Tick Tock (Storage Ghosts) Read online

  Storage Ghosts

  Tick Tock

  Chapter 1

  Grace closed the cash register drawer and said, “I can’t believe how much money we’ve made, it’s incredible.”

  Her brother, Frankie, looked over at her from the front door of the shop. “Are you pleased?”

  “Of course,” Grace replied.

  “Well, you might want to tell your face that, you look as miserable as an empty pint glass.” Frankie turned the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed’.

  Grace folded her arms and studied him. He whistled as he locked the door. He really was in denial, putting on a cheery show as if nothing was wrong.

  He gave a startled look when he saw how she was examining him. “What?”

  “You know what! Of course I’m pleased that we’ve sold lots of stock today, but you know why I’m not smiling. It’s not really our money is it? I don’t know why you insisted on us opening the shop anyway.”

  Frankie gave a nonchalant shrug. “Why shouldn’t we open? It’s our shop, left to us by our parents, free to do with as we please.”

  Grace threw her arms up. “Why are you ignoring the obvious? You know Eddie Tominski is going to appear at any moment and take our shop away, and any profits that we make. I feel like we’re working for him. How can you be so calm?”

  Frankie came round to Grace. “I haven’t forgotten about him. How could I? I’ve still got the bruises from when his cronies beat me up earlier this week. I’m sure Eddie will be round to collect on his debt, but until he does, it’s business as normal.”

  “I don’t like it,” Grace said. “He said he’d be round on Friday to take the shop. That was yesterday and we haven’t heard a word from him. Do you remember that cat we had when we were little? That nasty one? It used to catch mice and play with them for hours until it finally killed them. I feel like one of those mice. Are you sure he hasn’t been in touch? Don’t lie to me again.”

  Grace stared intently at Frankie to see if he was lying. He held her gaze for a moment and then looked away. He said, “Fancy a cuppa?”

  Grace prodded him. “I knew it! You are lying. Eddie has been in touch. When, and what did he say?”

  Frankie sighed and took out his phone. He held it closer to Grace and showed her the texts that Eddie Tominski had sent him.

  “‘Tick tock’. Is that it?” Grace asked.

  “Yep, he sends them every hour, on the hour. I think it’s supposed to scare me, make me a nervous wreck or something.”

  “Doesn’t it? It’d scare me, thinking he was getting closer,” Grace admitted.

  Frankie grinned. “I use it like an alarm, to time my day. That’s why I’ve just closed up, I heard his text coming through and knew it was 1 o’clock. I almost feel like sending him a text back saying thank you.”

  “Don’t do that! You’ll antagonise him,” Grace said.

  Frankie’s grin grew. “I think you did that when you tried to kill his cronies.”

  Grace looked at the floor. She mumbled, “I wasn’t trying to kill them.”

  “Whacking them with a great big tea pot wasn’t exactly giving them a massage, was it?”

  Grace shrugged and looked back up. “I don’t know what came over me. I couldn’t bear to see them hurting you like that. I was angry.”

  “I’ve seen you angry before, and that was more than angry! I’m not complaining, you probably saved my life,” Frankie said.

  Grace gave a weak smile. She had tried not to think of the day that she’d found those horrible men attacking Frankie. A feeling of immense hatred and power took over her and she used an old tea pot to hit both men. She winced as she remembered the cracking sound that had shot out when the tea pot connected with the bigger man’s cheek.

  It had almost felt like someone had possessed her. She looked up at the shelf where the tea pot had been standing.

  Frankie followed her look. “I’ve hidden it away. I don’t want any weapons getting into your hands again.”

  He laughed and Grace tried to laugh too. She’d had an uneasy feeling for days. It was partly due to waiting for the evil loan shark, Eddie to turn up and take their shop, but there was something else. It was like expecting bad news. She knew it was going to be bad news but she didn’t know how bad it was going to be.

  “Crikey, Grace, you’ve got a look that would turn milk into cheese. Why do you have to be so miserable?”

