Mystery is Our Middle Name
Sunday, 9:20 a.m.
I pumped my pedals hard up Willaston’s narrow pebbled driveway and stopped next to a squad car parked in front of the house.
“I already told your pals, and now I’m going to tell you,” said the police officer sitting behind the wheel. “This is no place for kids.” She climbed out and made a dismissive gesture with her baton. “Scram.”
“But—”
“Now,” she ordered in a tone that warned me it was time to go.
“Come on,” I told my associates.
Seth inched up warily and pulled one of our business cards from his pant pocket. He handed it to her.
“Are you frightened by strange noises in the night?” she read aloud. “Do you experience feelings of dread in your attic or basement? If so, don’t wait another second, call the …show more content…
“Seen any ghosts lately?”
Twist shook his head. “Hey, you heard me yell, right?”
“Yell?” Jack snickered. “Nah. I heard you squeal like a stuck pig.”
“Little girl. Stuck pig. Whatever.” Twist raised an eyebrow. “The point is you heard me. But would you have heard me if the window was closed?”
“I guess not.” He shrugged. “What’re you getting at?”
“The screams everyone heard and the dog that didn’t do anything.” Twist pounded on a stack of old tires lying in the yard to emphasize his excitement.
I glanced at Seth. He looked as confused as I was.
“Huh?” I said. “What are you talking about? Do you think the dog screamed? Or is the dog the ghost, and that’s why he did nothing? Wait. He did do something—he whined twice.”
“I don’t have time to explain.” Twist ran into the mobile home and headed for his room.
I gave up and followed him.
Seth did, too.
He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. “Hello, Miss McBride. This is Twist with the agency. Your call? No, ma’am. We’ve been out all day. Who? Chance. Where’d he go? Oh, no. I’m sorry to hear that.” He rubbed at the back of his neck with one hand. “Yes, I agree kidnapping is a serious crime. Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we