Pearl And Derek Mysteries - Box Set 1

by Gillian Larkin

  Pearl said, “I’ll have a look upstairs. Why don’t you have a look for those coins that the Italian man was interested in? If we can’t find them, then we’ll know they’ve been stolen.”

  “Will do.” Derek began to search amongst the mess. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He felt a pang of sympathy for Eric as he looked at the mess. He didn’t have anyone to clean this up for him. No loving family members and no caring friends.

  His sympathy didn’t last long as the very man, or rather, ghost of a man, appeared in front of him. He was wearing his customary scowl. “Oi! Quill! What are you doing going through my things? Are you trying to pinch something?”

  Derek paused in his search. “I’m trying to find that coin collection, the one that the Italian was interested in. Can you remember what happened to it?”

  The scowl faded. “I think I sold them to Stephano Bindellino. Or did I?” He scratched his chin. “I can’t remember. Why?”

  “If the coins have gone then Stephano could have stolen them. He could have killed you to get his hands on them.”

  Eric shook his head. “No. I told you that before. He was a genuine businessman.”

  Derek said, “I don’t think he was. I can’t find any trace of him online.”

  “But that’s impossible! He had a website! He was based in London.”

  “There’s nothing online,” Derek repeated. “How much were these coins worth?”

  Eric folded his arms and sank into the nearest chair. “A lot.” He nodded towards a pile of scattered books. “There’s a book on coins somewhere. I got it from the library.” He sneered. “There’ll be a fine on that book now. The librarians can whistle for their money.”

  Derek knelt down and looked through some books on the floor. He picked one up and found a bookmark placed inside. He opened it and read for a moment. His eyebrows shot up. He stood up and turned the book to Eric and said, “Really? You had coins like these?”

  Eric gave him a smug look. “I certainly did. I’d never bought coins before but I’d done some research on them. The seller had no idea of their value. I got them for a fraction of what they were worth. That’s why Stephano got in touch with me, he knew the value of the coins. He was going to pay me what they were worth.”

  A thought was coming to Derek, something to do with the coins. Pearl appeared at his side. She gave Eric a curt nod and said, “I can’t find your cat anywhere. What are you two talking about?”

  Derek showed Pearl the library book. She whistled at the value of the coins. She looked over at Eric. “Didn’t you feel bad buying these at such a low price? Couldn’t you have sent the buyer a private email to let them know how much they were worth?”

  “Why should I? Some people are unbelievably stupid. They deserve all that they get.”

  Pearl gave him a dark look. “Yes, some people do deserve what they get.” She looked at Derek. “Derek? What’s wrong?”

  Derek closed the library book and pulled it close to his chest. “Eric, when you got the coins, what did you do with them?”

  “I put them somewhere safe. I wasn’t stupid enough to leave them out in the open. I didn’t want any nosy beggars knowing I’d got them.”

  “So nobody knew about them?” Derek clarified.

  “No. Why?”

  Pearl studied Derek. Her face suddenly changed to one of understanding.

  A voice from the doorway made Derek jump. “Hello again. What are you doing here?”

  Chapter 18

  The young man who did Eric’s garden stood in the doorway. He held a pair of long secateurs in one hand, and a ginger cat was tucked under his other arm.

  Derek swallowed and tried to take a step back. He found that his legs refused to move.

  The young man’s smile disappeared as he saw what Derek was holding close to his chest. “That’s Eric’s coin book. What are you doing with that?” His eyes widened and he dropped the cat. “You know where the coins are! Tell me where they are!”

  “I … I … don’t know anything about the coins.” Derek swallowed again and recalled the conversation that he’d had with this young man the previous day. “How did you know about Eric’s coins? You mentioned them yesterday in the garden. You said that Eric collected coins.”

  An evil glint came into the man’s eyes. He said, “It was just a guess. If you know where Eric put the coins, you’d better let me know.”

  Derek said, “You killed him, didn’t you? You knew about the coins. Did you pose as Stephano Bindellino, or did one of your friends do it?”

