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Flynn was waiting for Poe in the reception area. It was brightly lit with grey pleather seats arranged in horseshoe-shaped booths. Behind the seats was a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall, etched metal print showing the evolution of the National Crime Agency. It officially came into existence in 2013, but subsumed agencies such as the UK Human Trafficking Centre and the National Criminal Intelligence Service, which had much longer histories. Every time Poe saw the print, he was reminded how disparate the NCA’s legacy organisations were.

Bradshaw and a man Poe didn’t recognise were seated beside Flynn.

‘What are you doing this week, Poe?’ Flynn asked.

‘Depends on the rest of the information you’re about to give me, I suppose,’ he replied, eyeing the stranger warily. He was wearing a suit. Not the hardwearing suits cops wore, this one looked as though he’d stood on a tailor’s box and been asked which way he dressed. His shoes were highly polished and scuff free. He had gel on his hair and his nails were manicured. He looked like the kind of arsehole who modelled designer glasses in airport magazines. Poe took an immediate dislike to him.

‘I need you, Tilly and Linus to head up to Cumbria,’ Flynn said. ‘Detective Superintendent Jo Nightingale is waiting for you. She’ll call with directions when you get there.’

‘Where’s there?’

‘Keswick.’

‘She can’t have another serial, surely?’ Poe said.

Cumbria had seen more than its fair share of serial killers recently.

‘Not a serial.’

‘Then why the referral?’

SCAS only got involved if a territorial police force asked for their assistance. Serial killers were obvious examples, but solving apparently motiveless murders was also a unit speciality. Poe had worked with Nightingale before. She was capable and well respected but, like all cops, she saw calling in outside help as an admission of failure.

‘I don’t think she wanted to make a referral,’ Flynn said. ‘I think her hand was forced.’

‘I’m not sure—’

‘This evening you have a meeting with the Bishop of Carlisle. He’ll explain his intervention then.’

‘You haven’t been told?’

Flynn shook her head. ‘Superintendent Nightingale said there might be a religious angle to the case, but other than that neither of us has any idea why the bishop has involved himself.’

Poe sighed. The last time he investigated a crime involving Christians he had walked into a room and they’d all turned their backs on him. One of them had said in a stage whisper, ‘The unchurched always look so miserable, don’t they?’ They’d sniggered, right up to the point Poe put his cuffs on one of them and arrested him for rape.

Flynn gestured to the man wearing the inappropriate suit. ‘This is Linus Jorgensen. He will be going up with you.’

‘Good morning,’ Linus said, thrusting out his hand. ‘I’m very excited to be working with you, Sergeant Poe.’

Poe ignored him. ‘What the fuck is this?’ he said to Flynn. ‘I work alone.’

Flynn sighed. ‘Poe, Tilly’s accompanied you on your last eighteen cases,’ she said.

‘That’s right, I work alone with Tilly.’

‘Well, not this time. Linus is with the National Audit Office. There’s an ongoing value-for-money audit and SCAS has been singled out as it’s one of the few NCA units that doesn’t directly contribute to the counterterrorism agenda.’

‘He’s very young,’ Poe said. ‘Perhaps he’s an intern?’

‘I’m not an intern,’ Linus said.

‘And what sort of name is Linus? Wasn’t he one of Snoopy’s gang?’

‘He was Charlie Brown’s best friend, Poe,’ Bradshaw said. ‘He was always sucking his thumb.’

‘I’m standing right next to you,’ Linus said. ‘And Linus is a family name.’

‘A cartoon family,’ Poe said.

‘Grow up, Poe,’ Flynn said.

‘I am grown up. I couldn’t be more grown up if I had a Saga Magazine subscription.’

‘You might find Linus useful if there is a religious angle to the case. He read theology at Durham so he can help you navigate around what can be a habitually irate community.’

‘We don’t need a chaperone, boss.’

‘Poe, last time you met with the bishop, Tilly talked him through constipation in the elderly statistics.’

‘It was her first time in the field,’ he protested. ‘She knows better now.’

‘I certainly do,’ Bradshaw said. ‘Constipation in the over seventies is now at an all-time high. Recent studies suggest that because people are living longer, they are often widowed for longer. And because widowed people often lack interest in eating, they over rely on convenience food, which tends to be low in fibre and high in salt. Do you think the bishop will be interested in this, Poe?’

Flynn looked at Poe. ‘See?’ she said.

‘So, Tilly waits in the car this time,’ he said. ‘Problem solved.’

‘Last year, when that nun’s finger had been pickled in vinegar, you referred to that priest’s sandals as Nazareth Nikes.’

‘And I’ve already apologised for that.’ Poe considered his rapidly shrinking options. ‘How about Snoopy stays in London, but I promise to email him a full report every night.’

‘Please call him Linus, Poe,’ Flynn said. ‘And you’re going to be emailing a full report every night anyway.’

‘I am? Why?’

‘Because I’m not coming with you,’ Flynn explained. ‘Not this time. I have my hands full with this audit.’

Poe walked into the far corner of the reception area. ‘Can I have a word in private, boss?’ he said.

Flynn followed him. Linus did too.

‘Doesn’t look like it,’ she said.

‘Go away, Snoopy,’ Poe said.

‘For Pete’s sake,’ Linus said. ‘Could you be any ruder?’

‘If Tilly will ever let me swear again, yes. Now, fuck off.’

Linus scowled and for a moment Poe thought he wasn’t going to back down. But eventually he lowered his eyes and rejoined Bradshaw on the pleather seats.

‘I’m sorry, but this is happening, Poe,’ Flynn said as soon as Linus was out of earshot. ‘This came from the director, and I got the impression he was under orders as well.’

‘It wasn’t two years ago we broke up that looted antiquities ring,’ he said. ‘And they were buying directly from Al-Qaeda.’

‘What’s your point?’

‘My point is you don’t have to go too far back to find SCAS’s contribution to the counterterrorism agenda.’

Flynn didn’t answer.

‘Which means the counterterrorism budget angle is bullshit,’ Poe continued. ‘It’s a way in, not the end game.’

‘The director and I have just had the exact same conversation,’ she said.

‘I know you have. And that’s because neither of you are stupid people. So what’s this really about? Who is this guy?’

‘We don’t know,’ she replied. ‘And that’s what worries us.’