‘In fact, Dr Klein didn’t actually find Alexander Holland. She was the one who identified him.’

‘Yes, yes,’ he said, as if she were corroborating what he had said. ‘Can I offer you some tea, by the way? Or coffee?’

‘No, thank you. I’m here because Commissioner Crawford suggested it would be useful to get some background information about Dr Klein.’

The expression on Bradshaw’s handsome face was thoughtfully sad. ‘I’ll do what I can.’

‘I’ve read the file that the commissioner gave to me. Can we perhaps begin with the case of Dean Reeve?’

‘Dean Reeve is dead.’

‘Yes, I know, but –’

‘But Frieda Klein is convinced that he is still alive. And …’ he leaned towards Hussein ‘… out to get her.’

‘Do you know why she thinks that?’

‘I’ve written a book about the very thing.’

‘Perhaps you could summarize your argument.’

‘People like her – clever, articulate, neurotic, highly self-conscious and self-protective – can develop a personality trait that we call narcissistic delusion.’

‘You mean she makes things up?’

‘A person like Frieda Klein needs to feel at the centre of the world and she is incapable of acknowledging failure, of taking responsibility. In the case of Dean Reeve, you may or may not know that he murdered a student directly as a consequence of her interference.’

‘I’ve read that a woman called Kathy Ripon was supposedly killed by Dean Reeve.’

‘She has compensated for that by deluding herself into believing he is still alive and out to get her. Thus she makes herself into the target and the victim, the hero of the story if you like, rather than dwelling upon the consequences of her own actions.’

‘She saved Matthew Faraday, didn’t she?’

‘She likes to insert herself into investigations and then take credit. It’s not uncommon. It’s another symptom, in a way. And you know about that poor young woman, Beth Kersey, whom she killed?’

‘I read that Beth Kersey was psychotic and that it was self-defence.’

‘Yes. But that’s not what Frieda Klein says, is it? She says that she didn’t kill Beth Kersey, in self-defence or otherwise. Dean Reeve did. Are you beginning to see a pattern?’

‘I see what you’re suggesting. But perhaps she was telling the truth,’ said Hussein.

Bradshaw raised his eyebrows. ‘Sarah,’ he said. ‘Can I call you Sarah?’ Just like the commissioner, thought Hussein, irritably, and didn’t bother to answer. ‘So, Sarah, she probably believes that she is telling the truth. Her version of the truth. I am a charitable man and I like to think I’m quite perceptive.’ He paused but Hussein didn’t feel the need to add anything. ‘Even if I have good reason to believe that she actually set fire to my house.’

‘You have no real proof of that.’

‘I know what I know.’

‘Why would she do that?’

‘Perhaps I am what she wants to be. I’ve attained a respect she resents.’

‘She burned your house down out of jealousy?’

‘It’s a theory.’

‘What are you saying, Dr Bradshaw?’

‘Professor. I’m saying be careful. Be very careful. She can be persuasive. And she has surrounded herself with people who prop up her sense of importance. You’ll probably meet some of them. But she’s not just an unreliable witness. She’s dangerous. A year and a half ago, she was crying rape and two people died. And you know she was arrested for attacking that therapist – another rival, perhaps? Mm?’

‘She wasn’t charged.’

‘It is my belief that her behaviour is escalating. I wasn’t surprised when I heard about her lover being found dead.’

‘What are you implying?’

‘I just want you to know what you’re dealing with, Sarah.’

‘A violent arsonist and fantasist who may have killed several people, you mean? I’ll watch my step.’

Bradshaw frowned, as if he were suspicious of Hussein’s tone. ‘Whose side are you on here?’

‘I didn’t know it was a question of sides.’

‘The commissioner might not like it if you ignored his warnings.’

Hussein thought of Commissioner Crawford’s florid face. She remembered Frieda Klein’s dark eyes and her stillness, the almost imperceptible flicker that had crossed her face when she stood beside the body.

‘Thank you for your time,’ she said, rising to her feet.

At the door, Bradshaw put his hand on her arm. ‘Are you going to see Malcolm Karlsson?’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Of course, he’s someone who has collaborated with Klein.’

‘You make that sound like a bad thing.’

‘Colluded with her.’

‘That sounds even worse.’

‘You can judge for yourself.’

‘What can I say?’ said Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson. ‘She has been a valued colleague and she’s a friend.’

‘Did you also know Alexander Holland?’

‘Sandy.’ Karlsson spoke soberly, but kept his glance fixed on her. ‘Yes.’

‘You may or may not be aware that he has been killed.’

Karlsson was visibly shocked. He looked away for a moment, collecting himself. Then he started asking questions and Hussein had to go through the explanation, the discovery of the body, its state, the plastic tag on the wrist bearing Frieda’s name, and Frieda’s visit to the morgue. He sat forward in his chair, listening intently.

‘Can you tell me something about his relationship to Dr Klein?’ she asked.

‘Not really.’

‘I thought you were friends.’

‘Frieda is a very private person. She doesn’t talk about things like that. They split up well over a year ago, that’s all I can tell you.’

‘Who ended it?’

‘You’ll have to ask Frieda.’

‘Have you seen him since then?’

Karlsson hesitated. ‘A couple of times,’ he said reluctantly. ‘Briefly.’

‘Was he upset at the ending of the relationship?’

‘Again, you’ll have to ask Frieda. I can’t comment.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Hussein. ‘I don’t think that’s a proper answer.’

‘I mean that I don’t really know. It’s not the kind of thing that Frieda would ever talk about to me.’

‘Commissioner Crawford seems to think that Dr Klein is at best unreliable, at worst dangerously unstable.’

‘Oh, that.’

‘He is your boss.’

‘Yes. You’ll just have to judge for yourself.’

‘I intend to. And Dr Bradshaw –’ She stopped and grinned to herself. ‘Sorry, Professor Bradshaw put it even more strongly.’

‘You’ve been busy.’

‘There’s nothing you can tell me that might help?’

‘No.’

She turned to leave, then stopped. ‘Do you have any idea what the initials “WH” might stand for?’

Karlsson thought for a moment. ‘They might stand for the Warehouse,’ he said.

‘What is that?’

‘It’s a therapy clinic.’

‘Is Dr Klein connected to it?’

‘She works there sometimes. And she’s on the board.’

‘Thank you.’

An officer called Yvette Long showed her out, glowering, as if Hussein had said something to offend her.

Bryant called her as she was leaving. ‘That person Dr Klein reported missing.’

‘Yes?’

‘Miles Thornton. He was a patient of hers.’

‘Was?’

‘He was her patient on and off – more off than on recently, because he was sectioned for a few weeks. He was psychotic and deemed to be a danger to himself and others. Now he seems to have disappeared. Or, at least, he hasn’t been seen recently. His family aren’t overly worried: they say he often goes AWOL.’

‘But Dr Klein reported him missing.’

There was a slight pause. Hussein could imagine Bryant chewing the edge of his thumb, thinking. ‘Why is this relevant?’ he asked at last.

‘It probably isn’t. But don’t you think it’s a bit odd how she’s surrounded by distress and violence? Bradshaw would say that’s just evidence of her narcissistic delusion.’

‘What?’

‘Never mind. There are too many doctors and professors in this case.’