Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

against the doorframe, cold dread churning in his stomach. Bo was gone. He’d taken the car and left. And Sam thought he knew where to find him.
    Whirling around, Sam raced up the stairs, snatched his cell phone from the dresser and dialed Dean’s cell. He swore when he got Dean’s voice mail.
    Spurred on by a sense of urgency bordering on panic, Sam yanked on the battered sneakers he’d left lying beside the dresser and leapt down the stairs two at a time. He knew they’d brought an umbrella with them, but couldn’t remember where it was. Not wanting to waste time looking for it, Sam ran out into the rain and splashed across the space between the house and the one next door.
    It wasn’t far, but Sam was soaked to the skin by the time he got to the front porch of the house where Dean was staying with Kyle. He pounded on the door, belatedly noticing the distinct lack of apparent activity in the house. He hoped the group hadn’t decided to retire early tonight.
    He was just about to knock again, and maybe yell for good measure, when the door opened. Sam recognized one of the girls he’d seen on the beach before. She smiled at him. “Hey, aren’t you from next door? What’re you doing out in the rain?”
    He managed to return her smile. “Sorry to bother y’all, but I need to talk to Dean. It’s an emergency.”
Her eyes widened. “Sure. C’mon in, I’ll get him.”
“Thanks.”
He stepped inside and stood chewing his lip and dripping on the tiles while the girl hurried into the back of the house. He heard the drone of the TV stop, followed by low voices. A moment later, Dean came striding down the short hallway toward him. His brows drew together in concern when he saw Sam.
“What’s wrong?” Dean asked, crossing to Sam and laying a hand on his arm. “Jill said it was an emergency.”
“Yeah, it is. At least I think so.” Sam drew a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “Bo’s gone.”
Dean frowned. “What do you mean, gone?”
“I mean, he’s gone. I fell asleep earlier, and when I woke up a little while ago he was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere.”
“Maybe he went for a walk or something. I mean, I know it’s raining, but that wouldn’t stop him if he really wanted to go.”
Sam shook his head. “The car’s gone.”
Dean’s face went white. “Oh shit. He went to Fort Medina.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, yeah.” Sam shoved his wet hair out of his eyes. “Will you help me find him? I don’t know why he left, or if he’s okay, and I just…I, I need you, Dean, will you help me?”
“You know I will.” Taking Sam’s hand in his, Dean pulled him close and kissed his cheek. “We need transport. Let me get Kyle, he can drive us.”
Sam gaped as Dean dragged him toward the back of the house. “But he won’t want to—”
“He won’t mind, believe me. Plus we may need a third person if anything’s actually wrong.” They emerged into the living room. The whole group turned to look at them, bathed in the blue glow of the television. “Kyle, can I borrow you?”
“Sure.” Kyle unfolded his long legs, stood and followed Sam and Dean into the hall. “What’s up?”
Dean glanced at Sam, a question in his eyes. Sam nodded. He didn’t really want Kyle to know about the situation with Bo, but he didn’t see any way around it. Not if he expected Kyle to help them.
“Bo’s gone missing,” Dean said, linking his hand with Kyle’s. “He took the car, and we think he might’ve gone to Fort Medina. He, um…he might not be entirely well. We need to find him. Can you help us out?”
Kyle nodded, his eyes huge and his face pale. “Sure. We can take my car.”
Smiling, Dean stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Thanks, babe. Bring your cell. I’m just gonna run get mine. Sam, have you got your phone?”
“Yeah.” Sam patted the front pocket of his shorts. He watched Dean run down a short hallway which evidently led to the bedroom he and Kyle shared. “I tried calling you, but got your voice mail.”
“Damn. Sorry, we were watching a movie and I didn’t have it on.” Dean came hopping out of the bedroom on one green-sneakered foot, pulling the second shoe on with one hand and clutching his cell phone in the other. “Kyle, we’ll need your umbrella. Oh, and I stuck my raincoat there in the hall closet, Sam, will you grab it?”
While Kyle ran into the back, Sam obediently went to the closet and pulled out Dean’s long, bright green raincoat. “Yeah,