The Ghost in my iPad ~ A Binge Book: The Ghost in my iPad, #4

By E C Russell and E L Russell

The Ghost in my iPad's BINGE BOX OVERVIEW

In 3:45, Jengo attempts to solve the mystery surrounding a serial kidnapper who has been abducting a schoolgirl each holiday. Jengo vowels to find who is responsible for the kidnappings and rescue the girls. With unexpected help from a friendly ghost, he begins a search through an underground maze of rooms. Will Jengo catch the Holiday Snatcher before the next holiday? In The Ghost in my iPad 4:44 Jengo's worst fear comes true. The Holiday Snatcher escapes from prison and kidnaps their friend Candy. In The Ghost in my iPad 12:12, Jengo and Billy are riding their bikes deep into a nearby National Park when they hear a strange whining sound and encounter poachers who will defend their actions at any cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Entanglement Publishing
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393190097

Book preview

Part I

Part I - 3:35

1

Prologue – Part I

Voices

Each night when his mom turned his lights out, Jengo heard the voice and it scared him. It scared him bad.

I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . .

The lonesome sound was muffled and although it sounded far away, it was still too close for comfort.

Help me . . . It’s dark . . . I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . .

Over and over . . . Again and again.

2

Kidnapping

Later the following day

D on’t turn it off, it’s almost over, Jengo pleaded, his mouth full of the chips he’d pilfered from the counter. He craned his neck around his mom to watch the end of the cartoon.

His mother stared at him and tapped her foot.

Uh, oh, foot tapping was serious. What, Mom? He knew she expected something of him.

Jengo Allbright, don’t talk with your mouth full and no more chips until we eat. She softened her voice. Go out and check the hotdogs, sweetie. You said you wanted to be in charge of them, remember?

Oh Yeah. He skipped out the door rubbing the unaccustomed bristles of his short back-to-school haircut. He used to love hotdogs. Eating them used to feel like a party, but there was no party mood in his house, not since his sister Maddy had disappeared two months ago. He forked the sizzling wieners off the grill and frowned at the couple he’d burned. Wiping his hands on the scruffy jeans he’d worn all summer, he blinked away threatening tears. It was like there was a hole in being. It felt like she’d been gone forever and he missed her something awful. In anger, he kicked at stones on the way back to the house. He was often angry these days.

Back in the kitchen, his older sister Laura placed the potato salad on the table just as a local newscaster broke in on the regular programing.

We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news.

Mrs. Allbright reached to grab the remote, but Laura stopped her. Oh, my God, Mom, wait. Let’s hear. It’s about—

"I know what it’s about, her mother whispered as she fumbled with the remote. I don’t want Jengo to hear." She squeezed the button and lowered the volume.

The telephone rang and Laura picked it up than handed it to her Mother. Caller ID says FBI.

Special Agent Johnson here, Mrs. Allbright. You’ve heard the news? The agent had been working the kidnapping cases for months now and his voice showed the same gentle concern he always did.

While the TV commentator continued in the background, Mrs. Allbright turned her back to Jengo. Yes, we were just listening.

The alleged Holiday Snatcher took a fifth teenage girl in what may—

We may have found something, the agent said, and then ended the call with more assurances saying the FBI hoped they would find Maddy soon.

When his mother turned her back, Jengo heard the Agent’s voice over the phone. He was sick of hearing Johnson’s promises. He always said the same thing. ‘We may have a new lead.’ What a sorry joke. The TV was no better.

. . . report that personal items belonging to Katrina Robins were found early this morning by a local hunter at the old Bartlett Apple Orchard. Her parents reported her missing when—

Mrs. Allbright clicked the TV off and pressed her lips in a white line. That’s not something you two need to be reminded of, she said as she pointed to the screen. The FBI keeps us informed of anything we need to know. Her voice wobbled as she wiped her eyes with the corner of a near-by hand towel.

Laura was taller than her mom and had suddenly matured a great deal since the kidnapping of her younger sister. She wrapped her arms around her mom in a secure hug, I’m not a child. I’m a senior in high school and the TV is hardly a reminder. Maddy fills my thoughts, and I am sure Jengo’s as well.

Mrs. Allbright stood near the TV, which was perched on top of the refrigerator like a giant bird of prey. But Jengo is just starting sixth grade. He doesn’t need to hear about another kidnapping." She shut her eyes and took a deep steadying breath.

