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bang.
    The voice cried out one more time, and then — silence.
    â€œWow,” said Tyler, walking up to Charlie.
    â€œSo, who’s this Mister Ken guy?” asked Charlie.
    â€œBeats me,” said Ty. “He could be a magician, maybe? They always call themselves Mister this or Mister that. I wonder if he used to live here a long time ago and maybe died in the hotel.”
    â€œOr maybe it’s the ghost of Abracadabra,” added Charlie.
    â€œLet’s ask Brack, when his elevator gets here,” said Tyler. “He knows everything about this place.”
    â€œMaybe there’s a record of accidents that happened here,” said Charlie. “We could Google it, I bet.”
    He pushed the button for an elevator, but when the next one came, it was not Brack’s.
    â€œNo problem,” said Tyler. “We need to go back downstairs anyway.”
    As they stepped inside the elevator, Charlie thought about the ghost that had shown itself to the elderly operator. Something about Brack’s story didn’t sound right.

When they reached the first-floor lobby, Tyler led Charlie past the front desk and down a broad flight of steps. At the bottom, they walked through several more corridors and finally came to a huge room with a shiny wooden floor.
    â€œYou have a bowling alley down here?” exclaimed Charlie. His voice echoed in the large, empty space.
    â€œYup,” said Tyler. “With nine lanes. But it’s closed now because of the ghost.”
    â€œDon’t tell me he stole the bowling balls,” said Charlie.
    â€œNo, the pins,” Tyler said. “Not all of them. Just nine. One from each alley.”
    â€œThis is getting weirder by the minute,” said Charlie.
    â€œAnd it’s not over,” said Ty.
    As he led Charlie back toward the marble steps, they passed another door. Actually, it was a set of double doors. Charlie noticed that the carved wooden doors were each decorated with a face. One face was smiling, and one was frowning.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Charlie asked.
    â€œOh, that’s the old theater,” said Tyler, sounding bored.

    Charlie darted over and peered inside the doors. It was another huge room, bigger than the bowling alley. Rows and rows of red velvet seats faced a large stage. The stage curtains looked about a mile high. They were pulled to the sides, so that the shiny wooden floor of the stage could be clearly seen. It was one of the most amazing rooms Charlie had ever seen.
    Charlie rubbed his hand along the back of one of the theater chairs. “Cool,” he whispered.
    â€œNo one’s used this place for years,” said Tyler. “This is where they used to have the old magic shows. Come on, let’s go.”
    He led Charlie back up the stairs and into the hotel’s main floor restaurant, the Top Hat.
    Several of the tables and booths were already filled with hungry guests. At the back of the dining area was the kitchen. Warm air and chattering voices greeted the boys as they passed through the kitchen’s swinging doors.
    â€œHey, Dad!” yelled Ty.
    A tall man wearing a tall white chef’s hat hurried over to meet him.
    â€œTyler, you shouldn’t be back here,” said Mr. Yu. “Only cooks and waiters.”
    â€œI know, I know,” said Tyler.
    â€œWho’s this?” asked his father, gesturing toward Charlie. “Your friend from school?”
    â€œYeah, this is Hitch,” said Ty. “He’s here because he’s interested in the ghost.”
    â€œAh,” said his father, nodding his head. “Our phantom friend.”
    Charlie noticed that the older Yu had the same eyes as his son. But his face was much friendlier. Tyler must get his scowl from his mom , thought Charlie.
    â€œTell him what the ghost took from your kitchen, Dad,” said Tyler.
    â€œI don’t know if it was a ghost,” said Mr. Yu, smiling. “But someone