The Lost Baby: A Ghost Mystery Story (Second Hand Ghosts Book 2) Read Online Free

but I was determined to find
Sylvia’s daughter.
     

 
    Chapter 11
     
    The
next day at work I spent some time on the computer trying to find out
information about  unmarried mothers’ homes. There wasn’t much to go on. It
seemed like any information had been hidden away from the internet.  I didn’t
think unmarried mothers still had a stigma attached to them as late as the
1970s. It’s something that I thought used to go on in 50s and before.
    I
was tapping away at the computer when Carol walked over to me.
    “If
you feel like doing any work today, that would be great. You know, clean up,
deal with customers, that sort of thing,” Carol said sarcastically.
    I
sighed, “I will. I’ve got a problem and I promised someone I’d help them. But
I’m not sure I can yet.”
    Carol
wrinkled her nose, “Is it to do with a ghost? You know I said I don’t want
anything to do with them. Rose never bothered me when she dealt with them, and
I don’t expect you to either.”
    I
blurted out, “It’s a mother who’s lost her baby.”
    Carol’s
face fell. “What?” she whispered.
    I
quickly told her the whole story. She sat down next to me and stared at the
computer screen while I talked.
    Finally
she said, “I’ve heard of this happening before. One of my mother’s friends went
into one of those homes. They told her that her baby son died the night after
she had him. Do you know what my mother’s friend did, Kate? She was so
devastated that she killed herself. Sometime later we found out that the baby
hadn’t died, the girl’s father had arranged for the little boy to be adopted by
a couple in Scotland.”
    “Oh,
Carol, I’m so sorry,” I put my hand on Carol’s arm.
    She
shrugged it off and said briskly, “Well, it happened a long time ago. Would you
like me to help you find that home? I think I can remember the name of it.”
    “If
you don’t mind, thank you,” I said.
    “Just
don’t expect me to talk to any of your dead people. And you can make yourself
useful and put the kettle on,” Carol ordered. She shoved me out of the way and
began to tap at the computer keys.
    When
I came back with two cups of tea Carol had some news for me.
    “I
found the home alright. But it burnt down in 1977,” Carol said.
    I
sighed, “What can we do now?”
    Carol
gave me a withering look, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Sup your
tea. We’ve got somewhere to go.”
     

 
    Chapter 12
     
    When
we’d finished our tea Carol closed the shop and marched down to the town hall.
I ran after her.
    She
curtly waved to the security guard as we walked in. He didn’t stop her. By the
scared look on his face I think he’d had dealings with Carol before.
    “What
are we doing here?” I asked.
    “We’re
going to talk to someone who deals with births and legal stuff. Well, I am. You
can stay here and keep quiet,” Carol told me.
    “Don’t
you need an appointment?” I said.
    Carol
was looking at a board with names and office numbers listed on it. “I don’t
need an appointment.  I used to work here years ago. I left because I couldn’t
stand all the miserable people that came in asking for help.”
    “The
public?” I said.
    “Aye,
the public. Anyway, I know who I need to talk to. They’re on the second floor.
I won’t be long,” Carol said and she walked briskly up the stairs.
    I
wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Carol.
    I
walked down a tiled corridor and found a wooden bench to sit on. I looked at
the portraits hung on the walls. Pictures of past mayors and mill owners. All
men, and all stern looking. Most of them had bushy beards and even bushier
eyebrows.
    “What
are you doing in here?” a loud voice made me jump.
    I
looked up to see a stern looking, hairy man glaring at me.
    “I’m
waiting for my friend,” I said indignantly.
    Another
hairy man joined the first. He pointed at me and yelled, “We don’t allow women
in here! Especially not women of the street who are showing their