A Different Shade Of Death: A Cozy Mystery Ghost Story (Storage Ghost Murders Book 2)

by Gillian Larkin

  No. She could see that the door was already ajar. She put her hand out and pulled the door towards her.

  Should she really be doing this? What if Amy came in and found her?

  But it was a secret door in a library! She had to look in.

  Grace pulled the door wide enough open for her to step through.

  She was in another room. She recognised it immediately. It was the room that she’d gone into via a vision with Charlie this afternoon, the one that he’d referred to as his secret office.

  Her nose wrinkled. That smell was in here, the mouldy smell, it was even stronger than before.

  Grace froze, her heart seemed to stop. There was an old desk in the middle of the room. On the desk were four thick green candles.

  The candles were lit.

  Someone was in the room with her, Grace could feel it.

  Without moving her head Grace looked around the room. She couldn’t see anyone. She lowered her gaze and looked again.

  Her eyes alighted on something on the floor, right next to the table where the candles were.

  A hand was sticking out. It was a woman’s hand.

  “Amy!” Grace ran over to the desk.

  Amy was lying on her back, one arm flung out, the other laying across her stomach. Amy’s eyes were screwed up, her mouth was moving as if she was trying to speak.

  Grace put her head closer to Amy’s to try to hear what she was saying. It was then that she noticed specks of green on Amy’s lips and around her mouth.

  “Amy, what are you trying to say?”

  “She’s probably saying, “Ouch,” a voice behind her said.

  Grace looked up. “Jim?”

  “That’s me, although Mother calls me James.”

  Chapter 22

  Jim had a white mask over his nose and mouth. His voice sounded muffled but there was no mistaking the hate in his voice.

  He came round to where Grace was bending over Amy. He nodded towards Amy and said, “Leave her to die, she can’t have long left now. You were here earlier, what was your business with her? Are you involved in her dodgy loan schemes? Do you work for her? Do you know what sort of a woman she is?”

  Grace held her hands up to ward off his questions. “I’d never met her before yesterday. I work at a shop in town, she asked for my advice on something. Shouldn’t we call for an ambulance?”

  “No, she’s going to die. Do you know what she did to Mother? Shall I tell you?”

  Grace slowly stood up. “I know about your mum. I took some belongings round to her today, she told me everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “About the debts and loans. It must be hard for you, being made to leave your family home.”

  “You don’t know the half of it! This is my home, it’s always been my home. It’s mine and everything inside is mine. Can you imagine how it felt for me to move out and then have to come back and see the new owners? To actually work for them?” Jim’s fists tightened.

  “I can’t imagine that. Did you blame Charlie Ford for the loss of your house?” Grace paused. “Is that why you killed him?”

  Jim looked at her, his eyes seemed to bore into her soul. Grace saw the corners of his eyes move upwards as if he was smiling. Why was he wearing that mask? Had he just been working on something?

  Jim said, “Well worked out. I was hoping that Amy would be accused of his murder but the bitch was out of the country at the time. You should have seen Charlie Ford gloating when he moved in! I could have strangled him with my bare hands! Ignorant pig!”

  “I spoke to Ted earlier. He told me that Amy was the one behind the loans and debts. Is that why you’re ...” Grace couldn’t say the words.

  Jim said, “Trying to kill her? Yes. She’s taking a long time to go. I wished she’d hurry up, I’ve got some work to do on my computer. I’m setting up my own business. That’s what I’ve been working on for years. I’ll make a profit soon, I know I will, I just need to do a bit more work on it. I should be working on my business now instead of being forced to work here. Ted told Mother he was doing me a favour by hiring me. She’s no idea how he talks to me. He’ll be next on my list if he doesn’t change his ways.”

  Grace swallowed her fear. It was obvious that Jim wasn’t a sane person. She remembered that Emily had told her how he’d spent a lot of time on his computer instead of mixing with people. She looked towards the door, it was still open. Could she make a run for it? What about Amy? She couldn’t leave her here with Jim.

