Read Cherringham--Ghost of a Chance for Free Online

doing their best to upset the whole ‘haunting’ ceremony.”
    Jack nodded. “Not only that, they did something that could have caused serious harm. If that chandelier had landed a little to the left or right, someone would have been sent to the hospital …”
    “Or worse.”
    “Right.”
    “So we’re in? I mean, is this a case?”
    Now Jack grinned at that. “I guess so. But we need to find out a lot more. Who would want something like that to happen? Why?”
    “Freddy?” Sarah said laughing.
    Jack shook his head, grinning. “Dunno. The old ghost hasn’t made a stink before.”
    “Got a plan?”
    “Not quite a plan. Let's say, a few things we need look into.”
    “I could get all the legal documents related to the hotel.”
    “Great. Perfect. Maybe check with Tony if he knows of any issues floating around The Bell.”
    “And how about the guy that Lawrence mentioned …?”
    “The ‘events manager/factotum’ Paddy Stover? Yeah, I think I’ll try to catch him down below. They should be gearing up for the lunch crowd …”
    “I doubt there’ll be much of a crowd.”
    “Or much of a lunch for that matter.”
    “Want me to join you for that?”
    Jack shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Two of us showing up. Well, if someone has something to hide, best we keep our profile as low as possible.”
    “I did have another idea, Jack.”
    “Yeah?”
    “The chandelier. Most of the year it’s just an ordinary chandelier, using ordinary bulbs, electric current and so on.”
    “Right, and?”
    “It must have been installed, maintained by a proper electrician. If somebody did mess around with the fitting — if someone did something to trigger that crash — I bet Todd Robinson would spot it.”
    “Brilliant. And I mean it, by the way — Todd’s a good electrician. He did the rewiring on the Goose last year for me. Boat was a death-trap he said. No wonder I got it so cheap.”
    “I’ll ask him to drop by, take a look at the fittings, the wiring, the ceiling …”
    “Good. And one more thing, since Freddy’s tale seems to be part of this … Why don’t you dig into the murder a bit?”
    “You think that’s important?”
    “Could be. Who knows — maybe there's a connection between the Freddy story and what happened here last night.”
    Jack paused. “And we have to think … maybe it wasn't just about last night.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Maybe there are more ‘surprises’ ahead.”
    Jack wasn't smiling when he said that. Then, looking around the gloomy paintings lining the hallway, he walked to the great staircase down past the glowering Colonel Allsop to the slightly less dingy floor below.
    *
    Jack walked through the kitchen. A stout woman — with a white blouse and a gingham apron, hacking at a chicken — looked at Jack as he walked through the place.
    She scowled but didn’t say anything.
    Two other women were off by a sink area, washing and peeling potatoes as if they were part of the disgruntled scullery staff in one of Henry the VIII’s lesser castles.
    It might be lunchtime, but judging by the kitchen staff, nobody seemed to have been told.
    Jack spotted the small office at the back, door shut.
    He walked up — and in the interest of surprises — twisted the knob.
    The door opened, and Jack walked in.
    Inside sat a man, mid-forties, hair thinned to mere wisps on top of his head, wearing an Arsenal T-shirt dotted here and there — Jack noted — with remnants of previous meals.
    Feet extended on the desk, and a massive sandwich — bacon, it looked like — in front of him. Bag of jalapeno crisps.
    A small TV showing a football game on a screen so tiny it had to be hard to follow the ball.
    Paddy Stover, hard at work, Jack knew from the second he opened the door.
    Barging in like he did had the desired effect. Stover's legs went flying to the floor and he nearly knocked over his mammoth mug.
    Tea, or maybe an early bit of lager?
    The mug sported a large red-nose face