Page 112 of Two for Joy

The DI started walking toward the hospital doors. Gareth sighed, then went after him.

Romeo lifted his face out of his sleeping bag and stared after them. Chad was happy thinking he was dead. Romeo shook his head. It had to be a lie. His magpie was just being smart, wasn’t he?

Chapter Twenty-One

It was risky, but he had to see Chad, had to know he was getting better. He spent the money tossed his way in the hospital shop, then explored the corridors, strategically mapping the place a little more each day until he found Chad.

Chad had a small room on the first floor, but he was rarely left on his own. Gareth and Zac were his most frequent visitors, and they appeared to be taking shifts, making sure Chad wasn’t alone and no one could get to him.

Romeo slotted money into the coffee machine, side-eyeing the door to Chad’s room. Gareth was leaning against the wall outside, tapping away on his phone, completely oblivious.

Romeo took his cup from the machine and blew gently on the top.

“You’ve got to be shitting me.”

Romeo froze, it was Gareth’s voice, and projected down the corridor in his direction. He’d been caught. Gareth had seen him, but Gareth didn’t rush at him, or tackle him to the ground. His coffee didn’t go flying, splattering the wall. Nothing happened, and Romeo tentatively turned, keeping his face low, half hidden in the top of his sweatshirt. Gareth’s angry tone wasn’t directed at him, but Holly Stevenson.

She had a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers, and walked right by Romeo without sparing him a glance. Gareth moved in front of Chad’s door and folded his arms.

“Can I—”

“No, you can’t.” Gareth snapped. “Leave.”

“I owe Chad an apology.”

“You owe him more than that.”

“You’re not exactly white as white are you. Hunting down one of your own like a dog.”

Gareth flared his nostrils. “Leave.”

Holly held up the chocolates and flowers. “Can you at least give these to him?”

“I’ll give them to the nearest trashcan.”

“Please.”

Gareth snatched the chocolates from her, then read the tag. “Are you actually serious?”

“When he’s ready he can tell me his side of the story. He can tell me what happened between him and Romeo.”

“Chad won’t want to talk to you. No one wants to talk to you anymore.”

“He can clear his name—”

Gareth shook his head. “That article you wrote on Romeo, dressing him up as the victim and Chad the villain. Have you lost your mind?”

Holly shrugged. “I’m a journalist. I seek the truth.”

“Said no journalist ever. Romeo is dangerous…”

“Is?”

“Was dangerous. He got inside people’s heads. He got inside Chad’s, he got inside yours.”

“No one is a hundred percent good, or a hundred percent bad. He was misunderstood.”

“Chad went through hell because of that monster, but at least he woke up, came through the other side.”

---