Charlie Hitchcock was the smartest kid at Blackstone Middle School.

Tyler Yu was the most feared, because of his temper, his muscles, and the scowl he always wore.

Although they were both in the seventh grade, they had never spoken to each other at school. But together, they had solved an impossible mystery a few days ago.

This afternoon, they stood once more in the vast, shadowy lobby of the Abracadabra Hotel, where Tyler lived with his parents. They were back at the Abracadabra to solve another mystery: Tyler was sure the hotel was being haunted by a ghost.

Outside the building, an October thunderstorm crashed and boomed. Lighting flashed, lighting up the giant painting that hung on the lobby wall. The man in the painting was a magician, Abracadabra himself, the founder of the hotel. He was tall and skinny, with a thin black mustache ending in two enormous spirals. The lightning reflected off his dark shiny eyes.

Zombie eyes, thought Charlie.

Tyler glanced over and asked, “You’re not spooked, are you, Hitch?”

Charlie put his hands in his pockets. “Oh no,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’m standing in an empty lobby in a creepy hotel in the middle of a thunderstorm, and you just told me that there’s a ghost floating around here. Why should I be spooked?” he said, rolling his eyes.

He turned and looked out the hotel’s glass doors. Sheets of rain fell on the street and sidewalk. “I’m going to get soaked when I go home,” he said.

“When did you tell your parents you’d be home?” asked Tyler.

“Uh, I didn’t say,” Charlie said.

“Good,” said Tyler. “Come on. I’ll show you the room where the ghost struck first.”

“But why do you think it’s a ghost?” asked Charlie. “I mean, did someone see a spirit or something?”

“It’s because of the voice,” said Tyler.

“Voice?” Charlie repeated. Without meaning to, he shivered. He hoped Tyler didn’t notice.

“And because of stuff disappearing,” said Ty. “And because of what Mr. Thursday said.”

Why did I let myself get dragged into another mystery with Ty? wondered Charlie. Because it was another puzzle? Because he was afraid Tyler would pound him into the dirt if he didn’t help him?

“My mom doesn’t believe in ghosts,” said Ty. “She thinks I’m making up excuses for not wanting to go up to the ninth floor. And she says if I don’t find the missing stuff, it will come out of my pay.”

Charlie knew what no pay would mean. If Tyler didn’t get paid, he couldn’t buy the dirt bike he was saving up for. A Tezuki Slamhammer 750, Edition 6, in cherry-pop lightning red.

Tyler had once shown Charlie a picture of the bike. It was super cool, if you were into that sort of thing. But making you pay for things that had disappeared, when it wasn’t your fault — that didn’t seem fair.

“What does your dad think about the ghost?” Charlie asked.

“He doesn’t go up to the ninth floor either,” said Ty. “Especially since he heard the voice.”

Thunder crashed and Charlie jumped. Tyler noticed, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t even grin. Instead, he simply said, “Come on, Hitch.”

The taller, dark-haired boy led the way across the lobby, past tall marble columns and tall potted palm trees. A row of elevators lined the back wall. Their shiny metal doors shone like gold.

The elevator car on the far left was open. Inside stood a thin, elderly man in a maroon-and-black uniform. He smiled a wrinkly smile and waved his hand at the boys.

“Dang!” said Ty. “Wait here. I have to grab the passkey.” He spun around and sprinted toward the lobby desk.

“Hey, take my backpack and put it behind the counter,” said Charlie.

“I’m not your assistant,” said Tyler. As he rushed away, his shoes made wet prints in the thick, blood-red carpet.

“Master Yu is always in a hurry,” said the old man. His name was Brack, and he was the hotel’s only elevator operator.

“He knows I can’t stay that long,” said Charlie.

“Are you helping him solve another mystery?” asked Brack.

Charlie swung his backpack onto one shoulder. “I like puzzles,” he said. “Well, actually, I hate puzzles. They bug me until I figure out the answer.”

Brack nodded thoughtfully. “Then prepare to be bugged,” he said. “Our hotel is full of puzzles. Riddles and mysteries are built in the walls.”

No kidding, Charlie thought.

Just then, Tyler appeared back at the elevator, breathing hard. “Got it,” he said, holding up the key. “Ninth floor, Brack.”

Thunder shook the building. “Hey, Mr. Brack,” said Charlie. “You don’t believe in ghosts, right?”

“Believe in them?” replied Brack. “Of course I do. Why, I’ve seen them.” He pushed a button, the golden doors shut, and the elevator car shot upward.