Page 89 of Five for Silver

“Don’t do that,” Chad said, grabbing Romeo’swrist. “Look, she knows I went to see Candice. She knows I wasasking questions, looking for a motive, and opportunity.”

“You found both and she’s lashed out.Doesn’t that tell you what you need to know?”

“No,” Chad sagged against the sink, “itdoesn’t, and this,” he poked his tongue into his cheek, “it’s justan occupational hazard.”

“It’s happened before?”

Chad shrugged. “Usually Josh is there tointercept.”

Romeo bristled. His thumb on Chad’s cheekpressed harder as he stroked.

“She might not be guilty of her sister’smurder, but she is guilty of hitting you, and that’s enough to puther in our field.”

Chad pressed his hand over Romeo’s onecupping his face. He brushed his thumb back and forth over Romeo’shand until the painful grip softened. Romeo eased out a breath,dropping his shoulders. The tension coiling around Romeo lost itshold bit by bit.

He stroked Chad’s face as his breathingslowed.

“You told me Lucy was on edge, but youdidn’t tell me she was that volatile.”

“Her and James both,” Chad said. “Somethingtells me we’re not going to be on each other’s Christmas listsafter this.”

“No, but Lucy has put herself onmylist.”

Chad rolled his eyes. “Is she before orafter Dean?”

Romeo looked up to the ceiling as if he wasconsidering. “After Dean, but before Arnold Fritz.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Hey!”

Josh held an extra-large pizza box in hishands. A carrier bag hung off his arm, swinging a bottle of whatlooked like cola. The porch light shone on his face, reflecting offthe outline of his blond hair. It almost looked like a halo aroundhim, faintly glowing as he beamed at Chad.

“Yeah, I know, turning up unannounced is abit of a dick move, but I’ve missed your face.”

The cameras had alerted Chad to Josh’simpromptu visit, and he’d had just enough time to usher a grumblingRomeo upstairs.

Josh looked over Chad’s shoulder. His eyeswidened. “Or is this a bad time?”

Chad tried to resist the urge to turn tolook for the source, but in the end, he had to. Romeo’s grim-reapercoat hung off the banister.

“Oh. Frank’s here—”

“Great,” Josh smiled. “I gotextra-large.”

“But he’s sleeping.”

“Wake the fucker up.”

Chad cringed. “Not a good idea. He’s grumpyas hell if he doesn’t get his sleep. He works all kinds of crazyhours and has to travel a lot.”

“What does he do again?”

“Do?”

“Other than you,” Josh winked, then shookhis head. “No, seriously, what’s his job?”

“He’s in the hotel management trade.” Chadwaved a dismissive hand. “It’s not that interesting.”

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