Torment

Summary

Police are baffled when a prostitute's murder matches in every detail a series of killings for which Derek Tyler has already been caught and jailed. Tony knows it can't be a copycat because in sexual homicides every killer has their own unique signature, but if this isn't someone imitating Derek's atrocities then how are the killings happening at all? While Alex and her team struggle for a lead on the streets, Tony thinks Tyler holds the key. But there's a problem: Tyler has remained utterly mute since the day he was arrested and to crack him Tony must to use every ounce of his psychological skill and imagination. Tensions develop with the police operation as vice-squad DI Jan disagrees with Alex's running of the case. And things go disastrously wrong when Paula becomes bait for the killer and is kidnapped without a trace. All the experts have diagnosed Tyler as a schizophrenic who heard imaginary voices telling him to kill. But Tony realises that Tyler's "voice" was a real one. He is the victim of brainwashing - and whoever controlled him is now controlling another killer and has Paula within their power. When it becomes clear that whoever is doing this has access to information about the police investigation, for Tony the spotlight falls on one person... someone with a knack for psychological persuasion, a past containing the key to their motivations, and now uncomfortably close to Alex's police team throughout their search for Paula.