An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

half expecting to see a patrol car coming up the street. “Bo, let’s go. We can deal with this later, when everyone’s not so angry.” With a snarl that made Sam back up a pace, Bo whirled to face him. “I fucking told you to wait in the car. I told you you’d just set her off. So fuck you.” 152
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That stung. The fact that Bo was right just made it hurt worse. Sam wrapped his arms around himself. “I’m sorry.”
“Save it.” Pivoting around again, Bo banged both palms against the heavy wood.
“Janine, you can’t get away with this. I won’t let you.” A sharp rap rattled the window a few feet away. Sam and Bo both turned to look. Janine stood in the window, the phone pressed to her ear. Cops, she mouthed, pointing at the phone.
    Nervous, Sam glanced around. The couple next door were standing on their porch, watching. Out on the sidewalk, a young man walking his dog stopped to stare. Shit.
    Sam stepped up to Bo and grabbed his arm. “We need to leave. Right now.”
“No.”
    “Yes.” Sam slid an arm around Bo’s waist and tried to guide him away from the door. Bo shoved him away, and Sam fought not to let his frustration get the better of him.
    “People are watching us, Bo. The police are coming. Do you really want to stay here and possibly be arrested?”
Some of the fevered light went out of Bo’s eyes. He looked toward the neighbors, then back to the front door barring him from his children.
    For a second, Sam thought he was going to give in and leave without a fight. Then Adrian’s panicked voice floated from behind the door. “Dad! I wanna come with you!”
    “Adrian?” Bo grabbed the doorknob and twisted. It didn’t budge. He kicked the door. “Janine, fuck! Let me see him!”
On the far end of the street, a police cruiser came into view. Adrian’s muffled wail sounded, begging his mother to let him go with his dad. Bo kicked the door again, then slammed both fists against it. “Fuck, open this fucking door !”
Sam glanced down the street. The patrol car was only a couple of blocks away.
They were out of time.
“Sorry about this, Bo.” Wrapping both arms around Bo’s waist, Sam dragged him backward across the porch.
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Bo struggled wildly in Sam’s grip. “Let me go, dammit.”
“No,” Sam panted, hauling Bo down the steps. “You’ll thank me for this later.”
“Fuck you.” With a sudden, swift twist, Bo broke out of Sam’s arms and lunged for the steps.
    Grabbing Bo’s shoulders, Sam spun him around to put them face to face. “Bo, if you want to see your kids again, we need to leave. Now.” Bo stilled in Sam’s grip. His wide eyes searched Sam’s face. After a second that seemed to last forever, he nodded.

    Relieved, Sam led Bo to the car and pushed him into the passenger seat, then hurried to get behind the wheel and start the engine. He backed into the street just as the police cruiser passed the house at the end of the block.

    Holding his breath, Sam shifted into drive and started up the street at a slow pace. If the cops were going to chase him, they’d catch him no matter how fast he sped off, and the last thing he wanted was to look like he was running. He and Bo hadn’t actually done anything illegal, as far he knew. Maybe the officers would simply talk to Janine and let him and Bo go.

    When no sirens sounded behind him, Sam glanced in the rearview mirror. To his surprise, the police vehicle rolled right past Janine’s house and turned left at the next corner. A regular patrol, Sam realized, and not a response to an emergency call.
    That fucking sneaky bitch, she never called the cops. She faked us out. Sam snorted.
Bo shot him a glance full of barely contained anger. “What the hell are you laughing at?”
    Sam shook his head. “Nothing. Just…reaction. Sorry.” He didn’t mention the lack of police presence at Janine’s house. The last thing Bo needed right now was an excuse to go back.

    Bo settled against the seat, both hands fisted in his lap and his face turned away from Sam. He didn’t say a word, but Sam felt his fury, his helplessness and his fear.

    Sam drove home instead of going back to the office, reasoning that neither of them had any real work left to do. If Bo had any objection to that plan, he kept it to himself, 154
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which was fine with Sam. Andre would make sure Bo’s work was saved and his