“Jack!” both daughters say in unison, then shoot each other death glares.
“Like, hi, Jack,” McKenna says, immediately moving closer to him. “I coordinated all the vendor schedules and crowd management protocols.”
“I handled literally all the technical equipment and backup systems,” Riley counters, stepping into McKenna’s space with the subtlety of a territorial cat.
“Okay, so like, this is literally going to be a problem,” Emma observes, checking her clipboard. “We have about two minutes before this parade starts, and you two are about to start a sorority-level catfight over a boy.”
“It’s not a catfight,” McKenna protests. “It’s strategic positioning.”
“Same thing.” Riley shrugs. “And I saw him first.”
“You literally met him thirty minutes before I did.”
“And you keep rubbing it in my face! Like I said before, thirty minutes is, like, basically a lifetime in college dating terms.”
As if on cue, spooky music erupts from speakers hidden throughout the lane, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Orange and purple lights begin pulsing in synchronized patterns, while fog machines tucked behind various storefronts start pumping mist across the cobblestones.
“Showtime!” Emma shouts into her walkie-talkie. “All units, this is Creative Command. Begin parade sequence!”
The first float appears at the far end of Huckleberry Lane—a massive haunted castle on wheels, complete with towers that actually sway in the evening breeze and a drawbridge thatlowers to reveal costumed villains who wave and cackle at the audience.
“Oh my word,” Ree breathes, clutching a funnel cake that appeared from nowhere. “That’s better than anything I’ve seen at the big parks.”
“Look at those costumes!” Georgie exclaims, pointing at a group of dancers dressed as various fairy-tale villains. “That fairy’s dress is absolutely gorgeous! And those twinkle light effects!”
The parade unfolds like a fever dream of Halloween perfection. Float after float rolls down the lane, each one more elaborate than the last. There’s a pirate ship with actual cannons that shoot confetti, a haunted carnival with spinning teacups full of costumed performers, and something that appears to be a dragon made entirely of glow-in-the-dark elements that undulates through the crowd like a neon serpent.
Their walkie-talkies start crackling with controlled chaos.
“Creative Command, this is Merchandising Station Seven. We’re completely sold out of glow cats. Repeat, no more glow cats.”
“Station Seven, switch to the backup glowing bats,” Emma responds immediately. “And start pushing the light-up pumpkin buckets.”
“Roger that. Also, we need more caramel sauce at the funnel cake station. There’s apparently a line around the block.”
“You girls handle the caramel situation,” Ree tells the girls, waving them toward the vendor booths. “I need to stay here and make sure Georgie doesn’t accidentally start any international incidents.”
“Hey!” Georgie protests. “I’m perfectly capable of behaving myself.”
“You once started a three-hour argument about churro pricing with a carnival worker,” Ree points out. “I’m not takingany chances.”
As the parade continues its magical procession toward Storybook Hollow, I spot my target standing alone near the three-tiered fountain that some genius has lit up in pulsing purple light. Delora Drake looks like she’s attending a funeral instead of a celebration, her arms crossed and her expression suggesting she’s mentally composing complaint letters to various consumer protection agencies.
“There she is,” I point her out to my squad. “Our next suspect. Looking absolutely thrilled to be here.”
“Oh, you mean the Ice Queen herself?” Georgie says with a dramatic eye roll. “Detective Dreamboat’s absolutely charming mother, who thinks we’re all beneath her designer heels? The one who basically declared war on your entire existence over cake pops?”
“The very same,” I confirm grimly. “Also known as the woman who had an affair with Dilly’s husband and has been getting blackmailed about it for fifteen years.”
“And who specifically requested those marble rolling pins for the merchandise display,” Ree adds, consulting her murder notebook. “Very convenient that she knew exactly how heavy they were—and she approved.”
Before we can head over for our interrogation, McKenna appears at my elbow, slightly out of breath from coordinating parade chaos.
“Mom, I need to borrow the cutest money-making machines ever,” she announces, reaching for Fish’s and Chip’s totes. “They have their own float in the finale, and we’re already behind schedule.”
I love the float!Fish perks up with interest.It’s my favorite part of the entire parade, the part where I wave at my loyal subjects. It doesn’t hurt that it comes with premium seating.
Please tell me there are snacks involved,Chip adds hopefully.All this costume wearing has worked up my appetite.
