Page 66 of Two for Joy

“That’s what I said.”

“But what if I write a letter on your behalf.”

Romeo pressed himself into the bars. “Wait… You could write a letter.”

“That’s what I just said, don’t go taking credit for my idea.”

“It’s a brilliant one.”

“Really, thanks—wait a sec, I’ll get some paper. Where’s it going?”

Romeo recited the address to the station.

“And to who?”

“DI Lucas Grimes…” Romeo stopped, then shook his head. “No…not the DI. He hates me and won’t listen. He’s blinkered. He thinks it’s Chad. I need someone with an open mind.”

“Then to who?”

“Write it to … Zac.”

“Zac who?”

“I don’t know his last name. Put receptionist Zac.”

“Okay…”

“Tell him Chad is not the killer. Holly Stevenson wrote in her article about magpies.”

“About magpies?”

“Yeah. Tell him plenty of people had access to the article. She’s put a target on Chad’s head.”

“Target on Chad’s head … right.”

“If he doesn’t do something, Chad will die.”

“Wow. Okay, that’s dramatic. That it?”

“Yeah, short and sweet, and to the goddamn point.”

“How do you want me to end it?”

“What?”

“Like with kisses?”

Romeo tightened his fingers around the bars. “I wanna strangle you so badly right now.”

“I was only asking.”

“Just sign it, R.”

“Done. Hey. I was thinking about how to escape.”

Romeo rolled his eyes. “Anything better than digging through a wall.”

“I remember watching a documentary about a highway man’s escape from the 1600s…”

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