Page 41 of The Mercy Chair

‘I don’t know,’ Poe said. ‘Friendship? Intimate relationships? Beer? The usual stuff.’

‘Corneliuswasin an intimate relationship.’

‘Who with? And you’d better not say God.’

‘Does our faith frighten you, Sergeant Poe?’

‘Zealotsfrighten me, Joshua,’ Poe said. ‘Zealots fly planes into buildings. Zealots make pipe bombs. Zealots kill doctors.’

‘The Children of Job is a peaceful organisation.’

‘Some people say it’s a cult.’

‘Is that what you think?’

‘I haven’t made up my mind yet.’

Joshua had no answer to that.

‘Who gets the top job now?’ Poe asked.

‘As I told you, the board will meet soon.’

‘You after it?’

‘I won’t be applying.’

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t have the seniority.’

‘Who has?’

‘Why do you want to know?’

‘Cui bono, Joshua?’

‘Who benefits?’

‘You know your Latin.’

‘I used to be a barrister. You want to know who would benefit from Cornelius Green’s death?’

‘I do,’ Poe said.

Joshua sighed. ‘Cornelius was an easy man to admire, but a hard man to like, Sergeant Poe.’

‘Why was that?’

‘His piety. Some of our members found it hard to live up to.’

‘His faith was too extreme?’

Joshua shook his head. ‘That’s not what I’m saying. We’re all devout here, but sometimes Cornelius’s commitment could be . . . overwhelming.’

Poe nodded. Human behaviour crept into every aspect of life. It didn’t matter if it was investment banking or religious extremism – there was always a never-acknowledged but sharply observed hierarchy. And the people at the bottom of the ladder were always eyeing the rung above. He’d make sure Superintendent Nightingale was aware of this; he had neither the time nor the authority to bring in every member of the Children of Job for questioning.

‘I understand Cornelius had an office,’ he said.

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