Part 1: Mystery at Montauk

Chapter 1: First Day of Summer

I thought my adventures were over, but they were just beginning. This beginning is very shocking. After all, my friend Jamal graduated from middle school with me, but we were going to a different high school. We would never have been together if it wasn't for my friend, Ghostwriter. He was a big help in many cases. Without him, many of my friends would be in big trouble now.

But on that first day of summer, the summer right before high school, I was bored to no end. "Dad, I have nothing to do."

"Well, honey," my dad said, "if you have nothing to do now, it will be a very, very, very long summer."

Instantly, I saw Ghostwriter write off of my book, RALLY J.

"I knew I forgot about something. My friends had something planned today. I'll be at Jamal's house!" My dad started to look confused. "Bye, now!"

"But weren't you just…" my dad shouted as I slammed the door. "bored silly with nothing to do?"

I was on my way to Jamal's house, wondering why he would call a rally. I was in for a shock when the person to greet me at his door was not Jamal; it was Calvin Ferguson. He had tricked us a lot, and was scheming many devious ways before.

"Lenni, it's my pleasure to see you here!" Calvin exclaimed.

"And it would be my pleasure to see you leave." I said sarcastically. "Why are you here anyway, and where's Jamal?"

"Jamal is getting things ready. I'm glad you and your detective friends will finally help me! It's about time."

I walked past him. I saw Casey digging through newspapers.

"What are you looking for?"

"The results of the Slime Monster story contest are going to be announced in the newspaper one of these days."

Jamal signaled everyone to come upstairs.

"I'm sorry for this early morning rally. Calvin has something to say about…"

"Thank you, Jamal! I'll take it from here!" Calvin said as he cleared his throat. "I came across a book about time travel at the library, and came across a conspiracy theory about a military project, the Montauk Project located at Camp Hero on Long Island. There are rumors that the government's military has had the ability to travel through time for years at this base on Long Island. The government, of course, denies it. But the government would want to keep it a secret. I want you to investigate it for me."

"How?" asked Alex.

"My cousin works over there. He will let you in the base building. Find the time tunnel, a tunnel that can take you to any time or place you wish. Whether you go back in time or head to the future, I want solid proof that you time traveled. Show me the proof, and you will be well rewarded. I can promise you that."

"And what if we don't?" questioned Gaby.

"Do it…or else!" Calvin threatened.

"Or else what?" Jamal asked.

"You'll have to wait and see."

"It's going to take a lot longer to convince us to investigate it for you!" I said. "Why won't you do it?"

"My mom thinks it will ruin my good image." Calvin mimicked.

"What good image?" Alex asked. "The image that you taught your former parrot to say, 'Awk! You're brilliantly stupid, Calvin!'" Everyone in the room laughed, except for Calvin. I figured he wouldn't.

"Hey! I did not ask Jamal to use his secret E.T. Phone Home game to get you all here to insult me! If you prove it to me, I won't take any credit. Furthermore, I'll make sure it gets published not only in The City Sun, but also in Scientific American. You will be national figures!"

"Only to get arrested for spilling out a government secret!" Jamal argued.

"Yeah!" Alex agreed. "The CIA will be on us like hawks!"

"You're never going to convince us!" Tina said.

"What if I gave you $100 each? And if I get in trouble, will you take the blame for me?" Calvin said persuasively, fanning out 7 hundred dollar bills.

"Maybe." Hector said.

"Hector!" Alex shouted.

"Is there a stranger in the house?" Jamal pretended. "I was told never to accept money from strangers!"

"Hey! I guess I was wrong about you guys! I'll just have to ask Jeffry to see if he'll do it!"

"Wait…" Jamal shouted! "Watch Out!"

Calvin slipped on a banana peel by the steps. He fell down, and started tumbling down the stairs.

Once he was at the bottom, he yelled, "You will all pay for this!"

"Gotcha!" Casey giggled.

"Fine," I said. "We'll investigate it for you. We'll even accept the hundred dollars and get you proof. But you will have to take us there, and if you get in trouble, so be it!"

"Nice one!" Jamal exclaimed.

"Fine! It's a deal! Now I will leave with all of my dignity left." Calvin complained as he left.

Despite making the deal with him, I didn't know how much things would turn to the worst. Soon, the team would lose both me and Ghostwriter!