Meet the G H O S T Squad Girls Hunting Oddities Supernatural Things Luna Discovered her psychic abilities in third grade when a spirit warned her about the vegetables hidden under her pizza cheese That night she also discovered her mother a popular and totally embarrassing psychic on TV is not psychic at all Other Loves soccer and cheerleading Hates broccoli Mags Short for Magdeline Her family has lived in New Orleans since it was founded in 1718 They know pretty much everything about everyone And if they don’t know Mags knows how to dig up the dirt Mags has a brain full of history knowledge and she’s not afraid to use it 4
Other Best back tuck on the cheer squad Afraid of clowns and pufferfi sh Don’t ask why she won’t talk about it Scarlett Cheer captain skeptic and technology genius Enjoys code cracking hacking and teaching her service dog Dakota strange tricks Lost her left lower leg in an accident Became gymnast and cheerleader soon after Other Founded G H O S T Squad in third grade after Luna told her about the invisible hero who saved her from a mouthful of greens Still doesn’t totally believe in ghosts Still totally loves ghost hunting Dakota Labrador Scarlett’s service dog Recently learned to skateboard and sneeze on command But not at the same time Yet Other Can smell ghosts Will do anything for bacon 5
Case ID Weird1 Location New Orleans Museum Background Famous romance writer’s jewelry box collection on display Odd activity observed since exhibit opened Reported Activity Music boxes playing by themselves Typewriter sounds no typewriters Boxes in locked display cases switched overnight Possible causes in building Prankster Spirit Spirit prankster Boxes grow arms type novel set in boxing ring On Boxing Day Inside a box in a boxing ring on Boxing Day t s S c a rle t Hila rio u 6
Chapter 1 Cooties Shhh Listen Did you hear that Luna whispered She pulled Scarlett and Mags away from the crowd of students gathered around the museum tour guide What I don’t hear anything Mags said Scarlett put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side eyes narrowed I don’t hear anything either she whispered But man this place smells like old potatoes Mike is talking about asking Bee to the school dance Luna whispered grinning She looked at Scarlett then Mags What Why are you looking at me like that I thought you heard a ghost Mags said Or something else exciting Scarlett said Well Mike used to say girls have cooties and now he likes one so that’s weird and exciting isn’t it No Mags said 8
