The Death Planner (Storage Ghost Murders Book 6) Read online

  “Didn’t the police question you? Didn’t they run checks on your name?”

  “I’ve no idea. But I changed my name every time.” Beth gave Grace a wry smile as if they were sharing a joke. “That’s what tripped me up at the last wedding. I was talking to that dim-witted waitress, I think her name was Elsa. She told me she was named after her grandmother, Elizabeth. I told her that my real name was Elizabeth too, and that I liked to change my name sometimes. I told her I’d used Libby, Belinda and Isobel. They are all derivatives of Elizabeth. That’s when Jenny Lorrimer appeared. She heard us talking and I could tell by the look on her face that she was working something out in her mind.”

  Jenny nodded. “I remember now. Elsa asked the bride if this was her first wedding and she said yes. I knew she was lying. I remembered her from the Manchester wedding.”

  Beth laughed again. Grace didn’t know how she could find all this so amusing. Beth said, “You should have seen the look on her face as she realised who I was. And when I told that Elsa person that I hadn’t been married before … well! You should have seen Jenny’s face! I knew she’d worked it out. I saw her on her phone later on, probably checking up on me. I knew I had to kill her. It was easy.”

  Grace said, “What about Frankie? Are you planning on killing him too?”

  Beth nodded. “I’m sort of addicted to it. It’s like a hobby. I do like Frankie, he’s cute. I checked up on him when he came to look for a watch. He’s got some money but not enough for me to hang around long.” She held up a finger, looked at her engagement ring and said, “Working at a jewellers is a good place to meet rich men. A tip for you there, Grace.” She shook her head. “But, of course, you won’t be going anywhere. I have to kill you too.”

  Beth suddenly lunged forwards, the headset lead held taut between both her hands. Grace was prepared. She jumped to her feet and ran towards the door. And straight into a grim-faced Frankie.

  Frankie stared coldly at Beth. “Lay one finger on my sister and I’ll strangle you myself.”

  Chapter 35

  Pearl sat at the kitchen table later that day and demanded that Grace tell her again all about Beth. She listened, and tutted, and scowled and added her opinions throughout. “I can’t believe it. She looked so friendly, so normal. I don’t know why I’m surprised through, I’ve seen it all before. And the police are going to deal with everything now?”

  Grace nodded. “I gave them all the evidence that I had. I told them what Beth had confessed to. And Frankie added what he’d overheard.”

  Pearl shook her head. “Poor Frankie. I don’t normally feel sympathy for him but this is going to take its toll on him. Where is he now?”

  “He’s gone out with Big Bob. He put a brave face on and he kept telling me he was alright. But I know he isn’t. He didn’t know her long but he fell for her hard. I’ll have to keep an eye on him. Pearl, why do you think Frankie went to that particular jewellers? It was after I found Jenny’s things. Of all the jewellers in this town, Frankie went to the one where Jenny’s killer worked. Is it a coincidence, or do you think Frankie is picking up on something too?”

  Pearl shrugged. “Who knows? Tell me again about Jenny. Did she completely disappear? She hasn’t come back, has she?”

  “No. She waited until the police had taken Beth away and then she did that glowing thing that ghosts do. As she disappeared she told me that she could see her mum and dad.” Grace quickly blinked away a tear. This wasn’t the time to think about her own parents. “I haven’t told you yet, but I went to see Elsa when the police had left. Angela was there at Elsa’s house and I told them everything. I gave Elsa the headset and Jenny’s files.”

  “What about Jenny’s money? Did Angela sort anything out for Elsa?”

  Grace smiled. “She certainly did. I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of her. And she reported Letty and Giles to the police. She said they shouldn’t get away with tricking Elsa. Angela said she’ll help Elsa set up her own flower shop.”

  Pearl nodded. “Good. That’s worked out well.” She looked at the table and said casually, “Have you heard anything from Derek?”

  “I have. I phoned him and told him everything.” She looked at her watch. “Actually, he’s going to call round soon.”

  Pearl’s head snapped up. “Here? You could have warned me! I could have changed!”

  There was a knock at the back door. Grace got up and let Derek in. He chuckled and said, “What a day you’ve had! Another murder investigation tied up.”

  “With your help. Please sit down.”

  Pearl called out, “Hello, Derek.”

  Derek’s eyebrows rose. “Hello Pearl! I’m receiving you loud and clear.”

  Pearl let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like a giggle.

