Next time, the two men agreed, Sara could accompany them.
‘I still reckon the number carved on Chalmers’ chest is significant,’ Keith said.
‘We have checked,’ Sara said. ‘There is no record of another body with the number 1.’
‘Maybe she only intended to kill one person, so there was no need for a number. With the second one, it reminded her of the first, and she decided to keep a count.’
‘Keeping score?’ Sean asked.
‘Why not?’ Keith said. ‘What is the state of this woman’s mind? She’s clearly unhinged.’
‘She’s still smart enough to disappear.’
‘Maybe she’s done it before.’
‘What do you mean?’
Keith leant back in his chair; not a pretty sight, Sara thought, but did not intend to mention it. She valued her DI’s experience, even his dry humour, and the man had been big enough to apologise to her for his earlier behaviour.
‘She wouldn’t be the first murderer who acted and looked normal,’ Keith said.
‘We know that, but what are you suggesting?’ Sara asked.
‘She’s clearly psychotic. We need an expert to analyse her behaviour.’
Sara consulted Bob; he approved the cost.
Chapter 6
Grace Nelson seemed too young to be a criminal psychologist. At least she did to Keith, although Sara had checked and found her to be in her early forties. The police database showed that she was highly qualified and able to give evidence at a trial.
Keith had to admit she had enough initials after her name. He had none, apart from two General Certificates of Education, one for geography, the other for religious studies, but as he had not travelled far, other than to France and Spain, and he professed to no strong religious views, they both seemed irrelevant. They had, however, allowed him to join the police force as a junior constable. From there on, it had been hard work that had allowed him to rise to the rank of detective inspector.
‘I’ve studied the case,’ Grace Nelson said. Sean thought her accent was from the west of the country. He had been reading a book on the subject, but he knew he could be wrong. Regardless, she was remarkably well educated.
Sara, an ambitious woman, envied Grace her education, but the idea of sitting down to study was anathema to her. She had managed to secure a BSc in Policing and Criminal Investigation, but it had been hard-won.
So much so that she had crammed the last six months, and had completed the degree in under three years. Bob Marshall was working on a Master’s, and often when she was fast asleep, or in need of attention, he would be slavishly sweating over his studies. She knew that DCI would be the limit of her career. It was not because she did not want more, but she had come to realise that a Master’s degree was beyond her, and besides, she had decided that she wanted a child, Bob’s child, in the next couple of years. Her biological clock was ticking, and it was winding down.
‘What are your thoughts?’ Sara asked Grace Nelson.
‘Carving a number with a knife indicates a logical mind.’
‘Sane?’ Keith asked.
‘Unlikely,’ the psychologist replied.
‘It may be best if we let Dr Nelson present first,’ Sara said.
‘My apologies,’ Keith said.
‘Paranoid schizophrenia would be my preliminary diagnosis. Ingrid Bentham displays some of the behavioural traits. Of course, my analysis is incomplete. Without seeing the woman, it is hard to be precise. Was she on medication? Have you managed to ascertain that?’
‘She was on medication, but we don’t know what it was.’
‘It’s important.’
‘There’s only one person who would know.’ Keith looked over at Sean.
‘Okay, I’ll go with Sean and hold his hand,’ Sara said. Her mood had improved with the psychologist in the office.
‘You mentioned medication,’ Sean said.
‘There are some antipsychotic drugs: Chlorpromazine, Thorazine, Loxapine, Fluphenazine are just a few. There may be more than one drug, and they would need to be taken on a regular basis. The patient would need to be checked every few months, in case of issues.’
‘And if the medicine is not taken on a regular basis?’ Keith asked.
‘Hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, anger, suicidal thoughts, obsession with death and violence, plus a few more.’
‘Are you saying that Ingrid Bentham fits the profile?’ Sara asked.
‘I am raising the possibility. Without a close and detailed examination of the person, I can’t be sure.’
‘What causes paranoid schizophrenia?’ Sean asked. He knew he would be reading up on the subject that night.
‘Yet again,’ Grace Nelson said, ‘there are a number of possibilities: family history, stress, problems during the mother’s pregnancy, sexual or physical abuse. There are more, but until you have the woman, my analysis remains speculative.’
***
‘Come on in,’ Gloria said in a friendly voice upon seeing Sean in her doorway. She was dressed provocatively, almost as if she had been expecting him. ‘It’s great to see you,’ she said. The tone of her voice changed when Sara poked her head round the door.
‘Detective Inspector Sara Stanforth. We have a few questions for you.’
Reluctantly, the door was opened, and the two police officers entered. It was clear that Gloria had been entertaining, a few empty wine bottles testament to the fact.
‘What do you want? It’s my weekend. Don’t you ever take a rest?’
‘Not when someone has been murdered,’ Sara said as she looked around the room. She could not claim to be the world’s greatest housekeeper, but compared to Gloria, she was fastidious.
It was evident
