" Do you trust me ?" " Of course not." "Close your eyes." "Do you trust me, Maria ?" "I don't know." "What are you going to do ?" "How 'dyou do that ?" "Why can't you do as you're told and close your eyes ?" "Open your eyes." "Aaah !" " Have you got the right change ?" " No, sorry." " I need the right change." " Sorry." " That's all I've got." " Don't you have anything smaller ?" "No, if I did have, I'd give it to you." "Keep it." "Excuse me." "Sorry, it's mine." "I'm always losing the damn thing." "Look, were you, um" "Some people told me you were drawing me in the gallery." " Yes, I was." " Can I see it ?" "Don't you mean, "Can I see it again" ?" " They're, um" " Beautiful ?" " No, I don't mean that." " So you're not impressed ?" "No, I don't mean that either." "It's just that, um, I don't look this good." "The schoolchildren said they looked exactly like you." "I don't think that I'm beautiful." "They didn't say you were beautiful." "They said they thought the pictures were exactly like you." "Keep them." "Um, I couldn't." "Thanks." "Would you" " Would you consider having dinner with me ?" " Why ?" "Okay." "How 'bout Wednesday, 8:30, the Pelican ?" "Across the street." "I'll be there." "My number." "It's pronounced "Growlsh."" "Anne Levels." "Why were you taking photographs upstairs, Anne Levels ?" "It was for work." "I'm a structural engineer." "See you on Wednesday." "There was a grim discovery in the English Channel... early this morning... after a trawler fishing ten miles off the Suffolk coast... pulled up the body of a young woman in its nets." "The body has been identified as that of Maria Vaughan, who was reported missing nearly five weeks ago." "The police, who have launched a murder inquiry," "Has said that if the Spanish-owned Vessel had not been using illegal nets, the body would never have been found." "Police." "Good afternoon, Mr. Grlscz." "We're investigating the murder of Maria Vaughan." "Thank you for contacting us." "We understand that you were having a relationship with Miss Vaughan." " Yes." " Can I ask why you didn't report her missing ?" "Last time I saw her, we had an argument." "That must have been quite a row... if you've made no attempt to see her since then." " What was it about ?" " She wanted to get married." "To you or someone else ?" "To me." "Was it a violent argument ?" "No." "Was it a heated argument ?" "It wasn't just that I didn't want to marry her." "You see, I didn't want to continue the relationship at all." "Mm-hmm." "Why was that, sir ?" "Maria was a very troubled, passionate individual." "She was a very angry woman." "Unhappy, jealous." "Did she have a reason to be jealous ?" "No." "your previous girlfriend died in a car accident... last October." "Two mysterious deaths." "That's quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say ?" "Do you know where Miss Vaughan went during these absences ?" "No." " And she still wanted to marry you ?" " Yeah." "Hmm." "Do you have anything, anything at all ?" "It's very early, sir." "We're still trying to put some kind of picture together." "We'd just like to check a few dates with you... so you can tell us if there's anyone we should talk to." " Of course." " One thing, though." "If you wouldn't mind clearing it up, we couldn't find any social security records." "Your name didn't bring up a number." "Could you give it to us, please ?" "So you tracked me down." "Is this why you, uh, canceled dinner ?" "Concrete." "It's a new, waterproof kind." "The drying temperature is critical." " If you want the job done properly" " Looks like a lot of work." "Yeah." "Have you noticed with Chinese restaurants how, the better the food, the more bad-tempered the waiters ?" "So much for my efforts to impress you." "I should have asked them to give me a spoon." "Look at you." "Mmm." "My grandfather used to tell me a story about chopsticks." "One night Confucius dreamt that he was taken to visit the damned in hell." "He was very surprised to see that hell was a beautiful banqueting room... with the damned sitting around the table, groaning under the weight of the most delicious food he had ever seen." "They were allowed to eat anything they liked, but they had to use chopsticks, and the chopsticks were five foot long." "The damned were starving, staring in agony at the uneaten food before them, knowing that even with all eternity in which to solve the problem, it could not be done." "And then Confucius is taken to