The Black Heart Crypt

Zack and Judy were whisked home in a police car.

“I’ll go in and grab Zipper,” said Zack as Judy transferred Aunt Ginny’s carpetbag full of gear to her own sporty sedan. “We might need his nose to help us find where they hid the stone.”

“Great idea. And call Malik. Tell him we’ll swing by and pick him up.”

“Right.”

They needed Malik to take the black stone puzzle apart again, which was the only way to dislodge the miniature black heart in the center. If Judy, Aunt Hannah, and Aunt Sophie could exorcise the Ickleby demon out of Norman’s body and then crush the black core, Barnabas’s soul would go straight down to H-E-double-hockey-sticks.

Zack called Malik.

“Can you take apart that black heart again?”

“Oh, yes. The second time you work a puzzle always takes much less time.”

“Great. We’ll meet you out front in five.”

Next, Zack scooped up Zipper, who was taking his morning nap, and started to carry him out to the car.

“Time for your nose to wake up, boy. It’s got work to do!”

Zipper barked once, leapt out of Zack’s arms, and raced him out to Judy’s car.