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

shoulder toward the front door. An empty taxi was sitting by the curb.
    Charlie looked at the suitcases again. Things were starting to make sense to him.
    â€œI think we need to go back up to the ninth floor,” said Charlie. “There’s something else missing from the bathroom in Room 909.”

“I don’t hear the voice,” said Tyler.
    â€œMe either,” Charlie said. “Just wait.”
    They were walking through the hallways again on the ninth floor. When they reached Room 909, Tyler unlocked the door with the passkey. He’d grabbed it while Rocky was busy with the heavy suitcases that had just arrived.
    â€œOkay, Hitch,” said Tyler. “What’s the deal with Mr. Thursday’s bathroom?”
    â€œLook at the curtain rod,” said Charlie. “See anything?”
    â€œUh, no,” replied Tyler. “I already told you that the ghost, or whatever it was, stole the shower curtains.”
    â€œRight,” said Charlie. “But I remember something from the other bathrooms. Since I have acute visual memory, I remember …”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I know,” said Tyler, with a frown. “You remember everything you see.”
    â€œAnd the other rooms don’t match this room,” Charlie said.
    Tyler frowned, but he took off and ran to one of the other hotel rooms.
    Charlie followed as Tyler rushed inside the other room and disappeared into the bathroom.
    â€œWow!” came his voice.
    â€œSee it?” asked Charlie.
    Tyler walked slowly out of the second bathroom and stared at Charlie. “You did it again, Hitch,” he said. “This bathroom has the curtain rings still attached.”
    â€œThey all do,” said Charlie. “Except for the curtain rod in Mr. Thursday’s bathroom. The shower curtains and the rings are missing.”
    â€œBut why?” asked Tyler. “What’s the difference?”
    â€œLet’s see, there are about twelve or so rings on each rod,” Charlie said thoughtfully. “Someone wanted those rings.”
    â€œThey’re not valuable,” said Tyler. “Just made out of metal.”
    Ooooooh-ooooooohhhhhh!
    The boys stared at each other. The voice had returned.
    â€œThis guy is starting to tick me off,” growled Tyler. He rushed out of the room and strode down the hallway.
    â€œWhere are you?” he called out. “What’s your problem?!”
    Charlie followed him, listening closely to the phantom sound.
    â€œ Mister Ken … ahhhh … uhhh … Mister Ken … ”
    The moan echoed through the hall.
    â€œWait here,” said Charlie.
    He rushed back to the hallway where he had earlier noticed the ghost’s voice growing softer. Yes, it was still soft in that area.
    Charlie walked down the hall until the voice seemed louder again.
    There has to be a logical explanation , he thought.
    He dropped his backpack onto the carpet and knelt down. He fished through one of the pockets to find his notebook and a pen. He wanted to write down all the clues they had discovered so far.
    Then he noticed something. When he was kneeling down on the floor, the sound was louder.
    What is going on? he thought.
    Staying on his knees, he crawled to one side of the hall. No, the sound was normal. Then he crawled to the other side. The voice was louder.
    Charlie stared at the dark wall. The wallpaper design of big black flowers stretched all the way to the floor. But in the dim light, Charlie could see that there was a small vent disguised in the black petals. He pressed an ear to the vent and heard the ghostly voice loud and clear.

    He sat up and called out, “Hey, Tyler! Come here!”
    Tyler rushed into the hall. “You saw it?” he asked.
    Charlie shook his head. “No,” he said, “but I heard it.” He pointed at the vent. Tyler bent down and listened closely. They both heard Mister Ken’s name cried out again.
    â€œI know