It has been a week since John invited Matt to live with him and Aaron, to work for him. So far the boy has tried his best to fit in and help around the house while John was recovering. Even Aaron, who didn't trust him at first, has taken a liking to the boy. By now though, John is fit again but still just sits around sulking. Aaron has already guessed that it's due to the closed mines, but after looking at the calendar he had an idea.

"Hey John, I know it's late but could you go into town and get us some flour and sugar?"

"Sure, but what do you need that for? I mean can't that wait till tomorrow? It's eight already," John yawned loudly.

"Well if you want to, then the cookies can wait till tomorrow..."

"Cookies? Sure I'll go! Just tell me what you need!"

Aaron wrote a list and handed it to him as he closed the door with John leaving.

"Do you think he knows what today is?" Matt overheard Aarons tease.

"Well, we will see I guess. Anyway, did you buy the Pumpkins earlier?"

"Yes, I sure did! And I also got us some candy," he said while unwrapping one.

"Alright, don't eat them all though, just in case people come by."

While John was out shopping, the two of them were in the kitchen with the Pumpkins, carved out faces and carefully placed candles inside.

Eventually the usually ever so courageous detective came back through the door breathing strongly, like as if he had just participated in a marathon. However, the lights were off.

On his toes, he carefully walked into the kitchen.

John saw two glowing faces, which spooked him. His eyes opened wide and his mouth even let out a slight scream as he jumped back. A loud laughter broke out beside him and as the lights turned on, he saw his two partners holding their bellies as they grasped for air.

"Gotcha John!" Aaron shouted.

"I'm sorry Sir, but you should have seen your face!"

"Damn you two! What the heck are those anyway?"

He dropped off his shopping bag and inspected the glowing pumpkins.

"You don't know? Those are Jack O'Lanterns, they are the first sign that today is Halloween," Aaron kindly explained, whilst still slightly laughing.

"Halloween? Oh I know now... so that's why all those monsters are outside and everything looks so horribly spooky."

"Did you never celebrate it, Sir?"

After the words left his mouth, Matt wondered if it was even correct to say celebrate in this context.

"No, not at all. I never had time to care about it. Actually, I think this is the first time I actually noticed it..."

The two of them were stunned, John was 17, almost 18 and yet didn't know what Halloween even was. They gave him some slack and explained everything, with Matt being most enthusiastic about it, so he didn't have to walk around clueless anymore.

"Oh so that is why you wanted to make cookies, and here I thought it was my lucky day---"

The door bell rang.

John jumped and hid behind Matt.

"Sir, please calm down. That was merely the doorbell," Matt took his role very serious but couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

As Aaron went to open the door, he asked John with a laugh, "Could it be that you are easily spooked and that's why you never had anything to do with Halloween?"

"What? No! No, of course not. No." 

Through the door came a big green man with a screw sticking out of his head. Just seeing this monstrosity made the usually brave young man run and trip over his own feet.

"A monster! Get it out! Please, save me!"

The man stood surprised, while Aaron and Matt nearly died of laughter with some tears running down their faces.

"I'm sorry mister," Aaron had trouble breathing. "Could you please use the bathroom to change your outfit? I think our detective would be very thankful for that."

After leading the man to the bathroom, Matt readied some hot chocolate and sweets on a table, surrounded by several chairs, in the office. Meanwhile Aaron tried to explain to John that it was just a costume, but he wouldn't listen.

"It's just... you see... I grew up only believing some stories and science, but I guess whenever I sense anything unscientific my whole body just trembles."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. We will try not to tease you too much."

Eventually everyone sat down and the visitor introduced himself while Matt played around with a costume bag.

"I am sorry that I scared you earlier, I didn't mean to. I just wanted to get help as fast as possible."

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"Don't worry. What do you need help with?"

"It's my daughter, Lea. She ran away."

"She ran away? Why?" Matt interrupted.

"Well you see, today is Halloween and this would be her first Trick or Treat, she dressed up as a pink fairy since she doesn't like none-cute things. Anyway, she got scared by the decor and costumes and ran away. Please I need you to help me find her! She's just 8!" the man cried, begging for help.

Matt suddenly stood up and spoke loudly, with plastic vampire teeth poking out of his mouth, "We will do what we can, to help you find your daughter!"

The others stared at him weirdly until John stood up and supported him.

"As he said, we will help you. Nobody should be out alone, not at this time."

While John and Aaron put on thick jackets for the cold night, Matt just wore a pullover and carried a bag of sweets.

"If you want to I can lend you a jacket, oh and why are you carrying those?"

