Free Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3 by Ally Blue

ready, are y’all?”
“Ready,” Dean called.
Without further comment, Bo started wading through the weeds and pine needles, deeper into the forest. He limped with every step, obviously in pain. Sam glanced at Dean, who rolled his eyes and shrugged as if to say, What can you do?
    Shaking his head, Sam stretched out his psychic mind and followed Bo into the shadows. Dean trailed just behind him, guarding his footsteps in case his partial trance caused him to stumble.
    Sam wasn’t sure exactly how long they tramped through the woods. He figured they covered at least fifty square feet of ground. Bo and Dean kept glancing back, making sure they kept Anne and the trail in sight. The trace of abnormal energy lingered. Sam could pick it up easily now that he knew how it felt. It didn’t seem to change at all. It remained steady the whole time, its strength the same fifty feet from the boulder and right beside it.
    Finally, Bo motioned Sam and Dean to follow him back to the trail. “I guess we’ve done all we can for now. Let’s head on back.”
    Sam and Dean fell into step beside Bo. “You want to bring the EMF detectors out tonight when we come for sunset?” Dean asked. “We can get some readings, then come back tomorrow and do it again and compare the readings. If the weather holds, that is.”
    Bo smiled. “That’s a good idea. We’ll do it.” They made their way back to the trail, where Anne stood talking to a dark-skinned young man in a blue knit cap and matching down jacket.
“Hey, guys,” Anne called. “Did you find anything?”
“We didn’t see anything,” Sam answered. “But we’ll have to review the pics and videos to know for sure if we got anything.”
“We’d like to stop and take another look tonight after sunset.” Walking up to Anne and her friend, Bo held out his hand to the young man. “Hi, I’m Bo Broussard, and this is Sam Raintree and Dean Delapore. We’re from Bay City Paranormal Investigations in Mobile.”
“I know. Lex mentioned you might be coming up when she radioed last night.” The stranger smiled, took Bo’s hand and shook. “Darren Soames. I’m a big fan of your work, especially with the portals. I’m studying theoretical physics in school, so what you folks have done is fascinating to me.”
Bo’s eyebrows shot up. “I’d love to talk with you at some point, if that’s okay. My doctorate is in psychology. I’m afraid I’m not really up on theoretical physics.”
Darren beamed. “I’d love that.”
“Great.” Bo glanced at Anne. “We were just heading back to the cabins, Anne, we can find our own way if you have things you need to do.”
“The stuff I have to do is back at the Lodge.” She grinned. “Darren’s just coming back up the mountain from a trip to town, so he’s headed back that way too. We can all walk together.”
Dean turned a curious look to Darren as the group started back down the path to the Lodge. “That’s a big hike all the way down the mountain. Must be one hell of a party town down there.”
Laughing, Darren shook his head. “Not really, no. I went to pick up some books I’d ordered.” He held up a large plastic bag. “Texts on quantum physics and string theory. I’m taking a semester off school to work, but I don’t want to fall behind.”
Moving closer to Darren, Dean nudged the young man with his elbow. “Darren, you are scary smart.”
Dean’s eyes gleamed with the same interest he’d shown Anne, and Sam bit back a laugh. Maybe Dean really would charm the pants off the entire staff.
“I didn’t think this path connected with one we took to get up here,” Bo said. “Is this the horse path Lex was telling us about?”
“No, it’s up closer to the Lodge. The path Darren took joins this one further on, almost at Sunset Rock.” Turning around, Anne gestured toward the trail curving into the trees behind them. “Guests don’t use that trail, just employees.”
“I see.” Bo stumbled into Sam’s side, his face