Original subtitles

A long time ago lived an old woman who was also an enchantress and her daughter

was the most beautiful creature under the sun.

But the old woman was ever thinking how to entice men in order to kill them.

I've got you now.

Don't.

Don't.

Barge or try.

Must be a threat nearby.

Well spotted.

You'll make a detective yet.

Nicola, come on. We'll have to go now.

What do you think of this one for an eight -year -old?

Kids grow up far quicker these days.

What about this one?

Too young.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy it.

Would you like it dedicated to anyone in particular?

To John.

Thank you.

Sign, please.

Would you like it dedicated to anyone in particular?

What are you doing these days?

I read in the paper that you were doing this signing on. Excuse me.

Thank you. Thanks.

Oh, this is Jackie, a colleague.

Oh, hi there. I joined the police force.

There's no need to sound so reticent about it. You joined the police force?

I heard something, but I didn't believe it.

You were going to become an airline pilot.

I was going to do a lot of things when I was 17.

Just think what the aviation industry's lost, eh?

What are you doing for lunch?

Oh, I'm sorry. It's the cheese and wine publicity to do upstairs.

Eat the press, that sort of thing.

Come on up.

Be my guest.

Bird's book.

She was the best -looking girl in my school.

She always wanted to be a general.

Yeah, I had a crush on the best -looking boy in mine.

You should see him now.

17 stone, running a chippy in Annie's land.

It's more than a crush.

We nearly got engaged.

When you were at school?

We were 17.

If she hadn't gone to university, we might have done.

I hope you're not feeling left out.

What are you drinking?

Mineral water.

You used to bring half a bottle of vodka to school and keep it in your desk.

Don't let everybody know.

Well, you've got the front page.

Thanks for the invite.

Ali, I'll see you back at the office.

Yeah.

Just the colleague?

Just.

Congratulations on the book.

I haven't signed it.

What is this?

A public library.

Sorry, sir.

Life before death.

Lives on death row, sir.

I thought you'd go over that woolly liberal stage.

Sent by an old school friend of mine.

Not so old.

You keep your mind on the job.

I'll stay behind after school if you like, sir.

Aye, and you can take a hundred lines as well.

Are you working tonight?

Yeah, I'm afraid so. And I'll probably be late. How late?

Very late.

What case are you working on?

Philip Chalmers missing person.

Can I come with you?

Not this case.

Why did he go missing?

Some adult could go missing.

If children go missing, the whole police force is out looking for them.

That's because adults have the right to go missing.

Children don't.

So what got you into crime?

I got a job as a crime reporter on the Manchester Evening Times for five years.

Then I met this American guy, went to New York, got a job as reporter on the

Evening News.

Yeah, I read part of your book last night.

What did you think?

Would you really believe a lot of these guys are innocent?

You have to visit death row. It changes your perspective.

So, uh... So what happened to the American guy?

He had a wife and five children in Seattle.

Sorry. Still, I've travelled, seen some of the world, and now I'm back, living

with Mum and Dad, but launched on a new career, I hope.

I'll drink to that.

But you're not, not really.

I mean, how can you be a policeman and not drink? It's like being a journalist

and not drinking. I get my kicks in other ways.

Tell me all.

Later.

So you're never married, then?

I never found the right person, I suppose.

I wonder how we would have worked out.

Oh, I shudder to think. We were far too young. We'd have held each other back.

Can you see me with a string of babies?

I've met so many people who have jumped into marriage and regretted it.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like a diatribe. I'll keep it up.

I might just find out where I went wrong.

Turn that down. It's too loud.

You've woken up Nicola. Now she wants the story.

Can you not tell her one? I'm trying to watch the end of my film, Simon.

Do you think Dad would pay me to be an au pair?

It was now the third morning since they had left their father's house and they

still walked on.

But they only got deeper and deeper into the wood.

and Tanso saw that if help did not come very soon they would die of hunger.

