R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 07 Read Online Free

after us.
    “Let us go!”
    Nicky and Tara were both struggling and squirming to free themselves.
    The man was breathing hard. But he kept his tight grip on them.
    “Let us go!”
    “I'm here to help you,” he said. He had a thinwhisper of a voice. “Stop fighting me. I'm your friend.”
    “Then let us go!” Nicky shouted again.
    “Okay. No problem.” The man opened his hands and released my two friends.
    Nicky and Tara jumped away from him.
    I stood studying the little man. Was he telling the truth? Was he a friend?
    “How come you can see us?” Nicky demanded.
    “If you are our friend, why have you been following us?” Tara asked.
    “I wanted to make sure I had the right kids,” the man replied. “I didn't want to scare you. But I had to be absolutely sure.”
    “Why do you want us? Why should we believe you?” Nicky asked.
    I watched the Miller Street bus rumble past. I let out a sigh. Okay. I'll catch the next one, I decided. They come by every half hour.
    “I can't answer your questions out here,” the man told Nicky and Tara. “You must trust me. And you must come with me—now.”

“T RUST YOU ? W HY SHOULD we trust you?” Tara cried. “Let's go, Nicky. Max.” She tugged her brother away.
    The little man turned his shiny blue eyes on her. “I worked with your parents,” he said softly.
    Nicky and Tara stopped and turned around.
    “My name is Dr. Samuel Smollet,” the man said. “I'm a scientist. And an expert in the spirit world. I worked with your parents on their ghost project.”
    Nicky and Tara studied him. I started to feel a little calmer. The man seemed kindly and sincere. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
    “You knew our parents?” Tara asked.
    He nodded. “I was there when they started their ghost experiments. I helped them capture evil ghosts and hold them prisoner.”
    The wind made his raincoat flap behind him. He wore a black suit underneath it, a white shirt with a stiff collar, and a plain blue tie.
    “Your parents are brilliant scientists,” hesaid. “Oh. Sorry. I mean they
were
brilliant scientists.”
    “And what do you want with Nicky and Tara?” I asked.
    He kept his eyes on them. “I think I can help you,” he said.
    “Help us? How?” Tara hung back. I could tell she was still suspicious.
    Dr. Smollet rubbed his beard. “Where are your parents?” he asked. “I can help them, too.”
    Nicky kicked a clump of dirt off the sidewalk. “We don't know where they went,” he said. “They've been gone a long time.”
    Tara crossed her arms in front of her chest. “How can you help us?” she demanded.
    A smile slowly spread over Dr. Smollet's face, making his cheeks wrinkle. “I have someone with me. At my lab,” he said. “His name is Mr. Harvey. I believe he can help bring you back to life.”
    Nicky and Tara both gasped.
    “You're kidding,” Tara blurted out.
    Dr. Smollet's smile faded. “I'm not kidding. I think I know how to do it. I wish your parents were here. I owe them a lot. I want to help them.”
    Nicky sighed. “I wish they were here too,” he murmured.
    I felt the deck of cards in my pocket. Ballantine the Nearly Amazing was already at the magic store. I wanted to get there to perform for him.
    Tara still had her arms crossed. “How can you bring us back to life?” she asked Dr. Smollet.
    He pulled his raincoat around him. “I can't do it here in the middle of the street,” he said, glancing around. “I need for you to come to my lab.”
    “Where's your lab?” Nicky asked.
    Dr. Smollet pointed with his head. “On the other side of town,” he said. “I'll take you there. You can meet Mr. Harvey. Then you can decide if you want me to help you.”
    Tara pulled back. “You're a total stranger. You want us to go with you?”
    Dr. Smollet shrugged. “I only want to help you. If your parents were here, they would tell you to trust me. I don't know what else I can say.”
    He pointed again. “My lab is just on the other