He had a better vantage from here, the mown field spread pretty wide. Only the starlight was enough for him to see the difference between mown and unmown.
There was another light however. What in the world, is that a tractor? The machine was deeper to his right, beyond the part that was connected to the opening where the farmhouse stood. The tractor had one light on, it wasn't running however, no sound. Could have been on a while, I wouldn't have seen it when it was still light
Derrek stuck out his head out of the window and looked below. It was a drop of a few metres into a patch of hay. Damn, that's still high. Doesn't that only work in video games, dropping into a patch of hay from up high? Not going to try it now.
He checked for other movements around the barn, there weren't any. Only the back of the house was visible from here. The first story window with the watcher, presumably Yves, wasn't visible.
After closing the window, he spotted Ashley looking at him in silence.
"Were you really going to jump that?" He asked in passing her. She only shrugged. Derrek peeked beyond the platform. Still empty, door still open.
He descended the ladder, looking through the steps. With the front gate still closed it was way too dark to spot anything. He was sure he saw the boy leave, but sneaking in while he was busy, wouldn't have been that hard. Recheck or move along? I wouldn't trap myself in one of those pens, but a kid's mind is different. He was scared, running the first time, so maybe he's scared now too. Derrek pondered for a bit, started walking toward the door at the back and then ran through the hall between the pens. He threw quick glances in each pen, but made sure to move quickly. If I'm hiding, the last thing I would want is some running through like a madman, especially if they have a gun. And they already know I'm here so no use being quiet.
He came to the end of the all, at the gate, but no sound came. He breathed the run off him as he walked to the back.
"What are you doing?" Ashley called from above. Derrek stopped at the end of the hall.
"Quiet was the deal." He whispered loudly to the roof. He heard a sigh, no further reply.
He peeked outside the back door. The fields he ran through before were straight in front of him. With the starlight, he only saw the leaves to the front, which could be hiding anything behind them. The rows were aligned with his line of sight but too close together for him to see anything. A light would have been visible in them, none were present.
To his right was the house, which he gave another closer inspection. The shadow on the roof stood out against the night sky, he was looking straight at him. Yeah, not creepy at all. Derrek waved at him nervously. He didn't wave back. I think it would be even creepier if he did wave back. Nothing I can do about him now, better get out of here.
He turned his head to his left, the orchard. The rows were aligned in the other direction than the field, which again gave him some sight. There was more spread between them, so he could see a tiny bit more. Just enough for him to pick those instead of the fields. It's also closer to the tractor in the field, I'll see things coming way sooner and I'll be able to keep a lookout on the barn from there. And I really should call it in, could use some backup to catch them.
Derrek ran for the orchard.

NEW CHAPTER - Orchard

He ran a few metres down the row before turning. I can still see the barn from here. Doesn't seem to be anyone around me. Safe as any spot. Derrek got out his phone and dialed for the Chief. He waited a few beeps, watching for any movements.
"Hope you have anything now?" The line came. Derrek was happy he did.
"I caught a girl in the barn." A tiny laugh came through the line. Yeah, that does sound funny. "She was dressed in a Halloween outfit trying to scare me. Her along with at least three others. The screams were them, trying to draw attention it seems. I detained the girl, but I cannot stay with her. I'm heading out to catch the others. They broke and entered both the house and the barn."
"Hmm, good. Call when you got 'em." Derrek blinked in confusion.
"Sir, I cannot catch them alone."
"Derrek, this pudding mess is getting a lot of media attention, I need everyone here. If you can't even catch some kids, tell me, I'll send someone else in your stead and you can return here." Seriously… this guy. Derrek was looking for some words. "So?" A flashlight came from the mown fields to his right.
"I'll get 'em, sir." Derrek didn't wait for a reply, he closed his phone. The flashlight shone through the orchard. Derrek moved behind one of the fruit trees, hoping it'd be enough. The light passed him without pause. Derrek peeked but couldn't see the person holding the light, blocked by another tree.
The light flicked off again. All right, that one doesn't know where I'm at. I can sneak up on him… or her. No activity at the barn, so perfect time.
Moving through the rows was rough. He had to break branches or go real low and crawl through. The trees weren't to blame, so Derrek crawled wherever he could. He spotted the figure moving, to his right, deeper into the fields, toward the tractor he had spotted from the barn. The figure walked into the light from the tractor. It was pumpkin man, he clearly saw the shape around his head.
Derrek neared the second to final row of the orchard, when he lost the figure beyond the machine. What is he doing there? I expected him to go for Ashley, why is he walking about like he's in disneyland? Between the rows, he couldn't see the barn door any longer. There wasn't any loud noise either, but they'd be quiet if they got to her.
He pushed through into the final row. Behind it, was a mudpath just wide enough for the tractors to pass through. The mown fields beyond it had some pieces of stalks remaining on the ground, but most of it was clean. Except for the mud. The road was worse though. Derrek waited a minute but couldn't spot anything happening around the tractor light. I don't like it, this seems like a trap. There ain't a lot of spots he could hide back there though, behind the tractor or else he went a whole lot deeper. A trench is also possible but that'd be a bit too extreme.