Page 76 of Five for Silver

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Magpies.

Chad hated them, but they made it impossiblenot to look, clucking and cawing down at their car from the trees.When Chad looked out the side mirror he spotted Lucy’s truck, andher anxious face peeking above the steering wheel.

Melbourn Spring was somewhat of a beautyspot, set back in the trees, a pool of clear water, so clear condomwrappers could be seen on the stones at the bottom. Vincent hadonly made it to the edge of the spring with Pauline’s help. He’dslid down his nose canula and taken a deep breath of fresh air. Theabsolute wonder on his face as he gazed around made Chad feel likehe encroached on aprivatemoment.

The look didn’t last, though, Vincent hadslumped, and hastily shoved the tube back under his nose beforePauline helped him back to the car. Lucy hadn’t left her truck.Chad and James followed Vincent, and then sat in silence whilePauline dosed Vincent up on more morphine on the back seat.

“I remember driving along here.” Vincentpointed out the windscreen, and James started the engine.

“Here?” James pressed.

His voice had softened since Vincent hadstarted torememberthings. Chad zoned them out, and letJames and Vincent talk back and forth without comment. He picked upon a few bits, like Vincent remembering Harriet leaning against thehuge oak tree beside the road. How she’d been reluctant at first,but he charmed her, told her he was the swimming coach for StMary’s, and it wasn’t safe for young women to be walking around ontheir own. He’d killed her, and drove her back to his house whichhad been long ago knocked down, and a developer bought the land forcheap, and built an office block on top.

Conveniently, when it got to what happenednext—what he did with her body— Vincent grew tired and asked to bedriven back to Wiltknot.

James didn’t kick off like Chad expected. Henodded, fully pulled back in by Vincent and his cooperation duringthe drive. Silver tongued. Chad didn’t know who’d first used theterm for Vincent, but it had stuck for a reason.

“What the hell?” James mumbled, slowing thecar to a stop. The ones in front of them were awkwardly reversing,turning around, and driving off. Chad could spy the bridge in thedistance, a car askew between the flashing police lights.

“Road’s closed.” Chad said, spotting thesign propped up, and the police officer beside it in hi-vis,circling his finger in a gesture for everyone to turn around.

James ignored the gesture and drove up tohim. “We need to get through.”

“No. You need to turn around and find analternate route.”

James gritted his teeth, reaching into theside of his door, he pulled out his ID and showed it to theofficer. “This is the most direct route to Wiltknot. We need to getthrough,” James waved a flippant hand, “we’ll drive on the hardshoulder if we need to while you clear the road.”

The officer paled. He glanced back. “I’msorry, sir, but that won’t be possible.”

Chad flung open his door, and got out. Hefrowned at the police cars in the distance, their blue lightsstrobed in the darkness.

“What’s happened?” Chad asked.

“Someone … jumped.”

Chad looked back up the road to the bluelights flashing against the bridge.

“My sergeant told me to close the road whilewe wait for the ambulance.”

“Ambulance?” Pauline gasped. She tried herhandle, only to curse at the locks James had on in the back beforeclambering onto Chad’s seat and leaving the car that way.

“I’m a nurse.”

The officer nodded. “I don’t think there’smuch you can do—”

Pauline took off down the road with hershoulder bag swinging.

“I’m going to check it out,” James said,unbuckling himself. “You stay here with Vincent.”

“I’d prefer if—”

“I’m your superior, Chad. Get back in thecar.”

Chad slumped, dropping back into his seat.He closed his door, then winced when James slammed his shut. Jamesdidn’t take off in a sprint like Pauline had, he strolled closer tothe flashing blues like he was enjoying a casual walk.

“Alone again at last.”

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