All language subtitles for Episode 07 No Smoke

G'day, Sarge.
Boys.

It's been a while.
Yeah, too long.

Thought you were
community liaison these days.

I am. This is my patch.

Should be able to wrap
this one up pretty quickly.

What have you got?
Suicide.

The world's a better place for it.

Rodney Gerald Barrett.

The Wattle Grove arsonist. That fire
last week was near here, wasn't it?

A couple of blocks away.

This guy was on TV last night. They
accused him of starting the fire.

Five people died including
two young kids and their mum.

This is the mongrel
they reckon started it.

Either his conscience
finally got the better of him

or he realised his time
was running out.

Who found him?
A local resident walking her dog.

We've taken a statement.
-Serious head wound.

I reckon he hit it on that
as he dropped.

Possible, but unlikely.
-Why?

The force of the impact...

I wouldn't be touching that
if I were you, Senior Sergeant.

I didn't touch it.
I know the procedures.

..and judging by the shape
of the indentation.

Time of death, Gideon?
What do you reckon?

Well, it was cold last night
so somewhere between 2am and 4am.

There's something here,
in his throat.

What?
-What is that?

I'm not sure.

It's a slippery little sucker.

Box of matches.

I reckon that blows your
suicide theory, hey, Sparkesy?

So...somebody topped the arsonist.

Gonna be
a truckload of suspects.

Barrett had an apartment
in the building that was destroyed.

Yeah, Wattle Grove Apartments.

'60s brick.
Aussie architecture's finest hour.

Yeah.

Apparently he'd been staying in a
motel opposite where we was found.

Crime Scene are there now.

Nothing from door knocks.
Yeah, of course not.

Now, Arson still haven't
charged him. Why not?

It was only a matter of time,
from what I hear.

Hey, Frostie.

Thanks, mate. That's all good.
Thanks, boss.

You know Wilton Sparkes
is a community copper out there?

Yeah, I heard he was
at the crime scene.

You hear he was also
at the scene of the fire?

No, I didn't.
He probably earned himself a citation.

Dragged an old lady out.

I hear he's a bit of
a local hero, our Sparkesy.

See, the thing is he knows these
people, he knows how they think.

They trust him.
And...?

I want him on the case.
No.

Thank you very much,
but we've got a full team on this.

A fresh set of eyes never hurt.

A bit too close to the people
on the ground, don't you think?

I think that gives him
a unique perspective.

See, Sparkesy's old school.

Old school's good school.
it's the one I went to.

No, believe me, I think he'd be
of great assistance on this case.

I'll think about it.

It's a done deal, Stanley.
Sparkesy's on his way over now.

So we get there,

and Sparkesy's strutting around like
he owns the place. "This is my patch."

He's going on about
how Barrett's an arsonist

and he did the world a favour
by topping himself.

Should have seen the look on his face

when Gideon pulled the box of matches
out of Barrett's throat.

Dunny gives him the stare, you know,

"Guess that just blew your
suicide theory, Sparkesy."

It was classic!

Sarge, just finishing a briefing.
Go right ahead.

Senior Sergeant Sparkes will be
joining us on this investigation.

As it is, Wilton, you know everyone.

How could I forget
such an ugly-looking mob?

Detective Mapplethorpe
excepted, of course.

How are you, Sarge?
Any better, I'd be dangerous.

It's been a while.
Yeah.

I don't think you know Allie Kingston.

Hi.
Nice to meet you, love.

So where are we, Ryan?
-Wattle Grove Apartments.

Yeah, my patch.

Well, five people killed.

Jack and Sophie Besser,
their mum Stephanie,

Frank Cooney, Riley Flynn.

Bloody heartbreaking.
The Arson Squad are still investigating.

But the media
and most of the population

have already tried and convicted
this man, Rodney Gerald Barrett.

With good cause, I might say.

Somewhere between
2:00 and 4:00 this morning,

someone's whacked him over the head,

strung him up and shoved a box
of matches down his throat.

Subtle.

This is the interview with Barrett
that aired early last night.

Rod, the fire started
in your apartment.

I emphatically deny having
anything to do with that fire.

Sources within the fire brigade

confirm that petrol was
found in your apartment.

Well, I don't know
anything about that.

You don't?
No. I didn't start that fire.

