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“It wasn’t very effective. Try again.”
Alicia smiled. “Are you arguing with Grampa?”
“Why should Halloween be any different?” I observed her slow-moving friends as they passed through the gate. “Are they experiencing a sugar crash? They’re like two sloths crawling across a field of glue.”
“They said they didn’t sleep well last night.” She shrugged. “I slept fine.”
“They were probably too excited to sleep,” Nana Pratt said. “Halloween is right up there with Christmas for some children.”
“I’m glad to see the hardhat fits,” Ray observed. “Her head finally grew into it.”
I relayed the comment to Alicia.
“This is probably the last year I’ll trick-or-treat. Mom says I’ll be too old next year.”
“Nonsense,” Ray scoffed. “You should trick-or-treat until you’re sixty if you enjoy it. There’s no age limit on fun.”
I glanced at the older ghost. “Do you really believe that?”
“Now that I’m dead I do.”
Nana Pratt nodded. “Death has a way of bringing life into focus.”
“The cruel irony,” I remarked.
Alicia pursed her lips. “I’m feeling left out of this conversation.”
“I agree with your grandfather. Halloween is for the living. Go find your friends. If you don’t think you’ll do this again next year, you should make the most of it now.”
Alicia swung the pillowcase over her shoulder. “Fine. It’s not like it’ll be hard to catch up to them.”
“If you see any creatures that look too realistic to be in costume, walk away as fast as you can.”
She perked up. “I thought you said Bonnie was wrong about the whole veil thing.”
“She is, but some creatures are opportunistic. If they sense a lot of prey tonight, they’ll take a chance.”
Alicia scrunched her nose. “Prey? I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Good. Trust your instincts. If you see anything that sets off your antennae, walk in the opposite direction and call me.”
“Got it.” Alicia cast a glance over her shoulder. “You should give out candy at the gate. It’s a long walk to your front porch. Kids don’t have time for all that hoofin’ if they want to hit as many houses as possible.”
Nana Pratt grunted her disapproval. “Why not just drive them from house to house so their feet don’t get sore?”
“I think Alicia has a point,” Ray said.
Nana Pratt folded her arms. “Of course you do. She’s your granddaughter.”
“How about this?” I said to Alicia. “I’ll bring the candy bowl when I walk you to the gate, and if I see any kids on the way here, I’ll linger.”
Alicia beamed. “Deal.”
“You’re spoiling her,” Nana Pratt complained.
I didn’t respond. Alicia was far from spoiled. Outside of school, she spent most of her time home alone because her father lived in San Francisco and her mother worked overtime as a lawyer in New York City. The teenager craved companionship, not comfort.
Alicia managed to catch up to the slow-motion silhouettes. I was about to walk back to the house when a familiar SUV pulled alongside the property line. Chief Elena Garcia emerged from the vehicle.
