‘And that’s going to tell you whether he’s lying or not?’
‘Hopefully. It’s not universally accepted, simply because there’s not been enough empirical research done on it. But a lot of practitioners swear by it. The underlying principle is that the instinctive human reaction is not to lie.’
Scepticism spread large across Narey’s face. ‘You need to get out more. I could introduce you to a few that lie for a living. And I don’t just mean lawyers.’
Dakers shook his head. ‘No, that’s just it. When most people are guilty of something, they don’t tell you the truth, but that’s not the same as lying. They will talk round it in circles, they will avoid talking about it, they will leave out crucial details that incriminate them, they say they don’t remember or they’re not sure. They don’t want to lie in case it sounds like a lie, in case they say something that can be disproven.
‘I’ll spare you the technical stuff but I’m looking for inconsistencies in what this guy says and how he says it. I’m looking for pauses, for details, for qualifying phrases, avoidance, all indicators of deception. But I’m also looking for things that can be judged to be true.
‘Also, as this is effectively a written statement, we must look at the response times, judge whether he’s planning what he says, or perhaps editing. It might be simply that he’s choosing what and what not to reveal, But they’re all potential indicators of truth or deception,’
‘And this works?’
He smiled. ‘Some call it pseudoscience. I call it the best chance we’ve got.’
‘Fair enough. What about for now though? You’ve seen the Highland Fling photos and you’ve read the transcripts of the conversations with the Americans. So, what can you tell me about this guy, Lennie? Otherwise, I’m going in here unarmed.’
‘My initial feeling is that he’s a compulsive narcissist. More than that, he’s a vulnerable narcissist. He’s willing to put himself at risk to get this experience. He came back online to talk rather than doing what you and I might think is the sensible thing and disappearing back into whatever hole he came from. That makes him more dangerous, but it might also make him easier to bait.’
‘So how do we make that work for us?’
‘Well, being a compulsive narcissist means he likes to feel superior, so you should play dumb, be obtuse, misunderstand him. We need to look for inconsistencies, gaps, changes in tense, vagueness, things like that. But let him think that the power differential advantage is on his side, because then he’ll let down his predatory guard. The idea is to get him to think he’s safe because he’s smarter, and then get him to lose control. That will most likely happen through anger or with him thinking he can take potshots at you. You’re going to need a thick skin.’
‘I’m a cop. In Glasgow. They issue thick skins first day in primary school.’
‘Fair enough. You ready for this?’
‘No. So let’s do it.’
She breathed deep one last time and began to type.
I’m Detective Inspector Rachel Narey of Police Scotland. We need to talk.
She saw that her opening line had been read but had to wait for a reply. She guessed he’d been taken by surprise.
Where are the Americans?
In America. You’re talking to me now.
Only if I want to.
No. Only if you want to continue viewing the video feed. The deal’s the same. The person on the other end of the line has changed but nothing else has. Talk or it gets switched off.
Okay. What do you want to know?
I assume you know why I want to talk to you. There was a list of names found in Ethan Garland’s computer. Many of those names had connections to Scotland, to the west of Scotland in particular. Do you know why Garland had those names?
I might.
Do you know the names I’m talking about?
Maybe
Let’s say that you do. Do you know why Garland had that list?
Ethan was very interested in people. Maybe that’s why he had it.
Did you know the names of the people on the list? Do you now know the names of the people on the list?
I think some of the names might be familiar to me.
I haven’t told you them yet.
Maybe I know more than you do.
Narey swore, already frustrated at the responses. Dakers stepped in, sensing her growing anger.
‘It’s okay. This is good. He’s using equivocation to avoid directly answering an open-ended question. Maybe. Might. I think. That strongly suggests he’s trying to deceive us. Ask him something direct.’
She typed.
I’m sure you know more than I do. That’s why I want to talk to you. But I need you to give me something. Call it in good faith for you being able to watch the video feed. Tell me something about one of the names on the list. Will you do that?
A pause.
Okay.
Who would you like to tell me about?
Another pause. Thinking. Perhaps calculating.
Brianna Holden. I will talk to you about Brianna Holden. Are you sure you want to hear it?
She did. And she didn’t. Of course.
Yes. What happened to her?
She died. You know that.
Did you kill her?
I’m innocent.
Narey looked to Dakers.
‘He’s denying his guilt, not denying the act,’ he told her. ‘Keep going. Perhaps ask how he knew her.’
She asked.
I don’t remember how we met. I think maybe we spoke online. I believe that’s what happened.
‘He’s consistently using negation here,’ Dakers said from her left. ‘He’s lying. Or lying by omission.’
We got on very well. She liked me and I liked her. So, we arranged to meet.
Did you know Brianna was married?
She didn’t tell me she was married.
Where did you arrange to meet her?
Pollok Park.
Why there?
I don’t know. I don’t remember.
And what happened?
Brianna acted very badly. As if she didn’t like me anymore. I didn’t start the argument. She did.
Did you fight with her?
She fought with me.
Did you kill her?
Do you want me to just brush over the details, Inspector? Would that make it easier for you? Because that’s not how it works. If you want to hear it, you will have to hear it all.
Her stomach tightened and her head turned to the other screen where the young man was slumped motionless.
Go on.
She smelled of vanilla and flowers. It was on her skin. She smelled sweet and spicy but when I tasted it, there was only the acid burn of the spice.
Her skin tightened and flushed scarlet. She wriggled and fought. She just made it worse for herself. She died.
The colour of her face. A red I’d never seen before. It blew up like a balloon as the life squeezed out of her drop by drop. She died.
Narey had to steel herself to reply. Dakers sombrely nodded at her in confirmation. It was horrific but it was useful. She typed.
Did you kill her?
I’m not guilty.
Do you know a man named Kevin Monteith?
I don’t know. I’m not sure.