Blood Work

'I'm sorry?'

'We have a press conference set up. We want you to make the statement.'

'Aren't we jumping the gun a little?'

'Not at all. The press are going to be all over the serial killer aspect. Sky News have held off until now, but as we have the perpetrator in custody they have asked for first bite of the cherry.'

'How did they know we have someone in custody?'

'Are you deliberately being obtuse, man?'

Delaney smiled at Diane. 'Must be my Irish upbringing, sir.'

'I've been in contact with her to control what goes on the news. We made a deal. I, for one, honour my deals.'

'And if he's not the killer?'

'Of course he's the killer. He's got pictures of the two women hanging on his wall, and we have him exposing himself on the heath right by one of dead victims.'

'All we have him for, sir, with respect, is just that. Flashing his johnson at medical workers and sticking his zoom lens up the skirts of happy shoppers.' Delaney turned to his line boss. 'Can you talk some sense into the man?'

'Maybe we should let Delaney interview him first, sir,' she said quickly.

Napier goggled at her. 'And while he's doing that, Paddington Green take the credit for our collar? I don't think so.'

He looked at his watch. 'We're set up outside.'

Delaney shrugged and put a cigarette in his mouth. Napier snatched it out and handed it to Diane Campbell. 'Can't you keep a bloody leash on him, Diane?'

'He needs castrating, sir, if you ask me. But I trust his instincts.'

Napier thrust a sheet of paper into Delaney's hands. 'Just smile at the pretty reporter and read the statement, Delaney. Think you can manage that?'

'Not sure, sir. Not one for multitasking. Maybe the chief inspector should do it.'

'And maybe I should remind you that there is a complaint against you, Delaney?'

'And I'm sure Detective Constable Cartwright will tell you that I merely defended myself.'

'Just play ball with me, Delaney. And I'll play ball with you. This is a team here, and what counts is we get results. You clear on that?'

'Sir.'

He thrust the sheet of paper into Delaney's hands. 'Then put one on the scoreboard for White City and read the bloody statement.'

In the CID room, Jimmy Skinner called for hush, even though nobody was talking and turned the volume up on the television mounted on the wall. Sky News was playing, with the breaking news banner ticker-taping along the bottom – man arrested in connection with two recent murders. Delaney was facing the camera, looking as happy to be there as a pig in a pork-pie shop. The camera cut back to Melanie Jones who had her serious face on.

'Detective Inspector Delaney. I understand you have been responsible for the arrest of a suspect in two particularly gruesome killings. The first on South Hampstead Heath yesterday, and the second discovered this morning in a rented flat in Camden Town?'

'A man is helping us with our inquiries.'

'One man responsible for both murders? So we are looking at a serial killer here?'