All language subtitles for Vera S06E03 The Moth Catcher

(DOG WHIMPERS)

(BARKING)

(FLOW OF URINE)

(FLOW STOPS)

White female, early 20s.
Injury to the side of the head.

Blunt trauma wound.
Have we got a name?

Nothing yet. No phone, no bag.

Time of death?
Sometime within the last hour.

No sexual assault?
Clothing's still intact.
It's unlikely.

Did she die here or
has someone dumped her?

Suspected displaced fracture wounds.

Consistent with being hit
by a moving vehicle.

Oh. Hit and run.
Remote country lane...

No witnesses...

What are those scratches on her arms?
Sharp branches?

Brambles. I'm guessing from those trees.

So, have you checked for
tyre treads, broken glass?

We've cordoned off the lane.
Proper sweep will have to wait
til morning.

Who called this in?

Erm, old fella,
walking back from the pub.

Has he got a name...this old fella?

Percy Monkford.

Mr Monkford?
Aye.

DCI Stanhope.

You found the lass?
I got caught short.

The beer, you know.

It comes to us all, pet.

Knocked me for six,
I don't mind telling you.

Do you recognise the lass?

Well...she'd been into the pub
a few times.

Local, then?
Aye.
She was staying at the Carswell house.

Big one. Top of the hill.

Have we checked that out?
Yeah. The place was all locked up

when we called, Ma'am -
No one at home.

Do you happen to know the lass's name?

No.

Susan will do. She cleans for them.

Susan?
My daughter.

She's a nebby one.

Well, why don't we give you a lift home

and see what she can tell us?

Alex Gartside. Student.

Your dad said she was staying
with the Carswells.

Yeah. That's right.

They've gone to er...Australia.
Daughter's having a baby.

So was Alex a friend of the family?

No. She were erm...

..house-sitting. Agency sent her.

Happy enough for me to clean.

Rather trust a...stranger
to look after t'place.

That big barn conversion down the lane.

Who lives there?

Brian and Lorraine.

All the lights are on.
Looks like a party.

Well, they're new to t'valley.

Second wife.

Did the Carswells leave a contact number?

Er... Yeah.
Mobile - in case of emergencies.

The number, love?
Right.

And we'll need access to the house.
Well, I shouldn't erm...

..really leave my dad on his own.

Oh, that's all right, love. Just give
us the key. We'll let ourselves in.

What's this, then?

That's a moth trap.

Where's the light switch?

There's a light over here.

I'll look upstairs.

(TURNS LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF)

Ma'am?!

Ma'am, I need you down here!

Get another Forensics team up here.

We've just trampled all over
a murder scene.

You been in there all night?

Just giving them some space.

What's he doing here?
That's the new DC. Yeah, I know.

But he's not due to start
till Monday.

Well, he's keen. I'll give him that.

DC Cherradi, Ma'am.

I thought you could do with
an extra pair of hands.
Right.

Well, thanks for coming in.

Can you shed any light on
the body in the house?

Not yet, Ma'am. Apparently,
some clown's contaminated the scene.

But I've just been chatting to
the gardener, Harry Benton.

Said he knew the dead student.
You might wanna follow that up.

Right.
Then maybe you could bring me up to speed?

But first, I want checks
on every vehicle in the valley.

Hm?
Run the plates through PNC.

Scratches, dents, broken lights.
The lot.

Vehicle checks?
Mm.

Right.

Not that one, mate.
That's the clown's.

Mr Benton?

DCI Stanhope.
I'm heading the investigation.

Thanks, love.
Was it a hit and run?

Well, possibly.

So, you work for the Carswells, yes?

Doing what?
Gardening, livestock - whatever needs doing.

And you knew the deceased.

She was studying moths.
Some sort of university project.

Do you know which university?

I think she said Northumbria.

So that'll be one of her traps, then.

There's quite a few of 'em
scattered round the valley.
I help her put them up.

Oh.

So, when did you last speak to Alex?

Hadn't seen her in a couple of days.

Did you ever see anyone else with her?
No. I can't say I did.

And what about your movements yesterday?

Weeded the beds in the morning,
tidied the garden.

Rest of the day I was in the valley.
Checked the sheep.

A small herd of Northumberland Blackface.

Mm. And what time was this?

Must've been about six.

The late lambs are vulnerable to foxes.
Oh, aye.

Now, can you give your
personal details to DS Healy?

We might need to chat again
if anything crops up.

Just need a contact name
and address, just in case we've
got any follow-up questions.

You still here?
Charming (!)

So, what can you tell me?

Aside from the fact that you might
have contaminated evidence -

Marcus! Attacked with a knife.
Single puncture wound.

And someone went out of that window.

Well, he's a big fella to mess with.
Any ID?

No, nothing.
Set of keys, some loose change...

And a bus ticket from Bebington.

But that's...what?
10 miles away, isn't it?

What's a Bebington fella doing
in a posh home like this?

I don't know. I'll leave that one
for you to work out.
I'm going home.

