Ghost of a Smile Read Online Free PDF

spread more light. He looked suspiciously at JC, and Happy and Melody behind him. Kim remained in the shadows, being diplomatic.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing here?” said the teenage girl, moving quickly forward to put herself between her grandfather and JC.
    â€œI’m JC,” JC said patiently. “And these are my colleagues in spiritual affairs, Happy Palmer and Melody Chambers. Don’t let them worry you, they’re supposed to look like that. It helps scare the spooks. We are here to investigate the unnatural phenomena surrounding the recent death of Albert Winter. Might I inquire what you’re doing here?”
    â€œDon’t tell them anything, Gramps!” snapped the girl, matching Happy scowl for scowl. “We’re not obliged to tell them anything. We don’t have to justify ourselves. We’ve got as much right to be here as anyone!”
    â€œMind your manners, child,” said the old man, stepping past her to nod politely to JC and his team. “You were brought up to behave better than that. I am Graham Tiley, Mr. Chance. This is my grand-daughter, Susan. We are here to make contact with the spirits.”
    â€œYou’ve seen something?” said Melody. “What have you seen?”
    â€œWe haven’t seen anything!” said Susan, still glowering at one and all. “But we’re . . . interested. There have always been stories about this place, and Gramps lives for all that supernatural stuff, so when the murder happened, there was no keeping him out of here. We haven’t done anything wrong!”
    â€œNever said you had,” murmured JC. “Let us all put our claws away and play nicely. I think we’re all on the same side here. Mister Tiley, would I be right in thinking that you have some personal connection to this place? Something that makes it important to you? You do seem to know your way around . . .”
    â€œI used to work here, long ago,” said Tiley. “Haven’t been back through those doors in twenty-five years and more. Not since the whole place was closed down, and I was laid off. Along with everyone else. Terrible day. All of us made redundant, just like that, after all the years we gave to the company. Can’t say I was ever happy here; it was hard, repetitive work, and nothing much to show for it. But, the more I look back, the more I miss it. Not the work so much as the security. All the familiar faces, and the regular routines, knowing where you were going to be and what you were going to be doing, at every given moment of the day . . . There’s security in that, and reassurance. I suppose you never know what you really value until someone takes it away from you.” He stopped, and looked at JC. “I don’t usually open up like that to someone I’ve only met. There’s something about you . . .”
    â€œPeople always find it easy to talk to me,” said JC. “I’m a good listener. That had better not be sniggering I hear behind me . . .”
    â€œYou had other jobs, Gramps,” said Susan. “Some of them a lot better paying.”
    â€œBut they were just jobs,” said the old man. “Something to do, in the time that was left to me. Something to keep me busy till the pension kicked in. And they did mean I didn’t have to spend so much time with your grandmother. A wonderful woman, my Lily, but best appreciated in small doses . . . She did so love to talk. She was very good at being reasonable, in a very wearing way . . . Where was I? Oh yes. This was the first job I had as a teenager, and I gave this factory the best years of my life. I saw more of this place than I did of my own children.”
    â€œThey understood,” said Susan.
    â€œDid they?” said Graham. “I’m not sure I ever did. Now my Lily’s gone, and both your parents work all the hours God sends . . .”
    â€œYou’ve got me,