  She said, “This is a lovely room, I didn’t know it was here.”

  Jim nodded and seemed to smile again. “It’s a secret room, it’s only for the male members of the Heath family. Grandad showed it to me when I was young. He used to work in here, away from prying eyes, Dad did too.”

  Jim let out a loud laugh. It sent shivers down Grace’s back. Jim said, “They didn’t know! None of them knew. I found out, I was the only one clever enough to work it out. How are you feeling? What’s your name?”

  “Grace. I do feel a bit queasy, I’m getting a headache too. It must be that funny smell. Why do you ask?”

  Jim lifted the mask up and gave Grace a grin. It was a grin filled with malice. He said, “It’s the arsenic! It’s in the wallpaper. It’s in the paint. It’s even in the candles! Isn’t that hilarious? No one knew! That’s why they died. Not me though, I worked it out.”

  Grace’s eyes widened as she looked around the room. “I don’t understand. Why would anyone want to put arsenic in the wallpaper?”

  Jim looked at her as if she was stupid. “They didn’t know it was going to cause problems. They used it to make the colour green. It was all the rage when Benjamin Heath first built this house. It was much later that people associated death with this colour. That’s why so many of my male relatives died. I worked it out. Mother told me that they suffered from early deaths but she didn’t know why. I knew about this room and I knew about the funny smell. Didn’t take me long to work it out. Charlie Ford didn’t know. I made a great show of ‘finding’ the original plans and then uncovering this room. He was so smug about using it as a secret office. It took a while for the poison to work. I had to dampen the walls to let the arsenic out and I made sure the candles had been lit for a few hours before he came in. The idiot never suspected anything, not even with the smell.”

  “Did Charlie die in this room? I thought his body was discovered in the library,” Grace said.

  “He died in here but I had to drag him out, I couldn’t let anyone find this room. I told Amy Ford about this room after Charlie died but she wasn’t bothered, wouldn’t even come in. I had to drag her in this afternoon, had to slap her to stop her screaming. Nobody noticed she had gone missing. I’ve had to scrape bits of green paint from the furniture and force her to eat it. It’s been a right pain. I wish she’d hurry up and die. Grace, do you want to know the symptoms of arsenic poisoning?”

  “Not really.” Grace looked towards the door. She could make a dash for it and then call the police.

  Jim smiled at her. “I’ll tell you anyway. You get headaches and sometimes severe diarrhoea. There’s confusion and drowsiness. Long term poisoning leads to your major organs being affected. The final result is a coma and then death. It was fascinating to watch Charlie Ford go through those stages. I wish I could have made Amy go through them too, she deserves it, but I need her to die quickly.” He put his mask back down. “I’m sorry, Grace.”

  “Sorry for what?” Grace said, a tremble in her voice.

  “For leaving you in here. I can’t let you go, you know the truth. There’s enough arsenic in the air to kill you quickly. Hopefully!” He crossed his fingers.

  Jim patted her on the shoulder and walked towards the open door, a spring in his step.

  “You can’t leave me here! Killing Amy won’t get your house back!”

  Jim shrugged. “It might. Bye, Grace.”

  Jim left the room, closing the door behind him.

  Chapter 23


  Grace heard a click as if the door was being locked. She ran over to it and pushed it. It didn’t move. She looked closer at the panels on the door, the panels were similar to the ones in the hallway that Jim had been uncovering earlier.

  There was no obvious handle on the door. Did she have to press one of the panels to get it to open?

  Grace quickly pressed them all. None of them moved, the door stayed resolutely closed. What else did she expect?

  She looked around the room; no windows and no other doors.

  She went back to Amy. She was still breathing but her face had turned paler. Her eyes were still closed, her eyelids fluttered slightly as if she was trying to open them. Grace quickly blew the candles out, would that even help?

  Grace’s hand lifted to her forehead, she rubbed it. Her head was hurting more now. How quick did arsenic poisoning work?

  A sudden thought made Grace reached into her handbag. She pulled out her phone and held it up. She sighed with despair as she saw there was no signal. Was this room lined with lead?