Jengo played along and pretended oblivion. Hear what, Mom? He slid the hotdogs on the table and when one jumped the edge of the dish, he picked up the escapee and returned it with his fingers. He’d heard the announcer and he was interested in all the news. Where’s the new mustard? he asked glancing sideways at his older sister and mom while he lined the hotdogs up on the dish. It baffled him that they thought he wouldn’t listening . . . especially to kidnapping news.

In the cupboard. His mom walked around the kitchen island and distributed the plates. It’s nice we’re sitting down for our picnic, Laura. You have been so busy with preparation for your senior year that we hardly get to see you.

Found it. Jengo shouted, returning from the cupboard, but he stopped when he saw his Mom setting the table for four. He set the mustard down. Uh, Mom . . .

She lowered the silverware to the table and stared at the plates. Shaking her head she lifted one and hugged it to her chest. Trying to hide her welling tears, she turned away and Jengo tentatively put his hand on her arm, I miss her too, Mom.

---

Toward the end of dinner, the phone rang and Laura rushed to answer it. Mom, the Fergusons want me to babysit tonight, okay?

Her mother nodded, But not too late, Laura, it’s a school night, and ask Mr. Ferguson to meet you in his driveway.

I’ll be home by ten, Laura shouted over her shoulder as she ran to get a book from her room.

After his sister left the kitchen, Jengo turned on his mom. You’re not gonna let her drive, are you? It looks like a storm’s coming. The rumble of thunder punctuated his forecast.

"She’ll be fine, Jengo. Laura’s been driving for almost two years and she’s always very careful. The weather’s not so bad and she won’t be late."

His mom looked at him in concern and he could see she knew what he really meant.

Jengo, it scares me to death every time either one of you leaves my sight, but we have to keep going. We have to believe the FBI will find Maddy. She’s strong. She’s a survivor. She’ll come back to us. She hugged him hard. We have to.

---

His sister was tough, though, that was for sure. When his friend Billy had called her Madison instead of Maddy a few years back, she’d pushed him in the lake.

When Billy cried he was drowning, she told him she wouldn’t rescue him unless he swore he’d never to call her Madison again. Then, she’d added, It’ll cost you five bucks.

Between his screams and thrashing arms, he’d sobbed, "Never again . . . I swear . . . but I don’t have five dollars."

In spite of his lack of funds, which she’d only added only for fun, she’d fished him out. She was a year and a half older than they were and she lorded it over them every chance she got. And no one ever called her Madison again. No one, that is, except Mrs. Schwartz, their nosy neighbor, and occasionally Jengo who liked to tease her and watch her get all fired up. She’d narrow her blue eyes, that looked so much like his, and pull back her right fist for a mighty whack. But he could run faster than she could and when she chased him for payback, he mostly got away. If he didn’t, she’d nail him in the knees and he’d collapse. Then he'd have to take her pummeling. He wished he knew how to do that knee thing. It always surprised him.

Yeah, she was tough, but it had been two months since she’d disappeared. That was most of the summer, from the fourth of July until now, Labor Day. It was a long time to stay strong. He wished she was there so he could pull her short blond hair and call her Madison.

---

Mom! His panicked thoughts returned to his older sister, There’s a psycho out there. He took Maddy and now that girl Katrina. Five girls. Do you want Laura to be next?

I didn’t know you were listening, his mom said softly. Laura has her cell phone and the car doors will be locked until Mr. Ferguson meets her. She ruffled his hair. Come sit with me on the sofa for a bit and we’ll watch TV.

Even though he thought sixth grade was far too old for sitting cozied up with their moms, Jengo knew she missed Maddy something fierce and she needed him nearby, so he didn’t complain when she gathered him in for a big hug. Even though it didn’t change the fact that Maddy was gone, he had to admit, the closeness was nice.

He and Maddy used to do a lot of cool stuff together, like building that old tree house. He smiled a reluctant grin. For weeks, they'd spent every hour they could perfecting it. He absently rubbed the wrist he’d broken when a board had come loose and he’d fallen through their masterpiece. As a result, his mom had forbidden them to go up in the tree again. Looking for something else to do, they’d turned to repairing the gazebo down by the lake. It wasn’t finished and since he didn’t feel like working on it alone, it remained that way. Jengo had taken to spending a lot of time alone in his room reading and gaming.

---

After he’d brushed his teeth that evening, Jengo’s mom tucked him into the top bunk with a strict admonition. No iPad, Jengo. It will be an early wake-up for the first day of school tomorrow and you need your rest. She turned off the Buzz Lightyear lamp on the highboy dresser next to the head of his bunk. Maddy had given it to him for his birthday four years ago.

