Page 96 of Before and After

“Everyone who hits a bull’s-eye gets a prize,” the young attendant in a ghoulish mask called out.

“Give it a go, Ollie,” Allie said as she paid the attendant.

The kid tried. He lined up, gripping the plastic gun hard. Every shot went wide, and disappointment was stamped all over his tiny face.

“Can I have a try?” I asked.

He handed the gun over. I checked it out, testing its weight, then aimed and pulled the trigger.

It was not surprising that this piece of plastic crap was not accurate. The shot went to the left and missed the target. I re-adjusted and fired again.

Bam.

The shot hit the target dead on and lights lit up.

Ollie let out a whoop.

“Which toy do you want, buddy?” I asked.

“That one!” He pointed to a small stuffed Frankenstein’s monster. It was green with little bolts on its neck. When the attendant handed it over, Ollie clutched it like it was made of gold.

Allie was watching me. Her lips moved and she mouthedthank you.

“Oh, I see Sierra, Jazz, and Piper.” Tessa slipped an arm through Allie’s. “I’m stealing Allie for a girls’ only moment.”

Allie pulled a face. “I’m fine, Tessa. I told you that I’m perfectly all right.”

“I have some experience getting—” she glanced at Ollie “—tangled up with bad guys. You need to debrief with your girlfriends.”

“Go,” I told her. “I’ll hang with Ollie.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Go.”

Ro glanced around. “I’d better do a lap and schmooze.”

“Sucks to be the boss sometimes.”

“I don’t mind a little bit of schmoozing. I’ll catch you later.”

“Right, what next, Ollie?”

He lifted a little pumpkin-shaped bucket. “Candy.”

We hit a few of the trick-or-treat stations, and I bought him a hot chocolate overloaded with marshmallows. I checked in with my team a few times. Everything was running smoothly.

Let’s hope it stayed that way.

“Well, that’s a hell of a uniform,” a deep voice said.

I spun.

A muscular man stood nearby. He was roughly ten years older than me, with broader shoulders, but a few inches shorter in height. He kept his hair shaved short, and I saw the touches of silver in it and his stubble. He had piercing blue eyes and a hard jaw.

I grinned. “Gunnar.”

“Hi, Castro. Or should I say Captain?” He glanced at my costume.