An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

out a can for David and grabbed a bottle of grapefruit juice for himself. “I wish I could be there. This waiting’s killing me.”

    “Look at it this way. If she’d just said ‘no way’ right off the bat, it wouldn’t be taking this long.” David took the can Sam held out to him. “Thanks.” “Sure.” Sam plopped into his chair, twisted the cap off the juice bottle and took a long swallow. “God, I hope she doesn’t try to keep me out of this case.”
    “She’ll try.”
“You’re not helping.”
    With a put-upon sigh, David saved his report, closed the document and spun his chair around to face Sam. “Seriously, Sam. What’re you gonna do if she lets us investigate, but only on the condition that you’re not there? And don’t tell me that won’t happen,” he added, cutting off Sam’s protest. “Because we both know it might.” Sam shook his head. “Bo won’t let her do that.”
    “Bo might not have a choice.” Leaning forward, David rested his elbows on his knees and pinned Sam with an uncharacteristically serious look. “This is about his kids. I know he loves you, and he’d want you there in any case because you’re an important part of the team. But if the only way for him to help his kids is to leave you out of it, I’m thinking he’ll agree to that. He won’t like it, but he’ll do it.” Sam scowled at the plastic bottle clutched between his hands. David was right. As much as Bo loved Sam and respected his work, if it came down to a choice between doing the investigation without him or not doing it at all, he knew which one Bo would choose.
    The front door squeaked open. Sam looked up, hopeful, and couldn’t help deflating a little when Dean and Cecile walked in. “Hi, guys.” “Hey.” Strolling around behind Danny’s desk, Dean gave Sam a questioning look.
“Bo and Andre aren’t back yet?”
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An Inner Darkness
“No,” David answered. He took Cecile’s hand and kissed it as she walked over to him. “How was the follow-up?”
    “Fine. The incidents have decreased since the daughter started therapy, so it looks like we were right about her being at the root of it.” Cecile glanced between David and Sam with a frown. “What’s going on?”
    “Nothing. We were just talking.” Sam gave her a wan smile. “Or to be more exact, I’m worrying myself sick over what exactly is happening right now with Janine.” Nodding, Dean plopped into Danny’s chair. “That explains the lack of enthusiastic greeting when Cecile and I walked in. You were wanting to see Bo.” Sam shrugged, feeling sheepish. “Kind of, yeah.” Dean clutched dramatically at his chest. “Geez, Sam. Break my heart, why don’t you?”
Sam had to laugh. “Wonder what Kyle would say to that?” Dean had been dating Kyle DuPree ever since they’d met at the beach back in May. It was the longest Dean had ever been with any one lover in the eleven months or so Sam had known him.
    Sadness fleeted through Dean’s eyes and was gone before Sam could decide if he’d really seen it or not. “We broke up.” Sam blinked. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “Naw, it’s okay. Kyle was great, but nothing lasts forever, right?” Dean jumped to his feet, his smile a little too wide to be real. “Okay, I guess I’m heading out. See y’all tomorrow.”

    They all called goodbyes as Dean sauntered out the door with a wave. David shook his head. “I’d say he needs to get laid, but he already gets laid too much as it is.”
    “He needs a relationship that’ll last, and that’s something he has to be ready for before it’ll ever work.” Cecile bent and kissed the top of David’s head. “Are you almost finished with your case report? We should head home ourselves.” Straightening up, she turned to Sam. “Unless you want us to stay with you and wait?” He did, but he wasn’t about to say so. David and Cecile had worked just as long a day as he had, and were no doubt anxious to get home. He wasn’t about to keep them www.samhainpublishing.com 33
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from their private time out of a selfish wish for someone to keep him company while he worried out loud.
    “No, y’all go on. I’ll be fine.” Sam gestured toward the half-finished report still open on his computer screen. “I have to finish this anyhow.” David shut down his computer, stood and flashed Sam a teasing grin. “Next time maybe you’ll finish up your work like some of us did instead of sitting over