Page 96 of Five for Silver

Josh nodded. “It was involved in a serioustraffic collision and was used in the enquiry. The driver, ChloeEllis, died. She was hit by a drunk driver, spun off the road andcollided into a tree. The car still worked, but her parents wantedit to be destroyed, and that’s the last anyone heard of it, untilAngel recognized the dent, the make, the model. She found out whereit went to be scrapped, and me and her visited the site, putpressure on the owner until he told us he sold the car to someonefor far more money than the vehicle was worth.”

Chad fidgeted, Josh’s eyes were so brightand excited it made them impossible to look at, so Chad ran hisgaze back and forth over the folders instead.

“The owner said he doesn’t remember muchabout the guy who bought it, said he paid in cash, wore a blackbeanie hat, and a black scarf that obscured half his face. Said hewas shorter than me, slimmer, too,” Josh sighed. “He thinks he hadbrown eyes, but can’t be sure. Then I showed him a picture of DrCarter, asked if it was him, and he was adamant he wasn’t the guy Iwas looking for. This is someonenew.”

“You didn’t tell me,” Chad’s voice came outstrangled. He tried again. “You didn’t tell me about this … aboutwhat you’d been doing. I could’ve … I could’ve helped.”

“I know you would have, but I wanted to besure I was on to something. I didn’t want to mess up and beembarrassed, especially in front of you.”

“Josh—”

“I want to impress you, that’s all,” hefrowned, then laughed, “but not in a gay way. I want you to take meseriously. You are taking me seriously, right?”

So much hope shone in Josh’s eyes, Chadcouldn’t bear to crush it.

“Yes,” Chad nodded. “I’m taking this reallyseriously.”

“Phew,” Josh wiped the back of his handacross his brow.

“What … is your theory? What do you thinkthis is?”

“Murder,” Josh smiled. “I think this ismurder.”

“Murder?”

“Yeah. Dr Carter, Graham, Julius, Ellie.They’ve vanished. No one had seen them. They didn’t pack anythingup, they haven’t withdrawn any money. They’ve gone, and I’ll bet mylife on this driver in the black car being involved. He’s ourkiller.”

“Our?”

“Yeah,” Josh leaned forward to punch Chadlightly on the shoulder. “You’re part of this now. You, me, andAngel, you’re my dream team. I need you to back me up when I takethis to the DI.”

Chad lowered his head. “What’s the killer’smotive?”

“Haven’t worked that out yet, but whoever itis must be the same person spotted in the days preceding thedisappearance. These aren’t spontaneous, they’re targeted. We’vejust got to work out what criteria these victims fit in to, but fornow, Angel’s alerted the traffic cops to the dodgy plate. If ourkiller is driving around, they’ll find him sooner or later.”

“You and Angel are quite the team.”

Josh blushed. “Yeah, we get on pretty good.She’s been amazing.”

“She likes you.”

“Focus, Chad.” Josh snorted. “We’re talkingserial killers, not our love lives. I’m going to present all thisto the DI and the chief tomorrow, and then, fingers crossed,they’ll let me lead this investigation and not pass it on tosomeone else. So … what do you think?”

“What do I think?”

Josh ran his teeth over his bottom lip. “DidI do good?” He leaned forward, waiting.

Josh was the light to the dark. A big blondhaired, blue eyed man whose warmth Chad needed to feel human.

As he waited for Chad’s verdict, his smiledimmed, his eyes lost their hero worship shine, and he clutched onehand over the other.

“This is,” Chad waved a hand at all thefolders, all the damning evidence laid out in front of him. “It’sgreat, Josh. You’ve done amazing.”

“Really? Because you kinda look like you’reabout to be sick.”

“That’s the pizza,” Chad said. He looked upat Josh. “This is… I’m proud of you, Josh.”

Josh tipped back on his feet as if the wordshad completely overwhelmed him. Then he smiled, the biggest,brightest smile Chad had ever seen, before launching at Chad on thesofa. Merc yipped and clambered off as Josh squeezed Chad in ahug.

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