Read R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 06 for Free Online

mind if I walked over to Quentin's house and returned the case to him.
    I brushed my hair, changed my T-shirt, picked up the heavy case, and started to the door.
    “Whoa. Where are you going, Max?” Nicky and Tara blocked my path.
    “Out,” I said.
    They both gazed at the metal suitcase. “You're taking that to Quentin's?” Tara asked.
    I nodded. “Yes, if you'll get out of my way.”
    “Are you sure you want to go there alone?” Nicky asked.
    “There's something very suspicious about Quentin,” Tara said.
    “Maybe there's something suspicious about you!” I said. “Why did the boy in black say you were going to
kill
me?”
    “We don't know, Max,” Nicky said.
    “We really don't,” Tara agreed. “You don'thave to worry about us. It's that weirdo Quentin you should worry about!”
    I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break,” I muttered. “And stop saying that. There's nothing weird or suspicious about Quentin. Now, can I get out my own door?”
    “Okay, okay,” Nicky said, moving aside.
    “What a grouch,” Tara said. “We're only thinking of you, Max.”
    “Yeah. Sure,” I said, stepping into the hall and heading to the stairs.
    Tara put her hand on my shoulder. “Be careful, okay, Max? Be very careful.”
    I shut the front door behind me and stepped out into the warm, windy night. The trees were shaking their new leaves. The freshly cut grass gleamed under a bright full moon.
    I made my way toward Murk Drive, thinking about Nicky and Tara. They were angry about the birthday party. That was why they tried to scare me about going to Quentin's house.
    There's nothing to worry about, I told myself.
    What's the big deal?

13
    A F EW MINUTES LATER, I turned the corner onto Murk Drive. I could see the tops of the big stone and brick houses with their tall chimneys and slanted roofs. Tall hedges —way above my head — lined both sides of the street.
    The streetlamps looked old-fashioned. They cast an eerie silvery light over the sidewalks and hedges. As I walked along, the gusting wind shook the hedges and made them whisper.
    I followed the numbers on the mailboxes and stopped in front of Quentin's house. At first, I couldn't see the house because the hedge was too tall.
    I moved to the cobblestone driveway and gazed up the long front yard to the house. A tall brick house with chimneys on both sides, shutters on all the windows, and a wide front porch.
    The front of the house was dark. But I could see light pouring from some of the side windows. The long driveway curled around to the back, where I glimpsed a wide garage.
    Wow, Quentin lives in a
mansion
! I thought.
    I suddenly wondered if he had any brothers and sisters to share this huge house with. He had never mentioned any. In fact, he had never even talked about his mom or dad.
    I took a few steps toward the house —and the tall hedge trembled as if coming alive!
    I jumped back.
    “Whoa.” I scolded myself for getting scared of a hedge.
    Quentin's magic kit suddenly felt very heavy. I switched hands and started to walk up the long driveway. A bed of tulips lined each side of the drive. And I saw other f lower gardens near the front of the house.
    I climbed the stone steps onto the front porch and walked up to the broad front door. I set the case down and listened. I couldn't hear anyone inside.
    I knocked on the door. Then I knocked harder. My fist didn't make much of a sound on the solid wood.
    No sound from inside.
    I spotted a brass doorbell to the right of the door. I pressed the button once, twice, then held it down for a while.
    I couldn't hear it ringing inside. Was it broken?
    I raised my hand to knock again —but decided to try the doorknob instead.
    I turned it and pushed. The door creaked loudly as I opened it just enough to poke my head in. “Anyone home?” I called.
    My voice echoed down a long hallway.
    “Quentin? It's me, Max!” I shouted.
    Silence. From somewhere inside I could hear the loud ticking of a