What about the post mortem?
After we've both had some sleep!

(SIGHS)

So she climbs out through the
window... Where are you heading?

The lane is that way, right?
Yeah.

OK.

So, mud on her shoes...

scratches on her arms...

From the branches. Right?

Look at that.

I'd say she couldn't
get out of there fast enough.

This doesn't look like a burglary.

Well, there's no sign
of a forced entry.

And look.
Someone's made themselves at home.

That fella they've just carried out?

Alex invited him.

Now, then. Yesterday evening,
two deaths in the Gilswick Valley.

The first, a female found in
a shallow ditch off Ashbourne Lane.

Alex Gartside - 22.

Possibly a hit and run, but the post
mortem will have to confirm that.

Now, Kenny.

What do these tyre tracks tell us
about the vehicle?

Pretty inconclusive, Ma'am.
A small van or a 4X4 maybe?

I checked out the registered vehicles in the valley.
They've all come back clean.

Right.

Now, she was house-sitting...
for the Carswells.

That's an elderly couple
on holiday in Australia.

Have we made contact with them?
We've spoken to Peter Carswell
in Brisbane.

He said that they're gonna
stay there for now.

What about the agency who got her the job?
Gilswick Residential. I spoke to the director.

She only takes on people of impeccable character.

Well, she might want to revise that
if it turns out she's killed this fella.

Well, Alex was doing a masters
degree - environmental science.

That could explain the moth traps.
So, clever, then.

One of her tutors provided a reference.

Alan Randle.
Good. We'll need to talk to him.

The other body,
single stab wound to the chest.

No ID.
We ran his prints, but nothing
comes up on the database.

There was a bus ticket from Bebington
on him, so let's call him Mr Bebington.

So, what's his connection with Alex?
They could've hooked up for sex.

I think she's a bit out of his league, Kenny.
Oh, there's no accounting for taste.

Isn't that right, Kenny.
Well, he could've got into
the house under false pretenses.

Made his move on her,

she stabbed him in self-defense
and...went for help.

So where's the murder weapon?

Who ran her over?

We've checked the beer bottles
from the house.

Mr Bebington's prints are all over them.

Well, if she's offering him beer,

I'd say they knew each other.

Kenny? Get over to Bebington.

Talk to hostels, shelters - the lot.
Talk to all the dossers.

And take DC Cher...
What's your Mum call you?

Hicham, Ma'am.
Take Hicham with you.

And the rest of us,
lets work with what we've got.

Alex Gartside.

Phone records, e-mails - I want
every space on this board filled in.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Erm...we should really
follow up these statements.

Give me five minutes.

And we'll go talk to
those neighbours again.

OK.

We found another body
up at the Carswell's house.

Do you recognise him at all?

No. No idea. Sorry.

Doesn't ring any bells?

I don't think so.

He'd been stabbed, we believe
sometime yesterday evening.

And there's us sitting out drinking.
What about the other people you'd had over?

Might they recognise him?
Well, that lot's mostly old mates from Middlesbrough.

You can ask, but -
What about on the lane?

Did you drive anywhere later
in the evening? Drop anyone off?

No, we, er...we'd both had a bit
to drink by then, hadn't we?

Neither of you nipped out
for anything?

No, we were both here till...

..till your officers arrived and
said that girl had been run over.

And what about her, Alex Gartside?
How well did you know her?

I came across her
down the pub a few times.

She ever with anyone?
No.

Friends?
I wish we could be of more help.

Obviously this place is at your
disposal if you...you need a base.

Oh, you wouldn't want my lot
trampling through, love. (Chuckles)

That's a lovely spot, mind.
Aye, we were lucky.

An old mate told me
the Carswells were looking to sell

and I turned up the next day,
cash in hand.

What, just like that?
Mm-hm.

Phew! (Chuckles)
All right for some.

OK, thank you.

Alex's tutor. He's expecting us
later this morning.

Why did Alex choose to house-sit
round here?

No friends to speak of,

stuck on her own,
great big empty house,

middle of nowhere.

Oh, well, some people
like to get away from it all.

So, it's been some fantastic work
you've been handing in recently.

I'd really like to talk to you about that further.
Professor Randle -

Yes.
When did you last see her?

That's tricky.

She missed the last couple of months.

Was that like her?
Masters students.

They're not kids, but they're not
completely grown-ups either.

So...if they go off-piste it's not
unknown, let me put it that way.

When she didn't turn up,
I just presumed she had some personal issues.

Did you talk to her about it?
I e-mailed her a few times.
She didn't call me back.

She's been setting up moth traps
in the Gilswick Valley.

Is that to do with her studies?
She wasn't studying moths.

It was nothing to do with
her Masters.

Right. Thanks, Professor.
OK.

Did she have a locker?

Diagnosed as bipolar
seven years ago.

Quite young for that diagnosis,
I'd say.

Self-described periods
of depression, manic episodes.

On medication all that time?

