Page 49 of Two for Joy

“Back to the station, you two.” The DI announced. “We’re not gonna get anywhere here.”

Chad looked at him. “But—”

“No buts, get out.”

Chad shot a helpless look at Romeo.

“It’s okay, we’ll catch up next week.”

Chad nodded, then followed Gareth out of the door.

“I’ve tried to make him see sense, but still he visits you.”

“He likes me.”

The DI flared his nostrils. Romeo leaned closer, till his head was almost resting on the barrier. “And I like him.”

“You like having control over someone.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Do you have control over this copycat?”

“Not deliberately, but the very fact they’re a copycat suggests I do.”

“Who have you been speaking to?”

“Mainly myself.”

“Do you know who sent you the feather?”

Romeo thought he did, but he’d been wrong. The copycat had been sending them, but no one knew about the magpie except Chad.

“I don’t know. But I wish them all the luck in the world.”

The DI drew back in his chair. “What?”

“Even though I care for Chad—”

“You don’t care for him, if you did, you’d let him go.”

Romeo snorted. “I still root for my team over his. I’m on the killer’s side, and I hope this new countdown killer triumphs where I failed.”

The DI tore his gaze from Romeo, rewound the folder on his desk, then got to his feet.

“You really are a monster.”

“You say it like an insult, but all I hear is a compliment.”

****

The Copycat had claimed number three, was one away from leveling Romeo’s score. He would’ve been happy, had it not been for the magpie feathers. Someone other than Chad had found out the significance of the magpie, had used it to convince him Chad was sending him messages.

The only people other than Chad that knew about the magpie were his parents, and they were dead. He hadn’t shared that moment with anyone but Chad, which meant Chad must’ve told someone.

Romeo laid in bed, drumming his fingers on his chin. He couldn’t have told his colleagues, and as far as Romeo was aware, his colleagues were his friends, Chad didn’t have anyone else.

“Therapist.” Romeo whispered.

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