Page 13 of The Mercy Chair

‘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 somiserable, 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 aSaga Magazinesubscription.’

‘You might find Linus useful if thereisa 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.’

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