‘How?’
‘Because I trained him,’ Locke had replied.
Which was all Poe had needed to be told.
Locke’s second revision was bullet-resistant glass with a UL 752 protection level of 10. He said 10 was rated for .50 BMG ammunition, the same kind Puck was using.
‘Instead of a mannequin, we have Hannah act normally. She’ll enter the house and go up to Miss Bradshaw’s bedroom. She’ll sit at her desk and turn on the lamp. Puck will have a clear view of her, but he won’t see the bulletproof screen we’ll have constructed behind the window. When he shoots, he’ll break Mr and Mrs Bradshaw’s window, but the bullet won’t penetrate the secondary window. Hannah pretends to fall off her chair. Puck will think it’s job done.’
‘There’ll be no pretending involved,’ Finch said. ‘Those bullets make quite the bang.’
Flynn scowled. ‘Then what? Who’s the Sherlock Holmes shouting “Gotcha!”?’
‘No one,’ Poe said.
‘No one? Then what the hell are we bothering for?’
‘We can’t take him in Southampton, boss. It’s too urban. We won’t know where he’ll choose to shoot from, and even if we could somehow figure that out, we can’t risk him going all Gomer Pyle on us. We can’t risk him going out with a bang. No, we take him in an area we control. An area we know but he doesn’t.’
‘And where is this magical place?’
‘We take him on Shap Fell.’
Chapter 95
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 itwillcome 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.