Knowing he could never sleep with the voices, and he knew they would come, he waited a few moments for his mom to walk down the hallway before reaching to turn Buzz back on and climb out of bed. He grabbed his iPad from the top of the dresser and settled cross-legged with it on the floor, waiting for the iPad’s telltale glow.

He chose his favorite app and focused his mind on its kazoo band while he blocked everything else out.

Jengo! he flinched when she touched his shoulder and removed his earbuds. Rats. He looked up and waited for the lecture.

Jengo, toe tapping, when I tell you to do something I expect you to pay attention. No more games. I mean it. She dropped the buds. Turn that thing off.

"But Mom, I always pay attention. It’s just that my stuff is more interesting than the other stuff. He gathered his earbuds then gasped when a blast of white light filled the room and thunder shook the windows. Is Laura home yet?" He absently wiped the screen with a dirty sock, as he looked to his mom for an affirmative nod.

Not yet, but Mr. Ferguson said he would follow her home and walk her to the door. She’s safe. She followed him over to the bunk and reached for his lamp.

Leave the light on. He looked up at her with sad eyes and put his hands together in prayer. Please. His mom called the expression his pitiful-cat-eyes-look and often, it worked. Not tonight.

He could tell she was trying not to laugh at his ploy. You’re a big boy now, you told me so yourself. The nightlight is enough. Climb in and get some sleep.

Jengo glared at the mini bulb plugged into the wall outlet way back in the corner and scoffed. That doesn’t do anything.

She watched him climb the wooden ladder then patted the covers. When the door is closed, it’ll seem brighter. Her face turned sad as her eyes fell to the bottom bunk. Why don’t you sleep down here? When you and Maddy were little and slept in the same room, you used to fight over it.

Yeah, but Mom, we fought over everything back then.

Yes, you did. She reached up to kiss him. No games. Good night, sweetie. She rubbed his short hair before she turned off the lamp.

---

Why did his mom always call him sweetie? It was okay at home, but she called him that when she picked him up at school, too, and it was downright embarrassing. And why wasn’t Laura home yet? Jengo’s mind whirled with worrisome thoughts. Why did that spooky voice come every night and scare the pants off him? He was afraid to shut his eyes. He knew the voice was coming. It came every night when the lights went out.

He wrapped the pillow around his head and his heart pounded in dreaded anticipation. Too soon, he heard the sorrowful sounds.

"I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . . Help me . . ."

Over and over.

Help me . . . It’s dark . . .

He reached for Buzz Lightyear. His mom’s wrath was worth it. Immediately, the voice stopped.

Thank God. His head fell back on the pillow just as his Mom opened the door.

Jengo!

Mom. How do you do that? He sat up and stretched his arms out. I can not sleep with the lights off. Ple-e-e-e-ase. Leave it on."

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him in silence. Jengo could see she hesitated and he put on his pitiful-cat-eyes again. Oh, okay, she gave in and he could tell she coughed to cover her laugh. I’ll get it later.

Thank you, he sighed in heart-felt relief as lightning lit his window and threw tree shadows on the blinds.

---

The earlier promise of a rain erupted into a gully washer with a spectacular light show and bone jarring cracks of thunder. Startled awake, Jengo looked in disgust at the puny nightlight. His mom had done as she promised and turned off Buzz. Grimly, he waited for the voice, but heard nothing . . . not a peep.

Afraid to move, he rolled his eyes to the digital clock. Yup, 3:45 . . . like always. Then, over the pounding rain, he heard the sound of Zelda music. Zelda? He hadn’t played that game in ages. A soft glow of light at the foot of his bunk caught his eye.

Lighting struck close and the blast rattled the house. Jengo shivered and stayed focused on the music. Slowly, he crept toward the end of the bed and pulled himself the last few inches using the cross bar at the end of the bed.

What the . . . Stunned, he jerked back. Impossible. He peeked again. His iPad floated just inches off the floor with images chasing themselves across the screen . . . as though someone played the game. Ridiculous. No one was there.

The music stopped and a set of white earbuds hung above the pad. Bizarre. They went from the iPad up to . . . to nothing. They just hung there . . . suspended. Slowly, two blue eyes materialized between the buds. Nothing else just eyes . . . and they stared straight at him. They opened wide then faded away.

His scream coincided with an earsplitting explosion followed a chain of lightning busts and he dove for his pillow. The clamor of his thumping heart shut out all sound and he gulped for air with his eyes shut. His heart hammered away. Where was his mom when he needed her?

