Page 68 of Ancient Obsession

“We can leave if you want,” Demetrius said. “But we thought it might be helpful to have some other…” He glanced at Robin. “Like-minded friends around to bounce ideas off.”

“Robin knows it might be a murderous mummy,” Oliver said.

“Oh. Welcome to the Critter Catchers club, I guess.”

“You guys have a club?” Robin nudged Oliver. “The Case of the Murderous Mummy sounds like an amazing title for your first TikTok video.”

Cody chuckled. “I like this kid.”

Robin’s eyes narrowed. “I’m twenty.”

“Still a kid.”

“If you guys want to help,” Oliver said, “I was considering doing a lap around the outside of the Earth Sciences building and try to find any evidence that might have been missed.”

“Mummy related?” Demetrius asked.

“Or human. Just anything out of the ordinary.”

Cody gave a tight smile to a passing campus security officer. “Like maybe all these officers?”

“Supposed to make us all feel safer,” Robin said.

“Is it working?”

“Not really.”

“Two groups?” Dave suggested. “First group goes one way around the building, and the other the opposite?”

“I like that,” Oliver said. “Good plan.”

“Cody and I can go around one side,” Demetrius offered.

“We’re like Fred and Daphne from Scooby-Doo,” Cody said, then grinned. “Guess which is which?”

“I’m not doing that,” Oliver stated. “Dave, Robin and I will go the other way, and we can all meet up in the back.”

“Anything specific we should be on the lookout for?” Demetrius asked.

“Strips of faded and dirty material,” Dave said. “Strange tracks in the dirt.”

“Blood?” Robin suggested. “Maybe if it returned here after, you know, killing someone, it might have had blood on it.”

“Kid’s sharp,” Cody said, and Robin blushed.

Oliver and Robin stowed their bags inside Oliver’s car before they all headed for the Earth Sciences building. As they walked, Demetrius caught Oliver up on Clarabell’s findings in Samira’s journal.

“Wait,” Robin said from just behind them. “Who’s Clarabell?”

“A tiny demon who showed up on Demmy’s and my honeymoon and who we haven’t been able to cast back to Hell,” Cody said.

“Dude…” Dave’s tone held a minor threat.

“Am I wrong?”

Dave sighed. “Not entirely.”

“Ignore them,” Demetrius said to Robin. “Clarabell is a paranormal investigator⁠—”