  A feeling of panic began to grow in her stomach. She couldn’t really be trapped here. This sort of thing didn’t happen to her. She wasn’t really going to die, was she?

  Grace ran to the door and started beating on it. She knew it was pointless, who would hear her? She banged louder anyway, letting her frustration out.

  Tears got the better of her and she collapsed onto the carpet, she rested her head against the door whilst tears trickled down her face. There must be a way out!

  Grace closed her eyes and tried to think. A sudden shiver rushed through her body. She opened her eyes to find she wasn’t alone with Amy.

  There were ghosts in the room. Ghosts of men from a long time ago, walking about the room, oblivious to each other. Grace recognised Benjamin Heath. He was muttering to himself and nodding as he walked. There were a couple of men who looked as if they were from more recent times – Emily’s father and husband?

  Had they all died from arsenic poisoning? From being in this beautiful room?

  Grace soon got her answer. One by one the ghosts began to get ill in front of her, it was as if their lives had speeded up. Grace watched in horror as Benjamin Heath grew paler and thinner. He constantly grimaced and clutched his stomach. Grace had to look away as he collapsed in front of her, screaming out in pain. The other ghosts followed suit. Grace kept her eyes closed and placed her hands over her ears. She couldn’t bear to see, and hear, them all dying.

  How long was she going to be subject to this? How long before she died?

  A cold draft went past her face. She opened her eyes. The ghosts had gone. She lowered her hands. Had they all gone?

  Without warning the ghosts reappeared and began their death walks around the room.

  “Not again!” Grace stood up. A feeling of determination lit up in her. “I have to do something!”

  She had an idea, a ridiculous idea, but an idea anyway. Would it work?

  She reached into her bag and pulled out the pocket watch. She walked over to Benjamin Heath and stood right in front of him. She yelled out, “Benjamin Heath! Stop right now!”

  She held her breath and prayed that he wouldn’t walk through her.

  He didn’t. He stopped and peered at her. “What the devil? Who are you? What are you? Some spectre? A ghost? An angel?”

  “Yes!” Grace held the pocket watch tightly. “I command you to show me the way out. Now!”

  Benjamin stared at her. Grace tried to keep her expression grim, hoping that he used to be of a superstitious nature. She called out, “Now! Before I curse you and your household!”

  That seemed to do the trick. Fear washed over Benjamin’s face. He strode towards the door and pointed to the wall at the side of the door.

  “That’s a painting. Don’t trick me, Benjamin Heath!”

  Benjamin said, “There’s a button behind the painting, it opens the door. I’m telling you the truth.”

  Grace gave him a nod and reached up to remove the painting. There was a button underneath. She pressed it and the door swung open. Grace let out a sigh of relief. She realised Benjamin was watching her. She looked over her shoulder and said, “You may go.”

  Benjamin gave her a puzzled look and walked away.

  Grace stepped through the door. What if Jim was waiting for them? She had a quick glance around the room, no one was lurking there.

  She went back into the green room and over to Amy. She was taking shallower breaths now.

  “Don’t die on me, Amy Ford,” Grace said. She grabbed Amy’s hands and dragged her through the room and into the library. Ghosts were dying again all around her but Grace gritted her teeth and ignored them.

  She pulled Amy into the middle of the library and quickly opened all the windows. Would fresh air help anyway? Her phone had a signal so she phoned for an ambulance. She phoned for the police too, she had no idea how she was going to explain all of this.

  Charlie appeared at her side. He gave Grace a sad look and said, “It’s too late for the ambulance.”

  Chapter 24

  Grace looked down at Amy, she was struggling to breath. “No! She can’t die!”

  Charlie swore and then said, “If that old woman can do it, so can I. Shift out of the way.”

  “What are you going to do?” Grace asked as she moved to one side. “Charlie! What are you doing? This isn’t time for kissing! Get away from her.”

  Charlie looked up at Grace and gave her an annoyed look. “I’m trying to absorb her pain, like Pearl did. Shut up, will you, I’m trying to concentrate.”

