Page 34 of The Killer’s Mark

‘We need to convince them that giving us access to their air-gapped computer is better than not giving us access.’

‘How will we do that, Poe?’

‘Don’t know yet.’

‘That’s not like you.’

‘I’ll think of something, Tilly.’

Bradshaw gave him a look. ‘OK, we can discuss it later,’ she said. ‘And if you still can’t think of something, we can do a jigsaw. That usually clears your mind.’

‘What is it with you and jigsaws? You’re always getting me to do bloody jigsaws.’

‘I like jigsaws.’

‘I don’t know why,’ Poe said. ‘You’re rubbish at them. I end up doing them on my own.’

‘It’s the time we spend together that’s important, Poe.’

Poe sighed. Whenever Bradshaw made him do something he didn’t want to do, she said it was so they could spend time together. Guilted him into it. ‘And please don’t tell me you brought a jigsaw with you.’

‘Of course I did. I think you’ll like this one – it’s a dog.’

‘A real dog? Not that robot one from Doctor Who that we did?’

‘Yes, a real dog. Like Edgar.’

Poe was spared more jigsaw-related sparring by the waiter bringing their main courses. Ribeye steak for Poe; pasta for Bradshaw. They ate in companionable silence for five minutes. Poe was adding more peppercorn sauce to his steak when Bradshaw put down her fork. ‘Do you think I’m weird, Poe?’

‘I don’t know anyone weirder.’ He smiled at her. ‘What’s up? You want to keep talking about jigsaws?’

‘It’s something Esmerée Blue said. She asked if I had a boyfriend. And when I asked her why on earth I would want one, she said, “Companionship. Sex. Not being lonely.”’

‘Do we need a birds-and-bees discussion, Tilly?’

‘Jeez, Poe, I know how babies are made. And even if I didn’t, I’ve been watching pornographic films all evening – I know what sex is.’ She frowned. Picked up her fork and ate a mouthful of her fusilli. After she’d finished chewing, she said, ‘I think that if I wanted to have sex, I would know. Is that what you think, Poe?’

‘It is, Tilly. Your body will send you signals.’

‘And it hasn’t. So I don’t feel as though I’m missing out on anything. And I don’t feel lonely. I used to before I met you, but I don’t any more. I like being on my own, thinking about things, and I also like being with my friends. With you and Edgar and Estelle.’

‘Same with me. My circle of friends is the same as your circle of friends.’

‘Yes, it is. We don’t need lots of friends, Poe, because the ones we have are good friends. And we’re never lonely, because we enjoy our own company.’

‘But?’

‘But what, Poe?’

‘There’s always a but with you, Tilly.’

‘But what if Esmerée Blue is right? What if I do want to have sex and haven’t realised? Maybe I’ve been mistaking my sex drive for a vitamin B12 deficiency.’

Poe flushed red. Picked up his knife and fork and cut a thick strip of meat. Made sure there was some fat on it. ‘I don’t think that’s how it works.’

‘But you don’t know for sure. Perhaps I should have sex. Just the once. As an experiment. That way I’ll know for sure what a sex drive feels like.’

‘Er … who are you going to have sex with?’