The Black Heart Crypt

Zack and Judy reached the crossroads of Highway 31 and State Route 13.

To the west, they saw the swirling reflection of red police lights.

“You think the ghost horse ran somebody off the road?” asked Zack.

“I guess it’s possible. We don’t really know all the rules for ghost animals, do we?”

“Not really. There was that crazed cat at the Hanging Hill Playhouse. But it was more like a zombie than a ghost.”

They made their way to the Rocky Hill Farms subdivision and cruised up Stonebriar Road to the lip of their driveway.

“Uh-oh,” Judy said as glanced up at the house. “More trouble.”

“Yeah,” said Zack, because he saw it, too: a frantic shadow-puppet show playing on the living room curtains. A tall woman being chased by three short ones. Several cats flying through the air. Lamps and vases falling willy-nilly.

“Come on,” said Judy.

They ran to the house.

The front door flew open.

A tall woman in a business suit stumbled out backward. She was kind of wobbly on her legs, like her high-heel shoes didn’t fit.

“I need to see Zachary!”

Uh-oh, Zack thought. The voice sounded familiar.

The tall woman whipped around.

Double uh-oh. It was Aunt Francine.

His dead mother’s sister!