The Last Laugh: A Ghost Mystery Story (Second Hand Ghosts Book 3) Read online

  Chapter 1

  I walked into the shop, the shop that I was now part owner of.

  “Good morning, partner,” I smiled at Carol.

  “You can stop all that cheerful nonsense at once,” Carol glared at me. “We’ve got work to do if we’re going to make this business a success.”

  I didn’t like the determined look on Carol’s face.

  “Can we discuss this over a cup of tea? I’ll make it,” I offered.

  “Okay, but don’t put too much milk in. You always make it too milky,” Carol said.

  I went into our little kitchen, put my bag and coat away in the cupboard, and put the kettle on.

  The shop felt different now that I owned half of it. As lovely as it was I could see that it needed updating.

  I made the tea and took it through to the shop area.

  Carol sipped hers, pulled a face and said, “It’s a bit better than your usual. Now, let’s talk about the shop and what we’re going to do. First, the name. I think we should change it. ‘Second Hand Rose’ is so old fashioned.”

  I banged my cup on the counter, “Absolutely not! The name stays the same. Rose left us this shop and we are going to keep her name!”

  “Okay, no need to shout. Look at the mess you’ve made with your tea. You’re so clumsy, Kate,” Carol tutted. She took a tissue out of her skirt pocket and mopped up my mess.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I agree that we need to make the shop more modern, but I don’t want to get rid of everything that Rose built up. She put all her life and soul into this shop.”

  “I know, but some of the items have been in here since I started work. Those old tables and chairs, nobody wants them at such high prices. Should we have a sale? Get rid of the old stuff and then we can get newer items in.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Carol. “What do you mean newer items? This is a second hand shop. You’re not thinking of doing away with the business altogether are you? You’re not planning on making it a cheap and cheerful kind of shop?”

  Carol frowned, “I don’t do cheap and cheerful. I just thought we could stock the sort of items people are looking for. We can buy them from markets and auctions, you can restore them, I can price them, and before you know it we’ll be making a healthy profit.”

  “Why do I have to restore them? I know I helped Rose but I’ll never be as good as her,” I said.

  “I thought you could do some of the restoring at home, for smaller items. Then you could have more time with Emily after school and in the holidays,” Carol said.

  “Oh! That’s quite thoughtful of you,” I said.

  “Don’t sound so surprised! I can be thoughtful. Now, there’s an auction in Leeds tomorrow. I thought I’d go and take a look. See if I can find some quality items for the shop,” Carol said.

  “I’ll come with you. It’s Saturday, Emily can come with us,” I smiled.

  Carol shook her head, “You’ll only get in the way. I’ve got something else for you and Emily to do.”

  Carol handed me a flyer. I read it.

  “A car boot sale? It starts at 5am!” I said.

  Carol nodded, “I thought mums of young children got up early. Make sure you’re there at 5. You don’t want to miss the good stuff.”

  “Why can’t you go?” I asked.

  “There’s no point us both getting up early. Anyway I like having a lie in on a Saturday,” Carol said, thoughtfully.

  Chapter 2

  Emily woke me up at 4.30am the next morning.

  “I’ve made you a sandwich for breakfast. I don’t know how to make tea so I’ve got you some milk,” Emily proudly shoved the breakfast towards me.

  “Why are you awake so early,” I muttered, trying to get my eyes to open properly.

  “I’m so excited about going to the car boots! I’ve got two pounds to spend. Can I spend it on anything I want?” Emily said. She picked up one of my sandwiches and began to eat it. “Will it be busy? Will there be lots of car boots for sale?”

  I sat up and took the other sandwich before Emily did. Jam and cheese. Yum.

  “People don’t sell car boots, they bring things to sell in their car boots,” I explained.

  Emily frowned, “Do we have to climb into the car boot to see what they’ve brought?”

  I smiled, “You’ll see when we get there. Eat your breakfast and then we’ll set off. I don’t think it will be very busy.”

  I was wrong.

  Even though it was just getting light the field where the car boot sale was being held was packed with cars and people. I held Emily’s hand tightly as we walked past tables piled high with all sorts of things.

  “I’ll give you 50 pence,” a woman shouted nearby.

  “Don’t listen to her, I’ll give you 55 pence,” someone else shouted.

  I had a quick look at the tables but I couldn’t see anything that would be suitable for our shop.

  Emily dragged me over to a table that had lots of children’s books on it. She was soon picking books up and flicking through the pages.

  I looked around at the crowds, wondering what sort of people came to these sales.

  Someone caught my eye. A man at the other side of the field was staring at me. At least, it felt like he was staring at me. He was wearing black sunglasses even though the weather certainly didn’t warrant them. He had a black hat pulled down low on his head. He looked so sinister that I’m surprised other people didn’t stop and stare at him.

  Emily grabbed my head and pulled me down low. She whispered, “I’ve found a book that I want. But I think you have to give the man behind the table a different price.”

  I nodded and whispered back, “You have to haggle with him.”

  Emily faced the seller of the book.

  He held his hand out and said, “40 pence please.”

  Emily looked up at him and said, “I’ll give you 50 pence.”

