‘You did help me a few weeks back. I appreciate that.’ It was important not to give Kane the upper hand, but she knew there was a bond between them now, tentative and fragile, but there nonetheless.
‘I did. And it was my pleasure, Ruth.’ There was no grey area now regarding what to call her.
Ruth folded her hands, studying Kane’s face with the kind of analytical attention she usually reserved for her other patients. ‘I’m worried about Liam. About this case he’s working on.’
‘The Embalmer investigation. Yes, I can understand your concern.’ Kane leaned back into the chair. ‘Your boyfriend has a talent for inserting himself into dangerous situations. It’s what makes him an excellent detective, and what might eventually get him killed.’
‘That’s why I’m here. I want to understand what he’s up against.’
Kane was quiet for a moment, his pale eyes studying Ruth with the intensity of a scientist examining a specimen. ‘Tell me, Ruth, what has Liam shared with you about the case? About his theories regarding The Embalmer’s return?’
‘He thinks the killer stopped for seven years and has started again.’
‘And what do you think?’
Ruth hesitated. ‘I think Liam’s in danger, and I don’t think he fully understands why.’
‘Very perceptive.’ Kane’s smile widened. ‘You’re quite right to be concerned. I’ve been thinking about this case since Liam’s last visit, and I believe I understand The Embalmer’s methodology better than I initially let on.’
‘What do you mean?’
Kane leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper despite the presence of the orderlies. ‘The Embalmer didn’t stop killing seven years ago, Ruth. He changed his methods. Evolved his approach. Became more sophisticated in his selection of victims and his techniques for avoiding detection.’
‘But there were no more bodies found positioned like The Embalmer’s victims.’
‘Exactly. Because The Embalmer learned that theatrical displays attract attention, he found other ways to kill, other methods that wouldn’t be connected to his signature crimes.’ Kane’s eyes glittered with professional interest. ‘I know this because I understand how killers like us think. We don’t simply stop creating. We adapt, improve and perfect our craft.’
Ruth felt a chill at Kane’s casual use of the word ‘us,’ as he included himself in The Embalmer’s category without shame or hesitation.
‘So why start using the old signature again? Why risk exposure?’
‘Because something changed. Something that made The Embalmer decide it was time for his grand finale.’ Kane paused, watching Ruth’s face for reaction. ‘I believe that something was Liam’s return to Fife two weeks ago.’
‘The missing DCI case?’
‘Precisely. The Embalmer has been watching, waiting, planning for years. When Liam was reassigned to work in Fife again, it triggered the endgame.’
Ruth’s stomach tightened. ‘What endgame?’
Kane’s voice became almost gentle, like a doctor delivering a terminal diagnosis. ‘Ruth, The Embalmer’s ultimate goal is to make Liam his final victim. Everything else – Emma Richardson’s murder, the return to the original signature, the carefulstaging – it’s all designed to draw Liam deeper into an investigation that will ultimately consume him.’
‘Why Liam specifically? What makes him special?’
‘That’s the question, isn’t it?’ Kane tilted his head, considering. ‘It could be professional respect – The Embalmer might see Liam as a worthy adversary, someone whose defeat would validate his superiority. Or it could be personal animosity, some perceived slight or interference that demands revenge.’
‘You don’t know which?’
‘If I had to guess, based on the sophistication of the planning and the patience involved, I’d say it’s personal. The Embalmer knows Liam well enough to understand his psychology, investigative methods and weaknesses. He wants to show his superiority.’ Kane’s smile turned cold. ‘He’s been studying your boyfriend for years, Ruth. Learning everything about him. Including you.’
The words hit Ruth like a physical blow. ‘Me?’
‘Of course. If The Embalmer truly wants to destroy Liam, he’ll attack what Liam values most. His career, his reputation, his relationships.’ Kane’s voice carried the matter-of-fact tone of someone discussing weather patterns. ‘You represent Liam’s greatest vulnerability, Ruth. His capacity for love, for connection to something beyond his work.’
Ruth felt sick. ‘Are you saying I’m in danger?’
‘I’m saying that if I were The Embalmer – if I wanted to destroy Detective Chief Inspector Liam Brodie – I would first target the people he cares about. Force him to choose between saving others and saving himself. Break his spirit before taking his life.’
‘But you can’t know that’s what he’s planning.’
