‘I can give you all the clichés, and unfortunately they’re usually true. It’s most likely, unless we have an extremely rare, utter psychopath on our hands, that the killer comes from an abusive background and that he was either abandoned young by a parent, or later by his wife. But none of that will be apparent in his day-to-day behaviour. What you should also be on the alert for is a groupie. Somebody who wants to be involved with the case.’

As she was writing this, she continued to speak over her shoulder.

‘You should keep an eye, too, for a direct link to one of the victims – most likely the first or second. It’s highly probable that he was consumed with the desire to kill one specific woman and he’s been trying to recreate that feeling ever since. I say first or second because he may have killed a stranger first so he could be sure he was capable of doing it.’

Tom had been listening so intently he’d completely forgotten that he’d been sweating prior to Linda standing up. In fact, his body temperature seemed to have plummeted. It didn’t help that the psychologist was describing the most horrific things in such a polite, matter-of-fact way.

‘At the scene,’ he said, wanting to squeeze every last drop of valuable knowledge from her, ‘Emmet said that the body we think is Una Dolan appeared to have been dug up and reburied, shallow enough that she was easily found by the dog. The other bodies were much deeper. What motive could the killer have had for digging her up?’

Several officers in the room turned a distinct shade of green – including Ray, despite being already aware of the grisly fact.

‘Do you remember, Tom, a couple of years ago we got into a conversation about that book your wife loves – Wuthering Heights?’

The inspector had to scan his memories. Jesus, Linda McCarn forgot nothing. He had it now. A cosy sitting room in a convent in Limerick, the psychologist picking up the discarded favoured book of one of the nuns central to a case at the time.

‘I do,’ he confirmed for Linda.

‘And do you recall, we talked about that horrific but beautifully poignant scene when Heathcliff digs up Cathy because he needs to see and hold her one last time?’

‘That’s disgusting!’ Ray exclaimed.

Linda shrugged.

‘There is one other explanation, if it indeed was her killer who dug her up.’

‘Which is?’ Tom prompted.

‘He wanted her and the others to be found. He’s tired of doing this without you knowing. He’s either inviting you onto his dance floor or …’

‘What, Linda?’

‘Or he wants to be stopped.’

CHAPTER 7

‘We have to start talking to these women’s families as soon as possible.’