“I don’t see what the big problem is,” Devon James said as she threw herself on the couch and grabbed one of the pillows. “You’re lucky, most people want to forget their first time, the fact that you can’t remember yours is a blessing in disguise.”

“A blessing?” Cayden questioned with disbelief. “How is that a blessing? I don’t even know what I did.” Shaking his head, Cayden sat down on the couch beside Devon and sighed.

“Just relax, it’s not the end of the world. So you had sex. It’s not a big deal.”

“It was my first time,” Cayden responded. “It was supposed to be special.”

“Well, I guess there’s an upside to all of this,” Devon explained as she glanced over at Cayden.

“And what is that?” Cayden questioned.

“I don’t know,” Devon responded. “But there has to be an upside, right?”

Rolling his eyes, Cayden grabbed the pillow from her and smothered himself with it as he screamed.

“What’s going on?” Mason Weber questioned as he stepped into the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Cayden’s whining about his lost virginity,” Devon responded.

“Again?” Mason questioned. “Dude, you need to get over it.”

“Thank you,” Devon agreed.

“I can’t get over it,” Cayden responded as he pulled the pillow away from his face. “I can’t even remember it!”

“Listen,” Mason said as he crossed over and sat on the arm of the couch. “My first time was in the back of my dad’s car, with Mary Bishop.”

“Mary Bishop?” Cayden questioned. “I knew it! She was so nasty . . .”

“That’s not the point,” Mason interjected. “The point is, I was so excited that it was over in three minutes.” Without warning, Devon burst into laughter.

“Hey, I was fourteen,” Mason argued in his defense. “But the point is, not everyone’s first time is special. Not everyone gets the fireworks and warm tender moments they imagined. Some people just have awkward and embarrassing first times.”

“But they still remember them,” Cayden mumbled.

“You can’t change what happened,” Mason explained, “but you can change what happens next. You can sit here and feel sorry for yourself, or you can pick your fat ass up from that couch and go and get dressed and move on.”

With a pout on his face, Cayden glanced at Mason, then over at Devon. “Fine,” he said as he tossed the pillow and stood up from the couch. “You’re right. I’m way too neurotic. I just need to relax. I’m just going to move on and forget all about my first time . . . which I can’t remember anyway,” he added as he stormed off toward his room and slammed his door.

Rolling her eyes, Devon glanced over at Mason and smiled slightly. “He’s a lost cause,” she noted as they heard Cayden’s bedroom door open again and saw him step out.

“Hey guys . . . is my ass really fat?” Cayden questioned.

“Mason,” Devon said as she stepped out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee. “You know Cayden better than anyone. What is his problem?” She inquired.

“Where do I start?” Mason Weber responded as he leaned back on the couch. “Cayden’s not exactly the laid back, easygoing type of guy. He obsesses over everything. He’s neurotic about even the smallest details and he has these crazy ideas about the way things should be.”

“But you’re his friend,” Devon noted, “he can’t be that bad.”

“Sometimes he’s not,” Mason agreed. “Sometimes he can be pretty cool.”

“But he’s so . . . so uptight.”

“It’s true, he has a problem with letting loose.”

“We have to do something about that,” Devon said.

“Many have tried,” Mason warned her.

“Yeah, but those people weren’t me.”

Stepping out of the bedroom wearing pajama pants and superman T-shirt, Cayden crossed over to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Why are you guys still here?” He questioned. “It’s Halloween, don’t you have parties to get ready for?”

Stepping forward, Devon glanced over at Cayden. “You’re right,” she said, “We do have a party to get ready for, so go throw something on, we’re going shopping for a costume.”

“I’m not going out,” Cayden responded as he shook his head.

“Yes, you are,” Devon assured him.

“Dude, it’s Halloween, it’s the perfect time for you to let loose.”

“I think I let loose a little too much last night,” Cayden explained. “My wrists still hurt from those handcuffs.”

“Fine,” Devon said, “stay home and walk around moping all night. Mourn your virginity, or do whatever it is that you’re doing,” she added. “We’ll go out and we’ll have a night to remember, yes, a night to remember, and you can stay home and . . . not remember anything.”

With a sigh, Cayden set his coffee cup down. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll go out, but I don’t even have a costume. I don’t even know what I’m going to wear. I don’t even know where to find a costume. I’m hopeless.”

“That’s pretty much a given,” Devon responded. “But you’re in luck, you have me. We’re going to go down to this cute little costume shop that I know of and we’re going to find a costume for you.”