Prescribed, but there was none
in her system post-mortem.

So I can assume
she'd stopped taking them?

I can run another screen, but they
tend to remain in the bloodstream.

So she could have been
off them a while.

That would have affected her how?
Really depends.

She could have been OK.
It's hard to say.

But that would have been a rocky
road emotionally, wouldn't it?

Bipolar - mood swings, volatile?
It's not my place to say.

And there was no sexual assault?
No.

Broken fib and tib
when she was hit by the bumper.

Killed by the head wound sustained
on impact with the windscreen.

So dead before she hit the ditch.

Didn't lie there waiting for help.

I'd say she died instantly.
We found some flecks
of white paint in her hair.

So a white vehicle.
Probably an older vehicle.

Rust smears on her jeans.

Anything on the footprints
next to the body?

Hers.
Plus his blood on her trainers.

So we can place her at the body
when he was stabbed at least.

Mm-hm.
Single stab wound to the chest,

short-bladed knife
about three inches in length.

Any other significant prints found
at the scene? No.

We did find some fibres
in the knife wound.

They could have transferred
on the blade.

Could they have come from her?
We're running tests

on the clothes she was wearing -
we'll know soon enough.

Something else
that was rather intriguing.

The handkerchief we found
in his coat pocket.

Smell this.

Pear drops?
Ethyl acetate.

Commonly used as a solvent.

Oh, that takes me back.

Hector, my dad,
used to use that in his killing jars.

Oh, yeah?
Mm.

Get yourself a cup of tea.
I've got this.

Mrs Gartside?

I, er...I have a photo-fit...
of the man we found at the house.

Do you recognise him at all, love?

We think Alex met him
through a shared interest in moths.

Moths?
Mm.

Was it to do with her Masters?

I thought it was
about something else.

Oh, I don't know. I...

Were you in regular contact?
She rang, a few weeks ago.

We didn't really talk about much.

Did she tell you she was
behind in her studies?

No. She was working hard.
She was doing well.

She was very conscientious.

What about her friends?

Did you meet anyone from college?

She never...brought people home.

Boyfriends?

Alex had never been interested
in boys.

I always hoped it was just a phase.

Can I ask about her medication?

We know she was diagnosed
with a...bipolar disorder
a number of years back.

Her brother died. Ten years ago.
Asthma attack.

My marriage fell apart
soon afterwards.

I think the trauma of that
and...Simon dying...

She worshipped her brother.

She just...

seemed to...close down.

Medication helped. It...sort of
evened her out, stabilised her.

Did you know she'd stopped taking
her medication recently?

No. I didn't.
Mm. Has that happened before?

Once or twice.
And how did that affect her?

Her mental state?
Oooh, I see.

Did she go doolally?
Is that what you mean?

No...love.

It's just we can place Alex
at a murder scene. I have to ask.

Alex...was never violent.

She had never been violent.

Well, I'm not suggesting she was.

People never understand!

They always make assumptions
based on God knows what.
It's ignorance!

Look, I'm sorry, love.
You know the address where I'm staying.

Just let me know
when I can take her home.

(HE EXHALES)

That went well (!)
Oh, shut up!

Kenny had good news.

Barmaid in Gilswick recognised Mr Bebington.
Finally.

Maybe now we can
dignify him with a name.

Are you Lizzie?
Yeah.

Yeah, I saw him.

Ordered a half. Sat at that
table with his head in the paper.

Did he meet anyone?
I'm not sure. It was busy.

Did Alex Gartside come in yesterday?

She showed her face, yeah.

Did she speak to the man
at the table? Not that I noticed.

They certainly didn't
look like friends.

You don't know if they
left together. I don't know.

I went down to the cellar
to change the mild

and by the time I came back up,
they'd both gone.

What time did you finish?
Around midnight.
I'd done a double-shift.

Always early, never tips.

How did she seem
the last time you talked to her?

A bit distracted.

Had things on her mind, I expect.

Oh, well, thanks, love.

He was murdered then,
the fella who came in?

Afraid so, yeah.

What do you think happened?
Well, that's what we're trying
to find out.

Here we go. Those fibres
we found in the knife wound.

They didn't match the clothes worn
by Alex. So she's not the killer.

Have you got any ID for our Mr Bebington?
Not yet.

Well, someone must be missing him!

Well, I've tried the shelters
and the dosshouses.

Complete waste of time, Ma'am.

So what have we got?

A bus ticket...

house keys with no address...
and yesterday's newspaper.

What's that?

Some handwriting.

'Dusky Brocade. 3.15.'

It's the name of a moth.

I read it in a book once.
Hey, did you hear that, Kenny?
DC Cherradi reads books!

It's also the name of a horse.

Is it?
Yes, Ma'am.

Dusky Brocade...3:15, Hexham.

Odds 8-1. And there's
a bookies in Bebington.

Kenny, you are a genius.

Aiden!

(GROANS)
There you go, mate.

(RACING COMMENTARY)

Martin Neilson.