heaven." "And heaven is an identical banqueting hall... full of delicious food." "The people around the tables are happy and well-fed, but they, too, must obey the same rule." "The food can only be eaten with chopsticks that are five foot long." "The food can only be eaten with chopsticks that are five foot long." "Only in heaven, they're feeding each other." "Hold them a little higher." "You'll get more control." "Story of my life." "I'm always trying to run before I can walk." "Anne Levels was here." "Anne Levels was here." "You have to look at it this way, Mr. Grlscz." "Our brains are very old." "From a neurologist's point of view, no one is entirely human." "At some level, everyone has four legs." "At a level below that, everyone has sharp teeth." "You sure it was a Nissan Serena ?" "I told you, my son-in-law's got one." "Bloody expensive for what they are-- glorified transit van, if you ask me." " Sir ?" " Good place to get rid of the body." "The quick sands there'll suck a man down... in less than 20 minutes." "Unless the riptides get you." "They'll dump a body, oh, ten miles out." "That's about as much as I can do." "Old sports cars are all very well, but basically, the engine's clapped out." "If you want to sell it before you leave on yet another leg..." "Of your world tour of building sites, you'll have to spend at least 2,000." " I did warn you when you bought it." " I know." "Some people don't like their friends To say "I told you so, "" "but it's a quality in you I've always admired." "So, when did you start picking up men on the streets ?" "I didn't pick him up." "Let's face it." "When it comes to men, Your judgement's suspect." "It must be." "I went out with you, didn't I ?" "You don't know anything about him." "I know as much as you're likely to find out after three weeks." "Anyway, I like a man with a bit of mystery about him." "Thank you." "Something about me ?" "An idea for work." "If I don't write it down straight away" "They're beautiful." " Why are they so small ?" " They're ornamental." "1 8th century." "It's a tradition to give them to babies when they're born." "They're silver." "In China, they 're usually given to the first grandchild, which happened to be me." "It means that the baby Will always be fed, always be safe ." "My grandfather bought them in Shanghai from some old swindler... who claimed they changed color if they touched food that was poisoned." "I think of them as my lucky charm." "You're full of strange little stories and sayings, aren't you ?" "I get that from my mother." "Even the slightest failure to behave like a young lady, and I'd get some story about what happened to little girls... who didn't make up their beds or who came home late for tea." "So I don't judge a book by its cover, I never look before I leap," "I know that some things are better left unsaid... and that worrying is the devil's favorite pastime." "I've never heard that one before." "About the devil ?" "I'd be sitting in the corner boiling about something, and out it would come." "You look lovely." "By the way, shouldn't it be, " I always look before I leap" ?" " What did I say ?" " Never." "Well ?" "Well, it turns out Captain Birdseye has his head screwed on." "There's only two car loan companies in London that rent Nissan diesels." "The first one I called, bingo." "They fingered him for me straight away." "Whoever hired it was using a fake I.D. 'cause they tried to contact him about a fine." "Guess what." "Our killer was in a hurry." "Right." "I want this area blown up as quick as possible." "Right." "Congratulations, Sergeant Roche." "That is as fine a piece of detective work as I've seen in a long while." "Don't mention it, sir." "It's all in a day's work." " Sergeant Roche ?" " Uh-huh." "Did you check the business over Steven Grlscz's insurance number ?" "Oh, yeah." "They just misspelled it." "Not really surprising, is it ?" "Ought to be against the law not to have any vowels in your name." "She's had enough." "She's had it up to here." "She wants to go home." "I didn't order shellfish." " The midwife calls out, "Be positive !"" " Send it back." "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." "The midwife goes up to her and she says," "" Uh, Miss Fitzpatrick, it's your blood." "It's B-positive."" "Try it like this." "So, um, tell me about how you met Anne." "Drawing her picture." "It's so romantic." "Or was it just a clever routine ?" "Oh, it was just a clever