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Stella.’
    â€˜Of course, I will.’
    â€˜And it better be good: I think the current serial killer wanted her for one of his victims. We’ve got to remember there was that dummy … that was aimed at Stella somehow.’
    Abruptly, Paul Masters said: ‘Dr Carmichael thinks the paedophile pictures are a put-together collection and he believes that they are also part of the murder investigation. The cases are connected.’
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    Later that evening, Superintendent Jack Miller and Inspector Winnie Ardet were having a coffee together. News got around and by this time, they had a pretty good idea of what had happened to Stella Pinero and were putting their own gloss on it.
    â€˜We have to tell the Chief Commmander our suspicions,’ Winnie swigged her drink. ‘Wonder what he’ll make of it?’
    â€˜That’s what we are sitting here discussing.’ said Miller. ‘He’s a decent sort, he’ll listen. Believe we’ve got it right, I think. Probably worked it out already. He’s clever, you know.’ He spoke with respect. ‘It’s all one case.’
    â€˜It deserves a place in the history of crime and murder,’
said Winnie Ardet, who had her academic side. ‘I might write it myself.’
    â€˜We shall have to get an interview with Stella herself,’ said Miller.
    â€˜Sure. I’ve always found her easy to talk to, haven’t you?’
    â€˜How many murders have we had?’
    â€˜More than I care to count,’ said Winnie, although she had counted and had set up the Incident room with many desks, one for every dead woman and another called Idea and Extras.

    Amy Buckley
Mary Rice
Phillida Jessup
Angela Dover
The body in Pepper Alley as yet nameless.

    And Stella Pinero could have been one more.
    â€˜It’s quite a list,’ Miller said. ‘Makes it a horrible case, I think it’s going to turn into the case of the century.’
    â€˜Right, then let’s ask for an appointment with the Chief Commander and tell him what we think.’
    Miller finished his drink. ‘I’ve already done it. I fixed it up with Paul Masters … He understood and we have an appointment tomorrow. He knew the Chief Commander would want to see us.’
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    Although Coffin and Stella were tired when she got back, sleep and peace would not come easily. ‘I’m going into the theatre tomorrow,’ Stella was emphatic.
    â€˜I knew you would do.’
    â€˜There is something I want to show you now though.’
    She produced from a pocket a pornographic photograph of a child.

    â€˜This was stuck in the back of my trousers when I got of the car. I don’t know how it got there.’ She looked at her husband. ‘It must be all one case.’
    After a pause, Coffin said, half to himself: ‘I shall want to see everyone.’

Chapter 7
    â€˜I knew the Chief Commander would want to see everyone working on the various cases,’ said Paul Masters. ‘I took the liberty of calling a meeting.’ This was one of the occasions when Masters’ slightly pedantic way of speaking was effective.
    There they all were: Superintendent Miller and Inspector Winnie Ardet sitting near each other, Sergeant Mercy Adams and Phoebe Astley facing each other across a small table.
    â€˜I think we’ve all thought for some time now that it was all one case,’ said Phoebe. ‘Felt like it, somehow.’
    â€˜You’re not usually one for intuition,’ said Paul.
    â€˜Growing on me,’ She grinned at him. ‘Comes of working with you.’
    â€˜Joe will be sorry to miss this,’ said Mercy, to no one in particular. She had worked with him, and although not an easy colleague (which was not telling everything, by any means) she respected his mental powers. Mercy was back at work but looking pale. Had she come back too soon? A few more days off?
    â€˜Still not up to