Chapter 78
‘As I was saying, six years ago, Vice Admiral Boyer died. Pulmonary embolism. You don’t remember him, Poe?’
‘I don’t.’
‘He had a distinguished naval career before joining the boards of several defence companies. All above board. His interests were declared before contracts were awarded.’
‘OK,’ Poe said.
‘Do you remember the prime minister paying his respects at the start of PMQs?’
‘I don’t watch Prime Minister’s Questions. If I want to see infants scream at each other, I’ll go to a football match.’
‘And it wouldn’t matter if you did. The PM made no statement. No one in government did. Why do you think that was? Boyer had an unblemished record. Served his country with distinction.’
‘He was a Red Chamber client?’
‘He was. He told everyone that the woman who went everywhere with him was his personal assistant.’
‘And people bought that?’
‘For twenty years.’
‘What happened?’
‘Like I said, he died.’
‘Before or after his Red Chamber contract had finished?’
‘We think five years after.’
‘And the powers-that-be found out he’d kept a concubine. Probably when they were vetting him ahead of the PM making a statement.’
‘That’s not what happened, Poe.’
‘Oh?’
‘His daughter inherited his estate. On his death, she forced open the safe in his office. Found an AegisBox.’
‘A handheld safe that destroys its contents if tampered with,’ Bradshaw said without being asked.
‘Do you want to guess what she found inside the AegisBox?’
Poe’s mouth went dry. He suddenly felt cold, like his office had turned into a meat locker. He closed his eyes.
Gilliard nodded. Realised Poe had worked it out for himself. ‘What do you know about snuff films, Poe?’
Poe opened his eyes. Took his time before he answered.
‘They’re an urban myth,’ he said carefully.