The Case of the Haunted House--Part Eight
by HA

Shirley managed to get a good night's sleep, with no sign of Katrina in her dreams. As a result, she returned to her morning routine of getting the newspaper before her father could. Among the more interesting items she clipped from the newspaper were an article on the toy dragon and its riddle and the Harrison house debate.

Taking her bike to school, she met up with Bo and Blake in the hallway. "Well, someone got a good night's sleep," Bo commented.

"I sure did," Shirley said, opening her locker.

"Back to the usual routine?" Blake asked.

"Yes," Shirley answered, searching through her locker. "Dad lamented the loss of his non-cut paper this morning. The dragon's riddle hasn't been solved yet, and I'm still trying to figure it out."

Bo lowered his voice. "Blake told me what happened last night. I'm actually at a loss. Sherlock actually failed."

"Well, I was beaten by a superior opponent," Blake whispered. "Now I just want to know who Excalibur is."

"From what was in his message to you, he or she seems rather generous," Shirley said, taking out what she needed. "If anyone else had discovered you, you would've been at the police station facing charges of computer hacking."

"Yeah, it was a close call," Blake said, relieved. "Apparently, someone doesn't like me digging in too much."

"Did you guys see the news last night?" Bo asked. "The footage of the fight those guys had with Damian was either gone or screwed up."

"I've heard," Shirley said, closing her locker. "Rather unusual, don't you think?"

"Tell me about it. The reporter said the footage was checked before it aired. It was fine," Bo said.

"Guys, we'd better get to class or we'll be late," Blake said urgently.

They made it to their first class on time. As they made it to their seats, the school's public address system crackled to life. "Attention, all Sussex Academy students!" the voice of Ms. Stratmann boomed. "I have an important announcement to make before the usual items."

"What? The cafeteria will be serving pizza every day from now on?" Bo quipped in a low voice.

Shirley shook her head as Ms. Stratmann continued her announcement. "I am pleased to report that there will be a new option to the curriculum of Sussex Academy. Starting today, applications for the Knight Foundation Scholarship Program will be made available. Students who are interested in this independent study program can pick up an explanation of the program along with an application from the administrative office..."

"Looks like Sussex Academy's accepted Mr. Knight's terms," Blake whispered to Shirley as Ms. Stratmann continued her announcements.

Shirley nodded silently. She knew one person who would be applying for the program.

* * * * *

At lunch, Shirley saw Bart heading towards her table carrying some papers. He also had a large smile on his face.

"Well, somebody's happy," Bo said as Bart sat down. "You do know that the Science Club is determining your fate today after school?"

Shirley looked at the papers Bart had. "The application for the Knight Foundation Scholarship Program?"

"Exactly," Bart said with gladness in his voice. "I've gotten most of it filled out and I've gotten an adult's permission from a person considered a parent or guardian. I just called Grandpa a while ago if he could stop by after school and if I could get his signature. He was okay with it after I explained everything. Once I get a final reference and finish the written part, I'm turning it in after school. Grandpa will meet me and I can get his signature."

"That's quite a plan, Bart," Blake remarked.

Shirley examined the application and found the written section. "'Essay questions: What are your beliefs on the nature of man? Describe yourself as a person. What would you do to better mankind? Note: Please print with a black or blue pen. Use extra paper if necessary. Above all, be honest,'" Shirley read. "Interesting questions." She also noted that Bart had most of the written part done in blue ink.

"Bart, don't keep us in suspense. Why are you in such a cheerful mood today?" Blake asked.

Bart blushed before saying what happened. "Susan e-mailed me last night."

"Well, that explains everything," Bo said, then he paused. "Wait a sec, you guys exchanged e-mail addresses?"

"After the get-together at the Quazar Cafe," Bart recalled with a sigh.

"We've lost him," Bo whispered to Shirley, noticing the lovesick look on Bart's face.

"She's simply amazing," Bart said with a sigh, his eyes looking skyward. "We have so much in common. We're both into hi-tech stuff. More importantly, we're both interested in the supernatural, paranormal, and preety much weird things in general. We almost own the same books on those subjects." Bart looked at his friends. "Susan's so open-minded about stuff like that. She's dedicated to finding out more about aliens, ghosts, UFO's, and the like, just like me. We were meant for each other," he said dreamily.

"Oh yeah, we lost him," Bo said, shaking his head.

"So, what did she say in her e-mail, or is that private?" Shirley asked.

"Actually, she wants you guys to know," Bart said.

"Know what?" Blake asked.

"She's invited me to join a club that specializes in studying the supernatural and paranormal," Bart revealed excitedly. "Imagine, a group of kids that are just like me. They have a meeting this afternoon."

"Great, just what we need, a junior version of the Redington Paranormal Society," Bo muttered.

"Susan says they're more than just the Redington Paranormal Society," Bart said. "She really stressed that."

"Right," Bo said dryly.

"Did you accept her invitation?" Shirley asked.

"I e-mailed her a reply as soon as I was done reading her message," Bart replied. "I said 'yes.'"

"Just like that?" Blake asked.

"Just like that," Bart said with a nod. "There's also something else she told me to do if I said 'yes.'"

"What would that be?" Shirley asked.

