Back on Main Street, they lined up on the sidewalk to watch the parade. Standing there as a stream of adults and kids flowed by in costumes, Lester thought Mae seemed lighter and more at ease than any other time since he’d known her. He guessed sharing her story must have made her feel like he had the night at the ice rink. When she’d suggested his family’s fate didn’t have to be his own.

As it grew dark, an army of volunteers began lighting the jack-o-lanterns. Thousands of twinkling candles glowed yellow and orange. They cast flickering shadows across the festival and filled the air with the sweet smell of roasting pumpkin.

The local bank was giving away free hot dogs, and Lester devoured three covered in hot peppers. Watching him, Amanda and Mae groaned, still too full of candy to eat. With the sun now down, the temperature dropped quickly, and they set off in search of something warm to drink.

Exiting Artist’s Way, a small street where local painters displayed their most recent works, Lester suddenly stopped. While many of the canvases had images appropriately macabre for the season, it wasn’t the gruesome artwork that had made his heart skip a beat.

“Perfect timing!” Mrs. North called, beaming at them from beside the sheriff’s patrol car, which, once again, was doing double duty as the meals on wheels delivery vehicle. “Kids, come give me a hand.”

Since his return from visiting Mathis, Lester and his mother had settled into an awkward truce. Sticking to subjects like the weather, school, and — the weather, their conversations had become too dull to erupt into arguments.

“Hi, Mrs. North,” Amanda said, pushing past Lester, who was still rooted to the spot.

“Amanda! So nice to see you, dear,” said Mrs. North giving her a quick hug and an air kiss on each cheek. “And it’s Maeko, right?”

Lester felt uneasy as he watched Mae shake hands with his mother. He hadn’t exactly been hiding who he’d been spending time with these days, but he hadn’t seen a need to advertise it either. The less his parents knew of his activities, the less there was to be suspicious about.

“Thank goodness you kids happened by when you did,” Mrs. North said. “Do you think you could do me a favor and take this inside?” She gestured to a stack of tinfoil-covered trays that filled the back seat of the patrol car. “They’re for the food pantry. I’d do it myself, but I’m afraid I’ve got to dash off and judge the costume contest.”

“Um, sure,” Lester said, relaxing now that he knew their encounter with his mother would be brief. “No problem.”

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“Thank you, sweetie,” Mrs. North said. “I knew I could count on you.” She kissed Lester on the forehead and set off at a brisk jog. “I’ve got the keys, so just close it up when you’ve finished. Have a fun night, you three!”

They made short work of the delivery, loading up each other’s arms as they shuttled the food inside. When Lester and Amanda returned from dropping off the last batch, they carried three hot chocolates given to them by the grateful shelter’s staff. Mae had already locked up the car, so they headed back to the festival.

Sounds of laughing and cheering erupted from the orange glow in the distance as the costume contest got underway. Lester, not wanting to miss it, sprinted ahead, taking a shortcut through a nearby parking lot. Tall lampposts dotted the vast stretch of pavement, creating small islands of light in the dark as he zig-zagged his way around the tightly packed cars.

Lester had just come out from behind a large van when someone slammed into him, spilling his hot chocolate. “Hey!” he shouted, wiping the front of his coat.

The young man who’d been responsible stopped and turned around as though to apologize. But instead, he looked nervously passed Lester to the long rows of cars stretching behind him. His eyes were wide, and his face was an ashen gray.

“Wait. I know you,” said Lester.

At the sound of pounding footsteps, Lester spun to see Amanda and Mae approaching. When he turned back around, the man was gone.

“Who was that?” Amanda asked, catching up to him.

“Remember the accident from my paper route with the cows?” said Lester. “That’s the guy that was driving the truck that smashed into the stonewall.”

“That was Truck Boy?” Mae asked, craning her neck to see where he’d gone. “What was he doing here? And why did he look so scared?”

Before Lester could answer, more voices came from the dark.

“He’s over there!” a man called.

“Right behind you!” shouted another.

Lester leaned around the van and was watching two flashlights dance their way closer when a sharp pain shot through his shoulder.

“Get down!” Amanda said, shoving Lester and Mae to the ground.

“What the heck, Amanda?” said Lester, rubbing his arm.

“Shut up and listen,” she hissed.

“You go left and drive him towards the back of the theater!” the first man called, now only a few rows away.

“Alright! I’ll meet you there!” his partner replied.

When Lester was sure they had passed, he slowly sat up.

“Oh, crap,” he said, looking at Amanda, who nodded.

“What?” asked Mae.

“The two men that just ran by,” Lester said, “are our fathers.”

“Your fathers?” said Mae. “What are they doing here? Why would they be chasing the kid from the accident?”

“No idea,” said Lester. “I don’t see how they could even know him?”

Mae’s face took on the familiar faraway look it got when she was deep in thought. Sometimes in the library basement, she’d sit like that for long periods, pondering some new information they’d uncovered. But this time, it cleared quickly, and she jumped to her feet.

“Okay. Let’s go,” Mae said, crouching low and running off into the dark.