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“That sounds great. I haven’t been to a Halloween festival before.”

Never been to a Halloween festival? I can’t even wrap my mind around that.

“We’re fixing that. Prepare yourself for the full experience. Parade. Haunted hayride. The works. And you absolutely have to try Darren’s ale. It’s the last event leading into Halloween.”

Music fills the air as Cordelya laughs, holding her flowers close to her chest.

She’s about to say something when the bartender walks over.

“Hey Cordelya. Wow, those are gorgeous!” he says, gesturing to the bouquet she cradles in her arms.

“Aren’t they?” she says dreamily.

Hitching his thumb over his shoulder, the bartender says, “You’ve got a call at the bar.”

“Oh.”

Cordelya’s entire body tenses as she looks back to me.

“I’ll be right back,” she says with the slightest tremble in her voice.

I nod and watch her walk back to the bar and duck behind the counter to grab the phone. Her body sags for a moment as if she’s relieved, and I think everything must be fine.

Then I watch the color drain from her face.

I’m on my feet and across the bar before she even hangs up the receiver.

“Cordelya?”

Her body trembles as she faces me. “That was Dale. My apartment and a few others have been broken into.”

I reach out for her on instinct, offering her my hand. She slips hers into mine for a moment, squeezing it like it's the only thing keeping her grounded.

“Are the animals okay?”

She nods quickly.

“Dale says they’re fine. Wound up, but otherwise okay.”

I exhale a shaky breath. Those animals are her family. She’d be devastated if anything happened to them.

She lets go and looks toward the kitchen. “I need to go talk to Darren. Dale says the police are there to take a report. I need to go walk through and see what’s been damaged or taken.”

I give her a quick nod and watch her disappear into the kitchen.

I pull out my cell and shoot off a quick text to Brecken. He responds back immediately and is happy to cover my shift so I can look after Cordelya. I thank him and assure him I’ll keep him in the loop.

A few minutes later Cordelya emerges, catching sight of me with a surprised look.

“Auggie?”

“No way I’m letting you go alone.”

Her smile is watery but full of gratitude. Scooping her bouquet off the bar top, I take her hand and lead her out to my car.

The drive is short and silent. I hold her hand, rubbing circles I hope help soothe her anxiety.

When we arrive at the apartment complex, two police cruisers are parked in the front.