Ghost Wranglers

By Sotirios Fox

"We call ourselves the Ghost Wranglers, and if you have an unexplainable problem, if something in your house goes bump in the night, call us. We can help." Meet the Ghost Wranglers: Cole, the group's leader and mastermind; Drew, the right hand man and seasoned investigator; Monica, the tech expert; and Keith, roadie and all around jerk.

The Ghost Wranglers are about to embark on what could be the biggest paranormal investigation of their careers, because tonight is the 80th anniversary of the infamous shootout between the violent Manners gang and FBI agents at the isolated Bunting Manor. While the Ghost Wranglers begin to investigate the supposedly haunted mansion, they're unaware that they're not the only living souls there.

Brother and sister Meg and Mitch McCrea, two bickering teenaged wizards, have returned to Bunting Manor on the anniversary of the shootout. Their plan? Summon the ghosts of the Manners gang and then banish them in order to find justice for their late grandfather, who was murdered by the bank robbers.

When the McCreas' ritual is interrupted, and the ghosts of the Manners gang begin roaming free around the mansion, events quickly turn nightmarish for the living. The two groups will have to band together if they are to stand any chance of surviving the vengeful ghosts.

Ghostly shootouts, talking taxidermied animals and ectoplasm in all the wrong places make for an acerbic, spirited novella from Sotirios Fox.

20,091 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turn Publishing
• Release date: Jan 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465948021

Sotirios Fox

Sotirios Fox’s last known whereabouts were in South Dakota. He is a working raconteur and speculative fiction author, which he believes might just be the coolest job in the world. At least, it’s up there alongside being a treasure hunter, gentleman adventurer or jai alai champion.

Book preview

Ghost Wranglers

A novella by Sotirios Fox

Smashwords Edition

Published by Turn Publishing

Copyright © 2012 by Sotirios Fox

Cover art © Gennadiy Kondratyev|Dreamstime.com

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ghost Wranglers

Part 1

Alright, Keith, stop playing with that piece of gum. Monica, look over here. Is Drew back from the bathroom? Good. Ok, listen up guys, Cole started. This is the Ghost Wranglers official debriefing.

Drew looked around the cramped bedroom. Cole, we’re not even on camera right now. We’re sitting in your bedroom.

Ah, yes, that’s very true, Drew. But I want us all to be psyched and ready for tonight’s show. Cause it’s gonna be the biggest one of the year, am I right?

Yes, Cole, everyone murmured in agreement.

Oh, come on, guys, I can’t be the only one here excited to investigate the Manners place, am I? He looked helplessly at his fellow Ghost Wranglers.

You guys do realize that Bunting Manor is going to be our first, well, big time investigation, right? Places like Billy’s House of Barbecue or the middle school downtown were the minor leagues compared to this place. This could be huge guys. I think this could be our big break. You know our ratings have been tanking this past season.

Cole, we’re a web show. We don’t have ratings, Keith said.

Ok, well, the monthly hits on our website are falling, haven’t they Keith? That’s what I thought. Now listen up, guys. Cole reached under his bed and produced a small whiteboard. It was covered in marker scribbles. He held it up in front of him so the rest of the team could see.

Bunting Manor, built at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was owned by Franklin Bunting, a big name trader and financial heavy hitter at the time.

Keith yawned. Don’t care.

Keith, shut up! We’re gonna look like idiots if we can’t even explain why our investigation site is supposed to be haunted. Now, like I was saying, eventually Bunting’s son, Stephen, came to care for the place after the old man’s death. Unfortunately, Stephen was a bit of a prodigal son; he didn’t really work, he wasted tons of money, he was a bad name for the family. And, as I bet you can guess, he was friends with Guy Manners and the rest of the Manners gang.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, we’re supposed to be there in an hour and a half and we haven’t even loaded up the wagon yet. So, while you’re busy in here geeking out over some stupid crap nobody except you cares about, I’m gonna go move some boxes. ‘Scuse me. Keith stood up and walked out.

I’m gonna go help Keith. We’ve got a lot of equipment, you know. Drew shrugged and followed after him. Cole looked at Monica, who stared at him.

I was listening, she said.

Yeah, well next time would you mind maybe speaking up and helping me out? I feel like the only member of this team who gives a damn about this job. Cole glared at her.

I’m sorry, Monica said. Cole sighed and put the whiteboard down.

Let’s go outside, he said to his mousey team member.

By the time Monica and Cole had made it outside, Drew and Keith had already loaded up most of the equipment into Keith’s battered old hatchback. Keith checked his watch again, impulsively.

We’re gonna be cutting it close. You guys do know the mansion is at least an hour’s drive? And we’re supposed to be there in an hour and fifteen? Let’s hurry up already. Keith slammed the back of the hatchback shut and got in the driver’s side. Monica got in next to him in the passenger seat.

Drew turned to Cole. Look, buddy, things’ll be fine. Monica and I already know the history of the house. You can make Keith listen when we record the history segments. He might learn a thing or two. Don’t worry. This investigation’s gonna be badass. I’ve got a feeling ‘bout it.

Thanks, man, Cole said and his face lightened considerably. Let’s go. The two friends got into the cramped car and pulled out of the driveway. They started down the road towards Bunting Manor, better known as the last safe house of the Manners gang.

The camera clicked on. It made a whirring noise and a red dot appeared on the screen. It was recording.

Hello ladies and gentlemen. My name is Cole Morgan and this, he said and paused before continuing, is Ghost Wranglers.

Meet Keith Sharpe, our handyman and driver. He’s been searching for the truth ever since he encountered the spirit of an old woman as a child. Every new investigation means a new opportunity for him to solve the mystery that’s been haunting him since he was just a little kid. Keith looked into the camera and nodded coolly, though deep down he resented having a fictional bio made up about him.

This is Monica Deangelo, our tech expert and a real wiz with computers. Monica’s dedicated countless hours of her life to conducting electronic voice phenomenon sessions, otherwise known as EVP sessions. She also spends long hours watching thermal and infrared footage and keeping the official Ghost Wranglers site up to date. She is, without a doubt, the brains of this powerhouse. Monica pushed her bangs away from her glasses and smiled sheepishly into the camera. Cole used to have a crush on her, but he knew she would never go out with him. She was so