  “Why do you have to be so cheerful? There’s nothing to be cheerful about! We’re going to lose our lovely shop, the only thing that we have left from Mum and Dad.” Grace’s eyes prickled as fresh tears appeared. When would she ever stop crying? Surely she’d run out of tears at some point.

  Frankie moved a bit closer. He softly said, “You’re wrong. We’ll always have our memories of Mum and Dad and, until we lose our minds, we can always think about them. I’m gutted about losing the shop too but what would happen if we did? Do you think we’d be out on the streets?”

  “No,” Grace sniffed.

  “Do you think we’d have to resort to eating baked beans every day? You know what happens to you when you eat too many beans. Pooh!”

  Frankie made a wafting motion with his hand. Grace’s mouth lifted slightly.

  Frankie continued. “We still have money from our storage sales, and if we didn’t, one of us could become an escort. I’ve heard there’s good money in that. It would have to be me, of course, I’ve seen how some of our female customers eye me up and down when I bend over.”

  Grace laughed. “You are such an idiot! As if anyone would pay you to be their escort. They’d demand a refund within ten minutes.”

  Frankie puffed his chest out and said, “I highly doubt that, young lady.”

  Grace gave him an affectionate push. “You twit.”

  There was a sudden bang on the door that made them both jump.

  Grace’s heart began to speed up, terror flooded her body. “It’s Eddie.”

  Chapter 2

  It wasn’t Eddie. Frankie opened the door to reveal the smiling face of Big Bob.

  He stooped a little as he entered the shop. “Ready to hit the auction?” he asked.

  “Certainly am,” Frankie replied. He tapped his top pocket. “Got all my money here.”

  “Just a moment!” Grace interrupted the cheery banter. “What auction and, what money, Frankie?”

  “The money that we’ve put aside for our investment,” Frankie gave her a look and then made a slight indication towards Big Bob as if to say, ‘Don’t embarrass me in front of him’.

  “What auction?” Grace persisted. “You’ve been to two in the last few weeks, isn’t that enough?”

  “This one’s a hundred miles away, it’s supposed to be a good one,” Big Bob said. “Do you want to come with us, Grace? You’re more than welcome.”

  Grace was torn, she didn’t want to see Frankie wasting their precious money, they’d need every penny of it when they lost the shop. But she didn’t want to be left here alone in case Eddie turned up. She grabbed her handbag and coat and said, “I’ll come with you. Are we taking the van?”

  She stepped out of the shop and stopped in her tracks. “What is that?”

  Big Bob stood next to her and proudly said, “My removal truck. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

  “How many storage units are you planning on buying today?” Grace asked.

  “A few, there’s enough room for you and Frankie to put your things in too.” Big Bob moved towards the driver’s door.

  Frankie grinned at Grace. “Aren’t you going to ask me how many storage units I’m going to buy?”

  Grace slowly shook her head. “I don’t want to know. How can you think about buying more stock? Where ar
e we going to put things when Eddie takes the shop?”

  Frankie tapped the side of his nose and said, “I have a plan. You can sit next to Big Bob, I know you like him.”

  Frankie pulled open the door to the passenger side. Grace hissed at him, “I don’t like Big Bob in that way! I wish you’d stop saying things like that, he’ll hear you.”

  “You could do much worse. In fact, you have! Can you manage those steps or shall I give you a push?”

  Grace glared at him. “Lay one finger on my behind and I’ll wallop you. I can manage.”

  She clambered into the huge cab of the truck and shuffled along the seat. She looked through the window. “Blimey, I feel like I’m sitting on top of a bus.” She had a quick look up and down the street. She’d had a feeling recently that someone was following her.

  Big Bob said, “Are we ready?”

  Frankie climbed in and slammed the door. “Ready.”

  Grace shot a glance at the shop. She should really have nipped to the toilet before they set off. Never mind, she could wait.

  With a roar like thunder the enormous truck was powered up. They pulled slowly into the traffic.

  “How long will it take us to get there?” Grace asked.