“Why am I suddenly overcome with fear?” Cayden questioned.

“Don’t be afraid,” Devon assured him, “Just be prepared.” She set her cup of coffee down on the counter and started for the door. “Be ready in ten minutes,” she said over her shoulder as she exited the apartment.

Cayden glanced over at Mason with a half-smile.

“Be afraid,” Mason warned him. “I would be . . . that chick scares the hell out of me.”

“I love New York,” Mason said as they walked down the street. “There’s so much to see and do and, and there’s so many people,” he added as he accidentally bumped into someone and was called an asshole. “But the people could be nicer,” he added.

“It’s a great city,” Devon added with a smile.

“It’s okay,” Cayden added.

“Okay?” Devon questioned. “It’s like a small world. You see everything here, everything.”

“I know what you mean,” Mason agreed. “When I was out with Gage, we saw some crazy stuff, man.”

“The fact that you were out with Gage is crazy enough,” Devon remarked.

“Hey!” Mason said as he pointed in front of them, disregarding Devon’s comment. “What’s going on over there?” Cayden glanced over and saw several police officers waving back a crowd and setting up yellow tape.

“It’s a crime scene,” Devon explained. “You see a lot of those here in New York too.”

“Cool, it’s like Law and Order,” Mason said as he rushed over to join the crowd. Devon and Cayden joined him.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Cayden said as he caught a glimpse of a body lying on the ground as someone covered it with a sheet. He reached up to his mouth and turned away.

“It’s a jumper,” Mason said, glancing up at the building they were standing beside and spying a broken window. "Dude, he jumped from the tenth floor.”

Cayden glanced up at the building, at the same broken window. “Why would someone do that?” He questioned.

“I don’t think they did,” Devon said as she glanced at the police officers.

“Why not?” Cayden questioned.

“Because your friend’s over there,” Devon said as she pointed toward the officers. “And he’s a homicide detective.” Glancing past the body, Cayden caught sight of Szymon Skubisz and froze.

Kneeling next to the body of a Caucasian male in his mid to late twenties, Szymon Skubisz sighed and shook his head. “What a waste,” he muttered under his breath as he stood up and glanced over at Cecilia Nakamura.

“What do you expect?” Cecilia questioned. “He was a rat. Even we used his information a few times. Sooner or later it was bound to catch up to him.”

“Yeah, I know,” Szymon said with a nod, “but I was hoping it would be later.” With a sigh, Szymon glanced around at the crowd that had gathered. “These people need to get a life. How can they just stand there and stare at a dead body on the ground. They should be ashamed of themselves,” he muttered.

“They’re not all staring at the body,” Cecilia informed him. “You’re boyfriend’s standing over there, and he’s staring at you,” she explained.

“What?” Szymon questioned as he glanced around and spotted Cayden King standing by the yellow tape, staring directly at him.

“You guys should go in and find costumes,” Cayden said as he realized that Szymon was walking toward him. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Whatever,” Mason said as he turned away and headed toward the costume shop. Choosing to stand beside Cayden for a moment, Devon stared Szymon down until he approached.

“Hey,” Szymon said, somewhat awkwardly.

“Hey,” Cayden responded equally.

“Hey,” Devon interjected. “How’s it going? Have you taken advantage of any other drunk teenagers lately?” She questioned, then turned on her heels and entered the costume shop.

Szymon glanced down at the ground. “I’m sorry about that,” Cayden said. “She’s just trying to look out for me.”

“I understand,” Szymon responded. “How are you? I know when I left, you were still a little freaked out.”

“Freaked out?” Cayden repeated. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“Well I’m sorry,” Szymon assured him. “I honestly am. If I did anything you make you feel uncomfortable . . .”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Cayden explained. “We were both pretty out of it.”

“Listen, you don’t want to stick around here for this, it’s pretty gruesome.”

“Tell me about it. We just came by to pick up some Halloween costumes, you know, so we can run around and spook people. Although, I’ll have to admit, I’m kind of spooked out already,” he added.

“It’s understandable,” Szymon said as he reached forward and placed his hand on Cayden’s shoulder. Pausing, Cayden glanced at Szymon’s hand, then back at him and Szymon removed it slowly. The awkwardness of the moment caused them both to fall into silence.

“Detective,” Cecilia Nakamura called out. Szymon glanced over his shoulder.

“I have to get back to work,” he said to Cayden.

“I understand,” Cayden said.

