Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3

remarkably calm considering what Sam was sure he was thinking. “Would it be all right if we head down to the dining hall in a couple of hours? I’d like to review some of our tapes and videos before we speak with Parsons and Ramirez.”
Lex’s blush said she understood precisely why Bo wanted to do it that way, but she simply nodded. “Of course. Sandra and Jerome are cooking, but there’s no set time for dinner. They’ll keep the food warm, just go into the kitchen and get what you want whenever you’re ready.”
“You think it’s ready now? I’m starved.” Dean smiled, his face the picture of innocence.
Sam knew better. Dean’s ability to read Sam and Bo both was uncanny. He generally knew when they needed—or just wanted—time alone.
Carl let out a halfhearted laugh. “I’m not sure. But you’re welcome to go on to the kitchen if you like. Sandra or Jerome will feed you.”
“Cool.” Hopping up, Dean stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to Sam and Bo. “Are y’all gonna be in the cabin working?”
Bo nodded. “Yes, we will. Join us when you get finished eating.”
Dean grinned, eyes twinkling. “What about you and Sam? You gonna eat in your cabin?”
Bo turned nearly as red as Lex and Carl, and Sam swallowed the laugh which wanted to come out. He shot a quick smile at Dean. The man always knew when his friends were upset, and did his best to cheer them up.
One day, Bo’s gonna kill him.
“We’ll have dinner when we go to the dining hall to talk to the detectives,” Bo said, leveling a deadly glare at Dean before turning back to Lex and Carl. He stood, ignoring the hand Sam offered him. “Lex, Carl, thank you for telling us about Anne.”
“Certainly.” Lex walked to the door and stood beside it, hand on the doorknob. “Let us know what you find on your tapes, okay?”
“We will. And I’d appreciate it if you let us know what you find out about that body in the woods.” Bo gave Lex a warm smile as she swung the door open for them. “We’ll talk to you later.”
“All right. Thanks.” Returning Bo’s smile, Lex stood aside to let them out, then shut the door behind her.
Outside, Bo’s smile withered. He stomped down the stairs without so much as a word to Sam or Dean, or a glance in their direction. Sam and Dean looked at each other. Dean shrugged, obviously as confused by Bo’s behavior as Sam was.
Sam hurried after Bo, with Dean hot on his heels. He caught up to Bo halfway down the steps, Bo’s limp slowing him down in spite of his haste.
“Bo, what’s wrong?” Sam asked, touching Bo’s shoulder.
Bo didn’t answer. Worried, Sam brushed past him just in time to stop him at the bottom of the steps. He laid both hands on Bo’s shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”
For a second, Bo just stared at him, brown eyes wide and unreadable. Then, to Sam’s surprise, Bo wrapped his arms around Sam’s waist and buried his face in his neck. Sam held him, stroking his back and pressing kisses to his hair. Tension hummed through the taut muscles under Sam’s palms.
“I’m sorry,” Bo murmured against Sam’s neck. “It’s not you. Or us. It’s just… This is ugly. Ugly. It scares me.”
Sam’s chest constricted. He tightened his arms around Bo, as if he could somehow protect him from all the hate in the world.
A hand touched Sam’s shoulder. He swiveled his head around to meet Dean’s gaze. Dean’s eyes reflected the same hard-won knowledge Sam possessed.
“I’m off to the dining hall,” Dean told him. “I’ll be back in probably forty-five minutes or so. That enough time?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah. Thanks, Dean.”
A smile lit Dean’s face. “What are friends for?” He squeezed Sam’s shoulder, then Bo’s. “Bye, Bo. See y’all in a little while.”
Bo turned to look at Dean without lifting his head. “Okay. See you.”
Dean wandered off, hands in his pockets, and Sam pulled Bo closer. “Things like this are always ugly. But we have a lot of support from the other staff here, and there are no guests around. Try not to worry too much about Anne and her hang-ups.”
“I know. Logically speaking, I know it’s just words from a person who’s proven herself to be intolerant and there’s no real reason to worry. But I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before. It’s harder than I thought it would be.” Pulling out of Sam’s embrace, Bo gave him a humorless smile. “And I know it won’t be the last time.”
“Probably not.”