Derek stood to one side as another Holland’s delivery van drove past him. He said to Pearl, “I thought I saw Sam come in with a trolley over there. Where did you say he hides his stolen bottles?”
“I’ll show you.” Pearl stepped into the warehouse. Derek looked left and right before following her. There was a lot of activity in the warehouse and no one was paying him any attention.
Pearl took Derek over to some electrical items. “These washing machines look as if they’ve been here for years. Sam’s putting the bottles in the drums. He must come back for them later.”
Derek moved towards one of the washing machines and opened the drum. He jumped as he heard a voice behind him. Pearl hissed, “It’s Sam! He’s coming this way!”
Derek looked wildly around him and then darted forward. He crouched behind a stack of televisions. Pearl came to his side and crouched too.
They heard Sam coming even closer. He was talking quietly to someone, “I’ve got five bottles of whisky, the good stuff, and three bottles of gin.”
A man answered him, “That’s not enough! You know how much I need. Get back on the floor and get some more.”
Pearl shared a look with Derek and said, “I think I recognise that voice.”
Derek nodded to confirm that he did too.
Sam spoke again, “But Uncle Jeff, I can’t! Collier’s been watching me. He knows I’m up to something. Isn’t this enough for today?”
“Jeff?” Pearl said, “That’s the delivery driver who we met yesterday at Suzanne’s house. He’s Sam’s uncle?”
They didn’t miss the threatening tone as Jeff spoke, “This isn’t nearly enough. If you want me to keep quiet about what you’ve been up to, then you’d better get more. What would your mum say if she knew her perfect son was stealing from his employer? She’d throw you out on your ear.”
“I don’t want to steal any more! Please, Uncle Jeff. I’ve had enough.”
“I’ll say when you’ve had enough!”
Pearl pulled a face as an anguished yell came from Sam. Derek couldn’t stop himself. He leapt out from the pile of TVs and quickly took in the situation. He held his fist up and said, “Get your hands off that boy!”
Jeff had his hand on the scruff of Sam’s neck and was almost lifting him off the floor. Sam’s face was screwed up in pain. Jeff glowered at Derek. “Who the …? It’s you! What are you doing in here?”
“Never you mind! Take your hands off Sam. Right now!” Derek waved his fist in Jeff’s direction. Pearl stood at Derek’s side.
Jeff snorted. “I’ll do what I want with my nephew.”
Sam wriggled himself free and ran over to Derek. He warned Derek, “You’d better get out of here. He’ll flatten you! Run!”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Derek said. He hoped no one heard the wobble in his voice. “Sam, has he been forcing you to steal?”
Sam nodded. “He asked me to do him a favour at first. He said he needed extra money. I couldn’t say no, he’s family. The deal is that I put the bottles in the trolley and then hide them in here. Uncle Jeff takes them and smuggles them out in his delivery van. I want out but he won’t let me.”
Jeff sneered. “Stop snivelling. You get your fair share.”
Something occurred to Derek. He said, “Did Kevin find out what you were up to?”
Jeff frowned. “Kevin? That simpleton? What’s he got to do with anything?”
Kevin appeared at that moment. He whimpered and grabbed Pearl’s hand. His voice shook as he said, “It was Jeff. He told me to go and play on the truck. He told me to drive towards that stack of pallets.” Kevin gulped and then added, “The one on the left, not the one on the right.”
Derek stood up straighter. He gave Jeff a cold look and said, “I think you killed Kevin Shepherd.”
Chapter 13
“I did no such thing!” Jeff exploded. “Why the hell would I do that?”
“He found out what you were up to,” Derek explained. “He was good friends with Mr Collier. Did he say he was going to tell Mr Collier about you?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you!” Jeff began to turn away.
Sam raced forward and grabbed Jeff’s sleeve. He swung him round and yelled, “You do have to explain yourself! What did you do to Kevin? What did you do to my friend?” Jeff tried to push him away but Sam kept his feet planted squarely on the floor. Sam shouted, “Tell us right now!”
