Page 60 of Three for a Girl

Romeo would come back.

Chad left the toilets, heading back down the corridor, but a voice made him whip around. Ally called his name again, and he waited for her.

“What were you doing in there?”

“I was in there for you.”

“I went for a piss, I didn’t die.”

Ally snorted. “Wilma Dean. The woman that was strangled a few days ago.”

The air left Chad in a rush. He looked back at the mortuary door, unsure whether he could find his voice, and when he did, it was soft, wary. “You saw her?”

“Yes, and it wasn’t Romeo Knight’s ghost.”

“H—how can you tell?”

Ally studied him. “I’m not an expert on the countdown killer case, but he used his hands, right?”

Chad’s throat throbbed, and he nodded.

“Wilma was strangled with a tie. It was still wrapped around her neck when they found her. Her husband was arrested last night.”

“Not Romeo…”

“No, not your ghost.” Ally said. “He’s dead, Chad. He’s not coming back.”

Her words were like ice. She’d meant it to be comforting, but he couldn’t smile or nod or anything. He swallowed, feeling the swelling in his throat.

Goodbye, detective.

He turned and pressed himself to the wall. If Ally wasn’t standing there, he would’ve slipped down and stayed there.

Ally touched his elbow. “It’s okay, he’s gone.”

“He’s not.” Chad shook his head.

He couldn’t be. He had to come back. There was no worse feeling in the world than Romeo not coming for him. Romeo would always come for him, always save him from everyone, anyone, including himself.

“He is.” Ally said, stepping in front of Chad.

He couldn’t meet her eyes.

She grabbed his tie, and yanked it gently. “This, this is what you concentrate on right now. Baby steps. I’ll help you. What we got to do is keep that detective brain of yours working.”

Distracted, keep it distracted, and hope.

That was all he could do.

“Come on, we’re needed upstairs. Although it is kinda nice down here.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nice and cold, don’t you think?”

“There’s fridges through that door and dead people inside them.”

“Exactly, might climb inside one to cool off.”

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