Read What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2 for Free Online Page A

And feel free to speak up if you have anything to add. Okay?”
“Got it.” Dropping his voice to a whisper as Bo turned to speak to the principal, Dean leaned close to Sam. “I’ll show you the best make-out spots, if you want.”
Sam nearly jumped out of his skin when Dean’s fingers traced up his spine, the touch light and teasing. He glanced at Dean as they followed the rest of the group to the stairwell. Dean’s eyes shone with what could only be termed lust. With a wink, he slid his hand down to cup Sam’s ass.
“Dean,” Sam breathed. “What are you doing?”
“Groping you.” Dean’s hand squeezed, and Sam bit back a yelp.
“Um, Dean, I don’t—”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Darting a sly smile at Sam, Dean stuck both hands in his back pockets. “I know I’m a hopeless flirt, but I figure if I’m interested, I let ’em know. No hard feelings if you don’t share my interest.”
“It’s not that exactly, it’s just…well…”
“You’re seeing someone?”
“Kind of.” Too late, Sam remembered he was supposed to be single as far as the office staff knew. “Well, not exactly, I mean we see each other sometimes, but it’s not… I mean, we don’t… Shit. Forget I said anything.”
Dean gave him a considering look. “Take my advice, Sam, don’t date a closet case. It never works.”
Sam gaped at him. “How did you know?”
“Been there, done that. Trust me here, save yourself the aggravation.”
Swallowing, Sam stared at the floor. “It’s not that easy.”
“It never is.” Dean patted Sam’s shoulder, and this time it was comforting rather than flirting. “If you ever get this guy out of your head, you know where to find me.”
Sam didn’t answer. The offer was a little too tempting for comfort.
The group’s arrival at the entrance to the tunnels was a welcome distraction. A rather forbidding metal door was set in the shadows underneath the large stairwell in the center of the first floor hallway.
“Watch your footing on the stairs,” Mr. Innes said as he pushed the metal handle down and heaved the door open. “They’re narrow and steep, and the lights don’t always work like they should down here.”
As if to prove the principal’s words, the light over the stairs went out halfway down. Sam switched on his flashlight and played it along the stone walls as they descended. Moisture seeped through cracks in the rock, making dark gray spots. The rough arch of the ceiling hung mere inches above Sam’s head.
Instead of growing cooler as they descended, the air became close and hot. By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sam’s shirt clung damply to his back and sweat dewed his face. He wiped his forehead on his sleeve.
“Good grief, it’s hotter than f…um, heck down here.” David wrinkled his nose. “Smells too.”
“Yes, it’s rather damp.” Mr. Innes flipped a switch on the wall. A row of dim yellow light bulbs flickered to life, illuminating a cramped hallway stretching out left and right from the stairs. “There seems to be a mildew problem as well.”
“Wow, it’s even warmer down here than I’d remembered.” Frowning, Dean wandered a few feet down the hallway. “And it’s awfully clean.”
Cecile shot him a surprised look. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No, I’m serious.” Dean reached up and ran a fingertip across the ceiling. “When I used to come down here, there were spider webs everywhere, and roaches and stuff. Plus it was dusty. There’s none of that now.”
Like Oleander House. No birds, no crickets… Apprehension shivered up Sam’s spine. He glanced at Andre, and saw that he had made the same connection. Sam hoped they were both wrong.
Andre ran a hand over his close-cropped hair, which brushed against the stone ceiling. “Mr. Innes, how far do these tunnels go?”
“The main tunnel runs the length of this building. There are—or rather, were—two side tunnels, one branching off from each end of the main tunnel.”
“What