As soon as it was noon they saw a beautiful snow white bird sitting upon a

which sang so sweetly that they stood still and listened to it.

It soon left off and spreading its wings it flew and they followed it until it

arrived at a cottage upon the roof of which it perched.

And when they went close up to it, they saw that the cottage was made of bread

and cakes and the window panes were of clear sugar.

We will go in there, said Hansel, and have a glorious feast.

I will eat a piece of the roof and you can eat the window.

Will they not be sweet?

So Hansel reached up and broke a piece of the roof in order to see how it

tasted.

It's very late.

Come on, get her into the roof.

Please, somebody's killing our dad.

Calm down.

Where do you live?

In our house up there.

Get in the car.

Stay there.

You get here first.

I've been upstairs.

The doctor's waiting.

Okay.

I heard him come.

I woke up.

I heard someone and I went outside.

And saw Mr. Barrow dead.

I saw this man in Nicola's bedroom.

I thought he was the murderer. That's why I hit him.

I didn't know he was a detective.

Well, the children.

Where are they? I must see them.

Listen, just try and calm down. If you go with this officer, I'll chat to you

later.

We'll get you a cup of tea.

It's your pair, sir.

This is where the attack happened, sir.

The victim made it upstairs to feed his kids.

What was Michael doing?

Playing cavalry?

He thought he might have prevented a murder being committed.

You just watch out for the blood, sir.

No eyes, thank you.

Apparently he had the phone in his hand when the au pair found him.

She used it to telephone the police and put it back on the cradle.

What was used?

Looks like an open razor.

He lived probably for quite a few minutes after being left for dead.

With his throat gashed like that.

He had kids, Jim.

It's amazing what strength we can muster. What did he do?

He was a private detective, sir.

Your father did business and commercial work?

Yes. Used to be in the serious broad office.

Where were you last night, Simon?

It was a missing persons case.

My father was a policeman too, you know.

I want to be a detective like my dad.

Maybe you will one day.

Where's your mum, Simon?

She's dead.

She died about three years ago.

That's why we have Agnetha.

Any aunts or uncles?

Grandparents?

Better get on your social services.

Right, sir. I want to help look for the person.

Yeah, and you can.

By describing him.

I didn't see his face.

It was too dark.

He just wore this rainmack with a hood over his head.

And what colour was it?

Blue.

Dark blue, I think.

Was it the type of rainmack that you put your arms in, the sleeves, or the type

that drapes over your shoulders?

It's okay, Simon.

He saves a wee sister.

I was asleep with my headphones on.

I hear nothing when I have my headphones on.

Then I woke up and I took them off.

And that's when I heard the noise.

Whereabouts in Sweden are you from?

Finland.

I'm sorry.

It's been a long night for Oliver.

Whereabouts in Finland?

A place called Borkala.

How long have you worked for the family, Agnes?

Three years.

Ever since Mrs. Barrow died.

What was your relationship with Mr. Barrow?

Pardon?

Your relationship?

I was the au pair.

Were you more than just the au pair?

I take the children to school.

I cook them breakfast. I cook them dinner.

I clean.

You want to know what else?

You mean...

Do we screw?

Never.

That's what we know about Tom Barrow, sir.

Ex -CID.

Joined a serious fraud office in London, but resigned when he was passed over

for promotion.

He moved to Glasgow about seven years ago with his family, where he's done

lucrative private work.

Any job could provide the motive.

He was working on a missing persons case for a Philip Chalmers from Edinburgh.

Is he on our records?

Yes, sir. He's on the missing persons register.

Really?

Sorry. Sir, he went missing two months ago on a business trip to Glasgow.

He found his car near the Jamaica Bridge.

How relevant is it? Barrow was working on the case the night of his murder,

And both his son and the au pair say that he went out with a file marked

Chalmers. And we can't find it anywhere in the car or in the house.

We don't think he would have left it anywhere.

So we must assume that the murderer took it.

What's happening to the children?

Emergency foster parents.

You must be Simon and Nicholas.

