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Trevor wraps his arm around me. “I really appreciated you being there for me, but I feel bad that we couldn’t watch the video live with everyone.”

“It’s okay. I wanted to help you. We’ll watch it when we get back to your house.” My brother stepped up big time, handling moderator duties solo. I banged out short replies when I had a spare second, but there’s more waiting for me.

“The videos and photos looked good.” Dmitri passes the rest of his candied bacon bites to Jo. “My favorite parts were the interviews with the Rocktogenarians.”

“According to the comments, as of when we left tonight, they’re everyone’s favorites.

Who wouldn’t love that crew?” I shake my head, thinking about the ladies and the tangents they went on that I had to edit out.

Trevor’s going to love those stories. “I wish we’d found something more concrete for Agnes.

Now, she’s talking about shadowy figures roaming Maplewood at night. ”

Ever scratches his jaw, his gaze scanning the area. “A few people at the festival mentioned them too.”

My teeth clamp down and my jaw clenches with irritation. “I think it’s a hoax. Someone trying to scare people.”

“Or, they’re doing it because they know you’re here, Bram.” Dmitri gestures at me with one long finger, the movement fluid and elegant. “Some of my students listen to your podcast. They love that the monster hunter has come to town. Could be someone giving you something to chase.”

Arms crossed, Jo taps her fingers against her biceps, the motion rattling the bag of bacon bites. “Agnes is unsettled by it. She and Eleanor stopped by about half an hour ago. She mentioned the figures and said she saw something along the edge of the festival grounds.”

“As in tonight? I don’t like that.” I grab my phone and shoot Agnes a text asking if she’s still here and where she saw the figure. “If you see anything, let me know. I want this person unmasked.”

More people arrive, waiting to congratulate Jo.

Ever, Dmitri, Trevor, and I leave her to her fans and continue along the line of displays.

The professionals have the most space and the largest entries and some of the biggest pumpkins I’ve ever seen.

My favorite is a pirate ship, Trevor’s is a coffee shop.

Dmitri and Ever both choose one that has pumpkin people playing in a pumpkin orchestra.

We reach the end of the line and loop our way back toward the parking lot.

My phone buzzes.

Agnes: Hello dear. The figure was behind the fence line near the woods. I’m heading to Lydia and Celia’s.

Bram: I’ll check that area now.

Agnes: Thank you dear. Talk soon.

I show Trevor the message. “I need to go there.”

He nods. “Let’s do it now.”

After saying goodnight to Ever and Dmitri, we cut down one of the paths.

The area backing up to the woods is dark. We walk for a few minutes, scanning the fence line.

“I wish I had my gear.” My phone has night vision mode, but it isn’t as good as my other equipment. Still, I turn it on.

He squeezes my hand. “We can come back with that stuff another night.”

At the tree line, branches wave like something is moving between them. I tighten my hold on his hand and pull him forward. Among the shadows, a darker, hairy figure slips between the trees.

“Fuck. There.” My boots pounding the grass, I run toward it. “Hey!”

I reach the fence, thrust my phone at Trevor, then start climbing. My gloves prevent the links from biting my fingers, but fear I’ll slip slices through me. Up to the top of the fence, I throw one leg over, then the other, and scramble down the opposite side, jumping the last two feet.

Crunching leaves drift from further away. I race after them, my shoes kicking up dirt and leaves and drowning out the sounds I need to follow.

Panting, I slow down, then stop. Crickets chirp. The wind blows. And the footsteps are gone.

I listen for a few minutes. Whoever was here is either as silent and still as a statue or too far away. Walking around the woods in the dark without the aid of my phone’s flashlight or night vision isn’t smart. Frustration burning through me, I turn back the way I came.

Concern creasing his features, Trevor waits on the other side of the fence. “Anything?”

“They’re gone.”

“What was it? I didn’t get to see your screen.”

I heft myself up the fence. “Someone in a hairy costume. Bears don’t run like that.”

He backs up when I climb over the top. “I think where you were running is part of Zeke Knight’s property. He owns a big spread over here.”

I drop to the ground. “He’s Agnes’s friend. I talked to him about Mabel. He leaves food out for her every night.”

“He’d probably let us investigate.”

“Yeah. I’ll text Agnes and tell her to let Zeke know that someone in a costume is trespassing on his property. And have her ask him if he’ll let us come back to check things out.” When Trevor hands over my phone, I fire off the text.

He slips his arm around my shoulders. “We’ll figure out what’s going on.”

“I hope so.” We’re close, but I need to be closer. I wrap my arm around his waist and feel better when he hugs me to his side and kisses me. “Let’s go home. We have an episode to watch.”

And a monster to find.