Bailey’s Estes Park Excitement

by Linda McQuinn Carlblom

  “Good idea.” Bailey looked both ways down the hall. “Our room number is 412, and I think the numbers were smaller nearer the elevator, so let’s go that way.”

  “Even-numbered rooms are on our side, and odd on the other.”

  Bailey studied the oval plates outside each door that showed the room numbers. “Here it is,” she whispered when she spotted room 401.

  “Why are we whispering?” Kate asked.

  Bailey laughed. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m spying or something.”

  Kate examined the walls and then inspected the carpet. “I don’t see anything suspicious. Do you?”

  Bailey shook her head as she inspected the hallway. “There’s a speaker, but that’s where the music is coming from. Nothing weird about that.”

  “We’ll have to keep our eyes and ears open,” Kate said, still searching. “I’m sure this isn’t that complicated if we just keep thinking.”

  Trying to peer underneath the door, Bailey ventured, “The tricks could be hidden inside the room.” She stood back up. “I can’t see anything. Maybe we’ll have better luck at room 217, the room where they say the author of that scary book stayed.”

  “It’s worth a try,” Kate said.

  The girls found an elevator and stepped inside.

  “Did you read that book or see the movie that was made from it?” Bailey asked as the doors closed.

  “No, it’s a horror movie. My parents won’t let me watch scary movies like that. Did you see it?”

  “Nope.” Bailey grinned mischievously. “I think our parents are just alike. Mine would never let me see scary movies, either.”

  “Hey, I wonder if Elizabeth saw it.” The elevator bell dinged as the doors opened onto the second floor. Kate stepped out first with Biscuit in tow. “She’s fourteen. Maybe her parents let her watch those kind of movies.”

  Bailey flipped open her cell phone and pushed E in her contacts. Elizabeth’s number showed up and Bailey pushed TALK. Kate spotted a sign that pointed to room 217 and they followed its arrow.

  “Elizabeth? It’s Bailey.”

  “And Kate!” Kate shouted into the phone.

  “Well, this is a surprise!” Elizabeth said. “What are you two up to? Are you really together or are we conferenced in?”

  “We’re together,” Bailey said, and went on to explain where they were and why. “And guess what? We’ve already got two mysteries to solve!”

  “Two?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Yeah, the elk here have gone bonkers,” Bailey explained. “I think they might need a counselor or something!”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Maybe we should have them talk to McKenzie. She’s good at figuring people out, maybe she could help the elk, too!”

  “Maybe! So that’s our first mystery.” Bailey’s voice rose with excitement. “Our second one is hunting ghosts. People say ghosts live in this hotel. But since we know ghosts aren’t real, we’re trying to figure out who is making them seem real, and what special effects they use.”

  “Wow! Sounds exciting!” Elizabeth paused a moment. “So how can I help? You know I love a good mystery.”

  Bailey told her that a book by Stephen King was inspired by the hotel, and that a movie had been made from the book. “Have you ever seen it?” Bailey looked expectantly at Kate.

  “If it’s a Stephen King movie, I haven’t seen it,” Elizabeth answered. “My folks won’t let me. Too scary.” She added, “And I’m glad.”

  Bailey laughed and then shook her head at Kate to relay Elizabeth’s answer. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I don’t really want to see those scary movies, either. We just thought since you’re older you might have seen it.”

  “Let me talk!” Kate grabbed the phone. “Hi, Elizabeth! Biscuit says hi, too.”

  The girls chatted for a minute and then Elizabeth said, “Well, you know I’m praying for you two! Keep me posted on what you find out.”

  “We appreciate your prayers,” Kate said. “We’ll let you know what we find out and if you can help out on anything else. If you talk to any of the others, let them know we’ll be calling or e-mailing them soon with all the mystery details.”

  Kate flipped the phone closed just as they came to the end of the hall.

  A metal room plate by the door read 217.

  “Here we are! Just think. Movie stars stood at this very place we’re standing.” Bailey nearly felt faint from the rush.

  “And just think,” Kate repeated just as dreamily. “A future movie star is standing here right now!”

