Insights for today. The fact he chooses such an unusual method of murder must have some significance for him. I think it must have played a substantial role in whatever childhood experiences shaped his psyche. I now know that similar methods were used in psychological torture by the Nazis, certainly at Hochenstein. That he is using Hochenstein as an alias reinforces this connection. If, as I surmise, he works on a boat, this has tremendous resonance. He is a waterman, water is his world, and by using it to kill them, he’s saying that his power is stronger than theirs. So, I really think we should forget lorry drivers and concentrate on bargees.

Now, when I was in Bremen, the cop who was showing me round told me that, because the Rhine was in spate, it was closed to commercial traffic. If our man is on a barge, then surely that means he’s not been able to get away? He must still be where he was when he killed Dr Calvet. Therefore he’s got to be either in Köln itself or within easy striking distance of it. I realize that’s a big area, but if you can start to narrow down the possible boats that were in the areas of the other crimes, it might just make it easier for you to put your hands on him.

I’m sorry this is coming at you in bits and pieces, but I’m conscious that he’s working to a short-gap timetable and that the media attention is probably putting pressure on the investigation so I’m throwing stuff at you as it comes to me.

I’m going over to Petra’s now to take another look at the case files. But I’ll be checking my e-mail if any of you need to get hold of me.

Tony

Rado was bored. He’d been sitting outside the apartment block since dawn, and neither Caroline Jackson nor the man from 102 had appeared. Caroline’s curtains were still drawn, even though it was past nine o’clock, and nothing was happening. It was all right for his uncle Darko, holed up in a café round the corner. He was warm, coffee’d up and with access to a toilet. Being stuck in a parked car was a long way off comfortable.

He was considering a foray to the corner kiosk for a paper when the door to the apartment block opened and the man from 102 walked out, a laptop case slung over his shoulder. He hit the speed-dial button for his uncle’s mobile. ‘Hi, it’s Rado,’ he gabbled. ‘The man’s on the move. He’s walking down towards the Ku’damm. Looks as if he’s trying to hail a taxi.’