‘Sarcastic cow. I’m serious. I know you’ve only just started this psychology kick, and you’re not exactly qualified, but, without wanting it to go to your head or anything, I think you have an instinctual understanding of people, and you might see things in a different way from me.’

‘I am good, aren’t I?’ she said with a smug grin on her face.

‘You betcha baby.’

‘So why don’t you listen to me, then?’

‘That’s different.’

‘What’s it worth?’

‘You mean besides the satisfaction of helping out the police in putting a dangerous killer behind bars and avenging the deaths of so many unfortunate victims?’

‘Yeah, aside from that. Are we talking all-expenses-paid girls’ shopping trip to Melbourne, or are we talking ice cream at the corner dairy?’

‘Chocolate or hokey-pokey?’

‘I suspected as much. You better tell me all about it, then.’

So I did, starting with suspecting the boyfriend, then looking at university colleagues, then discovering the circus link and having the investigation lurch over there, the media, the protesters and the vigilantes. I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed when I talked about those who died from the circus, animal and human, and neither could she. I filled her in on the findings of those following up on the animal-rights activists, which were zip, and then Smithy’s and my visit back to the university and Rose-Marie’s colleagues again. I also told her about my theory on the ‘close-your-eyes-and-hold-out-your-hands’ thing, which made her reach for the tissues. All in all, I was so repulsed by the end of it we needed a fresh round of Milos and emptied the packet of Toffee Pops.

‘Well,’ I said. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think I wished you paid a professional instead of asking me.’

‘I’m sure the boss has been asking the professionals, but I don’t have access to that information at the moment, and I’d really appreciate your outside opinion. I feel too close to it all. You’re a step removed and can bring fresh eyes to it.’

‘Okay, then,’ Maggie said, reaching forward to deposit her mug on the coffee table before leaning back into the sofa and tapping her fingertips together like some Hollywood shrink. ‘No laughing, promise?’

‘Promise,’ I said and made the Boy Scouts sign.

‘Your killer is a very intelligent man, and I mean very, very intelligent. Look at what he’s achieved here. He’s got you guys chasing your tails and completely perplexed. At this exact moment in time he’s probably laughing. He is extremely arrogant, to go with his intelligence. He has carried out five killings and hasn’t been caught, and probably thinks he never will be. That’s a weakness to exploit, by the way.’