Barely glancing at the photo, Delaney got a bullheaded expression on his face. “I pay those girls good money for what they do. I never make them do anything they don’t want.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.” Quinn sighed and pushed his hand through his hair. “Someone seemed to be angry that Polly had been posing for pictures for you. Any idea who that might be?”
“You’re investigating Polly’s murder?” Delaney visibly relaxed. “I don’t know who did it, Inspector. But it was a damn shame.” He waved to the picture. “She was a lovely chit. Sweet, too.”
“Did she ever mention any of her ex-clients? A lover? Someone who might have had an issue with her working for you?”
“She said that uppity bitch what runs Mercy House could never find out, or she’d be out on her arse,” Delaney said unhelpfully. “She wanted to leave that place. A girl like her wasn’t meant to work in no factory. But she needed to build up a little nest egg first. That’s why she agreed to be in my pictures.”
Hearing Allison referred to in such a manner rankled him, but Quinn forced himself to ignore it. “So, what I saw earlier... that’s what Polly was mixed up in?”
“That didn’t have nothin’ to do with what happened to Polly. I run a safe shop. My girls are well taken care of. They like workin’ for me.” Delaney sat back smugly, no longer showing any nervousness, which made Quinn wonder what he’d had to be nervous about earlier.
Quinn sighed. He didn’t think Delaney was responsible for Polly’s death. He did, however, think that the man could be wrong about what she’d been involved in having nothing to do with it.
“All right, you can go. But if you remember anything about someone who had an interest in Polly, you let me know.” Quinn waved a dismissive hand, and Delaney didn’t waste any time scurrying out like the cockroach he was.
“Someone might have been jealous,” Ness said the moment the door slammed shut behind Delaney. “They might have found out she was posing for Delaney for money and had an issue with it. That might be why he left the photo. He thought she was his and didn’t like that just anyone could see all her private bits.”
Quinn nodded. “I was thinking that too.”
Ness paced back and forth a few times. “I think we should bring Belle back in. If anyone knows what Polly was up to, it would be her.”
“Yes, why don’t you send one of the men after her?”
Ness strode toward the door. “Anything else?” he called over his shoulder.
Quinn shook his head, then paused. “Actually, send someone to tell the Earl of Hawkesmere that his sister is all right. I saw her this morning. She’s staying with a friend.”
Pinning him with a stare, Ness shook his head. “You’re playing a dangerous game, my friend.”
“Don’t I know it,” Quinn grumbled.