  “Oh, stop.” Bailey waved her hand. “You’re just saying that.”

  “You never know. It could happen.” Kate dug in her pocket and brought out a pen. “Here. Let me take your picture, just in case. Then we can say I predicted your fame on this very day at this very moment outside this very door!”

  “Hold it! That’s not a camera. It’s a pen.” Bailey shook her head.

  “Ah, you think it’s a pen, but it’s really a tiny camera!” Kate smiled brightly. “I’ve been dying for the right moment to show you my latest gadget!”

  “Let me see that.” Bailey took the pen from Kate. She clicked the top of it, and the ballpoint came down just like a real pen. She scribbled on the corner of the brochure. Blue ink looped round and round. “So it’s a real pen and a camera. How does it work?”

  “You look into the silver clip to see what the camera sees. Then click the top and it takes the picture.”

  “Did I take a picture when I clicked it before?” Bailey asked.

  Kate shook her head. “It only functions as a camera when it’s held on its side. Up and down, it’s just your ordinary, average blue pen. Turn it over and it switches to camera mode.”

  “That’s awesome!” Bailey squealed. “Let’s try it. Take my picture.” She struck her most glamorous pose.

  Kate held the pen on its side and clicked the top.

  “How do we see the picture?”

  “We have to unscrew the pen and remove the memory chip inside. I have a special stick to put it into that will fit the computer, then we download the pictures.”

  “I can’t wait to see how it turns out.” Bailey bounced up and down on her toes.

  “Me, too.” Kate looked around. “Let’s see if we can find any clues here.”

  A door burst open down the hall and a man bolted out. “Oh no! We’ve got to go help them!” he shouted to the woman behind him.

  “I hope no one was hurt!” she cried as she and the man ran past the girls.

  Bailey looked at Kate and they took off after the man and woman, who had stopped in front of the elevator. The elevator doors opened just as the girls caught up and they all climbed inside.

  “What’s going on?” Bailey asked.

  “We were looking out our window when we saw an elk run through the courtyard knocking a boy to the ground,” the man answered. “We’re going to see if he needs help.”

  “My husband is a doctor,” the woman explained.

  Bailey nodded somberly, and Kate petted Biscuit.

  The elevator door opened into the main lobby. The doctor and his wife rushed to the courtyard where the elk had charged.

  Bailey and Kate stood a short distance away but stayed close enough to see and hear what was going on. In the courtyard, a boy who looked about six years old was stretched on the ground. He didn’t appear to be injured, but his father was kneeling over him. The doctor hurried to them.

  “Sir, I’m Doctor Gibbins,” the man said, kneeling by the father. “I saw what happened from my room and came immediately in case the boy was injured. Is he your son?”

  “Yes,” the father answered. “Thank you.”

  The boy moaned and turned his head.

  “Did the elk step on him or just knock him down?” asked Doctor Gibbins.

  “He was knocked down and bumped his head.”

  The little boy tried to sit up.

  “Hold on there, son.” The doctor gently checked his arms an
d legs to make sure no bones were broken.

  “Daddy!”

  “I’m right here, Robby,” his father answered tenderly.

  “I think he’s going to be fine,” the doctor told him.

  “Seems to have gotten the wind knocked out of him and a good bump on his head when he went down, but nothing too serious.” He helped the child sit up.

  “Thank you,” the father said again, clasping the doctor’s hand.

  Robby’s dad stood up and picked up his son. “Let’s go see Mommy.”

  From the sidelines, Bailey looked at Kate. “Wow! That was scary.”

  “Guess what they said about the elk was true.” Kate stuffed her pen back in her pocket.

  “Did you have that out the whole time?” Bailey asked.

  Kate nodded. “I took a few shots just in case it turned into a major news story or something.” She laughed. “They might need some pictures for the evening news.”

  Bailey rolled her eyes. “You’re always thinking.”

  “It’ll be a good test to see how well the pictures turn out since we were farther away.”

  “I wonder what made the elk run like that?” Bailey eyed the courtyard.

  “Something must have set him off.”

  The two girls strolled through the courtyard looking for any clue of what might have spooked the elk but found nothing.

