Ghost Detectors Volume 1

A special thanks to Melissa Markham —DE

For Rebecca —HM

Copyright © 2013 Scarletta

Published by Scarletta Junior Readers, an imprint of Scarletta

This book is a collaborative arrangement between Scarletta and ABDO Publishing Company.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to reality is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, write to Scarletta, 10 South Fifth Street #1105, Minneapolis, MN 55402, U.S.A.,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Enderle, Dotti, 1954–

[Short stories. Selections]

Ghost detectors. Volume 1. Let the specter-detecting begin. Books 1–3 / by Dotti Enderle ; illustrated by Howard McWilliam. — First edition.

         
pages
         
cm

Summary: In this first volume of three stories, ten-year-old best friends Malcom and Dandy thwart a practical-joking poltergeist, rid the Miller house of a ghost, and get to the bottom of some unusual paranormal activity in their elementary school. ISBN 978-1-938063-29-9

[1. Ghosts—Fiction.
  
2. Poltergeists—Fiction.
  
3. Supernatural—Fiction.
  
I. McWilliam, Howard, 1977– illustrator.
  
II. Title.
  
III. Title: Let the specter-detecting begin.

PZ7.E69645Gf 2013

[Fic]—dc23

2013009115

Book design by Mighty Media Inc., Minneapolis, MN

Cover: Colleen Dolphin • Interior: Chris Long

Distributed by Publishers Group West

First edition

10
  
9
  
8
  
7
  
6
  
5
  
4
  
3
  
2
  
1

BOOK 1

CHAPTER 1:
      
CON-FUSION

CHAPTER 2:
      
MAIL-ORDER MIRACLE

CHAPTER 3:
     
THE ECTO-HANDHELD-AUTOMATIC-HEAT-SENSITIVE-LASER-ENHANCED SPECTER DETECTOR

CHAPTER 4:
      
LIP-SYNCH

CHAPTER 5:
      
CHECK IT OUT!

CHAPTER 6:
      
THE FREAKY MCBLEAKY HOUSE

CHAPTER 7:
      
GRANNY-SITTING

CHAPTER 8:
      
THE TALE

CHAPTER 9:
      
SNEAKING OUT—SNEAKING IN

CHAPTER 10:
    
IT CREEPS!

CHAPTER 11:
    
WINDING DOWN

CHAPTER 12:
    
PAYBACK

BOOK 2

CHAPTER 1:
      
WAIT . . . WAIT . . . WAIT

CHAPTER 2:
      
BLACKMAIL

CHAPTER 3:
      
SUPERWEAPON

CHAPTER 4:
      
DOGSITTING

CHAPTER 5:
      
9-1-1!

CHAPTER 6:
      
I'M GONNA GET YOU!

CHAPTER 7:
      
BREAKING IN

CHAPTER 8:
      
COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE

CHAPTER 9:
      
GHOST HUNT

CHAPTER 10:
    
GOT YOU!

CHAPTER 11:
    
SPOOKY

BOOK 3

CHAPTER 1:
      
THE DAY BEFORE

CHAPTER 2:
      
UP AND AT 'EM

CHAPTER 3:
      
SLOW RIDE

CHAPTER 4:
      
GRUELING GOOLSBY

CHAPTER 5:
      
TELL NO ONE!

CHAPTER 6:
      
A MUDDY EXCUSE

CHAPTER 7:
      
FISHING FOR ANSWERS

CHAPTER 8:
      
IN AND OUT

CHAPTER 9:
      
SOLVING ONE PROBLEM, CREATING ANOTHER$$SOLVING ONE PROBLEM, CREATING ANOTHER

CHAPTER 10:
    
IDENTIFIED

CHAPTER 11:
    
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

                          
TOP FIFTEEN WAYS TO DETECT A GHOST, SPIRIT, OR POLTERGEIST

“S
o are you going to help me or not?” Malcolm asked his best friend, Dandy.

“Help you do what?” Dandy asked.

Malcolm narrowed his eyes like a real scientist. “The experiment I'm about to undertake in my lab. Are you going to help me?”

Dandy, whose real name was Daniel Dee, shrugged. “What kind of experiment?”

“Fusion,” Malcolm answered. He was more eager to start than to explain.

Dandy scratched his head. “Fusion? Is that a real word?”

“I don't make up words,” Malcolm said. “It's real.”

“Will we have to sneak your sister's blow-dryer again?” Dandy asked, grinning.

Malcolm grinned back. “Maybe.” He'd say anything to get Dandy's help, except make up words.

“Count me in!”

The boys bounced down the creaky steps into Malcolm's lab. Only it was really just the basement. Malcolm had shoved most everything stored there in the corner. On a long counter he kept his chemistry set, gizmos, and gadgets. The rotten-egg odor of last week's stink bomb still hung in the air.