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okay.”
    Leo shook his head in spasmodic jerks. “He’s gonna get me.”
    Liv was amazed at Ted’s calm. She didn’t think she could move if her life depended on it. Which, now that she considered it, might just be the case.
    Leo let out a wail, something like an animal cry, as Ted approached.
    When he was several feet away, Ted crouched down, vulnerable to any harm Leo might have in mind. But Liv was afraid to call him back and risk startling the obviously traumatized teenager.
    A.K. stood still but was poised to move. Liv could feel the energy vibrating off him in waves. It was almost as frightening as facing a possible killer, and in a weird way, exhilarating.
    “Where did you get that rifle, son?” Ted’s voice was quiet, soothing.
    Leo twitched. “Found it. Over there.” His head jerked toward the dead man. “Heard something. I know he was coming to get me.”
    “Who?”
    “The ghost.”
    “Leo, the ghost can’t hurt you.”
    “Yeah, he can. He hurt Mr. Rundle. He’s mad. He said so.”
    “The ghost?” Ted had somehow managed to inch closer.
    “No-o-o-o. Mr. Rundle. He said the ghost was mad and it was my fault and he was gonna get me.”
    “We won’t let him get you. Why don’t you let me hold that for you?” Ted reached out his hand for the rifle, but Leo flinched away and clutched it tighter to his chest.
    “Tell me about the ghost.”
    Leo shuddered. “You know him. He’s Old Gallantine, who hid the treasure.”
    “You saw him up here on the roof tonight?”
    Leo bobbled a nod.
    “Did you recognize him?”
    “He was the ghost.”
    “Can you tell me what he—what his face looked like?”
    Leo moaned. “Didn’t have no face.”
    “You couldn’t see it in the dark?”
    “No. Ghosts don’t have faces. Just all shadowy.”
    “What did he do when you saw him?”
    “Disappeared.”
    “Disappeared?”
    Leo nodded spasmodically. “He hurt Mr. Rundle. Now he’s gonna come after me. Don’t let him get me.”
    “We won’t. He’s not going to come after you. We’ll protect you, but you need to give me the rifle.” Ted reached for the musket.
    “No-o-o.”
    His cry was drowned out by rapid-fire explosions. It must be the finale, Liv thought, because one display followed another, and the blasts continued until the whole night sky was filled with color.
    Leo dropped the musket and covered his head with his arms. Ted snatched it from the floor and held it out for A.K., who was lightning swift to take it and move it out of range.
    Ted sat down by the cowering boy and put both arms around him. Liv couldn’t hear what he was saying to the boy, but she saw his lips moving, and he rocked Leo back and forth until the last explosion died away and the color fell from the sky.
    And then there was silence. A calm descended and seconds passed before the sound of people talking and gathering up their belongings replaced their exclamations of delight. But this time they sounded far away as they moved on to their next stop or returned home, while three people and a frightened boy were separated from the rest of the world by a stone wall and a murdered man.
    “There,” Ted said. “It’s all over. The fireworks are finished and the ghost is gone.”
    Leo peered out between his arms.
    Ted patted his shoulder. “See? No ghost?”
    “He won’t come back?” Leo spoke so quietly, Liv could barely hear him, and she found herself moving closer.
    A.K. stopped her. “Just stay back until we have him in custody.”
    “Custody? Surely you don’t think—”
    “Liv—Ms. Montgomery. Just do as I say.”
    “Can you tell me how the ghost disappeared?” Ted continued.
    Leo looked around. Lifted a finger and pointed to the parapet. “Jumped up right there on the wall, then…” His hands jerked up and his fingers splayed, an action that made Liv jump back and had A.K. reaching for his side.
    “Presto. Like that.”
    Liv let out her breath.
    Ted looked over. “I think you’d better call the