The Longest Halloween, Book Three: Gabbie Del Toro and the Mystery of the Warlock's Urn. Frank Wood

      The end of the school day finally came, and Gabbie and Grawl made their way back to the tall corner home that now basked in shadows. Seen from this vantage point, it wasn’t quite the edifice it had once been when Barister Del Toro had been a tenured professor at the school. The yard was in disrepair more often than not, and the windows could use new sashes and the roof a thorough cleaning. With Mother now working full time at the Witches’ Mission, it often fell to Gabbie, Grawl and Grandmamma to do what they could to keep the place in order. Given the limitations placed on their household by the Ghoulsville police, they often weren’t able to tidy as they’d like.

      Two dark automobiles were parked outside of the home. As most everyone in Ghoulsville traveled by broomstick, it was rare to see automobiles anywhere, let alone parked in the driveway of the Del Toro home. Someone must be calling, Gabbie thought, someone of an official nature, as it was officials who often travelled by auto.

      Gabbie and Grawl could smell delectable dinner scents wafting through the open storm windows as they made their way to the front door, which was held ajar. Graymalkin bounded up to them.

      “Graymalkin, you good boy!” Grawl fell to one knee to greet the energetic, huge animal.

      “Attack phase!” came a rakish voice from above. Perched atop the staircase was a small, dark-haired boy armed with a fierce-looking crossbow. His adversary was a similar boy crouched just outside the vestibule, carrying a spherical shield that emitted conical projectiles.

      “Down, Gabbie!” a voice screeched across the room as an older woman, short as a fire hydrant, came barreling down from above. “I’ve got twins to fry!”

      “Oh, hello again, Grandmamma,” Gabbie said nonchalantly.

      “Hello yourself, darling,” she replied. “Now watch me throttle your brothers!”

      “Well, there you two are,” Abigail Del Toro said, coming into the room. “I thought I was going to have to send out a search party.”

      “Hi Mom,” Gabbie said.

      “Hello, Gabbie. So, how was the first day of school?”

      “Oh, Mother,” Gabbie answered, “where to begin?”

      “I do want to hear all about it, but time is against us for the moment. Your father’s here on furlough to meet with his legal team, and we’ve got the Back to School Haunt this evening!”

      “Father!” Gabbie had heard all she needed to hear. She and Grawl headed pell mell to Barrister Del Toro’s chambers and burst in without knocking.