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Chapter 6

‘Tellme exactly what happened,’ Poe said.

‘I was playingDragonlorelast night and Nedski42 offered to buy them,’ Bradshaw explained. ‘More money if I send one from each toe.’

‘And he’s one of the other players?’

‘He is. He’s not very good.’

‘You haven’t met him?’

‘Of course not.’

‘And your identity’s hidden, I take it?’

She snorted. Bradshaw took her online security seriously.

‘So who is he?’ Poe said.

‘I don’t know, Poe. Am I to find out? I thought I’d check it wasn’t weird first.’

‘It’s definitely weird, Tilly. Maybe not dangerous-weird, though. Get me his ID and I’ll make some enquiries.’

‘What does he want them for, though? It’s just hardened protein.’

Poe didn’t want to speculate. ‘Nothing nice,’ he said. ‘Just out of curiosity, how much did he offer you?’

‘One hundred pounds, Poe.’

‘Bloody hell. Tell him he can have mine for fifty quid. I’ll post them tonight.’

Flynn jumped to her feet. ‘Right, there’s only so much of this shite I can take,’ she said. ‘Sit on the scope, Poe, I need to stretch my legs. I’ll walk down to the newsagent. We’re out of milk.’

‘There’s some of Tilly’s almond milk in the mini-fridge,’ he said. ‘It’s quite sweet, but it’s fine in a brew.’

‘I used the last of that on my muesli this morning, Poe,’ Bradshaw said.

He looked at his mug. ‘So, what’s this in my tea?’

Bradshaw shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

Flynn stared at him, her eyes widening. ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,’ she said.

Realisation dawned on Poe. ‘I haven’t …’

‘You bloody well have!’ Flynn snapped. ‘Forty minutes it took me to squeeze that out!’

‘What?’ Bradshaw asked. ‘What’s Poe done, DI Flynn?’

‘He’s been putting my breast milk in his tea, Tilly.’

‘Why would he do that?’

Flynn threw up her arms. ‘Why does Poe do anything?’ she replied. She stomped out of the room, muttering obscenities down the stairs.

‘Don’t worry, Poe,’ Bradshaw said. ‘If it’s good enough for DI Flynn’s baby, it’s good enough for you, right?’

Poe scowled. ‘No,notright,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘Look through these binoculars for five minutes, will you?’