Read Online It's All Downhill from Here by P.J. Night - Free Book Online

Simon. “I don’t want you to go skiing when your father and I aren’t here. We’ll be at the bank and won’t be around if anything goes wrong.”
    Simon’s entire demeanor changed instantly. His mood shifted from happy-go-lucky to huffy faster than Maggie could say, I told you so .
    â€œBut Mom,” he whined, “nothing is gonna go wrong. I’m practically a pro skier. Coach MacLean said he thought that if I practiced just a little more, I’d be good enough to try out for the Olympic team next year. So I should definitely practice today.”
    â€œI know how good you are, dear,” Mrs. Kim said sympathetically. “But I’m just not comfortable knowing that you’d be way up on the mountain when we’re not around.”
    â€œWe promise you can go tomorrow when we’ll be here,” Mr. Kim added.
    â€œIn the meantime, however, it is strictly forbiddenfor any of you to go skiing when we are not home,” Mrs. Kim stated sternly. “Is that clear?”
    Simon just shook his head, got up from the table, and trudged back upstairs.
    So it’s gonna be just me, Sophie, and Simon here by ourselves to deal with Old Man Wharton’s ghost today, Maggie thought.
    â€œOkay, have fun, everyone,” Mrs. Kim said, gathering up some papers she would need at the bank. “We might grab some lunch in town and check out a few stores, so we probably won’t be back till after dark.”
    â€œAnd hopefully we’ll be back with good news!” Mr. Kim announced as he and his wife headed out the front door.
    â€œBye!” Mrs. Kim waved.
    Barely a minute had passed after Mr. and Mrs. Kim’s car pulled out of the driveway when Simon came tearing down the stairs. This time he was dressed in his full ski outfit.
    â€œHey, where are you going?” Maggie asked.
    â€œWhat’s it look like?” Simon retorted. “I’m hitting the slopes, Mags.”
    â€œBut what about Mom and Dad?”
    â€œAs they so eloquently pointed out over and over, they’re not home.”
    â€œBut what if they find out?”
    â€œWho’s gonna tell them? You?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    â€œCatch you later, Mags.” Simon snatched up his skis and headed for the door.
    â€œBe careful, you big lunk,” Maggie insisted, trailing behind him.
    â€œRelax,” Simon cooed. “I’m in great shape. I can handle these slopes. And I’ll be back before sunset. I promise. Piece of cake. What can go wrong?”
    Maggie and Sophie followed Simon outside. He was right. It was a bright, clear, sunny day. The previous day’s snowfall sparkled in the cold, still air.
    â€œBe careful!” Maggie shouted after her brother, just before he disappeared into a grove of glistening pine trees at the base of the tall mountain that would become the main ski slope if all went well at the bank.
    Maggie’s stomach began to drop. She felt a bit nauseous.
    â€œI’ve got a bad feeling about this, Sophie,” she said, turning back toward the house. “A really bad feeling.”

Chapter 9
    Maggie and Sophie stepped back inside. Settling into the living room, they wondered what they would do all day. They definitely didn’t want another ghostly encounter. Maggie pulled out her cell phone.
    â€œUgh, just habit,” she groaned. “No cell phone service here. I forgot for a moment!”
    She turned off her phone and booted up her laptop. “Maybe I can glom on to someone’s wi-fi.”
    â€œReally, like whose wi-fi?” said Sophie. “A bear’s? A raccoon’s?”
    â€œYeah,” Maggie muttered, slamming down the lid of her computer. “Nothing. No cell service, no Internet. What are people supposed to do here? It’s like living in the Stone Age.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re going to do after you move here,” Sophie said.
    â€œDon’t even say those