Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3

couple of people thought it must’ve been a bear, only it didn’t make any noise.” She glanced up, blue gaze locking onto Bo’s face. “Only one person got a really good look at it, just the day before yesterday. She said it looked…wrong. Twisted, somehow. She took her family and left at first light the next morning. None of them slept. Her youngest son saw it too. She said he had nightmares from it.”
The BCPI group all looked at one another with identical horrified expressions. An icy lump lodged itself in Sam’s gut. It’s a gateway. Another one. Fuck.
“I came into town yesterday afternoon,” Lex continued. She scraped at a chip in the handle of her mug with one short, ragged thumbnail. “I’d read about your previous gateway cases online, and what’s happening at Sunset Lodge sounds awfully similar. I was going to call you and ask you to come investigate. It was just dumb luck you happened to be here in town already.”
“How’d you hear about our cases?” Dean wondered, fixing Lex with a bright, curious gaze. “I know you don’t get internet on top of the mountain.”
Lex smiled. “No, we don’t. But Carl—that’s my husband—and I don’t spend all our time up there. We generally go for a few days each month, and leave it to the regular staff the rest of the time. We live in Maggie Valley, a little ways west of here.”
Scooting to the edge of the sofa, Bo leaned forward, braid swinging over his shoulder. “Lex, has anyone been injured since these sightings began?”
She shook her head. “No, thank God. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Have there been any other unusual events preceding the start of the sightings?” Bo asked.
Lex gave him an odd look. “Funny you should ask that. One of our employees went missing just before these sightings started.”
Andre’s eyebrows went up. “What were the circumstances surrounding the disappearance?”
“He went down the mountain to get a prescription filled, and he never came back. The police searched for him, of course, but they didn’t find him. I have no reason to think his disappearance was connected to whatever people have been seeing, but you asked.” Biting her lip, Lex looked around at the group. “So, what do you say? Can you help us?”
Sam turned to look at Bo. His brow was furrowed, his fingers restlessly twirling the end of his braid. Everyone else stared at him, clearly waiting for his verdict.
“I’d like to take the case,” Bo said, speaking slowly. “But it’ll have to wait a few days. We’re in the middle of an investigation here. We have a group of amateur investigators with us who’ve paid for a ghost hunting trip. We have an obligation to give them what they paid for.”
Lex hunched her shoulders. “I expected you’d say that. The thing is, there’s a winter storm predicted to hit in the next couple of days. We’re considering canceling the reservations that haven’t already been canceled because of it, but even if we do, Carl and I and our staff will be trapped up there. If there’s really a gateway, and those things are coming through…”
She didn’t need to finish. Chills raced up Sam’s spine. He knew what the creatures were capable of. They all knew. He glanced at Andre. His friend’s deep brown skin had an ashen hue, and his eyes were haunted. He’s thinking of Amy. Sam’s heart went out to him.
“Is there a number where I could reach you in the morning?” Bo asked. “I think we need to discuss this as a group and come to a consensus.”
“Yes, of course.” Reaching into the pocket of her jeans, Lex pulled out a rather battered business card. “Do you have a pen?”
Cecile flipped open her purse, dug around for a moment and came out with a green ballpoint. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Taking the pen, Lex scribbled a string of numbers on the card and handed it to Bo. “Here’s my cell number. Call me as soon as you can tomorrow. I’m at the Days Inn a few miles down the road. I’ll be checking out around ten and heading back up the mountain. The only way to reach me at the Lodge is by radio.”
“Okay.” Bo took the card, stood and tucked it into his jeans pocket. “I’ll call you first thing in the morning with our decision.”
Rising to her feet, Lex held out her hand. “Thanks for your time, Bo. It’s good to meet you. All of you.”
“Same here,” Bo said. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
Everyone stood to shake hands with Lex, then she left with a smile and a