Page 74 of Two for Joy

It wasn’t Neil that had betrayed Chad this time, but him. He’d manipulated Holly for fun, grew her possessive streak, her obsession, her hatred of anything that could come between her and Romeo. Then in front of her, he’d said about there being a copycat, and Chad being the prime suspect.

“It’s gonna be hard for him to get his fourth victim with all this attention.”

Romeo slid down the bars, eyes fixed on the TV. “How many times do I have to say it?”

Will laughed. “Okay, okay … let’s say he’s not.”

“Finally, you’re listening to me.”

“Therealkiller’s gonna be loving this. No one suspects them, they can sit back and watch the shitstorm, get their fourth victim no problem.”

Romeo frowned. “Number two.”

“Huh?”

“That’s the next in their countdown. When I got my number two, I called the police from the address.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, I left it connected. The point is, if this copycat is as thorough as he seems to be mimicking me, he’ll call when he gets number two. Then they’ll know Chad was nowhere near the place.”

“Unless it is him, then you’ll feel stupid.”

“It’s not him, and once everyone knows that, they’ll back off, leave him alone.”

“Seems to me like Holly Stevenson has it in for Chad. Do you really think she’d just drop all this?”

“I hope so.”

Will laughed. “The evilest emotion of them all. Hope.”

The killer was eager, leaving less time between victims, a month, not two like him. Romeo prayed his craving got the better of him. The quicker he got number two, the quicker the media would stop tearing Chad to shreds. There was no way a wanted man could sneak around killing people.

“Just hang in there, Magpie.” Romeo whispered.

Chapter Thirteen

First thing in the morning, before Romeo had even had time to reject the gruel slid into his cell, Fred and Paul appeared.

“Detective Inspector Grimes wants to talk to you.” Fred said.

Romeo backed up to the bars without them asking, presenting them with his wrists.

It had been a week since Zac had visited. A week of Romeo stewing in his cell while time ticked by at a blisteringly slow pace. Another week where Chad was completely on his own with the world against him while Romeo was helpless in his cell, taking his frustrations out on the walls.

As soon as the cuffs were on, he rushed out of the cell, and down the corridor despite Fred asking him to slow down. He didn’t look at any of the other prisoners, not even Justin who was pacing around his cell like a caged tiger.

It had been a month since number three, and Romeo suspected the killer had struck again. The killer had got his number four and cleared Chad’s name in the process.

“No, this way.” Fred said, guiding Romeo to a different door. The one where there was no barrier between visitors.

The DI was waiting for him, along with Zac, and Gareth. They were sitting on one side of a huge table. Romeo’s lip twitched into a half smile. Zac had gotten through to thedickishdetectives. He’d made them see sense, but Zac’s expression wasn’t triumphant, or hopeful, he looked utterly defeated.

“Undo his cuffs.” The DI said.

Paul made an unsure noise.

“Now.”

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