Page 140 of The Killer’s Mark

‘How many men at the exchange?’ Towler asked.

‘A lot. All battle-hardened. You won’t be able to overpower them.’

Towler grunted. It sounded derisive. ‘After we pass a checkpoint, what happens?’

‘You’ll go to the next location.’

‘I meant, what do the fuckwits we’ve just spoken to do?’

‘Oh, I see,’ Susan said. ‘They’ll report in, then tighten up and form a perimeter.’

‘They’ll be behind us?’

‘Yes.’

Someone knocked on the door. An uncertain knock. Like it was an unfamiliar concept. As though they usually punched their way through. Poe checked his watch. Bang on time. He walked across his office and opened the door. A bald man stood in front of him. He looked like a poster child for an Eastern European war criminal. He had scars on his face and scars on his hands. His nose was flat and he was missing half an ear. He was taller than Towler and bigger than the Incredible Hulk. Poe resisted the temptation to check him for neck bolts. His eyes were sharp, though, like a hawk’s. Poe thought he was the scariest-looking man he’d ever seen.

‘Name’s Tick-Tock,’ he grunted. ‘Boss sent me.’

Poe stepped aside. ‘Come in, Tick-Tock,’ he said.

Tick-Tock moved gracefully, the way a professional dancer might. Poe watched as he took in the room at a single glance. He went to the window, pulled a gadget from his pocket and pressed a button. He turned round and said, ‘I’ll stay here until this is over.’

‘You’re on your own?’

‘No.’

Poe waited for more information, but it was clear he wasn’t getting any.

‘Boss-man said that if this thing goes pear-shaped, the woman cuffed to the radiator disappears.’

No one said anything, not even Susan.

‘Good,’ Tick-Tock continued. ‘Because this isn’t a Disney film.’

‘If we don’t get Esmerée back, I’ll stuff her into the body bag myself,’ Estelle said.

No one laughed. No one was meant to.

Poe had forgotten all about Towler. Over the speakerphone Towler said, ‘Now Tick-Tock has arrived, we’re good to go.’ He paused for a fraction of a beat. ‘And don’t worry, Estelle, we’ll get Wednesday Addams back and we’ll get her back in one piece.’

Poe wasn’t so sure.

There were still things about this he didn’t understand.

Chapter 116

Poe left Cowie House and drove out of Carlisle like a man on a promise. At Rosehill Industrial Estate, he parked near Pioneer Foodstore but kept his engine running. As soon as he was stationary, the back door opened and Towler and Océane Blue climbed in. Towler looked happy; Océane looked resigned.

‘You have everything you need?’ Towler asked Poe.

Poe confirmed he did.

‘Let’s go then.’

Poe left Rosehill and got on the M6. The plan was to drive a loop between Junction 42 and Junction 44, the three Carlisle junctions, until the Red Chamber got in touch. ‘I wasn’t followed?’

‘You weren’t. We watched you along the route to Rosehill and no one was trying to keep up.’