Fabel handed back the photograph. ‘I believe you, Herr Yilmaz. But in the meantime you continue to sell drugs to kids and fight street wars with the Ukrainians.’

Yilmaz’s face hardened. ‘There is no war with the Ukrainians. All that is over.’

‘I would have thought they would be the prime suspects in your cousin’s killing?’

Something like a smile broke across Yilmaz’s face, but his dark eyes remained fixed on Fabel. ‘Herr Fabel, shall I tell you what I think of you?’

Fabel was taken aback slightly, but shrugged. ‘Okay. Go ahead.’

‘You are a policeman; I believe, an honest and straightforward policeman. You are obviously an intelligent man, but your view of your function is simplistic. In fact, you wouldn’t call it a function, you’d call it a duty. You see it as your job to protect the innocent and to catch those who would do them harm. People like me. Or psychopaths or other damaged people who transcend simple good or bad. And, for you, the law is everything. It is your shield, the shield with which you protect others.’

‘And somehow this is misguided?’

‘Simplistic, is how I described it. It is a moral colour-blindness. For you, the forces of law are the forces of good, while people like me are evil. Some of your colleagues, however, are more aware of the shades between. Sometimes they are the shades between.’

‘Are you saying police officers had something to do with Ulugbay’s death?’

‘Herr Fabel, what I’m saying is that there is a lot going on out there that someone like you cannot begin to understand. And, with the greatest respect, I think you should stay out of it.’ Yilmaz rose to his feet. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you with your inquiry.’

Fabel placed his coffee cup on the antique side table. ‘Herr Yilmaz, there is a monster out there. He is, literally, tearing the lungs from women’s bodies. I need all the help I can get to stop him. If there is anything you can tell me …’

‘Lying to the police is a skill that I have had to hone over the years. But in this instance, I assure you I am telling you the truth. I really have no knowledge of this girl or of Klugmann’s arrangement with her.’ Yilmaz paused, as if weighing something up. ‘I’ll tell you what, I’ll have some of my own people look into it. They perhaps have access to sources that would not talk to the police. And, of course, we can be more … well, direct in our approach. I promise you that if we find out anything I will let you know.’

Yilmaz showed Fabel to the door himself. As he was leaving, Fabel turned to Yilmaz.

‘What I don’t understand is, if you are so keen to legitimise your business, why don’t you just cease all illegal activities now, instead of phasing them out?’

Yilmaz laughed. ‘Ask any business consultant: diversification has to be funded and supported by a strong core business base. Once the turnover of my diversified operations – particularly the building and property side – has equalled that of the core business, I will have the security I need to legitimise the business totally.’