  “This really is a mystery.” Bailey sighed. “A mystery with no clues.”

  “There’s bound to be something we’re missing,” Kate encouraged. “We’ll figure it out.”

  “Come on. Let’s head back to the room.”

  That night, while Mr. Chang and Trina went to get ice, and Mrs. Chang read a book, the girls reviewed their day.

  “After looking around here a bit I think we’re starting to learn our way around, don’t you?” asked Bailey.

  “Yeah, the map in the brochure was helpful,” Kate replied. Then wrinkles lined her forehead. “I felt bad about that little boy getting hurt by the elk.”

  “I know. Me, too,” Bailey said.

  “I’m glad he seemed to be all right.”

  “That camera-pen of yours is awesome!” Bailey grinned like she’d just won a prize at the fair. “I can’t wait to see the pictures you took today.”

  The hotel room door opened and Mr. Chang and Trina walked in with a full ice bucket. “Anyone want some ice for a bedtime drink of water?”

  “Yeah!” Bailey ran into the bathroom to grab the plastic-wrapped glasses. They scooped ice into each one and added water from the tap. “Thanks!”

  “Are we ready for lights-out?” Mr. Chang asked.

  “Just a minute,” Kate replied. “Let me spread Biscuit’s blanket at the foot of the bed.” She and Bailey laid out the paw-printed fleece blanket, and Biscuit turned a tight, complete circle before plopping down on it. “All set!”

  Mr. Chang flipped off the light. “Good night.”

  “ ’Night, Dad.” Bailey lay in the dark with her eyes open. Moments later, she heard soft giggling.

  “Girls, get to sleep.” Mrs. Chang used her no-nonsense voice.

  “We’re trying to,” Bailey answered, confused. The giggling came again, this time followed by childlike voices.

  “Bailey, you heard your mother,” Mr. Chang warned sternly.

  “Dad, it isn’t us!” Bailey complained. “Then who is it?” Trina smarted off. “How should I know?”

  The voices came again, the words unclear, but sure. “It’s the ghost children in the hallway!” Bailey yelled, sitting straight up.

  Ghost Children of the Night

  Biscuit gave a low, throaty growl.

  “Ghost children?” Mrs. Chang said, getting up. “Really, Bailey, I think you’ve been reading too many mysteries.”

  Bailey switched on the bedside lamp. “Hand me that hotel brochure, Kate.” She pointed to Kate’s suitcase, where she could see the brochure sticking out.

  Again they heard faint laughing and children’s voices.

  “Did it ever occur to you that those could be real children out there, rather than ‘ghost children,’ as you call them?” Trina leaned on one elbow in her bed.

  “Listen to this,” Bailey said, folding the pamphlet back. “Guests often say they hear children playing in the hallway at night. One couple even checked out of the hotel very early in the morning complaining that the children in the hallway kept them up all night. However, there were no children booked in the hotel at the time. The children have since been called ‘ghost children of the night.’” Bailey lowered the hotel brochure and nodded emphatically. “See? Ghost children.”

  “I seem to recall seeing some boys in this hallway when we brought our luggage to our room,” Mr. Chang said. “Two boys. We could be hearing them, or any other children who are checked in.”

  “If we hear the voices again, can I peek out the door to see if anyone’s out there?” Bailey asked.

  “If you promise to get right to sleep afterward,” Mr. Chang answered with a yawn.

  “Me, too?” Kate asked. “You, too.”

  “Yeah, that way there’ll be a witness when the body snatchers grab Bailey,” Trina teased.

  “Trina!” Mrs. Chang scolded. “That will be enough from you. Can we all just relax and get to sleep?” She flipped the light off.

  Hee-hee-heeeeee!

  “That’s them!” Bailey said, jumping into her slippers and bathrobe. “I’m out of here!”

  Trina groaned. Biscuit barked fiercely then bounded off the bed and ran to the door.

  “Me, too!” Kate felt her way through the dark after Bailey.

  Cautiously, Bailey slid the security chain off the door and slowly opened it. Light from the hallway spread into the room in a giant wedge. She poked her head out into the hall and looked from side to side. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “No surprise there,” Kate said, joining her in the doorway.

