"Oh my dog! It's the shoopacabra!" I barked. "Let's get him!" I leaned hard into the leash and ordered him to run.

"Why would there be a parking lot if there were nothing to see? People who drive sedans don't go up a dirt road for nothing."

The monster halted and let out a screech like a carrion bird. Then it backed up for a closer look.

The monster halted and let out a screech like a carrion bird. Then it backed up for a closer look.

Even the raindrops were prickly, as if it were raining wasps. Beside the trail, the bristle bushes bloomed with food wrappers and underpants

Even the raindrops were prickly, as if it were raining wasps. Beside the trail, the bristle bushes bloomed with food wrappers and underpants

"Sheesh, there's absolutely nothing here," Mom narrated. "There have got to be trails around here somewhere."

"Sheesh, there's absolutely nothing here," Mom narrated. "There have got to be trails around here somewhere."

Mystery drew me forward until the rocks spread in a wide circle. I followed the rocks' instructions and stopped in the center of the henge.

Mystery drew me forward until the rocks spread in a wide circle. I followed the rocks' instructions and stopped in the center of the henge.

“Well, well, well…” I gave her a hard look. “Little Miss Know-it-all suddenly needs a private dog-tective, huh?"