‘I just did!’ Angela smiled.
‘I hate it when people don’t come out and say what they mean,’ Ricky complained, more to himself than to anyone else. He added, ‘So what should we do now?’
‘You two need to read all the blurb I have on how to be a detective,’ Theo said decisively. He dug into his duffel bag and dug out some of his detective manuals which he always carried with him now. ‘Don’t lose these,’ he ordered, as he handed them over. ‘Meanwhile, I’ll make up some flyers advertising our services and print them off on Mum and Dad’s computer.’
‘They don’t mind you becoming a detective?’ asked Ricky.
‘I haven’t actually passed the idea by them yet,’ Theo admitted. ‘But I’m sure they’ll say yes.’
‘And if they don’t?’ Angela raised an eyebrow.
Theo had a think about it. ‘They won’t say no,’ he decided.
‘How can you be so sure?’ Angela persisted.
‘I just know. That’s all.’
Angela and Ricky exchanged a smile.
‘You’re not going to tell them, are you?’ Angela grinned.
‘Nope!’ Theo replied. ‘And no one likes a know-it-all!’
Theo leaned forward and viewed the computer screen critically. It didn’t look too bad. His advertisement was all the things Angela had recommended – eye-catching yet discreet, obvious yet tasteful, bold yet sincere.
‘Theo, you’re a genius!’ he murmured.
But just to make sure, he’d print off one to see how it looked on paper. Theo used his mouse to click on the
option and waited impatiently for the printer to finish.
Theo nodded as he studied the flyer carefully. He sat back, satisfied.
‘Theo, you’re a definite genius,’ he told himself again.
If this didn’t get them some clients with cases to solve, then nothing would!
Chapter Four
Ignoring You
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Dear Dad,
I want to help you, I really do. But I don’t know how. You’ll have to tell me what you want me to do. Please don’t think that I’ve been ignoring you – I haven’t. It’s just that it’s very difficult to use the PC at the moment. I have to wait until Mum’s asleep, or out. She’s terrified the same thing will happen to me that happened to you. I’ve tried to tell her that it won’t, but she won’t listen.
You don’t know how it feels to run to the computer each morning hoping you’ll have sent me a message. It’s the only thing I have to look forward to. (I have to wait until Mum’s having her shower, but if you’ve sent me a message, it’s always worth the wait). Write soon, Dad. All my love, Jade.
Chapter Five
The Surprise
‘EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT your flyers,’ Ricky whispered to Theo.
Theo beamed back at him. ‘I knew they’d get a response.’
‘Let’s just hope that none of the teachers get hold of one,’ Ricky said, worried.
‘Don’t worry. I told everyone they weren’t to let any of the teachers see them.’
‘That doesn’t mean they won’t,’ Ricky pointed out.
They had no time to discuss it further as Mrs Daltry walked into the classroom with Mr Dove. Mr Dove smiled all around again before sitting on a chair against the wall. Theo frowned as he watched their new teacher. The man was a definite wafer! No taste nor flavour! He looked like he wouldn’t say boo to a worm, never mind a goose!
I bet he’s even more boring than Mrs Daltry, Theo thought sourly.
‘Mr Dove will be taking you for your double lesson this afternoon as he’s raring to go.’ Mrs Daltry looked at Mr Dove like he had only one marble left in his head. ‘So I don’t want any nonsense now or this afternoon.’
And with that, Mrs Daltry didn’t waste any time but got straight down to it.
‘Does anyone know what “paranormal” means?’
A few hands flew upwards. A couple more struggled up. The rest stayed down.
‘Ricky?’ Mrs Daltry prompted.
‘It means things that are not quite normal. Things that are above and beyond and outside normal,’ Ricky replied.
‘Such as?’
‘Like being able to move things with your mind … er … telekinesis, and leaving your body while you’re still alive – that’s astral projection – and mind-reading and vampires and people who can shape-shift and turn into werewolves and—’
‘Thank you, Ricky. I think we all get the idea,’ Mrs Daltry said quickly. She added with a smile, ‘You seem to know a lot about it.’
‘I love fantasy books and films, miss! I don’t like anything else.’ Ricky grinned.
The rest of the class tittered.
