Page 124 of Five for Silver

Ally eyeballed Josh with wide eyes.

“I just … you know, those clothes areuncomfortable, and they stink.”

“Thanks,” Chad said, gripping the bottom ofthe grey sweatshirt. He pulled it over his head and set it to oneside. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Josh inhale sharply atthe sight of his bare chest. Chad didn’t hurry to cover his scarslike he once had, but he punched his arms into Josh’s hoodie,sighing at the soft material against his skin as he slipped itdown.

“I didn’t think about bottoms.” Joshadmitted. “But I’m a few sizes bigger than you, doubt I’d haveanything that fit.”

“It’s okay,” Chad said. “I wouldn’t want mytrousers falling down—that would take my bad day to a completecatastrophe.”

Josh didn’t know where to look, but Allylaughed darkly and rubbed her hand against Chad’s back. He leanedaway from her touch.

“I’m not coming back from this.”

Ally stiffened. She shared a worried glancewith Josh. “What do you mean?”

“This,” Chad gestured to the incident room,to each of their desks, then the DI’s office door. “It’s over.”

“It’s not,” Ally said. She moved to perch onChad’s desk. “It wasn’t your—”

“I resigned.”

Josh took a step back. “What?”

“The DI won’t accept it,” Ally scoffed.“There’s no way he’ll bend to public pressure like that. He knowsyou—”

“He agreed it was for the best. And it’s notthe public pressure he’s worried about. It is the internalpressure.”

“Internal pressure?” Josh asked.

“From other stations, and otherofficers.”

Ally shook her head. “You’re talking aboutthe superintendent from Alborough.”

“My actions got a police officerkilled.”

“Chad—”

“It’s true, Ally. I made Lucy suspicious ofJames. I broke her trust. If I’d … if I’d have handled thisdifferently James would still be alive. Lucy would still be alive.I can’t come back from this, and the DI knows it.”

“This is bullshit.” Josh shook his head. “Idon’t want you to leave.”

“It’s not all bad,” Chad attempted a smile.“I’ve got a business to fall back on. A dog finger licking servicein the mall remember?”

“It’s not funny,” Josh said.

His blue eyes were hard and glassy. Chadcouldn’t keep looking at them.

“The fall out for all this…” Chad took adeep breath. “It’s going to be huge. The press, the public, thepolice … I’m going to be enemy number one. Again. I don’t want youto be dragged into that,” he waved his hand between them withoutmaking eye contact, “either of you.”

Ally folded her arms. “What are you tryingto say?”

“I’m saying we were work friends, and now Ino longer work with you, so…”

“You don’t want us to be friends.” Allyfinished.

“It’s better if you’re not associated withme.”

Ally filled up on a deep breath. “SometimesJosh irritates the hell out of me, and I want to clip him aroundthe ear, but never in my life have I wanted to punch someone asmuch as I want to punch you now.” She turned to Josh. “You mighthave to hold me back.”

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