Page 40 of Five for Silver

“Yes,” James agreed, nodding. “She was.”

“They were all beautiful. That’s why I chosethem.”

Lucy sobbed. James turned to her, pushingout his chest. “Cut it out, will you!”

His neck strained with the shout. Lucyturned away from him.

Lynn waiting in the doorway rushed over andpulled Lucy into a hug. James shook his head, and muttered,“unbelievable” under his breath.

Chad watched as Lynn switched betweenchastising James with evil glares and comforting Lucy withsympathetic eyes.

His breath caught. He could feel Vincentlooking at him.

“The drugs they’ve got me on. They make itharder for me to remember, sometimes my memories are so vague, soout focus, that I begin to wonder…”

“Wonder what?” Chad asked.

“Whether they’re real at all. But otherthings, I do remember, with crystal clarity.”

“Like what?” James asked.

“Like broken promises.”

Chad’s heart began to thump.

Lucy’s chair scraped against the floor asshe got to her feet to leave. James protested loudly, going fromangry to pleading in a second, but Chad ignored both in favor ofVincent. He tried to read the message in his eye. The warning.

Because there was one, a promise ofsomething.

Vincent looked away, severing theirconnection.

“Sorry, officers, Lucinda, butthat’s all I’m up for right now.I need to rest.”

He fumbled with something beneath hisblanket, then the door at his back opened and a nurse came into theroom. She didn’t look anyone in the eye as she whisked Vincentaway.

Chad caught the smile on Vincent’s lip as heturned from them.

A devil’s smile.

Chapter Seven

James ground his teeth together, insistinghe and Chad wait for another ten minutes. Lucy had left with Lynn’sarm around her shoulders, sobbing softly into her hands.

“We can’t go outside yet,” James muttered.“If we go out now everyone will assume we got nothing.”

“We did get nothing.”

James had been too busy unleashing hisfrustrations on Lucy to notice Vincent’s focus change to laserintensity, zeroing in on Chad.

“What the hell was he on about? Brokenpromises?”

Chad bit his tongue.

The door opened on a red cheeked Lynn. Sheglowered at James. “I hope you’re happy with yourself. That womanis in bits.”

“You don’t know anything aboutthatwoman.”

“Vincent isn’t coming back any time soon,”Lynn pinned the door open with her foot. “There’s no reason for youto stay.”

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