Placed a bet yesterday morning.

You sure that was him?
Spent a lot of his time in here.

So he liked a flutter, then?
He was never very lucky, mind.

Used to pain me
to take his money off him.

Did he have an account?
Mm.

I need his home address.

13...Rudd Street.

R-U-D-D.

Right, thanks.

(POUNDING ON DOOR)

(POUNDING CONTINUES)

Hello?

Here. Open up.

Go on.

Phone's still connected.
Well, dial 1471.

There's no number.

Pear drops.

Aiden?

It's all right, love.
We're not going to hurt you.

My name's Vera.
I'm a police officer. Martin!

Kitty? Are you all right?
The front door was open!

It's all right, love.

I calmed her down.
Oh, good.

She's fast asleep.

How long has his mam been like this?
Couple of years now.

I pop in when I can, check she's OK.

Is it just the two of them?

His dad died a few years back.

Did he do this often? Lock her up?

I don't know.

They've been trying for months
to move her into a home.

He worried about her.

Did Martin leave any contact numbers
in case his mam needed him?

He didn't have a mobile,
I know that much.

Bebington dialling code.

Can I just borrow that?
I never had cause to ring it.

Did he ever have any visitors?

Young lass, name of Alex?

I don't think he had any friends.
Not that I saw.

What about other family?

It was always just the two of 'em.
Ma'am.

Channels North East.
It's a charity for ex-offenders.

Well, let's pay 'em a visit.

Thanks, love.

Full-time employment,
that's the aim.

Some of you already have the skill
to set up a small business.

We can offer assistance with that
and funding wherever possible.

Just give me one minute.

Hi.
Could I have a word, pet?

Ash, could you hand the pens out
for me? I'll be one minute.

We're here about a man called...
Martin Neilson.

Is Martin in some kind of trouble?

I'm afraid he was found dead
last night.

Oh, God.

What happened to him? His body
was found in a house in Gilswick.

He'd been murdered.

Oh, my. Did you meet
him through the charity?

Yeah, yeah. Martin was working here.
He volunteered to help.

Basic filing, telephone.

We didn't have the funds to pay him.

He said he wanted to work,
to get back on his feet.

His mother's been ill.

How long had he been here?
A couple of months.

Was Martin an ex-offender?

He served a short sentence.
It was over ten years ago. That
wasn't why he was working here.

What was he inside for?
I didn't ask.

When did you last see him?

We had to let him go.
A couple of weeks ago.

It was inappropriate behaviour.

Inappropriate? How?

He made some lewd comments.

Suggestive remarks.

Shirley felt uncomfortable.
I told Martin it wasn't working out.

It was a loose arrangement.
He didn't question it.

Was he in any trouble with clients?
Arguments? Altercations? No, no.

Nothing like that.

He may have been a bit strange,
but he was a gentle soul.

We'll, we're going to need a list
of all the people on your books.

Contact details,
recent appointments.

Anyone Martin might have
had dealings with.

Most of our clients are trying to
turn their lives around.

It's got nothing to do with them.
Well, in that case,

they've nothing to worry about.

So Martin was a sex pest.
We've ruled out sexual assault.

I know, but all the moth stuff.
Hoarder. Loner.
Lived at home with his mother.

You've got to admit it's a bit
creepy. Oh that's your astute
psychological profile, is it?

(CHUCKLES)

We did nothing wrong.

Martin Neilson served a 12-month
stretch in 2005. Public affray.

It was his only offence and...
he was a juvenile at the time.

Farnworth Young Offenders.

12 months? Well, he must have
stepped out of line while
he was in there.

Doesn't look like it. From what
I read he kept his head down.

Good report off of the Guv'nor,

Complied with education,
even helped out in sick bay.

Well, that's unusual for them.

Most inmates who go through it
come out worse.

Are you sure there's no history
of re-offending?

I'll double check.
He could have got back in touch

with someone from prison
through the charity.

Wasn't the happy reunion he'd been expecting?
Or he could have made an enemy
of the wrong person.

Alex was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Check through that list of ex-offenders.

Check 'em all against the PNC and
flag up anyone with a history
of violent crime.

No problem.

I've got a breakdown of Alex Gartside's
phone log that you asked for.
Get it, finally?

Uh, she made the last recorded call
to Martin Neilson's landline

at 11:16 on the day they both died.

So they did plan to meet.
There was also...

three recent calls to Alex
from another mobile number.

Well, come on.
Put us out of our misery.

OK, well, if you hear from her,
we would like to have a word.

Lizzie left an hour ago.

Right.

Excuse me. What's this concerning?

Lizzie's my daughter.
Ah, Mr Hallam.

Well, it's about
the hit-and-run case.

Well, she didn't even know the girl.
She doesn't drive.

We still need to speak to her.
Do you know where she is?

No. You can't tell us where
she might be? Home? Friend's?

I don't know.
Where does she normally go?

Or does she disappear on a regular
basis? (CHUCKLES) No.