routine." "Anne was trying to tell us What you did for a living, but she wasn't very clear." "I'm a medical researcher." "I, uh, solve problems for companies." "Let's not talk medicine." "I get enough Of that when I'm with Martin." "Tell me about your name, Steven." "I've never heard anything quite like it." "Tell me about your name, Steven." "I've never heard anything quite like it." "It's Bulgarian." "Grlscz." "Grlscz." "My God !" "I'd have never known how to pronounce that if I'd only seen it written down." "So the shortages are so bad over there, you even have to queue for vowels." "If you have an "A" in your name, you have to be prepared to sleep with the chief of police." "If you're not going to eat that, Anne, I'll have it." "You don't have to come with me." "I do this journey all the time on my own." " I can't let you go home alone." " Yes, you can." "You take a nice photo." "Pity I can't let you have a copy, but I need it." " I like to keep a record." " Okay." "Fuck off." "I'm a police officer." "Oh, thinking of leaving us ?" "Me friend here doesn't like policemen." "I tell him they do a very difficult job, protecting members of the public from people like us." "I blame violent videos meself." "You see, Officer," "If someone is a menace to society, there's no reasoning with them." "Is there ?" "Excuse me ?" "Can I help you ?" "Don't think so." " Is he your boyfriend ?" " He's been following me for two days." "Really ?" "Why would a pinhead be followin' you ?" " Police think I've murdered someone." "" " Did you ?" " He thinks so." "If we do him, he won't be following anyone for quite a while." "Do you want to know something ?" "You're all in a lot of trouble." "" " They'll send someone else." "They're very persistent, the police, especially with people who kill them." "And you'll have to kill him, won't you ?" "It hardly seems worth it, particularly as you'll have to kill me too." "What makes you think I won't ?" "You're not stupid." "We've hit him once already." "He's gonna come looking for us anyway." "No, he won't." "If he says you attacked him," "I'll swear he attacked you first." "Now you know my name, and you know where I live." "Fuck it." "We got the fuckin' money." "Let's fuckin' do them anyway !" "No." " Fuck !" " Don't mind him." "His social worker says he can't help it." "Constable Cunt face there is all yours." "You're a lucky man." "Move." "Look !" "It's got a little man on it." " The cross." " Let's just go." " Sorry." "No, no." "Thanks." "I'm grateful." "And for, uh" "I remembered tonight why I don't use the underground very much." " Brings me bad luck." " Yeah, I know what you mean." "My trouble is I can never get a taxi." "Dishonest face, huh ?" "I'll let you know." "I was talking about my face." "Yeah, so was I." "Why was your cross so important ?" "Oh." "It was a gift from my wife ." "I'm, uh, I'm a Catholic." "Well, I'm becoming one." "Converting, you know." "Thank you for helping me." "Well." "Next time you're following me, you can buy me a drink." "Aaah !" "I'm sure it is." "I'd like you to take the vehicle everywhere he might have stopped... on his way to the coast." "Someone might remember something." "Whoever he is, maybe his luck is running out." "Here you are." "just press on." "Look me in the eyes." "You all right ?" "Shh." "Shh." "That was it." "Well done." "Nosy." " What are they ?" " Crystals... from human kidneys and bladders." "I'm doing some research for the Well come Foundation... into how extreme emotional states... can cause the body to form crystals like those." "So, you could say that this is rage, this resentment, malice, fury, spite, and that big one there, bad temper." "Yeah." "I've heard they're incredibly painful, you know, when they come out." "Very." "So I'm told." "Shall we go, then ?" "What happened to your finger ?" "This ?" "I cut this saving a puppy from drowning." " Ohh." "" "Three of me boys are on remand, O'Grady, thanks to your inspector friend." "No more Mr. Nice Guy." " Mm, Mrs. O'Grady." " They're not having any of my money." "A modern woman." "She has nothing to do with this." "Let her go." "I'll let you go." "All you have to do is give me your wife ." "What ?" "Simple." "Give her to me," "And then you... can walk away." "I'm gonna take her, in any case." "Okay ?" "Off you go, over there." "Run." "Aaah !" "a neurologist." "And he told me that we don't have one brain." "We have three." "One that is human, built over another that