Chapter 38

Joshua took them to Cornelius Green's rooms. He had lived on the grounds, in the old headmaster's residence. It was tucked into a grassy embankment and was a traditional Lake District cottage, all coarse, unevenly sized stones. Superintendent Nightingale's team had already been through it, and she'd OK'd them to go in and have a root around.

‘It's not locked,' Joshua said.

‘Bloody hell, how much stuff did they take?' were Poe's first words when he stepped inside Cornelius's cottage. It was usually murder suspects, not murder victims who had their homes raided by the cops. All Nightingale had left was a cot, a small table and a single chair. There was a Bible on the table and a wooden cross fixed to the wall.

‘I don't think they took anything, Sergeant Poe,' Joshua said. ‘Cornelius preferred his quarters sparse and functional. He took all his meals in the main building.'

‘What did he do in his spare time?'

‘He read his Bible and he prayed.'

‘Nothing else?'

‘What else is there?'

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

‘Cornelius was in an intimate relationship.'

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

‘Does our faith frighten you, Sergeant Poe?'

‘Zealots frighten 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.

‘Of course,' Joshua replied. ‘He was the founder.'

‘Let's see it then.'