No, she's just a quiet girl.

Look, I'll track her down
and tell her to get in touch.

Well, as quick as you can, love.

Now what was that?
Was that lying or was he surprised?

Ah, could be either. Or both.

(MOBILE RINGS)
Or just being protective.

You'll be the same. Kenny.

I've been looking at an image on a
speed camera just outside Gilswick.

And I've spotted a white van
going through the village.

It was, er, yesterday evening,
19:03.

Did you get the plates? Yeah, it's,
er, registered to Jason McNeive.

He has a previous for ABH, and
I've got an address in Bebington.

(SHOUTING)

Get that open.

(GROANING)

Hey. You all right, mate?
Who's done this?

(WHIMPERING)

(DOOR OPENS)

Have you hit your boyfriend before?

No. We just had a massive...

It got out of hand. Ah. Well,
a couple of stitches...he'll be fine.

Now, domestic violence. I won't take
that from a bloke and I'm not
gonna take it from you.

So I suggest you tell me
the mitigating circumstances

if you want to avoid
an assault charge.

OK!

I completely lost it.
Why'd you lose it?

I just did. Well, what was
the argument leading up to it?

Normal stuff.
Ah. Jealousy, that sort of thing?

He gets really jealous.

Was he jealous of Alex Gartside?

See, we...have a record...

of several unanswered calls
from your phone to hers,

right up to the time of her death.

Yeah, OK. We were good mates.

Just that? Or was it more than that?

We were just friends.

She came into the pub...
we got talking.

She'd lost her brother. I'd lost my
mum. She just understood how I felt.

But Jason didn't see it like that?

He knew she was into girls.
He didn't like it.

Would he have tried to warn her off?

Is that the sort of thing he'd do?
I don't think she'd have listened.

He'd have had to... He'd have what?
Had to do something drastic
to scare her off?

Yeah, exactly. And he wouldn't.

Did you know he came into Gilswick
yesterday...in his van?

(BARKING)

OK.
Poor thing, it's more scared of you.

Now, this...

is you doing 60...
in a 40-mile-an-hour zone.

They changed the limit on the road.
Oh!

I was...in a hurry.
I had a job on in Hexham.

Oh. Who for?
Er...some old biddy.

I can get you her details.
Doing a quote for her lounge.

Oh. Nice.

Do you recognise this fella?

Nah.
No?

His name's Martin Neilson.
He lives in, er...Bebington.

Nah, still don't know him.

Mm. He was murdered the other night.

I don't know him.
I mean...that's sad, I suppose.

Yeah, it's sad.

But you do know Alex Gartside,
don't you?

Course, she's close with
your girlfriend.

That must have been some row.

Only, Alex was killed by a white
vehicle travelling at speed.

And I know you
had a problem with her. No!

You've got that wrong.

Well, Lizzie said you did.

And I'm gonna take that
at face value.

Now, I suggest you went to Gilswick
to have a little word with Alex.

To tell her to back off,
put the wind up her.

Nah! Did Lizzie say this?

Don't listen to her.

She's gone completely psycho
since that Alex turned up.

Well, you were very upset about
all that, weren't you?

Hm?

How's this for an idea?

You go to the house. Confront Alex.

It gets heated,
as we know it can do.

Martin steps in and there's
a nasty, unplanned outcome.

I was nowhere near.

And we found blood on your jeans.
Where's that from?

No idea.

Oh, terrific!

Is that all you've got?

Lizzie.
Don't.

You're not gonna press charges,
are you? Oh, I am, yes.

We don't ignore domestic violence.

Nor lying in the course
of a murder investigation.

But she doesn't know what
she's doing. She's just a girl.
So is Alex Gartside.

So don't let her go far.
We will need to speak to her again.

Ma'am? I spoke to that pensioner
in Hexham. Jason never turned up.

And what about
the paint match from the van?
Forensics are still running tests.

Do you know what? I just don't
think that lad's got it in him.

Even his girlfriend
thinks he did it. Nah.

Ma'am? The blood on Jason's jeans.
The report's just in.

So...

We've spoken to your pensioner
in Hexham.

And she claims you never turned up.

Nah. Well, she's confused.

Van speeding on camera
at the time of a hit-and-run.

Known grievance with the victim.

History of violence...
and lied about an alibi.

Now, what conclusion would you draw
in my position? Hm?

OK, I was over in the valley.
But I wasn't...

I went over with my mate,
walking the dogs.

Oh, that explains
the badger blood on your jeans.

You...were lamping.

It's just a few bets.

So you admit being engaged in
criminal activity
in the vicinity of the house?

You see, in my mind,
that implicates you more, not less.

Oh, we were chased off.

Some old fella found us by the sett.
He went mental at us for trespassing.

Ooh! Ran at you with a pitchfork,
did he? Oh, find him.

Ask him.
He'll tell you we were trespassing.

Yeah.
And what else will he tell us, pet?

That we drove off like the clappers.
Right past your speed camera!