  “Maybe a couple of hours,” Frankie said. He gave her a secret wink and added, “You can tell Big Bob all about your latest find. I think I’ll have a nap.” He gave an exaggerated yawn and closed his eyes.

  Grace’s eyes shot heavenwards as they often did when Frankie was around.

  Big Bob appeared not to have noticed anything, he was concentrating on the road ahead. Grace swiftly studied his profile. He was a handsome man, if you liked men that looked like grizzly bears. He was much older than her and she had no feelings, other than friendship, for him. The fact that he knew her dad when he was alive made him even more of a friend. Perhaps she could get him to talk about her dad on this journey?

  That would be lovely but would she be able to listen without crying?

  Big Bob interrupted her thoughts. “So, tell me all about these photos that you found. Frankie said they belonged to some famous photographer, is that true?”

  “It is.” Grace told him about discovering an undeveloped film in a camera bag that they’d found in a storage locker. She had them developed and found out that they belonged to the famous Clive T Arthur. She’d sold the photographs to a gallery for £10,000. The money was safely in her bank. She quickly looked at Frankie’s bulging top pocket. She hoped the money was still in her bank.

  Big Bob nodded as he listened to the story. “You’ve got a real knack for finding the best lockers. I still can’t get over the gold coins that you found in your first locker.”

  “I must be lucky,” Grace said with a small shrug.

  It wasn’t luck at all, she’d had help from ghosts. The ghosts that were attached to the items that were in the storage lockers. Grace had helped the ghosts, and they had ended up helping her. There was no way she was going to tell anyone that she could see ghosts.

  “Tell me about my dad, please,” Grace asked, hoping to change the subject.

  Big Bob gave a deep laugh. “Oh! The fun we had together when we toured the antique fairs.”

  The rest of the journey flew by as Big Bob spoke about her father. Frankie’s pretend snores turned into real ones.

  Grace didn’t cry as she listened, her heart seemed to glow as Big Bob spoke about her dad. It was obvious that he thought highly of him.

  The truck slowed down. Grace looked up and was surprised to find themselves pulling into a storage facility area.

  She gave Frankie a satisfying shove to wake him up.

  As soon as Grace jumped down from the cabin she realised she had an urgent problem.

  “I need the toilet!” she whispered to Frankie.

  There was a look of delight on his face as he repeated one of their mother’s favourite sayings, “You should have gone before we set off.”

  “You didn’t give me time! Frankie, please! I’m going to burst if I don’t go soon!”

  Grace started to hop from foot to foot. Frankie looked around the area, he pointed and said, “There’s one over there. Looks like a unisex one though.”

  “I don’t care!” Grace squeaked. She did a peculiar run/walk towards the toilet block.

  A few minutes later she washed her hands, a smile of relief still on her face. The entrance door opened. She looked up, still smiling.

  Her smile froze.

  Chapter 3

  Eddie Tominski smiled at her, a slow shark like smile.

  Two men stood slightly behind him. Grace recognised them immediately, they were the thugs who had beaten Frankie up, the thugs that she had attacked with a tea pot. One of them was sporting a large bandage on his cheek.

  Eddie took a step towards her. “Grace, how lovely to see you this afternoon.”

  Grace’s eyes darted to the exit door, the three men were blocking it. Should she scream? Would anyone hear her?

  “What do you want?” she said, trying to make her voice sound normal. “If you come any closer I’ll scream.”

  Eddie chuckled. “Why would you scream? I just wanted to have a friendly chat with you.”

  He took another step closer. Grace didn’t miss the steely look in his eyes. She could smell his aftershave, her bile began to rise. She leant against the sink to help support her suddenly trembling legs. “How did you know I was here?” she asked.

  Eddie held his hands out and said, “I followed you of course. I’ve been following you for days, didn’t you notice?”

  Grace didn’t say anything.

