What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

nice out, I decided to take my time and walk.”
    “Not a problem.” Bo’s tone was light, but Sam could hear the hurt in his voice.
He knows I was avoiding him. Shit. Sam stifled the urge to sweep Bo into his arms and kiss away that mournful look. It wouldn’t help either of them in the long run.
“Bo, I can’t find the file from the Sanders case,” David said, coming in from the back room at that moment. He grinned. “Hi, Sam.”
“Hey, David.” Looking around, Sam noticed Andre’s desk was empty. “Where’s Andre?”
“He’s gone to check out that storage building in Tillman’s Corner. The owners claim it’s haunted by the ghost of a German shepherd that died in there last summer.” Cecile spun her chair to face David. “Oh, and I already filed the stuff from the Sanders case. It’s closed, right? We shouldn’t need to keep it with the active cases.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot we’d closed that one. Thanks, babe.” David leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “A dog ghost, huh? That’s a new one.”
“Hopefully Andre will be able to tell us whether or not it’s worth pursuing,” Bo mused, twirling the tail of his braid around his finger. “His abilities have become pretty impressive.”
Sam nodded his agreement. In the few months since Oleander House, Andre’s newly discovered psychic talents had grown by leaps and bounds. He’d been working closely with Cecile, honing his perceptions and learning how best to use them. The results so far had been stunning. Cecile still knew more about psychic phenomena in general and how to control and direct it, but Andre’s actual abilities now outstripped hers and Sam’s.
“Yes, he’s better than me now.” Cecile shook her head. “Pretty soon there won’t be any need for me here.”
David took her hand in his and squeezed. “Hey, we’ll always need good investigators, and you’re good at way more than just that mumbo-jumbo shit.”
“Thanks, I think.” Cecile laughed. “Speaking of good investigators, Bo, your interview’ll be here any minute, is there anything you need?”
“No, I’m good.” Bo held up the sheet of paper he’d been reading. “His resumé is far and away the best we’ve received. He has a great deal of experience, in research as well as investigative techniques.”
“Sounds good,” Sam said. “Hopefully this one’ll work out. How many interviews is this so far, Bo?”
“Twenty-five.” Bo glanced at Sam, that one look overflowing with a sadness that tore at Sam’s heart. “Sam, would you mind starting on the planning for Saturday? I’d like to see if Mr. Innes has any sort of map of the tunnels, including any entrances that are still sealed, ventilation system, any other openings of any sort. I’d also like for you to get some names of students and staff we can talk to if need be. We might need to know precisely where those missing students were last seen.”
“You got it.” Sam stared at Bo as hard as he could, trying to tell him without words that it didn’t have to be over between them.
Bo blinked and looked away. “Okay. Thanks. Um, David? Could you sit in on the interview? If we hire this guy, you’ll probably be training him, so I’d like your opinion.”
“Sure thing, boss-man.” David kissed Cecile’s fingers and let her hand drop, then started toward the back room. “Let me finish up this paperwork real quick and I’ll be right in.”
As David and Cecile went back to their tasks, Sam tried to catch Bo’s eye again. Bo clearly wasn’t having it. He strode into his office without looking Sam’s way. Sighing, Sam shuffled across the room to his desk and plopped into his chair.
He’d barely booted up his computer when the front door opened, letting in the sounds of traffic and conversation before it swung shut again. Sam glanced up in time to see their visitor unzip his jacket and hang it on the coat tree beside the door.
Sam wondered if this was the person Bo was interviewing for the tech position. He couldn’t help noticing how attractive the man was—lithe and slender, with pouting lips and big gray-green eyes, brown hair streaked with blond falling in an elegant sweep across his forehead. His snug charcoal gray sweater and wellfitted black pants emphasized rather than hid his slim, toned body.
The rush of heat that shot through Sam as those pretty eyes met his was as unwelcome as it was unexpected. Ignoring it as best he could, Sam stood and came forward.
“Hi.” He smiled