“Alright! Get your hands off me! It wasn’t a big deal.” He turned back to face Derek. Kevin was still whimpering at Pearl’s side.
Derek said, “Did Kevin find out what you were up to?”
“No, he was too thick to know what was going on. He was hanging around me when I was trying to collect the bottles that Sam had hidden away. He kept going on and on about what I was doing. He wanted to know where I’d been, and where I was going next. He was getting on my nerves. I told him to go over to the trucks. I told him to move some pallets out of the way.”
“Did you know that one of the trucks had defective brakes?” Derek asked.
“Course I did! Everyone knew that. I told Kevin that it was the truck on the left, not the one on the right.” He stared from Derek to Sam and then back again. “That’s all I did. I didn’t do anything wrong. I swear I had nothing to do with his death. It was an accident. I’m not standing here being accused of murder, I’ve got stuff to do.” He looked Sam directly in the eye. “We haven’t finished our business yet. Get back on that shop floor and get more stock.” He turned and stormed towards a delivery truck.
Sam’s shoulders dropped. Derek came to his side and said, “Come on, lad, you don’t have to do what he says. You know it’s wrong.”
“But he says he’ll tell my mum if I don’t. She’ll be upset if she finds out. I don’t want to make her cry.”
Derek said, “Mum’s are more forgiving than you’d think. Don’t you think it would be better if you told your mum what’s been happening? She must realise what your uncle is like. And his wife must realise too.”
Sam gave him a half smile. “His wife left him years ago. Mum never says anything about him but she never invites him round to our house.”
“There you go then. I reckon she’ll be furious with Jeff for putting you through this. She’ll be on your side. Do you want me to come with you? I’ll confirm everything I saw and heard.”
Sam’s smile grew. “Thanks, but I’d better do it on my own. And I’d better do it now.”
Derek reached into his pocket and took out a little notepad. He wrote something on it and gave the paper to Sam. “Here’s my number if your mum needs to speak to me. Or if you need to speak to me.”
Sam put the paper in his pocket. “Thanks. I’m probably going to lose my job over this. I’ll have to speak to Collier later. I’ll face my mum first.” He looked over his shoulder as Jeff’s delivery van roared to life and drove away. “Do you think Uncle Jeff killed Kevin?”
“I’m not sure. But you’re better off staying away from him,” Derek advised. “I’d better get going. Everyone’s starting to look this way. Phone me if you need anything. Cheerio for now.”
Derek patted Sam on the shoulder before he left. Kevin said, “See you later, Sam. You’re still my best friend.”
As Derek drove out of the car park, Pearl said, “What are we going to do now? Do you believe Jeff? He’s a wrong one if ever I saw one.”
Derek winced. “I think I’ll pop home for a while. I’ve got a terrible headache. I’ll take a couple of tablets and have a bit of a rest. I’ll be right as rain then.”
“Oh! Derek, love! This is taking a terrible strain on your health. You poor love. Let’s get you home as soon as possible.” Pearl gave him a concerned look. “You always put other people first, don’t you?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Derek replied.
Pearl folded her arms tightly and said, “They certainly do not! They broke the mould when they made you, Derek Quill.”
Kevin blurted out
from the back seat, “Mr Derek! Is it you who’s going to die? Please don’t die!”
Pearl turned her head and told Kevin that Derek wasn’t about to die, and that was that.
Derek tried not to let the pain bother him as he drove home. He didn’t often get headaches but when he did they came at him with a vengeance.
As soon as Derek stepped into his house Pearl ordered him to go to his bedroom, draw the curtains and lie down. Derek was happy to do so. He heard some mumbling between Kevin and Pearl but he didn’t have the energy to listen fully.
Within a minute of lying on his bed, Pearl appeared at his side. His heart missed a beat at the concern he saw on her face. The last thing he wanted to do was worry her.
Pearl gave him a tight-lipped smile and then lay on the bed next to him. “Don’t be getting any funny ideas. I’m only keeping you company.”
Derek tried to get up. “I forgot to take some painkillers.”
