Finally a name for the head of Deliverance, but you already knew that.”

“Adrianna is a myth Meyer. It isn't the first time the leader of a terrorist group would take the name of a figure from legend. It doesn't help us in the slightest. My question?”

“A myth? He said it with quite some conviction and you know, they cannot lie to me. First Grendal, then Adrianna - are you worried?”

“It is just a name and there is no evidence to suggest your serial killer is in fact one of the five. They are all dead, it has been hundreds of years Meyer, are you going soft? You appear to be avoiding my question. Was that all he said?”

“Now why would I do that? How could I possibly get away with anything, when you have that new infernal contraption of yours?”

“We focused it on the section of thoughts you directed us to for your interrogation, but the machine picks up everything. Is there a need for me to review it all?” Helena said.

A smile had spread across her haggard face, her deep-set wrinkles becoming ever more pronounced. She had him, it was just a matter of time until she knew everything. Charlie entered the room, breaking the silence that had developed between the pair and placed a glass by Meyer.

“Boy, what on earth do you call this?” Meyer said.

“It's water sir,” Charlie said.

“I asked for whiskey.”

“Sir, we only have water coolers and-”

“Never mind. Helena, if that is all?” Meyer said, turning to her.

Helena smiled, something unnatural about the expression on her face. “For now.”

- Chapter 17 -

Evidence

Another face on the board, the printed image of the unknown victim taken from Alex's phone until forensics could send across the photographs from the scene. Underneath she wrote:

Name: unknown.

Age: unknown.

Occupation: unknown.

Cause of death: Lateral incision to throat, potential suicide.

The last item was more of a mystery than the rest, the word potential only awaiting confirmation from Chris. Why had the victim killed himself? He was also the first victim found without any identification, which was surely important. There was something special about this killing, if they were going to find a break in the case, this murder was key.

The Homicide and Serious Crime Command, or SCD1 for short, dealt with the most heinous and prominent of crimes and, as such, was filled with the best detectives in the Met. Alex belonged to a sub unit that consisted of five DIs, numerous DSs and a myriad of DCs, PCs, administrators and support staff. The case had been picked up by the newspapers and big publicity meant a big police budget, which, in turn, meant you got all the bells and whistles of a full investigation force. It was incredibly hard to transfer into one of the units and a successful stint was a ticket to future career success. This was a unit for career cops. That was probably the reason why the incident room was known as the bull ring, not because the previous Superintendent was from Birmingham, but because it was where big egos clashed and voices were raised enough to be heard across the station. Drew sat at a desk across the room, his nose red and swollen from the night before. His gaze was fixed on Alex, blood shot capillaries surrounding his hazel irises.

Alex stood back from the board and panned across the eight pictures.