“Cayden,” Szymon said, “be careful. New York is crazy as it is, but on Halloween things get even crazier in the city and an innocent kid like you could really get hurt.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Cayden smiled, “but I’m not a kid,” he added as he stepped away.

“Yeah, I know,” Szymon whispered as watched Cayden walk into the costume shop.

"What about this?" Cayden questioned as he held up a clown costume and looked to Devon for advice.

"You're kidding, right?" Devon questioned as she crossed her arms and stared at him incredulously. "I mean, you're joking. This is a joke, right?"

"What? It's cute," Cayden explained. "It has a big red nose."

"It's what a kid would wear," Devon explained. "You're not a kid anymore."

"So remind me again why we're shopping for Halloween costumes," Cayden inquired.

"Adults can celebrate Halloween," Devon remarked as she searched through the racks of costumes. "We just need to find a costume for you that is more adult and less . . . kindergarten."

"Fine," Cayden sighed, "but I'm not dressing up as a French maid or a nurse or anything, so get that out of your mind right now."

Laughing, Devon shook her head, "Cayden, you're cute . . . but not that cute," she commented.

Turning away, Cayden put the clown costume back on the rack and rolled his eyes as he searched for something else.

"Cayden!" Mason yelled from across the room and waved at his friend.

"What's up?" Cayden questioned as he approached Mason.

"Check this out," Mason said as he held up a pair of horns and a T-shirt. "What do you think?"

Glancing at the shirt, Cayden read it aloud and started to laugh. "Ride the bull. You're sick," he said.

"Hey, it's cheap and effective," Mason explained as Cayden glanced around.

"That's it!" Cayden said as he stepped over to a vampire cape and pulled it off the rack. "I'm going to be a vampire!" He held it up for Mason to see. "But I need fangs." Glancing around, he spotted them and snatched them up. "I've got my costume," Cayden said as Devon approached them.

"Lemme see," Devon said as Cayden held it up. "A vampire. It works," Devon explained.

Smiling, Cayden felt relieved. "Good, let's get out of here then."

"Not so fast," Devon said, "toss the kiddy cape but keep the fangs. If you want to be a vampire, then I'm going to transform you into the hottest vampire that New York City has ever seen."

“Cayden, come out of the bathroom,” Kathryn Hayes pleaded. “We all want to see your costume.” She glanced at Devon and Gage and rolled her eyes. “How long has he been in there?” She questioned.

“About thirty minutes,” Devon explained.

“Cayden,” Kathryn pleaded. “We all have our costumes on and we want to go out. Just come out of the bathroom already so we can see you.”

“No,” Cayden responded.

“Why not?”

“Because I look like a freak,” Cayden explained. “This was a bad idea. I’m going to freeze my butt off.”

“Dude, you need to relax,” Gage called out. “We all look like freaks. I have a axe sticking out of my chest, Kathryn dressed like a bumblebee . . . Devon’s a. . . I don’t know . . . think she’s some sort of burlesque whore . . .”

“Asshole,” Devon rejoined.

“The point is,” Gage explained, “we’re supposed to look like freaks. It’s Halloween, and aside from cheap ass Mason,” Gage said as he glanced over at Mason, wearing his horns and T-shirt,” the rest of us are decidedly freaky.”

“Fine,” Cayden called out, “but don’t laugh. I’m coming out.” Opening, the door, Cayden stepped out slowly and glanced at his friends. “It’s stupid, isn’t it?” Standing in front of the others wearing nothing but ripped faded jeans with heavy black eye makeup, red blood stained lips and a silver crucifix around his neck, Cayden King felt exposed.

“Oh my God!” Kathryn Hayes responded. “He’s hot!”

“I look like a gothic fag,” Cayden whined.

“I’m sorry to tell you this man,” Gage said as he stepped over to Cayden and gave him a pat on the shoulder, “but you are a fag. That part you’re just gonna have to deal with.”

With a smile, Cayden shook his head. “Are you sure this looks okay?” He questioned.

“It looks better than okay,” Devon James responded. “It’s perfect. So what are we waiting for, let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Sweet,” Gage said as he headed for the door, “let’s get our trick on.”

“Can I have a bottle of water?!” Cayden asked as he leaned across the bar. “Please?” The loud music seemed to only get louder and Cayden glanced around at the myriad of people dressed in their costumes. Smiling, he felt like such an idiot for how he behaved earlier.

“Thanks,” he said as the bartender handed him the bottle. He tossed his money on the counter and popped open the bottle, taking a sip. Choking slightly when he felt a hand pressed up against his buttocks, he nearly spit the water out when he felt someone give him a little squeeze. He glanced back at a complete stranger standing behind him smiling.

