Or there’s Will, one of the new writers. I’ve noticed him before, and he always keeps to himself. Even now, he’s quietly munching on a little cup of M&M’s from craft services, not talking with the others. Maybe he feels like he doesn’t fit in? But would that make you want to scare the pants off everyone on the set?

I notice that Aubrey, Cody, and even Amelia are peering around at people they don’t know too, probably thinking the same things. It doesn’t give me the greatest feeling. I don’t like assuming that the people around me, people working hard to make the show, could be bad. I’d rather think that we’re all a big, happy team.

“You guys okay?”

Paul’s voice startles me. He must have snuck over while we were busy searching for clues. All of us shuffle and mutter that we’re fine, but Paul snorts. “Uh, no you’re not. Come with me.”

He leads us into his office, which is in a back corner of the soundstage, though on the complete opposite side of where Amelia ran up the secret staircase. We file through the door, and then he shuts it and sits down at his desk. “Okay. Why do you all look like you’re keeping a massive secret?”

Everyone exchanges a glance. Then Amelia blurts, “Hayley thinks the ghost is someone working on the set!”

“Amelia!” I whine.

“Sorry.” Amelia shrugs. “I thought he should know.”

“It’s not just Hayley,” Aubrey says quickly. “It’s Cody and me too. It kind of makes sense. Security’s been tight at Silver Screen Studios—we checked. And this has only happened since we’ve gotten to Hollywood. We’re just worried someone is trying to shut down the show. We care about Sadie Solves It. We don’t want anything bad to happen.”

Paul rubs his eyes. “I was afraid you guys were going down that path. All the ghost rumors, plus the fact that we’re working on a mystery show…but listen. These are old buildings. A lot of stuff hasn’t been properly updated. I know it’s a legendary studio, but I’ve reached out to the studio head to say that Stage Five is an unacceptable workplace. We need some repairs. That’s what I think is happening. Lights are falling because the cords holding them up are ancient and frayed. Lights flicker all the time in old buildings like these. And fires are starting not because of a ghost but because the last time the electricity was updated was thirty years ago! The electrician told me so after the fire.”

“Really?” Cody asks, tilting his head. “That’s not good.”

“But what about the face Amelia saw in the rafters?” Aubrey asks. “And the whoosh we all felt? How can an old building do that?”