‘I think we need to look back over any fatalities of university-age kids over the last ten years at least. Maybe even minor crimes, too. See if we can’t work out how long it’s been going on for,’ Adrian said.

‘I could try to get that information together, but it might take some time,’ Gary said.

‘I can do it,’ Adrian chipped in, aware that Gary was still a bit on the frosty side towards him. ‘We might be able to get some information on who the lecturers were once we have some student names, and then we can cross-reference and see if there are any overlaps. Maybe we can find the final puppetmaster that way.’

‘Right. Matt, see if you can get access to those psychological evaluations. Gary, keep doing what you’re doing. DS Grey and DS Miles, keep looking for connections between the three students. If you don’t find anything in the next couple of hours, then you need to let Blackwell go. I’ve got to make a statement to the press in the morning, so it would be good to actually have some progress to report. I’m going home now, but run any developments past DI Walsh until I get back,’ DCI Kapoor said. They all stood up as the DCI left and then followed her out.

Adrian stood back and waited for Matt Walsh to leave before grabbing Gary’s arm.

‘Gary, can I have a word?’ Adrian pulled Gary to one side.

‘Uh-oh,’ Gary said.

‘Have you found anything on the computers that could link back to Parker?’

‘I’m not hiding evidence from the DCI, if that’s what you’re after,’ Gary huffed.

‘No, God, of course not,’ Adrian said hurriedly.

‘Then what?’

‘It seems his wife is worried that something bad has happened to him.’

‘Aside from what I showed you earlier on the VT, I don’t know about that. The professors obviously know it’s not one of their guys on the tapes, but whether they knew who he was is another story. To be honest, I have no idea what pertains to him and what doesn’t. Finding Russ Beacham before he kills anyone else has to be a priority right now.’

‘That’s the plan.’

‘Well, if he is as good as you say he is, then if we look for Russ Beacham, we might find him anyway. He might know where Russ is; he could be with him right now.’

‘Good point,’ Adrian said.

‘Anyway, I better get on with it,’ Gary said.

‘Are we all right?’

‘I’m just very uncomfortable with lying. I’m not annoyed at you though. I completely understand why you made the decisions you did.’

‘I’m sorry we put you in this position.’

Adrian wasn’t lying. He was sorry he had put himself in this position too. Although he didn’t think he had been wrong, the fact remained that there would be a strain on their friendship until Parker stopped actively killing people, and probably for a while after that, too. Every single death that happened from this point on was Adrian’s fault. That wasn’t an easy thing to live with. Adrian knew though that back in that moment when he decided to let Parker go at the end of the museum case, he had made the right call and that it hadn’t even felt like a decision at all at the time.