  “Mom, can we go down the hall?” Bailey whisper-yelled.

  “Just grab the key off the table first. And stay in our hall,” Mrs. Chang instructed in a tired mumble. “I don’t want you wandering the entire hotel in your pajamas.”

  Bailey felt her cell phone on the table and opened it, shining its light to find the key. “Got it,” she told her mom. “We’ll be back in just a minute.”

  “Stay, Biscuit,” Kate commanded. “We’ll be right back.”

  With the phone lighting their path, the girls crept back to the door and stepped into the lighted hallway. Bailey shoved her phone into her bathrobe pocket. A high-pitched giggle greeted them, followed by muffled children’s voices that sounded like they were telling secrets.

  “There it is again!” Kate’s eyes scanned the walls then moved up and down from floor to ceiling as if looking for some clue as to where the voices came from.

  “Sounds like they’re coming from down here,” Bailey whispered loudly, walking to the far end of the hall. The voices spoke again, though still not clearly.

  “There must be wires to a speaker somewhere,” Kate said. She ran her hand along the wall, stopping at the corner. “Here!”

  Bailey hustled over to her friend.

  “Feel right here,” Kate instructed.

  Bailey touched the wallpaper on one wall then continued around the corner. “Aha! A bump!” She ran her hand vertically along the bump and found that it went higher than she could reach. “Our wire!”

  “Now we just have to figure out where it runs to and we may have our first solution to the ghost sounds.” Kate’s eyes sparkled like diamonds, and she gave Bailey a victorious high five.

  “Come on,” Bailey said. “We’d better go back so my mom doesn’t worry.”

  The two tiptoed back to the room. Bailey lit her cell phone up again once they arrived in the dark room and led the way to their bed. Biscuit jumped at their legs, excited to see them as if they’d been gone for months. Kate and Bailey pulled back the sheets and climbed in, followed by Biscuit, who snuggled into his little
nest of blankets on the bed.

  “We’ll have to investigate some more tomorrow,” Kate whispered.

  “Should be a great way to start the day!” Bailey smiled and then drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning, Bailey woke to the sound of the phone and her father’s voice. She rolled over and pulled her pillow over her head.

  “Yes, I’ll be available in an hour. Thank you. See you then.”

  Mr. Chang flipped his cell phone closed and said to Mrs. Chang, “William Perkins will meet me in the hotel lobby in an hour for our conference. His wife and children are here with him, and he’s bringing them to meet us. They’re also staying at this hotel.”

  “Guess I’d better clean up.” Mrs. Chang sprang from the bed and headed to the shower.

  “Will has two boys, so I don’t imagine the girls will be too interested in hanging out with them much.”

  “Or will they?” Mrs. Chang said with a sly smile. She laughed and shook her head. “Probably not, but it will be nice to meet them anyway. It’s always nice to have a friendly face, just in case you need something.” Mrs. Chang turned on the water. “Will you get the girls up while I shower?”

  Mr. Chang moved to the girls’ bed and whispered, “Biscuit!” The dog stretched and yawned, but soon he was prancing all over Bailey and Kate, nudging Bailey’s pillow off her head, licking hands, faces, and feet.

  “Biscuit! Stop!” Kate howled, hiding her face in the covers.

  “We’re too tired. Go away.” Bailey rolled over.

  “Come on, girls,” Mr. Chang said. “Time to get up. Some people are meeting us downstairs in an hour.”

  “Ugghh,” Bailey moaned.

  “You, too, Trina.” Mr. Chang shook his older daughter’s shoulder. “Mr. Perkins is bringing his family to meet us.”

  “How could you do this to me?” Trina wailed, with all the dismay she could muster at seven a.m.

  “Easy!” Mr. Chang chuckled. “Watching you writhe around and moan is good early morning entertainment.”

  Trina threw a pillow at her father, which he deftly dodged. When she saw him pick up the pillow and pull his arm back to throw it, she jumped up. The pillow landed with a whoosh in her empty bed.