Page 47 of Two for Joy

“I get all sorts in here.”

“I’ll ask you again, do you know who sent this feather?”

“Not a clue.”

The DI grimaced, then slipped the feather back into the envelope.

“Have you got any others?”

Romeo licked his lips. If they were searching his cell, they would find them anyway, center stage next to Chad’s face. “I’ve got two on my wall.”

“Two feathers? Why keep them if they mean nothing? If you don’t know who’s sending them or why?”

Romeo shrugged. “They brighten the place up.”

“Romeo.” The DI growled.

The door beside Chad swung open, and another officer stepped inside. Romeo recognized him, Detective Sergeant Gareth Smith. He glanced at Romeo, then turned to Chad before slapping a plastic bag to his chest with more force than Romeo thought was necessary.

“See.” He said, glaring at Chad.

Chad took the bag from him. Romeo knew they were the printed magpie feathers. Chad’s brow crumpled, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

“We’ll get them analyzed at the lab.” Gareth said.

“Analyzed? For what?”

“Fingerprints. DNA.”

Romeo frowned. “DNA?”

“There’s been three murders.” The DI said. “Each victim strangled in their bedroom. Each victim branded with a number, counting down from five.”

A smile started to grow on Romeo’s face. The killer hadn’t been caught, he’d found a way around the CCTV at James’s house, and then had gone on to get his number three. He was cleverer than Romeo had given him credit for.

“You sick fuck.” Gareth hissed. Then he looked at Chad while pointing at Romeo. “He smiled. Don’t pretend you didn’t see it.”

“I saw.” Chad muttered.

“Then why—why are you so adamant he’s not involved.”

“He’s not,” Chad said, shaking his head. “He can’t be.”

“This countdown killer leaves an identical image of a magpie feather beside the body, and it seems like he sends you one too after each kill.” The DI said.

“The feathers are from the copycat?”

Gareth huffed. “Seems that way doesn’t it.”

Romeo looked up, trying to connect with Chad. “I thought they were…”

“What?” the DI asked.

“I don’t know. Just feathers.”

“That you just happen to keep and pin to your wall.”

Romeo didn’t reply.

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