Page 17 of Five for Silver

Josh jogged up the stairs then waited forChad at the top. He pulled the sleeve of his jacket down to revealhis watch. “And what time do you call this, Detective Fuller?”

“You’re an idiot.” Chad said, before beatingJosh to the doors.

“There better be some doughnuts left,” Joshmumbled as Chad pushed inside.

Faye looked over from her desk. “And?”

“Shot through the heart, Bon Jovi,” Joshreplied. “Classic song, hey, Ally?”

Ally didn’t reply, unlike Faye who’d turnedto them when they’d come inside, Ally perched on her desk, and kepther full attention fixed on the DI’s office. The blinds were down,and the door was closed.

“Hey, boss,” Chad flapped the file from Daveat her. “Stab wound to the heart before—”

“Just put it here,” she patted the desk.

Chad obediently dropped the file.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, watchingthe DI’s office.

“You going to tell me what’s wrong?”

Faye answered, “The DI went in there withsome elderly man a few minutes ago.”

“Would you say about Ally’s age?” Joshasked. “Eighty?”

He dived on his chair and ducked behind hislaptop, but Ally didn’t whirl on him.

“I will remember you said that,” she warned.“The guy that went in there isJames Poole.”

Chad winced before admitting through histeeth. “Never heard of him.”

“Detective. Retired detective.”

“Friend of the DI’s?”

“No.” Ally stroked her fingers over hercreased brow. “He’s no friend.”

The blinds opened, and Chad caught his firstglimpse of James Poole. White-haired, tall, wrinkled, andenthusiastically shaking the DI’s hand. He was old, and age hadcurved his spine forward. His smile stretched his lips, but the DIdidn’t match it. The DI’s smile didn’t have the same reach, or lastas long and it became clear while James was ecstatic aboutsomething, the DI wasn’t.

The DI opened the door, not meeting any oftheir eyes. “Chad, can you come in—”

“Detective Chad Fuller,” James said,strolling forward with his arm extended. Chad found his handencased in James’s as he clung on, still grinning. Up close, Chadnoticed the finer details, like the knot of James’s tie beingslightly askew, the crumbs on his shirt, and the strong coffeebreath.

“It’s so good to meet you,” James said,releasing his hold on Chad’s hand.

Chad glanced at the DI, but he continued torefuse him eye contact. “Nice to meet you, too.”

James flattened a hand down his tie. “I’mDetective Inspector James Poole, but you can call me James if I cancall you Chad.”

“Ex detective,” Ally smiled sweetly, but itdidn’t reach her eyes. “You retired. Almost a decade ago.”

“I’ve come out of retirement. And youare?”

Ally narrowed her eyes. “Detective SergeantAlly Coulson.”

“Sergeant … you never went forinspector?”

“No. I didn’t. Forgive me for my bluntness,but why are you here?”

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