There was about thirty seconds of stunned silence before George demanded, "What do you mean your 'dad owns the mansion'?"

"Exactly that," said Paul. "He owns it, the house, the graveyard, everything. I don't know how, but he does. At least that's what he says."

Master Gracey somehow managed to look paler than he already was. "When," he began, his voice weak with worry, "did you hear this?"

"Just about an hour and a half ago. I rushed over as soon as I could."

"What," George's strong voice cracked and he cleared his throat, "what does he plan to do with it?"

Paul stared down at the floor. "I don't know."

Courtney, always the optimistic one, said, "You said he visited the mansion before, right? And he came back. So, maybe, he really likes Gracey Manor and he made some kind of deal with the Mayor so that he can make repairs and give it a new paint job."

Master Gracey looked up at the portraits and sighed. "Perhaps," he muttered quietly. He cleared his throat and tried to regain his aristocratic demeanor. After straightening his tuxedo jacket, he declared, "I'm going to retire to my office for the afternoon. Keep up the scares, emu girls. Shutterbug boy, let me know if there's any updates." He walked out through one wall.

Myrriah leaned in close to Courtney's ear and whispered, "Do you really believe what you said?"

Courtney shook her head. "No, I've got a bad feeling about the whole thing."

Myrriah bit her lower lip, but didn't say anything.

"Uh, guys," Paul said timidly. He was looking around frantically. "How do I get out of here?"

Any worries Courtney had seemed to vanish as she and Paul danced. Mr. Baker was still playing the same old dirge on the organ. Several other ghostly couples were waltzing around them, giving curious looks. Kids, they thought, certainly danced oddly these days.

"Can't he play something less depressing?" asked Paul.

Courtney laughed. "Trust me, I tried that already. Not a good idea. I tried to play Bohemian Rhapsody and these little ghosts in the pipes went ballistic."

"You know how to play Bohemian Rhapsody? I love that song!" At once they started singing it, a little too off key and loud for the dancing spirits, who groaned and shot them disgusted looks. They laughed.

"How did you die?" asked Paul after he managed to stop laughing.

Courtney tried to smile, but couldn't. "We were in a really bad car accident."

"Both of you?" asked Paul. He turned to look at Myrriah who was sitting at the long dining table chatting with Victoria. "What happened?"

"We snuck out to this party, and her brother Cody found out and got us. But this one boy was really drunk and he chased after us and drove her brother's car off the road. Cody and the other guy were fine, but we, well, you know."

"I'm sorry," said Paul. "About how long ago did it happen?"

Courtney thought about it for a moment. "I'd say 'bout six months. I remember the paramedics putting our bodies into the ambulance. My parents were there. I've never seen them look so sad. I said good-bye to them, but I don't know if they heard me. Myrriah's parents were out on some weekend trip, so she didn't even get to tell them she loved them or give them a final good-bye. She didn't want to go to her house when they got back. She couldn't face them. She blames herself for what happened."

"Why?"

"Because it had been her idea to go to the party, which was weird. She never did anything like that before. Myrriah was the shy, goody two shoes. I was the outgoing, party girl." She seemed as if she was about to cry. "I teased her a lot about that. I think she wanted to prove to me that she wasn't some quiet, little bookworm." She sniffed and wiped away the tears. "I guess it was all my fault, then."

Paul was silent, trying to think of something nice to say to make Courtney feel better. "It wasn't your fault, or her fault. If anything, it was that drunken guy's fault. If he hadn't run your car off the road…"

She looked as if she was about to argue with him, but instead gave him a quick hug. "You're a sweet guy, Paul."

He smiled and shrugged one shoulder. "Yeah, I know."

Courtney laughed, not so much at Paul, but out of the relief of getting the guilt off her chest, and kept dancing.

The three kids walked out of the mansion, and onto the front porch. "Maybe you're right, Courtney," said Paul. "I can't imagine my dad actually doing something really terrible to this old place. After all, he knows that it's a home for so many ghosts. I don't think he could ever be that heartless."

"Think again," said Myrriah darkly, pointing to a large sign on the front lawn. In big, bold letters it read:

Coming soon! The Liberty Square Mega Mall! Over a hundred stores and outlets, and the largest Food Court in the country!