heard her and Carlos talking about it. Carlos said it would be like taking money from a baby. Dad was involved somehow. I got mad with Julianne and said I’d tell Mum everything! Then Julianne said something funny, she said really calmly, ‘We’ll talk about it after the party.’”

  Abbie slid slowly to the floor. Grace crouched at her side. Abbie looked at her and said, “Do you think Julianne killed me? To keep me quiet?”

  Grace truthfully said, “I’m not sure yet – but it is a possibility.”

  Chapter 13

  Abbie refused to speak for the rest of the night. She sat on the sofa and stared morosely at the television. Grace tried to gently coax her out of her silence, but Abbie ignored her.

  Grace could see she was wasting her time so she slid another DVD of Supernatural into the player and pressed, ‘Play All’. Then she bade Abbie a cheerful goodnight, getting a grunt in return.

  Grace could understand why Abbie was in a bad mood but her silence wasn’t going to help them find out who killed her. Maybe she’d feel better in the morning.

  Grace certainly did. She woke up with a plan. Making her way to the living room Grace opened her computer and brought it to life.

  Abbie pointed at the TV and grumbled, “You have to put the next disc in. I tried to wake you but you were snoring.”

  With a bright smile, Grace said, “I’m sure I wasn’t snoring, and, no, I don’t have to put another disc in. I’ve got an idea.” Grace typed something into the computer and soon had what she was looking for. She picked up her phone.

  Curiosity got the better of Abbie. She flittered over to Grace’s side and said, “Who are you phoning at this time?”

  Grace tapped the computer screen and then held a hand up to silence Abbie. “Oh, yes. Good morning to you too. I’d like to book an appointment for one of your agents to visit me. Yes, I’m having trouble paying my mortgage.”

  “Are you?” Abbie asked.

  Grace shook her head at Abbie. She continued, “That would be great. One of my friends recommended you, she said that a woman called Julianne came round to see her. Is it possible for me to have the same person? It is? Great. Okay, six o’clock tonight.” Grace gave her details and then ended the call.

  “What are you up to?” Abbie said. “I don’t want Julianne coming here.”

  “Well, I do. I need to find out more about her business, and what kind of person she is. I can’t spend hours searching on the Internet for more information. And, not only that, I’m going to see your friend, Brooke, at the travel agent’s today.”

  Abbie folded her arms. “You’re very bossy.”

  Grace gave her a gentle smile. “I want to find out who killed you. You appeared to me for a reason and I’ll do what I can to help you. I’m sure you don’t want to hang around me forever.”

  Abbie’s arms fell to her side. “But where will I go? When all this is over? I don’t want to be alone.”

  “From what I’ve seen of other ghosts who move on, you won’t be alone. It seems like you’ll have family and friends waiting for you.”

  Abbie picked up the bottom of her floaty top and began to fiddle with it. “I want my mum.”

  “That’s something else I’m going to do, I’m going to find out where your mum is. Okay?”

  Abbie looked up and nodded.

  Grace said, “I’ll put the next disc in for you whilst I have some breakfast. Then we’ll be ready to go.”

  Grace was so intent on getting things done that she didn’t feel at all nervous as she drove to work. She parked at the back of the shop and walked jauntily through to the main part.

  Frankie gave her a suspicious look. “What’s wrong with you? Did you crash Big Bob’s car? Are you wanting me to take the blame for you? I won’t! You sort your own mess out!”

  “I haven’t crashed the car, I’ve driven it. And, I’ve enjoyed driving it. I’ve had a good night’s sleep, and I’m raring to go.” She looked at some nearby shelves. “I’ll get my duster out, it’s amazing how quickly dust settles, isn’t it?”

  Frankie shrugged. “I can’t see any dust.”

  Abbie followed Grace through to the kitchen and sank on to a chair. “Grace, I don’t feel very well. I think I’m nervous about seeing Julianne and Brooke. Can I sit here for a while?”

  “Of course. If you see Pearl, will you let me know? I wonder where she’s gone.”

  Grace’s good mood lessened as she thought about Pearl. A sudden panic shot through her. Had Pearl gone for good?

  Grace put all her energy into cleaning the shop. She was enthusiastic about helping customers, and she made Frankie many cups of tea.

  Frankie scowled at her. “Stop being so happy, it’s not normal. You’re getting on my nerves.”

  Grace ignored him. At lunch-time she went into the kitchen and asked Abbie if she wanted to come with her to see Brooke at the travel agent’s.

  Abbie rubbed her stomach and grimaced. “I suppose so. It’ll be nice to see her again, even if she can’t see me.”

  Grace shouted out a goodbye to Frankie and left the shop by the back door. Abbie hovered several inches off the pavement as they walked along.

  Grace paused at the entrance to the travel shop. It really was expensive looking, she half-expected to see a uniformed doorman guarding the entrance.

  Grace stepped into the shop. It even smelled expensive. Posters of exotic beaches were on the wall – in frames, not stuck on with tape.

