What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

drawer, Mr. Innes pulled out a hefty ring of keys
and pocketed it. “Shall we go?”
“We’re ready.” Bo started toward the office door,
then turned around again. “Who’s got the notepad?” “I do,” David said, pulling a small notebook and a
pen from his jacket pocket.
“Oh, no.” Andre snatched the items out of David’s
hand and passed them to Sam. “We need notes that
someone can actually read later.”
David pressed a hand to his heart. “I’m wounded,
man. Wounded.”
Rolling his eyes, Andre gave David a shove toward
the door. “I’ll show you wounded, smart-ass. Move it.” Still playfully bickering, Andre and David
followed Mr. Innes out of the office, with the rest of the
group trailing behind. As they headed down the first
floor hallway, Sam found himself walking between Bo
and Dean. He couldn’t help wondering just how
prophetic that position would turn out to be.
Chapter Three
    It took the better part of two hours to tour all the school buildings and grounds. The place was a marvel of Spanish style architecture, with its whitewashed stone walls and the roof of red Spanish tiles. The entryways were shaded by arched alcoves paved in earthy red. Inside, huge fans set at intervals along the high ceilings lay idle. Mr. Innes told them the fans were used to cool the place in the stifling heat at either end of the school year.
    When they’d covered the entire campus, Mr. Innes led them back to where they’d started. “The only unsealed entry into the tunnels is here in the main building, underneath the central stairwell. You have flashlights, correct?”
    “We do, yes.” Bo glanced around at the BCPI team. “Okay, everybody, you know what to do. Sam, can you continue to take notes?”
    Sam brandished his pen. “Yep.”
Bo flashed him a warm grin, then turned to Dean. “Dean, today I want you to start learning how BCPI runs an investigation. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble picking it up, considering your experience. And feel free to speak up if you have anything to add. Okay?”
“Got it.” Dropping his voice to a whisper as Bo turned to speak to the principal, Dean leaned close to Sam. “I’ll show you the best make-out spots, if you want.”
Sam nearly jumped out of his skin when Dean’s fingers traced up his spine, the touch light and teasing. He glanced at Dean as they followed the rest of the group to the stairwell. Dean’s eyes shone with what could only be termed lust. With a wink, he slid his hand down to cup Sam’s ass.
“Dean,” Sam breathed. “What are you doing?”
“Groping you.” Dean’s hand squeezed, and Sam bit back a yelp.
“Um, Dean, I don’t—”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Darting a sly smile at Sam, Dean stuck both hands in his back pockets. “I know I’m a hopeless flirt, but I figure if I’m interested, I let ’em know. No hard feelings if you don’t share my interest.”
“It’s not that exactly, it’s just…well…”
“You’re seeing someone?”
“Kind of.” Too late, Sam remembered he was supposed to be single as far as the office staff knew. “Well, not exactly, I mean we see each other sometimes, but it’s not… I mean, we don’t… Shit. Forget I said anything.”
Dean gave him a considering look. “Take my advice, Sam, don’t date a closet case. It never works.”
Sam gaped at him. “How did you know?”
“Been there, done that. Trust me here, save yourself the aggravation.”
Swallowing, Sam stared at the floor. “It’s not that easy.”
“It never is.” Dean patted Sam’s shoulder, and this time it was comforting rather than flirting. “If you ever get this guy out of your head, you know where to find me.”
Sam didn’t answer. The offer was a little too tempting for comfort.
The group’s arrival at the entrance to the tunnels was a welcome distraction. A rather forbidding metal door was set in the shadows underneath the large stairwell in the center of the first floor hallway.
“Watch your footing on the stairs,” Mr. Innes said as he pushed the metal handle down and heaved the door open. “They’re narrow and steep, and the lights don’t always work like they should down here.”
As if to prove the principal’s words, the light over the stairs went out halfway down. Sam switched on his flashlight and played it along the stone walls as they descended. Moisture seeped through cracks in the rock, making dark gray spots. The rough arch of the ceiling hung mere inches above Sam’s head.
Instead of