I'm Mr. Fraser, and this is Mrs. Fraser.

I want you both to feel very much at home here.

Tiger? Detective Chief Inspector Galt here, Edinburgh CID.

I understand there may be a connection between a missing Edinburgh man and your

recent murder.

I may be able to help you with some facts.

Let's just say there are suspicious circumstances.

Although they don't suggest murder.

Doctor, you drive me to Edinburgh.

Do I have a choice?

I hope you don't mind Earl Grey.

No.

We drink it all the time in the station canteen.

Well, as you know, it's not a crime to go missing.

Philip Chalmers may have done a reggie parent, for all we know.

You said there were suspicious circumstances.

I knew Philip Chalmers. We belonged to the same lodge.

Oh, I only knew him socially.

Did he seem the type to go missing voluntarily?

Well, who can tell what goes through a man's mind?

I can tell you that he phoned his wife the day he disappeared from a call box

Glasgow. Told her he loved her.

So old?

And that he'd be back at about ten that evening.

How did he sound?

Normal.

What did he have on him?

Checkbook, credit cards.

He drew out sixty pounds the day he disappeared.

And the clothes you stood up in?

I take it there was nothing drawn from his account?

Oh, nothing.

It's a joint account with his wife, and would you smoke?

No.

Do you mind if I do? No.

Being a joint account, of course, it's frozen.

People who disappear leave a lot of problems like that.

There is another strange fact.

When the wife retrieved the car, she found cake crumbs on the driving seat.

Why is that so strange?

Well, Philip had just had a cholesterol test.

The reading was high.

He was on a strict diet.

Well, we all break things, sir.

Maybe he's worried about his health and committed suicide.

Look, when we get done here, I'd like to see Mrs. Chalmers.

Oh, you can't do that. She's on holiday.

On holiday?

Her husband's missing, she's hired a private detective, and she's away on

holiday. You should have seen the boss's face when he lit up a black cigarette.

What? Just some Edinburgh tea drinking ritual.

Have you found anything?

I've got the illustration.

Hello again, Mrs Fraser.

This is my colleague, D .S. Jardine.

We've come to speak to Simon, please.

Oh, I don't think so.

Pardon? He's having his dinner.

And anyway, I think after the trauma he's been through, he needs time to

down. Maybe if you leave it for a couple of days.

This is a murder inquiry, Mrs. Fraser.

Simon's a witness.

I really don't think you should speak to him again quite so soon.

Do you?

We really just came to return his book.

I'll give it to him.

No, that's okay.

We'll do it.

But it was easier getting into Spandau.

I understand you want to speak to Simon again.

Look, I've already explained... Oh, hi, Simon. How's it going? Okay.

We're sorry to drag you away from your dinner.

That's okay.

We found this in your room, Simon.

Thought you might like it.

Special book, is it? My dad gave it to me for my seventh birthday.

It's a rare edition.

That picture, Simon, the blue cape, it's like the clothing you described.

Are you absolutely sure that's what you saw?

Absolutely.

Okay, then.

You can keep it now.

Aren't you a bit old for fairy stories now?

Can I have my bike from home? Sure.

We'll have it brought round.

Well, away and finish your dinner before it gets cold.

It's Chilicon County.

Kind of special.

The first few days are always the most difficult.

I'm sure you understand that.

Of course.

I think that children have childhood taken away from them too early these

No one tonight.

24 hours with neither a suspect nor a clue.

What about the au pair?

She had nothing to do with it, sir.

And we don't even know if the boy imagined what he saw or if Barrow's

got anything to do with this Chalmers case.

I don't want us going up this one road and ignoring all these other cases.

Something smells about you, though, sir.

Her wife goes on holiday.

After two months' strain, maybe she needed one.

A Nile cruise.

I don't like it here.

Go to sleep.

Hi. Hi.

He's the only one we never caught.

Probably sunning himself on a beach in Brazil somewhere.