  The man studied Derek for a moment. Then he smirked. “It was me. Malone didn’t even recognise me. I had a disguise on. I even had fancy leather gloves on too. They came in useful. Anyone who’d looked at me properly would know it was me. Malone always looked right through me. I even put on a fake accent, it was terrible, but he didn’t notice.” He laughed and shook his head. “I got him right good. I used to watch him from the garden. He’d be on his laptop with his back to the window. I saw him on those bidding websites, and I saw that coin book that he kept looking at. I sneaked in when he went to the toilet. I saw how much the coins were worth. And I saw that he’d made a bid. I rushed home and started to bid on them too. Then my stupid girlfriend interrupted me, she was complaining about something. I had to shut her up.”

  “Did you kill her too?”

  The man snorted. “Course not! She pays my rent. She went on for so long that I missed the last bid and old Malone got the coins. But then I came up with a plan to get the coins off him. I set up a fake website and …” he cocked his head to one side. “I think you already know that. I’ve been watching you. I saw you running out of here yesterday with Malone’s laptop. You’ll know about my Italian alias. My real name’s Stephen Bindel. If Malone had taken the time to find out my name then he might have worked out what was going on.”

  Pearl moved closer to Stephen. “Derek, those secateurs look sharp. You need to get out of this house somehow.”

  Eric silently floated to Derek’s side. In a quiet voice he said, “I remember now. I did think there was something familiar about Stephano, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I can’t believe he would do this to me. And I can remember where I’ve put the coins. They’re in a fake cat food tin in the kitchen cupboard.”

  Stephen smirked. “You should have seen Malone that evening, making such a fuss of me. Giving me wine and food. I played along. My plan was to take the coins and hand over an envelope of fake money. But it didn’t work out that way. The old miser insisted on counting the money before handing over the coins. He knew straight away they were fake. He came rushing at me. I panicked and grabbed hold of the nearest thing I could. I whacked him over the head and he fell straight down.”

  “It sounds like an accident. Didn’t you tell the police that?” Derek said.

  Stephen looked at Derek as if he was mad. “Course I didn’t tell the coppers! I’d been wearing gloves that night, I hadn’t left any fingermarks anywhere. And I wanted those coins! I had a good look round here. I made a mess on purpose. The coppers would think it was a break-in. I couldn’t find the coins but they must be in here somewhere. That’s why I keep coming back.” The cat meowed at his feet. “I took Ginger with me. I couldn’t leave her here.” He looked at his secateurs and then at Derek as if sizing him up. “Who are you anyway? I don’t believe that you’re a friend of Eric’s. He didn’t have any friends. Does anyone know that you’re here?”

  Pearl said in a low voice, “Derek, you need to get out of here now!”

  Derek tried to move, his legs still felt weak. Stephen advanced on him, the secateurs raised. Derek’s thudding heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. Why wouldn’t his legs move? He didn’t want to die, not yet.

  Eric suddenly swooped towards Stephen, his hands outstretched. Pearl was in the way. Eric cried out, “Move, old woman! I’m going to wring his neck!” He raised his hand and whacked Pearl across the cheek. She yelped and fe
ll to the ground.

  Anger, like Derek had never felt before, erupted inside him. He lunged forward with a warrior cry and knocked the secateurs from Stephen’s hand. He spun the startled man around and threw him to the ground. Derek sat heavily on Stephen, grabbed his hands, pinned them behind his back and said, “You’re not going anywhere, sonny!” He looked over at Pearl. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

  Pearl gave him a brief smile. She got to her feet, pursed her lips and rolled her ghost sleeves up. She turned to Eric and said, “I’ll teach you to hit a defenceless old woman!”

  Still holding on to his surge of anger, Derek pinned Stephen to the ground whilst he phoned the police.

  Stephen said, “There’s no evidence! You’ll never pin anything on me!”

  Derek said, “We’ll see about that. Did you wash your wine glass when you left? I’m sure the police will be able to look again at their evidence. And they’ll get into your computer records.”

  Stephen sighed and rested his head on the carpet. In a defeated voice he said, “Who are you?”

