'Very similar to Lucinda, striking and looks older than sixteen. This could be the same man despite the lack of knife wounds. Do you need any extra officers?'

'You'll never find me saying no to that!'

'They're yours. I thought you'd be interested in the reports from the forensic psychologist in London and the FBI profiler.' He glanced apologetically at Fenwick who still hadn't seen them.

It was gone midnight but Fenwick was as awake as if it were midday. He accepted a cup of bad coffee while a junior officer ran off copies of the profiles. In twelve tightly typed pages the psychologist had cla.s.sified all the murders and rapes on Fenwick's original list and had concluded that, despite there being striking physical similarities in the victims, they were the work of two men. Subject 'A', who could be Griffiths, was in behavioural terms different from Subject 'B', the Knightsbridge killer who was described as an expressive killer.

Claire Keating had explained to him once that for a serial killer the murder is simply an expression of the desire to kill, an end in itself. Having life-or-death control over their victims stimulated expressive murderers. The significant degree of violence pre- and post-mortem, and the delay before killing the Knightsbridge victim suggested that the true source of pleasure was not the s.e.xual act itself but the killer's ability to exercise sustained control.

With Subject A, Griffiths, the profiler admitted some confusion. The entrapment through THE GAME and the stalking all suggested a form of enjoyment through control but the crimes themselves, though brutal, were clearly s.e.xually motivated. Statements from the rape victims who survived all supported the suggestion that enough violence was used to coerce the victim and to force s.e.x upon her but no more.

The FBI a.n.a.lysis was consistent. They had gone into even more detail on Subject B and had summarised their key findings: Physical Description: Male, Caucasian, late twenties or early thirties. Well dressed. Attractive. Employed, with reasonable income and life style.

Social and Cultural Background: Victims are female, post-adolescent, young adult, which means there should be no automatic a.s.sumption of abuse as a child. It is entirely possible that B led a relatively normal childhood. However, it is also possible that his relationships with his parents (mother in particular) may have held tensions, e.g. he felt he had never met expectations; emotional relationships were under-developed; there was sibling rivalry; father may have been (or B felt him to have been) distant.

A well-adjusted, social, charming personality suggests well-integrated family life, regular schooling. B's confidence and lack of respect for social norms may mean that he dabbled in minor crime during adolescence, seeking thrills. If he escaped punishment for these, he will have a reinforced a sense of superiority towards society and law enforcement.

Clear evidence of sociopathic behaviours: He is unlikely to have any guilt for his crimes and does not respect rules. B is likely to be impulsive. There is no evidence of planning in his crimes rather they appear to be driven by desires that he has no inclination to control. He will react negatively to challenge and is likely to be deeply frustrated with a society that is not providing him with what he thinks he deserves.

It is possible that he is in a medium-term relationship with a woman: either engaged, married or partner. This may be a 'normal' relationship on the surface, but is merely convenient (for s.e.x, food, money, routine tasks or a useful 'cover' to prove his normality to society).

Method: There is extreme violence pre- and post-mortem, inflicted over a sustained period. Some of this is likely to accompany the acts of rape (e.g. the biting and beating) but the scale of genital injury and mutilation after death is an expression of hatred towards women and their s.e.xual power. Subconsciously, he despises his need for s.e.x as it implies that women have ultimate power over him, a concept that is deeply threatening to him. Consequently, he uses violence as both a disguise for his need and in revenge for his dependence.

The taking of a finger is not consistent with the extreme violence of the attacks and seems contrived. If A and B are acquainted it could be a simplistic means of linking their crimes to confuse investigation.

His confidence will be growing. This may lead him to make mistakes but it will also mean that he is more likely to attack again more quickly.

The incident room remained quiet after the officers had finished reading the report. Fenwick felt sullied by its contents, despite the detachment of the writing, as if looking inside the killer's mind had contaminated his own. He eventually broke the silence.

'This makes it all the more strange that Killer B should copy Griffith's methods in this latest attack. Why would he do so?'

MacIntyre yawned and stretched.

'The question's only relevant if they are connected and that is unproven.' MacIntyre glared a warning at Fenwick not to confuse Amos with his theories. 'I'm going to catch a few hours sleep before the press conference in the morning. I can't wait to see their faces when they learn that she's alive.'