  Grace looked on helplessly as Charlie bent over Amy. Could he really absorb the pain? He didn’t look as if he knew what he was doing.

  She looked up towards the library door. What was that noise, was it the main door opening? Was the ambulance here already? Grace heard footsteps and shouted out, “In here! In the library.”

  She turned back to Charlie. Her heart almost stopped. Charlie was covered in green lines, like an old painting that had cracked with age. He sat back on his heels, his face contorted with pain. His clenched fists were held to his chest.

  “Charlie!” Grace moved forward.

  “No!” he screamed. “Don’t touch me!”

  The green cracks widened. What was happening to him? Was he fracturing somehow?

  Charlie looked up to the ceiling and let out an anguished cry. His head dropped and he slumped to the ground. Grace leant over him. He muttered, “Amy? How is she?”

  Grace looked at Amy. Her colour had returned and her breathing sounded steadier. “I think she’s okay. What about you?”

  Charlie smiled and rolled onto his back. He lay next to his wife. He kissed her on the cheek and said, “Goodbye, my Amy, I’m sorry I was such an idiot.”

  The green cracks closed up. A white halo began to appear around him. He looked at Grace. “I feel so peaceful. I’ve never felt like this before, it’s great! I think I’m going, Grace. I think it’s time for me to go. Don’t cry, I don’t deserve your tears.”

  “I’m not crying. Wait! Don’t you dare go!” Grace blinked as the white light around Charlie increased. It flickered and then it was gone, taking Charlie with it.

  Amy stirred, her eyes open. “What happened to me? Where am I? Charlie? I thought I heard Charlie.”

  Grace helped her into a sitting position. She heard footsteps behind. She turned her head and said, “Thank you for coming so quickly.” Her voice faltered as she saw who was standing there.

  Jim gave her a cold look and said, “That’s okay, it wasn’t far.”

  “You! You leave us alone!” Grace said. “You nearly killed us! If you try it again I’m going to hit you with something. Don’t come any nearer!”

  Jim said calmly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What are you doing here?”

  “What?” Grace shouted. “What? Have you forgotten what you just did? You’re a mad man!”

  Emily Heath stepped out from be
hind her son. She frowned. “Grace? What are you doing here?”

  Grace looked from one to the other. What was going on? She helped Amy to her feet and placed her in a nearby chair. She turned to Emily and said, “Your son tried to kill us. In that room behind the library. He killed Charlie Ford.”

  “Don’t be silly, there isn’t a room behind the library, I would know if there was,” Emily said.

  Grace looked towards the door to the green room. So did Jim. The door was slightly open. Jim made a swift move towards it. He was going to close it!

  “Oh no you don’t” Grace picked up a paperweight from the desk she was standing next to. With all her strength she threw it at Jim. He wasn’t that far away and the paperweight caught him on the back of his legs. It was enough to bring him to his knees. Grace ran over to the green room door and pulled it wide open. “Emily, here! Can you see it?”

  Emily’s hand flew to her chest. “I can but I don’t understand. Oh! James, is it really true? Did you really kill Charlie?”

  Grace looked down at Jim. She was glad Emily couldn’t see the vicious look on his face. He snarled, “He deserved it. So did that snotty cow over there!”

  Emily walked over to them, still looking confused. “I don’t understand any of this. James came home and told me that there had been a mistake with the house, that it still belonged to us. He said I had to come back. What’s in that room? What’s that smell?”

  Jim stood up. He glared at Grace and hissed, “You should be dead!”

  “James!” Emily snapped. She was smaller than her son but he withered under her stare. “You are going to tell me everything! Starting with that room.”

  “He can tell me too.” Ted walked into the room. “I saw you both heading in to the house and wondered what was going on. There’s an ambulance and police car outside. Is that Amy Ford? What’s up with her?”

  Grace looked from one person to another. She knew she should stay and tell Emily and Ted what had happened but she was desperate to get home to Frankie. If Charlie had passed away for good, what did that mean for Frankie?