Page 33 of Four for a Boy

Knight.

Chad squeezed his eyes shut. Romeo Knight. That wasn’t just a name. They weren’t just letters in an order that read together made sounds.

The killer had tagged his victims with a specific person.

Two victims killed the same way.

The same rash on their hands.

No struggle.

Ally stepped up beside him and squeezed his shoulder. “Come on…”

“Why?”

“There’s no point staying down here.”

“No. I meant why Romeo Knight?”

“That’s what we’ve got to find out.” Ally released his shoulder. “And we’re not going to do it staring at dead Dave.”

Chad went with her, somewhatnumb as he ascended the stairs to get to the incident room. Ally stepped in front of him, and said one word to the others. “Knight.”

The DI hissed something under his breath, Faye slumped in her chair, but Josh shot out of his and approached.

“Knight. You know. Castles. Dragons. It might have nothing to do with your Romeo,” His mouth dropped open, and he stuttered, “I didn’t… I didn’t meanyourRomeo. Fuck. I’m sorry.”

Chad raised his hand. “It’s okay.”

He looked over Josh’s shoulder to the board at the front. Justin Fen was joined by another man, Damian Hunt. His photograph didn’t come from The Desperado, although it was the last place he’d been seen alive, marching out the front door, lighting up a cigarette and turning to the left.

Chad had watched the footage over and over, noticing the different expressions on the men’s faces.

Justin had been smiling.

Damian had looked furious.

They’d died ten days apart.

“Brown hair. Brown eyes,” Ally remarked. “Similar build. Both young, Justin twenty-eight, Damian thirty-five.”

The DI looked at her. “You think this killer has a type.”

“Seems that way, and he wrote Romeo Knight on their chests…”

“You have a theory?”

Ally gestured wildly to the board at the front. “Not a theory, but an inkling… Can no one else see it?”

“See what?” Josh asked.

“Brown hair. Brown eyes. Similar build. Young.” Everyone stared at her. Ally sighed. “Chad matches the description.”

Chad stepped in front of her. “What?”

“They look similar to you. I think the killer’s targeting men that look like you, maybe in honor of Romeo Knight. Maybe the killer watched that documentary and has become a fan.”

The DI sighed. “That would mean Chad’s in danger.”

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