Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

Josephine was describing was some sort of vortex.”
“We should search for other cases similar to Oleander House too,” Amy added. “Injuries or deaths that are unexplained, especially if they involve witnesses or suspects who are uninjured but mentally traumatized by the event.”
Bo flashed her a brilliant smile that caused all sorts of havoc in Sam’s belly. “Great idea. Anybody else? Suggestions, comments, questions?”
Everyone shook their heads. Bo stopped next to Sam and slapped his back. “Sam, good job finding that note. Okay, people, we still have the storm cellar and the family burial plot to check today. We’ll break into three teams again. One for the cemetery, one for the storm cellar and the other team to stay here and review tapes.”
“Bo, I’d like to team up with Sam today,” Amy said. She smiled at Sam. “I hope you don’t mind, Sam. I haven’t gotten to work with you yet.”
Bo shot a quick, slightly panicky look at Sam. Sam acknowledged it for only a second before turning to Amy. His guts churned, wondering what her real reason for teaming with him was. He gave her a deceptively calm smile.
“Sure thing,” Sam agreed cheerfully. “Which are we doing?”
“Y’all take the storm cellar,” Bo instructed. “David and Andre, why don’t you do the tape reviews, since you’re better at it than me. Cecile, you and I will take the burial plot. That work for everyone?”
Sam nodded along with the rest of the group. He darted a furtive look at Bo. If Bo was at all nervous about Amy’s transparent attempt to get Sam alone, his face no longer betrayed it.
“Come on, Sam,” Amy said, pressing an EMF detector and digital thermometer into his hand. “You do the EMF and temp readings. We’ll do one sweep with me doing video and another with audio and stills. It’s small enough that we should have time, we’ll just bring all the equipment with us.”
“Cool.” Sam took the small canvas bag Amy handed him and put an audio recorder and still camera in it. “Let’s go.”
Amy started toward the back door, the camcorder in her hand. Sam trailed after her. As he passed, he deliberately brushed Bo’s arm with his. Bo looked up and their eyes locked. For a split second Sam was frozen. He felt as though he were peering down a dark well, directly into all the fear and need and loneliness in Bo’s soul.
Something inside Sam twisted painfully as the walls went back up in Bo’s eyes. Without stopping to think of what he was doing, Sam took Bo’s hand in his and pressed his fingers.
I’m here, he promised silently, letting the unspoken vow shine in his eyes. I know you need someone, Bo, and I’m right here. All you have to do is say the word and I’m yours.
Bo didn’t say anything, but the flush that rose in his face before he turned away told Sam all he needed to know. He let go of Bo’s hand and joined Amy in the foyer.
They walked in silence through the sun porch and out the back door. Outside, Amy looked around with a frown. “Is it me, or is it unusually quiet out here?”
Sam licked his lips nervously. “I’ve noticed the same thing ever since Bo and I were out here on Sunday. It’s been getting a little more pronounced every day.”
Amy glanced at him. “Any theories about what’s causing it?”
Sam shrugged. “Animals can sense potential danger before we do. Maybe whatever it is that’s trying to come through here is scaring everything else away.” He squinted up at the cloudless sky. “I haven’t heard any birds for the last two days, and I hardly even hear any insects anymore.”
Amy pursed her lips. “Hm. Remind me to add that to the list of stuff to research.”
“Sure.”
They reached the low stone dome of the storm cellar. Sam peered uncertainly down the steep, narrow steps into inky blackness. “We have a flashlight, right?”
Amy unclipped a small metal flashlight from her belt and switched it on. “Come on. Down we go.”
Sam squared his shoulders and followed her into the cool, clammy dark, mentally steeling himself for the confrontation he was sure was coming.
Chapter Fourteen
    The storm cellar was every bit as dark, damp and musty as it had looked from the top of the steps. Sam moved methodically back and forth across the earth floor, working his way slowly toward the back wall. The EMF readings were far more stable here than in the house, and other than a few abandoned spider webs, he felt nothing beyond a sharp anxiety over what he imagined Amy