It was New Year’s Eve, and the Barnes family buzzed with excitement as they prepared for the evening’s fireworks display. Before immersing themselves in the festivities, David and Mason decided to take a refreshing swim in the pool. As they splashed around, Mason noticed Mackenzie sitting nearby. Despite her attempts to mask her emotions, he could see that she appeared somewhat downcast. 

“Hey, sis, are you alright? You’ve seemed a bit off these past few days,” Mason asked gently. 

“I’m fine,” Mackenzie replied curtly, rising to go inside. Even as she tried to conceal her feelings, Mason sensed that something was troubling her, and he had a hunch about what it might be. He approached their father to share his concerns. 

“Hey Dad, have you noticed that Mackenzie seems a little depressed lately?” Mason inquired. 

“Now that you mention it, yes, I have observed that she’s been a bit down,” David replied thoughtfully. “Do you think one of us should go in and talk to her?” 

“I believe we should give her some time alone; she’ll reach out when she’s ready,” said David. 

“Yeah, okay,” Mason agreed, and the two continued their swim.

Inside the house, Mackenzie sat at the table with her leg propped up on another chair. Soon after, Melissa entered the kitchen with Nancy and immediately sensed that something was troubling Mackenzie. “Sweetheart, are you okay? What’s the matter?” she asked gently. In that moment, Mackenzie broke down, tears streaming down her face. “Honey, what’s wrong?” Melissa pressed again. 

Outside, David and Mason watched the scene unfold through the window, but Melissa urged them to remain outside so she could speak with Mackenzie in private. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve been feeling so useless lately. With this broken leg, I can’t even do any detective work,” Mackenzie confessed, sobbing. 

“Sweetheart, you are not useless,” Melissa reassured her. “I know it’s difficult to have a broken leg, but you’ll be back on your feet before you know it. See what I did there?” Melissa added, trying to lighten the mood and coax a smile from Mackenzie. 

“I’m sorry, Mom, but I really need to be alone,” Mackenzie replied, heading upstairs to her room. At that moment, Mason and David entered the house. 

“I can’t say I blame her for being upset,” Mason said. “She hasn’t been able to do anything fun since we got here. I wish there were a way for us to help cheer her up,” he added.

After about an hour, Mason expressed his concern to his parents about checking on Mackenzie. "Do you think we should see how she’s doing? She’s been up there for quite a while, and I'm starting to worry," he said. 

"That's very considerate of you, sweetheart," replied Melissa. "However, your sister mentioned that she wanted some time alone, and we need to respect her wishes. Besides, it’s not as though we need to worry about her running away again." 

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true,” Mason agreed, but he couldn’t shake his concern for his sister. He pondered various ways to help her feel better, yet nothing seemed to come to mind. Finally, he decided that perhaps a small gesture could lift her spirits. He headed to the kitchen and prepared Mackenzie’s favorite hot chocolate, complete with extra marshmallows. 

Balancing the tray carefully, his hands trembling slightly with nervousness, Mason approached Mackenzie’s room. He knocked gently on her door. "Mackenzie, it's Mason. I brought you some hot chocolate. Can I come in?" 

Silence followed for a few moments, making Mason's heart race with anticipation. Finally, Mackenzie’s soft voice responded, "You can come in." 

Mason slowly opened the door, revealing Mackenzie sitting by the window, lost in her thoughts. He entered the room and placed the tray on a small table beside her. Mackenzie looked up and offered a faint smile. "Thanks, Mason," she said softly. 

"You're welcome," he replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Do you want to talk about what’s been bothering you?" 

Mackenzie hesitated for a moment, staring at the steaming cup in front of her. “I just don’t know how to explain it,” she finally admitted.

"It's alright," Mason reassured her as he settled down next to her. "Take your time," he added softly. "I’m here for you." Mackenzie inhaled deeply, savoring the warmth that Mason's presence brought. She took a slow sip of her hot chocolate, enjoying the comforting warmth that spread through her. "I really appreciate that, Mason," she replied, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and confusion. 