I did tell you, didn't I? My next book's going to be an anthology of Glasgow

murder cases.

Glasgow Bowman, the... Oh, what in the boom?

Did you? Yeah.

Discovered the clue that led us to him. You'll have to tell me all about it.

Why not?

Sir?

Mike.

I'm sorry you've had to bother, Sergeant.

We didn't even know he'd sneaked out.

Well, you can't lock them in, can you?

If it's no trouble.

I will see you soon.

It seems that Simon got afraid about something.

Thought that someone here was the person who murdered his father.

I knew it.

I said to them, that boy's going to have too many problems.

No, he's all right.

He's with that detective sergeant.

He's going to bring him home.

He's just an imaginative boy.

Simon, you just can't keep jumping to conclusions.

The man you saw was Mrs. Fraser's cousin. The magician.

Children's entertainer.

I stayed there in the consented prop flat.

Well, there was obviously something about him that flattened you.

I wasn't frightened.

It was just the same Matt and Hood.

There must be hundreds of people out there with similar raincoats. Anyway, I

don't like it in that house.

Well, you're going back there as soon as you've eaten. You'd like to order?

Can I have some wine?

No!

Ah, we'll have two margarita, please.

What would you like?

Can I have four seasons with extra pepperoni?

Thanks for bringing him back.

Just make sure he doesn't run away again.

We'll make doubly sure of that.

This is my cousin, Mr.

Brockwell. Ah!

So, this is the young man with a vivid imagination.

Well, let me tell you something about imagination, Simon.

It's a gift.

That's fine, isn't it, up here 18 years ago?

Shall we pull it down?

Such lawlessness.

Oh, they'll be waiting up for me.

I know they will.

Still? Mum and Dad are wonderful, but they've never got over the shock of me

being 16 anymore.

Do you remember that night I brought you back at three o 'clock in the morning?

It's probably what traumatised them. It's your fault, you see.

Did I leave you alone to work?

No.

Mum brings in cups of tea every ten minutes and Dad brings the lamp just a

little bit closer.

They're well -meaning, but... Oh, well, it's just a temporary measure so I get

somewhere of my own.

I, uh... I could suggest a better temporary measure.

Mm -hm.

Move in with me?

I wouldn't get any writing done.

There's no way. You've never seen me.

If I disappeared suddenly, what would you do?

You're forever disappearing suddenly.

No.

I mean for weeks or months.

I'd get on with living, I suppose.

You wouldn't report me missing?

Well, of course I would.

And how long would you sit by the phone waiting to hear from me?

That depends.

Depends on what?

Depends on whether I thought you were ever coming home or not.

How long would it be before you took a holiday or a break?

Six weeks, two months. I don't know.

Six weeks, two months.

Thanks.

Didn't I give you the answers you wanted?

I'm going to Edinburgh.

I'll see you tonight.

Elsa, can I introduce Detective Chief Inspector Taggart and D .C. Reid from

Glasgow? Have you found Philip?

I'm afraid no. Sorry.

Then what are you here for?

It's about the private detective he hired.

He's been murdered.

I spoke to Tom Barrow before I left.

I said if he made any important discoveries, you could contact me

When was that?

Must have been two weeks ago yesterday.

He drove over here. I made him lunch.

We talked about Philip.

I gave him some photographs of him.

Do you know what angle he intended to work on?

No, I don't.

Only that Philip's car was found in Glasgow and that somebody may have seen

I don't know.

You don't think that Tom Barrow's death has anything to do with Philip?

We don't know.

I just want to know whether he committed suicide.

Whether he's washing dishes in Glasgow somewhere with amnesia.

Some men do that, apparently. They just forget who they are and adopt new

identities.

Some men don't want to be found.

That too.

Was he under any pressures?

No.

Was there another woman in his life?

No. How do you know that?

I don't.

Did you have a row on the day he disappeared?

No. Do you know of anyone with a motive for wanting him dead?

Philip was a charming, gentle man.

