Page 21 of Investigation of a Quest

“Okay, so the dog isn’t a hellhound,” Olivia said. “But seriously, am I missing anything else?”

“Isobel still won’t move in with me.” Eamon shrugged.

“Good for her.” Olivia winked at her friend.

“On that note, I’ll exit gracefully before you two gang up on me anymore.” Eamon slipped an arm around Bel’s waist and kissed her cheek. “Maybe I preferred it when you were fighting.”

“Get out of here.” Bel slapped his ass before giving him a real kiss. “I’ll let you know if we identify the victims.”

“Love you. I’ll see you at home.”

“Love you too… and I love you more.” She kissed Cerberus, who showed his mommy just how much he loved her, and then, with an eye-rolling giant of a man guiding him back to the car, her pitbull trotted away, a happy animal.

“Dracula’s son…” Olivia shook her head. “Walking a spoiled dog to the coffee shop for his pup cup. This is the most bizarre town.”

“As Eamon said, you could always move,” Bel said.

“And let you have all the excitement? Yeah right.” Olivia looped her arm through Bel’s as they returned to the station. “And I am sorry I let my anger separate us for so long. Ewan’s lying really rattled me.”

“I get it. I’m still not over my guilt. I’ve been back at work for less than a day, and I’ve run out of fingers to count the times I’ve second-guessed returning. Anger and grief make fools of us.”

“So you forgive me?”

“We see so much death, and life is short. Why waste it being mad at the people you love?”

“It took almost drowning with those teens to realize I’ll never fight with you again.”

“Never?” Bel raised her eyebrows.

“Okay, I won’t fight you for longer than a few days. Deal?”

“Deal.” Bel opened the station door. “So, does this turning of the leaf involve forgiving Ewan?”

“Don’t push it.” Olivia aimed a finger at her partner, only to freeze mid-accusation.

“We identified the scarecrow,” Griffin said, squinting at her finger, but Olivia dropped it without an explanation. “His name is Jack Samuel, and he was a professor at Ozland College, which is about forty-five minutes outside of Bajka’s town limits. When he missed his classes, his aide tried to contact him. When he didn’t respond, the aide stopped by his apartment. His car and phone were still at home. Clothes were hanging in the closet, but the professor was gone. He filed a missing person’s report, and when we got the notice, we recognized him.”

“We can head over to Ozland now,” Bel said after checking the time to confirm they’d make it before the campus offices closed.

“Great, thanks,” Griffin said. “I’ll call the aide and tell him you’re coming.”

“Thanks,” the detectives said in unison as they left the station they’d barely entered. They made a quick stop for wraps from the deli, then drove the almost hour-long trip to Ozland. Once on campus, they had to ask a few students for directions until they found Professor Jack Samuel’s office.

“Hi. You must be the detectives Sheriff Griffin called about,” the aide greeted when they knocked on the door.

“Yes, I’m Isobel Emerson, and this is my partner, Olivia Gold. We’re investigating Professor Samuel’s murder.”

“I can’t believe he was murdered,” the aide said as he sank back against his boss’ desk. “I mean, he was just here teaching class… what happened?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Bel said. “Does he have family in the area?”

“No. He wasn’t married, and he didn’t have kids. I don’t think he has parents or siblings, either… or at least he never talked about them. I never saw any photos.”

“Did he have any enemies?”

“A history professor at a small college?” The aide’s eyebrows rose. “I doubt it.”

“Friends?” Bel asked, not hopeful in the least.