Page 95 of The Final Vow (Washington Poe #7)

Flynn frowned, but this time not in defiance.

She knew Shap Fell. Had spent time with Poe out there.

She knew how isolated it was. Poe thought she might be getting on board with the plan, regardless of how idiotic she thought it was.

Or maybe she was resigned. ‘I assume you know how to make Ezekiel Puck hate you? And that it’s more sophisticated than just going on TV and calling him a knob? ’

‘What has his sole focus been these last few months?’

‘Destroying his ex-wife’s business,’ she said immediately. ‘And he’s all but succeeded. The hopeless romantics aren’t returning to Gretna Green. Not yet. Not ever, while he’s out there.’

‘Exactly,’ Poe said. ‘He’s destroyed her dream.’

‘So?’

‘So how about we give it back to her? With interest. I hold a press conference, and in front of the world’s press, I launch the “Save the Smithy’s Forge” crowdfunding appeal.

I explain why, and I let Ezekiel Puck know that when the money comes in – and it will come in, even if I have to fund this myself – Joanne Addy is free to do with it what she wants.

She can save her business; she can sell up and buy an island in the Caribbean.

She’ll be a multimillionaire; she can do whatever the hell she wants. ’

Locke chuckled. He shook his head and said, ‘That is as audacious as it’s brilliant, Poe. Truly, you’re wasted in the police.’

Poe shared a glance with Bradshaw. She hid a smile. They had a plan . . .

‘What am I missing?’ Flynn said, eagle-eyed as ever.

‘Nothing,’ Poe replied. ‘Now, let’s stress-test this. We aren’t doing it unless we can answer every question.’

‘I have one,’ Flynn said immediately. ‘This crowdfunding stunt is going to do the trick. It can’t do anything else.

Let’s imagine you’ve successfully made yourself Ezekiel Puck’s number-one target.

And let’s say that we’ve managed to make him think he’s killed Tilly to get to you.

Then what happens? He waits for you to disintegrate? ’

Poe nodded. ‘That’s where you come in, Tilly. I want you to make sure I remain at the top of everyone’s shit list. No one likes me anyway, so you’re not starting from scratch.’

‘I like you, Poe.’

‘Great.’

‘And Estelle Doyle likes you too, don’t you, Estelle?’

‘I do, Tilly.’

‘Anyone else?’ Poe said.

Bradshaw thought about it. ‘Edgar,’ she said eventually.

‘Great. Two people and a dog.’

Locke laughed. ‘And I’ll speak to a friendly journalist. Make it clear that you do not enjoy our protection.’

‘You’ll be a pariah, Poe,’ Doyle said. ‘The press will crucify you.’

‘I know. I need them to. Puck has to believe I’ve reached rock bottom.’ He took a deep breath. ‘And after a few days, I need you to publicly call off our engagement.’

‘Absolutely not!’

‘You have to, Estelle. As long as I have you, I have something.’

‘I will not quietly sit here while the gutter press goes to town on you. It’s out of the question, Poe.’

‘I know.’

Doyle blinked in surprise. ‘You do?’

‘I do. You won’t be sitting here at all. You’ll have taken that lecturing gig in Arizona that you keep putting off.’

‘I—’

‘I can’t have him wondering who to target, Estelle. He saw me dive on Tilly in London, so I think that’s who he’ll choose anyway, but we have to narrow down his options to one.’

‘Well played, Washington!’ Bertie said from his armchair. He raised his glass.

‘Keep out of this, Bertie!’ Doyle snapped.

‘No, Lady Doyle, I don’t think I will,’ Uncle Bertie said, his voice firm and clear. ‘This is a high-risk operation, and it must be distraction free. And, like it or not, you are a distraction. A very pretty one, I may add.’

While Doyle simmered, outmanoeuvred, Flynn said, ‘What about me? We’ve known each other a long time. Are you sure he won’t look in my direction?’

‘You live in a secure penthouse. You have an underground car park. You’re a hard target, boss. Tilly lives in the burbs.’

‘But just in case he isn’t sure who to use to get to you, Poe, I have a small suggestion,’ Bradshaw said.

‘What is it, Tilly?’

‘I learn how to play Dezinformatsiya . He’s the world’s top-rated player. I think if you give me a little time, I can knock him down to number two. And I’ll leave enough breadcrumbs that he’ll be able to find out my identity.’