‘Hhmm!’ Mrs Daltry sniffed. ‘Maybe you should crack the occasional school book. Just a suggestion.’
Ricky bent his head, ruefully acknowledging that his school books very rarely got opened.
‘The dictionary definition of paranormal phenomena is that which is outside the scope of the known laws of nature or normal objective investigation,’ Mrs Daltry continued. ‘That’s just a long winded way of saying anything which can’t be explained using our known laws of science and nature.’
Theo listened to the teacher, surprised. For once, what she was saying was actually interesting! What had come over her? An interesting lesson with Mrs Daltry was a paranormal event in itself!
‘Does anyone here believe in ghosts?’ asked Mrs Daltry.
Immediately, Ricky’s arm shot up. Theo stared at him, stunned. Ricky looked at Theo, had a quick look around, then his arm came down faster than a felled tree. Two surprises in less than two minutes. It must have something to do with the subject they were discussing!
‘You really believe in ghosts?’ Theo still couldn’t believe it.
‘Yeah! So?’ Ricky scowled.
Theo had another look around. Very few people had their hands up and those that did were rapidly reconsidering it.
‘Why d’you believe in ghosts then?’ Theo asked.
‘Theo, who’s giving this lesson? Me or you?’ Mrs Daltry asked.
‘Sorry,’ Theo mumbled.
‘So Ricky, why d’you believe in ghosts?’ Mrs Daltry gave Theo a wry smile before turning to Ricky.
‘I just do, that’s all,’ Ricky replied.
Theo recognized that tone. Ricky was sorry he’d ever admitted to it.
‘Have you ever seen a ghost?’ Mrs Daltry asked.
Ricky licked his lips carefully. ‘Er … no,’ he answered in a tiny voice.
Mrs Daltry moved on to one of the others who had put their hand up.
Theo elbowed Ricky in the ribs.
‘Ricky, have you seen a ghost?’ he whispered.
‘Shush! I’ll tell you after the lesson,’ Ricky replied softly.
‘I’d appreciate that.’ Mrs Daltry appeared from nowhere to whisper in Ricky’s ear.
She carried on with the lesson, talking about imagination and science and how science fiction often turned into science fact. Mrs Daltry then went on to discuss the power of the imagination in the sciences as well as in the arts. Theo listened with half an ear. As interesting as it was, it still couldn’t compare to the fact that his friend Ricky believed in ghosts. If Theo hadn’t heard it with his own ears, he’d never have believed it. He studied Ricky avidly.
‘Stop that!’ Ricky hissed.
‘Stop what?’
‘Stop glaring at me as if I’ve just sprouted another head or something.’
‘This is a lesson about the paranormal,’ Theo teased.
‘I mean it!’ Ricky said, annoyed.
‘I’m not staring.’
‘Yes, you are.’
‘I … er, well, maybe just a little. You surprised me, that’s all,’ Theo admitted. ‘I would’ve thought you’d be the last person in the world to believe in all that stuff.’
‘Theo, let me know when you’ve finished so
that I can begin again,’ Mrs Daltry said testily.
‘Sorry. I’ve finished now,’ Theo said quickly.
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Mrs Daltry’s tone was saccharine. ‘And maybe you’d like to sit outside the staff room for the whole of this afternoon’s break. That way you’ll have plenty of time to come up with a reason why you felt it necessary to chat whilst I was trying to teach.’
‘But Mrs Daltry …’
Mrs Daltry raised a hand to halt Theo’s objections. ‘OK then. But the next time I catch you talking that’s exactly what will happen.’
Theo pursed his lips, determined not to say another word. Mrs Daltry might be one of the better teachers in the school but sometimes she could be a real bovine creature! A real bovine creature and three quarters!
Chapter Six
The Question
‘RICKY, WHEN DID you see a ghost then?’
The question was out of Theo’s mouth the moment they set foot out of the classroom.
The lunchtime buzzer had sounded but Theo’s class were all on second lunch so they had half an hour to wait before they could eat.
‘What makes you think I’ve seen one?’ Ricky asked.
‘Oh, come on!’ Theo was insulted. ‘How long have we been friends? I know there’s something you’re not telling me.’
‘Well …’ Ricky began reluctantly.
‘Wait for me then.’ Angela came running up. ‘Have you two done your French homework?’