That's not what the other
residents believe.

Wally Chubb.

Wally Chubb -the chairman
of the owners' corporation?

Why would he believe
you started the fire?

Well...he'd blame me for anything.

He just wanted me
out of the building.

Why would he want you out?

Wally Chubb kept putting up
the owners' corp fees

and spending nothing on
the maintenance of the place,

and he knew I was onto him.

Isn't it true you threatened
to "make him pay"?

Well...no. I was angry.
I was blowing off a bit of steam.

I wasn't gonna do anything.

Rod, where were you
when the fire started?

At the movies.
Alone?

Yes.
So you don't have an alibi?

Yes, I was at the movies.

This isn't the first time you've
been in trouble with the law, is it?

What?

In fact, you've done
jail time, haven't you?

You killed your wife.

You reporters,
you're all the same!

Don't walk away...
-You're a pack of whores!

Get the...

Is that right-
he's done time for murder?

Culpable driving.
Did three years in Ararat.

Got drunk, smashed his car
and killed his wife.

When was that?
Eight years ago.

He still wore his wedding ring.
It was among his personal effects.

If Arson liked him for it,
why wasn't he charged?

Buggered if I know. He did it.

He was top of their list.

They're trying to clear up
a few inconsistencies.

Like...?

It's all there in the box -
everything Arson have on the fire.

I want you to go through it all,
familiarise yourselves.

Remember -they were
looking for an arsonist.

We are now looking for a murderer.

So anyone
who lost a friend or relative

would have to be a prime suspect.

Sarge, you know these people.
Who do you reckon's most likely?

I don't reckon any of them
are capable of murder.

Sweet! Case closed already.

Revenge is a pretty powerful motive.

Anybody's capable of murder.

I used to think that once too, love.
Don't call me 'love'.

You prefer 'darling'
or 'sweetheart'?

Yeah, yeah, that's enough.

Barrett accuses this bloke,
Wally Chubb.

Let's bring him in for a chat.

Allow me. I know where
we'll find him. Who's with me?

No way. You're joking.

Senior Sergeant Sparkes

will be teamed with you
on this investigation.

I'm not doing it.
it's an order, Detective.

Come on. Duncan and Matt don't
rate him so you dump him with me.

How's that fair?
No-one is dumping anyone on anybody.

What about Nick? They're a much
better fit. Don't you reckon?

Detective Buchanan
is otherwise engaged.

Doing phone and financial records.

I'm happy to swap.
Not your call, Detective.

Anyway, there's all these files
Arson have sent over.

I'm not fully up to speed, so...

You better get up to speed because
you're gonna talk to Wally Chubb.

Sarge, please. I do not need Sparkes
sitting in on that interview.

You just said you were not
fully across this.

Well, I Will be.

Senior Sergeant Sparkes
is an experienced investigator.

You should treat this
as a great opportunity.

Great.

Yeah. That's all, Detective.

Great.

Bowls is a game of skill, you see,
Kingston? Often underrated.

It's an old man's game.
Well, I play it.

Hey, Sparkesy, nice bag of fruit.
Yeah, thanks, Baz.

No, they got a good bistro,
social club.

My little lady loves it here.
-Sparkesy!

Here's Wal. I'll handle this.

I'll just stay three steps behind.
Yeah, good, good.

G'day, Wal.
Sparkesy.

Is it true the bastard
topped himself?

Well, yes and no. He's dead,
but it wasn't suicide.

Bugger me. You know who did it?

No, not yet.

When you get him,
he should get a bloody medal.

Who's your girlfriend?
Wal, this is Detective Kingston.

G'day. Guess I can't
shout you a cold one? A shandy?

Mr Chubb, we'd like you to come
with us to answer some questions.

Hey?
it's a murder investigation, Wal.

They gotta talk to everyone
who knew Barrett. it's just routine.

I should be in there, Stan.

You're a bit too close to it, Wil.
Let the team do him.

Rod Barrett was an out-and-out
ratbag and troublemaker.

He threatened me and he threatened
to burn down the building.

We have the statement you made
to the Arson detectives.

That threat was over some
unauthorised renovations

to his apartment

and Barrett's refusal to pay
his owners' corporation fees.

That's right. The bloke thought
he was a law unto himself.

