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what he wanted?”
    “No. I’d have put it through to your desk, but you were having a confab with Barolli.”
    Anna sat beside Langton, who gave her a warm smile and asked how she was. He seemed relaxed, while Mike was edgy, flicking a Biro pen. Then there was a pause.
    “I’m very well, thanks,” Anna replied, thankful that this was true and that Langton’s sudden appearance had not affected her.
    “You want me to tell her?” Mike began.
    “No. It’s this letter, Anna, from the prisoner Cameron Welsh. I had a look over it. I’m not that impressed because it could just be a load of bull, but considering the case is flatlining all round, we shouldn’t just dismiss it, in case he does have information for us or you.”
    “I really doubt that he has,” Anna said, somewhat surprised.
    Langton nodded. “Yeah, I hear you, but he’s been banged up for some considerable time and would have had a lot of opportunity to talk to any number of inmates—so you never know. I suggest you pay the bastard a visit, see what he’s got or hasn’t. I can’t really recall if you had much interaction with him when we arrested him.”
    “I met him, obviously, and was in on a couple of interviews, but that was it.”
    “Well, you obviously made a big impression on him.”
    Anna made no reply as Langton continued: “From what I’ve read up on the case files, Welsh doesn’t fit the profile of this sicko we’re looking for, but then as I recall, he didn’t fit the profile we worked on while hunting for him. Both his victims were held captive.”
    “He’s gained a child psychology degree while he’s been in prison,” Anna said.
    “Yes, I know, and he’s also been in a pack of trouble while he’s been at Barfield. Anyways, go and see him and take Barolli with you. Might as well see if he’s bullshitting, but maybe he’ll surprise us.”
    Anna stood up as Mike told her to talk to the prison governor to arrange the meeting. Privately far from happy, she left his office and returned to inform Barolli about Langton’s suggestion.
    “Shit, that’s a schlepp and a half up there, isn’t it? It’s around Leeds—right?”
    “Correct.” Anna wasn’t sure if the distance made it better or not. “I’ll contact the governor and type up a letter of introduction.”
    It took three calls before she was able to speak to Jeremy Hardwick, the governor of Barfield. Hardwick was pleasant and listened as she explained, then he agreed that she should be allowed into the secure unit to talk to Welsh. So she made an appointment for the following afternoon and asked Barbara to work out how long the trip would take. Langton passed by her desk as he was leaving and paused.
    “I’ve made contact with the prison,” Anna told him.
    “Good. Make them keep him in his cage, get what you can, and report back. I think it’ll be a wasted journey, but right now we’ve nothing else.”
    She watched him look over the incident board and have a talk with Barolli before he left. But she felt nothing.
    Before long, Barbara came over to Anna with a route map and the details she would need.
    “Are you driving, or should I get a train timetable?” Barbara asked.
    “No, this is fine. I’ll drive, and Paul’s with me.”
    “Remember, you’ll need the fax from the prison and an introduction letter; plus, do keep your petrol receipts.”
    “Thank you, Barbara.” At least she would be well prepared, Anna thought.
    “So tell me about this geezer Welsh,” Barolli said, slurping his coffee as he settled himself in Anna’s passenger seat. She had picked him up from his flat in Notting Hill, and they were heading for the M1.
    “Highly intelligent;” just got a degree in child psychology. He was well educated, went to public school and I can’t remember which university, but he was reading law and dropped out. Anyway, he represented himself at his trial,” Anna told Barolli, wishing he wouldn’t slurp so loudly.
    “So did Ted