going to do about that? It’s got to be fixed, before it starts causing real problems.”
“Lee’s already got an electrician coming out to take a look.” Sam shrugged.
“Hopefully they’ll be able to take care of it.” The door opened again, admitting Danny and Bo. “Lunch is here,” Bo called, holding up two rainspattered take-out bags. “We brought stuff for Cecile and Andre too, aren’t they back yet?”
Sam shook his head. “No. Of course the place they were going to look at is all the way out in Bay Minette. The round trip plus the interview would take at least two or three hours, and if they went ahead and toured the site who knows when they’ll be back.”
“It’ll keep, no worries.” Taking the bags from Bo, Danny set them on her desk and started pulling out various sandwiches and wraps from the Cajun restaurant down the street. “David, why don’t you and Sam get some drinks out of the fridge?” David grinned at her. “Sure thing, boss-lady.” www.samhainpublishing.com 49
Ally Blue
Danny rolled her eyes, but an indulgent smile tugged up the corners of her mouth.
Sam snickered behind his coffee mug. Bo and Andre might run the business, but Danny ran the office, and they all knew it.
A few minutes later, the whole group sat in a lopsided circle in the space between the two rows of desks, talking while they ate. Sam munched his shrimp Po Boy, content to listen. Normally, a morning as unproductive as the one they’d just had made him feel a little cranky. This time, the lack of any paranormal findings calmed his previous tension and left him feeling happily exhausted. He tucked a foot beneath him and let the buzz of conversation wash over him.
The quiet burr of the phone interrupted David’s story about the dead squirrel Cecile’s cat had brought them as a present that morning. “I’ll get it,” Sam offered, since he’d finished his lunch and everyone else was still eating.
Reaching across Danny’s desk, Sam plucked the receiver from the base and thumbed it on. “Bay City Paranormal Investigations, this is Sam.” “Yes, hello,” said a clipped female voice. “I need to speak to Dr. Bo Broussard, please.”
“Who should I say is calling?”
“This is Principal Green at St. Christopher’s Academy.” Sean and Adrian’s school. “Okay, hang on.” He covered the mouthpiece with one hand and leaned close to Bo. “It’s for you,” he murmured. “It’s the principal at St.
Christopher’s.”
Bo’s brows drew together. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“No. She just said she needed to speak to you.”
“Hm.” Bo chewed his bottom lip. “Could you transfer it into my office, please, Sam?”
“Sure.”
Sam waited until Bo was inside his office before transferring the call. He set the receiver back on the base and studied the closed office door, wondering why the school 50
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An Inner Darkness
was calling. Sean had been reprimanded a couple of times for talking during class, but neither boy had ever been in any real trouble. God, I hope neither of them has been hurt or anything. The sudden thought made Sam’s stomach knot.
Dean nudged Sam’s arm. “Hey, Sam.”
“Yeah?” Sam frowned. Why hadn’t the school called Janine? He knew she was their primary contact. Bo hated that. He still hadn’t gotten over being relegated to the status of back-up parent.
Dean’s face appeared less than a foot from Sam’s. He jumped, startled, and Dean grinned. “You okay, Sam?”
“Yeah, fine.” He forced a smile. “Just thinking.”
“Who was that on the phone?” David asked around a mouthful of potato chips.
Sam swiveled around to face him. “Personal call.” David’s eyebrows went up. “So, none of my business. Gotcha.” Pushing her chair back, Danny
stood and started picking up napkins and empty sandwich wrappers. “Of course Bo’s personal business is his own, David. I’m sure any of us would appreciate the same
“Lee’s already got an electrician coming out to take a look.” Sam shrugged.
“Hopefully they’ll be able to take care of it.” The door opened again, admitting Danny and Bo. “Lunch is here,” Bo called, holding up two rainspattered take-out bags. “We brought stuff for Cecile and Andre too, aren’t they back yet?”
Sam shook his head. “No. Of course the place they were going to look at is all the way out in Bay Minette. The round trip plus the interview would take at least two or three hours, and if they went ahead and toured the site who knows when they’ll be back.”
“It’ll keep, no worries.” Taking the bags from Bo, Danny set them on her desk and started pulling out various sandwiches and wraps from the Cajun restaurant down the street. “David, why don’t you and Sam get some drinks out of the fridge?” David grinned at her. “Sure thing, boss-lady.” www.samhainpublishing.com 49
Ally Blue
Danny rolled her eyes, but an indulgent smile tugged up the corners of her mouth.
Sam snickered behind his coffee mug. Bo and Andre might run the business, but Danny ran the office, and they all knew it.
A few minutes later, the whole group sat in a lopsided circle in the space between the two rows of desks, talking while they ate. Sam munched his shrimp Po Boy, content to listen. Normally, a morning as unproductive as the one they’d just had made him feel a little cranky. This time, the lack of any paranormal findings calmed his previous tension and left him feeling happily exhausted. He tucked a foot beneath him and let the buzz of conversation wash over him.
The quiet burr of the phone interrupted David’s story about the dead squirrel Cecile’s cat had brought them as a present that morning. “I’ll get it,” Sam offered, since he’d finished his lunch and everyone else was still eating.
Reaching across Danny’s desk, Sam plucked the receiver from the base and thumbed it on. “Bay City Paranormal Investigations, this is Sam.” “Yes, hello,” said a clipped female voice. “I need to speak to Dr. Bo Broussard, please.”
“Who should I say is calling?”
“This is Principal Green at St. Christopher’s Academy.” Sean and Adrian’s school. “Okay, hang on.” He covered the mouthpiece with one hand and leaned close to Bo. “It’s for you,” he murmured. “It’s the principal at St.
Christopher’s.”
Bo’s brows drew together. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“No. She just said she needed to speak to you.”
“Hm.” Bo chewed his bottom lip. “Could you transfer it into my office, please, Sam?”
“Sure.”
Sam waited until Bo was inside his office before transferring the call. He set the receiver back on the base and studied the closed office door, wondering why the school 50
www.samhainpublishing.com
An Inner Darkness
was calling. Sean had been reprimanded a couple of times for talking during class, but neither boy had ever been in any real trouble. God, I hope neither of them has been hurt or anything. The sudden thought made Sam’s stomach knot.
Dean nudged Sam’s arm. “Hey, Sam.”
“Yeah?” Sam frowned. Why hadn’t the school called Janine? He knew she was their primary contact. Bo hated that. He still hadn’t gotten over being relegated to the status of back-up parent.
Dean’s face appeared less than a foot from Sam’s. He jumped, startled, and Dean grinned. “You okay, Sam?”
“Yeah, fine.” He forced a smile. “Just thinking.”
“Who was that on the phone?” David asked around a mouthful of potato chips.
Sam swiveled around to face him. “Personal call.” David’s eyebrows went up. “So, none of my business. Gotcha.” Pushing her chair back, Danny
stood and started picking up napkins and empty sandwich wrappers. “Of course Bo’s personal business is his own, David. I’m sure any of us would appreciate the same
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