is mammalian, built over yet another that's reptilian." "So... when a psychiatrist asks you to lie down on the couch, you're being asked to lie down with a horse... and with a crocodile." "Go to sleep." "I'm not tired." "All right." "You stay awake." "I'll go to sleep." "Don't look." "Have you ever stolen anything ?" "I stole this watch." " You're a shoplifter." " When I was 14." "If you're thinking of giving yourself up, I'll wait for you." "I wanted it so badly." "I coveted it for two weeks, and then I went into the shop... and asked for some flints for my father's lighter." "When the owner's back was turned," "I just picked it up and put it in my pocket." "The thing is, I had the money." "To this day, I couldn't tell you why I wanted it so badly..." "I could feel it in the pit of my stomach." "Or why I couldn't bear to pay for it." "Tell me, was that the horse or the crocodile ?" "Why did you keep it ?" "To remind me of my shame." "You were very" "You were very kind to that little girl." "Thank you for saving me." "So what else can you do ?" "It's all downhill from now on, I'm afraid." " Maybe one thing." " And what would that be ?" "It's better that I keep it in reserve... for when your interest in me starts to flag." "I want to know." "I used to charge my school friends six pence to watch me do this." "I don't have six pence." "Stay there." "Stay." "Who is this that comes like a pillar Of smoke out of the wilderness, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense ?" "The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of a cunning craftsman." "You read." ""Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely, the smell of thy breath like apples."" "And thy breasts, two clusters of grapes." "Thou art all fair, my love." ""And there is no flaw in you."" "Mini cab ?" "It's all right, Mr. Grlscz." "We're going your way." "I'll drop you off." "" " He's here." "The witness." "Make sure Mr. Grlscz sees him before he goes in." "Nice one." "Follow me, Mr. Grlscz." "It's not the easies t job in the world, you know, working in a tollbooth." "On an average week, we're talking 10,000." "On bank holiday, you could double that." "Twenty thousand easy." "On bank holiday, you could double that." "Twenty thousand easy." "What do you know ?" "Not one with the right change." "Don't worry." "They can't see through the glass." "If you want to take a closer look at any of them, just call out the number... and we'll get them to step forward." "Uh, I have to point out to you that the person you saw may or may not be here." "Can you remove your glasses, please, sir ?" " Number six." " Are you saying it's number six ?" "No, I'm saying I want a closer look." "Step forward, number six." "Tell him to step back again." "Step back, number six." "Number nine." "Step forward, number nine." " Number six again." " Step forward, number six." "It was number nine." " Are you sure ?" " Sergeant Roche." "No, I'm not sure." "I see 1 0,000 people a week." "What do you expect ?" "You look pretty familiar." "Maybe it was you." "Thank you, gentlemen." "You may step down." "You're not a soft cop." "No, not really." "More, um, more polite cop." " Would you like one ?" " No, thanks." "just a few things I'd like to clear up." "The card..." "you gave the, um, thugs, when you" " Saved your neck." "" "Why do you have a card printed in a different name ?" "I don't." "It was a card someone gave me-- a medical supplier, jeremy O'Grady." "It could have led to a nasty surprise for Mr. O'Grady." "I suppose I wasn't thinking about all the consequences." "I suppose not." "On second thoughts." "Yeah, yeah." "I could have let them finish you off." "Hmph." "Difficult, isn't it ?" "Doing the right thing." "May I ?" "This, your business card, um, telephone number... is ex-directory... in addition to a listed number at your home address." "Odd, isn't it ?" "It's small, but odd." "It's a way of picking up women." "Do you do this often ?" "Not often." "Once a month, perhaps." "I'd call that often." "So, you give them the card and wait for them to call." "More or less." "More... or less ?" "Well, it depends on the circumstances." "I give them the card and tell them it's not something I normally do." " And the number ?" " I don't use it for anything else." " Why ?" " So I know who's calling-- why they're calling." "Explain." "Sometimes the phone rings, and there's just silence." "All I have to say is, " It's you, isn't it ?"" "And, of