The Black Heart Crypt

“Try to get some rest, you guys,” Judy said to Zack and Zipper as she switched off the lights in the basement rumpus room. “I have a feeling tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.”

“So no school?” asked Zack from the sofa bed.

“No. Your dad and I just discussed it on the phone. Too many Icklebys had ‘hurt Zack Jennings’ on their To Do List. Barnabas probably does, too.”

Zack nodded. “Payback for Dad’s aunts yanking out his tooth.”

“Exactly. So you and Zip are with me until the police arrest Norman Ickes.”

Zack was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.

He had a horrible dream about mice playing card games in coffins with crazed cats, followed by another, featuring headless skeletons being chased by a demented dentist screaming, “Did you floss between your ribs?”

Around three in the morning, Zack woke up when he once again heard heavy panting and the sloppy sound of dribbling dog drool.

He peeled open an eye and looked over at the battered lounge chair. His grandfather was sitting there, petting the slobbering Black Shuck dog, who had dimmed his eyeballs to an orangish night-light glow.

“Hey, Grandpa.”

“Zack. How you holding up, champ?”

“Pretty good, I guess. Your sisters sent a dozen Ickleby souls on to, well, wherever it is souls like that go. But now we have to find the black heart stone we gave to Norman so we can seal up Barnabas, who everybody thought was a good guy, but, it turns out, he’s where the evil all started.”

Grandpa Jim nodded.

“But,” said Zack, “there’s only one problem: Nobody knows where the black heart stone is except Norman or Barnabas or maybe this ghost named Crazy Izzy Ickleby, but your sisters already sent him away and …”

Zack saw a strange look flicker across his grandfather’s sparkling blue eyes.

“What?” he said. “Do you know where Crazy Izzy hid the stone?”

Now Grandpa Jim squirmed in his chair.

“Even if I do, Zack, I can’t come right out and tell you.”

“Are those guys upstairs ever going to change these stupid rules? Because I gotta tell you, Grandpa, they sure make dealing with demons a whole lot harder than it has to be.”

“And when I tell you about the stone, should I tell you who thinks you’re the cutest boy in the whole sixth grade?”

“Well, you don’t have to tell me everything. You can definitely skip the mushy junk.”

“I’m trying to make a point here, Zack.”

“I know. Oh, did you hear? My real mother popped by for a visit.”

“I know.” Grandpa Jim leaned forward and looked around to make sure nobody was listening (even though nobody else was in the basement, just the two dogs). “You should listen to what your mother told you tonight.”

“Really?”

“She isn’t like she used to be, champ. Dying changes a person. Makes them regret the mistakes they made when they were alive.”

“Have you seen her?”

“No. But, well, I’ve heard things. Susan Potter is working hard, trying to …”

Zack heard the distant rumble of thunder.

Grandpa Jim shook his head. “I swear, they have ears everywhere.”

“What? Who?”

“Nothin’. I said too much.” Grandpa Jim started to fade into his chair, the dog into the carpet. “Listen to what your mother told you, Zack. Right before she vanished. Listen good!”

The Black Shuck dog disappeared.

Grandpa Jim lingered for a moment longer, worry lines creasing his face.

Then he vanished, too.