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Authors: Robert Sims
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them and he doesn’t need further reminding. We know he’s killed before to settle a score.’
Proctor ignored him and turned to Rita. ‘What exactly was the lead you were following today?’
‘A smartcard embossed with the name Plato’s Cave,’ she said, taking it from her pocket and handing it to him. ‘I spoke to the victim, Emma Schultz, again this morning. She said the attacker showed her the card and talked about cyber sex games. In light of her visit to the club, and Kavella’s track record in organising sexual sadism, I decided to question him.’
‘There’s clear logic there,’ conceded Proctor, turning the card over in his hand. ‘And Kavella’s response?’
‘He told me to stick it up my arse, but didn’t immediately deny the card was from his club.’
‘What’s it for, precisely?’ Proctor wanted to know.
Rita shrugged. ‘The crime lab can’t tell us, other than to say it’s some sort of super-smartcard. It’s heavily encrypted.’
Proctor sat back, rubbing his chin. ‘It’s quite possible you’ve stumbled onto something we’ve failed to pin down in three months’
work. We know he’s invested in a big hi-tech system housed next to his office. He bought the adjoining building from Victor Yang - it used to be a Chinese laundry. Then he reinforced and soundproofed the walls and, apart from fire escapes, sealed the exterior entrances, with access only from his premises. He got planning permission for office suites, but what he really uses it for, we don’t know.’
‘I saw a connecting door,’ put in Rita. ‘Steel-plated.’
‘Exactly. It’s his private fortress, and we can’t get into it with listening or tracking devices or phone taps. But you’ve managed to get close, and in his face at the same time. I think we can take it further.’
‘If you’re thinking of entrapment,’ Nash warned Proctor, ‘I refuse to sanction it.’
‘I’m thinking more of encouragement - spur him into action to give himself away. And for all we know, Van Hassel is right about Kavella’s involvement in the mutilation; he’s capable of it. Our separate investigations may have reached common ground.’
‘What sort of encouragement?’ asked Nash.
‘The Delos Club. She could drop the name in front of him, sometime in the near future, when their paths cross again.’
‘But we don’t know where or what the Delos Club is,’ pointed out Nash.
‘We know it’s pivotal,’ argued Proctor. ‘A secret meeting place, perhaps. We’ve got it on tape three times in conversations between Kavella and other gangland figures. If it’s a genuine club, it’s not listed as such. The word “Delos” pulls up about a million results on a web search, but other than learning the island of Delos was Apollo’s birthplace, we’re none the wiser. What about you, Van Hassel? Can you shed any light? You know how Kavella’s mind works better than most.’
‘He’s a psychopath,’ she answered. ‘He likes toying with people, including their heads. Symbols and emblems are what he’s into, and don’t forget he studied classics for a while - look at the name of his nightclub.’
‘I don’t want a profile,’ said Proctor. ‘I’m asking for ideas.’
She paused, before continuing. ‘The island of Delos was the headquarters of the Delian League in the fifth century bc when the Greek city-states united against the Persians. It became the basis of the Athenian Empire. I’d say the Delos Club is the code for the association he’s forming.’
‘My God, it fits,’ Proctor breathed. ‘He’s empire building.’ He faced both Nash and Loftus squarely. ‘And I think Van Hassel’s just proven her value to my op.’
‘That remains to be seen,’ said Nash, as he turned his cold gaze on her again. ‘And don’t forget, young woman, I’ve got you in my sights.’
‘Calm down, Van Hassel,’ said Loftus. He had asked Rita to accompany him back to his office. ‘They’re just following
Proctor ignored him and turned to Rita. ‘What exactly was the lead you were following today?’
‘A smartcard embossed with the name Plato’s Cave,’ she said, taking it from her pocket and handing it to him. ‘I spoke to the victim, Emma Schultz, again this morning. She said the attacker showed her the card and talked about cyber sex games. In light of her visit to the club, and Kavella’s track record in organising sexual sadism, I decided to question him.’
‘There’s clear logic there,’ conceded Proctor, turning the card over in his hand. ‘And Kavella’s response?’
‘He told me to stick it up my arse, but didn’t immediately deny the card was from his club.’
‘What’s it for, precisely?’ Proctor wanted to know.
Rita shrugged. ‘The crime lab can’t tell us, other than to say it’s some sort of super-smartcard. It’s heavily encrypted.’
Proctor sat back, rubbing his chin. ‘It’s quite possible you’ve stumbled onto something we’ve failed to pin down in three months’
work. We know he’s invested in a big hi-tech system housed next to his office. He bought the adjoining building from Victor Yang - it used to be a Chinese laundry. Then he reinforced and soundproofed the walls and, apart from fire escapes, sealed the exterior entrances, with access only from his premises. He got planning permission for office suites, but what he really uses it for, we don’t know.’
‘I saw a connecting door,’ put in Rita. ‘Steel-plated.’
‘Exactly. It’s his private fortress, and we can’t get into it with listening or tracking devices or phone taps. But you’ve managed to get close, and in his face at the same time. I think we can take it further.’
‘If you’re thinking of entrapment,’ Nash warned Proctor, ‘I refuse to sanction it.’
‘I’m thinking more of encouragement - spur him into action to give himself away. And for all we know, Van Hassel is right about Kavella’s involvement in the mutilation; he’s capable of it. Our separate investigations may have reached common ground.’
‘What sort of encouragement?’ asked Nash.
‘The Delos Club. She could drop the name in front of him, sometime in the near future, when their paths cross again.’
‘But we don’t know where or what the Delos Club is,’ pointed out Nash.
‘We know it’s pivotal,’ argued Proctor. ‘A secret meeting place, perhaps. We’ve got it on tape three times in conversations between Kavella and other gangland figures. If it’s a genuine club, it’s not listed as such. The word “Delos” pulls up about a million results on a web search, but other than learning the island of Delos was Apollo’s birthplace, we’re none the wiser. What about you, Van Hassel? Can you shed any light? You know how Kavella’s mind works better than most.’
‘He’s a psychopath,’ she answered. ‘He likes toying with people, including their heads. Symbols and emblems are what he’s into, and don’t forget he studied classics for a while - look at the name of his nightclub.’
‘I don’t want a profile,’ said Proctor. ‘I’m asking for ideas.’
She paused, before continuing. ‘The island of Delos was the headquarters of the Delian League in the fifth century bc when the Greek city-states united against the Persians. It became the basis of the Athenian Empire. I’d say the Delos Club is the code for the association he’s forming.’
‘My God, it fits,’ Proctor breathed. ‘He’s empire building.’ He faced both Nash and Loftus squarely. ‘And I think Van Hassel’s just proven her value to my op.’
‘That remains to be seen,’ said Nash, as he turned his cold gaze on her again. ‘And don’t forget, young woman, I’ve got you in my sights.’
‘Calm down, Van Hassel,’ said Loftus. He had asked Rita to accompany him back to his office. ‘They’re just following
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