Page 39 of Three for a Girl

“We got blood.” Josh whispered.

“Where?” Chad asked.

“On the bike.”

Ally huffed, rolling her eyes. “Give me strength… Where on the bike?”

“The box thing on the back. It’s dry, but the forensic officer is confident it’s blood. He’s gonna test it straight away.”

Ally gestured to the station in the distance. “Luckily, he doesn’t have to go far.”

“The bike’s gonna get collected for further testing out of sight of the public, and the DI’s heading back to the station.”

“Great,” Ally said. “We can relax.”

Josh undid four of his buttons, and flapped the collar of his shirt. “It’s hot.”

Chad nodded, reaching for his own buttons. He’d managed to undo two before Josh looked at his chest, the top of a scar peeked out.

The past punched him in the stomach, he stepped back, and redid his buttons.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s fine.” Chad said, not looking at him.

“I swear I didn’t—”

“And I swear it’s fine.”

“What’s your flavor?” Ally asked with her eyes fixed across the road.

Chad frowned at her. “Huh?”

“Ice cream? Josh loves chocolate chip, Faye likes a bit of saucy strawberry, I’m all about rum and raison, vegan of course. What about you?”

“Erm, chocolate, I guess.”

Ally smirked. “I’m not sure ‘chocolate I guess’ is a flavor, but I’ll do my best.”

Chad gawped after Ally as she hurried across the street to the ice cream shop.

“The coffee’s universal with detectives, but the doughnuts, and ice cream?”

“You get used to it. Food is a great distraction.”

Chad lowered his gaze. “I guess it is.”

Chapter Six

Chad loosened his tie as he went into the house.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease his tight muscles. He’d spent far too long sitting at a desk, staring up at Ellen and Kerion. He longed for a cool shower, but a shower with Romeo sounded even better if Chad could drag him away from his puzzle.

He stepped into the kitchen, and breathed in sage, rosemary. One of the recipe books was open on vermouth chicken, and Chad’s mouth watered.

He found Romeo in the outhouse, finishing off the world map. Chad smiled as he tapped in the last piece, then walked over.

“You’re done?”

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