Spirits of the Pirate House Read Online Free PDF

hoping
someone would take the lead. Tom Sr. ran a hand through his stylish
salt-and-pepper hair and spoke first. “I’ve been in touch with The
Adventure Channel people, as well as Mike Weinstein, the host of Gonzo Ghost Chasers. They have arranged for us to
occupy four efficiency units at the Jobson’s Cove Apartments Hotel
on the South Shore. Mike and I will have our own units, the boys
will share one, and T.J.’s cousin LouAnne will have the fourth.
This has all been cleared with my brother-in-law, Mike Darcy.”
    “I really appreciate this, Tom,” said Mrs.
Bortnicker. “It will allow me to attend the Feng Shui workshop in
New York City during that week. I signed up for it ages ago—”
    “We know, Mom,” interrupted Bortnicker,
obviously hoping to derail a long monologue on the benefits of Feng
Shui living that had become Pippa’s trademark.
    “Anyway,” continued Tom Sr., “the boys will
be allowed to take their freshman finals a week early and we’ll hop
a plane to Bermuda that first Friday in June. Mike Weinstein is
supposed to be there already, and he’s bringing all the equipment.
LouAnne will be a couple days behind us because she has finals and
a big track meet to close out her spring season that she refuses to
skip. So, she’ll fly out of Philadelphia, and we’ll pick her up at
the airport.
    “After that we’re on Mike Weinstein’s
schedule. Make no mistake—although Bermuda is the ultimate vacation
destination, the kids are going to have to put in a lot of hard
work to finish up in their allotted time of under two weeks.”
    “Such as?” queried Pippa.
    “Well, for starters, Mike will have to verse
them on the usage of the various ghost hunting gadgets used on the
show—the electronic voice phenomena stuff and whatnot. Remember,
there’s no film crew on site. The team does its own filming as it
conducts the investigation. Mike’s involvement on site will be
minimal—that’s the whole idea of this Junior Gonzo show or
whatever they’re going to call it.”
    Mrs. Bortnicker frowned and furrowed her
eyebrows. “And you really believe in this stuff, Tom?”
    The elder Jackson chewed on the inside of his
cheek, realizing that the boys’ eyes were upon him. “Pippa,” he
said evenly, “if you’d asked me this a year ago I’d have told you
that Gonzo Ghost Chasers was just another schlocky
paranormal show and that the idea of spirits and ghosts moving
among us is a bunch of baloney.
    “But last year, something happened to those
kids down in Gettysburg that they all swear to. And what’s more, so
does my brother-in-law, whom I’d trust with my life. So, to answer
your question: yes, there are a lot of ridiculous, exploitive ghost
shows on TV, and Gonzo Ghost Chasers can be as over-the-top
as any of them. But if there is a pirate’s ghost in Bermuda, these
kids are as qualified as anyone to prove it.”
    T.J. felt his chest puff out with pride at
his father’s words, and Bortnicker lightly kicked him under the
table in agreement.
    “But where does the SCUBA diving come in?”
she asked worriedly. “Why is it so necessary?”
    “Apparently, this William Tarver had a sloop
called The Steadfast that may or may not have been
discovered off the reefs near where he established an estate, no
doubt financed by the spoils of his pirate adventures. It sits in
only 25 or so feet of water. So, The Adventure Channel wants them
to check it out for any clues as to its age or use.”
    “And they’re qualified to do this?”
    “Of course not!” laughed Tom Sr. “But
remember, it’s a ghost hunting show, not some treasure quest.”
    “Of course, Mom,” broke in Bortnicker
sweetly, “if we do find jewels and stuff, you’ll get your cut.”
    “Very funny. I’m just worried about sharks
and such.”
    “Well,” said Tom Sr., “if it makes you feel
any better, the dive shop owner who found the wreck, Jasper
Goodwin, will be the guy running us out there on his boat, for
which The