  Derek couldn’t resist repeating a phrase that he’d heard in a film. Making his voice as deep as he could, he declared, “I’m your worst nightmare.”

  Pearl’s laugh sounded out as a faint echo in the distance. “You tell him, Derek, love!”

  Chapter 19

  Some time later Derek sat in his own chair, in his own living room. He let out a small sigh of joy as he lifted a cup to his mouth. Tea had never tasted so good. It had been a long day and he was glad to be alone.

  Well, almost alone.

  Pearl sat on the chair opposite him and smiled. “How are you feeling, Derek?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m happy that we caught Eric’s killer. I’m surprised that the young man didn’t feel any remorse. And I’m embarrassed that the police had to help me to my feet when they arrived. I’d been pinning that young chap down for so long that my knees had seized up!”

  Pearl flexed her fingers. “Anytime you need a massage, just give me the wink. The police believed you about being Eric’s friend, that was good work on your part. You almost convinced me.”

  Derek gave her a sad look. “I think I was the closest he’s ever come to a friend these last few days. Do you know, Pearl, some of the older children at school used to taunt him. They used to chant ‘Eric Malone will die alone!’ And he did, didn’t he?”

  “Don’t feel sorry for him, you know what kind of person he was. He could have made many friends if he’d wanted to. Don’t forget how he used to treat you.”

  “I had forgotten about that side of my childhood, until I met him again. I’m glad it’s all over with. Where’s Eric now?”

  “He’s moved on. He’s at peace, as much as someone like him will ever find peace. He wanted to hang around and make sure that Stephen Bindel went to prison. I convinced him that it was time for him to move on.”

  “How did you convince him?” Derek said. He held up his hand. “No, I don’t want to know! Pearl, did he hurt you when he hit you?”

  “A bit. It was the shock more than anything. I can see what you’re thinking, that ghosts shouldn’t feel pain. Well, we do. I gave him what for, I can tell you!”

  Derek laughed and took another sip of his tea. It was good to be home.

  Pearl regarded him in silence for a minute. “Derek, are you sure you’re okay? You did a great job with this case but I was worried for your health.”

  “So was I,” Derek admitted. He looked at the photograph of Dorothy. “I felt like I did a good thing today. I know Eric wasn’t a good person, but he didn’t deserve to be murdered. I’m glad I found his killer.”

  “Do you think you want to help any more ghosts? You don’t have to answer me now, you can think about it.”

  “I do want to help other ghosts. I think I’ll get better at it.” Derek looked around his room. “Are there any ghosts here now? Do they need my help?”

  Pearl smiled and shook her head.

  Derek returned her smile. “Good. My knees need a rest. And so does my back.”

  Pearl winked and waggled her fingers in the air again. “Just say the word and these hands are all yours!”

  A Slip And A Trip

  Chapter 1

  “Good morning, Derek, do you know that you’re in the wrong garden?”

  Derek Quill looked up from his lawnmower and smiled at the ghost in front of him. He quickly checked left and right before speaking. He didn’t want his neighbours to know he could see and hear ghosts. “Good morning, Pearl. How are you today?”

  Pearl returned his smile. “All the better for seeing you.” She nodded her head towards the bungalow next door. “I thought that one was your house. Why are you mowing this lawn?”

  Derek began to wind the lead around the handle of the lawnmower. “I was doing my lawn and I thought I may as well do Suzanne’s for her too. She’s ever so busy. She works all day and then she’s got three kiddies under the age of ten to look after.” He shook his head. “Poor woman. She looks tired all the time. I’ve finished now. Are you here for business or pleasure?”

  “Both. It was a pleasure doing business with you last time.” Pearl grinned at him. “And I’ve got another ghost who needs your help, if you have the time.”

  Derek looked at the elderly ghost in front of him. She had grey curly hair and was wearing a smile that was irresistible to him. Pearl had a twinkle in her eyes. Derek wasn’t sure how that was possible with her being … dead. He picked up the lawnmower and headed out of Suzanne’s garden and towards his own. He said to Pearl as she walked at his side, “Of course I can help. I can’t stop thinking about the other ghost that we helped.” He chuckled. “Helping the dead has made me feel alive! Let me pop this lawnmower into the garage and then we can go inside.”