Of course nobody would want to kill him.

If Tom Barrow had discovered anything while you were away, how was he going to

get in touch with you?

I said if anything major came up, he could contact me through the travel

company.

Did you enjoy your cruise?

The Nile, yes.

It was lovely.

What do you make of that?

A bit like, if anything important comes up, let me know.

Otherwise... Ah, that's the impression I got. Don't you think you're reading too

much into it?

No.

She's got dignity.

She doesn't want to be seen weeping and wailing.

Tell them.

Check.

Are they missing?

Change your blade, mate.

Now, I want you all to be very still and very quiet.

Because this blade is very sharp.

And if you should make me jump, it'll be very messy.

for poor Ashley.

Now, cross your fingers, Ashley.

Now, applause, fashion.

Who would like to be made to vanish?

Yeah, he's here again.

Yeah, don't worry, I'll bring him back.

Bye -bye.

Shall I give you some advice about being a detective, Simon?

You need some imagination, but not too much.

What were you doing in the woods anyway?

Dad took us there the day before he was murdered.

Back again, Simon?

Simon's seen another caped figure at a cottage in Dunleaf Woods.

This time I'm certain.

It was the same person.

You've got to believe me.

You better check it out.

Just do it, Michael.

Come on, Simon.

I'll drop you off on my way.

Sorry to bother you.

DS Jardine, Maryhill Police Station.

Are you the owner of the Fiat Panda?

Yes.

Did you happen to arrive home in it about five o 'clock this evening?

Yeah.

You don't happen to own a dark blue raincoat with a hood? And if you do,

you wearing it tonight when you came home?

I have a green raincoat.

I think I had it round my shoulders.

What's it about?

Do you mind if I see it, please?

That's fine, thank you.

I'm sorry to have bothered you.

Did it go through a red light or something?

Somebody did, but it wasn't you.

Tell them.

Check.

Are they missing?

Tell who?

Us, sir.

Tell us.

To check other missing persons.

Not just Philip Chalmers.

Good God, there must be hundreds of them.

We could narrow it down, sir.

To men that have disappeared in similar circumstances, say, in the last few

years. Any lead on gingerbread men?

Fairy tales.

Sir, check out that sighting.

It's a Betty Duncan. She's 60 years old.

Glad you didn't waste your time.

Did I do well?

You did just fine.

Bobby, sooner or later they're going to find out why I hired Tom Barrow. There's

no reason why they should.

Let's just keep it to ourselves for as long as possible.

At least until we know.

Let me go. Where do you think you're going? Please.

Please.

I was hungry.

I smelt the toffee.

Don't you get fed at home?

My parents are never at home.

Eat. I didn't catch that.

My parents are never at home.

That's no reason to steal.

Leave him.

He's only a boy.

I'd better get back to work.

Thanks, Joe.

Well, partly service.

You ought to have knocked and asked.

It's a long time since I had a boy to tea.

And our children don't come and see me now.

They're grown up.

Are you an only child?

I've got a sister, Nicola.

She's eight.

Where's she?

At home.

Without your parents?

Sometimes they're at home.

Sometimes they're not.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

How was the case conference?

Well, the most important people weren't there.

Simon and Nicola.

Of course.

I mean, it's only their future you're deciding.

The child therapist says that he's coping with the trauma of seeing his

murdered. A plain detective.

And... That Simon sees me in a sort of replacement father role.

A role to which you're so suited.

Jackie, have you got that information for me?

Three missing person cases. Thanks.

All bearing a striking similarity to the Chalmers case.

Left home for just a few hours to go shopping, visit the date and that sort

thing.

All totally disappeared without trace.

Their car's found abandoned within half a mile of Central Station, just as

Chalmers was.

This pattern's never emerged before?

No, this was over a period of about two and a half years.

What about Chalmers' wife, sir?

You satisfied with her?

No.

I'm very dissatisfied.

I'll go and check it out, sir.

How you do, Dan.

Sir, I'd like to do something personally with you.

