Page 25 of Five for Silver

“What kind of inappropriate behavior?”

“Gifts. Letters. He would wait outside ourschool and drive herhome, but I’d still beat them on thebus. Who knows where he took her and what they did. It went on formonths. Our dad was furious, and confronted him, told him to backoff, but James didn’t listen.”

“Is your dad…”

“Still alive, yes,” Lucy nodded. “He movedaway soon after Vincent was caught, lives in Italy now. Him and mymother’s relationship broke down … he tried to convince her to sellup, move away, but she lived and breathed in the past, imaginingHarriet would come back to her, the same girl that left her thatmorning. She wouldn’t accept she was truly gone, and my dadcouldn’t take the grief. He wanted to sell up, move away, but mymother didn’t.”

“Does he know about Vincent?”

“No. If we can recover Harriet, then I’lltell him, but this is between me, James, and Vincent.”

“And me,” Chad said softly.

“I know Vincent killed her, but as far asI’m concerned, James is just as guilty, and he knows it, too. Idon’t know what happened in his car that night, but heknewthrowing her out of it afterwards was dangerous. It was dark. Itwas a long walk home, there was a killer on the loose and she wasunlucky enough to accept a lift from Vincent Whitehall.” She took adeep breath. “Rest easy, Chad. I won’t follow you again, and I’mnot angry at you, I envy you.”

“Envy me?”

“That you have the strength to say no tohim. I can’t, and it doesn’t look like James can either.”

“Thank you,” Chad pressed his lips in a grimline. “Thank you for understanding.”

He placed his coffee cup back on the table,and Josh did the same. They both got to their feet, blurting outthe customary, “Thank you for your time,” then left, Chad at aquicker pace than Josh who caught his arm outside and yanked him toa stop.

“You okay?” Josh asked.

“Not really,” Chad replied, glancing back.“I feel like shit.”

“That’s how Vincent wants you to feel.” Joshreleased Chad’s arm. “Don’t let him mess with your head, Chad. He’smessing with hers, and he’s messing with James’s, and he’s tryingto mess with you, but you’re not letting him.” Josh lightly punchedChad’s shoulder. “You’re not letting him.”

Chad shot Josh a wavering smile. “It feelslike I am.”

“He can’t do a goddamn thing to you if youjust keep him out of here,” Josh tapped his temple. “Keep him outof there, and you win.”

Chad snorted. “Since when did you get sowise, huh?”

“I’ve always been wise, you’ve just notwanted to listen until now. Come on.” Josh gave Chad an encouragingpush towards the car. “I was supposed to be eating nachos in myboxers and watching … watching….”

Chad frowned. “Yes?”

Josh dismissed him with a wave of his hand.“I just need to be home, things to do, that’s all…”

“Porn,” Chad muttered. “You were so going tosay porn.”

Chapter Five

Chad cut the engine, opened his door beforestopping dead. A prickle of awareness went through him. He slappeda hand to the hairs rising on the back of his neck as he eyed thehouse, but his sense of unease came from elsewhere.

It felt like eyes on him.

But there was no red truck behind him.

Feet hopped along the roof of the outhouse.Chad squinted, climbing out of the car. He stood on his tiptoes toget a good look at the bird, but it moved out of sight.

Chad slammed the door shut and locked thecar. He stepped towards the house, only to stop again at the soundof growling.

Playful growling.

He trudged around the side of the house,only to stop in his tracks at the sight of Merc dashing around themuddy field. His playful growls were joined by another rumble fromRomeo, not a noise Chad was used to hearing, but he labelled it asfrustration.

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