A grin split Lucas’ face. “How astute, DC Reed.”
“Do you need locking up?”
“What for?”
Oliver wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms. “Crimes against fashion.”
Lucas huffed out a laugh. “I don’t think that’s a real offence.”
“It’s as real as herbaceous neglect.”
“Are you going to handcuff me, Reed?”
Oliver’s nostrils flared as he looked down at his lap. When he didn’t answer, a paper bag and takeaway cup appeared under his nose. “What’s this?”
“Breakfast,” Lucas replied.
Opening the bag, he found a croissant—its buttery flakiness making his hungover mouth water. “Is this your way of getting me to have breakfast with you?”
Lucas only grinned as he put the car into gear. Taking a sip of coffee, Oliver let out a long breath and gazed out the window. The heated leather seats were on, and he could have slipped into a coffee and croissant-induced coma there and then. He’d expected to be a stuttering mess upon seeing Lucas again, but something about the alpha’s stoic demeanour put his nerves at ease. If Lucas wasn’t going to make it weird, then neither was he.
“Reed.” Lucas tapped the back of his hand. “Did you hear what I said?”
“S-Sorry, what?”
“I asked how’re you feeling about the warrant today?”
“Oh…well, it’ll make a nice change to interviewing paedophiles, I guess. I can’t remember the last time Nancy or I executed a warrant.”
Lucas nodded, turning the car onto the main road. “We’ve got five Special Branch alphas assisting with the warrant. Plus DS Smith, myself, and a handful of betas. We don’t know what we’ll be walking into, or how many of the dealership staff are involved. I want you, Nancy and Harry to stay towards the back until everything’s secured. No amateur dramatics, got it?”
Oliver tutted and sucked his teeth. “Nancy and I might be Bluey loving grandmothers, but we’re still police officers.”
“Reed,” Lucas said, voice threateningly low. “That’s an order.”
Oliver frowned and brushed the croissant flakes from the side of his mouth. “Are you pulling rank on me, DS White?”
Lucas smirked. “Someone’s got to.”
There wasan unexpected sight as they stepped into the briefing room. The West Newton and Metropolitan officers were chatting and laughing like old pals.
“Did I miss something?” He asked, as Nancy handed him the morning’s briefing documents.
“Oh, only thebestnight in the history of pub crawls. After you left, we moved on to The Nock and Ore. They had the tennis courts open, so we played a couple of games. Every time someone scored, the other team had to take a shot. Let’s just say neither teams were scoring many points by the end. Harry was still drunk this morning, he got sent home by Blake.”
Oliver tutted. “What a cock.”
Nancy sat back in her chair, grinning as she stretched towards the ceiling. Oliver could see she was gazing at someone amongst the Metropolitan officers, but couldn’t make out who.
“Anyway,” she said, when she saw him looking. “Feeling better?”
“Not bad, thanks.”
“DS White take good care of you?” Nancy wiggled her eyebrows.
Oliver blanched, clutching his half-drunk coffee, “Yes… I meanno. He left soon after dropping me off.”
“Uh-huh,” Nancy replied, giving him an amused look. “The Cherry Tree’s a bit out of the way for a coffee, don’t you think?”