"Thank you, but I'll be fine Sir. Oh those? They are just in case."

"Just in case? Fine, but don't forget the mission. No knocking around people's houses!" Aaron lectured him.

"Yes Sir!" Matt salutes.

The four of them went out and split up. Aaron and John walked together, seeing as how they didn't trust John to be out alone. Matt went out alone since he was the most nimble one among them, and so did the father.

Heading out, they looked very carefully. Pumpkins in the yard, skeletons and spider webs on the road. Steamworks ghost plays and several people, mainly children playing trick or treat. They left no stone unturned, or rather skull. It was like the world changed overnight, even John got interested in some of the mechanisms for the attractions but he still hurried past anything scary looking. Eventually they all began to call the girls name, hoping to receive a reply, which never came. They had been outside for about an hour, and John and Aaron had to take a break, since their knees began to ache.

"We still haven't found her, John. Do you reckon she left the city?"

"No way, she is too young. I think she probably just hid somewhere and is waiting for her dad to find her." He said resting against a tree.

"Caw caw!"

A crow flew past John, making him nearly jump out of his body and bump onto the tree behind him.

"Oh come on, that was just a crow... John? Are you listening?"

He was shushed.

"Listen, can you hear that?"

Faint crying came from within the tree, the two walked around and found a hole in it. It was an old oak tree with wilting leaves, decorated with spider webs. Inside they saw someone sitting in a pink dress. John kneed down and tried to talk to, who he believed to be the girl.

"Hello, are you Lea? Your dad is worried sick about you."

"Go away! You aren't my daddy! Leave me alone!" she screamed with tears running down her little glittering face.

The two men looked at each other and knew it had to be her, so Aaron went out to collect the other two. He found Matt still wearing plastic vampire teeth, which even scared him when he saw him. After everyone had arrived her dad spoke to her to try get her out of the hole, but no chance. She didn't want to leave from her 'safe' place.

"It's alright darling, daddy is here now. Let's go home now shall we?"

"No! All these people look weird they aren't human. I don't want to go outside!"

Matt's mouth sunk down, feeling depressed. He then began to slowly move to the hole and sit down on the cold grass, rubbing his freezing hands to warm them.

"Everything is alright--"

The girl screeched since before her sat a red eyed vampire with white hair and pale skin. She pushed herself even deeper back onto the bark. Matt then pulled out the teeth and showed them to her.

"Look, it's alright. It's just a costume, there are no monsters, nobody here means to frighten you."

His attempt to calm her down seemingly worked. as she started pulling at his hair.

"But your hair is white! That isn't a normal colour."

Startled, Matt had to come up with an excuse, "Uhm, that's. I dyed my hair! Yes that's right."

"Really? Why should I trust you?"

"You don't have to, it won't change what I am about to do," he picked up her pink basket and filled it with sweets from his bag.

"You see, no matter how scary we may look. Deep underneath, everyone is just human, and wants to have fun. It is an event meant to enjoy and share things and sights. Even if they look like monsters, you shouldn't judge them for it, because nobody will harm you," he giggled. "After all how could they harm such an adorable little fairy."

Everyone listened closely, trapped by his little speech.

"Daddy," she looked at her father with big watery eyes. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"Don't worry sweetheart, let's go home now," he reached out his hand.

"No!" she quarrelled.

John smirked while the other three could not believe their ears, they were certain that it worked.

"I wanna go get more candies! Please daddy can I?"

Her sweet unexpected reply made the four of them break out in laughter.

Father and daughter were reunited and ventured through the city for more sweets, while the other three headed back home, John had enough heart attacks for one day.

"Caw caw!"

Leaving behind a trail of dust, the brave detective ran home.

"That wasn't even a crow, that was you. Right Sir?" Matt referred to Aaron who stood beside him.

"Yes it was," Aaron laughed. "I will have to apologize to him later I guess. Anyway, I actually just wanted to talk to you. I am sorry you weren't able to enjoy today as much as you probably wanted to, but I am proud that you helped us close the case."

"It doesn't matter that much to me, I still had fun. Even if it the cost of a certain someone, but nonetheless, it bothered me to see her react like that."

"You didn't speak to merely defend costumes, I suppose?"

"Indeed," Matt said in a saddened tone.

And so, Aaron decided to go trick or treat with Matt as well. since he felt it was a rightful reward, but what they hadn't thought of was that Aaron still had the keys...

Next Chapter, a beautiful client visits with an unusual request!

Stay tuned, hope you enjoyed and Thanks for readingthis Halloween special!