Page 40 of Three for a Girl

“Just another ten puzzles to go.” Romeo snorted.

Chad swallowed when Romeo’s eyes flicked up to him. The whites of his eyes were pink, and the skin underneath grey, as if his lack of sleep bruised him.

“When was the last time you slept?” Chad asked.

“I had a nap earlier.”

“That’s not proper sleep, though, is it? That’s a nap.”

Romeo shrugged, getting to his feet. He grabbed a different puzzle off the floor, and moved along to the next table he’d made. Chad scratched his head as he followed while opening and closing his mouth with aborted words.

“Were you like this inside?”

“I counted down the days, hours, and minutes until I saw you.”

Chad’s stomach fluttered, then he thought about it and he filled with lead.

“But in between?”

“There’s nothing to do but think, to chase all these thoughts and memories that zip through your head. I didn’t like being stuck in a cage, you were the only thing that made it bearable.”

“I don’t think you ever looked this tired when I visited…”

Romeo raised his eyebrows. “That’s a nice compliment.”

“I meant … I’m worried that’s all.”

“It was easier locked in a cell. I had no choice, no outlet, but here, the cell door is hanging wide open. There’s millions of outlets, and possibilities right there, within my reach, and all that stops me is you.”

“You talk about murder like it’s some kind of addiction.”

“Maybe it is.”

“People—they can get over addiction, they can learn to ignore their cravings.”

“The difference is they want to get better.”

“But you want to getbetter, right?”

“For you.”

Chad looked away.

Romeo tipped the puzzle pieces over the table and started turning them the right way up. Chad didn’t get a chance to see the image on the lid—Romeo put it down on the floor and began the puzzle without any reference. He found the corners and edges, his well practiced fingers making it look like a fine art.

“So, dinner smells amazing…”

Romeo grinned. “Thanks, I think I’ve perfected that one. I’ve got a long shopping order coming this weekend, lots more dishes to try. Longer ones that take hours.”

A pile of wooden shards caught Chad’s eye in the corner of the outhouse, and an axe lay on the floor nearby. “Were they wonky, too?”

Romeo didn’t even turn his head. “The holes didn’t match up.”

“And the rest?”

“I’ll burn them tomorrow.”

“Apart from destroying furniture, and showing off your cooking skills, what else did you do today?”

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