Page 52 of Five for Silver

Chad laughed, only to regret it when thecooked liver infected the breath.His mind went straight backto Vincent’s files.

“It doesn’t smell that bad.”

“It does, but I’ve got a solution … coffee?”“Chad said, slipping past Romeo. “And we’re taking it in the otherroom.”

“Why?”

Chad twitched his nose as an answer.

“Fine,” Romeo said. “At least the dogdoesn’t moan about my cooking, he whimpers for it.”

Chad prepared their coffees in the magpiemugs. Romeo hummed his approval and took hold of his. He rubbed histhumb against one. “Coffee tastes better in these mugs.”

“It tastes exactly the same.”

“Oh, I bought something else. It’s in theliving room.”

Chad groaned. “Perhaps I’ll have my coffeeoutside then and not have to deal with it.”

“Come on,” Romeo said, steering him by theelbow. “I think you’ll like it.”

Chad dragged his feet as he followed, beforehesitating in the living room doorway. A small package sat in thecenter of the coffee table. “It better not be magpie related.”

Romeo raised an eyebrow. “Open it.”

Chad trudged into the living room and sethis mug down on the coffee table. “Am I going to hate it?”

“Have you ever hated anything I’vebought?”

“Yes,” Chad pointed at one of the magpiecushions. “I hate that for starters.”

“Open it, Chad.”

He sighed and tore into the package. Atfirst, he thought it was a leather belt, smooth on the inside androugher on the out with thick stitching along the top and bottom,but it was small, and the brass buckle shone. Chad captured thesilver heart swinging down.

Mercutio.

“You … you bought him a collar?”

“I know he’s got one, but this … this is alittle more luxurious.”

Chad clutched the collar. A lump formed inhis throat, and he tried to swallow it down to speak. “Let’s put iton him.”

Chad adjusted the buckle around Merc’s neck.The silver heart hung down. It rattled when Merc shook hishead.

Chad couldn’t turn to Romeo, he couldn’teven pinpoint why he kept his back to him.

“Chad. Hey … it’s just a dog collar.”

“It isn’t any dog’s collar, it’sMerc’s.”

“Well, Mercutio’s. That’s what you calledhim…”

“I know, but I got home and you’re makinghim treats—I mean, you’re banned from cooking liver ever again, butstill, knowing you’re doing that for him, and then I see the collaryou bought him, and wow.” Chad’s eyes burned. He blinked back thefire, unsure where the wave of emotion was coming from. “Today hasbeen … up and down.”

“Not to mention you’re running on abouttwenty minutes’ sleep.”

“You know about that?”

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