‘Yep!’
‘Yeah. Why?’
‘Can I borrow it?’ Angela asked hopefully. ‘I didn’t manage to finish mine.’
‘Never mind that now,’ Theo dismissed. ‘Ricky was just about to tell us about a ghost he saw.’
‘You really saw a ghost?’ Angela stared.
‘It was ages ago when Mum took me up to Scotland after her divorce,’ Ricky began. ‘We were staying in this bed and breakfast place that used to be a mansion. One morning I was in the dining room and …’
‘Ricky, did you mean it?’
Ricky turned at the tap on his shoulder. Jade stood immediately behind him, her expression deadly serious. Theo frowned at her. She’d interrupted them just as Ricky was getting to what promised to be the good bit! Mr Dove walked past and gave them all a friendly smile. Everyone shut up until the teacher had turned the corner.
‘Did I mean what?’ Ricky asked.
‘Do you really believe in ghosts?’ Jade asked.
‘Yes,’ Ricky said. ‘And if you’re going to laugh, you can go away and do it somewhere else.’
‘I’m not going to laugh,’ Jade replied quietly.
Theo studied Jade’s face – there was no sign that she was on a wind-up.
‘Theo, do you believe in ghosts too?’ Jade asked.
Theo frowned. ‘I don’t know. I haven’t made up my mind about it one way or the other.’
Jade turned to Angela. ‘What about you?’
‘No.’ Angela’s answer was immediate. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘You don’t think … something else, some other part of us lives on when our bodies die?’ Jade asked.
‘I don’t think so. I think when you’re dead, you’re dead and that’s it – end of story.’ Angela shrugged.
‘And you, Theo?’
‘I’d have to think about it.’
‘Think about it now,’ Jade urged.
Angela, Theo and Ricky exchanged a questioning look. What was all this about? Why was Jade suddenly so interested in talking to them about Mrs Daltry’s lesson?
‘Come on, Theo. What d’you think?’ Jade prompted.
Theo blinked with surprise. ‘Er … I don’t know. I think … maybe some part of us might live on after our bodies die, but I certainly don’t believe in ghosts in white sheets that go, “Ooo-ooooh!”’
A trace of a smile flickered across Jade’s face.
‘I don’t believe in ghosts in white sheets either,’ she said.
‘But you do believe in other kinds of ghosts?’ Theo prompted.
‘D’you think ghosts can use things in this world to communicate with us?’ Jade answered Theo’s question with one of her own.
‘What sort of things?’
‘I don’t know.’ Jade shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Telephones, televisions, computers, that sort of thing.’
‘I’ve no idea. But I wouldn’t have thought so,’ Theo replied. ‘What’s this all about?’
‘I was just wondering.’ Jade shrugged, but Theo wasn’t fooled by her fake nonchalance for a second.
He watched the uncertainty race across Jade’s face. Jade was a quiet girl who kept herself to herself as far as Theo could tell. She was certainly one of the prettiest in the class. She had huge, brown eyes, a ready smile and plaited black hair which was always an immaculate work of art. But over the last two weeks she’d walked around as if she was Atlas, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Whatever it was that was troubling her, Theo certainly hadn’t expected her to talk about ghosts.
‘Well? We’re listening,’ Angela prompted, after a glance at the others.
‘It’s just that … no, never mind!’ Jade broke off quickly.
‘Go on.’
There was a long silence before Jade spoke.
‘My dad … talks to me …’ Jade’s voice grew quieter and quieter before tailing off altogether.
Theo gasped. After a quick glance at his friends’ puzzled faces, Theo realized that they didn’t realize what Jade had just said.
‘So? Why wouldn’t your dad talk to you?’ Angela said, confused.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Jade shook her head and started off down the corridor. ‘Forget I said anything.’
‘But Jade …’
They all watched Jade’s rapidly retreating back.
‘Did I miss something? Why on earth wouldn’t her dad talk to her?’ Angela asked.
‘Angela,’ Theo said, ‘Jade’s dad died three months ago.’
Chapter Seven
Bullet
ANGELA STARED AT Theo, thinking she’d misheard. From the look on his face, she knew she hadn’t. ‘But that doesn’t make any sense. He can’t have died.’