“You don’t need painkillers when I’m around. Put your head back on the pillow and keep still.” Pearl moved her hand towards his forehead. It hovered there for a moment. In a strained voice, Pearl said, “I can feel your pain, Derek, love. Close your eyes.”
Derek felt a warmth settling on the front of his head. It seeped into his skull and right through to the back. Bit by bit the pain disappeared. Derek gave a sigh of happiness as the last bit of pain left him.
He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Pearl. He smiled at her. “By heck, Pearl, you’re a marvel. You really are.”
Pearl removed her hand and chuckled. “Look at us two lying here together. What will people think?”
Heat suddenly flooded Derek’s cheeks as he realised the truth of her words. He sat up and cleared his throat. “Right. Yes. I see. Thank you for your help. I’m alright now.”
Pearl laughed and sat up. “No need to be embarrassed, Derek.”
Kevin burst into the bedroom. He whispered loudly, “Mr Derek! Are you alright now?”
Derek swung his legs off the bed and stood up. “I am, lad. I’m ready to go. We still need to work out whose life is in danger. Tell me again about the time you saw Jeff in the warehouse.”
Kevin gave him a serious nod. “Turn to the left, not the right.” He held out his hands to demonstrate.
Derek blinked. He looked over at Pearl. “Did you see what I just saw?”
“I did. Kevin, do that again.” Pearl stood next to Derek and stared at Kevin intently.
Kevin said, “Turn to the left.” He moved his right arm. “Not to the right.” He moved his left arm.
“Hell’s bells!” Derek declared.
Pearl said something a lot stronger.
Kevin frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Derek explained, “You got your right and left mixed up. Kevin, raise your left hand.”
Kevin raised his right hand. “This is my left. It always has been.”
Derek didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Pearl walked to Kevin’s side and softly said, “You’ve got that wrong, love.” She raised her right arm. “This is your right. When Jeff told you to go to the truck on the left, you went to the one on the right. And that one had faulty brakes.”
There was silence for a moment. Kevin kept raising his left and right arms. “Did I get it wrong? Was it my fault? Was I hurt on purpose?”
“I don’t think so, lad,” Derek said. “Unless Jeff knew you got your right and left mixed up.”
Pearl said, “This means that your tragic accident was just that - an accident. We’re not looking for a murderer at all.”
Kevin scratched his ear. “Then who’s going to die?”
“No one,” Derek told him.
Kevin put his hand over his heart. “But I can feel it. Someone is going to die because I died. It’s someone I know.”
Images came flashing into Derek’s mind. He remembered what had been said. Of course! He said to the others, “It’s Mr Collier. He feels guilty about Kevin dying. And you heard what he said about tying loose ends up. I think he’s going to kill himself!”
Kevin burst out crying. “No! Mr Collier can’t do that! He’s my friend.”
Derek’s phoned beeped as a message came through. He read it and frowned. “That was from Sam. He’s told his mum about Uncle Jeff but he can’t tell Mr Collier because he’s gone home claiming that he’s ill.”
“Kevin, do you know where Mr Collier lives?” Pearl asked.
Kevin sniffed and nodded. “He took me to his house once for a birthday tea. Everyone else at the supermarket had forgotten it was my birthday but he hadn’t.”
Derek ran for the door. “Quick! There’s no time to lose!”
Chapter 14
There was confusion on the drive to Mr Collier’s house. They had to start from the supermarket because Kevin only knew the way from there. And then Kevin got his left and right mixed up several times on the way. Pearl used curse words that Derek had never heard before.
They finally arrived outside Mr Collier’s house. There was a car in the driveway but the curtains were closed. Derek got out of his car and raced up the drive. He banged on the door and called out for Mr Collier. No one came to the door. Kevin whimpered at Derek’s side.
Pearl said, “I’m going in.” She walked straight through the back door. Derek waited hopelessly.
Kevin sniffed. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”
“I’m not sure, lad,” Derek said truthfully.
Pearl walked back out. “He’s in there. He’s lying on the sofa with a bottle of pills at his side. He’s barely breathing. Derek, phone for an ambulance.” She went back into the house. Kevin ran after her.
