Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3

like it.”
Darren shot a pointed look at Jerome, who grinned sheepishly. “Darren caught me going off by myself. After he yelled at me for wandering off alone, he came with me.”
“Because you needed to talk to the cops, and I didn’t want you out on the trail by yourself.” Darren turned to Bo and Sam with a serious look. “Jerome told me he thought of a place where Anne might be hiding.”
Dean’s eyes went wide. “What?”
Jerome nodded, bouncing slightly in his chair. “There’s a cave a little ways from here, about ten minutes’ walk past Sunset Rock. You have to go down a side trail to get there. Me and Anne found it a few months ago, when we were out exploring. It’s not much, but it’s deep enough to make a pretty decent shelter.” Sam stared, shocked. “Did you tell Parsons?”
“She was out in the woods someplace, behind the police tape. I told Ramirez.” Jerome shrugged. “He sent a couple of uniforms to check it out.”
Tying the lace on his boot, Bo glanced up with surprise on his face. “He didn’t want to go himself? Or send Parsons?”
“They were both busy with whatever was going on out in the woods, remember? I told y’all that.” Jumping up, Jerome stuck his hands in his jacket pockets. “Whatever they found, it’s right there where you guys found that body yesterday. And it must be something major, because I bet you’re right, I bet either Parsons or Ramirez would’ve gone to the cave themselves if they weren’t in the middle of something more important.”
Glancing sideways, Sam shared a curious look with Bo before turning back to Jerome. “You don’t have any idea what was going on?”
“Nope.” Jerome rose to his feet and stretched, joints cracking. “But we figured y’all would want to know, since that’s the same spot you’ve been investigating.”
“Definitely. Thanks.” Bo pushed up to stand beside the bed. He tucked a stray lock of glossy black hair behind his ear. “Dean, will you hand me my jacket, please?”
“Sure thing, boss.” Twisting around, Dean snagged Bo’s jacket from the wooden hook on the door and handed it to him, then tugged his own jacket on. “Okay, let’s get going. I need some caffeine.”
Sam grabbed his jacket and pulled it on as the five of them filed out into the winter morning. The clouds from the previous day had scattered, leaving behind a sky of pure watercolor blue. Sunshine glittered on the unmelted snow, and the icy air stung Sam’s lungs with each breath.
As they approached the dining hall, Sam spotted Carl and Parsons walking from the office building to the small utility shed situated about twenty yards away. Parsons was talking. Carl listened with his shoulders hunched, looking grim.
“Wonder what’s up,” Dean muttered, nudging Sam with his elbow.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Bet it’s about whatever was going on in the woods,” Jerome said, staring at the pair with unabashed curiosity. “Wonder if Carl’ll tell us?”
“Probably, if we don’t piss him off in the meantime.” Clamping a hand onto Jerome’s arm, Darren dragged him through the door of the dining hall. “Leave them alone. I’m sure Carl will fill us in on whatever he’s allowed to.”
Jerome looked disappointed, but didn’t argue. “Y’all sit down, me and Darren’ll get the food and bring it out.”
Sam, Bo and Dean gathered at the nearest table. Someone had left a steaming pot of coffee and a tray of clean mugs on the nearby sideboard. Dean filled three mugs while Sam and Bo took off their jackets and claimed chairs.
Sam was still stirring cream into his coffee when Jerome and Darren returned, carrying trays laden with grits, scrambled eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy. It smelled heavenly. Sam’s stomach rumbled.
The front door opened as Sam was pouring gravy over his second helping of biscuits and eggs. He glanced up. Carl was walking toward them, his face gray.
Sandra, coming through the kitchen door at that moment, gasped and hurried to Carl’s side. “Carl, what’s wrong?” she asked, slipping a hand through his elbow. “Are you all right?”
Nodding, he let her lead him to the table. He sank into a chair and drew a shuddering breath. His eyes were glassy and shocked.
Frowning, Darren leaned over the table toward his employer. “Carl? What’s happened?”
“They found another body,” Carl answered, his voice shaking. “At the bottom of the drop-off near where the first body was.”
He trailed off.