  “She means 30 pence,” I quickly interrupted her.

  The man gave a little smile and said, “Okay, 30 pence it is.”

  Emily handed over her money and the man gave her the book. It was a joke book, with 500 jokes in it.

  “That’s a good book, I’ve read it myself,” a deep voice behind us said.

  I turned around. It was the man in the black hat and sunglasses.

  Emily proudly held the book up to show the man. “Shall I tell you a joke?” she asked.

  “That would be lovely,” the man said. Then he leaned closer to me and added quietly, “What do you say, Kate?”

  He looked at me over the top of his sunglasses. I’d seen ghosts before and I could tell immediately that he was a ghost too because dead eyes stared back at me. Dead, cruel eyes that sent an icy shiver up my spine.

  I firmly took Emily’s hand and said, “We have to go.”

  We walked briskly out of the field. I could feel the ghost watching us.

  Chapter 3

  When I got to work on Monday I was amazed to see the shop full of customers.

  “What’s going on?” I asked Carol.

  “We’re having a sale. It’s brought loads of people in. I’ve finally got rid of that disgusting Victorian table,” she smiled. “Don’t just stand there, take your coat off and get over to the till. Someone’s waiting to buy that hideous umbrella stand.”

  I quickly put my coat and bag away. I didn’t know how much Carol had reduced the items by but it was working. We didn’t stop all morning.

  It finally got quiet at lunch time.

  Carol smiled as she added up the money in the till.

  “We’ve sold a lo
t. The shop already looks emptier,” I noticed.

  “Good, because I’ve got more stock coming in this week. How did you get on at the car boot sale?” she asked.

  “Not very well. Emily got a joke book. I can tell you some jokes if you like,” I offered.

  “Jokes are for simple minded people,” Carol informed me and she carried on counting the till money.

  I saw something near the door, a brown cardboard box. I walked over and opened it up. It was full of practical jokes.

  “Has this always been here?” I called out to Carol.

  She looked over, “I’ve never seen it before. I bet somebody’s sneaked in here when we were busy and left this junk! I’m going to put a big sign in the window that says we’re not a charity shop!”

  “I’ll sort it out. I think Emily might like some of these jokes,” I said. I took a closer look, “Actually, there’s some old stuff in here and it looks in good condition. We could have an area of the shop where we sell cheaper items, couldn’t we?”

  Carol thought for a moment and then said, “We could try it, see if we make any money.”

  I picked the bow up and put it under the counter.

  Carol sat down next to the till.

  She made a rude noise.

  “Pardon you!” I laughed.

  Carol looked horrified, “That wasn’t me!”

  She stood up and removed a whoopee cushion from the chair.

  “Did you put that there? Have you just got it out of that box?” she accused me.

  I shook my head, trying not to laugh.

  Carol flung the cushion onto the counter and carefully sat down. She picked up a pen.

  She screamed, “What on earth! That pen gave me an electric shock! What are you playing at, Kate? This isn’t funny.”

  I stopped smiling, “It isn’t me playing jokes on you. There’s a ghost behind you.”

  Carol jumped to her feet. “Oh no! Don’t you start on about ghosts again. I’ve told you I don’t want anything to do with them. If you have to talk to them you can do it without me! I’m off to get some lunch.”

  Carol grabbed her things and practically ran out of the shop.

  Leaving me alone with a ghost.

  Chapter 4

  The ghost was a teenage boy, he looked about 18 or 19. He had annoying floppy hair that covered half his face. It made my hand itch for a pair of scissors.

  The boy laughed, “That was hilarious! Did you see her face!”

  “I take it that was you playing tricks on Carol?” I asked.

  He laughed again, “I love playing tricks on people. Is that my box of tricks that you put under the counter?”

  I took the box out and put it on top of the counter. The boy looked inside.

  His eyes widened, “That is my stuff! What are you doing with them? Did you pinch them?”

  “No, I didn’t pinch them,” I said indignantly. “Somebody brought them in. I didn’t see who it was because the shop was busy.

  The boy shook his head, “ I don’t believe it. This box should be at my house, in my room. There’s only me and Mum at home and she’d never give my things away. I’ve been collecting them for years.”

  “Your mum might have brought them in because you ...” I didn’t know how to carry on.

  The boy looked at me strangely, “Because I what? What are you trying to say?”

  I cleared my throat, it suddenly felt dry. I stood up straighter and said, “Your mum might have brought them in because you died.”

  The boy suddenly crumpled and fell to the floor. I quickly sat down next to him. I automatically put my hand on his shoulder but all I felt was cold air.

  He looked up at me, his chin trembled, “What do you mean? You said I died. Am I dead?”

  I nodded slowly, “I’m afraid so. Didn’t you know?”

  The boy leapt to his feet and let out a great big belly laugh, “Of course I knew! I remember dying and I remember my funeral. You should see your face!”

  The boy carried on laughing. I stood up and glared at him.

  “Your mum must have brought your things in, and she must have had a reason for doing it,” I told him.

  The boy stopped laughing. He pushed his long hair to one side, it immediately flopped back.

