Layton leaned forward and gestured as he spoke. ‘But our psychopaths would lack the emotional context. Their language would be different and their behaviour more rational.’

‘So you would filter for that?’

He sat back and exhaled. ‘It’s a big job, Augusta. A sophisticated process and certainly not one your average university department could handle, if that’s what you’re getting at.’

Bloom shook her head. ‘And not something an individual could pull off alone either.’

Layton frowned. ‘You’re not thinking of doing this, are you? For what possible purpose?’

‘Goodness, no. I’m just conducting a feasibility study. Like I say, this is theoretical.’

Layton insisted on paying. ‘You get the next one,’ he said, inserting his card into the machine and tapping in his pin. Bloom left a tip on the table and they collected their coats from the stand by the door. The rain was falling heavily on the pavement.

‘Seeking out functional psychopaths is one thing, Augusta,’ said Layton as they stepped outside, ‘but what on earth do you do with them once you’ve found them?’

You read my mind, thought Bloom.

41

‘Are you sure you’re up to this?’ Bloom said as she arrived in the office for the daily conference call.

‘Stop fussing.’ Jameson sat at his desk with an untouched sandwich and drink in front of him. Even his freckles looked pale today. ‘Tell me again what Barker said yesterday.’

‘Just that he’d be taking up the Assistant Chief Constable post a little earlier than expected, so he might not be as available going forwards.’

‘And what did you say?’

‘I told him that it seemed a bit of a coincidence that he was suddenly needed elsewhere. And he said it was just one of those things.’

‘Like your professional conduct coming into question and me being hospitalized by a rogue cyclist.’

‘You’ve changed your tune.’

‘I’ve had time to think.’

‘If the person running this game didn’t know about us before Llewellyn, they certainly do now. So it’s not paranoia to question why our most senior officer is suddenly needed elsewhere. He says that police can’t be influenced by an outside party, but look at DCI Warren Beardsley.’

‘The police officer who’s playing the game? You think he’s influencing the investigation?’

‘Maybe not directly. But the game has identified at least one potential psychopath within the police force, and I’m pretty sure there’ll be others. It’s an obvious career choice for people drawn to power.’

Jameson swivelled his chair to face her.

‘Whoever’s running this thing wanted to be noticed,’ she went on. ‘Like you said, they could have carried out the whole recruitment process in secret, but they didn’t. I don’t think the dare-to-play invitation was meant exclusively for the psychopaths. I think it’s also meant for us and for the police.’

‘So we’re playing too?’