Page 64 of Five for Silver

“On the north.”

Vincent hummed. “Do you know who they buriedthere?”

James shook his head. Chad’s insides filledwith dread. The edges of Vincent’s mouth lifted into a smile as hebore a hole in the back of James’s seat.

“Criminals, suicides, and unbaptizedinfants.”

Chad darted a look at James. The remainingcolor leeched from his face.

“So if I can’t remember where Harriet is, ifI can’t admit my sins, I’ll end up in the same place as her. Isn’tthat a nice thought?”

James restarted the engine, and put the carin gear. No one moved for them, so he blasted the horn and revvedthe engine.

“I can give her a hug from you if you’dlike…”

“You’re an animal.” James growled. Hereversed, colliding with the police car behind them. Thejournalists who hastily set up cameras got the message and began topack their equipment away for the next location.

“I’m tired. I’d like to go back toWiltknot.”

“Like hell,” James snapped. “I’m going todrive you around, and you’re going to remember taking Harriet, andyou’re going to tell us what you did to her and where the hell wecan find her.”

James pulled out, scratching the side of hiscar against another in his haste to get away. He put his foot down,speeding away from the church. He flicked the lights for hisunmarked car, and their droning siren filled the air. It parted thecars in front of them, but when they drove up to an ambulance doingthe same, James cursed and punched the steering wheel.

“Calm down,” Chad told him. “We’re not goingto find Harriet if we spin off the road.”

“We need to go back to Wiltknot.” Paulinesaid firmly. “Vincent has asked—”

“He’s a criminal.” James snarled. “Hedoesn’t have human rights. He doesn’t get a choice. He should bemadeto tell us.”

“DI Poole.” Pauline hissed. “Take us back toWiltknot.”

“I’m no longer willing to help your effortstoday, not after that.” Vincent added. “Not unless you say sorryfor your rudeness.”

“Go to hell.”

James’s fists tightened on the wheel.

Chad bit his lip. “James—”

“Don’t fuckingJamesme, Chad.”

Chad glowered. “Take us back to theprison.”

“Fine.” He yanked the steering wheel,pulling them into a sharp U-turn. Chad winced as the force pushedhis head back into the seat.

James dropped his speed, and Chad relaxed afraction, uncurling his aching fingers from the bottom of his seat.Pauline stopped pinning Vincent in place, and Vincent stared outthe window with another blank expression on his face.

Lynn stood waiting for them when theyarrived back at Wiltknot. She helped Pauline get Vincent into awheelchair before pushing him into reception. Chad didn’t move fromthe car. He pulled obsessively at the knee of his pants, thinkingof something to say to James.

“I’m sorry about what Vincent—”

“Don’t,” James snarled. He curled one of hishands into a fist before releasing it. “Don’t even … just get outof my car.”

Chad unclipped his belt, grabbed his fileand left James alone. Lucy jogged over to him. Breathless, sheasked, “Did Vincent say anything?”

“No.”

Lucy gestured to James. “What’s up withhim?”

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