Chapter 76

Poe was fifteen minutes away from All Saints Church when the bishop called. He pressed the accept button on his steering wheel but before the bishop could speak, Poe said, ‘You're on speakerphone, sir, and I'm not on my own.'

‘I don't have any state secrets to share, Washington,' the bishop replied. ‘At least not today.'

‘Are we good?'

‘We are. The warden of All Saints will meet you at the church in ninety minutes.'

‘Why so long?'

‘It's going to take a bit of time to put everything together, I'm afraid. There are computer records to print, old ledgers to dust off. Believe me, ninety minutes is quick for what Tilly has asked for. I hope you have a strong-backed young man with you.'

‘Just my intern,' Poe said.

Linus rolled his eyes.

‘Ah, hence the warning about the speakerphone. Anyway, I have things to be getting on with, Washington – let me know if I can be of further assistance.'

‘It seems we have an hour to kill,' Linus said, after Poe had ended the call.

‘We do,' Poe agreed. He glanced at the dashboard clock. ‘Eve Bowman doesn't live that far away. If we hurry we can drop in on her and still keep our meeting with the church warden.'

‘Why do you want to see her again?'

‘I want to know why she didn't tell me about her sister's journal.'