"She also would like you guys to come with me," Bart told his friends.

"What?" Bo said. "Come again?"

"Why us?" Blake asked.

"Well, Susan said the head of the club invited you three to the meeting. She said he's very anxious to meet you. That is, if you can make it," Bart explained.

"Hmmmmmm..." Shirley thought for a moment. She saw the perfect opportunity to find out more information about the group of mysterious kids she had just met a couple of days ago. Shirley gave her answer quickly. "We'll be there, Bart."

* * * * *

That afternoon, Shirley waited for Bart to pick her up. She was wearing a finely decorated cylindrical cap. Her parents went out for dinner at a formal restaurant, so she told Gran that she would be going out with friends and would probably be back late. She did not tell Gran the reason for her going out; in fact, she was not so sure why she was invited.

The doorbell rang, and Shirley answered the door. She found Bart standing alone. "Hi, Bart," Shirley greeted.

"Hi, Shirley," Bart said. "We'd better hurry. The meeting starts in an hour."

"Where's the meeting being held?" Shirley inquired.

"Somewhere downtown," Bart answered.

"Well, we'd better get going," Shirley said as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. "I'm going now, Gran! I'll see you later!"

"Bye, dear!" Gran shouted as Shirley left the house.

"So, how did you get here?" Shirley asked her friend.

Bart pointed across the street. Parked there was the black van Damian drove. As they got closer, Shirley recognized the boy dressed in black standing near the sliding door at the side of the van.

"Come in," Damian said as he opened the door for Shirley. Bart took the front passenger seat. As she stepped inside, he said, "Please fasten your seat belt."

Shirley found Bo and Blake seated and buckled up inside the van. "Hi, guys," she said.

"Hi, Shirley. Welcome to the Grave Express," Bo joked.

Shirley looked around the van's interior. Blue velvet dominated the inside. "Um, right."

"Hey, at least it isn't a hearse," Blake quipped.

Both boys broke out into laughter. As Shirley closed the door and took her seat, she wondered if Bo was having too big an influence on Blake.

Damian took the driver's seat. "Please fasten your seat belt," he repeated.

Shirley did that, and the van was on its way. As they drove through Redington, they all talked.

"So, how did the Science Club meeting go, Bart?" Shirley asked.

"I barely kept my membership," Bart revealed. "The vote was close. I stayed in because my supporters outnumbered the other side by two."

"That is close," Shirley remarked. "Did you turn in your Knight Foundation Scholarship application yet?"

"I did," Bart answered. "I had good timing. A guy from the Knight Foundation was there to pick up all the applications turned in today. Grandpa showed up just in time to sign my papers. The guy said they'd be processed ASAP."

"Hey, Damian. Where are we going?" Bo asked.

"You will see," Damian replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

As the van moved past various buildings, Shirley noticed that they were passing through Bo's neighborhood, then she found they were in another. The van made a turn and parked in front of a building.

"We are here," Damian told his passengers.

"Finally," Bo said. He looked out the windshield as saw what the building was. It had a storefront window with the following written on it in red letters: CHANG'S CHINESE AND FILIPINO CUISINE. Two golden Chinese dragons hovered above and below this sign.

"A Chinese restaurant?" Bo said, surprised.

"A Chinese and Filipino restaurant," Blake corrected.

"Whatever," Bo said, rolling his eyes.

"Hmmmmmm..." Bart said, sounding a little disappointed.

"The meeting is here?" Shirley asked Damian.

"That is correct," Damian responded.

"Well, then..." Shirley unbuckled her seat belt, got out of her seat, then unlocked the door, but just as she was about to open it, it locked again. "What the...?"

"Please leave your backpack here," Damian told the junior detective. From the look on Damian's face, he was serious.

"I'd do what he says, Shirley," Bo whispered. "Remember the nice men he whipped at the Harrison house."

"If you insist." Shirley removed her backpack and left it on her seat, then unlocked the door again. The door locked again just as she was about to open it.

"Please leave your pen camera and any recording devices you have on your person," Damian insisted.

Bart stared at the amateur sleuth. "Shirley."

Shirley reached into her pockets and removed a small object that resembled a pen and a small tape recorder. She placed them into her backpack.

"Busted," Bo whispered to Shirley, grinning.

"All of you, please empty your pockets and put everything in Shirley's backpack," Damian ordered.

"Yeesh," Bo said as he, Blake, and Shirley put whatever was in their pockets into the backpack.

"That is better," Damian said, satisfied. "Better to hear it from me now than later."

"Why?" Shirley asked.

"You will find out," Damian replied cryptically.

Shirley unlocked the door, and this time she was able to open it. She exited first, with Bo and Blake behind her. Damian and Bart exited the van, and the four friends stood before the restaurant while Damian locked up the van. They saw a lot of customers in the restaurant enjoying their meal.

"Do not worry about your things, Shirley. This van is well-secured and it has a car alarm," Damian reassured the junior detective.

"Gee, I feel so relaxed now," Bo quipped.

"Please follow me," Damian said, starting to walk past the building.

"Aren't we going through the front?" Blake asked.

Damian stopped momentarily. "No," he said before continuing on his way.

"Well, let's follow him," Shirley told her friends, and they did.

END OF PART EIGHT