‘Can’t you just hack into their database and change all the scores?’

‘Where’s the fun in that, Poe?’

‘Beats me. How long?’

‘I’ll be world number one by the time you go on TV.’

She said it with such confidence, Poe didn’t bother following it up.

If Bradshaw said she could master a game in a matter of days that Puck had spent a lifetime perfecting, then Puck was about to lose his crown.

Poe grinned. Puck would hate that. Almost as much as his ex-wife becoming richer than Posh and Becks.

‘OK, you’ve lost your best friend and you’ve lost your fiancée, Poe,’ Locke said. ‘What else do you have in your life? What else do we need to take from you?’

‘My job,’ he said emphatically. ‘If I lost that, I probably would reach rock bottom and keep going down.’

‘You might get suspended anyway,’ Flynn said. ‘A plan this reckless, with seemingly catastrophic results, will provoke a response with our senior managers. It’ll have to.’

‘I’ll have a discreet word with the Home Secretary,’ Locke said. ‘Tell her it would be advantageous if you became the nation’s scapegoat.’

‘Won’t she suspect something?’

‘Of course. But she’ll be wise enough not to ask.’

Doyle sighed. ‘I can’t believe we’re doing this,’ she said. ‘But if we are, we’re doing it right. I’ll prescribe you some diuretics, Poe. They’ll help you lose a load of water. It’ll give the temporary appearance of weight loss.’

Poe nodded. It was a good idea.

‘A word of caution: they might bung you up a bit.’

‘If Poe eats fibre, it’s entirely by accident, Estelle,’ Bradshaw said. ‘I imagine his bowel movements are something of an ordeal.’

Poe scowled. No one else did. Everyone else laughed, even the grieving Locke. Doyle and Bradshaw bumped fists. He wished they would stop doing that.

‘And I’ll arrange for Joanne Addy to be taken into protective custody,’ Flynn said after she’d wiped away tears of mirth. ‘Is there anyone else he might lash out at?’

‘I don’t think he’ll come after me, but just in case I’ll keep a low profile,’ Locke said.

‘What about Edgar?!’ Bradshaw said.

‘Uncle Bertie,’ Doyle called out. ‘Do you have somewhere safe we can stow Edgar for a week or so?’

‘That damned hooligan spaniel of Washington’s?’ Bertie said.

‘The very same.’

‘I’ll take him back to Yorkshire with me.

I have a fishing lodge that no one knows about by the River Foss.

Used to take the odd filly there when I wore a younger man’s clothes.

He’ll be safe. And if that scoundrel thinks he can come for him on my land, he’ll quickly learn three things: I have several guns and they’re all loaded for deer; I won a silver medal shooting clay pigeons at the Olympics, so he’s not the only one who doesn’t miss; and last of all, I’m a confused and scared old man.

I shoot first, I don’t bother asking questions later, and there isn’t a court in the land that would convict me.

Washington’s dog is safe with me, Lady Doyle. You can count on it.’

Doyle nodded at Bradshaw. ‘Uncle Bertie won’t drink another drop of alcohol until this is over, Tilly. He’s as safe with him as anywhere.’

‘But, Washington,’ Bertie said, ‘you mentioned there might be a bottle of the Macallan M in this for you?’

‘There is,’ Poe said. ‘Archie Arreghini promised me his last one if I found his daughter’s killer.’

‘I’d love a dram, if you have one spare?’

‘You can have the whole damned bottle, Uncle Bertie.’

‘I think we’re drawing to a close,’ Locke said. ‘I have a house to secure with bullet-resistant glass, and Hannah will need to discuss Miss Bradshaw’s routines with her so she can mirror her actions.’

‘We’ll beef up Tilly’s car too,’ Finch said. ‘Just in case he tries for me on the street. He won’t, but it’s my head on the block.’

Locke made a note. ‘I’ll get our people on it. Make sure the driver’s window is reinforced. We’ll use the same stuff the PM gets. You’ll drive the route before Poe goes on television?’

‘I’ll know it like the back of my hand. If there are any pinch points, I’ll fix them.’

‘Is there anything else, Poe?’ Locke asked.

‘Actually, there is,’ Poe said. ‘I was in the army, but I wasn’t a sniper. I need someone to walk me through what Puck will look for in a firing position.’

Locke grinned. ‘I know just the man,’ he said.