Caravans had been set aside for police use. Cooper and MacIntyre headed off but Fenwick stayed with Amos, studying the incident boards, already full of information.

'Any ideas?' Amos appeared to be a confident man who didn't mind the insights of others. He was about the same age as Fenwick but heavier set and shorter. He looked as if he might have boxed and the break in his nose supported the idea.

'Killer B is an intelligent man. Why did he hide her so close to the site instead of taking her body away by car?'

'We still didn't find her for thirty-six hours. We tried dogs but they lost his trail. It was raining yesterday and that helped to clear the scent as well.'

'He couldn't rely on the rain. It doesn't feel right.'

There was a map on one wall with pins indicating sites linked to the crime. Fenwick pointed to a blue pin by the railway line.

'What happened here?'

'A sighting of a young man about midnight.'

Fenwick stared at the map.

'There's no evidence that he has used a car in any crime. What if he came here by train and left the same way?'

'I have posters going up at all stations and officers interviewing people on and off the trains.' He eyed Fenwick with interest. 'Why are you so keen to find this man? You don't have any open cases to worry about?'

Fenwick paused, then decided to risk the man's cynicism by telling him of his fears for Nightingale. He emphasised the link between the ransacking of her flat and the letter to Griffiths.

'And you think the murderer is Griffiths' secret pen-pal?'

'Yes.'

'Isn't it more likely that the stalker is a friend of Griffiths who is simply hara.s.sing her? Why do you think that he knows the killer and that they chose to work together?'

'The similarities of the victims, the unsolved crimes, two distinctive MO's in proximate locations, the pristine state of Griffiths flat, so consistent with the lack of trace evidence. There's plenty of circ.u.mstantial reasons.'

'But no hard evidence.'

'None, but I just know. It sounds crazy, and I'm used to being told I have conspiracy theories on the brain, but I'm often right.'

'It's odd but not daft. I hope this Nightingale of yours is worth your worry.'

'Oh she is.'

Eddie read the Daily Mail in his van on Tuesday as the express hurtled back to Birmingham. The picture on the front cover made him spill his coffee. It was the man he had seen on this train a week ago, the man he had been so concerned about. He read the story twice, raising his eyebrows at the name of the officer in charge who was an old sparring partner. As soon as the train pulled in to its final stop, he was off to a phone at a run.

'Derek Amos, please. It's urgent.'

'The Superintendent is unavailable, can I help you?'

'No you b.l.o.o.d.y can't! I want to speak to Derek. Tell him it's Eddie Swaine and it's very urgent, about this case he's on.'

He had to wait and the supervisor was giving him black looks for staying on the phone for so long but he ignored him. Derek sounded irritable when he eventually came to the phone.

'This had better be b.l.o.o.d.y good, Eddie.'

'I saw him. The bloke you want. Two weeks ago on the train from London to Birmingham.' He described his encounter and his concerns.

'Are you sure this is our man?'

'I wrote the details down and I've got them here. There's no mistaking him.'

'I'm going to have someone from the local force come over to take your statement right now. Don't go away.'

CHAPTER TWENTY.

Fenwick left for Harlden with Cooper and a copy of Tasmin's file and arrived at the station by noon. In Quinlan's office he spread the contents on his desk and waited in silence.

'My G.o.d, this is grotesque. And they think it's the same man?'

'Can't be sure, but he tried to take her finger and the face is identical to the Knightsbridge killer. Only the hair and eye colours are different but they're both easily changed.'

'How long since the killing in London?'

'Two weeks.' The statement hung in the air. 'I'm worried for Nightingale.'

'You've got to let that drop, Andrew. I accept that there's a remote chance this killer is somehow linked to Griffiths but Nightingale is fine. There have been rea.s.suring Emails so we know that she's safe. Let it go it's an unnecessary complication based only on your conjecture.'

'Her original Emails to Cooper might have been rea.s.suring but the one she sent me acknowledges she's still receiving hate mail.'

'Which says what?'

'I don't know; I can't open the attachment with it in. Every time I try to my system shuts down. IT support are trying to open it for me.'

'And what else did she say, Andrew?'

Fenwick looked away, unwilling to repeat Nightingale's words of rea.s.surance.

'Exactly,' Quinlan said, vindicated, 'she doesn't feel threatened does she?'

