A small fire crackled, unattended, in the middle of the clearing. She slowed, frowning, as she glanced around for anyone who might be the keeper of the fire. She caught the quiet rustle only because she was listening for it, and she was sure she heard someone whisper.

Taylor stopped where she was, folding her arms. "Guys--"

Light blazed up all around her, and she flinched back in annoyance. "Very funny, guys," she said, trying to see through the glare of flashlights as her teammates emerged from their various hiding places.

Cole was the first one to turn his flashlight off. "We thought you were Princess Shayla," he offered apologetically.

"She's not here?" Taylor looked over at the fountain automatically. It wasn't like the princess to just vanish without warning… and on Halloween, too. "Where is she?"

"She's with Merrick," Danny said, as the others lowered their flashlights too.

That couldn't be right. It was Thursday, and Willie's was open Wednesday night through Saturday. "I thought Merrick had to work tonight."

"He does." Alyssa's smile was irritatingly mysterious.

There was only one thing that could mean, and Taylor didn't know whether to be aghast or impressed. "Princess Shayla's in a bar?!"

"It's not a bar," Max put in helpfully. "It's a roadhouse café."

She gave him a look. "I hate to disillusion you, kid, but they serve drinks after five. It's a bar."

He made a face at her, and Cole jumped in. "Want to wait up with us? We're telling ghost stories."

"And toasting marshmallows," Alyssa added.

Taylor surveyed the group, all attired in their pajamas by the dim glow of the fire and stars. It had been ages since she'd had marshmallows, and she couldn't quite hide a smile at the thought of confronting Shayla and Merrick by flashlight. "Sure," she agreed, stepping into the circle of firelight. "Count me in."