Page 69 of The Killer’s Mark

‘Tomorrow,’ the waiter said. ‘But he said the meal’s on the house.’

Poe thanked him and threw down a thirty-pound tip. He never knew what to leave when the meal was free. Estelle said he overcompensated, but when he asked how much he was supposed to leave, she’d said, ‘I’m not a police officer, Poe; I pay for my meals.’

The address on Poe’s fortune cookie was a Chinese restaurant in Hexham. Hexham was twenty-four miles from Newcastle. It was on the A69, the road Poe took to Carlisle. He called Bradshaw, who told him that the website had it listed as being closed until that evening. Poe told her he would check it out anyway. That if it was closed, he had time to get to Carlisle, drop off Esmerée, then turn around and get back for it opening at 6 p.m.

‘You ain’t doing shit, Poe,’ Esmerée said after he’d ended the call. ‘Dong-Dong might think he’s the big bad, but I’m from New York City. He doesn’t scare me. I’m coming with you.’

Poe almost asked her why she’d bolted out of the Szechuan Palace like a startled rabbit, but decided that would have been mean. She’d run because he’d told her to. And she had had the nous to call the police. Instead, he said, ‘We’ll see.’ He had never been a parent, but even he knew ‘We’ll see’ was code for ‘No, but I can’t be bothered with the argument right now.’

As soon as he was out of Newcastle, he found Towler’s number.

‘How’s your arse for spots, Poe?’

‘Might need a bit of help, Matt,’ he replied. ‘Some tactical support.’

‘What have you done this time?’

‘It’s possible I’ve upset some triads.’

Towler didn’t immediately respond. When he did, he said, ‘I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.’

Esmerée leaned into the car speaker. ‘He grabbed one of them by the nuts, Lurch,’ she shouted gleefully. ‘Said the trick is to twist and pull. I reckon he’s always doing it. Probably gets off on it.’

‘You touched a triad’s balls? I hope you washed up afterwards.’

‘Did he hell,’ Esmerée said. ‘And he ate with his hands later.’

Poe ignored her. ‘He threatened the kid, Matt. Said he’d cut her up into little pieces.’

‘Eat a dick, Poe. I ain’t a kid. I drink beer now.’

‘Why was Wednesday Addams even with you?’

‘Just as well I was. Hauled Poe’s ass out of the fire when I called nine-one-one.’

‘You mean nine-nine-nine?’

‘Do I fu—’

‘Apparently dialling the Yank emergency number from inside the UK works as well,’ Poe cut in. ‘And as my name’s still flagged with Northumbria, they pressed the urgent assistance button. Arrived mob-handed.’

‘You got a plan?’

‘Working on it. I’m going to a meeting now. I should know more afterwards.’

‘You need backup?’

‘I think this is safe, but I’ll be careful.’

‘Then?’

‘They knew I was coming, Matt. They knew my name and I don’t know how.’

Towler said, ‘They’ll also know where you live.’

‘I have to assume so.’

‘Leave it with me. You want someone on your office?’