  “I can’t see Brooke anywhere,” Abbie said.

  An over-made-up sales assistant shot Grace a brilliant-white smile and said, “Good afternoon, madam. How may I help you? Please, take a seat. Would you like a hot beverage? We have a variety of herbal teas and speciality coffees.”

  Grace smiled and sat down. “How kind, a coffee would be nice, thank you.” She quickly scanned the posters. If she was going to lie, she might as well make it a good one. “I’ve come into some unexpected money and I’d like to book a world cruise. I want to travel first-class, no expense spared.”

  A shadow fell over the smiling assistant and she seemed to shiver. A cold voice said, “Chantelle, take your break. I’ll deal with this customer.”

  Chantelle’s voice tre
mbled as she said, “I don’t mind, I can wait for my break.”

  The cold voice continued, “That wasn’t a request.”

  Abbie floated into the chair at Grace’s side. She beamed and said, “It’s Brooke!”

  Grace’s glance moved upwards. That was Brooke?

  Chapter 14

  Brooke folded her arms and waited for Chantelle to vacate her seat. Chantelle gave Grace an embarrassed smile and walked away. She stopped in her tracks when Brooke loudly clicked her fingers. Chantelle looked back over her shoulder, an eyebrow raised.

  Brooke tutted and barked out, “Coffee! Now! And get me a mint tea.”

  Brooke turned towards Grace and lowered herself into the empty chair. Grace could feel herself staring, but she couldn’t help it. Brooke looked years older than Abbie would have been now. Her dyed blonde hair was pulled back and piled on top of her head, the texture of it was so shiny that it looked plastic. Her hair must have been pulled back too tightly because Brooke’s face had a stretched look to it – unless that was how she always looked. Grace blinked as she looked closer at Brooke’s eyes. Her eyes were small but her eyelashes were huge, Grace could see each one individually. She must spend a fortune on mascara. An image came to Grace of those spiders that have little bodies and great big legs. It looked like two of them had scuttled on to Brooke’s face and taken up residence.

  Brooke’s mouth was small and pinched, it had been painted a vibrant red. The painted lips moved fractionally and Grace realised with a shock that Brooke was smiling. Grace involuntarily sat further back in her chair. There was something cold and mean about this woman.

  Brooke spoke, “I heard you talking about a world cruise. We have many options. Where do you want to go, and how much deposit do you want to pay today?”

  “I wasn’t planning on paying a deposit today,” Grace began. She glanced at Abbie, she was smiling at Brooke as if she was her favourite person in the world. Had Brooke been this rude to Abbie?

  Brooke wasn’t listening to Grace, she had placed her phone on the table and was now reading a message. Her mouth moved a fraction more, but only to one side. She turned her attention back to Grace and said, “We take a fifty per cent deposit, non-returnable. How will you be paying?”

  Grace frowned and sat up straighter. “I didn’t say I was going to pay a deposit. I haven’t made my mind up as to where I want to go.”

  Abbie clapped her hands and said, “Tell her the places that we were going to visit! I wonder if she went after I died.”

  Abbie reeled the destinations off and Grace repeated them to Brooke. She had to pause at one moment as Brooke read another text message. If Brooke recognised the proposed locations, she showed no indication of it.

  Grace tried a different approach. “I wished I’d done this when I was younger. Maybe taken a year out of education, I could have travelled around the world with a good friend. Have you ever done that?”

  Brooke smirked. “I knew someone who wanted to do that once. She was a real loser. I shouldn’t tell you her name, but it was Abbie. Doesn’t matter if you know it, she’s dead now. She wanted to go round the world, she even thought I’d go with her. As if! She was such a pain. I met her at primary school, followed me round like a lost puppy. I felt sorry for her. She had an adopted sister, Julianne. Julianne was the pretty one. It’s supposed to follow that Abbie had the brains. But she didn’t. She couldn’t even pass her driving test! What an idiot, I passed mine on the first go. There again, Abbie did have an idiot of a driving instructor. Two idiots together.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Grace saw Abbie sinking further and further into the chair. Grace said, “That must have been awful for you, having someone hanging round you like that.”

  Brooke pulled a look of disgust. “I can’t believe I let her hang around so long. She was always asking for my opinion. She had no idea of what to wear, or who to talk to. I had to tell her everything! Honestly, I could have wrung her neck sometimes. I’m glad she’s dead. How are you paying the deposit?”

  Grace pressed her lips together. Brooke was a heartless so-and-so, it was obvious to anyone. But saying she was glad Abbie was dead was out of line. Brooke had just become a suspect.

  Brooke’s phone beeped again. Grace coldly said, “I’m sorry, am I keeping you from something?”

  “Yes. It’s my boyfriend, Ethan. I’m supposed to be meeting him soon. He’s another one that Abbie bothered. She actually thought he liked her! Ha! Loser.”

  Grace turned to look at Abbie properly. Abbie turned shock-filled eyes towards her and said, “I can’t believe it. Why would she say that about me? I thought she was my friend.”

