Page 160 of The Killer’s Mark

Poe hesitated, but not for long. ‘The mother is safe too.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Kai Jin.’

The dragon head looked puzzled. ‘I don’t know who this person is.’

‘He’s the tattooist,’ Poe said. ‘He was unaware of what happened to the girls after he’d tattooed them. When he asked questions, Dongyang Dong cut out his tongue. He is to be afforded the same protections as Esmerée. No reprisals. His debt to the triads will be forgiven.’

‘Agreed.’

Poe reached into his wallet and pulled out a piece of paper. On it was a list of names. His own, Bradshaw, Estelle, Esmerée. Towler and his daughter. A few others. Océane was on it too, although she’d been crossed out a couple of times.

‘If everyone on this list stays safe, and continues to stay safe, those deepfake videos will never see the light of day. They’ll stay inside the most secure computer system there is. If any one of us has an unfortunate accident, well …’

‘Well what, Mr Poe?’

‘You and your family will become the most reviled people on the planet, of course.’

After the dragon head had left his office, Poe called Bradshaw.

‘It’s over, Tilly. We can all go home. Will you let Estelle know?’

‘She’s here now.’

‘I’ll see you back at Highwood. I have a couple of things to do first, but I won’t be long.’

‘Did it go OK, Poe?’

‘Better than I expected, worse than I thought. One thing’s for sure, we won’t be bothered by the Red Chamber any more. They no longer exist.’

‘Gosh. You’ll tell me when I get home?’

‘I will.’

‘And what about the other thing?’

‘If Estelle agrees, we’ll do it tonight.’

‘Good.’

Part 7

The Girl Who Existed

Chapter 134

Poe finished summarising what he and the dragon head had discussed. He had considered sanitising it for Esmerée’s benefit, but he thought she was entitled to hear everything. He thought it might help her deal with the stuff she was undoubtedly going to have to deal with. She was a tough kid, though, and he knew she’d get through it.

The four of them were in Highwood’s main kitchen. Estelle poured everyone tea. A stew was bubbling on the Aga. Brunton had finished for the day and had left instructions. Mainly about not letting Poe eat it before it was ready. Something else about a nut loaf in the pantry for Bradshaw. All she had to do to dry it out even more was heat it up for ten minutes at 180.

‘That’s that then,’ Estelle said. She looked knowingly at Poe. He was just about to give Bradshaw the nod when his phone rang. Detective Chief Inspector Gilliard.

He accepted the call. ‘Sir?’

‘Twelve bodies, all exactly where you said they’d be.’

‘I didn’t doubt it.’