For a while, they sat together in a peaceful silence, the room filled only with the gentle hum of the heater and the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. Eventually, Mackenzie broke the stillness, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lately, I've been feeling so useless, ever since I broke my leg," she confided. "You were right when you said this is punishment enough for my actions and that Mom and Dad shouldn’t ground me." 

"I just wish there was something I could do to help. I guess you're not the only one feeling helpless," Mason replied, sharing in her sentiment. 

"Thanks, Mason, but I'm not sure there's anything you can do to help," Mackenzie said. 

"Still want to go to the fireworks tonight?" Mason asked. "I heard there’s a carnival. Maybe we’ll run into another distressed parent who’s lost their kid," he joked, recalling one of their earlier cases.

“Then I can tease you by bringing up that time you got spanked,” Mason said playfully.

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?” Mackenzie replied, rolling her eyes.

“Nope,” Mason grinned. “In my defense, you were the one who mentioned it in front of your girlfriend, not me,” Mackenzie shot back.

“Alright, you got me there,” Mason admitted. “I’m just happy to see you acting like yourself again.”

“Now, back to my original question,” he continued.

“Fine, I’ll go to the fireworks tonight. It’s not like I have anything better to do with this broken leg,” Mackenzie said with a resigned sigh. “And if we do run into a mystery, I hope you won’t mind if I help out this time.”

“Mason replied, “No complaints here!”

“Is solving mysteries on your own too much work?” Mackenzie teased, gently nudging her brother. 

“Nah, I just miss having you around. We’re supposed to be a team,” Mason replied. 

“Don’t worry; I’ll be back at it in no time,” Mackenzie assured him. 

“We should start getting ready soon; it’s almost time for the fair,” Mason suggested. 

“Yeah, you’re right,” Mackenzie agreed. “And Mason? Thank you for always being there for me. I really appreciate your support.” And with Mackenzie’s spirits lifted the two started to get ready to go to the fair where they would watch the fireworks.

Later that evening, the family made their way to the fair to enjoy the dazzling fireworks display. Upon their arrival at the fairgrounds, they were greeted by a lively atmosphere filled with food stalls, thrilling rides, entertaining games, and a bustling crowd. Although Mackenzie couldn’t go on the rides, she still had a wonderful time playing a variety of games. After their fun, they returned to their chosen spot to watch the fireworks.

"Hey kids, did you enjoy the fair?" David asked.

"We had a fantastic time!" Mackenzie replied.

"I’m so glad to see you feeling better, sweetheart," David said.

"Thanks, Dad," Mackenzie responded.

At that moment, Mason noticed a security guard approaching. "Uh, Dad, just a heads-up—there’s a security guard coming our way," Mason said.

“David! It’s been ages since I last saw you! Can it really be 20 years?” the guard exclaimed. “Are these your kids?”

“Yes, kids, this is Aaron, my best friend from childhood. Aaron, meet my children, Mason and Mackenzie,” David introduced.

“Actually, your kids are the reason I came over here,” Aaron said.

“Oh my god, what did they do?!” David exclaimed.

“DAD!!!” the kids shouted in unison.

“What seems to be the problem?” David asked.

“I think it would be better if I showed you,” Aaron replied, leading them to the fireworks display case. 

“I believe there’s something you should see,” Aaron said as the twins stepped forward for a closer look. 

“It appears to have been sabotaged,” Mason observed. 

“Not only that, but all the fireworks are missing as well,” Aaron added. 

“I don’t understand. Why would someone sabotage the display and steal the fireworks?” Mackenzie inquired. 

“That’s what I was hoping you two could figure out,” Aaron responded. 

“Aren’t you a police officer? Why is this our responsibility?” Mason asked. 

Mackenzie nudged her brother gently. “Mason, that’s not polite,” she said. 

“Ow,” Mason replied, rubbing his arm. 

“I’ll be here to help if you need me,” Aaron assured them. 

“Don’t worry, Aaron; we’ll find out who’s behind this before the display tonight,” Mackenzie promised.

“Aaron, could you provide us with the precise time this incident occurred?” Mackenzie inquired. 

“We believe it may have happened this morning, but we can't be certain,” Aaron replied.

