Page 15 of The Killer’s Mark

He was going for the old bluff-and-bluster defence. It hadn’t worked on Poe when he was a cop, and it wouldn’t work now. He’d led Poe to an office at the back of the hotel. Looked like the kind that belonged to whoever was in charge that night. No one had personalised it. Poe let Malloy’s indignation run its course. Indignant men, particularly the ones who thought they were cleverer than the person interviewing them, often said things they later regretted.

When he’d finished, Poe said, ‘I didn’t say it was Esmerée who was sexually assaulted.’

‘You did. You must have.’

‘I was a police officer for over twenty years, dickhead; I know how to conduct an interview. But thanks for that – you’ve confirmed part of her story. I did have my doubts.’

‘She is not fifteen and she came into my room. I didn’t come into hers.’

‘And it was her idea to watch porn together, was it? That’s what you’re going to a jury with? Have you looked in a mirror recently, you pasty-faced, flabby-arsed pinhead? You’re a disgusting slob, and despite your faux protests, she is a fifteen-year-old girl.’

‘She said she was twenty-one,’ Malloy said weakly.

‘You were paying her cash-in-hand, because that’s how she asked to be paid. And a pervert like you figured that if she was vulnerable enough to work without employment protections, she would be desperate enough to keep her job. She might even put up with you sweating and slobbering all over her. You try it on for six months, then eventually you give her an ultimatum: watch a film together or get sacked. A porn film. Now, I’ve only met Esmerée once, but she seems like a tough cookie. I imagine there were plenty of eye-rolls. She’ll have called you an asshole at least fifty times. She’s trying to extract herself from the situation when she sees something on the screen. Something she doesn’t like. She bucks and thrashes, frantic to get away. In the process, she stripes your face. How am I doing?’

Malloy put his head in his hands. ‘The lying bitch told me she was twenty-one,’ he said through gritted teeth. The age-of-consent plea was clearly a hill he intended to die on.

‘Yeah, that ain’t gonna work,’ Poe said. ‘Ignorance isn’t a defence for sexual activity with a child, just like yelling “Surprise!” isn’t a defence for rape. The CPS will prosecute you for causing a child to watch a sexual act. Maybe attempted rape too. You’re going to prison. You’re going to be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of your life, so good luck getting a job.’

Poe’s phone rang. Bradshaw.

‘It’ll be my word against—’

‘Shut up,’ Poe said. ‘I need to take this.’

‘It’s Tilly, Poe.’

‘Yes, Tilly. Your face appears on my screen every time you ring.’

She tutted. ‘It was only last week that you called your phone a magic phone.’

‘What you got?’

‘I’ve found Esmerée.’

Poe blew out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. ‘Thank fu— goodness. Where is she?’

‘She used Adam Malloy’s credit card and checked into a room at the Crown and Mitre Hotel last night.’

‘I hope she had room service.’

‘She did. And she took a junior suite.’

‘Good for her. Is she still there?’

‘Her booking is for a week.’

The Crown and Mitre was in Carlisle city centre. More importantly, it was only a two-minute walk from their office.

‘OK, she’s safe then. We’ll sort out something more permanent when she comes in later.’

‘Have you spoken to Adam Malloy yet.’

‘I’m with Rapey McRapey now. What do you need?’

‘Hey!’ Malloy said.

‘Esmerée said the pornographic film was on his laptop rather than a DVD or a video. I’ll need all his electronic devices. Laptops, tablets, mobile phones. Anything capable of accessing the internet.’