Chairman Normanton, sir.

The crime writer that wrote that book, Life Before Death.

Well, she's doing a new book on Glasgow murderers, and I should be dead keen to

talk to you, sir.

About the Balfour, the Samson, or the Bowman cases.

Do you think that's all I have time for?

Well, I said it, I said it.

Well, you've asked.

And now you know, man.

Thanks.

Where for?

Considerate.

And there was my cat on the doorstep.

It'll be dark soon.

You'd better go.

But you will come and see me again, won't you?

And bring your little sister next time.

Yes.

I'll write down my number.

You must always ring first.

Never, ever come without ringing.

You understand?

Coming through from Glasgow to Edinburgh is hardly calling by.

It isn't, is it?

It's just that the last time I was here, I think I got the wrong impression.

What impression's that?

I got the impression you didn't care whether your husband came back or not.

That's nonsense.

Well, if I went missing and my wife hired a private detective, I hope she'd

around. I'm sure all women behave differently.

I'm sure.

And I'm sure...

If my wife did go on holiday, she'd make arrangements that the private detective

would keep in touch.

I did.

Aye.

If anything important came up, what about the unimportant things?

Were they to wait until you got back?

A clumsy expression.

Mrs. Chalmers, I'm investigating a murder which involves the disappearance

your husband.

I want you to tell me the truth.

Now, we can do it here.

Or we can do it at the station in Glasgow.

All right.

You're obviously going to be persistent.

I want Philip back so I can divorce him.

He went out to buy our son a birthday present.

He never came home.

He phoned from town to say he couldn't find the game that Peter wanted, but

find something else and wanted to know if I thought it was suitable.

I said I thought it was too old for him.

When what?

He said he'd go on looking in a few more shops.

That was... the last I ever heard from him.

You people said he probably didn't want the responsibility of a family anymore.

Or he had another woman.

And that he just never wanted to be found.

But it wasn't like that.

I knew it wasn't like that.

Peter!

Come here.

Peter.

This man and woman are police officers.

I've come to ask about Danny.

A year too late.

Do you know how difficult it is to get a divorce from a husband who is missing?

Not technically presumed dead for seven years.

Oh, you can go to court, bring it forward, but it's still a very long

Yes, but... And all the time, everything's frozen.

Our bank account, the house, his assets.

The law says I can't dispose of anything for a very long time.

Did Philip know you wanted a divorce?

Yes.

Did he intend making it easy?

Not exactly.

Where is he, Mrs. Chalmers?

Presumably Elsa's told you.

What she hasn't told me, I can put together myself.

She asked Philip for a divorce, to marry me.

He refused.

A few days later, he disappears.

His car is found abandoned in Glasgow.

How do you think it might have looked?

That you two killed him?

Right. Why didn't you tell me this two days ago?

We both know how our colleagues' minds work.

We do the same job.

But not in the same force.

I didn't know how much I could trust you.

I wouldn't trust you, Pierre, one inch.

Doesn't it make a difference that other missing persons are involved?

That it isn't just Philip?

It has to.

The only person who says so is the private detective you hired.

And he's dead.

When you got David's car back, did you notice anything about the interior?

Chaz? Was there any crumbs lying about the driver's seat?

Don't expect me to remember that.

Does gingerbread men mean anything to you?

Look, why has it taken you so long to take an interest?

David's been gone a year.

Peter's had no father for all that time and you come asking stupid questions.

Believe me, there's a reason for them.

Do you know where he is?

Do you know where you think he is?

We don't. I'm sorry.

Funny, isn't it?

When a woman goes missing, suddenly all the stops get pulled out.

Well, it's a man.

You couldn't care less.

It's not strictly true.

It is from where she's standing.

Stephen, it's your dad.

Is Molly there?

Hi, it's me.

Listen, do you want the good news?

I just spoke to Mr Panasutu. He's given me the North East.

Yeah.

I'll be back tomorrow about lunchtime.

