Page 126 of Five for Silver

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Chad didn’t sleep. Ally had retreated to her bedroomat midnight after complaining of a sore throat, leaving Chad andJosh in her living room. She’d told them several times there werespare beds made upstairs for them, but they didn’t leave thecomfort of the sofas, and the flickering gas fire.

Before she left, she pressed a note into Chad’s palmwith a number for Doctor Blake. He opened his mouth to protest, butone firm look and he backed down and slipped the phone number intoJosh’s hoodie.

Despite the threatening notices on the door warningaway cold callers with the promise of a vicious dog, Ally’s househad a homely feel. The sofas were deep and squidgy with blanketslayered on them. Tall lamps in each corner gave the room a gentleglow, soothing Chad’s irritated eyes. His headache remained,though, throbbing as he watched the flickering fire Ally had lefton.

Josh had sprawled over the adjacent sofa, burrowinginto an array of faux fur blankets. Merc lay on top of him,dribbling onto Josh’s chest. They breathed in time with each other,except Josh had more of a wheeze to his breaths and Merc a softgrowl.

Chad didn’t sleep.

He couldn’t.

For hours he lay staring at the fire until the sunstarted to rise and he couldn’t take waiting anymore.

Chad sat up, waking Merc from his slumber.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, as he crept into Ally’shallway.

There were pictures of Ally and her husband’swedding day on the walls. She’d worn a black wedding dress, andhe’d worn a white suit. They both had huge smiles.

Chad whispered into the phone as he called himself ataxi. He knew Ally would have something to say about him sneakingoff in the early hours, but he couldn’t wait any longer.

The need to text Romeo had almost been too much, butChad didn’t want to risk him being discovered. Even on silent, hehad visions of Romeo fumbling with his phone, dropping it on thefloor, and being found upstairs by a suspicious officer.

The taxi ride passed in a blur, and Chad paid withhis phone, then stepped out onto the dirt road. A police car waswaiting. He greeted the officers, and they shot him grim smilesback. They pitied him. They pitied what had happened. It wouldn’tlast, though. As soon as the internal investigation into what wentwrong started, they’d hate him. They’d all hate him.

“Is everything…” He gestured to the house. Hecouldn’t say any more.

The officer in the driver’s seat nodded. He sat upfrom his reclined position, and from the lack of focus in his gaze,messy hair, and the yawn he’d smothered with the back of his hand,Chad knew he’d been asleep.

“Yes,” he smiled weakly. “The crime scene cleanerwill be along later.”

“Am I allowed back in the house?”

The officer nodded. “It’s as you left it. We’regoing to stay out here a few hours, keep the press from trespassingon your property. There’s been some drones flying overhead, justthought I’d warn you.”

Chad glanced at the sky. “Thanks.”

He walked on, not too quick, not too slow. No doubtthe officers were watching him in their rear-view mirror. Chaddidn’t want to give anything away.

Blue police tape flapped in the wind as heapproached. It had been tied around posts, cordoning off the area,but they had fallen into the mud. Lucy’s truck had been recovered,leaving behind marks on the drive where she’d slammed on thebrakes. The white tent had been taken away. Lucy was gone, butstill, Chad didn’t let his gaze linger onthatside of thehouse.

One of the officers had duct taped carboard on thesmashed window, keeping out the breeze. It was thoughtful, butwhoever it was would curse themselves for showing Chad anycompassion in a few days’ time. Cop killers were considered theworst of the worst, and although Chad hadn’t pulled the trigger,he’d pushed Lucy in James’s direction.

He eased the door open, slowly stepping inside. Thelights were all off. They had to be to avoid suspicion. Chadflicked the hall light on. He didn’t speak Romeo’s name as heclimbed the stairs. Chad didn’t know why he was tiptoeing, or whyhis heart was in his throat.

He got to his and Romeo’s bedroom door. It was shut.Chad hesitated before whispering against it, “It’s me.”

He opened the door, and reached to switch on thelight. Romeo was on the bed, white t-shirt flecked with driedblood. Chad’s eyes snapped to the bandage around his arm, crispwhite, no blood seeped through.

The relief almost floored him.

“Romeo?” Chad stepped into the room. “Your arm.”

He wanted to rush to him, take his arm in his handsand inspect the damage, but something wasoff.

Romeo didn’t raise his head. “It’s fine. A fewscratches.”

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