Pearl And Derek Mysteries - Box Set 1

by Gillian Larkin

  Pearl didn’t say a word. She was transfixed by the woman dancing on the stage. After a few minutes she finally found her voice, “By heck! She’s got some moves on her, hasn’t she? I don’t think much to her outfit, she’ll catch her death of cold in it.”

  Derek said, “Look at her now. She’s moving off the stage. Pearl! What if she comes this way? What if she sees me? What should I do?”

  “You could do what the other customers are doing. They’re shoving money into her outfit.”

  “I couldn’t do that!” Derek took out his handkerchief and dabbed at his forehead. “Pearl, let’s go. I don’t feel comfortable here at all.”

  “Too late!” Pearl hissed. “She’s looking right at you. She’s coming this way.”

  Derek felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding car as Mona turned his way, a smile on her face. Her hips swayed in time to the music as she moved closer. Derek felt in his pocket and took something out. As Mona stopped at his table Derek handed her purse over and said, “You left this behind at the market.”

  Mona froze. The blood ran from her painted face.

  Derek put her purse on the table and pushed it closer to her. He stood up and gave her a wobbly smile. “This is a great show but I have to get going. Lovely to see you again. Cheerio!” He scuttled past the stunned Mona and out of the room as quickly as his ageing legs would allow. He didn’t have time to wait for the huge doorman to open the main door. Derek grabbed the handle and pulled the door towards him. He called out another ‘cheerio!’ and was running down the street before the doorman could reply. Pearl ran at his side.

  Derek didn’t stop running until he was streets away from the black door. He finally stopped and doubled over as he got his breath back. After a moment he straightened up and looked at Pearl, his eyes wide. “Can you believe it? Mona Coleman? And she works at the council too!”

  Pearl began to laugh. “All that glitter! All those sequins!”

  Derek began to laugh too. “And my cushions! And my tassels!”

  Their laughs died down as they realised the severity of the problem. Pearl said, “Gabby knew about Mona’s secret life. She could have threatened to tell everyone. Mona could have killed Gabby to shut her up.”

  There was silence for a moment. Then Derek said, “I know her secret now. I hope she doesn’t come after me. I hope she doesn’t try to kill me.”

  Pearl folded her arms tightly. “Over my dead body!”

  Chapter 11

  As Derek walked to the hairdresser’s the next morning he thought about the previous evening’s events. He had to stop himself from laughing out loud at one point. He and Pearl had returned to his house after the show to talk about what had happened. They had burst into laughter as soon as they saw the new cushions on Derek’s sofa.

  Pearl had called out for Gabby but the young girl never appeared. Pearl said she’d better go and find her. That was last night and neither ghost had appeared to him since.

  He hesitated outside the hairdresser’s and thought about what he was going to say to Lydia. Gabby had hinted at Lydia having a secret. Derek was not sure if he’d find out what her secret was but he could see what Lydia thought about Gabby.

  Derek pushed the door open and stepped inside. A pang of sorrow hit him as the familiar sounds and smells rushed towards him again. He put a bright smile on his face and called out a greeting to Lydia who was standing behind the reception counter.

  “Good morning, Mr Quill. You’re bright and early. I’m all ready for you. This way please.” Lydia led him over to a seat and pulled it out for him.

  “Please call me Derek.” He sat down.

  Lydia smiled and put a protective cover over his shoulders. “Okay, Derek, is it a trim you’re after?”

  “Yes, please.” He realised he would have to get the conversation going quickly. He didn’t have much hair to cut and he’d be out on the street in no time. “I was sorry to hear about your cousin who worked here. Wasn’t her name Gabby?”

  Lydia looked down at her scissors. Derek couldn’t gauge her reaction. When she looked back up her eyes were glistening. “Yes, she was called Gabby. She could talk for England! I can’t tell you how many times I had to ask her to be quiet when she was at work. She loved a good gossip. If you wanted to know anything about a certain celebrity you’d only have to ask Gabby and she’d tell you more than you wanted to know!” She ran a comb through the tuft of hair over Derek’s left ear. “I miss her so much. I’d give anything to tell her to be quiet again.”