course, it always is." "Seems strange saying it aloud." " Seems" " Sinister ?" "Cheap, I was gonna say." "Would you believe me if I told you I'd stopped doing it ?" " Are you gonna tell me that ?" " Yes." " Why ?" " Do I have to answer that ?" "No." " Interesting." " Is it ?" "I haven't admitted to anything illegal, but I've confessed to behaving badly twice." "I think perhaps you've missed your vocation in life ." "I don't think so." "A priest helps a man to tell the truth so they can be saved;" "a policeman so that you can get them into trouble." "And... am I in trouble ?" "You had your passport with you." "Were you going somewhere ?" "I was opening a bank account." "Oh." "Well, I'd like to hold onto it if you don't mind." "I do mind." "I'd like to hold onto it, all the same." "I'm in here." " No, stop it." " What's the matter ?" " Nothing's the matter." " Nothing's the matter ?" "I don't like you mauling me all the time." "You're always touching me like I was some" "I don't want you grabbing me, okay ?" "I didn't think I was." "I'm sorry." "I won't do it again." "It's been a difficult day." "I'm sorry." "Problems at work." "There's no excuse for taking it out on you." "Is it all right for Saturday with Martin and Karen ?" " Sorry ?" "Oh, yes." " Good." " Actually, can we not do this ?" " What ?" "I can't do it this quickly, accept apologies when I'm still angry." "You can't say something like that, and then just say sorry." "Do you see ?" "Is it a present for me ?" "No." "I don't think you'd draw me looking quite so serene if you had it to do again." "What's to become of me ?" "I should go." "You don't have to." "I should go." "I'll call you later." "Stupid." "I'm stupid." "Or is this that comes like a pillar of smoke... out of the wilderness... perfumed with myrrh and frankincense ?" "Thou art all fair, my love." "Do you love him ?" "I don't know if I understand him, what's going on inside." "I don't know why I don't." "It's probably me." " He's hiding something." " Such as ?" "I've never been to his apartment." "He watches people." "And he writes in little black notebooks." "" " And he's perfect." "Hmm ?" "I know." "My mother always used to say..." "" " Steven, it's Anne." "Um, give me a call When you get home." "" " Um, it's Anne." "Are you all right ?" "It's about-- I'm sorry about what Is aid." "I love the way you touch me." "Call me." "Anne Levels." "Hello." "A creature." "A crocodile who needs a job, who needs a bank account, a place to live... out on the stake." "You must be born again in the Spirit." "Do you wish to be baptized in this faith ?" "That is my desire." "I baptize you in the name of the Father... the Son..." "And the Holy Spirit." "In my heart of hearts, I can't honestly say I'm pleased to see you." "Is there somewhere we can talk ?" "Yeah." "Doing this job, You learn that the truth... is often not very plausible." "Until now, plausible is all you were." "You were convincing, but I wasn't convinced." " And now you are." " Maria Vaughan tried to kill herself." "Why didn't you tell me you saved her life ?" "I never thought of it As savingher." "I have to inform you, Mr. Grlscz... that you are no longer a suspect in our investigation." "Why ?" "I thought most people would agree it's not really likely... that you'd save someone's life and then kill them." "The fact that I saved Maria's life doesn't prove anything." "It could prove that, at heart, you're a good man." "At heart ?" "Good and evil." "Evil..." "isn't just malice, murder and rape and massacre." "Before everything, the devil is the father of lies." "The lies you tell, the truth you don't tell." "Everything hidden is theft ." "Everything reserved from those we love is fraud." "And there's always something, isn't there ?" "I have known members of the public not to be entirely frank with me, yes." "What everyone wants is..." "for evil people to be off somewhere... insidiously committing evil deeds." "Then they can be separate from ordinary men and women... and destroyed." "But the line that separates good and evil... cuts through every human heart." "And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart ?" "You know that already, don't you ?" "This is a trick from a secret policeman." " How do you mean ?" " Tempting me with security." "Not a bad idea." "A bit subtle for me, I'm afraid." "Are you married ?" "Yes." "Tell me about the last time you lied to your wife ." "Then we're even." "Well, we were-- we