What was that!" Whispered Jes, his eye wide with fear. "Shh" , said Luis, slowly edging his way up the creaking stairs. "Probably just a rat." It had been Luis's great idea to explore "Fletcher's place" as it was known, named after the eccentric old man who last lived there. It was the archetypal haunted house and had been deserted for years-nobody brave enough to buy it, or even break into it Luis had said. They'd been laughing about it just that afternoon, and had speculated wildly about the supposed murder that happened years before. School was out and they were both in high spirits so when Luis suggested a midnight raid, he'd readily agreed. Now, faced with the grim reality of a creepy, damp house, Jes was having second thoughts. "Was there really a murder here?" he thought desperately.