“If it did occur this morning, it wouldn’t make sense for them to return with all these witnesses,” Mason observed.

“That’s true. It seems more reasonable to assume they would have committed the crime earlier, when there’s less activity. However, that would suggest they sabotaged the display and then took the fireworks before leaving this morning. Aaron, you mentioned that the display was likely sabotaged earlier today. When did you first notice that the fireworks were missing?” Mackenzie asked.

“We realized they were gone after checking the display to ensure it was functioning properly,” Aaron explained.

“Can you show us where you typically store the fireworks?” Mackenzie asked. “I can’t imagine they would be kept in the open.”

“We keep them in a nearby warehouse. Come on, I’ll take you there,” Aaron replied. 

The twins followed Aaron to the warehouse where the fireworks were normally kept, only to find it completely empty.

"There’s no way they could have loaded all these fireworks into a car," Mackenzie said. 

"They must have used a truck instead," Mason added.

"Exactly," Mackenzie replied. "Aaron, did you hire a specific company to set up the display or perform any repairs?" 

"Actually, yes," Aaron responded. "This morning, we had someone come out to check the display and ensure that everything was functioning properly."

"I don’t think that’s a coincidence," Mason remarked. 

"You’re right, Mason," Mackenzie agreed. "Can you tell us the name of the company?"

"I believe it was something like Short Fuse Inc.," Aaron said.

“Mason, could you please go online and gather information about Short Fuse Inc.?” Mackenzie asked. 

“I’m on it,” Mason replied.

“Aaron, do you remember who contacted the company for a visit?” Mackenzie inquired. 

“I believe it was my boss, Julie,” Aaron responded. 

“I think it’s time for us to have a conversation with her,” Mackenzie suggested. “Is she here?” 

“I’ll give her a call,” Aaron said.

“Mason, how’s it going? Have you found anything?” Mackenzie asked. 

“You won’t believe what I just discovered,” Mason replied. 

“I just spoke with my boss; she’s on her way over,” Aaron added. “According to my research, Short Fuse Inc. is an explosives factory that has been embroiled in controversy several times, primarily because most of their equipment malfunctions. And you’ll never guess who the owner is,” Mason said.

Before Mason could finish his thought, Aaron's boss, Julie, approached them. "Can we make this quick? I'm very busy preparing for tonight's display," she stated. 

"Are you aware that the company you hired has a reputation for producing faulty products?" Mackenzie asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Julie retorted. "Our products are perfectly safe."

"Wait, 'our'?" Mackenzie raised her eyebrows in surprise. 

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Mason interjected. "She doesn’t just oversee the display; she’s also responsible for supplying it." He continued, "She’s the owner of Short Fuse Inc."

"So if the display wasn’t sabotaged, then it's merely faulty," Mackenzie suggested.

"Not quite," Mason replied. “Given the company’s controversial history, it would be easy for someone to sabotage the display and make it appear merely faulty. That way, the blame falls on the company, not on whoever is really behind this. My guess is that whoever did this wants to see the company shut down for good.”

“What I don’t understand is why they would take the fireworks” said Mackenzie “maybe they didn’t want anyone to get hurt?” Asked Mason “either way it’s clear that whoever is behind this wanted to make a statement” said Mason before Mason could continue Julie interrupted “what do you mean the fireworks are gone?!” Asked Julie “if I remember correctly Aaron isn’t it your job to keep the warehouse locked? Consider yourself lucky I’m not firing you right now” exclaimed Julie “wait, the warehouse was locked we saw Aaron open it” said Mackenzie “which means that the culprit must’ve had a key to get in” “What I don’t understand is why they would take the fireworks,” Mackenzie said.

"Maybe they didn’t want anyone to get hurt," Mason suggested. "Regardless, it’s evident that whoever is behind this intended to make a statement." Just as he was about to elaborate, Julie interrupted, "What do you mean the fireworks are gone?!" 

"If I recall correctly, Aaron, isn’t it your responsibility to keep the warehouse locked? You should consider yourself fortunate that I’m not firing you on the spot," Julie exclaimed. 