  Eddie carried on. “I didn’t think much of that dress you tried on the other day, it really didn’t suit you. You should make the most of your curves. Talking of which, you really should close your curtains better on an evening. Did you know there was a small chink left open the other night, wasn’t there, Dave?”

  This last comment was directed at the man behind him, the one with the bandaged cheek. He gave Grace an evil leer and said, “That’s right, Eddie, I got a right eyeful.”

  Grace’s nostrils flared, one hand flew to her tummy, she felt like she was going to be sick.

  Eddie grinned at her discomfort. “Do you want to know why we’ve been following you? No? I’ll tell you anyway. Dave here noticed all the new stock in your shop,” Eddie suddenly laughed, “sorry, my shop, I keep forgetting you don’t own it anymore. He noticed the new stock and told me about it. I said to Dave, ‘That’s impossible! Frankie and Grace owe me £50,000, how could they possibly have money to spend on new stock? And why would they? I’m sure they would give any spare money they had to me.’ Well, Grace, you can imagine my surprise when I let myself into the shop one night and saw he was right.”

  He stopped talking and took another step. His aftershave was becoming overwhelming, Grace felt her vision blurring.

  “Still nothing to say? I made some enquiries and found out about these storage auctions you and your idiot brother have been going to. And I’ve heard about the money you’ve made. Grace, I’m deeply, deeply hurt.” He put a hand over his heart and shook his head sadly. Grace suspected that the area under his hand was devoid of a heart.

  Eddie reached into his pocket and took out a slim red book that Grace recognised. He made a show of opening it up and sliding his finger down a page. He looked up at her. “I’ve been so patient with you two. I gave you the chance to pay off your alcoholic father’s debts but you threw my patience in my face.” He slammed the book closed in his big hands. “I can’t let you get away with that.” The book was placed back in his pocket, Eddie’s eyes never moved from her face.

  The men behind Eddie stepped forward, their looks reminded Grace of hungry lions that she’d seen on TV.

  Eddie reached out his hand and gently stroked Grace’s face. She flinched and pulled her head away. Eddie laughed. “You’ll get used to my touch one day, dear Grace.”

  “Never! Don’t you touch me again!” Grace cried
out. A fury was building in her tummy, it was the same fury that had given her strength on the day that she had used the tea pot as a weapon.

  “I’ll do what I want with you, I owe you,” Eddie said quietly. “You and your brother have made a fool of me, you are going to pay for that.”

  Eddie’s hands shot out and he pinned Grace against the sink.

  “Get your hands off her!” a voice boomed out.

  The startled Eddie turned his head to see who had interrupted him.

  Big Bob took two huge strides over to Eddie and yanked him away from Grace. He took a fistful of Eddie’s immaculate shirt and lifted him up. “Never, ever lay a hand on this woman again. I’ll snap your head in a second. And don’t even think of ordering your sidekicks to move.”

  Eddie wriggled free from Big Bob’s grip. He smoothed his shirt down and glowered at him. “You don’t know what you’ve just done. I don’t know who you are but you’re going to wish you’d never walked in here today.”

  Big Bob grabbed Eddie’s shoulders and spun him around. “I don’t respond to threats, especially not from scum like you, Eddie Tominski. You can leave on your own, or I can assist you.”

  Eddie shot a disgusted look at Big Bob and then stormed out of the bathroom. His two men scarpered after him.

  Grace collapsed onto the floor.

  Chapter 4

  Big Bob picked her up as if she was a rag doll. He carried her outside and sat her down on a nearby stack of pallets. Frankie raced over and sat down next to her. “Grace! What happened? Did you fall down the toilet? Have you banged your head? You look as white as a ghost.”

  “It’s nothing,” Grace muttered. She took some deep steady breaths. She couldn’t bear to look at Big Bob.

  Frankie turned to Big Bob, his eyebrows raised.

  Big Bob studied them for a moment. “I can’t believe that you’d have anything to do with a lowlife loan shark like Eddie Tominski. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Frankie’s head spun back to Grace. “Eddie? What’s going on? Was Eddie here? Did he attack you?”