most vulnerable and therefore easiest to kill.’
‘And their murderers are seldom caught.’
‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t create a profile for the killer that could help narrow the search.’
Magnus motioned Rhona over to the computer. ‘I was going to present this at Monday’s meeting.’
‘Can I take a look?’
‘Be my guest.’
Rhona read through the detailed observations on the appearance, character, social and sexual history of the perpetrator, and hoped Magnus would be able to convince Bill.
She realised he was watching her and, no doubt, working out what she was thinking. Rhona decided to call his bluff and allowed her thoughts to turn to sex. She imagined how many women Magnus had made love to in this room. She imagined him naked – always a good way to demystify academics. Unfortunately the idea backfired. Rhona was suddenly aware from the look in his eyes that Magnus was thinking along the same lines.
There was a moment that lasted an hour, when neither spoke.
‘I have to go.’ The standard get-out clause. As a put-down, it didn’t work. Magnus’s keen eye never wavered. Instead Rhona could swear his eyes twinkled. She wanted to laugh. Magnus did laugh.
‘Great minds think alike.’
‘You are very forward.’
‘I try to be honest. We’re working together professionally. Otherwise I would have tried my luck.’
‘I’m taken.’ It sounded like a successful move in chess.
‘At the moment.’
How could they be having this conversation? Read one way, it could be a bit of light-hearted banter. But it wasn’t. It was a mating dance, with Magnus’s mind as the peacock’s tail. Rhona thought of Sean – his charisma, the power of his music. Men only choose women who choose them. He’d told her that once. It avoids too many rejections. Their mutual desire was strong, but they never discussed things. A meeting of minds – psychology and science – was an intriguing thought.
After she left, Magnus sat where Rhona had sat, and allowed himself to breathe her in. His body responded to her even more intensely than he thought it would. It had been this strong only once before. In view of the outcome that time, he’d hoped, planned for it never to happen again.
Magnus read the three messages again. There were those who were willing to carry out unspeakable acts, and those who preferred the visceral thrill of watching.Magnus had no doubt there would be responses to the online auction.
The killer was developing. Now he wanted to be observed while he killed. He wanted to record it, to relive the experience himself through the eyes of others.
The hair on Magnus’s forearms rose, as though a draught of cold air had entered the room.
20
THE UNEASY FEELING Rhona had experienced earlier seemed to be following her like a bad smell. The parking below Magnus’s flat was close to the river, which Rhona could hear lapping against the concrete barrier. She’d parked in an empty bay, obviously belonging to another resident who had retaliated by blocking her exit with a four-by-four. As she struggled to manoeuvre around the vehicle, she imagined the owner watching, mouthing ‘serve you right, bitch’.
Once out of the confined space and back on the road, she felt better. As it was Saturday, she’d promised Sean she would come by the club on her way home. After the session with Magnus, it seemed important to keep her word. Although she would have preferred a quiet night in where she could have contemplated both the case and Magnus’s part in it.
Despite all the police warnings, Finnieston red-light district had its usual quota of young women looking for clients. Lights shone from the incident caravan on the corner of Cadogan and Douglas Street. There was a similar set-up in Calton. Hopefully the high police presence would keep the killer away from both areas,but if he’d already picked up his next victim, he wouldn’t need to come back.
Work at the incident room would carry on all
‘And their murderers are seldom caught.’
‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t create a profile for the killer that could help narrow the search.’
Magnus motioned Rhona over to the computer. ‘I was going to present this at Monday’s meeting.’
‘Can I take a look?’
‘Be my guest.’
Rhona read through the detailed observations on the appearance, character, social and sexual history of the perpetrator, and hoped Magnus would be able to convince Bill.
She realised he was watching her and, no doubt, working out what she was thinking. Rhona decided to call his bluff and allowed her thoughts to turn to sex. She imagined how many women Magnus had made love to in this room. She imagined him naked – always a good way to demystify academics. Unfortunately the idea backfired. Rhona was suddenly aware from the look in his eyes that Magnus was thinking along the same lines.
There was a moment that lasted an hour, when neither spoke.
‘I have to go.’ The standard get-out clause. As a put-down, it didn’t work. Magnus’s keen eye never wavered. Instead Rhona could swear his eyes twinkled. She wanted to laugh. Magnus did laugh.
‘Great minds think alike.’
‘You are very forward.’
‘I try to be honest. We’re working together professionally. Otherwise I would have tried my luck.’
‘I’m taken.’ It sounded like a successful move in chess.
‘At the moment.’
How could they be having this conversation? Read one way, it could be a bit of light-hearted banter. But it wasn’t. It was a mating dance, with Magnus’s mind as the peacock’s tail. Rhona thought of Sean – his charisma, the power of his music. Men only choose women who choose them. He’d told her that once. It avoids too many rejections. Their mutual desire was strong, but they never discussed things. A meeting of minds – psychology and science – was an intriguing thought.
After she left, Magnus sat where Rhona had sat, and allowed himself to breathe her in. His body responded to her even more intensely than he thought it would. It had been this strong only once before. In view of the outcome that time, he’d hoped, planned for it never to happen again.
Magnus read the three messages again. There were those who were willing to carry out unspeakable acts, and those who preferred the visceral thrill of watching.Magnus had no doubt there would be responses to the online auction.
The killer was developing. Now he wanted to be observed while he killed. He wanted to record it, to relive the experience himself through the eyes of others.
The hair on Magnus’s forearms rose, as though a draught of cold air had entered the room.
20
THE UNEASY FEELING Rhona had experienced earlier seemed to be following her like a bad smell. The parking below Magnus’s flat was close to the river, which Rhona could hear lapping against the concrete barrier. She’d parked in an empty bay, obviously belonging to another resident who had retaliated by blocking her exit with a four-by-four. As she struggled to manoeuvre around the vehicle, she imagined the owner watching, mouthing ‘serve you right, bitch’.
Once out of the confined space and back on the road, she felt better. As it was Saturday, she’d promised Sean she would come by the club on her way home. After the session with Magnus, it seemed important to keep her word. Although she would have preferred a quiet night in where she could have contemplated both the case and Magnus’s part in it.
Despite all the police warnings, Finnieston red-light district had its usual quota of young women looking for clients. Lights shone from the incident caravan on the corner of Cadogan and Douglas Street. There was a similar set-up in Calton. Hopefully the high police presence would keep the killer away from both areas,but if he’d already picked up his next victim, he wouldn’t need to come back.
Work at the incident room would carry on all
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