Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

quietly. “We just…couldn’t find our way.”
“It’s like the hallways were warped somehow,” Andre clarified. “Everything seemed dark and sort of blurry, and I couldn’t see any doors anywhere. It’s almost like something was hiding them.”
Sam absorbed this information with a sense of dread. “In all of my dreams, the room I’m in has been sort of hard to focus on. I never can look right at the walls. The angles are all wrong, or something.” Sam blinked as a sudden realization struck him. “And there’s no windows or doors in my dream.”
They all stared at each other with wide eyes. The back of Sam’s neck prickled. He rubbed at it, fighting a strong urge to jump up and run away while he still could.
“I really just want to leave right now,” David declared. “This place is not healthy.”
“I have to agree.” Cecile twirled a strand of hair around her finger, gaze fixed on David’s face. “But we can’t just leave. Not now.”
“She’s right,” Sam agreed. “I want to get away from here too. I’ve barely slept all week and I’m constantly on edge. But I don’t think I could go if I tried.”
“It’s like a compulsion.” Andre scratched his chin. “Our good sense is telling us to go, that’s it’s dangerous to stay here. But there’s something inside us that’s making us stay.”
“You’re all nuts,” David said mildly. He stood and tossed his headphones in the general direction of the equipment bag. “Let’s go out on the porch for a while, huh? I’m getting creeped out sitting in here listening to y’all talk about blurry halls and compulsions and shit. I need some fresh air and a fucking beer.”
Andre chuckled. “I’d give you hell, David, but I’m with you this time. I could use some liquid relaxation myself.”
Cecile unwound herself, hopped to her feet and slipped an arm around David’s waist. “Let’s go. We can discuss it further outside. Maybe being outdoors will inspire us to solve the mystery of Oleander House.”
Sam got up and filed into the kitchen with the rest of them. They grabbed the last four bottles of beer and headed out to the front porch. Andre dropped back to walk beside Sam.
“So. You’re queer, huh?”
Sam’s face flamed, but he met Andre’s gaze without shrinking. Andre didn’t seem upset or ready to judge, just mildly curious.
“Yeah,” Sam answered. “Sorry I didn’t tell you before. It just didn’t seem important.”
“It’s not.” Andre clapped him on the back. “Whatever floats your boat, man.”
“Just don’t stare at my ass.” David grinned over his shoulder. “I get as much of that as I can stand from Andre.”
“You wish,” Andre said, and swatted David’s rear.
David yelped and danced out of reach when Andre lifted his arm for another swing. “See?” he exclaimed. “The guy’s totally gay for me. He can’t get enough of my manly sexiness.”
David wiggled his butt invitingly. Andre calmly flipped him off while Cecile giggled. Sam laughed, feeling the last of his unease drain away. In his experience, anyone who could joke so casually about it had no problem with it. He was profoundly grateful no one had mentioned his confession to Bo the evening before. He wasn’t ready for that conversation just yet.
Chapter Sixteen
    The front porch was shady and relatively cool. The four of them sat sipping cold beer and talking while the morning shadows shrank against the house, climbed the roof and stretched into evening on the other side. By unspoken agreement, they avoided the subject of the investigation. Sam knew they’d have to discuss it eventually, but not right now. They all needed a break from it, a chance to let the bits and pieces of the enigma simmer in the backs of their brains. Maybe, Sam thought, it would all come together for him if he kept it at a distance for a while.
    Sam kicked his shoes off and rested his feet on the railing, watching the sunset through half-closed eyelids. He felt lazy and content, something he’d not experienced very often in his life. Right then, he felt strong enough to face anything.
    The dark blue SUV with “BCPI” stenciled on the doors pulled into the driveway just as the sun sank behind the pines. Bo jumped out and strode into the house without a word, slamming the door so hard the frame rattled. Amy trailed behind him, chewing her thumbnail and looking extremely frustrated.
    David gaped at the still-trembling front door, then turned to Amy with a puzzled