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Are we doing the thing? Cinnamon asks.

It’s time to do our annual Halloween snack sweep! Fish announces as she leaps from my arms.

SNACK SWEEP! SNACK SWEEP! Sherlock barks, jumping up and down.

All four pets take off, racing toward the crowd, looking for dropped candy, abandoned plates, forgotten treats. In other words, the Halloween bounty left behind by festival-goers.

Last one there gets the candy corn! Gatsby shouts.

Nobody wants the candy corn! Fish yells back.

I shrug up at Jasper. “I really do like candy corn.”

“I’ll trade you for the peanut butter cups.”

“That’s not a fair trade, and you know it,” I say, giving his ribs a quick tweak. “I don’t like them that much. But I do like you.” I tap my finger over his nose, and he gives it a playful bite.

“You really are a vampire, aren’t you?”

“Guilty. But only after dark.” He lands a kiss to my cheek and lingers.

The “Monster Mash” ends, and a slower song begins. Something romantic but equally as haunting.

Jasper offers me his hand. “Dance with a vampire?”

I take his hand and step into his arms. “Only if he promises not to bite.”

“No promises.”

“Good,” I tease. “I was hoping that’s one promise you might break.”

He pulls me close, and we sway beneath the Halloween moon while the last of the festival carries on around us.

“You know,” Jasper says, “when I married you, I thought life might get calmer.”

“And yet you’re still here.”

“I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

“Me neither.” A smile curves on my lips as I rest my head against his chest.

Tomorrow there will be questions, paperwork, and enough leftover candy to keep Ella bouncing off the walls until Christmas.

But tonight, the case is closed, Duchess has a new home, my family is safe, and I’m dancing with the man I love.

“The peace is nice,” I say, looking up at the Halloween moon.

The festival is winding down, the music is still playing, and people are still enjoying the chaos.

“But this is Spider Cove,” I add with a small smile. “Peace never lasts long here.”

“How long do you think we have?” Jasper asks.

“A week. Maybe two if we’re lucky.”

We both laugh and keep dancing, enjoying the moment while it lasts. Murder will come again. It always does in Spider Cove.

But for now, there’s this.

Jasper and me, dancing under a Halloween moon while fog curls around our feet and jack-o’-lanterns grin from the dark.

Tomorrow can worry about itself.

Tonight, I’m exactly where I want to be.

Until a killer comes to Spider Cove again.