Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

much more horrible than before,” Bo said.
Sam gave him a curious look, trying to ignore Bo’s hand still resting on his leg. “What do the rest of you think?”
“David and Andre don’t think it means a thing. Amy, surprisingly, agrees with Cecile.” Bo shook his head, pursing his lips in thought. “I don’t know what to think. As a scientist, I’m inclined to dismiss it as coincidence. But I can’t entirely ignore the fact that Andre’s and Cecile’s dreams have been and still are nearly identical. The thing I can’t figure out is where your dreams fit into the picture.”
Sam slid off the bed and stood, needing to shake Bo’s touch. “I know. Mine are similar, but different. I don’t understand it either.”
Bo fixed Sam with a penetrating stare. “I can’t shake the feeling that you’re the key to this whole thing, Sam.”
Sam licked his dry lips. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Bo’s voice was soft and slow, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not scientific in the least. It’s just a feeling. But I know—I know— that if we can find the link between what you’ve experienced here and what’s happened in the past, we can solve the mystery of this place.”
Sam wasn’t sure what to say. It fit, it felt like the truth, and he hated that. He didn’t want to be the key. Right then, he wished he could slip back into the cloak of anonymity he’d kept tight around himself his whole life, until Oleander House and Bo had turned everything inside out.
“So where’s everyone?” Sam asked. “Have they already gone to Gautier?”
Bo gave him a sharp look, but didn’t fight the change of subject. “Not yet, no. Amy and I are going in a little bit. Right now everybody’s downstairs going over evidence from yesterday. I came up to get my wallet, or I guess I wouldn’t have heard you.”
Sam glanced out the window, noticing for the first time that it didn’t seem to be as early as he’d first thought. “What time is it?”
“About nine thirty.” Bo smiled. “Don’t worry, everybody but me slept late today.”
Sam returned Bo’s smile, feeling a little better. “Yeah, you’re the only one that doesn’t have either nightmares or a bed partner with nightmares.”
Bo blushed and looked away, and Sam abruptly realized the implications of what he’d just said. He cleared his throat. “So… Um. Just you and Amy are going to Gautier, then?”
“Yeah,” Bo said, studiously avoiding Sam’s gaze. “There’s several hours of tapes and stuff from yesterday, and we got a late start today, so we figured two of us could go get some research done and the rest could stay here and review evidence.”
Sam didn’t ask why they hadn’t included him in the decisions. He thought he knew. He nodded, gaze fixed on the floor. “Sounds good.”
“We didn’t leave you out on purpose,” Bo said softly.
Sam’s head snapped up. Bo was looking at him again, eyes lit with something Sam was afraid to put a name to. “I-I mean,” Bo stammered, clearly shaken by Sam’s silence, “we, um, we thought about coming to wake you up, you know, but Andre and Cecile both said we should let you sleep. They figured if you were getting as little rest as they were, that you needed every minute you could get and it wasn’t fair to wake you.”
Sam shifted his feet uncomfortably. He felt naked and vulnerable, and he wished Bo would just go away and leave him alone. Give him time to pull himself together and get his armor in place before he had to face anyone else.
“Sam?” Bo let out a nervous laugh and pulled on his braid. “Say something.”
Sam kept his voice calm with a tremendous effort. “I guess I did need to sleep.”
Bo’s gaze was far too perceptive for comfort. Sam gritted his teeth and forced a placid expression onto his face.
“Okay,” Bo said. “Well. Amy and I will be back in time for dinner. If you want to join David, Andre and Cecile in the library, feel free, but don’t worry about it if you don’t feel up to it. They’ll understand.”
“How can they possibly understand?” Sam spat before he could stop himself. “Have they just had everyone overhear them making idiots of themselves over someone who doesn’t want them? Not to mention being outed? I don’t think so.”
Bo gaped at him, obviously taken aback. Sam turned away and stared out the window. Go away, he thought venomously. I can’t look at you right now. I can’t look at anyone.
He stiffened when he felt Bo’s hand on