  “Why would she do that? Why would she get rid of my things? What have I done wrong?”

  The boy looked so sad and young that I felt sorry for him.

  “I might be able to help you,” I offered. “I’ve helped other ghosts. I’m Kate, by the way.”

  The boy gave me a little smile and said, “I’m Jake. Could you talk to my mum? See why she gave my things away.”

  “I’ll try. Give me your address and I’ll go and see her soon,” I said.

  Jake gave me the address and said, “Can I come with you? My mum’s a bit of a religious freak and if you tell her you can see ghosts she’ll probably throw a bible at you.”

  I sighed. I’d already offered to help Jake, I couldn’t back out now.

  Chapter 5

  Carol came through the door, “Has the ghost gone now? I’m not eating my lunch if there’s a dead person watching me.”

  Jake grinned and disappeared.

  “He’s gone now. We need to talk about this ghost business, Carol,” I said.

  She held her hand up, “No, we don’t. It’s nothing to do with me.”

  “Yes, it is,” I insisted. “Before Rose died she asked me to carry on with her business of helping the dead. I didn’t even realise I could see dead people! But I’m going to do it, for Rose’s sake and sometimes I’ll need to go out during business hours.”

  Carol walked around to the other side of the counter as if distancing herself for me.

  “I understand,” she said.

  “I’ll make the time up at weekends or evenings, but it’s important to me that I help these ghosts. If you were a ghost, I’d help you,” I said.

  Carol looked me straight in the eye and said, “Yes, I know you would, Kate, you’ve got a good heart. A bit too good sometimes. You do what you have to do with this ghost lark of yours. Just try not to get me involved, okay?”

  I nodded, “In that case, is it alright if I go out now? There’s a young man who needs my help.”

  “Fine. I’ll look after the shop on my own, do everything myself like I always do,” Carol said. She smiled a little as she said it though.

  Carol sat down on the chair. She made a rude noise again.

  “Oh! I thought I’d moved that whoopee cushion,” I said.

  Carol rubbed her tummy, “You did. That was me. I’m trying a new fibre cereal for breakfast. It’s not agreeing with me at all. You’d better get on your way, I can feel peculiar rumblings in my stomach.”

  I said thanks to Carol, grabbed my coat and bag and left the shop.

  I walked towards my car. I didn’t know where Jake had gone. I’d just have to wait for him to show up.

  I got in my car, started it up and checked my rear view mirror.

  A face stared back at me. A face wearing black sunglasses.

  Chapter 6

  I tried to scream but only a little croaking sound came out.

  The person removed the sunglasses. It was Jake.

  “Got you!” he grinned. “You didn’t half jump then, like you’d seen a ghost.”

  Then Jake laughed at his own joke.

  With trembling hands I steered the car into the traffic. Jake jumped into the front seat.

  I put the radio on.

  “Turn it up, I love this song,” Jake told me.

  I didn’t turn it up, it was loud enough.

  Jake started singing, he was a terrible singer. He stopped for a moment and said, “Aren’t you a bit old for this music station?”

  “Aren’t you a bit old for such bad manners?” I shot back at him.

  Jake flicked his hair back and grinned, “You sound just like my mum. Turn left at the end of this road, there’s a little cul-de-sac on your right.”


  We pulled up to next to a neat semi detached house. It had net curtains at each window. I didn’t know that you could still buy net curtains.

  Jake looked worried. “I’m staying here. If mum’s mad at me then I’d rather she screamed at you than me.”

  “She won’t be able to see you but I’d like you to be there. Come on, you coward, get out of the car,” I ordered.

  I walked up to the front door and knocked.

  “Good luck,” Jake muttered behind me.

  A middle aged lady answered the door. She looked me up and down and said loudly, “I don’t want to buy any windows or doors. And I don’t want to change my gas supplier.”

  I could hear Jake sniggering behind me.

  “I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m here to talk about your son, Jake,” I said gently.

  The woman gasped and quickly crossed herself.

  She grabbed my arm and pulled me inside, “Don’t let the neighbours hear you talking about Jake.”

  She showed me into the front room and told me to sit down. She sat opposite me and looked at me expectantly.

  I looked around the room. Jake hadn’t come in with me. The sneaky yellow belly. I glanced out through the net curtains. He grinned and waved at me from inside my car.

  I didn’t know where to being. I didn’t like this bit where I had to tell people I could see ghosts. I never knew how they’d react.

  “Are you from the church too?” Jake’s mum said.

  “No, I work at Second Hand Rose, the shop in the high street, Mrs ...” I said.

  “Mrs Abbott. Yes, I know the shop, I was there this morning. I left Jake’s things there. I thought you might be able to sell them. I can’t keep them in the house, you see.”

  “Thank you, we can make good use of them. I was just wondering why you brought them to us? I thought you might want to keep your son’s things,” I said.

  Mrs Abbott began to shake her head violently, “No! No! I can’t keep Jake’s things. Not after what he did. He committed a sin! The worst sin of all! No, I had to get rid of them. I’m getting rid of everything that he owned.”

  “What did Jake do?” I asked.