Party Summer Read Online Free PDF Page B

said. “I really don’t believe this.”
    â€œMaybe he’s building a monster down in his basement laboratory,” Jan said. “He’s about to bring it to life tonight, and he doesn’t need four teenagers interfering with his plans.”
    â€œOoooooooo,”
Eric howled a scary movie howl. “Welcome to Castle Frankenstein!”
    â€œGive us a break,” Cari said, sighing.
    As Eric started to howl again, the front door was suddenly opened all the way. “Whoa!” Eric cried in surprise and stumbled down the steps off the porch.
    A tall, distinguished-looking man with wavy white hair and a full white mustache stood before them in the doorway. He was wearing a khaki safari jacket over stylish, pleated white trousers. He smiled at them, and his dark eyes seemed to twinkle.
    â€œGood evening,” he said in a deep rich voice. His smile didn’t fade as he looked at them as if searching for someone he knew.
    Jan said hello and started to stammer out something else. But he interrupted her. “Please accept my apologies for the behavior of my servant, Martin.I am afraid that your appearance caught Martin a little off guard, and the poor man doesn’t deal with surprises very well.” He chuckled, a warm, conspiratorial chuckle.
    â€œI’m a bit surprised to see you here myself,” he said, staring at Jan. “Where is Rose? I understood she was coming with you.”
    â€œMy aunt got sick before we reached Provincetown,” Jan explained. “She told us to go on ahead. She’ll come on the next launch. Didn’t you speak to her?”
    â€œYou must be Jan,” the man said, not answering her question. He extended a large hand and shook Jan’s vigorously. “Yes. Yes. I can see the family resemblance.”
    â€œThank you,” Jan said uncertainly, finally managing to disentangle her hand from his.
    â€œExcuse me. I’m being as rude as Martin,” the man said, holding the door open wider and motioning for them to go inside. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Simon Fear. Simon Fear the Third, to be precise. I am the owner of this humble inn.”
    â€œSimon Fear?” Cari blurted out. “I live on a street called Fear Street. Back in Shadyside. There’s an old burned-out mansion down the block. It’s—”
    â€œIt belonged to my great-uncle,” Simon said. “A very mysterious man, as I’m sure you’ve heard. I haven’t been back to Shadyside in many years, not since I chose to live here year-round. Has it changed much?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Cari said, not sure how to answer.
    â€œIs everyone in the Fear Street cemetery stilldead?” Simon asked, and then he laughed heartily, throwing his head back and closing his eyes.
    Cari and her friends, dragging their bags into the front hall and lobby, replied with nervous laughter.
    Cari studied the lobby. It was huge but sparsely furnished, with dark wood walls and a high ceiling with exposed wooden beams. The chairs and tables, grouped along one wall and in clusters in the corners, were heavy and wintry, dark wood and plush velvet and leather cushions, not what Cari expected to find in a summer resort.
    It looks more like a hunting lodge, she thought.
    â€œJust leave your bags here,” Simon Fear instructed. “Martin is probably preparing rooms for you now. When he’s finished, he’ll take the bags to your rooms.”
    â€œWhere is everyone?” Jan asked, scanning the vast, empty lobby.
    â€œWe’re closed,” Simon said, pulling at his white mustache and studying her as he answered her question. “I can’t believe your aunt didn’t receive my letter.”
    â€œLetter?”
    â€œYes. The phones were out all last week. So I sent an overnight letter. Rose knew we were refurbishing the inn, redoing the dining room and some of the guest rooms in the old wing. I