Well, our building
doesn't run that way.

As head of the owners' corporation,

you're the law
in the building, right?

There are rules.

Your loss in the fire
was substantial.

Nothing compared to
the loss of life.

Five people are dead
due to that man.

Did you have anything to do
with the death of Rod Barrett?

Of course not! Barrett's
bigger and stronger than me.

He was hit on the head with what
we now believe to be a lump hammer.

Do you own a lump hammer...

The Pathology report came through
while you were picking him up.

I don't even know
what a lump hammer is.

No.

You're wasting our time.
He's not the killer.

It wasn't the blow
with the hammer that killed him.

He was still alive
when he was strung up.

He was lynched.

The Wild West
comes to Northcote, hey?

Well, what do you expect me to say?

Jeez.

Where were you in the early hours
of this morning?

In bed asleep.

Alone?
Yes.

The wife's staying with
her sister since the fire.

In your previous statement,

you said you were sharing
an apartment in Kellett Street

with your son Mitch.

That's right.
Was Mitch at the unit last night?

Not when I went to bed.

Any idea of where he was?
What time he got home?

He's over 21 years old.

He's not in the habit of asking
my permission or lodging a report.

Look, I didn't kill anybody
and I don't know who did.

Mate, these two are
a couple of pit bulls.

They don't hold back.

Their bark's
worse than their bite.

Just doing their job, right, Ryan?
-Right.

You've got nothing to worry about.
That's a relief to hear.

Just being in there
makes a bloke feel guilty.

The constable will arrange a lift home,
back to the club, whatever you like.

Thanks, mate. Talk to you soon.
Will do.

Yep, that's good, that is.
What?

Well, you being his best buddy
doesn't actually help us.

What are you talking about?
He's got no alibi.

Well, who does? 2:00 in the morning,
they'll all be in bed asleep.

But Chubb is the one Barrett
virtually accused on national TV

and hours later, Barrett's dead.

That's a motive.
Three things.

One, Wally didn't
frame him for that fire.

Two, Barrett was
talking out his arse.

Three, we've got to do
a lot better than this

if we're gonna
catch ourselves a killer.

Sarge, it's not working out.

I assume you're referring
to Senior Sergeant Sparkes.

He's impossible.

There is no requirement
in the regulations

that states that you
have to be compatible.

You need to be more specific.

He's way too close, Sarge.

Matt and I go hard on Wally Chubb
and when we're finished,

Senior Sergeant Sparkes tells him,

"Mate, you've got nothing
to worry about."

OK, your objections have been noted.

He's a sexist old dinosaur.
I thought the force had moved on.

Senior Sergeant Sparkes has been
assigned to this investigation.

His position on it
is more secure than yours.

If I was you, I'd get back out there
and make it work.

Hey, we got a minute before
we go and talk to Mitch Chubb.

You wanna make us a cuppa?
I'd rather eat rat poison.

Why do I get the feeling
you have a problem with me?

I don't know.
You're probably psychic.

You need to get a grip.

You need to get your hand off it.
Hey, hey!

You're forgetting rank here,
sweetheart.

You don't remember me at all, do you?
Should I?

Yeah.

I'll make my own tea then, will I?

I was at the bowls club with
Len Besser. It was Dad's idea.

Yeah, Wally takes care of everybody.
Just his nature.

We knew the interview with Barrett
was gonna be on TV.

Dad was worried about
how Len would take it.

Why you and not your dad?

Dad spent a long time with Len since
the fire - he's a bit battle fatigued.

And Len's in a bad way.
What do you mean?

Well, he's lost his whole family,
wife and two kids.

He's shattered.
He's drunk most of the time.

It's hardcore being with him.

And after the club closed?

We took a slab and some Bundy
back to his van.

He's staying in a caravan
out the back of the Cooney place.

Old Frank Cooney died in the fire.
Yep.

His grandson Rhys lives in the house.
Thank you, Sarge.

We polished most of the Bundy off
and he passed out and I went home.

And what time was that?

Um, some time after midnight.

About 2:00?
Closer to 1:00.

OK, you do know that Rod Barrett
was murdered last night?

Yeah. He got what he deserved, hey?

Yeah, he did.

You sure you didn't decide
to pay him a visit?

No.
You own a lump hammer?

No.

