An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

paranormal findings calmed his previous tension and left him feeling happily exhausted. He tucked a foot beneath him and let the buzz of conversation wash over him.
    The quiet burr of the phone interrupted David’s story about the dead squirrel Cecile’s cat had brought them as a present that morning. “I’ll get it,” Sam offered, since he’d finished his lunch and everyone else was still eating.
    Reaching across Danny’s desk, Sam plucked the receiver from the base and thumbed it on. “Bay City Paranormal Investigations, this is Sam.” “Yes, hello,” said a clipped female voice. “I need to speak to Dr. Bo Broussard, please.”
“Who should I say is calling?”
    “This is Principal Green at St. Christopher’s Academy.” Sean and Adrian’s school. “Okay, hang on.” He covered the mouthpiece with one hand and leaned close to Bo. “It’s for you,” he murmured. “It’s the principal at St.
    Christopher’s.”
Bo’s brows drew together. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“No. She just said she needed to speak to you.”
“Hm.” Bo chewed his bottom lip. “Could you transfer it into my office, please, Sam?”
“Sure.”
    Sam waited until Bo was inside his office before transferring the call. He set the receiver back on the base and studied the closed office door, wondering why the school 50
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An Inner Darkness
was calling. Sean had been reprimanded a couple of times for talking during class, but neither boy had ever been in any real trouble. God, I hope neither of them has been hurt or anything. The sudden thought made Sam’s stomach knot.
Dean nudged Sam’s arm. “Hey, Sam.”
    “Yeah?” Sam frowned. Why hadn’t the school called Janine? He knew she was their primary contact. Bo hated that. He still hadn’t gotten over being relegated to the status of back-up parent.
    Dean’s face appeared less than a foot from Sam’s. He jumped, startled, and Dean grinned. “You okay, Sam?”
“Yeah, fine.” He forced a smile. “Just thinking.”
“Who was that on the phone?” David asked around a mouthful of potato chips.
Sam swiveled around to face him. “Personal call.” David’s eyebrows went up. “So, none of my business. Gotcha.” Pushing her chair back, Danny
    stood and started picking up napkins and empty sandwich wrappers. “Of course Bo’s personal business is his own, David. I’m sure any of us would appreciate the same consideration.”

    Before David could retort, Bo’s office door swung open. The second Bo strode out, Sam knew something was wrong. Bo’s cheeks were red, the muscles in his jaw standing out hard and tight. Sam’s insides clenched.

    “Sorry, y’all,” Bo said before Sam could ask him what was wrong. “But I have to go pick up Adrian from school.” He lifted his jacket from the coat rack and shrugged it on.
    “I’ll be back in a little while. I hope y’all don’t mind him coming to the office with me for the rest of the day.”
“Of course not.” Dean shot a questioning look at Sam, who shrugged. “Anything we can do?”
“No. Thanks.” Bo frowned, opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.
“See y’all in a little while.”
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Ally Blue
    He yanked the front door open and hurried outside. Sam followed without stopping to think about whether or not he should. Shivering in the increasing cold and damp, he jogged across the porch in Bo’s wake. “Bo, wait.” Bo stopped. “What?”

    Sam ignored the snap in Bo’s voice. “What happened?” Sighing, Bo took Sam’s hand in his and laced their fingers together. “Adrian’s been suspended.”
    Sam’s mouth fell open. “Suspended?”
“Yeah.”
“Why, for fuck’s sake? He’s a great student, and he’s never been in trouble before.”
    “I know, I know.” Bo rubbed his free hand over his forehead. “The principal said he was disrupting the class, that he refused to stop and that he threw a pencil at his teacher when she reprimanded him.”
    Surprised, Sam blinked. “That doesn’t sound like Adrian at all.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Sam pulled Bo closer. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“I’m sure. Thanks, though.” Bo tilted his face up and pressed a swift kiss to Sam’s lips. “I need to go. I’ll tell you what I find out later.”
    “Okay.” Sam squeezed Bo’s hand, then let him go. “Call me if you need me.” With a wan smile, Bo nodded and turned away. Sam stood with his