Daisy's Chain: A Cozy Ghost Mystery (Storage Ghost Mysteries Book 5)

by Gillian Larkin

  Storage Ghosts

  Daisy’s Chain

  Chapter 1

  “What are you squinting at? You’ll give yourself even more wrinkles.”

  Grace looked at her brother and said, “I’m not squinting, I’m looking.”

  Frankie came to stand at her side. “You were definitely squinting, do you need glasses? There’s nothing to be ashamed of, your eye sight gets worse as you get older.”

  Grace frowned at him. “I wasn’t squinting, I don’t need glasses and you’re older than me!”

  Grace had been looking around the shop hoping to see a ghost, the ghost of an elderly lady called Pearl.

  Frankie folded his arms and gave a satisfied nod towards the shelves. “It’s nice to see the shelves full, isn’t it. Mum and Dad would have been proud. And we’re actually making a profit. You can use some of our money to buy glasses, don’t get ones that make you look like an old woman.”

  Grace ignored his last comment. “Mum and Dad would have been proud, I’m proud of you. I wasn’t sure about this locker buyer business but you’ve made it work.”

  A glassy look came over Frankie’s face and he gazed into the distance. “Sylvester says I’m a natural. And he should know, he’s been to millions of auctions.”

  Grace doubted it was millions but she wasn’t going to say anything negative about Frankie’s hero, the great Sylvester Sylver, the American auctioneer that they’d met at the storage locker auctions. Grace liked Sylvester too but not in the almost stalker like way that her brother did.

  She casually asked, “How many visitors have you had to your site now?”

  Frankie turned to her and beamed. “Over two thousand! Can you believe that? Ever since I put those videos up of Sylvester working in his office it’s gone mad! I didn’t know he had so many fans in England.”

  Grace had a sudden image of Frankie wearing a T shirt proclaiming that he was Sylvester’s number 1 fan. She shook her head, better not mention that to Frankie, he’d be online in a second getting one made. She said, still as casually as she could, “Have you taken any more videos of the shop recently?”

  Frankie took his phone out of his pocket. “I took one yesterday, just a short one showing our stock on the shelves. Just to let my followers know where everything goes. I haven’t posted it yet.”

  Grace held her hand out. “Can I have a look?”

  Frankie narrowed his eyes. “Why are you so interested? Can’t you wait until I post it online then log onto my site?”

  “I will log on but I want to see the video now.”

  Frankie didn’t look convinced.

  Grace went on. “I’m so proud of all that you’ve achieved, Frankie. Setting up a web site to help our sales, that was a great idea, I want to support you.”

  Frankie nodded and handed her the phone. “Yeah, I have done well. Here, you can look. The video’s quite small, hope your old eyes don’t strain too much.”

  He gave her a cheeky grin and walked over to the counter. He was soon busy looking at paperwork.

  Grace was proud of Frankie and wanted to support him, but that wasn’t the reason why she wanted to look at the video.

  She pressed play and held her breath.

  The video showed the full shelves in the shop; household goods, bits of jewellery, the odd antique. Grace wasn’t sure how they would class their shop now, it used to be an antique shop when their parents owned it. Since their parents had died and left the shop to Frankie and Grace it had become more of a bits and pieces kind of shop. It depended on what storage locker they bought as to what ended up in their shop.

  Grace squinted at the image. Perhaps she did need glasses. She could hear Frankie wittering on about something in the video. She glanced up for a second and saw the real Frankie wittering to himself by the till. Great, two Frankies. Grace blocked his voice out and concentrated on the video.

  There!

  There she was!

  Pearl, the ghost who lived in their shop.

  Chapter 2

  Grace’s parents had died in a car accident recently. Grace was in the car at the time and was almost killed. It was a few months after that when she started seeing ghosts. She saw shadows at first and thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. She saw her first fully formed ghost when Frankie dragged her along to their very first storage locker auction.

  Grace now smiled as she recalled that ghost, a young man called Jacob. She’d helped him with a problem he’d had. And Jacob had helped her, he’d led her to some valuable gold coins.

  Since then she had assisted other ghosts. It had helped to take her mind off the constant grief that she felt for her parents.

  But there was one ghost that she couldn’t see, this old woman in their shop. Other ghosts had seen her, and they had heard her. It appears that Pearl uses language worthy of an X rated gangster movie. The only time that Grace had seen her was through videos shot on Frankie’s phone, and through a CCTV system that Frankie had installed.

  Grace looked at Pearl now on Frankie’s phone. The old woman must have known she was being filmed. In the video Frankie was talking about the items on the shelves, Pearl held out her arms to demonstrate each object, as if she was on a games show. She’d even hitched up her long dress to show off her tight clad legs. Grace wasn’t sure whether the tights were wrinkled or if it was Pearl’s legs. As the video went on Pearl got bored and started to make exaggerated yawning motions. Then she started making obscene gestures with her hands.

  Grace burst out laughing. She put a hand over her mouth to stop the noise. She shouldn’t be laughing but it was funny to see an old lady doing that. And, from what she’d gathered from other ghosts, Pearl was here to look out for Grace. It felt comforting, if somewhat weird.

