The Hanging Hill

29

“I’m not sending you home, Zack,” Judy said as they waited in the lobby for the elevator, which was working again. “But I am sorry we won’t be able to spend as much time together as I thought we would.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just hang out with Zipper and Meghan.”

“You guys are friends already?”

“Yeah. She’s neat. Oh, by the way—she loves that song the crazy man just asked you to change.”

“Really?”

“Yep. I think Mr. Grimes is just showing off. Acting tough on the first day so everybody will know he’s the boss. But this theater wasn’t the only one that wanted to do the world premiere of Curiosity Cat! There was a bidding war, remember?”

Judy smiled. “So tell me, Zack—how come you always know exactly what to say?”

“I dunno. Maybe I learned it hanging out with you.”

The elevator arrived. The sour-faced janitor was riding it. He slid open the accordion cage door.

“Is it working?” Judy asked.

“Aya.” The creepy old man stood there and worked his lips around in slow circles like he was gumming a banana. “But you can’t take it to the basement.”

Judy smiled. “No problem. Our rooms, which, by the way, we do indeed have, are up on the fifth floor.”

“Elevator doesn’t go to the basement.” Now the grizzled old geezer squinted so hard you’d need a topographical map to trace all the craggy lines on his face. “Basement’s dark. Scary.”

“Right,” said Judy. “We’re going up to five.”

“Young person might think he could have all sorts of exciting adventures in the cellar, what with all the costumes and props stored down there. But that young person would be wrong!”

“We’re sort of in a hurry,” Judy said as sweetly as she could.

“I need to take our dog out for a walk,” added Zack.

The janitor waggled a finger. “Don’t take your dog to the basement, boy!”

Zack rolled his eyes. “Right. The basement is off-limits. Got it.”

Finally, Mr. Kimble stepped off the elevator. Zack and Judy climbed in. She closed the sliding door while Zack punched the button for the fifth floor.

“Going up!” Judy said when they started their smooth ascent.

The janitor stood in the lobby watching them.

“Boy,” said Judy. “He must be hiding something pretty incredible down there in the basement!”