How are the studies going, Mitch?

I lost my computer
and half a term's work in the fire.

What is it you study?
A bachelor of business studies.

You were best mates
with Riley Flynn, right?

He died in the fire.
it's his funeral today in Adelaide.

Serena Flynn's son. Yeah, I know.

I saw him the night of the fire.

We made plans to go
to the footy last weekend.

I can't believe he's dead.

The fire should never have happened.
No.

But it did and so did the murder.

Mitch, it's in your best interest
to tell us the truth.

Lying's only gonna make things worse.

Did you kill Rod Barrett?

No, I didn't. I swear I didn't.

Yeah, fire's a horrible death.

My grandad didn't
deserve to go like that.

No, none of them did.
No.

This your parents' place?

Yeah, they're stuck overseas.
Dad's in hospital, broke his leg.

Look, I...l told the other
detectives everything I know.

They're Arson. We're Homicide.

We're investigating
the murder of Rod Barrett.

Do you blame him for the fire?

Well, they found petrol
in his apartment.

Where were you late last night, Rhys?

Here. I was on the computer
till about midnight.

Can anyone confirm that?

Yeah, my parents.
I was Skyping them.

So I guess there's a record of that.

And after that?

In bed. I'm a tradie. I start early.

That a lump hammer?
Yeah.

Mind if I borrow it?
Why?

Rod Barrett was struck on the head
with a similar object.

So does this mean
I'm a suspect or something?

At this stage, son,
I'm afraid everyone's a suspect.

The best thing you can do
is cooperate.

Is Len home?
Yeah.

I think he's here. His car's here.

I might go and have a chat.

That's who we're here to see.
You can come with me if you like.

Thank you.
Thanks.

G'day, Len.

This is Detective Kingston.

Sorry, but we need to ask you
a few questions about Rod Barrett.

Where were you
late last night?

At the bowls club.

And after that?

Here with Mitch Chubb.

I can't sleep so I drink
until I pass out.

How late did you go last night, Len?

I don't know. I don't
keep track of time anymore.

Do you blame Rod Barrett
for what happened?

What do you reckon?
Of course he does.

Thanks, Sarge.

Do you blame Rod, Mr Besser?

Yeah, I did.

But hating never
did anybody any good.

It can't bring them back.

Sorry for your loss, Mr Besser.

You're what?
Sorry for your loss.

Is that what they teach you to say?

My 'loss'?

I've got nothing more to say to you.

You may have nothing more to say...
Thanks, mate. That's fine.

Next time you decide
we're finished with a suspect,

can you give me a heads-up?

Since when is he a suspect?

He's not in the clear,
not by a long shot.

Yeah, well, he didn't do it.
Sarge, he's got motive.

Everyone's got motive. He was
drinking heavily till he passed out.

Mitch Chubb was there.
He's got an alibi.

Sarge...
How about we show a bit of compassion.

I think there's a difference

between compassion and being
too emotionally involved.

Which I can't imagine was ever
a big problem with you, sweetheart.

You don't know anything about me!

I thought I was meant
to remember you.

Forget it.

Hey, Allie, we're knocking off.
Yeah, you coming?

I'm gonna get into these Arson files.

Either that or I'm gonna
break someone's neck.

Sparkesy?
"Mate! Love! Sweetheart!"

He's not too bad.
-No, he's worse.

Duncan, Allie's gotta work with him.

And you always see
the good in everyone.

He's a Neanderthal who should've
stayed in his cave.

I have never felt more like kicking
a guy in the balls than right now.

I'm just leaving.
-And I'm just arriving.

There's your guy.
Ready to get stuck into this paper.

We'll leave you to it.
Good day today. Allie fill you in?

Yeah, yeah, we're up to speed.

So you drew the short straw.
Yep.

You got a problem with it?
Nope.

Good. Me neither.
What are you up to?

Going through these Arson files

Highlighting anything
pertaining to Barrett.

Sounds like a plan.

You're going home, I suppose,
to the little woman?

No, not yet. Thought
I'd start casting a wider net.

Barrett said he got death threats
after he was outed by the press.

Maybe one of them followed through.

While you're up,
I'd kill for a cuppa.

My wife.

Hey, Carol.
Poor bitch.

White with three, thanks, love.
My new partner.