  The phone was snatched away. Frankie said, “What’s so funny? That’s a professional video, I haven’t had any complaints from my followers.”

  Grace tried to collect herself. “I wasn’t laughing as in laughing, I was laughing because … I’m so happy for you.”

  Frankie gave her a searching look. Grace gave him a bright smile hoping she wasn’t overdoing it.

  “Okay,” Frankie said, “I believe you. It’s nice to see you smiling. You don’t look as haggard today, have you been sleeping better?”

  “Haggard? I don’t look haggard! But yes, I have been sleeping better.”

  Frankie nodded and put his phone away. “Are you still coming to the auction? You don’t have to, I don’t mind going on my own.”

  “I like going. Is it far away?”

  “No, but go to the toilet first. You know what you old women are like, first your eyesight goes, then your bladder.”

  Frankie swiftly moved out of the way as Grace swung her hand towards him. He was too quick, she’d get him next time.

  She froze. Was that a cackle she heard from behind her? Pearl?

  She hoped so. She really wanted to talk to her, find out more about her.

  Grace paid a quick visit to the toilet and grabbed her things. She was in a happy mood as Frankie started up the van. There was a time when she thought she’d never be happy again, she was in a pit of black despair and was unwilling to climb out following her parents’ deaths.

  She knew the reason why she felt happier, she liked helping the ghosts that she met, it made her feel useful.

  Was she going to meet a new ghost today? She hoped so.

  A few hours later Grace was wishing that she’d stayed at home.

  Chapter 3

  As soon as they pulled into the storage unit facility Grace could hear som
ething.

  “Frankie, can you hear that? Like a banging noise. Is there some construction going on?”

  Frankie shrugged and switched off the engine. “I can’t hear anything. Now, Grace, listen carefully, it could be chaos out there today.”

  “Why?”

  Frankie held his arms open as if it was self explanatory. “Me, of course. There are probably fans of mine out there, people who’ve been following my blog posts. If there’s going to be a mob I want you to come back to the van and lock yourself in.”

  “Why would your fans be here?” Grace asked. “Oh no, don’t tell me you’ve told everyone where you’re going to be today?”

  “I have a duty to my fans,” Frankie said in a noble tone. “Come on, brace yourself.”

  Frankie put a smile on his face and opened his van door. Such was his confidence that Grace half expected a mob of groupies to descend on him.

  “Nice to see you too,” said Big Bob.

  Grace got out of the van and walked over to the lone figure that was standing next to Frankie.

  “Hi, how are you?” Grace said with a smile. Big Bob used to tour the antique fairs with her dad. He had proven to be a great friend since they started out on this locker buyer business. It helped that he was the size of a grizzly bear, Grace always felt braver at his side.

  Frankie was looking around Big Bob.

  “Looking for something?” Big Bob asked.

  “Nothing in particular,” Frankie said. He started to look around the car park.

  A voice suddenly cried out. “You! In the denim jacket! Don’t move!”

  A young woman in a bright orange security vest ran towards them.

  Frankie puffed his chest out and gave Grace a knowing look.

  “What’s going on?” Big Bob asked.

  “It’s one of my fans, she probably wants an autograph.”

  Grace noticed the angry look on the woman’s face but didn’t say anything.

  The woman stopped in front of Frankie and waved a notepad at him.

  Before she could speak Frankie grabbed the notebook, took a pen from his pocket and paused for a second. He smiled at the woman and said, “What’s your name?”

  The woman snatched the notebook back. “Never you mind! You owe me £10!”

  “Pardon?” Frankie’s smile slipped.

  “I’m in charge of parking and you haven’t paid any parking charges since you started to come to these auctions. I know your sort, think you can get away with murder!” The woman held her hand out. “Ten pounds.”

  Grace pressed her lips together, her laughter was aching to come out. She glanced at Big Bob and noticed he was doing the same.

  Frankie’s cheeks had gone red. He fumbled in his pockets, pulled out a crumpled note and handed it to the woman.

  She gave him a look as she straightened the note out. She wrote something in her notebook and then said, “All paid up. Don’t forget next time.”

  “I won’t, sorry,” Frankie said in a quiet voice.

  Grace saw Frankie’s crushed look and started to feel pity for him.

  The woman suddenly laughed and said to Frankie, “I love your site by the way, your blog is hilarious!”

  She turned and walked away. Frankie gave Grace a smug look and said, “I told you, fans everywhere.”

  Any pity she felt for Frankie evaporated.

  Grace flinched.

  There was that banging noise again.

  It was really loud. She looked at Frankie and Big Bob. They seemed oblivious to it.

  Which only meant one thing.

  The noise was being made by a ghost.

  Chapter 4

  The auction began when Sylvester Sylver appeared.

  He was wearing an orange leopard print silk shirt today. His collar was pulled up and he looked more like a silver haired Elvis Presley than ever. He treated the bidders to one of his famous megawatt smiles. He turned towards Frankie and winked at him.

  Frankie gave him a casual wave. He turned to Grace and grinned, “Did you see that? He winked just at me.”

  “Calm down, I thought you were getting over this man crush of yours,” Grace said.

