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“Who is?”
They both looked at Ally in the doorway.
Josh waved his hand. “Chad, and his new fella.”
“Why is this the first I’m hearing about him?”
Chad shrugged. “It … hasn’t come up.”
“Yes,” Josh leaned into Chad’s face. “Why haven’t you told your station mother about your sex life? She needs to know all the details.”
Chad shuddered and pushed Josh away.
“Where did you meet him?” Ally asked.
“That’s … complicated.”
“They were playing speed sudoku in the city square.” Josh sighed. “He filled in a six, Chad filled in a nine and things went from there.”
Ally wagged a finger at him. “I’m seriously regretting inviting you here.”
“No, you’re not, because I’ve put a smile back on his depressed face.” Josh poked Chad’s cheek. The carrier bag on his elbow slipped down his arm, and the contents hit Chad in the chest.
“What the hell is that?”
Josh delved his hand inside. “Something for Shawn.”
He pulled out a yo-yo equipped with flashing lights and sound effects. “I thought it might make him feel better—”
Ally shook her head. “Better?”
“Not better, just … distract him for a while.” He slipped off the desk. “Is he asleep?”
“No. The nurses said he’s not spoken a word since he got here. They’re getting really worried about him. They might have to put him on a drip if he won’t drink anything.”
“Let’s see if I can work some yo-yo magic.”
Josh led the way, and Chad followed, slowing his stride as he got closer to Shawn’s room. He spotted the DI at the end of the corridor, crouched in front of a stricken Eleanor.
Two uniformed officers were on either side of her, both clutching one of her hands.
She didn’t lift her head at their approach, her gaze stayed glued to the floor as the DI’s voice washed over her.
Josh strode into Shawn’s room and took a seat by the bed. Chad watched him through the window.
“If he thinks a yo-yo is going to save the day, he’s in for a shock.” Ally sighed. She nudged Chad with her elbow, then dropped her voice to a whisper. “So … your fella?”
“Frank.” He shrugged. “It’s early days.”
“But he makes you happy?”
Josh revealed the yo-yo from the bag and got no reaction from Shawn.
“He does.”
“He knows about everything you went through?”
The yo-yo whizzed and screamed like a firework as Josh rolled it from his palm. Shawn’s eyes followed it as Josh showed him some tricks. It flashed. It spun. At one point it escaped Josh’s hand and flew across the room.
