Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

glass door and pushed the curtains the rest of the way open.
    It looked like another beautiful day in the making, sunny and perfect. A single wispy cloud floated across the deep azure sky. Beyond the dunes, the Gulf glittered like a jewel against the blinding white sand. A pelican plummeted into a turquoise swell, emerging moments later with a fish clutched in its beak. The sleek silver body flashed in the sun as it struggled in the bird’s grip. The pelican swallowed its meal with a toss of its head, then rose into the air.
    Sam watched the bird cut a graceful arc across the sky to the west. For some reason, the casual display of predator versus prey reminded him of the creatures from the portals. The things which could cross the boundaries between dimensions and snuff out a human life with as little effort as a man crushing a bug beneath his shoe. The thought chilled Sam to the marrow.
    “No portals here,” he reminded himself. “You don’t need to worry about that right now.”
Shaking off the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, Sam went over to the dresser. He took off his boxers and kicked them into the corner where his and Bo’s dirty clothes had been collecting. A moment’s digging in the middle drawer turned up a pair of black and purple board shorts he’d forgotten he’d brought. He pulled them on, then left the bedroom and followed the mouthwatering aromas of sausage and fresh-brewed coffee down the stairs.
Andre and Bo sat huddled together at the table in the breakfast nook. They seemed to be holding a whispered argument. Bo sat hunched over, his back to Sam. The muscles in his bare shoulders stood out hard and tense. Andre wore an expression of helpless frustration with which Sam was all too familiar. He’d had enough disagreements with Bo to know just how Andre felt right now.
Sam shuffled into the room, and the whispers stopped as if a switch had been flipped. He shook his head. “Don’t stop fighting on my account.”
Bo stood and snagged Sam by the waist as he passed. “Good morning, Sam,” he said, pressing close for a kiss. “I made biscuits, sausage and gravy, and I can fix you some eggs if you want.”
Sam studied Bo’s face. He was smiling, but he looked tired, and a stubborn crease marred the skin between his brows. Slipping an arm around him, Sam smoothed his thumb over Bo’s forehead. “What’s wrong, Bo?”
“He wants to come with us tonight,” Andre burst out, cutting off anything Bo might have said. Pushing his chair back, Andre rose and pointed a stern finger at Bo. “You promised you wouldn’t do this.”
“I’m not surprised. Disappointed, yeah, but not surprised. I knew he couldn’t hold out long.” Sam raised his eyebrows at Bo, who blushed and scowled at the floor. “Actually, Bo, I’m kind of surprised you lasted this long.”
Bo darted a sheepish look at him. “Okay, fine, you’re right. I can’t stop thinking about the case, and I’m dying to be a part of it.” He touched Sam’s cheek. “Come on, Sam. Can you honestly say you have no desire whatsoever to get involved?”
Sam wanted to claim he had no such wish, but he knew that would be a lie. As much as it galled him, he was itching to explore Fort Medina along with the rest of the team.
He sighed. “Dammit.”
“I knew it.” Bo’s grin threatened to split his face in half. He slung his free arm around Sam’s neck and bit his chin. “Let’s go to the fort tonight and help with the investigation. Maybe if we get it out of our systems now, we’ll be able to stay away the rest of the time. What do you think?”
“I think when you say ‘we’ what you really mean is you. I think you’re projecting your own inability to control your workaholism onto me.” Sam laid a finger across Bo’s lips to stop the protest he knew was coming. “But I also think you have a point. I am curious about the place, and I’d like to be part of the investigation, if only for one night. I could live without it, but I’m not sure I could live with you living without it.”
Bo snatched Sam’s hand away from his mouth and laced their fingers together. “Does that string of insults mean you agree with me?”
“It’s not insulting if it’s the truth,” Sam pointed out. “But yeah, I guess I sort of agree with you.”
Behind Bo, Andre picked up his coffee mug and strolled into the kitchen. “Sam, you’re as bad as he is.”
Bo let go of Sam and followed Andre into the kitchen. Sam trailed behind