Although he was rattled big time, he girded himself to take another look. Maybe this had something to do with the mystery of the voices. He’d do anything to end them . . . anything within reason, that was. He peered over the side of the bed.

The iPad sat on the floor and music blared from the exposed miniature speakers buds coiled on the screen. Yeah, he was freaked.

Without warning, two icy blue eyes floated out from under the bed and stared at him eyeball to eyeball.

Jengo howled and scrambled backwards. The eyes floated after him. Trying to get away, he tangled his legs in the blankets and teetering on the edge of his bed, finally tumbled off.

3

The Next Morning

First Day of School

Jengo sat through breakfast listening to his mom tell him again he’d only had a nightmare. Although Laura had left an hour earlier for an AP class, he realized he should’ve gone to school with her. Then, he wouldn’t be listening to baloney from his mom. In truth, though, he wanted to ride with his friend Billy on the banana boat. That’s what they called their yellow school bus. His mom packed his lunch bag while he held his chin with one hand and stirred a spoon in his soggy oatmeal with the other.

"Mom. It was not a nightmare. It was something else and it scared me."

She carefully folded the paper lunch bag and placed it next to him. How’s your head feeling?

It hurts. I bumped it pretty good when I fell out of bed. He put on his pitiful look and with a hand on his forehead asked, Can I stay home?

What? Her eyebrows flew to the ceiling. Stay home on the first day of school? You’ll be okay. I’ve written a note for your homeroom teacher telling her you can stay in for recess. I put it in your lunch bag.

"Are you kidding? Miss Snow’ll make me stay inside and I won’t get a choice. Why would I want to miss recess?"

We need to be careful of that bump, Jengo. You said you hit it hard. She opened the bag and threw in an extra fruit roll. Finish your oatmeal. The bus will be at the corner in ten minutes.

Humph, not that hard. Jengo realized he needed someone else to help him think through what happened. Obviously, his mom wouldn’t cut it. He’d tell Billy, but it was going to be tricky because he didn’t want to come off sounding like an idiot. He hoped he could get his buddy to believe him.

---

Jengo had a rousing fight with his mother about standing alone at the bus stop. Jeez. Just the thought of his mom standing with him mortified him. Fortunately, he’d won, although he knew she was watching from the window until he got safely on the banana boat. The kidnapper had a grip on his life in more ways than one. He gazed in the direction of the old Bartlett Orchard trying to imagine the missing girl as she hurried past the old abandoned farmhouse. How scared she must have been when the Snatcher took her. He tried not to think about Maddy being afraid, too.

He didn’t noticed when the banana boat had stopped in front of him with the doors open, startling him out of his dark thoughts. Jengo, will you be joining us today? the bus driver asked. Jengo frowned at the sarcasm. Who was this new driver and how did he know his name? Trying to act cool, he climbed the steps and stood, looking toward the back.

Hey, Billy, he waved but then turned his attention to the tangle of legs trying to trip him. Tripping was a big game with the eighth-grade bullies and since the bus drivers were never any help, the younger kids learned to deal with it the best they could. He wished sixth graders stayed at his old school instead of being moved up to the junior high. Then he would be at the top of the heap instead the one avoiding the sweeping feet of these jerks.

He glowered at the older boys and started through the hurdles. Athletic and quick, he successfully navigated the hairy legs to complete the obstacle course and found his buddy at the back of the bus in the worst possible seat. How come you sit over the wheels, Billy? It’s got less legroom and the shocks are gone. As Jengo slid into the seat next to him, the bus hit a pothole and he immediately rocketed skyward.

Billy bumped knuckles when he bounced down. I saw those guys up front trying to trip you.

"What? Oh, yeah, big-shot eighth-graders. They think they’re so tough, but I grew a lot this summer so I gave ‘em my don’t-even-think-about-it stare as I jumped through them." He could see Billy was impressed because his jaw dropped.

Did it work?

Nah, but at least I didn’t fall. I’m still working on my stare. He shook his head. It always works with my mom. Did they get you?"

Nah, not really, Billy said, I started to go down but I caught hold of the back of a seat and only fell on one knee. My mom’s gonna kill me though, ‘cause something tore a hole in my new pants. He absently brushed his hand over the small tear on his knee. Hey, are you sure you grew this summer? You look the same to me. And just as skinny, too.

Jengo swatted him. "An inch and a half. We measured. And I’m not skinny. I’m wiry and that’s different. Being one of the shortest kids in his class, he was defensive about his size. Just because you always have second helpings, doesn’t mean it’s good for you, and I’m still faster than anybody. He dropped his gaze noticing a bad smell. Jeez, what is that?" he asked looking around.

