Charlie Palmer Says

By Beverley Bowry

Ten-year-old Nathan Clark is stunned when he dashes outside on Christmas Day to use his new metal detector and finds himself faced with a ghost called Charlie Palmer. But he soon promises to do all he can to help Charlie when he discovers that his near neighbours, the Kimbles, were Charlie’s killers and are about to carry out an armed raid.
When Nathan’s parents go away for the weekend leaving his no-nonsense big sister in charge, the family jewels are stolen and Charlie instantly gets the blame. The police are decidedly sceptical when Nathan tells them the truth that Charlie revealed to him. The only person listening is French scientist Monsieur Dupont, the one hundred and twenty-eight year old former owner of Nathan’s house.
Will Nathan be able to save the day or will he end up the same way as Charlie?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Oct 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781838599652

Beverley Bowry

Suffolk author Beverley Bowry has two main passions, her family and composing compelling stories. She has a degree in English and Media, a diploma in Creative Writing and has written around eighty fun columns for her local newspaper. Charlie Palmer Says is her debut children’s novel.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Beverley Bowry

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 9781838599652

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Matado®r is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

To Kerry, William and Charles without whom this book would never have been written.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 1

I may be only ten but I know Charlie Palmer’s telling the truth when he says he was murdered.

‘Are you there, Charlie?’ I hiss. ‘Charlie? Charlie?’

My metal detector’s beeping like crazy over our icy lawn.

‘Charlie!’

‘I’m here. It’s so good to see you, Nathan. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me, like all the rest.’

‘What? Never! I’ve been dying to see you again.’ The detector’s going manic. I quickly switch it off, hold my breath, hope his hazy shape won’t disappear. Phew, he’s still hovering beside me. ‘It’s just my dad’s off on a surprise holiday and he wanted me to stay at his for a couple of days before he goes. How are you? Are you okay?’

‘I’ll never be okay, Nathan, not till the Kimbles are brought to justice.’ His curly blond hair is all sort of shimmery and glowing, like a halo round his screwed-up, grey face. ‘I can’t rest till then – especially knowing what I do now.’

‘Now? Has something happened? Tell me quick. Mum’s only having a shower. She’ll go mad if she knows I’m out here in the dark.’

Charlie moves closer. ‘They’re planning a raid. This weekend.’

‘What! Tell me what to do and I’ll… Oh no, my mum’s calling. Hurry, Charlie, go in case she spots you. You’ll freak her out. I’ll be back later, I promise.’

But he’s already vanished. Mum’s at the back door, yelling at the top of her voice.

‘Nathan Clark, will you put that blooming thing away. The last thing I need is you breaking your neck, tonight of all nights.’

‘Sorry, Mum!’ I shout.

I try following my boot prints back to the house but it’s no good, the falling snow’s already covered them. By the time I get back indoors, Mum’s sitting at the kitchen table with her feet in a bowl of steaming, frothy water. Thea – that’s my sister – is busy putting on more mascara. I have to get outside again somehow.

‘Mum,’ I say, propping my detector against the door and kicking off my boots, ‘can I go outside for a little while later after you’ve gone, if it stops snowing? Pleeeeeease? You wouldn’t mind, Thea, would you? It’s really, really important.’

‘Oh, Nathan, do you have to? It’s freezing and I don’t want to have to start calling you to come in.’

Mum gives me a look. ‘Just you remember, it’s good of Thea and Rob offering to take care of you, so you’d best behave, else you’ll be off to Auntie Donna’s. She won’t stand for any of your nonsense. Honestly, Nathan, fancy wanting to mess about with that thing in this weather. Your fingers are purple.’

‘I’m not cold.’

‘Hmmm. Trust your father to buy you something ultra-expensive for Christmas like that blooming detector whatsit. He’s obviously still feeling guilty about leaving me for that Tracy woman and us having to sell up and move here while they’re swanning off goodness knows where on holiday.’

‘But I love your pressie too, Mum. See, the hat and gloves are in my coat pocket.’

‘Well, they’re not much use to you in there!’

Thea strokes Mum’s arm. ‘Aww, maybe he should go to Auntie Donna’s if you’re that worried.’

‘No! No! I’ll be good!’

‘Well, you better had, Nathan. We’re only going for the weekend and I don’t want you upsetting Hattie, filling her head with your ridiculous stories. Barry’s fretting enough about leaving her as it is.’

Hattie is Barry’s daughter, and the best bit about Mum and him getting together as far as I’m concerned.

‘I won’t upset her, Mum, I promise. It’s just Charlie Palmer says…’

‘Oh, not that again! Charlie Palmer says this, Charlie Palmer says that. That’s all we’ve heard since Christmas. Honestly, fancy him coming into our garden like that! Better ask Barry to fix those loose fence panels when we get back. I’ll be having a word with your school after the holidays. Can’t have kids thinking they can mess about round here when they like just cos the place has been empty a while.’

‘But Charlie’s not like that, Mum. He’s not at my school, anyway. He only wants to warn us about the Kimbles.’

‘Nathan Clark! What did I tell you about saying stuff like that? The Kimbles are lovely men. They actually came round just before you got back from your dad’s. Said they wanted to introduce themselves properly, seeing as they only live next door but one. John Kimble doesn’t half take care of his dad. Bill, that’s the old boy, looked all warm and toastie in his wheelchair with a fleecy blanket wrapped round him. Obviously this Charlie whatshisname likes telling tales and he’s certainly sucked you in, Nathan, hanging on his every word.’

‘But, Mum…’

‘But, Mum nothing. I want no more of this Charlie nonsense, do you hear? I especially don’t want any phone calls telling me you’re playing up right in the middle of Barry’s Cake Off competition. The winner gets a thousand quid and a week’s stay for them and a guest in a plush hotel in Lanzarote. I’m hoping if Barry wins, he might propose over there.’

Wow, I can’t believe Hattie might be nearly my sister one day. After Luke at school, she’s the best friend I’ve got. So I intend saying anything to keep Mum happy. There’s no way I want to risk spoiling this weekend. Hattie’s so looking forward to meeting Charlie, and I’m desperate for the three of us to get together especially after what he’s just told me. We have to help stop the Kimbles.

Thea’s boyfriend Rob’s arrived while I’ve been hanging up my coat.

‘All right, Nath?’ he says, slapping me on the back. ‘You look comfy, Mrs Clark. Bet you’re excited about the competition.’

‘I am, Rob love. Barry deserves a bit of good luck.’

Rob’s lunging at Thea and giving her a giant kiss.

‘Mind my bowl,’ my mum laughs. ‘And remember, you two, I don’t want any funny business while I’m not here.’

‘No, Mum,’ Thea sighs. ‘Come on, Rob, I’ll show you where Nathan’s room is.’

Mum’s up and shaking her towel in my direction. ‘Go and put that flipping thing away, Nathan, and get yourself some blankets from the airing cupboard. If you really must sleep down here, you might as well do it