the eighties – one half of the pair has no self-esteem whatsoever, while the other is pathologically egotistical. But in this case, I think this is much more likely to be a solo crusade. He has spelled that out in his second e-mail. He is a lone wolf. And that, of course, is far more common than teamwork serial killers.’ Dr Eckhardt paused, slipping the glasses from her face. ‘This person is compensating for his low self-esteem through these acts. That is why I think it highly unlikely that Herr Fabel’s terrorist would fit: wrong age, wrong motivations, wrong psychology, wrong politics …’
Van Heiden responded as if he’d received a mild electric shock. ‘What do you mean, “wrong politics”?’
‘Well, the basic psycho-profile I’ve outlined – the blaming of society for personal failings, the belief in a personal potential underdeveloped in an unjust world … almost everything, in fact, excluding the psycho-sexual trauma – also fits with neo-Nazi types.’
‘I thought you said that this was not politically motivated?’
‘Yes. I don’t think it is. This man is probably psycho-sexually motivated to kill, but, like everyone else, he has political opinions. In his case these political opinions may or may not have become grotesquely distorted from his psychotic perspective and may even form a justification – an excuse – for these acts. At least in part. My point is that a left-wing terrorist such as Svensson wouldn’t share the same profile.’
Fabel nodded his head slowly. ‘I accept all of that, but what if I am the focus of all of this? What if he is engaging me in … well, some kind of challenge. I killed one of his women so he is killing women whom I, as a policeman, am supposed to protect?’
Susanne Eckhardt laughed. ‘Now we’re swapping roles, and I have to say that’s pretty lousy psychology. It’s a tenuous link to say the least.’ She laid her glasses on the table before her, straightened her shoulders and tilted her head back, her dark eyes focused on Fabel. He felt awkward under her relentless gaze, fearful that his attraction to her might show. ‘But if you’re going to play psychologist,’ she continued, smiling, ‘then let me play policeman. You admit yourself that we’re talking about someone who is more than likely dead …’
‘Yes.’
‘And in this latest e-mail he has described himself as having “lived his life on the edge of other people’s photographs”. It doesn’t exactly fit with a headline-making terrorist with a harem of young female acolytes …’
Van Heiden laughed. ‘Dr Eckhardt, maybe I should give you Herr Fabel’s job …’ He turned to Fabel, the smile disappearing as he did so. ‘Now, Fabel, let’s focus on living suspects.’
Fabel was still watching Dr Eckhardt. Her smile remained and she held Fabel’s gaze, a hint of dark fire in her eyes.
‘Well, as I said, I saw it only as a remote possibility.’
Dr Eckhardt donned her glasses again and scanned through her report. ‘Another thing we should be looking at is previous unsolved rapes or attempted rapes. Our killer may have committed sexual assaults in the past as a prelude to the main event.’
‘Have we looked at recent attacks such as the ones Frau Doktor Eckhardt has described?’ asked Van Heiden. Werner looked across to Fabel, mimicking a ‘now why didn’t we think of that?’ expression. Another warning look.
‘Yes, Herr Kriminaldirektor,’ Fabel answered. ‘We have interviewed all known sex offenders that fit the broad profile. Nothing on them. Although there was a number of attacks on women in the Harburg and Altona areas last year that we haven’t accounted for. We’re re-interviewing the victims, just in case.’
‘All right, Kriminalhauptkommissar Fabel,’ said Van Heiden, ‘keep me notified. In the meantime we have an appointment to keep.’ He checked his watch. ‘See you upstairs in ten minutes?’
‘Fine.’
Fabel stepped over to the wall
Van Heiden responded as if he’d received a mild electric shock. ‘What do you mean, “wrong politics”?’
‘Well, the basic psycho-profile I’ve outlined – the blaming of society for personal failings, the belief in a personal potential underdeveloped in an unjust world … almost everything, in fact, excluding the psycho-sexual trauma – also fits with neo-Nazi types.’
‘I thought you said that this was not politically motivated?’
‘Yes. I don’t think it is. This man is probably psycho-sexually motivated to kill, but, like everyone else, he has political opinions. In his case these political opinions may or may not have become grotesquely distorted from his psychotic perspective and may even form a justification – an excuse – for these acts. At least in part. My point is that a left-wing terrorist such as Svensson wouldn’t share the same profile.’
Fabel nodded his head slowly. ‘I accept all of that, but what if I am the focus of all of this? What if he is engaging me in … well, some kind of challenge. I killed one of his women so he is killing women whom I, as a policeman, am supposed to protect?’
Susanne Eckhardt laughed. ‘Now we’re swapping roles, and I have to say that’s pretty lousy psychology. It’s a tenuous link to say the least.’ She laid her glasses on the table before her, straightened her shoulders and tilted her head back, her dark eyes focused on Fabel. He felt awkward under her relentless gaze, fearful that his attraction to her might show. ‘But if you’re going to play psychologist,’ she continued, smiling, ‘then let me play policeman. You admit yourself that we’re talking about someone who is more than likely dead …’
‘Yes.’
‘And in this latest e-mail he has described himself as having “lived his life on the edge of other people’s photographs”. It doesn’t exactly fit with a headline-making terrorist with a harem of young female acolytes …’
Van Heiden laughed. ‘Dr Eckhardt, maybe I should give you Herr Fabel’s job …’ He turned to Fabel, the smile disappearing as he did so. ‘Now, Fabel, let’s focus on living suspects.’
Fabel was still watching Dr Eckhardt. Her smile remained and she held Fabel’s gaze, a hint of dark fire in her eyes.
‘Well, as I said, I saw it only as a remote possibility.’
Dr Eckhardt donned her glasses again and scanned through her report. ‘Another thing we should be looking at is previous unsolved rapes or attempted rapes. Our killer may have committed sexual assaults in the past as a prelude to the main event.’
‘Have we looked at recent attacks such as the ones Frau Doktor Eckhardt has described?’ asked Van Heiden. Werner looked across to Fabel, mimicking a ‘now why didn’t we think of that?’ expression. Another warning look.
‘Yes, Herr Kriminaldirektor,’ Fabel answered. ‘We have interviewed all known sex offenders that fit the broad profile. Nothing on them. Although there was a number of attacks on women in the Harburg and Altona areas last year that we haven’t accounted for. We’re re-interviewing the victims, just in case.’
‘All right, Kriminalhauptkommissar Fabel,’ said Van Heiden, ‘keep me notified. In the meantime we have an appointment to keep.’ He checked his watch. ‘See you upstairs in ten minutes?’
‘Fine.’
Fabel stepped over to the wall
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