Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3

“Looks cozy.”
Sam had to agree. The room was small, with most of the floor space taken up by a wide bunk bed in a rough-hewn wood frame. Thick red and white blankets covered the mattresses. Four plump pillows lay at the head of each bunk. A single wooden chair sat beneath the window on the left side of the room. Coarse blue curtains were tied to either side of that window, as well as a second window in the opposite wall behind the beds. To Sam’s right, a narrow plank table hugged the wall. An oil lamp, a pack of matches, two metal cups, a large metal bucket and a wide white bowl covered the top of the table.
“Cabins are all propane heated.” Crossing the room, Anne switched on the heater mounted on the wall. “You’ve got an oil lamp and matches there on the table. The bucket’s for fresh water. The bowl’s for washing in. Y’all brought towels and wash clothes, right?”
Bo shook his head. “No. We were at the Kimberley Inn when Lex asked us to investigate here, so we didn’t have anything like that with us. Lex said she’d loan us some.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll bring some by later.” Anne glanced from face to face. “Do y’all need me to show you how to use the water pump?”
“Naw, I know how,” Dean answered, grinning. “I’ll show the city boys how to do it.”
Sam slid his pack off his shoulders and hefted it onto the top bunk. “Dean, I know for a fact that you grew up in Mobile. You’re more of a city boy than Bo or me.”
“Yeah, but I spent part of every summer on my grandparents’ farm. It was a really old property, and they still used the hand pump for water out at the barn.” Dean stuck his thumbs in his front pockets, looking smug. “I’m the best of both worlds. City sophisticate and manly farmhand.”
Giggling, Anne smacked Dean’s arm. “Fine, you show them how to use the pump.”
“Done.” Giving Anne a slow, simmering look which made her blush to the roots of her hair, Dean sauntered into the room and set the equipment bag carefully on the floor beside the bed. “Bo, do you want to rest your leg before we see the property?”
Bo lifted his foot, flexing and straightening his right leg. “No, I think it’ll be okay. Are there any steep slopes, Anne?”
“No. The path gains some elevation on the way to Sunset Rock, but it’s a really shallow grade and the path’s pretty smooth. You want to be careful out on the Rock, though. It isn’t steep, but it’s a giant rock, so the surface is uneven. All of you should watch your footing, actually.”
“Sure thing,” Sam said, silently vowing to keep a close eye on Bo. The man was a scientist, meticulous and careful during investigations, but he tended to be absentminded when it came to looking after himself.
Putting a hand on the bunk bed frame to steady himself, Bo rose to his feet. “Okay. Anne, if you’re ready, we’d love to go ahead and see the area where your guests have spotted the animal, or whatever is it they’re seeing. Sam, Dean, y’all bring still and video cameras. I’ll take notes, Sam, if you’ll hand me the notebook and pen.”
Sam squatted on the floor and rifled through the bag until he found the sturdy, plastic-covered notebook and a blue pen. He handed them to Bo, then got out two small digital cameras—one for stills and one for video. They’d decided not to bring the cameras requiring film, and use only the digital equipment since it took up less room. Passing the still camera to Dean, he zipped the bag and stood up.
Dean snickered as he hung the official BCPI camera around his neck along with his own camera. “Two cameras. I feel like such a tourist.”
Smiling, Bo flipped the notebook open and scribbled the date at the top of a fresh page. “Just remember, I wouldn’t let you carry both if I thought for a second that being a tourist would distract you from the job.”
“I know, Oh Exalted Bossy One, and I thank you.”
Dean bowed low, and Anne laughed. “Are you guys always this much fun when you’re working?”
“Oh, hell no,” Dean answered, straight-faced. “Bo’s a slave driver.”
Bo didn’t say anything, but quirked an eyebrow at Dean as he made his way outside. Sam laughed. “Don’t listen to Dean. You might’ve noticed he’s a tease and a bald-faced liar. We’re serious about what we do, but yeah, we have fun with it too.”
Anne shook her head. “This should be an interesting few days. Okay, let’s head out.”
Everyone piled back out into the thin winter