What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

learned to keep quiet about the strange things he’d see from time to time.
“You’re not crazy,” Sam told her, making sure his conviction was clear in his voice. “I can’t be sure precisely what you saw, but whatever it was, we’re going to find it. And we’re going to do our best to stop it.”
He hadn’t meant to say that, but he didn’t retract the statement. Even though the promise wasn’t planned, it was sincere. Cecile turned to frown at him, but didn’t contradict him.
Rising to her feet, Cecile laid a hand on Karen’s shoulder. “We had several more questions, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary to ask them. Thank you for talking to us, Karen.”
“Here’s our number.” Sam stood, pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Karen. “If you think of anything else you feel we need to know, or if you have any questions or concerns, call us. Okay?”
“Okay.” Karen gave them a shaky smile. “Thanks. For believing me, I mean.”
“Sure thing.” Sam returned her smile, wishing he could erase that lost look from her eyes. No sixteenyear-old, he thought, should ever have to look like that. “We’ll be in touch.”
Gene emerged from the bedroom as they were leaving, making Sam wonder if he’d been listening in. He followed them silently out the front door. In the hallway, he shut the door, crossed his arms and gave them a stern glare.
“Listen,” he said. “I know y’all are trying to help. But I’m telling you right now, I won’t tolerate anyone encouraging these delusions of hers. She’s been through enough without you people giving her the idea that she really saw this…this thing she thinks she saw.”
Cecile started to speak, but Sam cut her off. “What makes you think it’s her imagination? Is she in the habit of making up wild stories, or of seeing things that aren’t there?”
Gene frowned, an angry flush rising up his neck. “I think you should both leave now.”
“We’re going,” Cecile jumped in before Sam could say a word. “Thank you for letting us come over.”
Clamping a hand firmly around Sam’s wrist, Cecile dragged him toward the stairs. They walked down the steps and out to the SUV without saying a word. It wasn’t until they were back on the road, heading to the office, that Cecile spoke.
“Would you care to explain to me,” she said with remarkable calm, “just what the hell that was all about?”
Sam wanted to pretend he didn’t understand the question, but he knew she wouldn’t believe it. He sighed and leaned against the window. “That girl saw exactly what she says she saw, and we both know it. She’s not crazy. She needs her father to believe her.”
Cecile’s expression softened. “I don’t disagree with you, Sam. I feel as bad for Karen as you do. But you can’t go around antagonizing the parents, and you absolutely can’t make promises you have no way of knowing you can keep.”
“I know.” Sam stared at the paper cut on the side of his thumb. “I didn’t intend to say that, it just sort of came out. But I meant it.” Raising his head, he stared at Cecile as if he could make her understand by force of will. “We have to stop this thing, Cecile. And I think I can do it. I just have to figure out how.”
Surprisingly, Cecile seemed to expect this. She nodded, never taking her attention from the heavy afternoon traffic. “We all have to figure it out. We’re in this together, remember? You don’t have to do this alone.”
Sam’s throat tightened. “I know,” he said softly. “Thanks.”
She smiled, reached over and patted his hand. The gesture reinforced what Sam already knew—he, Cecile and the others were a team. A family of sorts, after all they’d been through together. The thought was comforting.
He tried not to think of the fact that, even though Andre and Cecile both had psychic abilities that surpassed his own, neither was psychokinetic. If the theories were correct, that meant only Sam had the power to open or close the gateway. The others would do everything they could to help him. He didn’t doubt that for a moment. But in the end, it all came down to him.
If only he knew how to do what he had to do. He watched the city sweep past as they drove along and hoped he could manage it before another person died.
    When they arrived back at the office, they found their coworkers huddled around David’s desk, all talking at once. Sam and Cecile glanced at each other.
    “We’re back,” Cecile