  Frankie tutted. “Man crush! I admire Sylvester, he’s the best auctioneer in the world. If ever we had another auctioneer you’d soon see the difference. Sylvester is a professional.”

  Sylvester called out, “Are we ready to begin? We’ve got some awesome lockers today, and, I’ll be honest, folks, some not so awesome ones.”

  The banging noise had reduced in volume and Grace wasn’t flinching anymore at the thudding. She said to Big Bob, “What does he mean by not so awesome?”

  Big Bob replied, “I’ve heard rumours that there are some charity scam lockers up for auction today.”

  Noticing Grace and Frankie’s confused looks, Big Bob explained, “You know you get those charity bags through the post? Some companies run scams. They collect the filled bags from doorsteps but the bags don’t go to charity shops. They rifle through the contents and take out the best items. I’ve heard that they find all sorts of valuable stuff, they make a good profit.”

  Grace nodded. She’d filled charity bags many times, she’d had no qualms about putting good items in there thinking she would help the charity to raise money.

  Big Bob carried on, “Anyway, they sell the good stuff online or on market stalls. They put the rubbish in storage lockers like this, mount them up until the doors can hardly be closed. They use false names and credit checks to get the lockers in the first place. After a few months they stop paying the fees and the lockers come up for auction.”

  “That’s awful,” Grace said. “Can’t the police do anything?”

  Big Bob shrugged his big shoulders. “They can’t do anything unless they catch them. These companies use professional looking charity bags. People never check to see if they’re genuine.”

  Grace thought of the charity bags she’d filled, a sick feeling settled in her tummy. Why do some people have to be so mean?

  The auction began. The first locker was opened. The crowd gasped as they saw what was inside.

  “A Ford Capri! With go faster stripes!” Frankie said in awe. “Grace, do you remember that toy car I had when I was young? It was just like this. I’ve got to have it!”

  Big Bob put a hand on his shoulder and turned Frankie to face him. In a serious tone he said, “Frankie, never bid with your heart, bid with your head. You’ll lose money if you let your heart take over.”

  Frankie tried to twist his head back to the car. “But it’s a Ford Capri! In red!”

  Big Bob said, “Let it go. Look at the crowd, look at the bidders, they’ve got a crazy look in their eyes, you’ve got the same crazy look.”

  Frankie seemed to deflate. He sighed and said, “You’re right. I wonder why someone would put such a car in a locker and forget about it.”

  Grace walked a bit closer to the locker. The ghost woman inside was smiling at her and beckoning her closer. Grace stopped just at the entrance of the locker and mouthed an hello.

  The woman seemed to be in her sixties. She burst out, “I’ve got to tell someone! This car belonged to my hubby, he was devoted to it. I couldn’t stand it. I’ve stored it here for twenty years! He’s no idea and now he never will!”

  The woman started laughing, it was almost hysterical.

  Then she disappeared.

  Grace didn’t know what to make of that. Did the woman need her help? Did she feel remorse and wanted the car to go back to her husband?

  Grace waited a few seconds, the ghost woman didn’t return.

  Maybe she didn’t need Grace’s help.

  Perhaps this was going to be a day when no one needed her help.

  A sudden boom shot out.

  Grace’s hands flew to her head. It felt like something had struck her.

  BOOM!

  Grace screamed and collapsed to the ground.

  Chapter 5

  Grace felt herself being lifted up and car
ried away.

  She tried to open her eyes.

  BOOM!

  The noise!

  It went right though her skull.

  Someone placed her on a chair. She opened her eyes and saw the concerned faces of Big Bob and Frankie staring at her.

  Frankie put his hand on her arm. “Grace, are you alright? You just went down, I thought you’d tripped up at first but then you didn’t get up.”

  Grace rubbed her head. “I don’t know what happened.”

  Big Bob handed her a bottle of water. “Take some slow sips.”

  Grace did so. She didn’t miss the looks that passed between Big Bob and her brother. She’d seen that look many times in the last 12 months. When her parents died Grace had gone back to her teaching job. She couldn’t cope with the pressure and had a very public breakdown. Frankie had been supportive but she often felt him looking at her as if he was expecting another breakdown.

  Imagine what he would say if she told him she could see ghosts!

  Grace tried to smile. “I think it was just the onset of a bad headache. I’ll be okay.”

  Big Bob gave Frankie an accusing look. “Have you been making Grace work too hard in the shop? Are you making sure she eats properly? You’re the big brother, Frankie, you’ve got responsibilities.”

  Frankie looked ashamed. “I have been spending too much time on my computer. I’m sorry, Grace, I’ll look after you better.”

  “I don’t need looking after. Honestly, it was nothing, I’m fine now.”

  Frankie wasn’t listening. His face lit up as he noticed someone behind her. Grace could guess who it was.

  Sylvester Sylver crouched down at her side. His skin looked even more tanned close up. She must look like a … well, a ghost next to him.

  “Now then, little lady, I can’t have you fainting at my auctions! Although it’s quite flattering to have women swooning at my feet!”

  Frankie burst into laughter. Grace winced, it was far too loud.

  Sylvester held out a cup to Grace. “Here, you need a strong coffee, none of that wishy washy stuff that you call tea here.”