were having dinner the other night." "It was our wedding anniversary." "About halfway through the meal, I drifted off the way that I do, you know." "She brought me back." ""What are you thinking ?" she said." "I told her." "I'm thinking how-- how nice she looked, how beautiful she still was." "And this was very pleasant, and we should do it as often as we used to." "You were lying." "No, I was telling the truth." "But in between thinking how nice she looked and we should do this more often," "I was... also thinking Of a young woman... on the other side of the restaurant." "She was very pretty." ""Shapely," my father used to say." "But what struck me more than all that was that... she had the most lovely smile." "Should I have told my wife , do you think ?" "Would it have upset her ?" "Yes." "So, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth... isn't the truth ?" "Some things are better left unsaid." ""Thank you" isn't one of them." "Thank you." "" " What'sgoing on ?" "Give him some room." "Give him some room." "My God." "Give me a knife ." " Someone give me a knife !" "Give me a knife !" " What ?" " What are you doing ?" " I have to open an airway." " You'll kill him." " He's going to die, anyway." "just--Just" "And there is no flaw in you." "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." "Were you ?" " I've been in hiding." " From me ?" " Why ?" " I don't know." "I've been thinking about you." "Good or bad ?" "Too much." "I want to come and see you." " Why ?" " Because I miss you." "Okay." "Um, let's say we meet at The Pelican." "No." "I want to see where you live." "If you like." "See you soon." "Bye." "This is for you." "So, this is where You hide out." " Ah !" "" "Don't be afraid." "Oh, no." "No." "I'll move back..." "over here." "I'll open the doors." "I'm going to die." "Two weeks, maybe three." "My body 's breaking down." "I bleed." "I don't heal anymore." "I need blood." " I need the love that's in your blood." "" "What you're feeling about me right now, in your throat, in your chest, in your blood." "Like something you can touch." "Remember the crystals ?" "Rage, resentment, malice, disappointment, despair." "Emotions." "Emotions are things." "Your blood carries every emotion it's possible to feel." "I just want to be" "Love is what I feed on, what I eat." "Each time I take someone, I have to take all that they feel about me, all grudges." "It makes me ill, this stuff." "If I can find the right woman, if, if I can get her... to love me perfectly... then it will stop." "I think." "Are you telling me you kill because of this ?" "One cut from this, and I'll bleed to death in 20 minutes." "The keys are on the desk." "There's one problem..." "about being the way I am." "It doesn't work." "No peace." "No quiet." "What do you do, What you don't do, what everyone else does, why they do it, what does she do, what does she like, what doesn't she like." "It all matters, all of it, all of the time." "I can't even fall asleep in case I stop." "I even have to remember to breathe !" " I don't believe you." " Whether you do or whether you don't, it doesn't much matter." "I'm gonna die." "And you're going to live." "Because I realized I would miss you." "I love you." "I'm so tired." "there was nothing you could do for people with asthma." "My mother used to lie with me all through the night... when I was really bad and I couldn't breathe." "Hour after hour, she'd stroke my hair, watching over me." "I can't see." "What ?" "Do you smell something ?" " Pear drops." " Mm-hmm." "Acetone smells of pear drops." "Acetone is what the body produces when it eats itself." "Do you love me ?" "I've... run out of Elastoplasts... so I'm going to go to the chemist." "Don't be silly." "I'll go." " You don't look too well." " Are you sure ?" "It's getting worse, isn't it ?" "Mm." "I'll only be 15 minutes." "I-I know you for what you are." "I don't love you." "It may not be in your heart, but it's still in your blood." "And now you're sorry ?" "Whatever my faults... malice isn't one of them." "Aaah !" "" " Aaah !" "Aaah !" "I fell out of a tree." "But I managed just to grab a branch." "I hung there for a long time, terrified." "The silence... then the pain in my arms... and the blood pounding in my ears." "And then, I fell." "I don't remember... what happened when I hit the ground." "All I can remember now... is the agony of holding on..." "And the wonderful feeling" "wonderful-- of letting go."