Ghost Squad Page #4

- Charlie?

- Shh!

You can put the knife away,

goggles.

It's just a branch. Must

have broke off in the wind.

Hey, a Ranger can never

be too careful.

Who got mashed potatoes again?

Get me the six-piece

extra-crispy combo, Russ.

Wings and drumsticks only.

You think you could call me dad,

at least when we're in public?

Okay, dad.

White meat, extra sauce.

Can I help you

with something?

You're Brandy Benson.

Do I know you?

You're the screensaver

on my brother's computer.

Your picture,

he stares at it all day.

And your brother is?

- Charlie. Charlie Hamilton.

- I told you he was a stalker.

You know he's only doing this

to impress you.

What do you mean?

I know all about him spending the

night in the old Sullivan place.

Him and the other two rocket

scientists he hangs out with.

You're prettier in person.

What a weirdo.

I'm worried about Charlie.

I should have never let him agree to

this stupid thing in the first place.

First of all,

you didn't let him do anything.

He made his own bed

and now he has to sleep in it.

That bed just happens to be an

incredibly scary old haunted house.

Just lightning.

I think we'll keep this on

just in case.

Just in case what?

That had to be

the basement door, right?

Yeah, it's just the wind.

Okay, the wind

blows the door shut.

I heard it slam.

So how exactly does the wind

blow it open again?

Okay, Mr. "It's just the wind,"

you want to explain that one

to me?

Your dad's gear

is completely off the hook.

Dude, look at

those little losers.

You got the place

totally rigged.

That's nothing.

Check it out.

I bet this scares them

right out of the house.

What was that?

Is there someone in here with us?

I say we get

the heck out of here.

I've said "uncle"

enough times in my life

to know when to say it,

Charlie.

And this is one

of those times.

He's right.

Let's get out of here, Charlie.

- To heck with the bet.

- I'm not leaving.

I've always wondered what a

ghost looked like up close.

- Are you crazy?

- Nope.

I just don't believe

in ghosts.

If I don't make it back,

make sure Todd doesn't get

my $25.

Gah!

Didn't want you

to have all the fun.

Hello?

Let's run!

Help me with this, you guys!

Put your backs up against it!

Turn your light on, Charlie.

I can't see a thing in here.

It's out there.

I dropped it.

Nice going, Charlie!

Where's your cactus jack

ranger light?

I left it

in my sleeping bag.

Well, we're not getting out

this way.

- What time is it?

- What does that matter?!

Sunrise is 6:
48 a.m.

I looked it up!

I say we stay right here

until it's light.

Then we make a break

for the front door.

Look, if whatever is out there

wanted to hurt us,

it would have done it already.

Maybe it's just trying

to scare us.

It's doing a pretty good job.

D- d-did you just see that?

That sheet just moved.

Maybe it's just the wind

again.

There is no wind

in this room.

What am I looking at?

I could have sworn

that thing moved.

Look, there's got to be a logical

explanation for all of this.

This house is really old

and it's got creaks and drafts

and all kinds of crazy stuff.

Just like my grandma Arletta.

It's moving again.

Didn't we just go through this?

Guys?

Charlie?

I think he's right.

- Run!

- Which way?

To anywhere but here!

Go!

Oh, are you all right?

I tripped over something.

I think you tripped

over this.

What is it?

Come on.

Just as I thought.

Jake.

Him and his meathead friends

rigged all this up

so that we'd leave

and they'd win the bet.

I mean, think about it-

slamming doors,

the scary footsteps.

Come on.

Let's see what else

they set up for us.

Yeah.

Maybe we can give them

a little surprise.

Carol, we're out of candy.

Mr. Hamilton?

There's something

I need to tell you.

Whoa whoa, what's going on?

I told you

not to touch anything.

I didn't touch anything.

Well, then what happened

to the picture?

Maybe a ghost got 'em.

Very funny.

We're missing all the action.

- Reboot it.

- I did. It's not working.

Come on,

let's go get a closer look.

Uh, how close exactly?

Front-row seats.

So you knew your brother was sneaking

off to pull this crazy stunt

- and you didn't tell anybody?

- Dad, he begged me.

I don't want to hear

another word from you.

$25? Is that what a lie

goes for these days?

Mr. Hamilton,

Charlie was really determined.

Charlie and his friends

lied.

What if they got hurt

or they needed help?

I wouldn't even know

where to find them.

Mr. Hamilton.

Didn't you do anything like this

when you were a kid?

My dad was never a kid.

All right,

get in the van, Todd.

I'm not done with you. Come on,

I'll give you a ride home.

And then I'm going

to deal with this nonsense.

Let's go!

Watch it, Russ.

There's your Sullivan-Gang

ghosts,

all in one neat little pile.

This is Jake's dad's stuff.

That's how they rigged

the entire house.

It's also how they made

all the doors close and stuff.

No ghosts, huh?

You sound disappointed.

A little.

Maybe we should just leave now.

They'll never know

the difference.

Forget about that.

Look, when we walk out of here

tomorrow morning,

I want to see the look

on Jake and his friends' faces

when we throw all of this stuff

right back at 'em.

Neanderthals!

But before we go,

let's take one last look around

to make sure that there aren't

any more surprises.

Please?

Come on.

Let's check out all the windows

and meet back here.

We'll see who has the best view

inside.

And don't make any noise.

Those little dorks think

they're so smart, don't they?

You're mad, aren't you?

Good night, Brandy.

Sorry you had to get dragged

through all this.

I'm not.

Charlie's my friend.

I know he lied to you, Mr. Hamilton,

but it was for a good reason.

Yeah, to prove to those other

kids he's some kind of tough guy.

That's not Charlie,

Mr. Hamilton.

I think he did it to prove

to himself he wasn't afraid.

It's not easy

being a kid, you know?

Especially when you're afraid

all the time.

What would you know

about that?

I'm scared all the time

that people won't like me,

that I'll disappoint

my parents,

that people will realize

I'm a dork

just like everybody else

and I won't be popular anymore.

I guess it's tough

being a kid sometimes.

That's exactly what I've been

trying to tell you, Russ.

Shut up, Todd.

There's nothing back there.

Same here.

Rooms are all empty.

They're in there. I just saw

a flashlight in the hallway.

Hold on, I think

they're coming back.

I think I see something.

You hear that?

Go go go! Go go go!

Guess it was nothing.

Man, this was so much

more fun than trick-or-treating.

There's always a next year.

You'll be 14 next year.

Hey, as long as people

are giving out candy,

I'm putting on a costume.

I don't care if I'm 50.

What was that?

Some kind of

prehistoric monster.

- There's no such thing.

- What was it then?

Big teeth, red eyes,

claws to rip your face off.

Whatever it was, those little

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