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Might it be a poor man?”
“Rich men steal too,” Emma said, even more drily. “Perhaps they don’t pocket an apple from
the greengrocer on the corner but they might embezzle from their employer or finagle an inheritance at
the expense of a sibling. We all have known people who have remained honest even in the face of the
most appalling need and others who have felt entitled to more even while they sat in the lap of luxury.
The difference isn’t measureable in a person’s level of wealth. It has to be psychological.”
“Well stated, Emma. And some of you will remember that we employed a version of this
technique with the Ripper,” Trevor said, “although our approach was less detailed and specific than
what the latest papers on profiling have suggested. We concluded he was educated, that he had
medical training, and that he was able to function well enough in society that no one would deem him
a threat.”
There was the same small painful beat that there always seemed to be whenever the Ripper was
mentioned, but Emma remained motionless and after a split second, Trevor continued. “If we had
interviewed a dozen men who had also assaulted women, especially men who targeted prostitutes, we
might have been able to draw our portrait with more detail.”
“I must say I find that the most fascinating part of the whole business,” said Rayley. “Not the
crime scene work, but the notion that certain character types are more likely to commit certain
crimes.”
“I hate to eternally play the devil’s advocate…” Tom said.
“Oh go ahead,” said Emma. “You’re so good at it.”
Tom ignored her and continued. “Has it occurred to any of these criminal psychologists that
men who’ve been jailed for heinous crimes hardly make most reliable of interview subjects? They
lie. Change their stories. The Ripper bragged about his exploits and I would imagine many criminals
do. You know, build themselves up to seem more ferocious and dangerous than they actually are.”
“They could prevaricate their way through one round of questioning perhaps,” Rayley
conceded. “But repeated interviews, which were conducted by skilled psychologists? And if they
were under hypnosis…”
“Ah,” Tom said. “So Dr. Freud has found his way to Scotland Yard at last.”
“Perhaps the applications of the tool will become clearer if we move on to an example,”
Trevor said mildly. As usual, the group seemed to be split, with Emma and Rayley embracing the