The man was dressed like an indian chief and he was drop dead gorgeous and Cayden instantly felt embarrassed. “You’re hot,” the guy said with a smile, making no effort to remove his hand from Cayden’s butt.

“Thanks,” Cayden said with a smile, “so are you.”

“So, you wanna get out of here and go to my place and hook up? I live right around the corner,” the man inquired.

“Thanks,” Cayden responded, “but I can’t.”

“Sure you can,” the man said as he gave Cayden’s butt another squeeze.

“Um . . .”

“There you are!” Mason Weber called out and he stepped up next to Cayden. “I thought I lost you, Baby,” he said as he leaned over at gave Cayden a kiss on the cheek. Glancing at the indian chief, he smiled. “Thanks for keeping my man company,” he said as he pulled Cayden away.

“Thank you,” Cayden responded.

“You’re gonna have to do more than thank me,” Mason responded. “I kiss you on the cheek, Dude, you owe me.”

With a chuckle, Cayden smiled and shook his head. “Where did Devon and Kathryn get off too?”

“I don’t know,” Mason responded as they stepped over to Gage.

“Oh, good,” Gage said as he glanced over at Cayden. “That dude you were talking to is bad news.”

“What do you mean?” Cayden questioned as he glanced back at the indian chief.

“He has internet cameras set up in his room, he films everything and puts it on his blog,” Gage responded.

“How would you know that?” Cayden inquired.

“I set up the cameras,” Gage explained.

“You did what?” Cayden asked.

“Yeah, I know, it was a terrible thing for me to do . . .”

“That’s not what I was going to say,” Cayden corrected. “I’m just surprised that you know how to set all that stuff up. That kind of business pays well.”

“I’m not an idiot,” Gage explained. “I know all about computers and that stuff. I’m just filthy rich and don’t see any point in actually working.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Mason said as he held up his beer.

“Kathryn!” Cayden called out when he spotted her in the crowd. Waving at her, he caught her attention and she rushed over and joined the group. “Where did Devon go?”

“I don’t know,” Kathryn explained. “There’s some chick in the VIP room doing Tarot card readings and Devon said he was going to have her cards read. That kind of stuff freaks me out,” Kathryn explained. “There are just some things that we shouldn’t mess with.”

“Tell me about it,” Gage responded. “I had my cards read once when I was high on weed and it freaked me out.”

“Well, I don’t need the weed to be freaked out,” Kathryn explained. “Where did Mason go?” She questioned as she glanced around.

“He met this girl dressed like a matador,” Gage explained. “I think it was love at first sight.”

Pushing her way through the crowd, Devon approached the group. “You guys!” She yelled. “I have the best idea!”

“Uh-oh,” Gage responded, “the last time she had a best idea we were stealing an eight foot sign off the side of this building in the rain with a rickety old ladder . . .”

“Shut up,” Devon responded, “You’re the one who found the ladder.”

“So what is it?” Cayden questioned.

“Not here,” Devon said as she glanced around. “Let’s go back to your apartment.”

“Fine with me,” Gage responded. “I can pick up some more party supplies,” he added with a grin.

“No pill popping tonight,” Devon explained, “I need you lucid,” she said as she grabbed him by the hand and began to drag him out of the place.

“Devon . . .” Gage groaned.

Glancing at Cayden, Kathryn smiled. “I wonder what it is,” she said.

“Whatever it is, she’s excited about it,” Cayden responded. “Let’s go.”

“What about Mason?” Kathryn inquired.

“He has a key,” Cayden explained, “and besides, I think he’s a little occupied with his matador.”

“Okay, then let’s go see what Devon has planned,” Kathryn said. “I hope we’re not going to steal another sign . . . I almost fell off the ladder the last time . . ."

"Are you going to eat those fries?" Cecilia Nakamura questioned as she pointed at Szymon's McDonald's bag.

"No," Szymon responded as he handed them to her. "So what do you think?" He questioned. As he sat in the driver's seat of the car.

"About what?" Cecilia responded.

"About Cayden."

"I told you what I think about him, Szymon. He's eighteen years old. You're twenty-seven. That's a nine year difference."

"Well thank you for the math lesson," Szymon responded sarcastically.

"It's more than that," Cecilia assured him. "He's still a kid. He doesn't know what he wants from life."

"He seems mature enough to me."