  “Did you get on well together?”

  “As well as could be expected for family members who worked together.”

  “Liar!” a voice spat out.

  Lydia spun around. Derek looked at the mirror in front of him to see a red-faced Mrs Lilac standing behind Lydia.

  Mrs Lilac raised a chubby finger and said, “You two were always arguing. I heard you having a right go at each other at that fancy party of yours.”

  Lydia’s mouth tightened.

  Mrs Lilac went on, “You should have sacked that mouthy cousin of yours a long time ago. She was always poking her nose into other people’s business.” A malicious look came into her eyes. “She did have some juicy gossip though. She told me all sorts of things about … certain people.”

  In a cold voice, Lydia said, “Is there a reason why you’re here, Mrs Lilac?”

  Mrs Lilac snorted and came over to Derek’s mirror. She bent over to study herself. Derek quickly moved out of the way of her ample bottom before he was knocked off his chair. Mrs Lilac lifted a strand of her hair. “Look at the mess you’ve made of my hair! It’s a disgrace. I demand that you do it again. And don’t expect me to pay for it! In fact, you should give me a refund for this shoddy work.” She straightened up and faced Lydia. “Can you fit me in today, or have you somewhere else you need to go?”

  Derek didn’t like the evil look in Mrs Lilac’s eyes. It seemed that Lydia didn’t either.

  Lydia said, “There’s nothing wrong with your haircut. I certainly will not do it again. And I certainly will not give you a refund.”

  Through the mirror Derek saw the main door opening. A woman walked in. She was wearing more clothing than she had the previous evening.

  “Aha!” Mrs Lilac declared. “We’ll see what your manager has to say! Here! Ms Coleman! I want to make an official complaint about your employee!”

  Mona Coleman walked over to them. She looked tired. “Mrs Lilac, if you wish to make a complaint I suggest you do so in writing.” She looked away from Mrs Lilac and gave Derek a direct look. He shrank back in the chair. “Mr Quill, when you’ve finished having your hair cut I’d like a quiet word with you. If that’s okay?”

  Derek could only nod. He was trying very hard not to picture Mona in sequins.

  Mona put a hand on Lydia’s arm and said quietly, “Is everything okay?”

  Lydia nodded and turned back to Derek.

  Mona said, “I’ll be in the back room going over the accounts. Mr Quill, let me know when you’re free.”

  Derek nodded again. Her secret was dancing on his tongue. He clamped his mouth shut.

  “Just a minute! What about my hair?” Mrs Lilac demanded.

  Mona sighed. “If you don’t like using our services I suggest you go elsewhere.” She turned her back on Mrs Lilac.

  Mrs Lilac burst into a torrent of complaints. Derek didn’t have the pleasure of listening to her as Gabby and Pearl appeared behind her.

  Pearl had her hands on Gabby’s shoulders as if trying to restrain her. Gabby was waving her hands around and yelling, “The money! The cruise! She was lying about the money! I told her I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  Pearl shook her head in Derek’s direction. The two ghosts abruptly disappeared. Mrs Lilac’s rantings were cut short by Lydia, “The door is that way. Goodbye.”

  Mrs Lilac huffed and puffed as she left the shop.

  Lydia apologised profusely to Derek as she trimmed his hair. He said i
t was okay. He tried to turn the conversation back to Gabby but Lydia whisked the cover from his shoulders and declared that he was finished.

  Derek got up and tried to pay for his haircut as quickly as possible, hoping that he could escape before Mona caught him.

  He wasn’t quick enough. He felt a hand on his arm. It was Mona. “Mr Quill, there’s a quiet coffee shop up the road. Let’s go there.” It was said in a tone that Derek couldn’t argue with.

  Chapter 12

  A few minutes later, Derek sat opposite Mona in the coffee shop. He looked down at the cup that she’d placed in front of him. He didn’t think he could meet her eyes without blushing. He was relieved that Pearl wasn’t at his side at that moment. Pearl would certainly have told Mona what she thought about her performance last night.

