‘Bill and Gina, I want you to book a block of time in a quiet place. You both know everything we have about how The Ghoul presents to women he’s entrapping. Go over and over it because there’s a grey area. We don’t know how he performs on the phone. Based on what we know from his writing, it’s a fairly safe bet to say it’ll be more of the same. Practise that phone call.’

‘I’ll be Beauty,’ said Riley.

‘And I’ll be The Ghoul,’ replied Hendricks.

‘What is it, Bill?’ asked Clay. ‘You’ve got that shit’s about to hit the fan look on your face.’

‘That’s because it is, Eve. Big time. Gina gets on the phone to him, he offers to take her on a date, who’s actually going to go on that date with death?’

‘You think I haven’t thought about that, Bill?’

‘I’m sure you have, Eve, but I’d like to know what is your thinking on it?’

Without hesitation, Clay said, ‘I’m going on the date. We’ll organise a covert but extensive firearms presence and flood the area with plain-clothes officers.’

Hendricks and Riley looked at each other and the following silence was dense and filled with an intense prickly heat.

‘Well, say something?’ said Clay.

‘Have you told Thomas yet?’ asked Hendricks.

‘I’ve been in much worse danger, Bill, you know that. If The Ghoul tells me through Gina to meet him at the padlocked railings, there’ll be more coppers floating round the Albert Dock than at Goodison Park or Anfield on match day. I’ll be perfectly safe.’

‘Are you sure, Eve?’ The anxiety on Riley’s face was raw and came from deep within.

‘I’m sure. What option do we have? This is a golden opportunity to catch him. If the past is anything to go on, Francesca Christie’s got four and a half days before she shows up in a ditch or a river with no face and scalp. It’s our primary duty to protect the public. We can’t leave her to that bastard’s tender loving care.’

‘You don’t fit the physical profile, Eve,’ said Hendricks.

‘That was tactfully stated,’ said Clay. ‘Even if it was a little cack-handed.’

‘I’m sorry, Eve. I’m looking at safer alternatives, strategies…’

‘There are none. OK, I’m a long way past twenty-five and I’m a brunette. I’ll dye my hair blonde and make myself up like Francesca Christie on her profile picture. If he gets close enough to see my face, then he’s going to shit himself hard and fast because I’ll be carrying a fully loaded Glock and I will use it if he gives the game away and tries to attack me.’