Page 69 of Five for Silver

Chad studied the huge black and white rosetattoo, then Candice tutted. “Feelit.”

He hesitated before brushing his fingersover her skin. He stopped at the indents, outlining the star withhis fingertip. It reminded him of his own scars, cut into his skin.Forever a reminder no matter what he did.

“My parents were livid,” Candice smirked.“Harriet’s parents would’ve been, too, but she was clever enough toget it out of sight, me being a rebellious idiot decided on themiddle of my forearm. They grounded me for months, and demanded toknow who did it.”

“Who did?”

“Gavin. My parents would’ve strung him up ifthey had found out.”

“Lucy knew it was Gavin that did Harriet’stattoo?”

Candice nodded. “That’s the only reason Ithink she didn’t tell on Harriet. She knew their dad would trackGavin down and knock him out. She was smitten, even when he wasdating her sister, but that’s young love for you, isn’t it? Itmakes you crazy.”

“What was Harriet and Lucy’s relationshiplike before she disappeared?”

“Before Vincent Whitehall murdered her youmean? It was strained. Lucy blamed Harriet for Gavin leaving,”Candice rubbed her brow. “Forgive me, but what does any of thishave to do with what’s happening now?”

Chad swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’mjust trying to establish the events that led to Harriet’sdisappearance.”

“Events?”

“Yes, Harriet’s mental wellbeing at thetime.”

“Why does it matter? Vincent abducted andmurdered her. The last person to see her alive was James Poole.Whatever … rivalry or rows Harriet and Lucy had were trivial. Theyloved each other. Lucy loved Harriet, and the lunchtime when shewas announced missing, we got in the truck and drove around lookingfor her.”

“Wait … you were with Lucy that morning? Atthe farm?”

Candice nodded. “No. We were at my house.She stayed at mine that night.”

Chad’s temples throbbed. “That’s not whatthe official reports say.”

“What?”

“They say Lucy was at home that night withher dad.”

Candice looked away. She tapped her nailsagainst the table. “Perhaps I’m mistaken. Maybe she was at mine thenight before. Yeah, it was—”

“Don’t take me for an idiot. Lucy was atyours the night Harriet went missing, wasn’t she?”

Candice blew out a harsh breath. “She stoleher parent’s truck to come over. Not for the first time.”

“There’s no mention of that in the reports.Her own father said she was at home.”

“She was driving without a license. Her daddidn’t want the police to get involved. It was his business, and hedidn’t trust them.” Candice clutched her hair. “I’ll ask again,what does any of this have to do with what’s happening now?”

“I’m establishing what happened thatnight—

“You’re tearing open old wounds. VincentWhitehall kidnapped and killed Harriet, so why are you pickingapart their relationship? They were teenage girls. I’ve had teenagegirls, and they argue, and fight, but they’re there for each otherwhen they’re needed. Harriet and Lucy were the same. Lucy was upsetover Gavin, but she knew James was a creep, she knew he wasdangerous and tried to get Harriet to get on the bus with us thatafternoon, but Harriet went with him.”

Chad pushed his glass forward an inch morebefore getting to his feet. “Thank you for your time.”

****

“The tattoo checks out?” Romeo mumbled,rubbing his chin. He studied Chad’s whiteboard intently and readthrough all Chad’s scribbled notes he’d plucked from Harriet’s fileand Candice’s memory.

“Uh huh, dolphin tattoo checks out.”

“Why a dolphin?” Romeo asked.

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