The Black Heart Crypt

The three great-aunts paraded back into the kitchen.

“Judy? Zack?” said Aunt Hannah. “We need to go up to the Haddam Hill Cemetery and deal with the Icklebys.”

“Like you guys did back in 1979?” said Zack.

Aunt Ginny looked surprised. “What do you know about 1979?”

“Zack and I talked to Father Abercrombie today,” said Judy.

“Really?” sniffed Hannah.

“He told us that you three were the ones who arranged to have the Ickleby caskets moved to North Chester.”

“We had to,” said Sophie. “Those twelve ghosts were making so much mischief up in Massachusetts. Why, they even killed a cat. Grizzmaldo.” She made a slicing gesture across her throat.

Pyewacket, Mister Cookiepants, and Mystic meowed in disgust.

“So are you guys gonna go fumigate the whole crypt with sage candles?” asked Zack.

“No,” said Aunt Hannah with a scowl at Aunt Ginny. “We’re going to lock them back up. Zack, we need the sealing charm.”

Now Zack was confused. “Huh?”

“When we put the Ickleby coffins into the abandoned Spratling crypt, we fashioned a special lock to prevent their spirits from ever escaping their new resting place.”

“Even on Halloween,” added Aunt Sophie.

“Now, it seems,” said Aunt Hannah, “someone has broken open that seal.”

Aunt Ginny turned to Zack. “I’m sorry, dear, but it’s true: Pyewacket and I conspired to have you and your friends pry open the sealing stone.”

“Really?” said Zack. “ ’Cause I don’t think we did.”

Ginny smiled. “Oh, you did. That’s why the Ickleby spirits are on the prowl. I had hoped we might be able to take them out, one by one—like we did with Eddie Boy and Little Paulie.”

“We don’t blame you or your friends,” said Hannah.

“But we need to lock ’em back up, Zack,” said Sophie. “Before they cause any more trouble.”

“Like whatever happened at the cemetery tonight,” added Hannah. “All those police cars you saw.”

“Zack,” said Ginny, “we need the charm back.”

“But I didn’t take it.”

Now all three Jennings sisters were staring at him.

The way Zack’s mother used to stare at him when she swore he was lying.