Page 74 of Five for Silver

James smirked. “You’d tell him, would you?”He looked up at Chad. “Even if we got the result, you’d tell himthe means I used to get it?”

Chad didn’t answer.

“Pauline would, that’s for sure. I don’tknow how that woman can look after him.”

“She’s doing her job.”

James drummed his fingers against the wheel.“You know, I’d still do it.”

“Do what?”

“Beat a location out him—”

“James—”

“DI Poole,” James growled. “You made itquite clear you didn’t want to be on friendly terms. And if Ithought I could beat a location out of him, I would, but the factis, I don’t think I can. I don’t think he’d tell me. The lastdrive, with him … talking about my daughter,” he filled up with adeep breath before easing it out, “it proved to me he’s a lot morewith itthan I first thought. This is a game to him.”

Chad swallowed. “I told you that. I told youhe had no intention of giving us anything.”

“Well, I didn’t believe you, all right, andnow we’ve got to save face, and go along with this until we run outthe clock, do what he wants for the slimmest chance hemightgive us something. We’re in it for the 1% chance of finding her,but it doesn’t mean I like the idea of sitting in a car with him.It doesn’t mean I don’t want to reach into the backseat andstrangle him, because I do, and I’d rather not be observed by thepress while I battle with myself not to.”

“James—DI Poole,” Chad corrected, crunchinghis toes in his shoes. “You were the last person to see Harrietalive. I have to ask, what was she doing in your car?”

“You’ve read my statement, no doubt. I wascautioning her for possession.”

“Michael and Lucy seem to believe—”

“Oh, I’ve heard all about you getting pallywith Michael…”

“I visited him.”

James snorted. “Nice to know who’s sideyou’re on.”

“I’m on nobody’s side. They have theiropinion, and I have mine.”

“And what do you think, Chad? Am I thepredatory pedophile protected by the badge on my chest?”

“So far that’s the only explanation I’vebeen given over your past behavior. If you could tell me—”

“I don’t need to prove my innocence, to youleast of all.”

“I know. I’m not asking for your innocence.I just want the truth. Your truth.”

“No one ever wanted to hear my truth.”

“I thought I was in love once,” Chad began.James tensed beside him, but didn’t interrupt. “It was safe,comfortable, and I could’ve spent my life like that. It would’vebeen a hell of a lot less painful if I’d just have stayed in thatnumb bubble forever, but I’m so glad I didn’t. The pain, thehumiliation, the times where I physically wanted to rip my ownbrain from my skull was all worth it to feel love. Real love.”

James shifted his focus to Chad. His eyeswere cold, and hard, but he didn’t snarl or interrupt, he waitedfor Chad to continue.

“And I’ve never told anyone. Never admittedhow I felt because no one would understand, they couldn’t possibly,they’d not even give me a chance to explain it, they cast me out,and you’ll hate me for it, you’ll probably scream at me to get outthe car, but I’m going to say it anyway. I fell in love with RomeoKnight in that farmhouse.”

“He was a serial killer.”

“But he was also Romeo, and I fell in lovewith him. He burst the numb bubble I’d built around myself. Helistened to me. He was there for me. And maybe if I’d have beenstronger, it wouldn’t have happened, but it did.”

James leaned away from him, pressing intothe door of the car, he twisted his body to face Chad, and lookedat him,really looked, then he laughed, a rumbly mockinglaugh that lifted the hair at Chad’s nape.

“Seriously?” James sneered.

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