Page 56 of Five for Silver

“No.”

“Why not?”

“They’re not the kind of things you lookback at with any fondness. People died, most of them violently,painfully, and their families have been ripped apart.”

“Surely there’s some pride? Some sense ofsatisfaction?” Romeo narrowed his eyes slightly.

“It’s not enough. It’s never enough.”

“Enough of what? What’s the end goal?”

“I have no idea.” Chad shrugged. “Just tokeep proving my worth.”

“You don’t need to prove a thing.”

“I guess we’ll agree to disagree.”

“No. I’m right, and you’re wrong. Now laydown and go back to sleep.”

“Can Merc stay on the bed tonight?”

Romeo grunted. “This is the first, and lasttime…”

Chad pressed a quick kiss to Romeo’s lips.“We’ll see.”

Chapter Ten

Chad spread his arms out for Lynn to pat himdown. James paced in front of the door to Wiltknot, stopping everyfew seconds to glare at the red light. Dark circles hollowed hiseyes. They seemed to grow deeper the more time passed. His tietwisted to one side, and half his shirt had slipped free from hisbelt.

Chad wetted his lips. “You know, you’re notin this alone.”

James stopped. “What?”

“All of us want to find her.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah—”

“Then why does it feel like you’re treatingthis as a holiday?” James stabbed a finger out at him. “I haven’tseen you at Alborough station once, and all this talk of conductingyour own research at home … where is it, Chad?”

“I haven’t found anything worthmention—”

“Harriet is relying on me.” His nose pulledin a snarl, but his eyes watered. Chad saw the anguish and had tolook away. “She’s here. She’s in this county and she has been thewhole time. I have to be the one that finds her. If I had just kepther in the car.”

“You …were cautioning her forpossession.”

James’s brow furrowed. “What?”

“Sorry I’m late,” Lucy said as she steppedinside reception. Her eyes were just as deep and dark as James’sand the parting in her hair zig-zagged. She stroked her fingersthrough it, trying to sort it out, but gave up when she hit aknot.

“Oh, it’s fine,” James snapped. He heaved.“It’s not like Vincent could die at any moment or anything…”

Lucy ignored him and spoke to Chad. “I waswith my dad,” her eyes flashed with venom when she looked over toJames. “He thought it was for the best he didn’t come here,considering…”

James tsked beneath his breath then resumedpacing in front of the door. Chad stepped back, allowing Lucy to gothrough the pat down from Lynn.

“Considering…” he repeated, waiting for oneof them to bite, but they exchanged glares instead.

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