Oh, that. Somebody left a sandwich on the bus. Billy wrinkled his nose. I bet it’s been here all summer. I kicked it down about three rows. Listen, Jengo, I heard my parents whispering about that kidnapped girl, Katrina. Did you hear about it?

Not to be sidetracked again, Jengo looked at his friend. "Yeah, but we don’t know any Katrina. Did you check if the sandwich stuck to your shoes?" He wanted to talk to Billy about the ghost, not the missing girl or smelly food.

Sure we do. She’s Alan’s cousin. She’s the one that’s gone. I mean, you know, he whispered, missing.

Alan? The fifth grader? She’s his cousin? Where do you think she is?

That’s what I’m telling you, Jengo, no buddy knows. He pushed his friend’s arm. Are you paying attention?

A girl jerked around from the seat in front of them. The Holiday Snatcher took her, Too-tall-know-it-all Candy Ball said in the prissy know-it-all voice she used. Normally Jengo would argue with her no matter what she said, but today he didn’t feel like it. Because it was the first day of school, everyone would be asking him what happened to Maddy and he didn’t want to talk that.

Know-it-all Candy probably did know all things. Her father was the assistant editor at the town newspaper and she always found out stuff before anyone else did. And when she knew stuff, she never hesitated to pontificate.

In spite of himself, Jengo asked a question. If you’re such a know-it-all, why don’t you know who the Holiday Snatcher is? He heard the anger escalating in his voice and he scowled, clenching his teeth while he stuffed his emotions back inside. He didn’t like people to see how he felt about Maddy being gone.

"No one knows," Candy said with a supercilious glare.

But Jengo was hooked now. He couldn’t resist the argument. "You don’t think it’s about time somebody had an idea?"

Candy started to say something then slapped a hand across her mouth. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. They’re going to find Maddy . . . and all the girls. I just know it.

Afraid his voice would quiver or a blasted tear might fall, he just looked away and didn’t answer. He didn’t need her feeling sorry for him. Too-tall-know-it-all Candy Ball was the moniker the boys had given her because she was taller than all the sixth grade boys and she had a habit of raising her chin and looking down her nose at every opportunity. Jengo knew she wasn’t really mean. He even kind of liked her, but certainly wouldn’t admit that to anyone.

When she turned toward the front of the bus, Jengo looked at her red hair and wondered how the heck she got by her mom in the morning. It was a wild tangled mess and stuck out in all directions. Maybe it was impossible to comb and that’s why it was like that. He wished he knew her secret. Nothing got by his mom. He ran his hand over the short haircut she’d had made him get. If you can’t comb it, we’ll cut it. Her words.

Jengo looked at Candy's hair and didn’t even try to resist. He tugged a lock. Well? Aren’t you gonna tell us what you know? He knew she was dying to spill the facts.

She turned around so fast that Jengo ducked. She spoke in an excited stage whisper. The Holiday Snatcher’s the name my daddy’s newspaper gave the guy. He takes his victims only on a holiday. You know . . . Her voice drifted off.

Yeah, he knew. Keep talking, Candy. Anything you know might help us get Maddy back.

She nodded at his words. He took Jane Collin from Mark Twain Middle School over in Pottsville on Washington’s Birthday and some other girl on Easter. Then Alicia Adams on Memorial Day. Your sister disappeared on the Fourth of July.

Jengo liked Candy better when she just told the asked for facts rather than doling out all she knew. We don’t need the recap. Yesterday was Labor Day and that’s when he took Katrina. Although he didn’t know the girl, he thought maybe he’d heard Maddy talk about her. Maybe they were friends.

He sat in silence a moment until in frustration he punched the back of Candy’s seat. How can somebody go around snatching girls? It made no sense. And when is the FBI going to get their act in gear?

Do you think the FBI knows anything they’re not telling us? Billy chewed his lower lip. When’s the next holiday?

Know-it-all Candy Ball glared at Jengo. Quit hitting my seat, Jengo Allbright. I’m trying to think. Then, with absolutely no knowledge, she blatantly stated, Of course the FBI will catch him. She hesitated and lost some of her Almighty expression. At least that’s what my mom says. Mostly, though, she rubbed her chin with her hand as if she was reconsidering, I think she says all that because she doesn’t want me to be scared. Her face brightened. "You know my Uncle Ernie? My mom’s brother? He’s a cop. That’s who