'If I could just read out the prepared statement?'
'Of course.'
Delaney looked at the camera. ' 'We can confirm that a man has been arrested this afternoon and is being questioned here at White City police station in relation to the unlawful killings of two women. These women have not as yet been identified and we would urge anyone who knows them to contact the police as soon as possible.' '
The pictures taken from Ashley Bradley's bedroom wall of the two dead women flashed up on the television screen.
In the CID room Kate looked at the photographs as they appeared on the screen. She couldn't see why Jack Delaney had thought that one of them was her. But with a wig on, and wearing her scarf, perhaps it was an easy mistake to make. The women in the photos looked young, confident and full of life. She hadn't as yet looked at the scene-of-crime photos from the Camden flat. She looked at the screen as the camera shot cut back to Melanie Jones.
'What can you tell us about the man in custody, Detective Inspector?'
Delaney looked down at the piece of paper that his boss had given him. There was no more to the statement and he had been told not to answer any questions.
'There is nothing I can add to my statement about the man in custody. However, we do believe that the man responsible for these crimes has very low self-esteem. He also has an uncontrollable anger towards women and we think this is down to a very serious form of penis envy.'
Melanie Jones reacted, smiled a little as she recovered herself. 'I beg your pardon?'
Delaney looked at her, deadpan. 'We believe that he feels himself to be extremely inadequate in the eyes of women, and that this is down to some kind of genital deformity.'
Behind the camera Delaney could see that George Napier was absolutely fuming. He'd better watch his stress levels, he thought, he was a heart attack looking to happen. He could see Melanie Jones was about to ask another question but he held his hand up.
'I am sorry but that is all the information I am able to give at this juncture. Once again, I would urge anyone who has any information about these women to come forward.'
The images of the two women appeared on the television screen once more.
Delaney headed back to the building. Napier would have followed after him but Melanie Jones approached him and he stopped to try and fight some of the forest fire Delaney had started.
In the CID office Jimmy Skinner grinned at the television screen. 'Way to go, Jack.' He winked at Sally Cartwright. 'Looks like you might need a new partner.'
Kate looked across at him. 'I'm assuming he made all that up?'
'The bit about the deformed wing-wang? I doubt that was in the script.'
'Why did he say it then?'
'The killer is fucking around with Delaney. Sending him messages. I guess he thought he would send one back.'
'Is that wise?'
Skinner laughed out loud. 'Wise? This is Jack Delaney we're talking about. He's not famous for having the wisdom of Solomon.'
Delaney gave the custody sergeant a quick, grateful nod as he opened the door to the holding cell. He stepped inside and the sergeant closed it behind him. He looked down at Ashley Bradley who was sitting on the bed holding his head in his hands.
'You got anything to tell me, Ashley?'
'Who are you?