What about going out for dinner?

That new Indian one with the Taj Mahal erected outside.

You know me, I'll probably do the usual.

I feel lucky tonight.

All the fours!

44, eh?

Soixante -neuf.

If you don't speak French.

Fun to do if youse have got a full house.

All right, ladies.

Number one.

Numero uno.

Oh, there a wee woman down the front here.

She think... She thinks that I'm by...

Bilingual missies, eh?

All the two?

22, just my age, missies. I've never been kissed, eh?

And number seven.

Seventh.

Heaven. House. House.

My lucky night tonight, eh?

With the love true.

So you can cling to a round and round

Wild as the wind blows

That's how you grow Can I buy you a drink?

Half a lager, please.

And a vodka for my friend.

Half a lager and a vodka, please.

It's a bit lonely celebrating on your own.

Wouldn't want you to be that.

Where in Ireland are you from?

County Clare.

I went there once, caravaning.

Great people, the Irish.

I'm Jimmy, by the way.

I'm Jenny.

She's Anne.

Right, girls.

Losers of the night, won't be, eh?

Still, chatting up the winners.

Loser every bloody night.

Make custom on that.

She has.

Customer?

So, what do you do for a living?

I'm a rep for a confectionery firm.

Travelling salesman.

Have you given it three samples?

No. Neither has she.

Well, I mean, we've all got to do something for a living.

You seem too... Too what?

Too nice.

You're out of the park, aren't you?

Look, I'll get my car outside if you'd like to come for a drive.

Where to?

I don't know.

Anywhere.

Anyway, you got that?

Can't be too careful.

Sir, I'd like you to meet Gemma.

Gemma Normanton, the crime writer I told you about.

How do you do? I'm pleased to meet you. How do you do? Good heavens, yes.

You published that book on prisoners on death row in America.

I saw it the other day.

Very pleased to meet you.

What are you working at at the moment?

A book on Glasgow murder cases.

Gemma's more interested in the recent ones. Well, you've certainly come to the

right people.

If I could talk to you about crimes such as the Bowman, the Samson inheritance,

the Black Pudding Shop murder... I was in overall charge of all those cases.

Yes, the Black Pudding Shop murder.

That was where they cut up the drug dealer.

Had us clambering about in rubbish incinerators looking for the head.

Excuse me.

Jean's got a cocoa waiting for me in the microwave.

So, uh, how do you two know each other?

Oh, we were at school together.

Practically the same desk.

It really was very funny.

I've never seen him know without a joint.

Oh, I think he's a sweetie.

I've heard them call it thumb things, but never that.

You like the music?

It's a bit romantic.

What's wrong with a bit of romance?

Nothing. I've just had a lot of it knocked out of me.

Can't you escape from all that?

Oh, Mike.

Meeting people who are queuing up to die.

You don't escape from that. You just try and forget it for a while.

Well, try and forget.

What's that?

Hello.

And you must be Nicola.

Go on.

Go on then.

Sit down.

Go on.

Sit down.

I was washing blackberries.

I was going to make a pie but the time ran out.

But never mind.

Next time, eh?

Drink.

I've got to get me something.

They'll want something to drink.

Come on, now.

Eat up.

Everything's got to be eaten, Nicola.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I almost forgot.

Gemma Stacey hasn't turned up at my place.

Aren't you people specially trained to sort this kind of thing happening?

We're emergency foster parents.

We look after other people's children at a moment's notice.

Trouble the children.

We're not prison guards.

We can't lock them up for 24 hours a day. Whatever child's determined to run

off? Anleith Wood. She's been there before.

That's where their father used to take them.

They'll come home when they're hungry.

Children always do.

Nicola, you haven't had one of these?

I'm full up.

Nonsense. You can't be full up.

I've made all this food.

Everything's got to be eaten.

We're going to have to be going soon.

You can't go.

Not till everything's eaten.

Where's your husband?

Oh, he left us long ago.

Why?

Why?

