The Death Planner (Storage Ghost Murders Book 6) by Gillian Larkin Read Free Book Online Page A

but I’m not sure about his
choice.”
    Elsa
continued to smile. “Roses are lovely but I’ve got something better.” She then
talked about different flowers and how their fragrance would last longer. Grace
nodded but it was hard to pay attention when Jenny was talking at the same
time.
    “Grace,
ask her why she didn’t keep the website running. Ask her where all the money
went, has she put it somewhere safe? Grace! Look at her clothes! Ask her why
she’s dressed like that!”
    Grace
gave a small shake of her head. She could hardly ask Elsa those questions all
at once. Grace picked another question. “I used to go to the florist shop over
the road but I see it’s a shoe shop now. When did the florist shop close down?”
    Elsa’s
smile faltered slightly. “About four years ago. I used to work there, but I
like working from my van better.”
    Jenny
flew to Elsa’s other side. “How can she like working in this van? She’s lying!
She’s covering something up!”
    Elsa
offered Grace a variety of bouquets. They all looked beautiful. Grace bought
one bouquet for Frankie and one for herself as a treat. She looked at the
hanging baskets and was tempted to buy one of those too.
    Grace
paid Elsa and then asked her another question. “Do you ever do work for
weddings and that sort of thing? I’ve got a party coming up soon and I’d love
to have some flower arrangements there.”
    Elsa’s
hand shook as she gave Grace her change. “No. I don’t do things like that.”
    “Do
you know anyone who might do it?” Grace forced a laugh. She hated lying to Elsa
but she didn’t have a choice at the moment. “It’s taking me forever to organise
the party! I could do with someone to sort it all out for me, like a party
planner or something. Do you know anyone like that?”
    Elsa
pressed her lips together and shook her head. Grace saw the sheen of tears
welling up in her eyes. Grace pulled the bouquets closer and said, “Those
hanging baskets look wonderful. Could I take that one at the end, the one with
those blue and purple flowers flowing out? Thank you.”
    Elsa
took down the basket and gave Grace instructions on how to care for it. Grace
made small talk about flowers and the problems she had in her small garden.
Elsa brightened up and was happy to give Grace advice on slugs and other
uninvited creatures.
    Grace
thanked her and asked if Elsa had a business card. Elsa shook her head and
said, “No, I’m not organised enough for that. Not like …” She blinked and
quickly looked away.
    Grace
said, “Well, I know where to find you. Thank you again for your help, it’s been
lovely to meet you.”
    Elsa
turned back and gave Grace a small smile. It was full of sadness and Grace
hated to leave her, but she had to. She headed back to her car, her arms full
of scented flowers.
    Jenny
flew at Grace’s side. “Don’t leave her! She looks so sad! Find out what’s
happened to her! Please!”
    Grace
opened the boot of her car and carefully placed the flowers inside. She turned
to Jenny and said, “It’s obvious that she doesn’t want to talk about her past.
I will speak to her some more, just not at the moment.”
    Jenny
twisted her hands together. “When will you talk to her? You heard what Pearl
said about another murder!”
    Grace
shot a look back towards the van. “Jenny, was Elsa at the last wedding? The one
where you died?”
    Jenny
nodded. “Why?”
    “She
might have seen something, or someone.” Grace didn’t add that Elsa could be a
suspect. Jenny didn’t need to hear that. “I’ll speak to Elsa again soon, very
soon.” A plan was forming in Grace’s head. All she had to do now was to find
the courage to proceed with her plan.

 

 
    Chapter
11

 
    Pearl
was pacing up and down the kitchen floor when Grace and Jenny returned to the
shop.
    “Pearl,
are you okay? You look agitated,” Grace said. She laid the flowers for Frankie
on the kitchen table.
    Pearl
gestured towards the ceiling. “Your