  He jumped as a young man suddenly materialised in front of him. The man stared at Derek and declared, “Are you ready yet? I need to talk to you! It’s urgent.”

  “Whoa there!” Pearl held her hands up towards the young man. “Steady on, you nearly gave Derek a heart attack! I told you to be patient.”

  The man ran his hands through his hair. “I know, but we have to do something! Before it happens again!”

  Derek gave the young man a quick nod. “Hang on a minute, lad, I won’t be long.”

  The young man lifted off the ground and flew over to the front door of Derek’s bungalow. He looked back anxiously at Derek and Pearl. Derek quickly put the lawnmower away and locked the garage door.

  Pearl folded her arms. “Don’t rush, don’t give yourself an injury. He can wait a few more minutes.”

  Derek hurried towards his house. Pearl still at his side. “Pearl, I know this isn’t the time to be asking but how come you never fly? I’ve seen other ghosts do it, but not you.”

  Pearl gave him a wry smile. “I like to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. Literally.” She let out a cackle. “Derek Quill! Are you wanting me to fly so that you can look up my dress?”

  Derek froze. “What? No. No! Of course not!” his cheeks coloured. “I didn’t mean that at all.”

  “I’m only kidding. Right, let’s get this investigation going.” Pearl looked at the young man who was now hopping from foot to foot outside Derek’s door. “Off you go then, Ryan. Go inside and make yourself at home.” She turned to Derek, her smile now gone. “I hate to see ghosts this young. He had all his life in front of him. We need to find his killer, Derek.”

  Derek opened the door and indicated for Pearl to step through. “We will find his killer. There’s life in this old body yet! A lot of life!” His cheeks coloured again. “Sorry, that wasn’t really the right expression to use.”

  He followed Pearl into his living room. The young man, Ryan, was pacing up and down Derek’s carpet. He rung his hands together and said to Derek, “You have to find out who killed me before they kill again! I know they’re going to kill again!”

  Chapter 2

  Pearl ordered Ryan to sit d
own. “You need to keep calm. Derek can’t get all the facts if you’re being so dramatic! You’re not in the middle of a soap opera.”

  Derek took a seat on the sofa and Pearl sat at his side. Derek looked at Ryan as he sat opposite them. He gave the young man an encouraging smile and said, “Tell me everything, lad. Start with yourself. You might have trouble remembering some things but do your best.”

  Ryan’s face twisted as he looked at Derek. “I was murdered! Someone murdered me! You have to find them!”

  Pearl let out a series of tuts. She turned to Derek. “This always happens when I bring them out of their safe places. I had a chat with Ryan before I brought him here. His full name is Ryan Buckley and he was 28 years old when he died. He died somewhere in the middle of Leeds and he thinks it was in late December.”

  Ryan spoke, “I remember the Christmas lights. I think I was near the train station because I looked at that statue in City Square, the one with the man on the horse. I saw him as I …” He frowned. “What was I doing near the train station? I’ve got a car, I don’t need to get the train.”

  Derek smiled at him. “Don’t try to figure everything out at once. Why were you in Leeds? Do you work there?”

  Ryan held up a finger. “Yes! I remember that. I work at Evans, Smith and Freeman.”

  “I’ve heard of them,” Derek said. “Don’t they deal with injury claims, that sort of thing? I’ve seen them advertised on the telly.” He looked at Pearl. “I had someone phone me up once about an accident. It wasn’t Ryan’s firm though. They said they were phoning about an accident I’d had. I told them I hadn’t had an accident but the chap on the other end was most insistent that I had. He had me doubting my own memory for a moment!”

  Ryan said, “We don’t do cold calling. We always have plenty of cases. We deal with accidents and we sell life insurance too. I’m still doing my training and I’m dealing with the injury claims.” His brow wrinkled and he looked down at his trousers. “I must stop talking about myself in the present tense.” He looked back up and tried to smile. “It’ll take some getting used to.”