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Chapter 55

‘Whatare you doing here, Sergeant Poe?’ Detective Chief Inspector Tai-young Lee said.

She was wearing jeans, a thick coat and an over-the-shoulder bag. It looked like she was on her day off. Probably hadn’t had time to get changed into her power suit.

‘I could ask you the same thing,’ Poe said.

‘And if you did, I’d say that when Detective Constable Bowness called me at home to inform me that you and Miss Bradshaw had visited Professor Doyle at Low Newton, I thought to myself, what would be the stupidest thing Sergeant Poe could do next? I then drove here and waited.’ She pointed at the car up the road, the one Poe had thought belonged to another satnav victim. ‘That’s my Volvo.’

‘I’m that predictable?’

‘I’ve done my research. So, I’ll ask you again: what are you doing here? Because I know you aren’t reckless enough to enter a crime scene without my permission. I don’t want to pick a fight with the NCA by arresting one of their sergeants, but I will if you set foot in the grounds of Highwood.’

‘We should go, Poe,’ Bradshaw said, tugging his arm.

‘I’d listen to Miss Bradshaw if I were you,’ Lee said.

Poe didn’t move. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said.

‘You know I could arrest you just for being here.’

‘All I’ve done is park and ask for directions. Good luck getting me on that.’

‘Maybe it won’t stick. But itwillinconvenience you and it will protect my crime scene.’

‘Maybe,’ Poe nodded. ‘But, when I arrest you for suppressingevidence to influence a CPS charging decision, I bloody well knowthatwill stick. Perhaps you’ll get a good rep and keep your job. Not a chance you’ll keep your rank, though. How’s that for being inconvenienced?’

‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Lee snapped. ‘I’ve run this investigation by the book. I had to – Professor Doyle’s almost one of our own.’

‘And yet I’ve just had a discussion with her solicitor about her extended journey time. She had a flat tyre before she left work. That’s why it took her longer. And yet you didn’t mention this to the CPS.’

‘We don’t know anything about a flat tyre,’ she said. ‘And it’s convenient she’s only remembering this now.’

‘Tilly?’

‘Yes, Poe?’

‘Can you show the chief inspector the email you’ve just received?’

‘I will, Poe.’

Bradshaw opened her tablet and navigated to the screenshot of the cop’s statement. She opened her fingers to expand the screen and passed it to Lee.

‘You see, ma’am,’ Poe said. ‘Youdidknow about her flat tyre. You’ve known all along.’

Lee paled. Withholding evidence from the CPS was a career killer. She’d be forever tainted with it. Either she’d known about the flat tyre and was corrupt, or she hadn’t known and was incompetent. Those were the only options the inevitable disciplinary board would be able to consider.

But Poe had a mutually beneficial third option in mind.

‘Tomorrow morning, Estelle’s solicitor will lodge a complaint with the IPC. Tell them you deliberately withheld the evidence to positively influence a CPS charging decision.’ Poe paused a moment, enough time for it to register. ‘Or you can convince me you made a mistake in a fast-moving case and you’re now doing your best to rectify it.’

‘What do you want?’ Lee sighed, resigned and deflated.

Poe nodded at the locked gates.

‘I want to see the crime scene.’