(SIGHS)

Where are we at with those
ex-offenders?
I'm still working through them.

Hey. Go on, get yourself off home.
You've done enough for today.

Go on.
I'll get back on to it first thing.

See you tomorrow.

Hey, Hicham.

They'll not be paying you
till Monday.

Night, Ma'am.

(KNOCKS)

Kenny. You still here?

May I make a suggestion, Ma'am?
Well, I'll probably ignore it (!)

This'll all be still here
in the morning. Get some sleep.

Night, Ma'am.

Ni-night, Ken.

Susan?

Ye alreet, hinny?

Death by asphyxiation.
No sign of a struggle.

She'd been a mardy one all weekend.

Ever since I found that lass.

She wanted me out
from under her feet.

Sent you to the pub?
Aye.

I came back late.

Thought she'd gone to bed.

She was out there...all night...

..in the barn.

Mr Monkford?

Did your daughter drive?

Oh, only the pick-up.

How did we miss it?

The new lad checked all vehicles.

It wasn't taxed or insured.

And she lied about her whereabouts.

Yeah, well, get back to the station.

We'll need this written up.
You not coming?

No, I'm gonna stretch my legs.

What's going on?

Well, it's Percy.

Oh!

He's just found his daughter
hanging in the barn.

And it looks like she might
have been responsible...
for killing Alex.

Couldn't live with herself?

Nah, it's sad.

Is there anything in that, pet?

Is that what you came up here to
tell us? No. Not exactly. 00:59:50,233
Did you have a run-in with
a couple of lads from Bebington...

the night Alex was killed?

It's all right.
I know what they were doing.

Lamping scumbags.
They think it's funny.

Did you see him drive off,
the lad you had the fight with?

For a bit. Tried to follow him.
I lost him up the Bebington road.

Well, we can charge him,
you give us a statement.

Nah. It's over and done with.

Doesn't have to be.

What is this? Victim support (?)
(CHUCKLES)

It might put him off.

What'd put him off
is a good clip round the ear.

You been up here long?
I moved away for a few years.

Thought I'd see
what the world had to offer.

Got as far as Middlesbrough.
Came right back.

Well, it's a good place
to be your own boss. Aye.

Still,
I expect she kept you busy, Alex?

Aye, she did.
We had some good times.

What's gonna happen
to all them traps?

I suppose I'd better take 'em down.

Just...

left her by the side of the road,
like she was vermin.

Is someone looking after you, pet?

Oh, I'm just waiting for Aiden.

Charlie, right?

Yeah, I... Hey, don't get up, love.
I'll drag him out for you.

Vera, isn't it?

It's lovely to finally meet you,
you being Aiden's work wife.

(MUTTERS AND CHUCKLES)
He speaks very highly of you.

How long have you got?
Couple of months?

Oh, more like two weeks.
It's crept round quick.

Mm. Still, I bet you'll be glad
to get it over with. Oh, do

I'm dreading it.
I'm asking for chloroform (!)

You'll be fine.
She'll be fine.

Yeah? You push it out, then (!)

Where are you off to?
Ah, sorry. The scan, isn't it?

Oh, we're way past scans.
This is spending money.

Which is why this Yorkshireman's
left it to the last minute.

Oh. Well, off you go then.

I'm sure we can cope without you.

(WHISPERS) I told her it was a scan.
Oh.

It's all right.
(SIGHS)

Susan Monkford's suicide.

Now where does that leave the case?

We know the hit-and-run
was an accident...

..and we're not looking at
a double murder.

Martin Neilson was always
the intended target?

Well...that's what I'm thinking.

But I'm no closer to knowing why.

I've been working my way through
these charity contacts.

I've not finished yet, but
there appear to be some anomalies.

Go on.
Well, for instance...

this guy was awarded
a start-up grant.

Yeah, signed off by Jerry Clunes.

I cross-checked with the PNC.

Deceased? Copped it two years ago?

Well, that's a mistake.
Maybe once or twice, but...

There are three or four like this.

He's serving 15 years in Frankland
for armed robbery.

Well, I remember this fella.
He won't get parole for
another five years.

I think we need to have
another little chat...with Jerry.

Hey! What's going on?

We're here to seize your property,
pet.

What do you mean? Hey, hold on.
You can't just take that.

So that's it, is it?
You're just closing us down?
What about all our clients?

Here's the thing
that's been troubling me.

Half your clients don't seem to exist.
Clearly there's been
some misunderstanding.

We'll need access
to the company finances,

balance sheets, audit
and employees on your payroll.

Shirley deals with all the finances.
We'll have to get the password from her.

(VEHICLE PULLS UP)

(ENGINE STOPS)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

Yeah, a good place to play hooky
from work. I'd do the same.

I had a migraine coming on.

I came home to get some air.

I just have a few more questions
to ask you, in light of
recent developments.

Shall we go to yours?
Do we have to do this now?

Or we can sit on the prom
if you're still feeling peaky.

The sea air'll do you
the world of good.

