Read A to Z Mysteries: The Deadly Dungeon for Free Online

“Check this out!” He had crossed the drawbridge and was standing in front of an enormous wooden door. He tugged on the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge. “How the heck does Wallis get in?”
    Just then Dink heard a car. A red Volkswagen convertible zoomed up to the gate. The horn tooted, and a hand waved wildly.
    “It’s Wallis!” shouted Dink.

“Welcome!” Wallis yelled.
    She looked the same as Dink remembered: happy smile, curly brown hair, mischievous eyes.
    “What do you think of Moose Manor?” she asked. “Isn’t it fun?”
    “I love it!” said Ruth Rose.
    “It’s awesome!” Josh said.
    Wallis laughed. “It is something, isn’t it? Help me with these groceries, and I’ll take you on the grand tour!”
    The entrance to the castle turned out to be a regular-sized door aroundthe corner. Wallis and the kids carried bags of groceries into a large room. Dink saw a washer and dryer, wooden pegs for hats and coats, and a pile of sneakers and boots.
    “This is my mud room,” Wallis said. “The kitchen is through here.” She shoved open another door with her hip.
    Dink had to tip his head back to see the high ceiling. The usual kitchen stuff was there, with a long wooden table in the middle. A black chandelier hung over the table.
    “This place is humongous!” Dink said.
    “That’s why I love it,” Wallis said. “Let’s put the food away and I’ll show you around.”
    The kids quickly emptied the bags while Wallis put the milk and ice cream into the refrigerator.
    “Okay, the tour begins in the royalliving room,” Wallis said. “Follow me!” She led them into the biggest living room Dink had ever seen.
    The first thing Dink noticed was the chandelier hanging right over his head. It was as big as Wallis’s car!
    A marble fireplace took up almost one whole wall. The mantel was dark wood, carved with all kinds of animals.
    “This place is amazing!” Dink said.
    “Geez,” Josh breathed, peering into the fireplace. “You could burn a whole tree in here!”
    Wallis flopped onto a pile of floor cushions. “Some winter days I wish I could,” she said. “It gets mighty cold up on this cliff.”
    “How old is this place?” Ruth Rose asked, peering up at the tall stone walls.
    “Pretty old,” Wallis said. “It was built in the 1930s by a movie star named Emory Scott.”

    “Awesome!” Josh said.
    “What happened to him?” Dink asked.
    “Well…” Wallis raised her eyebrows and lowered her voice. “According to the town gossip, he died suddenly. Right here in the castle. In fact, sometimes I think I hear his ghost!”
    The kids stared with open mouths.
    Then Dink laughed. “Come on, you’re just kidding, right?”
    “Why? Don’t you believe in ghosts?” Wallis asked with a grin.
    “No way!” they all yelled.
    “Well…” Wallis stood up. “Maybe Emory will introduce himself when he’s ready. In the meantime, why don’t I show you your rooms?”
    The kids grabbed their packs and followed Wallis up a wide stone staircase to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was a dim hallway with several doors.
    Wallis pointed to one. “That’s my room. Ruth Rose, yours is there, and I’ve put you boys together, right across the hall.”
    Wallis tapped on a narrow door at the end of the hall. “This one leads up to the roof.”
    Dink opened the door to their bedroom. Like the rooms downstairs, the ceiling was high. A blue carpet covered the stone floor. The twin beds had bright red covers.
    Dink went to the window and looked outside. All he could see were pine trees. “Where’s the ocean?” he asked.
    “On the other side,” Wallis said. “Why don’t you settle in, then come down for lunch?”
    Ruth Rose went to her room. Dink and Josh dumped their packs on their beds.
    “This place is so cool,” Josh said, wandering into their bathroom.
    Dink stacked his books on the table next to his bed. He pawed through his clothes, then changed into shorts and a