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about her now, not when summer vacation had just begun. She needed as much freedom as possible to solve the mystery of this latest ghost.
    It was easier all around to let them think everything was fine. Which it was, really, she told herself. Except for the matter of poor Michael having an allergy attack every time the ghost showed up.
    But before anything else, she needed to call Dub. She let him grumble a little about being awakened so early on the first morning of vacation. Then she hit him with the news. She told him how she had figured it out, taking him step by step through her reasoning process.
    â€œWow!” he said, immediately sounding fully awake. “Weird. But it makes sense, I guess.” He added thoughtfully, “As much sense as anything else about ghosts.”
    â€œI thought my other two ghosts were frustrating,” Allie said ruefully. “I didn’t realize until now how helpful it was that they could speak .”
    â€œDon’t worry, we’ll figure it out,” said Dub. “But first things first. You have to walk Hoover. And we said we were going to L.J.’s today to get that over with. I was thinking we could kill two birds with one stone. We could walk to L.J.’s with Hoover on the leash. Then we’ll have the rest of the day to try to crack the case.”
    Allie loved when Dub used expressions such as “crack the case.” It made what they were doing sound so official. Even better was the confidence with which he said they would figure it out.
    â€œGreat idea,” she said. “Except isn’t it kind of far to walk?”
    â€œNot really,” said Dub. “It’s probably only a mile and a half, maybe two miles each way.”
    â€œWe can take some food and drinks in our backpacks,” said Allie, warming to the idea. “And some water for Hoover.”
    â€œIt’ll be good exercise for her. Part of her healthy new lifestyle. Don’t forget to pack lots of low-cal treats,” Dub added slyly.
    â€œWhen will you be here?” Allie asked.
    â€œHalf an hour.”
    â€œPerfect.”
    Allie went downstairs and joined her mother and Michael at the kitchen table.
    â€œHi, Mom.”
    â€œMorning, sweetie.”
    â€œDid Mike tell you he got into bed with me last night?”
    â€œYes. He said he had a bad dream, but he won’t tell me what it was about. He says it’s a secret.”
    Allie looked at Michael and he gave her a conspiratorial smile. She didn’t want to start talking about the dream. Michael loved the idea of secrets, but he wasn’t very good at keeping them. He’d already said more than Allie would have liked. Quickly, she held her finger to her lips, then turned back to her mother.
    â€œWell, he was really stuffed up again. Don’t you think he should start taking his allergy medicine? I’ll be seeing Hoover a couple times every day for the next week or so, and I’ll probably have dog cooties or whatever you call them all over me.”
    Mrs. Nichols looked at Michael, who did appear miserable. “You know, I think you’re right, Allie.”
    She got up from the table and went to the phone. Allie heard her leaving a message on Dr. Waheed’s answering machine, saying that she was starting Michael on the pills the doctor had prescribed.
    Good, Allie thought. Even if the effect of the dream dog wore off later in the day, there was no telling when its ghost might appear to her or to Michael again. This way, Michael would be protected, at least from sniffles and red eyes.
    â€œMichael and your dad are going fishing today,” Mrs. Nichols said, returning to the table. “Do you want to go with them? I’m sure they’d wait until you got back from Mr. Henry’s house.”
    â€œWell, I would, but Dub and I talked about taking Hoover for kind of a major walk. The vet told Mr. Henry she needs to lose weight, so we thought it would help.