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  I watched as the five women walked on stage. I vaguely remembered the band, having heard their songs on the radio over the years, though I wasn’t really familiar with their work. They’d done their hair the same way they used to: Janell Nodding was rocking a flaming red mane, Carrie Dobbins a cool blue, Amaryllis Gutenberg a lustrous blond, Courtney Coppola piquant pink and Perpetua Roman a striking black. Together they were the Piquant Pack, and judging from the roar of the audience, they were as popular now as they were then.

  They all took a seat on Graham’s trademark red couches, right next to Marisol Glee, who didn’t look impressed, and Deshawn, whose eyes had a glazed look, and I thought I could see his lips forming ‘Omigod!’

  “Don’t tell me. Deshawn is a fan, too?”

  “Only the biggest fan in the universe! No. Wait. That’s me!”

  “So is it official?” asked Graham. “Is the band getting back together?”

  “I don’t know,” said Janell pensively. “Let me have a think.”

  “Oh, you tease,” Graham laughed.

  Amaryllis leaned in and touched Graham’s knee. “Would you like us to get back together, Graham, darling?”

  “Would I?” gushed Graham, mugging for the camera. “Would I?!”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” said Courtney with a grin.

  “Will you tell him, Perpetua?” asked Carrie.

  Perpetua nodded stiffly. Outfitted in a form-fitting black dress, she looked more like a model than a singer. Then again, she was the one who’d married the famous soccer player. After a pregnant pause, she said, “It’s a yes, Graham. The Piquant Pack is getting back together.”

  “Ooh-wee!” cried a visibly touched Graham. “At last!”

  “We’re launching our new single tonight,” Carrie added, “and tomorrow we’re going on tour again!”

  Next to me, Jarrett looked like he was about to expire. “Take it easy,” I told him. “It’s just a band.”

  “Just a band?!” he cried. “This is the Piquant Pack! The most iconic girl band in the history of the world!”

  And then, as if to prove his words, the five women spontaneously launched into an acapella version of their greatest hit Hungry. Their voices sounded great together, and judging from the whimpering sounds from Jarrett, it was a big hit with the audience. For the chorus, they moved to the small stage, and when the music set in, they launched into a full-blown version of the song. It was quite moving, and I actually enjoyed it.

  “Hey, they’re pretty good,” I said.

  “Of course they’re good,” said Jarrett. “They’re the Piquant Pack.”

  Suddenly, the lights went out, and the sound from the speakers dropped away. The now tinny-sounding voices of the five singers continued for a while but then fizzled out.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “All part of the show,” Jarrett assured me. “Just making a big splash.”

  But judging from the angry cries from Graham and his crew, this wasn’t part of the plan at all. Then, out of the blue, suddenly flashes of light crackled overhead, as if the roof had opened up and lightning slashed the sky. And then, like a supernatural deity, a booming voice sounded. “To all you silly little sycophants, be forewarned! The Piquant Pack are not what they seem!”

  “What’s this?” asked Jarrett.

  “All part of the show?”

  “I don’t think so,” he said.

  And then I saw it. A translucent figure descended from the ceiling. He was large and looked like he was covered in fluorescent paint. And judging from the open-mouthed expression of horror on Graham Norton’s face, this was not part of the plan.

  “You think you can come here and announce your comeback without me?!” the voice thundered. “Well, you’ve got another thing coming! I will have my vengeance! Before this is over, you’ll all get what you deserve!”

  At this, twin balls of lightning flashed from the ghost’s hands and hit the stage. The five women cried out in anguish and dove out of the line of fire. The bolts hit the stage, one taking out the famous red seat, the other one of the cameras, the cameraman only just in time managing to dive for cover. The acrid smell of burned plastic filled the air, as did a light fog that descended upon the small studio.

  And then… the phenomenon ended as abruptly as it had begun. The lights switched back on, and the ghost was gone.

  “Who was that?” I asked.

  Jarrett nodded knowingly. “Aldo Brookfield. The Piquant Pack’s manager. Only…”

  “Only what?”

  He turned to me. “Aldo disappeared in 1997, right before the girls split up.”

  I gave him a grim-faced look. “Looks like he didn’t disappear. Looks like he died.”

  Start Reading Ghost of Girlband Past Now

  About Nic

  Nic Saint is the pen name for writing couple Nick and Nicole Saint. They’ve penned 60+ novels in the romance, cat sleuth, middle grade, suspense, comedy and cozy mystery genres. Nicole has a background in accounting and Nick in political science and before being struck by the writing bug the Saints worked odd jobs around the world (including massage therapist in Mexico, gardener in Italy, restaurant manager in India, and Berlitz teacher in Belgium).

  When they’re not writing they enjoy Christmas-themed Hallmark movies (whether it’s Christmas or not), all manner of pastry, comic books, a daily dose of yoga (to limber up those limbs), and spoiling their big red tomcat Tommy.

  www.nicsaint.com

  Also by Nic Saint

  Washington & Jefferson

  First Shot

  Alice Whitehouse

  Spooky Times

  Spooky Trills

  Ghosts of London

  Between a Ghost and a Spooky Place

  Public Ghost Number One

  Ghost Save the Queen

  Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

  A Tale of Two Harrys

  Ghost of Girlband Past

  The Mysteries of Max

  Purrfect Murder

  Purrfectly Deadly

  Purrfect Revenge

  Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

  Purrfect Heat

  Purrfect Crime

  Charleneland

  Deadly Ride

  Neighborhood Witch Committee

  Witchy Start

  Saffron Diffley

  Crime and Retribution

  Witchy Fingers

  Witchy Trouble

  Witchy Hexations

  Witchy Possessions

  Witchy Riches

  Box Set 1 (Books 1-4)

  The Mysteries of Bell & Whitehouse

  One Spoonful of Trouble

  Two Scoops of Murder

  Three Shots of Disaster

  Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

  A Twist of Wraith

  A Touch of Ghost

  A Clash of Spooks

  Box Set 2 (Books 4-6)

  The Stuffing of Nightmares

  A Breath of Dead Air

  An Act of Hodd

  Box Set 3 (Books 7-9)

  Standalone Novels

  When in Bruges

  Once Upon a Spy

  The Whiskered Spy

  The Ghost Who Came in from the Cold

  Enemy of the Tates

  Short Stories

  Felonies and Penalties (Saffron Diffley Short 1)

  Purrfect Santa (Mysteries of Max Short 1)

  Purrfect Christmas Mystery (Mysteries of Max Short 2)

  Purrfect Christmas Miracle (Mysteries of Max Short 3)

  Copyright © 2017 by Nic Saint. All rights reserved.

  Published by Puss in Print Publications.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fict
itiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Editor: Chereese Graves.