What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

same thing. But then in the last entry, we found something else. That entry said that they were thinking of leaving, and mentioned ‘our missing brothers’ as a major factor in their decision.”
“And it doesn’t say where they went?” Bo began pacing and twisting a lock of hair between his fingers. “Or what they thought happened to the missing men?”
“Not a word,” David said. “That entry was the last.”
The group stared silently at one another. Sam saw his own questions reflected in the eyes of his coworkers. What happened to the monks? Did they vanish like those three South Bay High teens had? And if so, where had they gone?
The possible parallels to what was happening at the school knotted Sam’s insides. We have to stop it. I have to stop it.
It didn’t matter to Sam that he had no idea how to keep another child from vanishing. All that mattered was that he had to do it, somehow. The thought terrified him.
Desperate for some sort of support, someone to understand what he felt, Sam shot a pleading gaze at Bo. No one knew better than Bo the burden of guilt and fear Sam still bore.
For a split second, Bo met his gaze. Then he blinked and turned away, and Sam felt more lost than he ever had.
    After the revelations from David and Dean, the rest of the afternoon flew by in a flurry of activity. David and Dean were told about the strange vibrations and sounds on the videos, and Andre was updated about the morning’s findings. A call to Mr. Innes revealed that workmen had removed the brick barriers from the entrances to both side tunnels. The group decided to head to the school first thing the next morning to investigate the newly opened passageways.
    At five thirty, Sam turned off his computer and rubbed his eyes. His head throbbed and his neck ached with the tension of pretending nothing was wrong. Wincing at the audible pop of his knees, he stood, shrugged into his jacket and headed for the door.
    “Bye,” he called to Andre and Dean, who were the only ones in the office. David and Cecile had left earlier, and Bo had yet to emerge from his office, where he’d spent the past hour. “See you tomorrow.”
    “Hang on, I’ll walk with you.” Leaping to his feet, Dean clapped Andre on the back and hurried after Sam. “You don’t mind, do you?”
    Faced with Dean’s friendly enthusiasm, Sam couldn’t manage even mild irritation. “Sure,” he said, returning Dean’s smile. “I’m headed for the bus stop up the street, what about you?”
    “Same.” Dean held the door open for Sam, then bounced through and shut it behind him. “Only I think I’ve got farther to ride. I live over on Airport. Where do you live?”
    “Just off Springhill.” Sam hunched his shoulders against the rising wind as they descended the porch steps. “Wow, it got cold.”
    “Yeah.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Dean gave Sam a considering look. “You’ve seemed different this afternoon, Sam. Is everything all right?”
No. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Dean didn’t say anything else, but his expression
    told Sam quite clearly that he didn’t believe him. Part of Sam almost wished Dean would keep pushing. He wanted—no, needed— someone to talk to. Someone who could give him a clearheaded, unbiased perspective on what had happened with Bo. Someone who would understand without judging.
    Someone who could help you forget him.
“No,” Sam whispered before he could stop himself. Dean blinked at him. “What?”
“Oh, um, nothing.” Glancing up the street, Sam
    was relieved to see the headlights of the bus approaching. “This is mine. See you tomorrow, Dean.” “Yeah, see you.”
    As Sam hauled himself up the steps and dug the change out of his pocket, Dean called to him. “Hey, Sam!”
    Surprised, Sam glanced down at him. “Yeah?” Dean smiled. “Call me, okay? If you need to talk.” A fierce blush rose in Sam’s cheeks. “Yeah, okay.
    Bye.”
    The door hissed shut, blurring Dean’s face, and the bus lurched forward. Ignoring the driver’s scowl, Sam slouched into an empty seat in the back. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift, wanting only to forget the whole lousy day had ever happened.
    When the group arrived at the school the next morning, they were greeted by a very put-out looking Mr. Innes. A large plastic bin sat on the steps beside him.
    “Good morning,” the principal called as they hopped out of the two SUVs and started toward him.
“Mr. Innes.” Bo gave him a questioning