Page 48 of Five for Silver

Keeley flashed enough fleeting glances atthe mugs to make the coffees, but most of her attention lingered onChad. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He nodded, earning him another cautioussmile from Keeley. Chad waited for her to prompt him.

“What did she say?”

“She said I’m going to die at the hands of aserial killer, it’s just a question of which one.”

Keeley’s eyes widened.

Chad nodded. “And … I know it’s crazy, butsomething inside me thinks the same. And it doesn’t have to be theyphysically do it, what if one drives me over the edge.”

The mug shook as Keeley held it out to him.Chad took it and rested it on his knee.

“I’m going to ask you something now, Chad,and I need you to be honest with me.”

He nodded, tracking her as she stepped overMerc and sat back at her desk.

“Have you been having any suicidalthoughts?”

“No.”

“Chad.” Keeley’s voice wasunyielding.“I need to know—”

“I swear I haven’t, and I’m not just sayingthat because you’ll report it back to my DI if I have. I’ve notbeen thinking about hurting myself. It’s just … a lot of peopledon’t survive their addictions, do they?”

Keeley sighed. “Not if they don’t have theright help, and the drive to change.”

He lowered his head, and concentrated on hiscoffee, ignoring Keeley’s concerned gaze. She studied him, pickingup information about his current state, the tremors in his hands,and his bouncing knee. He failed at hiding them, but she didn’tcomment and picked up her coffee mug with a sigh.

They drank listening to the rumbling ofthunder, the soundtrack of a distant, yet unavoidable storm.

****

A frown and a smile fought for dominance ofChad’s face. He stared down at Merc, wondering how the hell he’deaten all of the rawhide bone. The treat had been huge, but Merchad demolished it in the blink of an eye.

“You better not get indigestion.”

Merc panted, drawn to any dog they passed asthey searched for Josh in the park. Despite it being lateafternoon, the sky was bright, bright enough Chad’s eyes stung ashe crossed the football field. After unloading about his situationwith Ally, he felt lighter, more content somehow.

When Chad spotted Josh, he laughed. Helaughed loud enough that Merc stopped walking to look at him,puzzled.

“I see him.”

Merc stared up at him, oblivious. Hisclueless expression had Chad snorting.

Josh sat on a bench with a pizza box on hislap and a carrier bag rustling in the wind by his ankle. Tied tothe top bench slats was a group of black and grey helium balloons.The biggest, shiniest one, that dazzled Chad as he approached hadthe printed words, ‘It’s a boy’.

“Are you serious?” Chad asked, stopping infront of him.

“Well, he’s a boy, isn’t he?” Josh askedbefore sliding the pizza onto the bench and kneeling on the coldcement. Merc was all over Josh in a heartbeat, licking his face,and attempting to climb into his lap. Josh changed position fromkneeling to sitting crossed legged so Merc could clamber onto him,kissing Josh’s chin.

Chad sat down on the bench. “I don’t evenget that reaction.”

“That’s because you’re always so moody,”Josh said in a baby voice. “Moody, grumpy asshole Chad.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Hurts because it’s true.” Josh flashed hima smile. “I miss your face.”

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