***
He had two more phone calls to make before he got up north. The first was easy. He needed to speak to Estelle Doyle’s solicitor, Ania Kierczynska. Bradshaw dialled the number for him. It went to voicemail.
‘Ania, it’s Poe. Can you call me back when you receive this? I need you to make a judge in chambers bail application for Estelle.’
A JiC was an application for a Crown Court judge to consider bail. The defendant’s solicitor had to complete a two-page form and submit it twenty-four hours before the matter was heard. A judge would then consider it in his chambers. For a JiC to be successful there needed to be a significant change in circumstances. Poe briefly outlined the linseed oil and the red and white cotton threads found in the Botanist’s flat.
It sounded weak, even to him. He was hoping that by the time Ania met with the judge, they’d have something more persuasive. He ended the call and hoped she had enough faith in him to do as he had asked.
‘Now for the tricky one,’ he said.
He scrolled down his contacts, found who he wanted and pressed call.
‘What the fuck do you want now, Poe?’ Detective Chief Inspector Tai-young Lee snapped.