‘He did. He was found slumped over his PC in their house. They reckon he had a heart attack – if I remember rightly,’ Theo explained.
‘How come you know so much about it and I don’t?’ Angela asked.
‘My mum works for the same company that Jade’s dad used to work for,’ Theo explained.
‘How come you never told me about Jade’s dad?’ Angela asked, annoyed.
‘Can you keep a secret?’
‘Yes,’ Angela replied, leaning forwards eagerly.
‘So can I,’ said Theo. ‘It was up to Jade to tell you, not me.’
Angela frowned, but Theo knew she’d got the message.
Ricky was still looking down the corridor after Jade. Theo hadn’t often seen that serious look on his friend’s face, but when he did he knew that Ricky had made up his mind to do something and there was nothing that would stop him.
‘D’you think Jade’s dad is trying to communicate with her in some way?’ Ricky asked.
‘Is that what Jade was talking about?’ said Angela.
‘I don’t know, but I think we need to talk to her,’ Ricky decided. ‘We need to find out exactly what’s going on.’
‘This afternoon I’d like to talk about how all our lives have been changed due to computers. We’re lucky enough to be in the middle of a technological revolution and just as machines changed everyone’s lives during the Industrial Revolution, so things for us will never be the same again.’ Mr Dove walked up and down, up and down between the class tables. ‘Can anyone tell me where you might find computer and microchip technology in your home?’
Hands shot up, including Ricky’s. Theo glanced down at his watch. There was ages to go yet before the end of the lesson. Mr Dove was a typical teacher. He was taking a riveting subject like computing and making it as dry as a
cream cracker! Eventually Mr Dove waved everyone quiet amid the cries of ‘Microwaves?’ and ‘DVD players, sir?’
‘Hands up all those whose parents’ jobs are in some way related to computers?’ asked the teacher.
More and more hands began to rise into the air. Theo looked around with interest. His mum worked in the marketing department of a computer company. Did that count? Theo decided that it did and put his hand up. Looking around, he saw that Jade had also put up her hand. Did her mum work with computers as well then?
‘Jade, how is your mum or dad involved in computing?’ asked Mr Dove.
‘My dad’s a software engineer. He designs games,’ Jade replied.
Ricky and Theo exchanged a glance.
‘Oh? Any games I might have heard of?’ Mr Dove smiled.
‘Planet of the Anvil.’
Mr Dove frowned. ‘I don’t think I’ve heard of that one.’
‘That was Dad’s new one.’ Jade lowered her gaze.
‘When will that be available?’ asked the teacher.
‘D-Dad never finished it,’ Jade replied miserably.
Theo held his breath as he waited for Mr Dove to ask why. But to his surprise the teacher didn’t ask. All he said was, ‘That’s a shame.’ Then he went on to ask the same question of Amber.
‘This is too weird,’ Ricky whispered to Theo. ‘Jade talks about her dad as if he’s still … alive.’
‘I was just thinking that,’ Theo whispered back. ‘She mixes up the past and the present tense – did you notice?’
Ricky nodded. ‘I’m just surprised that Mr Dove didn’t.’
‘Would you like to share your comments with the rest of the class? It’s Ricky, isn’t it?’
‘I was just saying that some washing machines and tumble dryers have microchips in them. My mum just bought a washing machine and you can delay the time it starts at by up to nine hours. I was just wondering if that built-in clock mechanism is an example of a special microchip or is it just part of the overall programming?’ Ricky said without hesitation.
Mr Dove smiled. ‘That’s a very good question, Ricky. And it leads us on to a very interesting point …’
Theo elbowed Ricky under the table. Very nicely done! Ricky nudged back acknowledging the ‘Well done!’ contained within Theo’s bony elbow. Theo turned to look at Jade again. It seemed to him that she was stuck in the middle of a kind of no man’s land. Her dad had died, and yet, according to Jade, he was still talking to her. Was it true? Was there such a thing as ghosts? And if so, was Jade’s dad really trying to communicate? What was he saying? What did he want? Or was this someone’s sick idea of a joke? No wonder Jade was so unhappy. No wonder she mixed up the past and the present. For her they had to be almost the same thing. Theo turned back to the front of the class and shook his head. He had to find a way to help Jade. He just had to.