Page 54 of Five for Silver

Romeo’s nostrils flared. “She needs toknow.”

“I’m not taking medication.”

“Maybe there’s something else. Please,Chad.”

“I’m handling it.”

“If you could see the expression on yourface when you’re having one, you’d know it wasn’t merely a dream.Not to mention I have to shout the house down to wake you. Even Iknow that isn’t normal.”

Chad shrugged, nonchalant. “But I’m notnormal, that’s why you love me.”

“Chad…”

“Okay, fine,” Chad said. “I will at my nextsession.”

“Good. Do you remember anything from thisone?”

Chad touched his temple. He recalled adroning voice. It was still there, only too soft to decipher asingle word, but it made him uncomfortable. It made his skin itch.He shook his head. “I think it’s…”

“Yes?” Romeo gave him an encouragingpoke.

“Reading those transcribes.”

“What’s wrong with them?”

“I-I didn’t think he’d be able to recall hiscrimes in that much detail. I didn’t think he’d be so … graphic.It’s sick. He’s sick. I’ve interviewed a lot of killers over theyears, but never has anyone recalled their crimes with that much …hunger.”

Romeo chuckled.

“It’s not funny, Romeo.”

“I know. The terror of it all is the highhe’s chasing. His victim’s terror, those that discover them, thepress, the public. It’s theatre, pantomime, it’s the same then asit is now, and those two detectives in the room, they’re part ofit. He enjoys their unease, their disgust. He’s caught but he wantsto drag those feelings out for as long as he can. It’s patheticreally.”

Chad’s insides squirmed. “You said youremember the details of what you did.”

Romeo looked away. He inflated with a deepbreath. “Do you actually want me to answer that.”

Chad nodded.

“Yes. I remember.”

Words failed Chad. Romeo seemed to mistakethe silence for the opportunity of proof.

“Number five…”

Fuck.Chad squeezed his eyesshut.

“He asked if I was hungry, I had toast fromhis kitchen, salty butter, seeded bread. I only ate half after achia seed got stuck between my teeth.”

Chad ran his tongue around his mouth as ifhe could feel it, too. The bite of buttery toast, and theirritating seed jamming between his teeth.

“Number four. I remember the wet, roughnessof his dog’s tongue against my hand as I went inside,” he strokedhis hand down Merc’s back, “I wiped it on my pants.”

Chad held his hand out to Merc, who lickedhis knuckles.

“Number three. Her cloggy perfume, at firstit was faint, but when she came out of the bathroom, she’dresprayed herself and reapplied her nude lipstick. Number two. Thepicturesque cottage with dark beams, and a tiny door she warned meabout so I didn’t hit my head going inside. I still did, though.”He touched the top of his head. “I can remember that throb.”

Chad could see it behind his eyes—Romeoducking to follow his victim into her home, and catching the top ofhis head. Was she concerned or did she laugh it off and tell him heshould’ve listened?

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