The Hidden Picture: A Ghost Mystery Story (Second Hand Ghosts Book 4) by Gillian Larkin Page B

could talk to the ghost who’d been hovering at my
side ever since Carol first opened the box.
     

Chapter 4
     
    I
turned to the elderly man and said hello.
    He
gave me a big smile and said, “I was wondering if you could see me. I’m so glad
you can.”
    I
explained that I didn’t like to say anything in front of Carol. She knew I
could see and speak to ghosts but she didn’t like me doing it in front of her.
    “Are
you the artist? Ernie Ford?” I asked.
    “I
am, love. Are you Kate?”
    “Yes,
how do you know my name?”
    “I
saw Rose, when she was dead. We had time for a chat before she dashed off,”
Ernie explained.
    “Is
that what dead people do? Have chats with each other? I’m still new to all this
after life business,” I told him.
    “I’m
new to it myself,” Ernie chuckled. “I feel like I’ve only been dead for two
minutes. I saw Rose in this garden place. Well, like a garden but somewhere
where you go to wait. It’s hard to explain. She told me that if I needed help
with anything I was to talk to you.”
    “How
was Rose? The last time I saw her she had been taken away by a horrible ghost
called Devlin. He said he was some sort of soul collector.”
    A
worried look crossed Ernie’s face, “Yes, I heard about that. Don’t you worry
though. If anyone can defeat an evil soul collector, it’ll be Rose. She’s made
of strong stuff.”
    I
felt a little bit better for hearing that.
    “Do
you need my help with anything?” I asked.
    Ernie
nodded, “Can you take all of the paintings out, please? There’s one I need you
to see. It’s right at the bottom.”
    I
took the paintings out and laid them on the counter. I got to the last one. It
was unframed and smaller than the rest, it looked more like a sketch.
    I
showed it to Ernie and said, “Is this the one?”
    He
gave such a sad smile that it made me want to cry.
    “That’s
her, the love of my life, Sally Braithwaite. She’s the one I need help with,”
Ernie said, his eyes never leaving the drawing.
    I
looked closer at it. A young girl was sitting under a tree, thankfully dressed.
She was laughing and looking slightly to the left. She was beautiful.
    “What
do you need help with?” I asked.
    “I’d
like you to find her and tell her I’m sorry for what I did,” Ernie said.
    “What
did you do?” I asked.
    Ernie
shook his head, “I’d rather not say at the moment, if you don’t mind. I’m too
ashamed.”
    “That’s
okay, can you tell me anything about these naked paintings of Rose? I’m
intrigued!”
    Ernie
laughed. “Rose and I grew up on the same street. I don’t know if you know much
about her childhood but her sister was awful to her.”
    “I’ve
met her sister, she tried to take over this shop,” I said.
    “She
would, nasty piece of work she is. Anyway, Rose used to spend a lot of time at
our house. She knew I wanted to be a famous painter one day so she posed for
me.”
    I
began to feel worried, “How old was she when she started to pose naked?”
    “Not
until her early twenties and it was her idea. She said I needed to practise. I
think she was a bit of a show off myself! But I appreciated her help. I
promised her that I wouldn’t show the paintings to anyone.”
    “Then
why have you sent them to her?” I asked.
    “Rose
had dreams of owning a chain of shops. She said when she was older she would
proudly display these paintings. She was certain that I’d be a great artist by
then and that my early work would be worth millions. That’s why I could only
send the paintings to her after my death.”
    “And
did you become a famous artist?”
    Ernie
sadly shook his head, “I was never the same after Sally left. Rose tried to get
me interested again, and I did enjoy painting her! But my heart wasn’t in it.
Will you help me find Sally? I need to explain things to her.”
    I
couldn’t say no to him.
    I
just didn’t know where to begin.
     

Chapter 5
     
    I
thought the best thing to do would be to put the picture