Those comments Martin made.
Lewd behaviour.

Yes.
Was that a one-off thing...

..or an ongoing problem for you?

Erm...it had been going on a while.

Oh.
Only, other enquiries we've made...

nothing's come up
about that side of him.

Maybe he was different with me.
Oh.

You didn't know him like I did.
He couldn't be trusted.

Still, Jerry seems to have given him
the benefit of the doubt.

(Scoffs) That's Jerry's trouble.

He only ever sees
the good in people. Ah.

Yeah, the charity
means a lot to him, doesn't it?

You see...

..I think he's been embezzling.

Jerry wouldn't do something like that.
Well, someone's been
cooking the books.

I think I need to lie down.

It's...it's that headache.

We can turn your house upside down,
pet.

Sooner or later we're going to
find those bank statements.

So why don't you just tell us
the truth now?

Martin never made lewd comments,
did he?

I think he'd rumbled
your little scam.

I took a bit of money.
I wasn't hurting anyone.

(CHUCKLES)

And you got Martin Neilson the sack
to cover your tracks.

It was all I could think of.

That's a vicious thing to have done.
Well, he deserved it.

He'd started blackmailing me.
What, for a slice of the action?

Well, he wasn't after money.
He wanted information.

What kind of information?
Criminal records.

Personal details about ex-offenders.
I know I shouldn't have.

But he had me over a barrel.

Now, then. Three months ago,

Martin Neilson gets a job
as a charity volunteer.

He finds out that Shirley Hewarth
is embezzling funds.

And he blackmails her
for access to restricted information.

Personal details of other offenders.

She gets him the sack
and two weeks later he's dead.

Now, what's so special
about these former inmates?

Where did they all serve their time?

All over.
Er...Barlinnie, Strangeways.

Juvenile detention centres?
Farnworth?

They all served time there.

The same Young Offenders as Martin.

Different dates, different years.

So why was he trying
to track 'em down?

He was always collecting things.
Never let me touch them.

I suppose it'll all
be thrown away now.

I...I'm so sorry, love.

He was a good lad, really.

Can you tell me
about his time at Farnworth?

If it'll help.

Did Martin keep in touch with
anyone he met there?

Any other inmates?
Oh, no.

It wasn't the sort of place
you made friends.

Oh, it was a cruel place.
Full of nasty people.

But he coped though, didn't he?
That's the impression I got.

No. Not at all.

He went in as one child and...
came out another.

They all suffered in there.

But it hit him
harder than the others.

A former Farnworth inmate just
called the office.

Yeah? Go on. Said a woman
called him a few weeks ago.

She already had his contact details.
Wanted to talk about his time there.

Did he give her name?
She wouldn't tell him.

Her number would have come up
on his phone. It did.

Alex Gartside's.

Well, why was she interested
in Farnworth?

Was she helping Martin?

Or did she have her own reasons?

I need another conversation with
her mam. Can someone pick her up?

Aye. She's up at the Carswell house
collecting Alex's things.

Didn't leave much, did she?

Not much for a life, is it?

I'm so sorry, Mrs Gartside.

When my son died,

I thought I'd been to
the darkest place a person could go.

But this...

I can't even imagine. I can't.

Your son, that was an asthma attack,
wasn't it?

Where you with him at the time?

He was in a young offenders
institution at the time.

And had his asthma always been
problematic?

No. He hardly used his inhaler
before he went there.

I don't know if it was
the smoking or...hash or what.

Whatever it was
just exacerbated it but...

It was in the middle of the night.

By the time they'd found the key
he was dead.

And did Alex know
what had happened to her brother?

She knew what it had done to us.

I don't think she could accept
what we'd been dealt.

Needed an explanation.

Mrs Gartside, did you accept
the explanation of your son's death?

Yes.

I did.

KENNY: The Inquest took place
in August 2005.

County Durham and Darlington.

Death while in juvenile custody.

Died of respiratory arrest
on the medical wing.

Now, could Martin have actually
been there when it happened?

You said he worked on the sick bay,
didn't you?

Yes, he did.

There was a suggestion of
incompetence over a lost inhaler.

An accusation the attack was
a result of violence from
the officers.

But that's dismissed by a witness.
By Martin Neilson.

Who were the officers?

The senior team officer
provided a statement.

Gotcha!

(DOORBELL)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Er, where's your husband, pet?
Not sure. The Lamb, I think.

Why do you need him? Oh,
is he thinking of leaving the area?

No. He's not.

Check the pub.
I am.

Does the name Simon Jenner
mean anything to you?

Who?
Simon Jenner?

Inmate at Farnworth?

No. Ah, well, your husband'll know,
since he was in charge there
at the time.

Now, Alex Gartside
was Simon Jenner's sister.

And Martin was an inmate there too,
same time.

Well...

I didn't know that. I've no idea.

Now, the night Martin died,
you told me

that neither you nor your husband
left the party. Is that correct? Yes.

