Page 62 of Five for Silver

Lynn and the nurse helped Vincent into thecar before securing his lap belt. Lynn shot Chad a small smilebefore backing away, but the nurse rushed around the car and pulledon the passenger handle.

“What are you doing?” James asked.

Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m coming withyou.”

She got inside the car still glowering. Chadshared a look with James, but neither of them commented on theiradded passenger.

“Ready?” James asked, clutching thekeys.

Chad looked over to one of the escort cars.Lucy was already sitting inside one, but she didn’t look up at him.She stared down into the footwell.

“As I’ll ever be.”

James nodded, climbing inside, and Chadjoined him. He unhooked the GPS and tapped in Little Wren, Lucy andHarriet’s village in the county of Bardhum. Their farm was on theoutskirts, but they had to start somewhere, and James hoped drivingpast the landmarks that still remained, like the church, would helpjog Vincent’s memory.

“What do we call you?” James asked.

The nurse peeked her head from around Chad’schair, nostrils flaring. “Pauline.”

Chad had only caught fleeting glances ofPauline when she whisked Vincent away. She’d scraped her black hairback into a tall ponytail that swished as she shook her head. Fromthe angry creases and barely blinking stares, Chad got theimpression she wasn’t supportive of the situation.

“What’s in the bag?” James asked, craninghis neck back to look by her feet.

“Medical supplies.”

“Like?”

“Morphine. Cannulas. Tape. Cotton wool.Water. Sponges. A blood pressure monitor.”

James nodded. “We need you to keep him alivefor as long as possible.”

“I have been keeping him alive,” shesnapped.

“We’re all set,” Chad said, pressing starton the GPS.

James had insisted he knew the way, and theroads in Little Wren, but Chad argued the voice from the GPSspeaking the road names might trigger a memory from Vincent.

In reality, Chad just wanted free of thepressing silence that came with Vincent.

As soon as they left Wiltknot, they weresurrounded, not just by the escort, but the press, too. Their carsand vans followed them, weaving between the flashing blue policecars around James’s black sedan.

“Christ!” James yelled, slamming his foot onthe brake. Chad winced as he was thrown forward into his seatbelt.“Do they have a death wish?”

Chad rubbed his chest and turned to the backseat to find Pauline bracing her arm against Vincent’s chest. “Thisis madness.” She shook her head. “We should turn back.”

“We’re barely three hundred meters fromWiltknot,” James replied. “I’m not turning back.”

James’s way of dealing with a dangerousvehicle situation was to put his foot down and risk killing themall.

Chad clutched the seat to cling on andgritted his teeth as they took a sharp corner. He wasn’t the onlyone hanging on for life. Pauline covered Vincent with her body,clinging to the headrest of his seat.

“James, slow down,” Chad hissed.

“It’s DI Poole to you.” The car lurched,increasing speed. “And don’t tell me how to drive. I was drivingbefore you were born.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re a betterdriver.”

Chad saw his phone light up through thefabric of his pants. He released one hand from the seat to tug itfrom his pocket.

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