Hocus Pocus Hotel by Michael Dahl Read Free Book Online Page A

behind his ears and walked back toward the desk.
    â€œWell, that could explain our ghost,” said Charlie.
    â€œWhat could? Rocky?” asked Tyler.
    â€œNo, the passkey,” said Charlie. “Rocky said he was missing it for a little while, right? So while it was gone, someone could have used it to get into the rooms on the ninth floor and steal the shower curtains.”
    â€œYou’re right,” said Tyler.
    â€œAnd does the passkey let you into the bowling alley and the kitchen?” asked Charlie.
    â€œYeah. It unlocks every door in the hotel,” said Tyler.
    â€œSo that’s how the thief did it,” said Charlie. “Stole the spoons and shower curtains and everything.”
    â€œBut how could you steal a key right in front of someone?” asked Tyler. “Rocky’s not that smart, but he does notice things. He knew you and I were over here behind these plants and vases.”
    â€œRight,” Charlie said. “That’s why I think it had to be a magician.”
    â€œWhy?” Tyler asked.
    â€œMagicians use the trick I’m thinking of all the time,” said Charlie. “It’s called palming. It’s how they can hide an object in their hands, right under your nose. Or they distract you, make you look at something else, while they put the object in their pocket.”
    â€œHmm,” said Tyler. He strode across the lobby and stopped at the front desk. Rocky was busy working at a computer.
    â€œHey, Rock,” said Tyler. “The day you couldn’t find that key, were there lots of people checking in?”
    â€œI’m busy here, Ty,” said Rocky.
    â€œJust tell me what you dropped on the floor that day,” said Tyler.
    â€œJust someone’s credit card and … hey, how did you know I dropped something?” Rocky asked, turning from the computer.
    â€œElementary,” said Tyler, with a smirk. “Whose card was it?’
    â€œAnd when did all this happen?” added Charlie.
    Rocky thought for a moment. He brushed the hair out of his eyes and said, “It was Thursday.”

    â€œThanks, Rock,” said Tyler.
    Then Charlie asked, “And were any of those people you checked in named Ken?”
    â€œYou’re starting to bug me, kid,” said Rocky.
    â€œHey, can you answer his question or not?” said Tyler.
    Rocky frowned and looked quickly at his computer screen. “Nope, no Ken. Hey, no Ken do. Get it? You asked if I could answer his question, and I said, ‘No Ken do.’ Ha.”
    â€œYou’re a comedian,” said Tyler. “Come on,” he told Charlie.
    The two boys walked away from the counter. Tyler shook and head and shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “What a weirdo,” he mumbled. “Well, now what do we do?”
    This puzzle was more bizarre than the Mr. Madagascar one.
    This was more than just a magician trying out a fancy trick. This mystery had a ghost, a wavering voice, missing bowling pins, spoons, and shower curtains. What did bowling pins have to do with ghosts? What did silver spoons have to do with shower curtains?
    Or maybe not exactly shower curtains , Charlie thought. There was something he had seen in Mr. Thursday’s bathroom that he hadn’t seen in the others Tyler had showed him.
    The other thing, the weirdest thing, was that Charlie was sure there was a phantom cleaner in the hotel. Things were being cleaned without anyone else realizing it.
    Suddenly, grunts echoed through the lobby. Charlie turned and saw a couple of men walk toward the counter where Rocky was working. Rain dripped from their clothes and their shoes.
    The men had thick necks and broad shoulders, but they were struggling with two huge suitcases. They set them down by Rocky, then took out handkerchiefs and wiped their foreheads.
    â€œThanks,” Rocky said.
    â€œWe got one more,” said one of the men. He jerked his thumb over his