Page 42 of Five for Silver

“As soon as Vincent is ready to talk again,we’re going back there.” James shot him a glare. “Doesn’t matterwhat time of day or night. You will be there, Chad.”

“Thanks for the ride back to Bardhum.” Chadsaid, before climbing out of the car.

Voices hurled questions in his direction,but there were fewer than when he’d first arrived at the stationthat morning. Chad hurried inside, jogged up the steps to theincident room and strolled inside with his eyes locked on the DI’soffice. Josh and Ally weren’t there, but Faye looked up from herdesk. Her jaw hung as she thought of something to say, but Chaddidn’t give her a chance to recover.

He strode straight into the DI’s officewithout knocking.

The DI jumped in his seat, dropping his fileinto his lap.

“Chad—”

“I need everything we have on the Whitehallmurders.”

“What?”

“I’m not happy with this … arrangement, butthe least I can do is be prepared. I need your help on this.”

“I don’t know if it’s wise for you to pullon this thread…”

“Why?”

The DI’s face scrunched. “There arethings…”

“What things?”

“Chad…”

The DI glanced out of his office window.Faye watched them, picking nervously at her lip.

“Tell me.”

“I can’t.”

The DI’s eyes darted back and forth acrossthe desk. “Look, I’ll get you what I can from the archive, but Ican’t get you everything…”

****

Chad flipped the lid of the trunk andgrabbed the first shoe box of folders. He opened the front doorwith his elbow before depositing the box on the floor. Merc waggledout from the kitchen, beaming a smile.

Chad gave him a quick pat on the head, thenwent out for the next lot of boxes. The DI had given him a trolleyfull of folders and files about the Whitehall Murders.

Romeo folded his arms, watching from thekitchen doorway. Merc sat at his feet, tilting his head as Chadheaved for breath, bracing against the stack.

“What happened?” Romeo asked.

“Not much. Vincent felt unwell and had toleave, but he mentioned the promise I broke.”

“And these are…” Romeo nodded towards theleaning tower.

“Files relating to the Whitehall murders,and that big thick red folder,” Chad gestured to the one sandwichedbetween the boxes. It was the only red folder, the rest were beige.“Is all documentation relating to Harriet’s disappearance.”

Romeo nodded. “That’s a lot to gothrough.”

“I’m sure we can handle it.”

“We?”

Chad looked over to him. A slow smile spreadRomeo’s lips. His eyes crinkled, as he repeated a softer, “we”beneath his breath.

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