  Mona spoke in a gentle tone, “Mr Quill, please let me explain about last night.”

  Derek finally made eye contact. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. What people do in their spare time is none of my business!”

  “I realise that but I wanted to explain myself to you. You seem kind-hearted. You went to all that trouble to bring me my purse. You didn’t have to. By the way, how did you find me?”

  “There was a card in your purse.” Derek took a sip of his coffee and then added, “I’ve never been in a place like that before.”

  “You must think it’s a seedy place. It’s not that bad really, compared to some. The truth is, Mr Quill, I like dancing. I always liked it at school but the teacher said I was too tall and clumsy to be a proper dancer. I gave up on my dreams and ended up working for the council. Then a few years ago I saw an advert for dancing rehearsals at a club in Leeds.” She gave a small laugh. “It seems that I have a natural talent for exotic dancing. I enjoy it. It makes me forget all about my council job and my clients with their money problems.”

  “And … is dancing all that you do at the club?” Derek felt his cheeks warming up.

  Mona laughed loudly. “Oh! What a question! And asked so politely too. Yes, there’s only dancing that goes on at that club. If anyone tries anything on with me I soon deal with it. I’m stronger than I look.”

  Strong enough to kill? Derek took another sip of his coffee. Then he said, “Does anyone know about your dancing?”

  “My manager at the council does. I had to tell her in case it interfered with my job. My clients don’t know. And I don’t want them to know.” She frowned. “One person found out. It was Lydia’s cousin, Gabby. She was at the club one night and she saw me. She took photos even though it’s not allowed. I was worried about what she was going to do with those photos.”

  “Did she try to blackmail you?”

  Mona shook her head. “No. She did confront me with them. It was at a party that Lydia was having at her house. Gabby said she wouldn’t tell anyone about my secret. She wanted me to be kinder to Lydia and, what were her words? Ah yes, to cut her a bit of slack if Gabby came in late sometimes. And she wanted a discount on the club entrance fees.” Mona smiled. “She was a cheeky pup. Always pushing her luck.” She sighed. “She died later on that night. Choked on her own chewing gum.”

  “Who else was at that party? And have you ever been on a cruise?”

  Mona frowned. “That’s a funny question to ask.” Her attention was caught by something outside. “Oh no! She can’t be serious! After all I’ve said.” She stood up. “I’m really sorry but I have to go. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone about my dancing.”

  Derek stood too. “Of course I won’t.” He looked out of the window and towards the main street. “Is something wrong?”

  “I hope not. I really have to go. I’ll leave some money for the coffee.”

  Derek held his hand up. “I’ll get the coffee.”

  “Thanks.” She hurried out of the coffee shop.

  Derek paid for the coffees and then followed her.

  He kept at a safe distance as he followed Mona across the road. She went into the bookies. Derek hesitated. He wasn’t a gambling man and he’d never been in the bookies before. Should he go inside? He moved closer to the door and made to open it. He jumped as the door opened and Lydia ran straight out and collided with him.

  “Oh! I’m so sorry!” Lydia quickly wiped her tears away. “Mr Quill, Derek, are you alright? Did I hurt you?”

  Derek rubbed his chest. “Not much, lass. Never mind me, are you okay? You’ve been crying.”

  Mona came out of the bookies. “Mr Quill, we really must stop meeting like this. Come on, Lydia, let’s get you back to the hairdresser’s.”

  Lydia nodded. “I didn’t do anything in there. I didn’t put a bet on. Honestly. I just wanted to look and make sure I wasn’t tempted.”

  Mona gave her a pointed look and nodded her head in Derek’s direction. Lydia waved a hand at her. “It doesn’t matter if Derek knows, he’s a friend.” She took the handkerchief that Derek handed her and wiped her cheeks. “I’ve got a gambling problem, Derek. That’s why I needed Mona’s help with my business. My family don’t know. Gabby knew. She caught me on a gambling site on my phone. But she said she’d never tell anyone.” Fresh tears ran down her cheeks. “Talking about Gabby in the hairdresser’s with you brought it all back to me. We had a massive argument on the night she died. I told Gabby I was going to have counselling about my problem. She wanted me to tell my parents so that they could support me. I couldn’t. I was too ashamed. Gabby wouldn’t listen. The last words that we shared were angry ones.”