'She says she's in a place no one can find but...'

'She should know.'

'But the physical similarity...'

'Nightingale was chosen for the operation because of that. Now look, MacIntrye has asked for you to be seconded to his team. It'll mean virtually living in London until the case is closed, and you can't carry that crusade with you there. Are you up for it?'

Fenwick thought of the children, home for the holidays and took a deep breath.

'Yes. I'll go.' If Quinlan shared MacIntyre's scepticism it was the only chance he would have to pursue his theory, and screw the consequences.

The problem of how to persuade Quinlan and MacIntyre that Nightingale was in real danger stayed in his mind for the rest of the day, even when he was with Bess and Chris. When he told them he would have to go away there were tears and sulks but by the time he put them to bed, far later than normal, they were friends again. Mrs Knight was kind enough to say she would forego her days off if need be and he packed his overnight case with a growing sense of antic.i.p.ation.

Before he could reach the offices of the Metropolitan Police the next day, MacIntyre rang and directed him to Doctor Batchelor's house. He would meet him there.

'I still think that B is unconnected to Griffiths but I need to exhaust every angle. If Griffiths is a link he'll be suspicious with too many interviews but we can ask the Doctor whatever we like. Anyway, I want to form my own opinion.'

Batchelor was waiting for them and opened the door before they rang the bell. Fenwick was delighted to see that concern had replaced his sanctimonious expression.

They followed him down a narrow hall and into the womb-like room. Batchelor positioned himself safely behind his desk. MacIntyre took the lead.

'It is possible that Griffiths may be linked to a man who is raping and murdering young girls. We need to identify this person before he attacks again and information from Griffiths may be helpful. As I said on the phone this morning, if you claim patient-doctor privilege I shall do whatever is necessary to compel you to a.s.sist. This case has the Home Secretary's personal interest.'

'There's no need to threaten me, Superintendent. The Govenor has given her support to your request. For my prison work the patient signs a disclaimer in case the authorities require detailed reports.' Nevertheless his hands shook as he found and lit a cigarette.

MacIntyre put a tape recorder on the desk and switched it on. He identified the people in the room, the time and date, then looked expectantly at the doctor.

'How would you describe Griffiths? What sort of man is he?'

'Reasonably intelligent. I ran some IQ tests. His scores averaged 105. Reserved, shy, not always articulate. It came as no surprise to me to learn that he had made his living as a software developer.'

'Was he a successful one?'

'Very. In one interview he told me that in his peak year he made 100,000. He also had some stock in one of the companies he had worked for. The idea of being a shareholder appealed to him although he was frustrated that he hadn't sold his shares as others had done, when they were worth ten times what they are now.'

Fenwick raised a hand and MacIntryre nodded.

'You said when others had sold. What others do you think he meant?'

'I don't know.'

'Yet it was someone he knew well enough to have a conversation with about personal financial affairs?'

'Yes. Well, let me see what else I can tell you about the man.' He leant back in his oversized black leather chair and stroked his wispy beard. Some of his confidence was returning. 'I've had many patients who have committed violent crimes. Griffiths is different. In fact, I find it hard to believe him guilty of such violence towards women.'

'Did he mention any normal relationships with women?' MacIntyre took up the questioning again.

'He a.s.sured me that he'd had healthy s.e.xual relationships in the past and no problems relating to women not sure I believed him. He was abandoned as an infant and lived in a series of children's homes until being fostered by a family as a teenager. He describes that as the turning point in this life.'

'What else did he say about growing up?'

'I have a tape of an interview with him. Would you like to hear it?'

Batchelor rummaged in a filing cabinet then inserted a numbered tape into his own machine and forwarded it to the right moment. Griffith's voice filled the room.

'The early years were difficult. None of the homes was well run and there were always fights. I stayed out of them but it was hard to. Some of the carers beat us.

'I never expected to be fostered, but my life changed. The house was out in the country I'd never seen a real sheep before then. I started to enjoy school. It was weird. I found I was good at some subjects: maths, computer studies. We didn't have a computer in the house so I stayed behind to use the school one.'

'What do your foster parents think of your imprisonment?'

'They're dead, a while back. I told you before I have no relatives.'

'Were there other children at home?'

There was a pause, then Griffiths' voice.

'No. Just me. I told you. There was no one.'