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he might
change his methods. We're focusing on those whose entries most closely match
his previous victims. Like yourself. As for how we know he’s using the
magazine, we’ve trawled all the other avenues people like you use to advertise
your services-.' At this point her left eyebrow arched a fraction. Jess
wondered if he’d caught it. 'And ‘DOM!’ is the only one that lists all the
victims. Let's just say it’s an educated guess. But don’t bank on it being wrong.'
    As Megan Crane sought to buy time by finishing her
coffee, Jess thought she didn’t have many options to consider. But her last
question, about the magazine connection, reminded Jess of how, around the
investigation team, the uncovering of the 'DOM' link was still something of a
mystery, even to her. The envelope in which it had arrived - addressed
personally to 'DCI Jamie Carver' and with a central London postmark, gave no
clue as to who had sent it, or why. Nor had Forensic come up with anything that
might identify the sender. But as soon as Carver spotted Tracy Wilcox’s entry,
enquiries with the magazine and a review of back issues quickly established
that the other three victims had also been featured. It was one of several
aspects of the enquiry that, to Jess, were still a bit 'grey'.
    There was a short silence, then the slump of Megan
Crane's shoulders seemed to point to her capitulation. For all her dominant
airs and graces, when it came to being murdered, maybe she was like other women
after all.
    'What do you want from me?'
    Carver sat forward again. 'We think that with your
experience, your knowledge of this area, you may be able to help us identify
the killer.  As DS Greylake, Jess, says, for all we know he may have already
made contact with you. According to DOM’s records, they've forwarded on several
contacts to you over the past few months.’ Carver hesitated, before uttering
the words that changed everything. 'We need details of all your clients.'

Chapter 4
    Later, Jess would recall thinking
that maybe he was using some interview technique she hadn’t yet heard of. One
that involves making someone angry as hell, before employing some sophisticated
means to bring them round again. Certainly, from what she had seen of Megan
Crane, her reaction to Carver’s words came as no surprise. Her face coloured
and for long seconds she regarded him as if he were guest speaker at some Woman
Of The Year Lunch who’d just told the most appallingly-sexist joke. When she
eventually spoke, her voice which previously had been melodic, beguiling even,
was cold, almost contemptuous.
    'You don’t know much about people
like me, or the life I lead, do you Chief Inspector?'
    His reply seemed aimed straight at her heart and made Jess
gasp.
    'What’s there to know? You provide sexual services to
perverts through a contact magazine. What I need from you are their details,
because one of them may be killing people. At the moment he’s targeting women
like yourself. Eventually he'll move on to other women.'
    Jess could hardly believe her ears and threw him a concerned
glance. But his gaze stayed locked on the woman opposite.
    Megan Crane remained still and silent for several seconds,
as if working to keep a grip on her composure, before replying. 'I assume you
mean other, respectable , women?'
    The shoulders of his jacket lifted with his shrug. 'I didn’t
say that, but if that's how you want to interpret it-'
    Jess felt like something had taken a grip of her stomach and
was squeezing it. If he was aware how offensive he was being, it didn’t show.
But though she had no idea how he was going to turn things round, she had seen
enough of him to be confident he would. As the silence lengthened, she wondered
if they were communicating telepathically. Come on Jamie, just reel her in.
She was there for the taking a minute ago.
    But it was Megan Crane who spoke first, sitting back in her
chair and folding her hands in her lap.
    'Whatever you may think of me,