What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

believe it’s the portal.”
“I feel it too,” Andre murmured. “It’s like a hiccup in the energy of this place.”
“I agree,” Cecile added. “It’s definitely there, but I don’t believe it’s open. I think the energy would be much stronger if it was.”
Opening his eyes, Sam met Bo’s worried, curious gaze. “I’d like to try something.”
“What?” Bo’s expression was apprehensive. “You said you weren’t going to try to contact the beings from the other side unless you had no choice.”
“No, I’m not, that isn’t what I’m talking about.” Playing his flashlight beam over the earthen walls, Sam tried to think how to explain his plan. “The portal seems to be closed right now. I’d like to keep it that way. As a matter of fact, I’d like to try to close it permanently.”
“How?” Dean’s eyes were bright with curiosity. “Do you have a theory about how it works?”
Sam shook his head. “No, not exactly. But I can sense the energy pattern, and I think I can close it.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Cecile confessed, brows drawing together.
Chewing his thumbnail, Sam tried to come up with a workable analogy. “It’s like I’m looking at a door, and I’ve figured out how to lock it. That’s not exactly right, but it’s as close as I can get. It’s hard to explain.”
Tilting her head, Cecile stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Actually, that makes sense now. Do you really think you can do it?”
Sam shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
Twirling the end of his braid between his fingers, Bo nodded thoughtfully. “It’s an interesting thought, Sam. After we finish today’s work, we’ll do some research and work out a plan. Then we can come back tomorrow and give it a try.”
Sam was anxious to get on with it, before anyone else went missing, but he knew Bo was right. They needed more information, and they needed a plan. Sam had no intention of risking his life, or the lives of his friends. Working out the details first was safer than rushing into it.
Bo’s voice was calm and steady, but Sam saw the worry in his eyes. Worry for Sam, and for all of them. But the fact that he didn’t reject the idea outright told Sam he saw the necessity of closing the portal if they could.
“Okay,” Sam agreed. “A couple of us can watch the video and listen to the audio as soon as we get back to the office. We’ll also need to compile the EMF and temp data, to see if there are any patterns.”
“I’ll do that,” Cecile offered.
“Andre and I will work on a general plan, and revise it as necessary depending on what we turn up with today’s data.” Bo nudged David with his elbow. “You and Dean can take care of the video and audio.”
“I’ll do some internet research,” Sam said. “If there’s any literature at all involving inter-dimensional gateways and how to close them, I want to know it.”
Bo gave him a smile that started a hot glow in his chest. “Sam, you read my mind.”
All the witty retorts Sam would have given anyone else melted away in the warmth of Bo’s smile, reducing Sam to tongue-tied silence. He shrugged and grinned, knowing he looked as lovesick as he felt and unable to bring himself to care. Bo blushed and hastily turned away, bending over his EMF detector.
He loves me, Sam thought, with a burst of pure happiness. The truth of it was huge. Overwhelming. Sam wondered if it would hit him in random moments like this for the rest of his life, making him feel light and giddy. Part of him hoped it would. The joy of being loved was as addictive as a drug. He never wanted to let go of that feeling.
The group made their methodical way down the tunnel, recording readings and impressions every few feet. Sam let his mind float free, following the trickle of alien energy winding through the humid air. The thread of it remained steady. After a couple of tries, Sam was able to relay his impressions to Dean without bringing himself out of the half-trance into which he’d fallen.
He smiled with detached amusement when he felt Bo’s hand on his elbow, guiding his steps along the increasingly uneven ground. Bo loves me.
Sam wasn’t sure how long it took them to reach the site of the old pit. It felt like no time at all to him, but the others were grumpy and tired, leading him to believe it had been quite a while. He didn’t ask, not wanting to lose contact with the portal.
“Temp’s one hundred and two here,” David said. “Jesus H., y’all, what