What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

look. “You didn’t have to come just to unlock the place. You gave me a key, remember?”
“Certainly. However, I have been informed by the school board that since the side tunnels have been closed up for so long, they are officially considered hazardous. The only way the school board would allow you to come here today is if I stay here, and you all wear hard hats.”
“Sorry, man.” David clapped the older man on the back, earning himself a frown. “We’ll be as quick as we can.”
Mr. Innes gave him a withering look. “Please do. I had plans today. I’ll be in my office, plotting the downfall of the school board.”
“Okay, people,” Bo said as Mr. Innes stalked inside. “Let’s get our stuff and get started. We’ll break into two teams so we can cover the ground faster. Andre, you and Cecile come with me, we’ll take the one on the south end. David, Dean and Sam, y’all take the other one. Take notes, scope out possible camera positions, and see how the place feels psychically. We’ll meet at the bottom of the stairs in one hour, or call on the radio if you’re gonna be late. Got it?”
They all nodded. Sam wiped his sweating palms on his jeans and they trooped up the steps and into the school.
“Hey,” Dean muttered, nudging Sam’s shoulder. “What d’you think’s down there?”
“How should I know?” Sam snapped, and instantly wished he hadn’t. “Sorry. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately and it’s got me in a rotten mood.” It wasn’t a complete lie. His sleep had been quite troubled the past couple of nights.
“’S okay.” Dean gazed thoughtfully at Sam for a moment before turning to narrow his eyes at Bo’s back. Sam’s pulse skidded to a halt, waiting for Dean to point at him and accuse him of being in love with his boss. But Dean said nothing, and Sam’s heart began beating again.
Armed with hard hats, two-way radios and powerful flashlights, the team filed carefully down the steep, narrow steps into the main tunnel. It was even hotter than before, the air ripe and humid. It was like trying to breathe warm honey. Sam pulled at the collar of his sweatshirt.
“Goddamn,” David gasped, dots of perspiration already popping up on his face. “I hope it’s a little cooler in the side tunnels.”
“Me too.” Securing his hard hat on his head, Andre pulled a notepad and pen out of his jeans pocket. “I’ve got the notes covered, Bo.”
“Good, thanks.” With a quick smile at Andre, Bo surveyed the rest of the team. His gaze met Sam’s for a heartbeat, then skittered away. “Remember, one hour, or call.”
Bo turned and strode down the south leg of the tunnel, with Cecile and Andre scurrying in his wake. Resisting the urge to watch Bo’s graceful figure as he moved away, Sam followed David and Dean down the north leg.
The tunnel grew warmer as they went. As they stepped through the ragged hole in the brick wall and entered the side tunnel, the temperature increased noticeably. The heat felt thick and viscous. The smell of mold and damp earth left a bitter tang on the back of Sam’s tongue. He pulled the notebook and pen from his back pocket.
“Jesus,” David swore, mopping his brow with the tail of the sweatshirt he’d taken off and tied around his waist. “What the hell’s down here, a volcano?”
“Okay, I can’t take this, y’all excuse me, but…” Shoving his flashlight into his back pocket, Dean tossed his hard hat on the ground and stripped off his thin sweater. An expression of blissful relief spread over his face as he tied the arms of the sweater around his hips and put the hard hat back on. “That’s better.”
Sam feigned interest in a gouge on the earthen wall. I won’t look, I won’t look, he promised himself, then immediately broke his silent vow by darting a glance at Dean from under his eyelashes.
The man was hot, no doubt about it. Hot, intelligent, open and giving, and an all-round good person. A perfect partner. The thought gave Sam a sharp pang for what he and Bo would never have together.
An elbow in his ribs brought Sam abruptly out of his thoughts. He blinked at Dean. “What?”
Dean smiled. “You’re doing it again.”
Sam licked his lips, trying not to notice Dean’s clean, masculine scent, or the way his skin gleamed in the glow of the flashlights. “Doing what?”
“Thinking about him.” Leaning closer, Dean dropped his voice down low. “I’m sorry, Sam. I’d make it better if I could.”
“I know.” Sam