Chapter 4

The truck stop was busy, but Sam found a table in a back corner away from everyone else and set up his laptop. He ordered a sandwich and drink from the waitress and got online looking for a backdoor into the police data base so he could find the reports and get what information was available.

He nodded to the waitress when she brought his food and began to read what little the cops had so far on the missing high school kids. He read the statements from some of the teenagers' friends and learned they were going to the haunted house to perform a séance from some book one of the kids had found at a yard sale. That didn't sound good, and it noted the book was found on the floor in front of the fireplace and there were candles placed on the floor with a bowl in the middle of them. The bowl had different herbs and spices and had been set on fire. The more he read, the worse it sounded. If the teenagers had done some type of spell or ritual, they could have conjured up something extremely dangerous.

Sam was glad he had used the spare key to get into the Impala and rummaged through Dean's fake ids and found one that would probably work for this situation. His clothes would have to do since he didn't have a suit. Sam decided he could be undercover or coming back from a vacation and got a call to check the missing teens case out. There was one other thing he needed to do to hopefully make this work. Sam pulled out his cell and made a call. He listened to it ring until a gruff, male voice answered.

"Singer Salvage," Bobby greeted the caller.

"Bobby, it's Sam."

"Sam, did you find anything out about your brother?"

"I think so and I found the Impala at the house where the high school kids disappeared from. I think I know what happened, but I need your help."

"Do I need to come to you?"

"No, that would take too long. Some teenagers got their hands on a book of spells and I'm not sure what they did, but I think they opened a door to somewhere and disappeared through it. I think Dean is in there too. I found his flashlight in the room by the closet. There's something in that closet, like a void or opening, from the looks of it. I didn't get too close because I didn't want to get sucked in too."

"Balls! What do you need me to do?"

"I need to get that book from the police evidence locker. Think you can run interference for me to get me in? I got one of Dean's fake ids for an FBI agent named Shaw, but it would help if you called ahead so I won't get too much hassle. Say I was working undercover nearby or coming back from vacation since I don't have a suit. I hope that will get me in the door."

"How are you going to get the book out of there? You know they won't just let you walk out with it since it's evidence."

"I'll think of something. I'm sure that book is the key to finding Dean and hopefully those kids and getting them back."

"Give me the name of the town and I'll see what I can do. I'll use the undercover story for your cover. That should appease the locals."

"Thanks Bobby, I appreciate it." Sam gave him all the information he could about the town and the sheriff department. "I'm heading into town, but I need to make a stop before going to the sheriff department. That should give you time to call."

"You just be careful son. Don't need both of you trapped. I'll see if there's anyone near you that can lend a hand and send them your way."

"Okay, here's the address for the house so if you find anyone, but I may get a motel room to go over everything and settle on a plan. Let me know who you contact, and I'll send them a text. I need the time to get the book," Sam rattled off the address and basic directions on finding the place for Bobby.

"Alright, call me if you need anything else."

"I will Bobby. Bye." Sam hung up and quickly finished his meal as a plan began to form in his head. He hoped there was a used bookstore in town, and it would have what he needed. He checked online and found a couple of stores that sounded promising. He signaled the waitress for the check and pulled money from his pocket to pay. Sam got up and headed out to his borrowed car and drove to the business district of the town.

spn

Sam got out of the car in the parking lot for the sheriff department. He straightened his jacket and ran his fingers through his hair, hoping to make himself presentable. It didn't surprise him at how easy he fell back into the routine of being a hunter and wondered if that was a sign. He walked with confidence for the front doors of the building and stepped inside to a lobby with chairs against one wall, a carousel filled with brochures, and a counter where an older deputy sat writing in a notebook. He approached the deputy and waited for him to notice him.

"Hello, may I help you?" he asked Sam as he gave him a once over.

"I hope so, I'm Agent Shaw with the FBI, and wanted to speak to whoever is in charge of the missing high school teens," Sam told him, holding his badge up long enough for him to read FBI in big, bold letters before flipping it shut and pocketing it.

"One moment," the deputy stated. He picked up a phone and punched in an extension before speaking quickly and hanging up. "Agent, if you'll have a seat over there someone will be out shortly to help you."

"Thank you," Sam nodded and took a seat across from the counter. He let his eyes scan the room as he waited, trying not to act nervous. He stopped his leg from bouncing when he realized he was doing it. Sam quickly glanced at the deputy to be sure he wasn't watching him.

It wasn't long before a door opened behind the deputy and a middle age, athletic looking man stepped out. He had dark, wavey hair and brown eyes, stood about six feet and looked like he kept himself in shape. There was an air of authority about him, and Sam knew he was the sheriff.

"Hello Agent," the sheriff greeted Sam. "I'm Sheriff Savage, I have been expecting you. I spoke to your boss earlier and he said you were coming from another assignment and was going to stop by."

"Agent Shaw, Sheriff," Sam greeted him and shook his hand.

"You don't look like an FBI agent. Are they scooping kids up right out of high school?"

"I was undercover and had finished my last assignment and it pays to look younger than you are for some cases. I got a call to come here and see if I could help. Your missing person cases has similarities to a cold case I had worked previously, and I wanted to see if it might be linked."

"We're not having much luck finding any clues to help locate those missing kids." Sheriff Savage motioned for Sam to follow him as he opened the door he had come through. "We've been checking buses, trains, airports, stolen cars, to see if they ran away, but have had no luck. All the teens were respectful students and never got into trouble. I can't see any of them disappearing like this. We're beginning to wonder if they were kidnapped."

"I'll need to see your files and I'll need access to the evidence that you collected at the scene," Sam instructed as he followed the sheriff back into the squad room and into a conference room.

