As the box hit the floor of the chopper, the electronics went haywire, its lights flickering wildly. “It’s a trap!” the pilot screamed.

The helicopter, unable to stabilize its flight with the box’s interference, was forced to land and shut down. Minutes later, the real authorities—led by a friend of Papa’s from the “International Mystery Bureau”—swarmed the clearing.

The man in the trench coat and his partner were led away in handcuffs.

“I’m sorry I kept this from you,” Papa said, hugging all four of them as the sun began to peek through the clouds. “I was a scout for the Bureau years ago. That box contains the codes for a global satellite network. Those men were ‘The Shadow Syndicate,’ trying to steal it back.”

“So we’re officially detectives?” Aiden asked, holding his stick high.

“The best I’ve ever seen,” Papa smiled.

Back at the big house, as the twins, Emma, and Aiden sat on the porch eating a celebratory snack of apples and cheese, Michael looked at the brass compass. It was still in his pocket.

Suddenly, the needle gave a sharp twitch. It wasn’t pointing at the woods anymore. It was pointing directly at the old well in the middle of the yard—a well they had been told never to open.

“Hey guys,” Michael whispered, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of a new case. “I think the Mystery of the Whispering Woods was just the beginning.”

Read more at Hartman Mysteries