Page 100 of Five for Silver

Romeo raised an eyebrow. “Why? What are youplanning on doing? Speeding his death along.”

“I’m going to make sure he doesn’tescape.”

“Do you really think that’s likely?”

“You escaped from a hospital.” Chad frowned.“I wouldn’t put it past Vincent to have planned this all just so hecan make a break for it.”

“Then you’d better get over there.” Romeoturned back to the TV. “You can try to coax him into the car andbring him here. We can make those fantasies you didn’t want to tellme a reality.”

Chad rolled his eyes as he left theroom.

****

A cordon had been set up a healthy distancefrom the front doors to the hospital. Chad blinked each time acamera flash singed his eyeballs and blocked out the roar ofquestions from the press. They stirred with excitement when theyspotted him jogging from the car park. He kept his head low, hiseyes tracking the ground as he stepped inside. Lynn met him inreception, and took him by the elbow, steering him away from theconjugated outpatients.

“He’s this way,” she said, hurrying Chadalong the corridor. “He’s in a quieter part of the hospital. Staffdidn’t want his presence to upset the other patients. We would’vepreferred Vincent’s condition and location be kept a secret, butyou know firsthand what the press are like.”

“Are there police officers present?” Chadasked.

“One at Vincent’s door.”

Chad’s eyebrows shot up. “One? One officer?Is that all?”

“There’s only one way in and out ofVincent’s room—”

“But what if he overpowers the officer?”

Lynn’s brutal pace slowed. Her brow pinchedas she looked at him. “Vincent’s not going to be staging any lastminute escape attempts, Chad. He has multiple organ failure. This …this isit.”

They rounded a corner, and Chad came to astop. He whipped his gaze around the scene. Lucy Hastings sat on achair, clutching her handbag. She dug her nails into the leather,staring at the door opposite her. Her hair looked matted, and thepurple hue beneath her eyes suggested she’d not been sleeping.

James Poole paced back and forth in front ofa row of four chairs, muttering to himself as he stroked a handthrough his hair. His tie was askew, his shirt was untucked—heappeared just as sleep deprived as Lucy. James paused briefly toglance at Chad before resuming his rambling march.

Lastly, Chad looked at the police officerslouched against the wall, yawning into the back of his hand. Hestraightened when he noticed Chad staring at him, and gave him afriendly nod that Chad didn’t return. He was young, too young tohave the responsibly of making sure Vincent Whitehall stayed in hisroom. There was not one wrinkle on his face and his stubble lookedlike soft brown fuzz on his cheeks.

“Any news?” Chad asked, not aiming hisquestion at anyone.

Lucy twisted her body away from him andturned her head in a clear ‘fuck you’ gesture. The officershrugged, and leaned to look through the window in the door.

“The doctor is in there now.” Lynn said.“You might want to take a seat.”

Chad eyed up his options. A seat beside Lucywho scratched her nails audibly against her handbag when he lookedat her, or a seat where James paced, working a groove into thefloor. Just watching him made Chad nauseated.

Chad shot Lynn a small smile. “I’m finehere.”

“If you’re sure.”

Lynn stepped away and sat down beside Lucy.She ran a comforting hand up her back until Lucy turned towardsher. Chad backed up to the wall, eyeing the door. The officerguarding it kept straight, and tried to fight off a yawn, but itdistorted his face and his eyes watered.

They waited until the doctor stepped out ofVincent’s room with a grim look on his face. He shoved his handsinto the pockets of his white scrubs and opened his mouth to speak,but James rushed him, blurting out questions.

“Is he still alive? Has he said anything?Has he—”

“He’s very weak,” the doctor raised his handto stop James’s jumping in again, “but he’s requested to speak toyou.”

“Who?” James demanded.

The doctor glanced at each of them. “All ofyou.”

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