Page 101 of Five for Silver

James made to go past the doctor, but he wasstopped by a firm hand on his chest. “One at a time. Starting withyou, James—”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Jamessnapped, pushing his way into the room.

The door shut behind him. Chad moved furtherup the corridor and took a seat.

Lucy bounced her leg on the floor until Lynntook hold of her hand and squeezed. Chad lowered his gaze to hishands in his lap, fiddling with his fingers during the wait.

Ten minutes after James had gone intoVincent’s room, the door opened, and he stepped out, red faced andshaking his head.

“What did he say?” Chad asked.

Lucy sniffled, and lifted her head from thecrook of Lynn’s neck.

“Nothing of any use,” James snapped, beforestalking off.

Chad shared the briefest of glances withLucy, then she stood up, still clutching her handbag and stepped upto the door. The officer standing guard opened it for her as shehovered on the threshold before stepping inside.

Lynn sighed. Chad resumed staring at hishands until approaching footsteps grew too loud to be blocked out.He lifted his head, only to gape at Ally standing in the corridor.Her mouth was set in a hard line and her eyes lacked their usualwarmth. She unbuttoned her purple coat while directing a questionat Lynn.

“Am I too late?”

“No,” Lynn said. “He’s still alive and he’sstill coherent enough to speak. He’s asking for visitors one at atime.”

“Of course he is.” Ally replied. “He doeslike to drag things out and increase the suffering as much aspossible. It’s a pity he gets what he wants right to the end.”

Chad bristled at the barb aimed his way.

“You’re here, too.” Chad said softly.

“Not at Vincent’s request.” Ally smiledcruelly at the door. “He doesn’t want to see me, but I’m not goingto give him a choice. My ugly mug will be the last one he sees if Ihave my way.”

The door opened and Lucy inched into thecorridor with her bottom lip trembling. The tops of her nails bledfrom where she’d been gripping her bag. Lynn shot to her feet, andwrapped an arm around her back, but Lucy didn’t acknowledge herhelp as they disappeared down the corridor.

“She looks ready to break.” Ally remarked.She looked over to Chad. “Isn’t it your turn?”

He nodded, getting to his feet. “Ally…”

She waved him off. “Later.”

Chad pushed the door open and stepped intothe room.

Vincent Whitehall lay on the bed on hisside, gaunt faced, and wheezing. A thin sheet covered him, but hisarm was out, curling up towards his chin. He held a bloodied tissuein his hand. Chad sat down on the chair beside the bed and was hitby a sudden sense of déjà vu.

Vincent’s state reminded him of his ownmother on her death bed. He remembered looking down on her andfeeling nothing. He remembered the nurses who’d been treating herstanding either side of him, rubbing his arms, telling him howsorry they were. Then Chad remembered their faces, their confusiontwisting into disgust at his lack of emotion to his mother’sdeath.

He didn’t cry.

He didn’t lean on them for support.

He backed away from them and left theroom.

“What are you thinking about?”

Vincent’s words left his lips in a painfulsounding whisper. His eyes had opened a crack. They were black andsunken, but they found Chad.

“I was thinking about my mother,” Chadwhispered.

“She died in the hospital.”

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