I'm sorry. What is this?
Only, my officer

tracked down some of your guests.

And they reckon your husband
did leave the party.

Mr Brian Hallam.

I'm arresting you on suspicion
for the murder of Martin Neilson.

You do not have to say anything
but it may... (Fades)

Lizzie called and, as usual, he...

he dropped everything
to run after her.

Why would you want to
hide that from us?

It didn't seem important.

Oh.

Only, I've got
a list of calls here...

made from Lizzie's phone that night.

There's no calls to your husband.

So why do you think
he told you there was?

He said Lizzie's boyfriend
had been causing trouble again.

We'd had a lot of fights
about him putting her first.

I just wanted to ignore it,
enjoy the evening.

Why do you think my bags are packed?

Well, you're gonna be missing
all this, pet.

Bit different to Middlesbrough.

Brian said...

..an old mate tipped him off about
the Carswells selling this place.

Who was that?

Alex went out of her way
to be friendly.

Even got him
to help with her moth traps.

There were two guards on duty
that night at Farnworth.

It wasn't Brian Hallam
they'd been watching.

Where are you?
Valley Farm.

Look out for the Land Rover.

DS Healy. I need
a patrol car as soon as possible.

Ooh! Are you always
on the look-out for trouble?

You've got to be in this game.

Well, I'm with you on that one, pet.

Why'd you call Brian Hallam
that night?

Did I?

Probably just to warn him about
those thugs.

Oh, the lampers. Right.

Course, he knows you of old,
doesn't he?

We used to work together.
Mm. What, did he look out for you?

Then and now?

He sticks by people.

So, did he find you,
after he left the party?

I don't know what you're on about.
I didn't see Brian that night.

Well, let's see if I can
jog your memory.

Well, first off, you wasn't chasing
down the Bebington road after those
lampers like you told me yesterday.

No. I think you had the run-in.

But then you phoned Brian to warn
him that there were thugs
on the loose.

And perhaps get his help
to duff 'em up.

So then you go to warn...Alex.

Valley Farm!

(TYRES SCREECH)

I didn't see Alex that night.

You've got nothing.

Course, it would've been a shock,
seeing him there.

But nothing compared to the shock
of Alex's betrayal.

It was you she was after.

She was laying a trap...for you.

And you walked right into it.

(CHUCKLES)

I was just helping her
with her studies.

And all the while she was plotting
to expose who you are.

And then you turn up at hers...

..and the man who could ruin your
life is sitting there.

Martin Neilson couldn't ruin my
life. He's a halfwit.

Ah, well, was he a halfwit when
he confirmed your story
at Simon Jenner's inquest?

He simply told the truth.

Jenner died of an asthma attack.
Read the report.

Oh, I have, pet.

You and Brian backing each other up.

And the...halfwit
going along with it.

Cos you bullied him into it.
Didn't you?

You broke that lad's spirit.

He was already broken.
Most of 'em were.

So why do you think they were there?

I went up to the house to see Alex.

I had no idea Martin Neilson
would be there.

As soon as he saw me, he lost it.

He had a bottle in his hand.
Probably enjoying a beer.

You're talking about
an ex-offender here.

Hm? A volatile ex-offender
with a grudge.

He flew at me. Totally unprovoked.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh. I mean, look at you.

You're fit.
You're twice as strong as that man.

You could've overpowered him easily.

But you wanted to silence him.

So you took a knife
from your pocket...

..and you stabbed him.

Self-defence.

Oh, so if he was the aggressor
and he's now on the floor...

..why did Alex run for her life?

And you chased her.

To calm her down.

Aye, well,
you certainly did that, pet!

You chased her right
into the path of oncoming traffic.

And just left her there in a ditch.

What was the word you used?
Like 'vermin'?

She shouldn't have run away.
Ah, so it was her fault, was it?

Just another unhappy accident
like what happened to her brother?

That was an accident.

Ah, well, we'll never know, will we?

Cos the only man
who could say otherwise...

..has been killed by you.

Ma'am.

There's a weapon.
Other side of that wall.

You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine. Fine.

Harry Benton's ready to be
interviewed.

(SIGHS) OK.
You happy to take this one?

We play 'em off each other,
see what we dredge up.

OK, yeah.
You think he was in on it?

What, Simon Jenner's death?

Course he was.

He must have known
what his own team was up to.

But Alex's murder? Nah, nah.

That was all down to Benton.

That young lass...all she wanted
was justice for her brother.

(MOBILE RINGS)

Yeah?

What?

Slow down. Slow down!

How close are the contractions?
What?

He's on his way. Well, go on. Go!
She'll have it in the back
of the taxi!

I'll meet you there.

It was good of you to come, pet.

Mrs Neilson will appreciate that.

I went through all the letters
that Simon sent to Alex.

There was one
with a mention of Martin.

Seems he was a kind soul.

I'll make sure she gets it.

I suppose they...

..scared him into silence,
didn't they?

Mm.

But...he found some courage...
in the end, didn't he?

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