“The sound of my husband’s voice in the next room when the police arrived to rescue me,” Joshua said, then turned to Colin and smiled. “Just as I knew he would.” He turned back to Clayton. “I don’t remember much after that until I woke up in University Hospital.”
“Is there anything further you’d like to tell the grand jury, Doctor Abrams? Any relevant information you feel was missed?”
“No, sir.”
“Does any member of the jury have a question for Doctor Abrams?”
No one had further questions for Joshua. “In that case, you are excused, Doctor Abrams. And we thank you for your testimony. Members of the jury, at this time we’ll take a fifteen-minute break, and then Lieutenant Lenny Anderson of the campus police force will offer testimony on this matter.”
Colin stood and walked to Joshua’s side as he left the witness box, taking Joshua’s hand in his. “You were magnificent,” he whispered, then turned them both toward the exit.
As they passed, Clayton clasped Colin’s arm. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you, Norm,” Joshua told the attorney. “You were amazing.” He leaned closer. “But you didn’t warn me that you were going to put those images up for the jury to see.”
“I wanted your honest, gut reaction,” Norm told him. “And I got it. It was powerful stuff, Josh. You should have seen your face.”
“C’mon, love,” Colin murmured, tugging on Joshua’s hand. “Time to go.”
As they wandered from the jury room they saw Lenny sitting just outside. He was wearing his dress uniform and carrying a briefcase. He rose at once and embraced Joshua. “God, man, howareyou! First time I’ve seen you since the hospital!”
“I’m doing great, Lenny.” He tilted his head toward the jury room door. “Good luck in there.”
Lenny turned to Colin. “How’d he do?”
“He knocked it out of the park.”
“Trust you to come up with a baseball metaphor,” Lenny said, then gripped Colin’s arm. “I thought you might like to know that we lifted Page’s prints fromtwoof the three stolen cars we impounded.” He grinned and punched Colin’s shoulder. “Plusitems belonging to the other victims were found in the trunks. That makes our case against this guy rock solid.”
Colin laughed in delight and hugged Joshua. “Did you inform Norm?”
“Just now got the report. I’ll tell him as soon as I go in.”
“Jesus, Lenny, that’sgreatnews!”
Lenny nodded. “The best news we could get. Solid evidence.” He touched Joshua’s shoulder as he turned to move toward the grand jury room. “We got this guy, Josh. You two keep in touch.”
They promised that they would, then moved down the hallway, headed for the exit…and home.
* * *
They spokelittle on the drive. Joshua kept Colin’s hand tight in his own, but he slumped against the passenger window in silence. He had been on the stand for nearly two hours, and though he was proud of the professional demeanor he managed to maintain throughout the questioning, giving his testimony had taken a toll on him both physically and mentally.
At home, he tossed his suit jacket over the couch then sat, turning to watch Colin as he locked the door then moved into the kitchen to check the back entrance. When Colin returned, he leaned against the archway separating the dining and living rooms and stared at his husband. “You OK?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Joshua said with a soft laugh. “Part of me is proud that I held it together as well as I did. Part of me feels like I was just put through a meat grinder.”
Colin moved to the couch and sat beside him. “I was so proud of you, bud. You were a complete pro up there.”
“That’s how I got through it,” Joshua said, leaning against Colin’s chest. “As best I could, I tried to see myself as giving expert testimony. Took some of the emotion out of it.” He leaned back and looked into Colin’s eyes. “But that strategy fell apart when I saw those pictures.”
“Not a piece of cake for me either.”
“And I suppose they’ll all be shown again at the trial.”
“Fraid’ so, darlin’.”
“Hadyouseen them before?”