Because he died.

He got this place for us so we could get out of the city.

I was very young and attractive in those days.

Would you like to see me?

He made an honest woman of me.

He was a baker.

Taught me everything.

Can I use your toilet?

Yes. Top of the stairs, straight ahead.

Simon tells me that you like stories.

What's your favourite?

Hansel and Gretel.

Hansel and Gretel?

Well, the next time you come, I'll make a real gingerbread house.

Would you like that?

And there'll be a real witch.

And a real Hansel and Gretel.

Oh, Nicola, quick.

I've got to go home now. Sorry.

Come back?

Both of you? Of course.

You promise?

Up ahead on the left.

Have you any idea the trouble you caused people?

I did see it.

Hanging in the bathroom. It was the same cape.

And why would an old woman want to kill your father?

I don't know.

Your auntie Michael was the idea that it was Mr Brockwell that was the person.

It was a mistake.

Simon, the next time you want to go and visit this lady, Just tell us where

you're going. That's all we ask.

Simon, remember I told you about being a detective?

I said imagination, but not too much. She's mad.

She made us all this food and expected us to eat it.

Maybe she's just lonely.

Maybe she's a witch.

Simon, there are no witches.

Magic? Oh, yes.

But no witches.

Penny for them.

Oh, it doesn't matter how hard I am on him.

He still... Looks on you as a father figure.

Yeah, something like that.

And how do you look on him?

At this moment, it's a perfect nuisance.

I thought you might be feeling concerned.

What put us onto the track of the bowman, of course, was his contact lens.

You may not know this, but an optician can look at a contact lens the way the

dentist can look at a filling and say, that's one of mine.

So, who found the contact lens?

One of his victims. She put it in her eye, thinking it was one of her own.

But I, of course, realised its significance yesterday.

Oh, wait, sir.

That's what good detective work is all about.

Intuition.

He's in there, taking a credit for one of my cases, putting himself at the

centre of it.

Sorry, sir. What do you have, Mrs Innes?

She's the wife of Frank and is one of the missing persons. He says it was his

case and he solved it.

Just about takes the biscuits, then.

Why, if he was going to leave me, would he do the shopping first?

That doesn't seem a logical thing to do.

Well, exactly that's what I said to the policeman 11 months ago.

It wasn't logical.

And to leave the car in a side street, why not just drive away in it to

wherever?

Does gingerbread men mean anything to you?

Gingerbread men? I don't understand.

Neither do we, really.

You mean the kind you eat?

Well, could be.

Frank liked his cakes.

He had a very sweet tooth.

Mrs. Innes, what do you think happened to your husband?

What do I think?

I think he's dead.

I think he committed suicide.

And that's why he rang to tell me that he loved me.

He'd never done that before.

I still call it his disappearance.

It's funny, isn't it?

What else can I call it?

Where next?

Edinburgh. Oh, that way.

Remind me of the details again.

Ian Scott came through to the Citizens Theatre on the 5th of July last year.

Phoned his mother after the play to say that he was going for a drink with some

friends. That was the last time she heard from him.

His car was found, like the others.

Have you noticed something they have in common?

They all phoned home.

This is Scott at DS Jab and this is DC Reid from Maryhill Police Station in

Glasgow. We phoned earlier.

Come in.

This is Chief Inspector Galt of the Edinburgh Police.

I know.

We've met.

This is D .S. Jordan.

Sir. Sergeant.

We're obviously all here for the same reason.

I've got the information we require. We don't need to upset you any further.

You're not upsetting me.

Oh, good.

My son went missing 18 months ago.

No one wanted to know anything about it then.

Now I have two police forces in my house.

That's why you're all going to sit down.

Coming over the road for a drink, sir?

Not tonight, Jim.

I promised to play a rubber bridge with Marjorie and some of her bowling

friends. We'll have a nice time.

Are you sure we're on the right track with these missing persons cases?

We've only got the word of a dead man.

Anything on gingerbread men?