The Puppet Show (Washington Poe)

The door opened and Reid walked in. He passed a document to Poe, who examined it. It was a warrant to recover and seize all records pertaining to the Seven Pines Children’s Home going back thirty years. He handed it to Evans, who removed his spectacles and replaced them with some readers. He studied it, then said, ‘All in order. Now, I have everything in my office because I assumed we’d get to this point. I’ll need a hand carrying it over if I can borrow someone . . .’

‘Kylian?’ Poe asked.

‘On it.’ Reid stood, ‘Lead the way, Mr Evans.’

Before leaving the room, Evans turned and spoke to Jackson. ‘Audrey, I am fine if you want to talk to Sergeant Poe now.’

Poe looked at Jackson. She unfolded her arms.

‘Have I got a tale to tell you, Sergeant Poe,’ she said.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

‘Hilary Swift resigned,’ Audrey Jackson said. ‘And it wasn’t a resignation “after years of dedicated service”. It was more like a “If you don’t resign, you will be sacked” kind of thing. And it all began with that charity event.’

Poe’s heart started beating that little bit faster. He leaned forward. ‘The one on Ullswater?’

Bradshaw flicked through the images on her tablet until she found the clearest one of the invitation they’d found at the gala. She passed it over.

Jackson barely glanced. ‘That’s it.’

‘You sure?’

‘I am. And the reason I know is because I was one of the investigating social workers after the incident.’

Poe looked at her in confusion. ‘Why would a social worker be doing the investigating? If misappropriation of funds was suspected, surely the council’s financial or legal team would be better placed?’

Her brow furrowed. ‘I know nothing about the finances, Sergeant Poe,’ she replied. ‘Although I haven’t seen the file, Mr Evans tells me that there was never a suspicion of any wrongdoing. My understanding is that Seven Pines did all right out of it.’

Poe frowned. His theory had just taken a dent.

But when one door closes . . .

‘No, I was involved in investigating what happened after the event.’

‘Explain,’ Poe said.

Jackson said, ‘What you won’t know, because it doesn’t say so on the invitation, is that not only was the event for Seven Pines, it was hosted by Seven Pines.’

Bradshaw began flicking through her exhibit photographs. She looked at Poe and shook her head.

Jackson continued, ‘And what I mean is that Hilary Swift was heavily involved in setting it up. Because it was a self-catered event – they basically hired the boat for the evening and did everything else themselves – four of the boys from the home were there working as waiters to cut down on costs. Fetching fresh drinks and plates of canapés for their guests, that type of thing.’

‘Sounds like child abuse,’ Poe said.

‘Not really. The home did this type of thing a few times a year and it was a bit of a racket for the kids really.’

‘Why is that, Audrey?’ Bradshaw asked.

‘Because they knew the more cute and helpless they looked, the more tips they’d get. Those kids were streetwise, and they knew how to tug on heartstrings. When I spoke to Hilary Swift afterwards, she said she reckoned the boys had each cleared more than five hundred pounds.’

‘In tips?’ Poe exclaimed. Twenty-six years ago, that was a staggering amount for a child.

‘In tips,’ Jackson confirmed. ‘And I suppose when you think about it, it’s not an absurd concept. The guests were all there to support the home; why not give to the boys directly?’

‘I can think of a few reasons,’ Poe said. ‘How old were they?’

‘Ten and eleven,’ she replied.