Page 114 of Five for Silver

Chad didn’t look down at Lucy, but hewatched Josh’s face as he did, it twisted with a grimace, then hewas back to looking at Chad with big blue eyes.

“You did what you had to,” Josh said. Henodded, until Chad copied him. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay.”

Josh glanced at Lucy again. “She was goingto kill you, right?”

“Right.”

“It was her or you, and you chose you.”

You should’ve chosen her.

A shrill sound escaped Chad’s throat.

Josh started walking towards him, arm out athis side like a barrier. “She killed James. She came here to killyou, too. She would’ve killed you.”

Chad frowned when he realized he waswalking. His feet were moving, and Josh’s arm was at his back, nottouching, but there to guide Chad away from Lucy, from the flashingpolice cars, and all the officers milling about, taking in thescene.

Lucy would’ve killed them. She’d tried tokill them, but she hadn’t and from the moment she struggled tore-load the gun, Chad was culpable for her death. He could’vestopped her, detained her, but it wouldn’t have been enough toprotect him and Romeo.

“James,” he managed to croak.

Josh stopped, and Chad did, too. They werefar enough around the house Chad could no longer see Lucy, and thescene being cordoned off.

“We got a call from his neighbor. She toldofficers she’d heard arguing, a woman with James, but she hadn’tgone out to look who, not until she heard the shot. She didn’t seeLucy, but she managed to capture her numberplate. I tried to callyou.”

“I know.”

“I ended up calling Ally when I couldn’t getthrough … don’t be mad, I know you and her aren’t—”

“We’re fine,” Chad said dismissively. “Wesorted things.”

“Thank God because she should be here soon.She called me back, said you’d told her Lucy was at your house,then she said she heard a gunshot…” Josh shook his head. “Fuckinghell, Chad.”

“Lucy shot the window in the front door. Idropped the phone.”

Josh made a move like he was about to hugChad, but hesitated, and instead pincer gripped Chad’s shoulderwith his thumb and forefinger. “I really want to hug you, but…”

“The blood,” Chad finished. “We can’t riskany contamination for the case.”

“Case? What are you on about? It wasself-defense.” Josh spun around to face the back door. “Shit,Merc?”

“He’s okay. He’s inside.”

Josh stepped away. He used the hem of hisshirt to open the backdoor.

“What are you doing?” Chad asked.

“Merc!” Josh called out, and sure enough,the slow patter of feet on the stone kitchen floor followed. Mercstuck his head out the door. He was still shivering. Josh croucheddown. “There you are bud,” Josh said. “I would pat you, but—yaknow.”

“Blood,” Chad finished. “So much blood.”

Josh looked up at him. “I think we need tofind you somewhere to sit, you’re in shock.”

“I’m fine—

“Chad!” Josh gasped. He widened his eyes atMerc’s side. Blood had stained his fur. “Did she hurt him?”

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