Page 151 of The Killer’s Mark

‘Better than we could have hoped,’ he replied. ‘We got everything we wanted.’

‘Do you think they’ll leave us alone?’

Poe considered that carefully. Remembered their humiliation. Their loss of face. He didn’t think they would leave them alone. Not for ever. The deepfakes had bought them some time, but the Red Chamber couldn’t leave a threat like that hanging over their heads.

But it wasn’t his job to be a doomsayer. Not now. His primary focus was getting Esmerée through the next twenty-four hours. Of making sure she was in a stable position. She had some big decisions to make. Océane had some big decisions to make. So instead of saying what he thought, he said, ‘We have what we need for now.’

‘Estelle wants to talk to you.’

But really she wanted to talk to Esmerée. Poe let them chat shit. It was part of the healing process.

When the conversation between them slowed, Poe said, ‘I’m heading back to Highwood. I’ll get Detective Chief Inspector Gilliard to collect Susan Hawksworth, but you might as well leave now.’

‘Tick-Tock’ll look after her until that bellend cop arrives,’ Towler said. ‘But before you leave, do me a favour, Estelle.’

‘What?’

‘Kick her fucking head in.’

Chapter 128

They arrived at Highwood at the same time as Estelle and Bradshaw.

Towler saw them safely inside, then went outside and raised his hand like he was summoning a black cab. Two minutes later, a car arrived to pick him up. He said, ‘I still have guys watching the house, but I think we’re OK.’

‘For how long, though?’ Poe replied. ‘They’ll hand over Océane’s money, but I reckon that’ll refocus them. I shouldn’t have agreed to her demands. Before she piped up, we’d agreed mutually assured destruction. They would leave her and Esmerée alone and we wouldn’t release Tilly’s deepfakes. But people make rash decisions when so much money is involved. They might come for it.’

Towler faced him. ‘They’ll definitely come for it, mate. They’re gangsters; they see that fourteen million as theirs, not hers. They’ll want it back. You got a plan?’

‘I do.’

Poe told him what it was.

When he’d finished, Towler said, ‘Jeeesus, remind me to never get on your bad side, Poe.’ He laughed. ‘But that’ll fucking do it. You reckon the lady of the manor will go for it?’

‘I don’t think there’s anything she wouldn’t do to keep Esmerée safe.’

They shook hands at the door.

‘Cheers, Matt,’ Poe said. ‘I’ll have you and the boys around for meat and mead when this has settled down. We’ll roast a pig in the garden. Get a beer tent.’

‘They’ll like that,’ Towler said.

He got into the waiting car and it sped off into the emerging darkness. Poe went inside and joined Estelle, Bradshaw, Océane and Esmerée in the main kitchen. Esmerée was sitting so close to Estelle she was just about on her knee. Estelle was making her drink sweet tea and eat chocolate. Poe remembered from his battlefield first-aid training that sugar helped negate shock. He didn’t know why. He was probably the only permanent member of the household who didn’t.

Bradshaw was fussing with her laptop.

And Océane was pacing backwards and forwards like she was a trial lawyer and everyone else was the jury. ‘Where’s my goddam money?’ she said as soon as Poe sat down.

He looked at Bradshaw. She shook her head.

‘It’s not in our account yet,’ he said.

‘But when it is, you’ll transfer it over to my account?’

‘Of course.’

‘You won’t attach a finder’s fee or some other bullshit way of stealing from me?’