‘That’s the other reason I rang,’ Hawkins said. ‘We think the killer is approaching his victims in person. If Mardell’s involved, it’s possible he’d identified someone else who thought they needed help, and was waiting for them, to make his offer.’

‘I suppose that makes sense, but regular members of the society rarely come here, if at all. There are very few of us here day to day.’

Just then, a chime resonated somewhere deeper inside the building. It sounded like a grandfather clock. Immediately, Tom left the desk and went through a door at the rear of the hall.

Hawkins decided it was time to be more direct, turning back to White. ‘Have you ever believed yourself to be harbouring unwanted spirits?’

The corners of his eyes creased, but otherwise his face remained relaxed. ‘No.’

‘You haven’t discussed with anyone the possibility of being possessed, or posted such fears on the internet?’

‘Absolutely not.’

She took his word for now. ‘Who else comes to this building on a regular basis?’

‘Myself and Tom, obviously. Apart from that, our cleaning lady comes in twice a week, and we have a maintenance chap who attends as required.’

‘When was your maintenance man last here?’

‘We haven’t needed him for a couple of months.’

‘So, who else was in this building on the day Mardell was outside?’

He frowned. ‘Only Tom, I think … yes, it was just the two of us.’

‘Could Mardell have been looking for him?’ She nodded after his assistant.

‘It’s unlikely.’

‘Really? Both times I’ve been here, Tom’s behaviour has been … detached, to say the least.’

‘That’s just his way, Detective. Tom hasn’t changed in the five years we’ve been working together. Granted, he isn’t fond of company, but neither is he a fearful man.’

‘Fair enough, but I still need to check. Could you call him back?’

White glanced at the empty desk, and left through the same door his assistant had used, to return a moment later. ‘I’m sorry, Detective, I missed him. He’s running a small errand for me.’

‘Does he have a phone with him?’

White shook his head. ‘He doesn’t carry one. But he’ll be back in about an hour.’

She found a business card and handed it over. ‘Would you have him call me on this number when he returns?’

He agreed, and tucked the card away.

‘One more thing,’ Hawkins said. ‘We know at least two of the first three victims believed their spirits came from a church near Thundridge in Hertfordshire with supposedly satanic connections, while the latest victim had recently attended a séance. Have you, or anyone who comes here, taken part in anything like that over recent months?’

A flicker of something crossed White’s face, and for a second Hawkins thought he was about to back her theory, but then it was gone.