Page 85 of Five for Silver

“Finally?”

“She was reluctant. I don’t know why.”

His heart skipped a beat at Tate’s name.He’d visited Vincent once a week for a year at the same time on thesame day. Saturday. 2:00.

“What is it?” Romeo asked.

“Nothing,” Chad shook his head. He scrolleddown, picking out Eileen Hastings’ name, but not her daughter Lucy.Lucy had never visited him at Wiltknot before, but James had on andoff over the years, along with a two other names, Sara Drinkwaterand Adam Bell.

“There’s a few names we’ll need toresearch.”

He kept scrolling, until he got to a namethat sped up his heart.

“Chad?”

“Alexandra Coulson.” Chad said, showing hisphone to Romeo. “Ally has visited him before.”

“December 11th.” Romeo whispered.“Was it just the one visit?”

Chad frowned, brushing his finger over thescreen. He scrolled back onto the previous year, passed Tate’sfirst visit, and stopped again at Alexandra Coulson.

“December 11th.” Romeo repeated.Chad swiped faster, going through the year before until he foundher visit again.

The same day.

The same time.

December 11th. 1:00 PM.

Chad tapped off the screen, about to callher, but stopped himself. He placed the phone back down on thetable and stared at it.

“Chad?” Romeo pressed.

“Ally knows this place. She knows Bardhum.She used to go to Clarksons supermarket, she told me Jeffery Adams’art shop has been here forever.” Chad wetted his drying lips. “Shenever talks about her childhood, it’s a complete no-go area, andshe didn’t want me to visit Vincent in Wiltknot— she didn’t want melooking into the murders at all…”

He turned to Romeo. Romeo studied him withhis head tilted.

“What if…” Chad whispered.

“If?”

“The DI was reluctant to hand over Vincent’sfiles. He said there was some he couldn’t give me. Ally said shecouldn’t be around me, until after this thing with Vincent wasover. Every year. The same date.”

“The date he got caught—”

“The date his victim escaped.”

Romeo rubbed his chin. “She would’ve beenthe right age and she is very protective of you,” he continuedsoftly. “Almost as if she sees herself in you, a kindred spirit whocarries a similar burden.”

“I think… I think I need a drink.”

“We don’t know anything for certain.”

Chad bit his lip. “I get it now. I getit.”

“Get what?”

“The look in her eyes. She sees herself inme. A survivor. Why didn’t she tell me?”

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