‘On February 2, Cassie Veringer, a 30-year-old blind woman, received a package of human fingertips at her apartment in Venice Beach. We now know that the fingertips belonged to a one Alison Lowrie, a 19-year-old college student whose body was discovered in the sand dunes near Guerrero Negro, Baja California.

‘And then on February 9, Jordan Weislander, the state prosecutor, discovered a human tongue in his icebox at his home in Pasedena. Again I can name the victim. The tongue was cut out of 57-year-old Jackson Weekes, an African-American drifter who was attacked while intoxicated and sleeping in an alleyway downtown.

‘There has been a great deal of speculation about the case, but let me put the public’s mind at rest. It is beyond doubt that Bobby Gleason, the serial killer who preyed on young women of college age between the years 1992 and 1997, committed suicide in July 2000 while on death row in San Quentin State Prison.

‘Although these incidents are clearly connected to the Gleason case at this stage we are not sure exactly how they fit together. All we know is that each of the individuals were somehow involved in bringing Gleason to justice.

‘We are appealing for help and information. If anyone knows a friend, relative, or neighbour who could be involved with these crimes I would encourage them to get in touch with us, either by calling the 24-hour tip line at 1-877 LAPD. If you wish to remain anonymous you can use your cell and text the information to CRIMES or by logging into the LAPD website at www.lapdonline.org. I can assure you that tips sent using text or the internet will be treated as anonymous and confidential.’

He dropped his prepared statement on the desk and looked up at the crowd. Questions were fired like bullets across the room.

‘Look,’ he said, holding up his hand. ‘Before questions I’d like to get a couple of things straight. This is not a TV show. It’s not a film. Sure, the case has more than its fair share of sensational elements, but it involves real people. People like you or me, your brother, sister, wife, husband, partner, whoever. I’d like you to respect that if possible.’

He felt like he was talking into a vacuum.

‘And as for some of the wilder, shall we say implausible theories, I can tell you now that we have no information that the case centres around a satanic cult. Nor was Gleason kept alive for scientific research purposes. Any other questions?’

Al Denning raised his hand.

‘Al, go ahead,’ said Josh.

‘Am I right in understanding that one Charles Garrison – who served time with Gleason in San Quentin – was murdered on his way to New Mexico earlier this week?’

Fuck. He’d made the connection.

‘Are you linking that crime with these incidents?’

The room erupted into chaos. Reporters, furious they had missed out on a possible hidden link, shouted their demands across the room. Finally, Karen Cain had to step in to try and restore some semblance of order.

‘As Mr Denning pointed out we did receive information about the suspected murder of a 45-year-old man. Name of Charles Garrison. Yes, it is correct that Garrison was in San Quentin at the same time as Gleason. But at this stage we are treating this as a separate murder inquiry. Detective Harper?’

Shouts of dissent echoed around the hall as Harper tried to speak.

‘From - from what we can gather, the modes of operation are extremely different,’ said Harper, raising his voice. ‘Garrison was bludgeoned to death in a brutal manner. We believe that whoever murdered him is not the same person behind the incidents involving Kate Cramer, Cassie Veringer and Jordan Weislander.’

Cynthia Ross stood up. She didn’t even wait for Harper to nod in her direction before she addressed her question.

‘Have you got any information about why these crimes are being committed now? Obviously, the stories about Gleason still being alive are nonsense, but for some people out there it is like he’s come back from the dead.’

Where was she going with this?

‘And your question is?’ said Josh.

‘Bill Collins, the father of Gleason’s first victim, always believed that the killer worked with an accomplice, a sidekick who escaped justice the first time round. I spoke to Mr Collins this morning and it is his theory that it is this person who is behind these crimes. That Gleason’s accomplice from way back is responsible and is still responsible.’

The room went ballistic. Jesus fucking Christ. It was exactly the kind of line that drove the media crazy. He could just see the headlines in tomorrow’s newspapers.

‘Please, if we could just have some calm in the room,’ said Karen.

Josh tried to speak, but couldn’t make himself heard above the madness. Then he noticed a movement at the back of the room. It was Kate. What the fuck was she doing here?

‘Oh my God, that’s Kate Cramer,’ said Rebecca Williams, turning to Cynthia.

‘No shit,’ said Ross, furious.

Kate had guaranteed her an exclusive, which she in turn had promised her editor. She’d better not try and fuck her over. She had information on her – information on Josh, too - material that she was prepared to use.

All heads turned as Kate made her way past the reporters and up to the podium at the front of the room.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ hissed Josh, as photographers jostled nearer to get a good shot of Kate.

She couldn’t tell him the truth – that she had a hunch that her presence at the press conference might help draw the killer out of the shadows – and so she ignored him and addressed the crowd.

‘My name,’ she said, trying to shout above the uproar. ‘Is Dr Kate Cramer. I’m here to talk to you about my role in the case. I’ll be making a brief statement, but I’m afraid I won’t be taking any questions.’ She looked at Cynthia and gave her a half-smile, hoping that that would be enough to let her know their interview was still on. The last thing she wanted was for Ross to blurt out to a whole room full of media that she was pregnant.

‘On the morning of January 25 I was by the sea near my home just off the Pacific Coast Highway, taking photographs. As I looked through the viewfinder of my camera I saw something in the ocean. At first I thought it might be a seal. But when I realised it was a child I immediately ran into the water and tried to save her. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts the child was already dead.

‘As you know I was the forensic artist who worked on the Bobby Gleason case. I worked with Cassie Veringer to create an accurate and detailed portrait of Gleason, an image that subsequently led to his arrest. It is my belief that there is somebody out there who has taken Gleason as their hero. That is the person who we need to find. If anybody has got any information about such a person then please, please get in touch with Detective Harper or a member of his team. Thank you.’