  Grace sat opposite Derek and said, “I’ve got a proposition for you. And it involves Pearl.”

  “You have?” Derek asked.

  “You have?” Pearl repeated.

  Grace looked at Pearl and said, “I think you know what I’m talking about.”

  Pearl shook her head. “No! You can’t ask Derek to do that.”

  “Do what?” Derek asked. “Pearl, do you need my help with anything?”

  “She does. There’s a crowd of ghosts who keep bothering her, they need help. And she won’t let me help them.”

  Pearl said, “It’s not that you can’t help them, you’ve got enough to do with helping the people who have been murdered.” She waved her hand in the direction of the wall. “Those ghosts have other problems. Things they should have sorted out before they died.”

  Derek’s face lit up. “I can help them! I’ll be like a supernatural detective! Oh, that sounds like great fun!”

  “I’m not sure,” Pearl said. “It could be dangerous.”

  Derek rubbed his hands together. “Good! Pearl, I need to do something, something that makes me feel alive. Come on, what have you got to lose? Give me a try!”

  Grace laughed at Pearl’s expression. She’d never seen the old woman looking helpless before.

  Pearl continued, “Maybe you’re right. You can hear me, Derek, and I think you’ll be able to hear the other ghosts, but it would help if you could see ghosts too.”

  Grace frowned. “How is he going to do that?”

  Pearl looked from Grace to Derek, and then back again. In a quieter voice she said, “I have to perform an intimate act with him.”

  “Pearl!” Grace shot out.

  “Oh dear,” Derek said.

  Pearl tutted. “I don’t mean that! Grace, get your mind out of the gutter! I have to kiss him, that’s all.”

  Derek smiled. “I’ve never been kissed by a ghost before. Go on then, Pearl, pucker up.”

  Grace knew she should look away, but this was something she didn’t want to miss.

  Pearl moved over to Derek and tenderly kissed him on his lips.

  Derek blinked and then slowly smiled. “I can see you, Pearl. You’re beautiful.”

  Pearl waved a hand at him. “Don’t be getting all soppy on me.”

  Derek looked around the room and rubbed his hands together. “Right! Let’s get on with it! Where’s the first ghost?”

  “Are you going to start now?” Grace asked.

  “There’s no time like the present.” Derek looked at Pearl again. “You’ve got lovely eyes, kind eyes. Are you going to help me with the ghosts?”

  Pearl nodded.

  Grace said, “Pearl can’t leave this building. You’ll have to come here if you want to talk to her.”

  Pearl put her hand on Grace’s arm. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you. I can leave the building. I didn’t want to come with you because I wanted you to deal with the murder cases on your own. I knew you’d gain confidence if you worked things out on your own.”

  “Oh.” Grace blinked and stared at Pearl. Pearl gave her a small smile and looked away. Grace’s eyes narrowed. “What else haven’t you told me?”

  Pearl looked back
at Grace. “These ghosts have been murdered too. I didn’t want to tell you that because you’d insist on helping them. They aren’t attached to any items, not like the locker ghosts. They’ve come to this shop because they’ve heard about your gift.” She looked at Derek. “There’s quite a lot of them. Are you sure you want to help?”

  Derek nodded. “The more the merrier!”

  Pearl stood behind Derek and put her hand on his shoulder. “Derek, I think we’re going to make a good team.”

  A note from the author

  I started writing these storage locker stories after watching the auction shows on TV. I often wondered if ghosts were attached to certain items. The first story in this series, Jacob’s Coins, deals with Grace’s first experience of helping a ghost. As the stories progressed I knew that Grace had to have more challenging cases and she soon started to meet ghosts who had been murdered.

  When I started on the first story I hadn’t created the character of Pearl, she was a thought that came to me at the very end of that story! I’m glad she did appear. And I’m excited for the new adventures that she’s going to have with Derek. If you sign up to my newsletter I’ll let you know when these stories are published.

  If you liked this story, could you write a short review? Thank you. I read all my reviews.

  To receive 3 free short stories in pdf, please sign up to my newsletter at: www.gillianlarkin.co.uk

  You can email me at: [email protected]

  Best wishes

  Gillian

  STORAGE GHOST MURDERS – THE DEATH PLANNER

  By

  GILLIAN LARKIN

  www.gillianlarkin.co.uk

  Front cover image by www.coverkicks.com

  Copyright 2015 by Gillian Larkin

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronically or mechanically without permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person living or death is purely coincidental.