"Mature enough to what?" Cecilia questioned, "Break your heart? I've known you for a long time, Szymon, you act like you're this big strong man when the truth is you're a big old softy."

"I am not a softy, Cici," Szymon retorted.

"Oh really?" Cecilia inquired. "Then what was up with that touch?"

"What touch?"

"That touch earlier today. You reached out and put your hand on his shoulder. You never do that," Cecilia reminded him. "I've seen you deliver bad news to people, people whose family members have died and not once did you reach out and put your hand on their shoulder, not once."

"I didn't do that," Szymon responded, slightly flabbergasted.

"You touched him," Cecilia declared. "You know you did. Look, I know you feel guilty about what happened. You had sex with him. You laid back and let him bounce on your lap. Just move on, because I have a feeling that if you keep on going in this direction, it's going to turn out badly for the both of you."

"Maybe you're right," Szymon agreed.

"Of course I'm right," Cecilia responded. "So, are we heading back to the station?" She inquired.

"We're heading back," Szymon nodded as he slipped the key into the ignition.

"Wait a minute," Cecilia said as she reached over and slapped Szymon on the arm and pointed out of the car. "Is that Cayden?" She inquired as she spied Devon and Gage walking with Kathryn and Cayden close behind. When he saw Cayden, Szymon's eyes went wide with desire.

"Damn, he looks good," Cecilia commented. "Now that I think of it, it's going to be pretty damned hard for you to leave him alone . . . I know it would be for me," she added with a sigh. "Just look at him, he's gorgeous."

"I know."

“Okay,” Cayden said as he fumbled for his keys in an effort to unlock his door. “So what’s this big idea?” He inquired. Standing in the hall beside him, Devon waited patiently.

“It came to me when I was talking to the Tarot card reader,” she explained. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.”

“Well, can we get inside already?” Gage questioned, “I to take a piss.”

“That’s classy,” Kathryn Hayes noted with a smirk.

Opening the door, Cayden snapped on the light and they began to step into the apartment. “Holy shit!” Cayden nearly yelled as he caught sight of Jesse Martinez sitting in his apartment beside an open window.

“Jesse,” Cayden said, regaining his composure. “What are you doing here?”

With a shrug, Jesse glanced over at Cayden. “Sorry,” he said softly. “I missed Julia.”

“Get out of the way or I’m going to piss on myself,” Gage said as he pushed through and darted into the bathroom.

Glancing over at Jesse, Kathryn crossed over and stepped up to him, giving him a hug. “I think Cayden understands,” she said as she pulled away.

“Actually,” Devon said, “It’s good that you’re here. I’ll be right back,” she said as she turned away. “I just need to get something from my apartment and then we can start.”

“Start what?” Jesse questioned as he glanced at Cayden and Kathryn.

“We have no idea,” Cayden responded. “She has some sort of idea.”

“Are you guys gonna steal another sign?” Jesse inquired.

“I’m not stealing any sign,” Cayden said.

“Julia said the same thing,” Jesse responded. “She said she wasn’t going to be involved in the theft of anything, but she’s the one who got up on the ladder and took it down. God, that was crazy, but she did it. Everyone else chickened out, but she got up there and she took it down. She was incredible,” he added with a smile.

With a burp, Gage stepped out of the bathroom and walked into the living room. “Damn that felt good,” he said with a smile. “Cayden, you got any beer?” He questioned.

“I think Mason has some in the bottom,” Cayden responded.

“Where did Devon go?” Gage questioned.

“To her apartment,” Kathryn said as she reached down and slipped off her heels.

“You guys have any idea what she has planned?” Gage questioned.

“No clue,” Cayden answered.

“I’ve never seen her this excited about anything,” Kathryn commented. “It’s kind of unsettling, actually. I mean . . . she didn’t say a single swear the entire walk over here. Maybe she’s high on something.”

“Whatever it is,” Gage said, “she didn’t get it from me. I swear.”

“Please,” Devon James said as she re-entered the apartment with her hands behind her back. “I wouldn’t take anything from you if my life depended on it. I’m not on drugs,” she explained to everyone. “I told you all before, I was sitting with the Tarot card lady and it suddenly came to me. We’re going to find out who killed Julia once and for all,” she explained.

“What?” Kathryn questioned as she stood up from the couch. “What do you mean?”

“How are we going to do that?” Jesse inquired.

“Simple,” Devon said as she moved her hands into view and showed them all that she was holding a ouija board. “We’re going to have a séance, and we’re going to ask Julia herself.”