"Wait, the warehouse was locked— we saw Aaron open it," Mackenzie interjected. "That means the culprit must have had a key to get in." 

"Julie, you weren’t the one who set up the display this morning, were you?" Mackenzie asked. 

"No, I assigned someone else to do it," Julie replied. 

"Do you remember who it was?" Mackenzie inquired. 

"I think his name was Mike," Julie responded. 

"Aaron, is that who you spoke with this morning?" Mackenzie asked. 

"No, I spoke with someone named Doug," Aaron answered. 

"We don't have any employees named Doug at the factory," Julie stated.

"It appears you have an imposter in your factory," Mackenzie remarked. "We must locate this Doug before he can cause any further damage."  

"I think I understand his motives," Mason replied.  

"Care to elaborate, Mason?" Mackenzie inquired.  

"Let's apprehend him first, and then I'll explain everything," Mason suggested.  

"Any ideas on how to do that?" asked Mackenzie.  

"We could reach out to Jose and see if he can track him down," Mason proposed.  

"Given how many people in the world are named Doug, we would need his last name for that to work," Mason continued.  

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Mackenzie conceded.  

"You might not have to catch him," Aaron interjected. "Look over there."  

"Are you certain that’s him? We don’t even know what this guy looks like," Mackenzie said.

"Oh yes, I'm certain that's him; I never forget a face," Aaron declared confidently. Soon, he spotted the individual and took off running. "After him!" Mackenzie shouted, urging Aaron to keep up. Driven by determination, Aaron sprinted after the suspect and successfully tackled him to the ground. "Sir, you are under arrest for sabotage and impersonation," he announced with authority.

"Could someone explain what's happening?" Julie asked, her confusion evident.

"Gladly," Mason replied. "Julie, do you remember a couple of years ago when you found yourself entangled in a lawsuit because a child died after buying a fireworks kit from your company? His name was Ryan Thomas, and this is his father, Doug Thomas." 

"But that lawsuit was dropped; there was no evidence that we did anything wrong," Julie interjected.

"You're correct that the lawsuit was dismissed, but Doug wanted you to take responsibility for what happened to his son. I suspected this whole situation was an elaborate scheme to make a statement. First, he kidnapped Mike and took his place, then he came down here where the fireworks display was being set up and sabotaged it. Given the company's history of faulty products, it was easy to make it look like a malfunction." 

“He received the key to the warehouse from the guard on duty this morning and stole the fireworks,” Mackenzie said. “That’s correct, but he made a mistake by telling Aaron that his name was Doug instead of Mike,” Mason replied. 

“But where is Mike?” Julie asked.

“He’s in the truck, along with all the fireworks,” Mason explained. “Doug never intended for anyone to get hurt; he only intended to confront the person he believed was responsible for his son's death.”

With Mason's explanation complete, the police took Doug into custody. 

“I suppose you’ll be taking me into custody as well, won’t you, officer?” Julie inquired. 

“I don’t think that will be necessary, but we will be launching a formal investigation into your company in light of everything that has occurred under your leadership,” Aaron responded. “You may need to come in for questioning.”

“Kudos to you all for what you've achieved today,” Aaron said, looking at the kids. “However, the display is still broken, so unless we can acquire a new one within the next hour, I’m afraid the fireworks will have to be canceled.”

“Let’s reach out to one of our contacts at the FBI; he might be able to help us,” Mason suggested. He then called Jose to find out if he knew anyone who could provide a fireworks display, as their current setup was malfunctioning. Fortunately, Jose came through for them. “Mason reported, ‘Jose says he has a cousin who works in demolition and can supply us with a fireworks display.’”

“That’s fantastic! How soon can it arrive?” Mackenzie asked eagerly.

“It should be here any minute now,” Mason replied.

With the replacement fireworks display set up, the twins returned to the area where their parents and grandparents were gathered, ready to watch the fireworks and celebrate the new year. “Hey, kids, did you manage to get everything fixed?” David inquired. 

“We sure did,” Mason replied. 

“And just in time too—the show is about to start!” Mackenzie added. 

As they prepared to welcome the new year, they looked forward to a year filled with exciting mysteries to solve.