Archer becomes lost in her thoughts for a moment before laying them out. ‘What have we got? A killer posing as an artist. His art is murder. So far, he is doing a good job of covering his tracks killing witnesses, burning evidence or pickling it in formaldehyde. Nothing is random for him. His kills have been carefully planned and I suspect his victims have been selected long before they were abducted.’

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Taking people from the streets of London isn’t an easy task. There’s CCTV everywhere.’

‘We may yet find something on film.’

‘Possibly. However, I think he’s smarter than that.’

‘How so?’

Archer sighs. ‘I’m not sure. It’s all just hunches so far.’

‘He’s clearly targeting the homeless. They are vulnerable and easy victims. What’s his beef there, do you think?’

‘He calls his collection “The Forsaken”. His victims are outcasts, abandoned by society, neglected and destitute.’

‘Safe to assume his next victims will be homeless too.’

‘It would seem so. Down on the Strand there is a mobile soup kitchen today with Haircuts for the Homeless too. They usually have a big turn-out. Let’s head there and start asking questions. Somebody may have been approached and maybe someone knows what happened to Billy, Stan or Noel.’

Quinn starts up the car as Archer makes a call to Os at Charing Cross nick.

Os picks up. ‘Os Pike speaking.’

‘Os, it’s Archer. Quick request. Please email the police system photos of Billy Perrin, Noel Tipping and Stan Buxton to me and DS Quinn. We’ll pick them up on our phones.’

‘Will do.’

‘Did you get my email about the videos?’

‘I did and I’ll start on those later today.’

Archer frowns. ‘Make them a priority, please.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Thanks.’

Archer came across the Haircuts for Homeless project operating on a street in Camden two years ago during a routine investigation of a missing person. Barbers and hairdressers gave up their free time to cut the hair of men and women who lived and slept rough on London’s streets. One homeless man was brought to tears, not just because of his smart new look, but because for those fifteen minutes he was no longer invisible and forgotten. Archer wasn’t only touched by the grateful man’s reaction, but by the philanthropic initiative made by the hair stylists. It was this selfless commitment that spurred her to contact Eula Higgins at The Connection and give up some of her time to help others.

At the bottom of Adelaide Street, where it meets the Strand, a large gazebo has been erected. Inside are four gas lamp heaters and four chairs around which the homeless clientele mingle like brothers- and sisters-in-arms drinking hot tea or soup from styrofoam mugs that are being handed out from the soup kitchen. An old retro-style radio plays pop music and there’s a cheerful vibe in the air.