  Grace shook her head sadly. Abbie could do without a friend like that, even if she was now dead. Grace stood up. Brooke looked up from her phone.

  Grace took great delight in raising her voice loudly and saying, “I won’t be booking a holiday with you. I find your manner rude and totally unacceptable. I shall take my business elsewhere.”

  Grace thought she heard a faint cheer from the back end of the travel agent’s. The spider legs on Brooke’s face didn’t move. Brooke said, “Whatever.”

  Grace moved a bit closer and said, “I don’t think you understand. You’ve lost a lot of money today from me. I’ve a good mind to speak to your manager.”

  Brooke sniffed and said, “I am the manager. Have you finished? The door’s over there.”

  Abbie shot out of her chair and around to Brooke’s side. She peered at her phone and then nodded her head. She said to Grace, “I know where she’s meeting Ethan. Let’s follow her.”

  Grace really wanted nothing more to do with Brooke but it would be interesting to see Ethan. Did he really dislike Abbie too? Or was Brooke lying? If they were a couple had they planned to make a fool of Abbie? And – had they made a plan to get rid of her?

  Grace couldn’t think of any more scathing words to say so she settled for a disapproving look. The look was wasted as Brooke had already turned her attention back to her phone.

  Grace left the shop and stepped into a side alley. She couldn’t talk to Abbie in public.

  “Well,” Grace began. “Are you sure she wasn’t like that when you were alive?”

  Abbie shook her head. “She was always nice to me. Other people didn’t like her, but she said they were jealous of our friendship. I don’t know why she’s meeting Ethan, she always said she hated him. He can’t be her boyfriend! I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  “Me neither.” Grace peered around the wall. “She’s left the travel agent’s. Let’s follow her. If we meet Ethan are you prepared to hear what he says about you.”

  Abbie nodded sadly and looked down at her purple trainers. “I wish I wasn’t dead. It hurts, why does it hurt?”

  “It won’t hurt for much longer. Come on,” Grace said. She stepped out of the alley, Abbie followed her.

  Chapter 15

  Brooke tapped away on her phone as she walked along. She turned left into a cafe. Grace stopped outside the side of the cafe and looked in through the window. There were menus and advertisements on the window of the cafe and Grace positioned herself so that she, hopefully, wouldn’t be spotted. Abbie floated a few inches above Grace and said, “I can see him! I can see Ethan. He hasn’t changed much, still looks like Clark Kent before he changes into Superman. Yuk! She’s touching him.”

  Grace looked closer at the couple inside. Brooke had her arms around Ethan’s neck and was pressing herself against him. Ethan’s head was turned away from her, his arms hung loosely at his side. It was obvious that Brooke’s feelings for Ethan were not reciprocated.

  Grace said, “I don’t think they’re a couple.”

  “But she called him her boyfriend,” Abbie pointed out.

  “I think she might be lying. Look at his face, he looks uncomfortable.”

  Brooke and Ethan sat at a table. Brooke gazed at Ethan and fluttered her spider-leg lashes. Ethan sat back in his chair with his arms folded. His
brow was furrowed as he looked at Brooke.

  Brooke began to talk. Ethan’s lips pressed tightly together and he shook his head. Brooke talked some more, Ethan continued to shake his head.

  “I wonder what they’re talking about,” Grace said. “Shall we try and sneak in? It’s only a small cafe though, she might see me. Hang on, what’s going on now? Is she crying?”

  Abbie shook her head. “I’ve never seen Brooke cry, not even when her cat died. She doesn’t even look sad, she’s just dabbing her eyes. I can’t believe she’s meeting Ethan, after all she said about him!”

  Grace saw Ethan’s look of desperation as Brooke made a show of crying, he looked like some sort of trapped animal. He forced a smile on his face, leant forward and patted Brooke’s arm. Brooke immediately grabbed it and pressed it to her cheek. Ethan shuddered but kept his smile in place. Brooke kissed his hand and stood up. She spoke some more and then seemed to wait for a reply. Ethan’s shoulders slumped and he slowly nodded his head. Brooke blew him a kiss and then turned away. She left the cafe with a smug smile on her face. She walked straight past Grace without glancing at her.

  Grace looked at Abbie and said, “We’re going in.”

  Grace opened the door, Abbie floated through the window. Grace sat at the table next to Ethan. He now had his head in his hands.

  Abbie said, “I’ve never seen him looking so sad. What do you think Brooke said to him?”

  Grace took her phone out and typed in a text – ‘Who bought you the driving book? Does Ethan know about it?’

  Abbie gave her a slow smile. She pointed at Ethan and said, “He gave it to me. He wanted to help me pass my test.”

  Thank goodness for that, Grace thought. Time for a sneaky trick. Grace placed the book on the table and then made a big show of rooting through her handbag. Her elbow caught the book and sent it flying to the floor. Would Ethan be a gent and pick it up for her?