Page 118 of The Killer’s Mark

‘And she’ll be alive now. But they can’t let her live. She’s seen their faces.’

Towler reached for his phone. Began a whispered conversation with someone he called Tick-Tock.

‘How did you even find out about Esmerée?’ Estelle asked Susan. ‘About who she really is?’

‘The NCA must have overheard us talking about her,’ Poe said.

Susan shook her head. ‘That’s not it. You only ever referred to Océane by name, never by her relationship to the child. Neither the NCA nor the Red Chamber knew who Esmerée was. We both knew she was your client, but we couldn’t work out why she was looking for Océane. It didn’t make sense. To the best of our knowledge, Océane couldn’t have children. It wasn’t until Poe asked that FBI agent to check if Vincent du Buk had paid for Océane to have her sterilisation reversed that we realised they’d had a kid together.’

Estelle closed her eyes. ‘Then it’s my fault. I asked you to do that, Poe. It’s my fault she’s gone.’ She began to weep.

Towler finished his call. He said, ‘Is it bollocks.’ He waved his hand in Susan’s direction. ‘It’s that fuckhead’s fault. And it’s the soon-to-be-dead fuckhead triad’s fault. It sure as sugar isn’t yours, Doc.’ He faced Susan. ‘And you, you’re not getting shit.’ He threw a thumb in Gilliard’s direction. ‘I don’t care what this prick says, you aren’t getting a deal.’

‘Who are you?’ Gilliard said.

‘Mind your own business, you incompetent prick.’

‘I beg your pardon!’

‘You heard me. This treacherous bitch was doing this under your nose for fifteen years. If you want respect, you’re out of luck. In fact, I don’t even know why you’re here. You’re certainly not arresting her. Not until this is resolved.’ He faced Hawksworth again. ‘And you’d better pray the resolution includes Wednesday Addams being reunited with my friends.’

‘I’m not scared of prison,’ she said through gritted teeth.

‘Good, because prison isn’t an option. Not with the Irish Sea so close.’

‘Sir! Are you going to let him talk to me this way? Until I’m told otherwise, I’m still an NCA agent.’

‘Poe, I really think you should let me deal with—’

‘Not a chance, mate,’ Towler said, shaking his head. ‘Miss Bradshaw, you know what I do – what I’ve done. Please tell Miss My-Days-Are-Numbered that I never bluff.’

Bradshaw shook her head. ‘He doesn’t, Susan Hawksworth. And he won’t go to prison. I doubt he’ll even get into trouble.’

‘I definitely won’t.’

‘But … that’s murder!’ screeched Susan. ‘Sir, he’s threatening murder. You cannot allow this.’

Gilliard said, ‘Perhaps I’d better …’ He took a step towards Towler. Towler took two towards him, twice as fast, twice as menacing.

Poe stepped between them. ‘This might be better done outside.’ He led them into the corridor.

As soon as he’d shut the door, he said, ‘Do you think she bought it?’

‘Do I think she bought it?’ Gilliard said. ‘I bloody bought it.’

‘Leave it with us?’

‘I was never here.’ He faced Towler. ‘Oh, and I will need that gun.’

Towler grinned. ‘Fight you for it,’ he said.

Chapter 95

When Poe and Towler returned, Susan Hawksworth’s first and only question was, ‘Where’s Detective Chief Inspector Gilliard?’

‘Who?’ Poe said.

‘He’s the NCA person who authorised the bugging of our office, Poe,’ Bradshaw said. ‘Do you remember? Or do we need to do another jigsaw?’