pROLOGUE

 It was a dark and stormy night. Olympia Funglebottom was very much awake. Strangely, she didn't feel the urge to fall asleep. It was a complete and total unorthodox situation for the young girl. She was usually such a heavy sleeper. What had gotten in to the curious girl? She felt energy surge through her entire body. She decided to take a moonlit walk to release her thoughts.

The walk was anything but relaxing. She kept bumping into mysterious criminals, though her instincts told her not to call the cops. She continued her mind-boggling walk. Suddenly, she bumped into a criminal smoking a cigarette. Unlike the other encounters, this time she thought it was best to call the cops. Not the state cops, her cops. 

                Chapter 1

I hereby declare the first ever meeting of the Night Ninjas to order," Olympia Funglebottom proclaimed. Her best friends, Taylor Simpson, Connie Barber, Nell McIntire, and Jayla Rodney were also part of the club. "Do you know what would be better?" Connie interrupted. "Don't we need positions? Like a president or a secretary?" "Interesting point," Olympia said, scratching her chin. "I guess we could. I'll be president because the club was my idea, Nell

can be treasurer because she's crazy smart, Connie can be vice president because having positions was her idea, Taylor can be secretary because she fills out detention forms all the time at school so she can probably handle a little paperwork, and Jayla can be the alternative officer because she's a really fast learner." Olympia took a deep breath, expecting everybody to reject. "That's great as a plate of fresh, juicy grapes," Taylor said with a warm smile. Nell nodded in agreement. "Do you think it's good enough to pull through?" Connie exclaimed enthusiastically. "Sweet," Jayla said  

and tossed one of her golden curls happily. Olympia sighed, relieved. Instead of rejecting, they actually accepted for once. "Well, are you going to declare this meeting to order or are we going to have to switch positions?" Taylor said with a laugh. Everybody else in the room laughed too, including Olympia. Taylor was always the funny one in the group. "Okay, okay," Olympia said. "I hereby declare this meeting to order."  There was a silence. "So, Taylor, who are our clients?" Olympia asked, breaking the silence. "We don't have any, Miss President," she said confidently.

"Really? Not one client?" Olympia asked. "Nope on a rope," Taylor said. "Okay," Olympia said. "What do we do now?" Connie asked. "We wait," Olympia replied. "For what?" Connie asked. "For people to call, of course," Olympia said. "What do you want to do in the meantime?" Connie asked. "I don't know, just play on your cell phone or something," Olympia said.

They played on their cell phones for ten minutes, and nobody called. Finally, ring-ring-ring!  Olympia reached for the landline, but Jayla got it first. "Hey! I'm the president!" Olympia shouted. "But I'm the alternative officer," Jayla said. Olympia shrugged. "Touché," she said. Jayla put her ear to the landline. "Hello, Jayla Rodney, alternative officer of the Night Ninjas speaking," Jayla said professionally. The person on the other end said something. She sounded like she was in a hurry. "Ah, yes," said Jayla with a massive eye roll.

"Hold please." She put her hand over the receiver. "This woman's crazy," she whispered. "She said she saw a ghost." "Don't keep her waiting!" Olympia snapped. "The client wants what the client wants." Jayla took her hand off of the receiver. "Sorry to keep you waiting," Jayla apologized, taking Olympia's advice to heart. The woman on the other end said something. This time it sounded like she was screaming. "Um, ma'am?" Jayla asked. The woman on the other end said something. "You saw the ghost just now? That's why you were screaming?"

Jayla asked with another eye roll. "One sec," she said and put her hand over the receiver again. "She's gone mad!" she whispered. "She said she saw the ghost just now!" "You're supposed to soothe the client, not criticize the client!" Olympia reprimanded. Jayla rolled her eyes again. She took her hand off of the receiver. "Very sorry for making you wait again," Jayla said. "What is your first and last name, what time do you need us, and where do you need us?" 

The woman on the other end told Jayla the information. "Mary Hans? Please spell that just to make sure," Jayla said and took out her notebook. Mary Hans spelled out her name as Jayla wrote it down. "And you said to meet you at your house at 6:30 P.M. next Thursday?" Jayla confirmed. Mary said something that sounded like 'yes'. "Where is your house?" Jayla asked. Mary told her. "23 Huckleberry Lane?" Jayla said.

Mary said another thing that sounded like 'yes'. "Alright," said Jayla. "See you next Thursday! Have a nice day!" Jayla hung up. "She definitely lost her mind," she said.

              Chapter 2

Next Thursday, at 6:30 P.M., the Night Ninjas went over to 23 Huckleberry Lane to go ghost hunting. Jayla was convinced Mary Hans was mad, but the others found it as a great opportunity to get business going. Olympia opened the door to 23 Huckleberry Lane. Creeeeeak! She gulped. They invited themselves in.

"Mary Hans?" Olympia asked. No answer. "I told you!" Jayla said. "Don't jump to conclusions just yet, Jayla. We're still not sure she's not in here. It's a big house. We need to make sure we've checked everywhere before we can say for sure Mary Hans is missing," Olympia said. "It's a big haunted house, that's for sure," Jayla scoffed. Olympia ignored her, but secretly she believed her. Who would schedule somebody to come over, but not be home when they come?

They checked the four bathrooms, six bedrooms, mudroom, study, lounge, kitchen, dining room, living room, and office. Nothing. "There's only two places we haven't checked," Olympia said. "What places?" Connie asked. Olympia gulped. "The basement and the attic," she said with a quiver in her voice. "You know, guys, I think I should stay behind and double-check everything, don't you think? I mean, who has six bedrooms for only one person?" Connie said shrilly.