  Mona put her arm around Lydia. “It’s not your fault that Gabby died. And you told me about your gambling problem, that was brave of you.” Mona looked at Derek. “I’m doing my best to support her. When I saw her going into the bookies just now I thought she was having a relapse.”

  “Please don’t think badly of me, Derek,” Lydia said as she twisted his handkerchief.

  “I don’t think badly about you at all, lass.” Derek paused and then added, “Perhaps you need a holiday. Maybe something like a cruise. Have you ever been on one?”

  Mona laughed. “You’re obsessed with cruises! We have to go. Come on, Lydia. I think a strong cup of tea is needed.”

  The two women said their goodbyes and walked away. Derek watched them. They both had secrets. And they both had an argument with Gabby on the night that she died. Which one of them killed Gabby?

  Chapter 13

  Derek was sitting at his kitchen table later on when Pearl reappeared.

  “Hello, Derek, love. Sorry about the brief appearance earlier. How’s your day been?” Pearl sat opposite him.

  Derek tapped the notebook he was writing in. “Confusing. Where’s Gabby?”

  “She’s still in a bit of a state. She wouldn’t stop going on about money and cruises. I had to leave her in a quiet place. Tell me about your morning. What have you found out?”

  Derek told her about his conversation with Lydia at the hairdresser’s. Then his conversation with Mona in the coffee shop. Then his conversation with both of them outside the bookies.

  Pearl listened. “It does sound confusing. They could both be lying of course. What do you think?”

  “I’m not sure what to think. I like Lydia and Mona and I don’t want to think that either of them could be capable of killing Gabby. I don’t think they have that much hate in them.”

  Pearl added, “I know what you mean. But people just snap sometimes. They do things in the heat of the moment.”

  “I was thinking about how Gabby died. She choked on her chewing gum. What if someone put something in her chewing gum? Maybe some sort of poison that restricted her breathing? Or maybe someone stood over her and forced her to chew more than she was capable of.” He shook his head. “If that was the case, Gabby wasn’t murdered in the spur of the moment. Someone planned it. I was thinking about all the people connected with Gabby. Who hated her that much to kill her? And what is all this business about a cruise?”

  Pearl folded her arms and frowned. “Yes, that’s a good q
uestion. You could visit the travel agents in town and see if anyone has booked a cruise in the last year or so.”

  Derek gave her a beaming smile. “I already have.”

  Pearl let out a cackle. “You are an amazing man, Derek Quill! Tell me what you found out.”

  Derek looked down at his notebook again. “I went into all the travel agents in town. There are five of them. I made out that I was interested in going on a cruise and I asked if anyone local had booked one. I said I’d like to speak to that person to see if I could see what they thought of the cruise.”

  “I bet they said they couldn’t give you that information. All this data protection stuff is a pain in the bottom.”

  “They did say that. But four of them added no one had even looked at cruises within the last year. They said that most people book online now anyway. But one of the travel agents told me something interesting.”

  Pearl unfolded her arms and placed them on the table. “Go on.”

  “This woman at the travel agent’s, Janice, told me that she’d put up some posters in the window for cruises a while ago when this man came along and started looking intently at them. Janice said he must have been in his late fifties or so.”

  “When was this?”

  “About seven or eight months ago. He was having a really good look at them when a young girl appeared behind him. Janice remembered her because she had a length of bright pink hair hanging at the side of her face.”

  “Gabby! Go on.”

  Derek said, “This girl, we’ll assume it was Gabby, was looking at the man, who was looking at the posters. Then Gabby started to take photos of the man on her phone. Janice thought this was very peculiar so she moved closer to the window to get a better look. The man must have seen Janice staring at him. He turned around and caught Gabby taking photos. There was a bit of an argument then Gabby spoke to him for a while. The man threw his head back and laughed. Then he walked away, still laughing.”