Derek took his phone out and made the relevant call. As he put his phone away he noticed a pot plant at the side of the back door. He didn’t think twice about picking it up and hurling it through the window pane of the door. The glass broke. Derek reached in and unlocked the door. He pushed it open, stepped over the broken glass and headed towards the room where the voices were coming from.
Kevin was sitting on the carpet at Mr Collier’s side. “Don’t die Mr Collier! I don’t want you to be a ghost too! You have to look after the supermarket. The customers need you. The customers are always right!”
Mr Collier’s face was worryingly pale. His eyelids fluttered open. “Kevin? Is that you? Am I dead?”
Derek came to Mr Collier’s side and crouched down. “Not yet. Hang in there. The ambulance is on its way.”
Mr Collier’s gaze went to Derek. “I can see Kevin. I must be dead.”
Kevin said, “No, I’m dead. You’re not. It’s not time for you to die, is it, Pearl?”
Mr Collier now looked at Pearl. “Who are you? Are you an angel?”
“No. Stop talking. You need to keep still,” Pearl informed him. “Someone will be here to help you soon.”
“But I don’t want help. I want to die. I can’t live with the guilt. It’s my fault that Kevin died. I should have got rid of those trucks.”
Kevin moved closer. “It was an accident. I went on the right truck, not the left.” He pointed to his chest. “It was all my fault, not yours.”
“I … I don’t understand,” Mr Collier said. His eyes began to close. “I’m so sorry, Kevin.”
Kevin replied, “It’s alright, Mr Collier. You don’t have to be sorry. We’re still friends.”
Derek stood as he heard the ambulance sirens. He opened the front door and waited for the ambulance to come to a stop. He said to Pearl at his side, “Is he still alive? I can’t bear to look. I’m half expecting to see his ghost appear to us.”
“He’s still breathing. Kevin’s singing to him. I think he’ll be alright.” She cocked her head and then smiled. “I know he’s going to be alright.”
Derek opened the door wider to let the paramedics take over. It wasn’t long before they were carrying Mr Collier out on a stretcher. A male paramedic told Derek that they’d got there just in time. Derek gave his details as a point o
f contact. He’d have a look around Mr Collier’s house and see if he could find an address book. He might have relatives nearby.
When the paramedics had gone, Pearl and Derek returned to the living room. Kevin looked down at the goodbye note that Mr Collier had written. He gave Derek and Pearl a bright smile. “He won’t need that now, will he? He’s going to be okay. I can feel it in my heart. Will he remember seeing me, Derek?”
“I’ll have a little talk with him when he’s feeling better. He might not believe me though.”
Kevin started to laugh. “My tummy feels funny. It feels like someone is tickling me!” He looked around the room. “I think I have to go somewhere now. Derek? Pearl? Where do I need to go? Is it left or right?”
Pearl raised her eyebrows in Derek’s direction. “I’d better go with him. He’ll never cross over if he’s left to his own devices. Will you be alright on your own? I won’t be long.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll stay here and tidy things up. I’ll call someone to fix that door.” He chuckled. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to break into someone’s house.”
Pearl gave him a fond smile. “I don’t know how I’ve managed so long without you in my life, Derek Quill. I’m so glad that we met.”
Derek indicated his head towards Kevin. “You’d better see to the young fella.”
Pearl walked over to Kevin and took his hand. Kevin raised his free hand and waved it enthusiastically at Derek. “Bye Mr Derek! Look after your bulbs!”
Pearl led him towards the living room wall. They slowly walked through it.
Derek wasn’t sure how he felt. He was glad that Kevin hadn’t been murdered, but his heart felt heavy about him dying in such a senseless accident. An accident that could have been avoided.
He took out his phone and looked for the name of a workman that he’d used before. He laughed to himself. If he carried on helping ghosts he really should start asking for a discount. Who knew how many doors he was going to break down?
He looked around the room and let out a little sigh. He was missing Pearl already. He had to admit to himself that Pearl was becoming more than a friend - much more.
Pearl And Derek Mysteries - Box Set 1 Page 23