Page 32 of Ancient Obsession

The door opened. Dave stood there, handsome and solid and safe. Tears filled Oliver’s eyes.

“Hi,” he managed.

Dave entered the room. Oliver didn’t remember standing up, but suddenly he was in Dave’s arms and trembling slightly.

“I take it you two know each other,” Detective Carter said from the door.

Oliver snorted a laugh against Dave’s shirt and stepped back. “Yeah, we do.”

“Well, that’s good, because Mr. Bower here provided your alibi for last night.”

“We were together all night,” Dave said, keeping an arm firmly around Oliver.

“All right, you’re free to go. But we may have some follow up questions.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Oliver said. “We’re getting married in a couple of weeks.”

“So soon?” Carter smiled, and it appeared genuine. “Congratulations.”

Oliver followed Dave out the door. In the hallway, he turned back to Detective Carter. “Have you spoken to the other members of Dr. Brennan’s team? Do they all have alibis?”

Carter moved past them, leading the way toward the exit. “We’ve been able to talk to all but one. We’ve got campus police working on tracking him down now.”

“Can you let me know which team member that is?”

The detective gave a tight smile. “Not on an active investigation.”

“I understand.”

When they stepped outside, Oliver was surprised when Dave led him off to the side of the front walk and pulled him into another hug.

“You okay?” Dave whispered in his ear.

“I’m okay. Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

“All right, break it up before they write you up for public indecency.”

Oliver peered around Dave. Cody leaned against the front of his truck, arms crossed and a devilish smirk earning him appreciative once overs from women and men alike.

“What are you doing here?” Oliver said.

Cody’s mouth dropped open, and he placed a hand on his chest. “Is that any way to treat your concerned future brother-in-law?”

“Probably not,” Oliver said, following as Dave approached Cody. “But it is the way I treat my past and current tormentor.”

“Tormentor?” Cody grinned. “I like that. Makes me sound a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” He lowered his voice. “The Tormentor.”

“All right, leave him alone,” Dave scolded. “He’s been through a lot.”

“Did they put you in a cell?” Cody asked.

Oliver’s face flushed. “No!”

Cody waved a dismissive hand. “He’s fine. Until you’ve been held overnight for ‘probable cause’—” He made air quotes as he sneered. “You haven’t really been arrested. That’s always been Lucia’s go to.”

“Sorry my questioning didn’t live up to your ghoulish expectations.”

“Wow, someone’s sass meter is just off the charts right now,” Cody said. “I’m impressed.”