“Hey, Grace! Me and Big Bob are still having our business meeting. Are you okay to lock up? I’ll be back later to sort anything out that you haven’t finished.”
Grace pressed her lips together as she listened. Then she said, “Are you having your meeting in the pub?”
Frankie laughed. “Talking business is thirsty work. I’m having a swift pint before I head home.”
A chill trickled down Grace’s back. With a slight quiver in her voice she said, “Don’t drive, Frankie.”
“I’m only having one, I’ll be fine.”
“Please, Frankie, don’t drive.”
Frankie must have caught the worried tone in her voice because he said, “Okay, I won’t drive. You don’t need to worry so much, I’m a good driver.”
So was Dad.
Grace clutched the phone tighter and said, “Promise.”
Frankie’s tone became solemn. “I promise. I’ll get a taxi. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” Grace said, loosening her grip slightly. Should she ask him to send her a text when he was safely home? No. Better not. He’d only swear at her for being overprotective.
They said goodbye and Grace put her phone away. She set off towards the bus stop.
A hand shot out of the shadows and grabbed her. She was pulled into a dark alleyway.
She didn’t need to wait for her eyes to adjust to the darkness to see who had grabbed her. She could smell him. His overpowering aftershave made her stomach heave.
She pulled her arm free and turned to face her attacker. Sounding braver than she felt she said, “What do you want, Eddie?”
Eddie Tominski smiled his oily shark smile, a hungry smile ready for another victim. His gold tooth caught the small light coming from a nearby lamppost. “And how lovely it is to see you, Grace. Moonlight becomes you.”
Her stomach heaved again. Grace swallowed down her rising bile. “I asked you what you wanted. Is there any need to grab me off the street? Is this how you treat people?”
Eddie looked her up and down. “I treat people how they deserve to be treated. You owe me money, you sort of belong to me.”
“No I don’t!” Grace shot back.
Eddie laughed. “I like a woman with fire. When I take over your shop I’ll keep you on. You could be my ‘friend’. I’d treat you nice, buy you some decent clothes, treat you to a makeover. Let’s face it, Grace, you have let yourself go somewhat. It must be that grieving you went through.”
Grace had had enough. She moved forward to step out of Eddie’s way. He stood in front of her and barred her exit. She could feel his breath on her face as he spoke. “I heard you on the phone just now with your dear brother, pleading with him not to drive when he’s had a drink. He can’t help it, he’s just following in your father’s footsteps.”
Grace pushed her palm against his chest, it was like trying to move a brick wall.
Eddie caught her hand and twisted it. “I don’t like the new stock that you’ve put in my shop. When I take over on Friday I want it all gone. Understand?”
Grace’s hand hurt but she wasn’t going to give Eddie the satisfaction of knowing that. She bravely, or foolishly said, “We might have the money to pay you back before then.”
Eddie barked with laughter. Grace cringed as spittle landed on her cheek.
“The whole £50,000! I don’t think so, you poor lovely girl. Oh, you are so amusing, I’m definitely keeping you.”
Eddie’s eyes flicked to something behind Grace. “What was that? Is someone there? Hey! You’d better show yourself.”
Eddie suddenly shivered. He dropped Grace’s hand and said, “Felt like someone walked over my grave then.” He looked down at her and gave her an evil slimy smile. “That’s probably how your mum and dad feel, people walking over their graves.”
Eddie’s big hand came out and stroked her cheek. Grace held her breath, any bravery had now gone.
Eddie shivered again. Grace saw the faint outline of Clive as he tried to thump Eddie. He threw his fists this way and that way, all to no avail.
Eddie patted Grace’s cheek and said, “I can’t stand here chatting all night. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other soon. I’ll see you Friday.”
He gave her a wink and turned on his expensive heels, whistling as he left the alley.
Clive came into fuller focus. “What a repulsive excuse of a man!” he exploded. “I did my best to defend your honour, Grace, but I don’t think I did any good.”
“I think you did something to him, thank you,” Grace said. She buttoned her coat and pulled her bag closer. She hoped Clive didn’t spot her trembling hands.
Clive wasn’t finished. “I don’t care if you owe him money, there’s no excuse to speak to anyone in such a vile manner! I could see the evil oozing out of him like poisoned tar.”
Grace stepped out on to the pavement. She checked left and right to make sure Eddie had gone.
“I’ll walk you home,” Clive said gallantly.
“Thank you,” Grace said again, her legs trembled as she walked forwards.
She hoped they didn’t run into Eddie again. Clive’s intentions were firm but his fists weren’t.
Chapter 13
Grace found it hard to sleep that night, despite Clive assuring her that he would stay nearby to defend her if needed.
Her dreams switched between the horrible car crash and feeling powerless as it flipped over, to being eaten alive by an Eddie-looking shark.
Clive looked at her with concern when she came into the kitchen the next morning. “You’re going to age yourself with those worry lines, young lady.”
“I know, I worry too much,” Grace said. She reached for the tea bags. She couldn’t face eating any breakfast just yet.
Clive leant against a worktop and folded his arms. “You need to have some fun, enjoy life. Have you got a boyfriend? Someone to spoil you?”
Grace flicked the kettle on. “I did have a boyfriend once, we were getting serious.”
“What happened?”
“You probably heard Eddie talking about my mum and dad dying. Well, I was in the car when it happened. I was in the hospital for a while with my injuries and they didn’t tell me for a few days that my parents had died. When they did tell me it was like my heart died, I couldn’t feel anything.”
Clive nodded in an understanding manner. “Go on.”
“I returned to my job as a history teacher shortly after I came out of hospital. That’s where my boyfriend worked, he still does. I was so numb with grief that I wasn’t thinking straight, I thought I was ready to go back. I was wrong. I suffered a very public breakdown in front of the whole school. I’m still mortified when I think about it.”
“And the boyfriend? What happened to him?”
“He was wonderful. He looked after me for a while but then he became too possessive. He texted me all the time, prepared my meals, told me what to wear. It was as if he didn’t think I could make any decisions for myself. It was nice for a while.”
Grace gave a small smile.
Clive nodded. “But then it became too much? You’re an independent woman, Grace, you know your own mind. Did you break up with him?”
“I did. He was very nasty about it and I knew I’d made the right decision. I’m not ready for a new relationship yet. I want to spend time on my own.”
“Like me, a free spirit,” Clive said cheerfully but Grace noticed the sadness around his eyes.
The kettle boiled and Grace poured the hot water in to her mug. “Anyway, I can hardly have a relationship now that I’ve started seeing ghosts! Any man would think I was completely bonkers and run a million miles in the opposite direction.”
Clive considered this. “True. But if I was lucky enough to meet someone like you I’d put up with your bonkerness – if that’s a word! When did you start seeing ghosts?”
“After the car accident. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I haven’t told anyone that I can
see ghosts, not even Frankie.”
“I’ve heard that people sometimes develop physic abilities after a near-death experience. It must have been an horrific car crash,” Clive said.
“It was,” Grace said with a forced smile. She looked over at her ghost friend. “You’re a good listener, Clive, I feel better for talking to you. I think I’m ready to face the day now. I’ll have this cuppa and we’ll go see Laura.”
Clive wagged a finger at her. “Not until you’ve had some breakfast. You can’t go any where on an empty tummy.”
Grace grinned at him. “A slice or two of toast does sound tempting.”
“Have one for me,” Clive added. “With butter, not some of that low fat stuff I can see at the back of your fridge.”
Chapter 14
Grace took the train to the neighbouring town. Clive sat quietly opposite her, absorbed in people watching. He had a wistful expression on his face as if he wanted to capture their faces on film.
Grace was glad he wasn’t talking to her, it was impossible to talk to a ghost with other people around. She noted that some people gave the impression of talking to themselves when they were actually carrying on a conversation through a hands-free phone.
Perhaps she should get one for the future. She’d need one of those ear things. Or she could just pretend to be talking on a normal phone. It was amazing how many people had conversations when they were alone. For all Grace knew they could all be talking to ghosts!
Clive caught her smile and gave her a thoughtful look. He said, “You really are quite beautiful when you smile. I wish I could have taken a photograph of you.”
Grace raised her eyes and tutted to dismiss the compliment.
A short time later they pulled into their destination. Grace had looked up the directions to Laura’s office before they’d left. She’d also looked further into what services Laura provided. One of them was to help new businesses. Grace thought she could ask Laura about the storage locker business. She was sure it could never be a viable business but she’d need some information to back her claims when she next spoke to Frankie about it.
She gave herself a small shake as she stood up to leave the train. She wasn’t going to think about Frankie or their money problems. And she certainly wasn’t going to think about Eddie Tominski, she had taken a long shower to get his disgusting scent from her skin the previous evening.
Clive followed Grace as she left the train station and walked for a few minutes through the town. She stopped outside a glass fronted building. Laura Opalson’s name was printed in gold letters above a revolving door.
“Good grief!” Clive declared. “Do you think she owns the whole building? It must be four, no, five, storeys high.”
“I’ve no idea,” Grace muttered hoping that no one was near enough to hear her.
She walked in to the revolving doors. A childish impulse ignited in her and she had the sudden urge to run round in circles. If Frankie was here she was sure that one look between them would have incited such behaviour.
She sedately walked in to the building and held her head up. She was above such behaviour, she was a grown woman.
She came to a security check-in centre, it had a walk through metal detector.
Clive whistled. “What’s going on here? Who does Laura work for, the Prime Minister?”
Grace’s step faltered. How was she going to get past that grim-faced guard? Her flimsy excuse of staring up a new business seemed as weak as a thrice used tea bag.
The grim-faced guard spotted her and gave her an assessing look.
Does he think I’m a terrorist? Is he going to search me? Grace gulped. Strip-search? She hoped not, she wasn’t wearing her best pair of knickers.
The guard beckoned her closer. Grace meekly obeyed. Clive must have noticed her discomfort. “Just tell him the truth.”
Grace didn’t dare mutter, ‘What truth?’ The guard would surely fling her out if she started talking to herself.
She reached the guard. He spoke sharply, “Who are you and what are you doing here? Do you have an appointment?”
“Grace Abrahams, wanting to speak to Laura Opalson. No, I don’t have an appointment.”
Grace waited for the guard to march her out. He narrowed his eyes and said, “What do you want to see Ms. Opalson about?”
“Tell him about the storage thing,” Clive said. “Trust me.”
Grace took a steadying breath and said, “I’m thinking of starting a storage locker business. Buying things from lockers and then selling them. For more money, of course. There’s no point selling things for less money is there? That would be silly. I’m not silly, I’m a serious business woman.” Grace stopped suddenly as she realised she was waffling.
The guard gave her a searching look. “Storage lockers? Like those shows on the telly?”
“Exactly.”
The guard burst in to laughter. “I love those shows! You never know what’s going to happen. And the stuff that they buy! Have you been to any auctions yet? I’d love to go to one, you’ll have to tell me where they take place.”
“I’ve been to two. I met Sylvester Sylver,” Grace said.
She had no idea the effect that Sylvester’s name would have on the guard. He actually swooned and had to lean on his desk for support. His eyes widened as he whispered reverently, “THE Sylvester Sylver from the telly?”
Grace nodded. “I can give you the details of his UK website, you can sign up and he’ll let you know when the next auctions are going to take place.”
The guard was too stunned to speak. Grace wrote down the website address and handed it over. The paper was received with trembling hands.
The guard carefully tucked the paper inside his wallet. He then brought his attention back to Grace. “Who did you want to see?”
“Laura Opalson. I don’t have an appointment though,” Grace said with a hopeful tone.
The guard smiled at her. “I know for a fact that Ms. Opalson has a free afternoon. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you calling in. She’s always got time for anyone, she’s a lovely lady. Take the lift to the top floor and tell her receptionist that I sent you.”
Grace peered at his badge. “Thanks, Bert, I really appreciate it.”
Bert held his hand up. “No, I’m the one who should be saying thanks. Perhaps we’ll meet again at an auction!”
Grace walked through the metal detectors and in to the lift. She turned to Clive and said, “How did you know that I should have told that guard about storage lockers?”
Clive gave her a mysterious smile and said, “It was just a feeling. Perhaps my psychic powers are growing.”
“Good, then you can tell me what to say to Laura.”
“Leave it to me, I’ll know exactly what to say,” Clive said firmly.
Clive was wrong. A few minutes later they stood in front of Laura Opalson. Clive stood there dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open.
Chapter 15
Grace felt awful. She was intruding on this woman’s time when it was obvious that Laura had been crying.
Laura looked up as Grace was ushered through, her tear-stained face showing a different person to the business woman that Grace had seen on her website.
There was an embarrassed air as the women looked at each other.
Grace spoke first. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t have an appointment. Sorry to disturb you, I’ll come back another time.”
Laura sniffed and took a tissue from her desk. She dabbed her eyes. “Don’t be silly, come in. How did you manage to get past Bert? He’s very protective of me.”
Grace stepped further into the room. “I told him I was thinking of starting a business up, one that involves storage locker auctions.”
An unladylike snort of laughter escaped from Laura. Grace instantly warmed to her. Laura said, “He’s mad about those storage shows! Tells me all about them. He’s a good judge of character. Please sit down and tell me about your proposed business.” She waved a hand towards her
face. “Ignore this, I was just feeling sorry for myself.”
Laura composed herself. Grace shot a look at Clive. There was such tenderness in his eyes that it almost made Grace’s heart break. She couldn’t continue with the storage story, she needed to let Laura know why she was here.
Grace reached into her handbag and took one set of photographs out. She passed them to Laura and said, “I have to tell you something. I found some undeveloped films in a storage unit. I had them developed. They’re of you.”
Grace had a story ready about finding Laura’s name somewhere with the camera equipment, in case Laura wanted to know how Grace had tracked her down.
There was no need for Grace’s story.
Laura opened the envelope and slid the pictures out. Clive came to stand at her side, his eyes firmly fixed on her face.
“Oh! I can’t believe it! I’d forgotten about these being taken. Look at me! I haven’t got any wrinkles. And look how slim I am! I never appreciated it at the time.”
Laura laughed as she looked at each picture. Her smile died when she came to one of them. Grace knew straight away that it must be the one of Laura staring into the distance, the one where her hand rested on her tummy shortly after the photo was taken.
A tear slid down Laura’s cheek. “I should have told him.”
There was silence as Laura continued to stare at the photo. Clive hunkered down at her side and laid a ghost hand on her arm. There was no reaction from Laura.
“Would you like to talk about it, about whatever’s upsetting you?” Grace asked gently.
Laura waved her hand in a forced casual manner. “You don’t want to hear about my problems.”
Clive gave Grace an expectant look and said, “Please get her to talk, I want to understand why she did it.”
After a bit of cajoling Laura started to open up. It was just as Grace suspected; she didn’t tell Clive she was pregnant because he was going off on his travels.
“I would have stayed! We could have travelled together later,” Clive argued.
Lost And Found: A Cozy Ghost Mystery (Storage Ghost Mysteries Book 2) Page 4
