Page 57 of Two for Joy

“I don’t care. You touch him again…”

“And you’ll what?”

The DI unwound the string on the file, then slipped something out. He turned the small square over, then held it up to Romeo.

“Is this you?”

He stared at the picture. Him with a terrible haircut, grinning, with a magpie on his hand. He’d shown the picture to Chad in the farmhouse, revealing it to him had made him happy. If Romeo was honest with himself, he would’ve said sharing it with Chad made him happy, too.

“Yes. That’s me.”

The DI let out a slow breath, then slipped it back into the folder.

“The photograph of you and the magpie was found at Chad’s address. Did you send it to him?”

Romeo frowned. “No. The last place I saw the photograph was in the farmhouse. It was by the fire when you all came crashing in.”

“The farmhouse was searched, items of interest were taken, but this photograph wasn’t documented, it wasn’t recorded. Chad took it. Why would he do that?”

“Why not ask him?”

“I’m asking you.”

“Maybe he wanted a memento of our time together.”

Gareth leaned back in his chair. “What’s the significance of the magpie?”

“There is none, it’s just a magpie.”

Gareth and the DI shared a look.

“It wasn’t all we recovered from Chad’s address.”

“Why have you been going through Chad’s things?”

The DI ignored him and carried on. “The front pages of the Canster Times were pinned to his living room wall, and a mattress was on the floor.”

Romeo’s heart pinched, and he swallowed hard. “And?”

“It’s obsessive.” Gareth said. “Not normal behavior for someone captured by a serial killer. To recreate the living conditions.”

“He misses me.”

“I think he more than misses you. I think he’s turned into you.”

“What?”

“You fucked with Chad’s head and turned him into a monster.”

“A monster? Chad’s not a monster.” He looked at the DI. “Wait… He’s not your copycat if that’s where this is going. Chad is still a good person.”

The DI went to speak, but Gareth got there first.

“No, not anymore.”

“Gareth, I’m leading this investigation, understand?” the DI said.

“Yes, sir.”

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