Van Heiden broke the awkward silence.

‘How likely is all of this, Frau Doktor? Do you think this psychopath believes this “Blood Eagle” nonsense?’

‘It’s possible. It’s definitely possible. And it does explain the religiosity of the e-mail. But if it is true, then we are dealing with a much more sophisticated and structured psychopathy. I would imagine that he plans everything in great detail and well in advance. That means he’ll leave as little as possible to chance.’

Fabel had been turning a pencil around between his fingers. He sighed and threw it down onto the table. ‘And that means he’s less likely to slip up and give us a lead. And a religious motive means, as we already suspected, he could be on some kind of crusade … unless it is all a smokescreen. Or at least a partial smokescreen …’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Susanne.

‘I don’t entirely know what I mean. I’ve no doubt that our guy believes this crap, but maybe it isn’t what drives him. Maybe he’s hiding another motive in all of this. Why did he erase everything from Blüm’s computer? And why did he steal files? And I’m not the only one who’s flagged up the possibility.’ Fabel then gave a brief summary of what Brauner had had to say.

‘Frau Doktor?’ Van Heiden invited a response to Fabel’s statement.

Susanne frowned. ‘It is possible. People with a motive to murder have often “dressed it up” to fit with some other psychological agenda.’ She turned back to Fabel. ‘You’re saying that there may be a division between motive and method? That there is a need to kill other than for the pleasure or psychotic fulfilment that he derives from the act?

‘Exactly.’

‘Possible. I can’t say it’s likely, but it’s possible.’

The door of the conference room opened. Maria Klee, clutching a thick file, came in and apologised for being late, although she seemed less than contrite and looked more than a little pleased with herself. Fabel paused for a second before continuing.

‘The only way we can be sure,’ Fabel continued, ‘is to establish more facts. We’ve got to probe deeper. We must find Klugmann and find out what it is he’s withholding from us. If there’s a link between the victims we’ve got to find it. Are we any closer to finding him?’

Anna Wolff answered. ‘No, Chef. Sorry. Klugmann obviously knows how to stay lost. We’ve kept a close watch on his girlfriend, Sonja, but there’s been no attempt at contact.’

Fabel worried at his chin with a thumb and forefinger. ‘I want us to take a closer look at the Odinist connection. I have a name, the Temple of Asatru, that needs checking out. Werner, I’d like you to pay Mr MacSwain a return visit as well and ask him where he was when Angelika Blüm was being murdered.’

‘You think he’s a possible?’

‘Well we didn’t have the time to fix a surveillance on him and he could, just about, fit the description we got from the girl outside Blüm’s apartment. Although if it’s accurate, MacSwain’s hair is too dark.’ Fabel paused. His mind had moved on and there was a bitter irritation in his expression. ‘There’s no way we can build a fact trail between all three victims if we don’t have an identity for one of them. We absolutely must crack the identity of Monique. That is our number-one priority. Someone, somewhere, must know who she is.’