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‘She has this whacked-out theory there’s a bogeyman out there, Steph,’ Nightingale continued. ‘But really she just got far too involved in a case. Her supervisor says the perpetrator’s family groomed her to the point she became convinced of their kid’s innocence. Instead of believing the evidence, she went and found an alternate theory that fitted the evidence.’

‘Did they look into her claims, though?’

‘They had to. She’d filled in some form that made it official. They launched a multi-state investigation but found no evidence to support it. They are satisfied that justice was served in the happy-slapping case.’

‘She did have a compelling story,’ Poe said. ‘And the evidence she queried didn’t make sense to me either.’

He didn’t know why but he felt as though someone should stick up for her.

‘You know what they call her over there?’ Nightingale said.

‘Nothing good, I suspect.’

‘Spooky. After Fox Mulder in The X-Files. Sees conspiracies everywhere. She’s on her final chance now but I suspect she’s blown it by contacting you. My advice is that you leave it alone, Poe. There is no bogeyman out there.’

Taking Nightingale’s and the FBI hierarchy’s advice and leaving it alone was undoubtedly the sensible thing to do.

They had physical evidence tying their suspects to the three murders, neither of them had alibis and one of them had already admitted to some serious offences. With the search for the Black Swan administrator taking place in cyberspace, the rational thing to do would have been assisting Nightingale and her team as they built their case against the Cowells.

That would have been the sensible thing to do.

But that was reactive thinking and Poe wasn’t built that way. The possibility that their administrator was Melody Lee’s Curator was now playing on a loop in his mind and he knew from past experience that the only way to get rid of it was to satisfy himself that the claims were baseless.

So, instead of taking Nightingale’s advice, he went and found Bradshaw.

‘Poe, what are you doing?’ Nightingale said.

They were in the small room they’d been assigned while they were going through the contents of the wheelie bin. Poe was re-watching the part of the interview where Robert Cowell had headbutted the table. Jon Lear, his solicitor, had tried to explain it away as a reaction to the situation but Poe didn’t think that was right – Rhona Cowell had reacted when the same bit of evidence had been put before her as well. Not as extremely, but she had reacted.

Bradshaw was checking their computers. The Cowells knew their way around them so would be adept at hiding things, she’d told him. She would find everything but it was going to take time.

‘Just want to be sure, ma’am,’ Poe said.

Nightingale leaned against the doorframe. He didn’t blame her for not coming into the room; it still smelled, which was probably why it had been empty. She didn’t look angry.

‘DI Flynn warned me about this, you know.’

‘About what?’

‘She said that ther

e’d come a point in the investigation where you’d start doubting the evidence and convince yourself you’d got it wrong.’

‘Did she now?’

‘She explained it’s your failsafe and that I’d be well advised to listen to you when it happens. Said that if I leave you alone for a bit you’ll come round eventually.’

‘She have anything to say if I don’t come round?’

Nightingale grinned and nodded. ‘She said, “Fuck him, he’s a sergeant and you’re a superintendent.”’

‘Sounds about right.’

‘You got an angle?’

‘Not really,’ Poe admitted, ‘but this is bugging me. Rhona and Robert both reacted to the same bit of evidence. He smashed his face into the table and she sort of smirked. If you watch it’s almost at exactly the same point. Other than that I don’t have anything to go on.’

‘I can’t spare any personnel but let me know if you need help.’