"You can use this room here and I'll get you copies of our files and have the box of evidence brought up."

"Thank you, Sheriff Savage, I appreciate your cooperation."

"Would you like something to drink, coffee, water, soda?"

"No, I'm fine," Sam answered taking a seat at the table.

"Alright, then. I'll have one of my deputies bring everything in for you." The sheriff left Sam alone in the conference room to wait.

Sam looked around the room and drummed his fingers on the table as he waited. It wasn't long before a female deputy came in carrying a box and file folders. He jumped up to help, but she waved him off and sat everything on the table.

"Thank you," Sam told her. "Could I borrow some gloves please?" he asked holding up his hands for her to see.

"Of course, I'll be right back with them."

When she was gone, Sam quickly opened the box and pulled the evidence bag out to swap the book out with another he had found at the used bookstore. He stored the spell book in his computer bag and closed the lid on the evidence box before a few minutes later the deputy came back in.

"Sorry for the delay; I had to find the extra-large gloves for you," she told him putting some gloves on the table beside Sam. "I need to stay in here with the evidence while you look at it."

"That's fine. I assume these files are copies I can take with me?"

"Yes. If I can be on any assistance, in any way, let me know," she told him batting her eyes and smiling at him. He was one FBI agent she wouldn't mind getting to know better.

"Good and I think I've got this," he replied ignoring her attempts of flirting with him. Sam slipped on the gloves and ran his fingers over the box to smear any prints he might have left on it from opening it earlier. He didn't want to leave any fingerprints they could run and find out who he really was. He took the lid off and laid it aside. He looked inside and saw candles in bags, a brass bowl, a baggie with whatever was left in the bowl, the book he replaced, and several other baggies with miscellaneous items of items in them.

Sam ignored the female deputy as she pulled a chair out and took a seat. She watched him look at each item closely and take the book out to look at it. Sam pretended to seem interested and pulled his cell out to snap a few photos as he thumbed through the book. He took as much time as the thought was reasonable, taking notes and then put everything away like he found it and closed the lid on the box.

"Thank you, deputy. I'm going to take the files and go through everything and then visit the house where the teenagers disappeared from."

"Do you need as escort?" she asked, arching an eyebrow and smiling at Sam. He was a tall one and easy on the eyes.

"No, I think I can find my way. I'm better working alone. Thanks for your help," Sam told her gathering his things so he could leave. He didn't pick up on her advances or saw when she looked unhappy. He wanted to check out the book and get Bobby on his cell to get his help. He made his way back to the door leading out and nodded to the deputy at the counter before hurrying out the door to his car.

spn

Since it was already late afternoon, Sam decided to go back down the road where he had seen several motels t0 get a room for the night. He needed privacy and a place to spread out his research so he could devise a plan to get Dean back. He wanted to touch base with Bobby also, to update him.

Sam picked a motel that was near a diner so he could get takeout for dinner and not have to deal with people. He stopped at the office and went in to get a single room. He pulled the car in front of the room and took his things inside before stepping back out to walk down the street to the diner. Once he had his food, Sam headed back to his room and set up at the table.

As he ate his food, Sam studied the book he had taken from the evidence box. The outside was worn, old, and faded. There were symbols that seemed branded onto the front cover, but he didn't recognize any of them. He had taken a couple pairs of gloves from the sheriff station and slipped one on his left hand so he could open the book to a marked page. The writing on the page was slanted and pale, the color pinkish now instead of deep red. He leaned down to look closer and wondered if it had been written in blood.

Part of the writing was in Latin and part in English. He noted what looked like newer writing on the sides like notes were made about the page. He took another bite of his salad and sipped some tea, as he tried to translate the Latin words he knew. When he had gotten the gist of the first page, Sam knew that it wasn't instructions for a séance, like the high school teenagers thought. He pulled his cell out and snapped pictures of all the pages that seemed related. He was going to send them to Bobby to see what he could make of it. Once he had them send, Sam pulled Bobby's number up and speed dialed it, waiting for him to answer.

"Hello," Bobby grunted.

"Hey Bobby, it's Sam. I just sent you some photos from the book those teens were using to get your opinion. I know it's not for a séance. I think it is for opening a one-way door to somewhere. That's why Dean hasn't been able to come back through again; he's trapped there. I checked out a few of the previous pages and I think the opening leads to some sort of cage or prison for what, I don't know."

"Alright son, I'll take a look at it before I go to bed and will call you back in the morning. If you're right about it being a prison for something, let's hope your brother can avoid whatever is trapped in there with him. Try to get some rest, you sound exhausted. You're not going to help your brother if you keel over from exhaustion."

"I won't stay up too late. I'm going to work on the translation and see if there's another spell or ritual to reverse the first one. I think I'll have to go through the opening to perform the spell from that side so the opening leads back to our world. I just have to see if there's something to close it completely and not leave it open."

"Don't you go doing something stupid boy. Let's get all the facts we can. I don't need both of my boys going missing. Mackie called and he's not too far away from you and can be there sometime around lunchtime."

"I won't Bobby. I'll talk to you first. Mackie, I remember that name, he worked a few hunts with Dad when we were younger. Give me his number and I'll text him the motel name and my room number."

"Yeah, your Daddy and Mackie are friends. Alright. Listen to him Sam, he's been hunting longer than your Daddy."

"Thanks for the help, Bobby. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Alright son."

Sam hung up and sighed as he finished his meal and cleared away the trash. He got his laptop out and pulled up a translation program and went to work on the spell. He wasn't stopping until he had it done, and had figured out a plan, no matter how long it took; his brother's life depended on him finding some answers.


A/N: Sam is close to solving the mystery and rescuing his brother. Will he be able to get to him in time? Thanks for coming on this short journey with me. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC