What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

fine.”
If Bo heard him, he gave no indication of it. “My boys. Sean and Adrian. Can’t die without seeing them.” Bo’s face contorted. “Want to see them. Please.”
“We can’t find the number, Bo. Can you…” Sam stopped, fighting to control the quaver in his voice. “Can you tell us Janine’s parents’ phone number? So we can call and bring Sean and Adrian here to see you?”
Bo’s eyes drifted closed, and for a terrible moment Sam was afraid he’d lost consciousness again. “In my cell,” Bo slurred finally. “’S in the glove compartment.”
“Which one? The SUV or your car?”
“SUV.” Cranking his lids up again, Bo gave Sam the ghost of a smile. “Thanks. For coming. Wanted to see you.”
“I’m not leaving. I’ll be here any time they’ll let me in. Everyone else is here too. We won’t leave you alone.” Sam pressed a soft kiss to Bo’s palm. “I love you.”
Bo didn’t say anything. His eyes lost their focus, his hand going slack against Sam’s cheek. Swallowing the sudden rush of fear, Sam brushed the sweat-soaked hair away from Bo’s face with his free hand. “Bo? Can you hear me?”
No answer. Something rattled at the foot of the bed. Turning around, Sam saw Bo’s feet shaking under the covers. Before he could process what was happening, the shaking spread like a wave up Bo’s body. His eyes rolled back, his lips turning blue as Sam watched.
Terror bolted through Sam, sharp and sickening. Every machine in the room started screaming at once. Sam stared, horrified, as Bo convulsed on the bed. Help, need help.
Before he could turn the thought into action, the door burst open and the room filled with people. He was shoved unceremoniously out of the way. Stumbling backward, he leaned against the doorframe, numbly watching the frantic activity around Bo’s bed. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew it wasn’t good.
“Sir?”
Sam barely glanced at the young man who’d spoken to him. “Don’t make me leave.”
Obviously used to that sort of reaction, the man took Sam’s arm and steered him firmly away from Bo’s room. “He’s in good hands. Let them take care of him.”
Sam let himself be led, though he couldn’t tear his gaze from the scrub-clad crowd huddled around Bo. “Can I stay here for a minute? I just want to know what’s going on, and if he’s okay.”
Without a word, the man rolled a chair from behind the nurse’s station desk and pushed Sam gently into it. He patted Sam’s shoulder and hurried off to answer the insistent trill of an alarm in another room. Fighting back the need to jump up and run to Bo, Sam leaned back in the chair and forced himself to stay put.
It felt like forever before the crowd in Bo’s room began to disperse. Sam anxiously watched as the staff exited the little cubicle. Each face looked grim, and no one would meet his eyes. A hard knot of dread formed in Sam’s belly.
When Marlene came out, Sam leapt up. “Marlene? What happened?”
“He had a seizure, most likely caused by his fever. It’s nearly one-oh-six.” Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair. “His fever had started to come down right after surgery. The doctor’s started him on some different antibiotics, plus an antiviral agent, and we gave him something to stop the seizures. At least he’s still breathing on his own.”
Sam grabbed the edge of the desk to steady himself against the wave of dizziness. “Is he awake? Can I see him?”
“I’m afraid not. The drugs used to stop the seizures are very sedating. He’s sleeping right now, and he needs to do that. We’ll update you the moment there’s any change.”
Sam stared through the glass into Bo’s room. With the curtain partly drawn, he could only see the bottom half of the bed. He wished he could see Bo’s face.
“When can I come back?” Sam asked, surprised at how calm he sounded.
“Four hours. You might want to go home and get some rest.”
“No. I want to be here.”
Nodding, Marlene steered him toward the exit. “I figured. There’s a waiting room for the ICUs at the other end of this hall. You and your friends can wait there. And Bo’s wife and kids, too, when they get here.”
Sam suppressed the automatic anger and resentment he felt at the mention of Janine. She’s still married to him, and they have children together. Suck it up and deal with it.
Stopping at the double doors, Sam managed a weak smile. “Thanks, Marlene.”
“You’re welcome.” She took his hand and