‘No, I don’t,’ Bradshaw said. ‘But as soon as Estelle found out what Ezekiel Puck had said to you, she knew it would get in your head. That you’d stew on it, decide an irrational decision was in everyone’s best interests. We decided to take precautions.’
‘Which is why you’re blocking the road?’
‘It is, Poe.’
‘But what if I hadn’t reversed? What if I’d kept on going into Corbridge?’
‘DCI Flynn would have stopped you.’
‘There’s a sideroad, I could have—’
‘Poe, I’m just going to stop you there,’ she said. ‘Allthe roads are covered. Alastor Locke has surveillance drones in the air. We’ve been watching you since last night.’ She paused. ‘By the way, what was it Edgar found to roll in?’
‘You don’t want to know.’
‘I do.’
‘A dead fox.’
‘Oh,’ she said. ‘You were right. Ididn’twant to know.’
‘I’m that predictable?’ Poe said.
‘You are, Poe. Estelle says it’s because you’re a good man.’ She reached into her pocket and handed him an envelope. ‘But, just in case you’re still having doubts, I have a letter for you.’
It was a cream envelope, thick paper, sealed with red wax, Doyle’s family crest stamped in the middle. Poe read it. He smiled. Couldn’t help it. It was short and sweet andverydirect. ‘Have you read this?’ he asked Bradshaw.
‘I have, Poe.’
‘It says, “If you think you’re leaving me at the altar, Poe, I’ll track you down and kick you so hard in the balls they’ll shoot out of your fucking nose.”’ He folded up the letter. Put it back in the envelope. It was a keeper. ‘“Fucking” is in capital letters,’ he said.
Bradshaw nodded.
‘So is “nose”.’
She nodded again.
‘She’s underlined them too.’
‘I know.’
‘You’re my best friend, Tilly,’ he said. ‘What do you think I should do?’
‘Do you love Estelle Doyle, Poe?’
‘You know I do.’
‘And do you want to be married to her?’
‘I do.’
‘Then shouldn’t you be saying those words to someone else?’ Poe frowned. ‘When did you get so bloody wise?’
‘I watch a lot ofStar Trek, Poe.’
Poe thought that might have been the Bradshawiest answer to any question he’d ever asked her. He chuckled. Then he stopped.
She saw his expression change. ‘Shall we go up?’ she said.
