‘She’s not,’ said Randy categorically. ‘If she were dead, that would make it my fault, because I’m the one who encouraged her to become a police officer in the first place. And frankly, although my ego is considerable in size, I’m not sure it’s robust enough to take the hit.’

Fleet gave a smile in spite of himself. It quickly faltered. ‘The point is, the only way I’m going to find her now is to solve this case.’

This time Randy didn’t argue.

‘Maybe we were wrong,’ Fleet went on. ‘Maybe it’s not just one person we’re looking for. Maybe whoever killed Lance and Melissa isn’t the same person who killed Ben.’

Randy seemed to consider this for a moment, then shook his head. ‘I’m rarely wrong, Detective Inspector, as I’ve told you before. And that’s not just my ego talking. When it comes to forensic medicine, it’s a statistical fact. If it wasn’t the same person who killed all three victims, I’ll eat my proverbial hat.’

It wasn’t the answer Fleet wanted to hear. Or maybe it was. Christ. He didn’t know what he wanted to hear. This whole case was as inscrutable as the water below his feet.

‘There’s no question in my mind that Melissa Haynes, Lance Wheeler and Callum Richardson were all guilty of something,’ Fleet said, thinking aloud. ‘Richardson wears his lack of remorse like a badge. It’s almost as though he wants people to be aware of what he’s capable of, just so long as he knows he can’t be caught. And as for Lance and Melissa, you said it yourself, Randy. Lance was on his way to drinking himself to death. Melissa was killing herself with drugs. Their entire lives since Beaconsfield have been an exercise in self-flagellation.’

‘So Richardson then?’ said Randy. ‘That’s who you’re left with.’

Fleet had long ago reached the same conclusion himself. ‘I think he’s ruthless enough,’ he agreed. ‘Particularly if it was a question of saving his own skin. But just from a practical standpoint, how could Richardson have done it? He’s got an airtight alibi for Lance’s murder. And when it comes to Melissa, I can’t quite see him prowling around the city’s slums.’ He looked towards the houses in the streets beside the docks. ‘Richardson could have paid someone to kill Lance and Melissa, of course, but if he hired a so-called professional, I’d say he’d be entitled to ask for his money back.’