Page 113 of Four for a Boy

“I think that’s what they were trying to do, early morning, it would’ve been cold,” Chad rounded the corner and smiled. “I’ve found the freezers, Ally.”

“Right … now turn around and go back the way you’ve come.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve been suspended, Chad! You’re not supposed to be working on this case, remember?”

“But—”

“I’ll relay what you’ve told me to the DI, and we’ll be over there to secure the freezers as soon as we can, but you need to get out of there. Go home.”

Chad looked at the freezers set up in neat lines to be processed, gleaming white in the low light, encouraging him to come closer. “I could have a quick—”

“No, Chad.”

“I’ve just marched through god knows what—”

“No.”

“Okay,” he sighed. “I’m backing off.”

“Good … and good work.”

Ally ended the call, leaving Chad alone with the seagulls. He batted them away as he escaped the heap and waved goodbye to Keith on top of one of the piles.

****

Romeo held his hand out in a clear stop sign. “You are not coming in here like that.”

Chad looked down at himself, but didn’t feel the disgust he should’ve, only exhaustion, and a small buzz of triumph.

Ally had messaged to say they’d found something.

Not just the old freezers, but an item of clothing.

Chad fluttered his eyelashes at Romeo and pouted.

“It’s not that bad.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“You said you’ll always love me.”

Romeo snorted. “I do, and I will.”

“And you said you’ll always want me.”

“Within reason. Where the hell have you been? I was getting worried.”

“The recycling center.”

“Why?”

“I found out where the killer was getting the chloroform from. The old freezers that had been ripped out Clarksons. I had to make sure they were still there.”

“And I’m assuming from that small smile and the awful stench coming off you, you found them?”

“I don’t smell that bad.” Chad tucked his nose towards his armpit and shuddered. “Well, nothing that a shower can’t fix.”

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