Nah, it's all going very well. Yeah.

Yeah.
what?

Over a hundred witness statements.

No-one can positively
place Barrett at the scene

till after he got
home from the movies.

'Cause he made sure he wasn't seen.

You were there.
Do you remember seeing him?

There was a burning building
with people trapped inside.

That was my focus.
Yeah, OK, fair enough.

The use of accelerant
doesn't sit right either.

Why not?
it's too obvious.

Never discount the obvious -
generally the truth.

Heater under the curtains,
chips on the stove, toaster -

anything like that could've
passed off as an accident easily.

Yeah, but they don't
guarantee maximum destruction.

Barrett wanted to stick it up Wally Chubb
and the owners' corporation.

And you're 100% sure about that?
You're not convinced?

No. Box office chick at the cinema
said Barrett looked familiar.

There were 73 people
at that screening.

She couldn't be sure either way.

OK, so why give yourself
such a weak alibi?

And Arson haven't found any evidence
of a timer, which he must have used.

Might have been
destroyed in the fire.

But there was no hot spot,

meaning that the fire
could've started some other way

and then the petrol been
splashed around afterwards.

Love, you're grasping at straws.
Can you not call me 'love'?!

It's demeaning.
it's a term of affection.

Not from you. And if I'm grasping
at straws, I'm not the only one.

That's why Arson hadn't charged him.

Alright, whoever or whatever
started the fire is Arson's problem.

We need to focus
on who killed Rod Barrett.

Now, I've got three new candidates -

Bruce Young, Colin Henderson,
Guido Salvatore.

All have form for assault
or criminal violence.

All previously lost
loved ones in fires.

They'd jump at the chance
to kill an arsonist.

Also, Henderson was in Ararat
at the same time as Barrett.

OK, so where are they now?

According to the files, Young's
in NSW, the other two are local.

OK, good. What are we waiting for?

Morning. You two
car-pooling already?

We've been on a wild goose chase.

I'll admit it's not
the result we were looking for.

Sarge pulled the files
on three possible suspects.

More suspects?
Casting a wider net.

And...?
One's in a wheelchair.

The other one's in a coffin.

Bruce Young's still a possibility if
he's back from NSW.

Bruce Christopher Young?
Yeah.

A Detective Monaghan
from Sydney CIB called.

Young's doing 10-15
in Long Bay for armed robbery.

I need a coffee.
Yeah, white with three, thanks.

Coffee can wait. Serena Flynn's
in the statement room downstairs.

She back from the funeral?

Jen and I will take this one!

We were woken by the sound
of breaking glass and yelling.

You could smell the smoke
straightaway, you know?

And then what happened?

I grabbed a few belongings and ran.

We were outside when someone said,
"Frank Cooney's still in there."

No chance of him
getting out on his own so...

..Riley went back in to get him.

The last thing he said to me was,
"Don't worry, Mum."

My son's a hero.

I believe in God.

Riley's with God.

Who do you think's
responsible for the fire?

I don't know.
Rod Barrett.

Rod didn't start that fire.
A lot of people think he did.

Well, a lot of people are wrong.
Why?

They didn't know him.
And you did?

He was a decent guy.

He'd had some
tragedy in his life,

but once you got to know him...

He'd asked me out that night,
to the movies.

You didn't go?
No, no, I couldn't.

He went on his own.

He didn't start that fire.

Mrs Flynn, were you and Rod Barrett
more than just friends?

No, we were just good friends.

What about him and Wally Chubb?

They always rubbed
each other the wrong way.

Wally and the owners' corp
had been all over Rod

about some minor reno
he'd done to his flat.

Was Wally's harassment enough
to make Rod torch the place?

No.
You sure about that?

Yeah, I am. Rod bought
that apartment with his wife.

That's the wife he killed
when he crashed his car.

That apartment was their home.

It was like all he had left
of her. He'd never torch it.

Maybe it was a way
of finally letting go.

Sometimes memories get too painful.

There's, another get-together
this afternoon. You coming?

A lot of the survivors
hook up at the bowls club.

We can really check out our suspects
in their own environment.

They're fire survivors. They care for
each other. I'm going to support them.

Well, I'm going as a Homicide cop.
Are you guys coming?

We can work the room as a team.

It could reveal something,
see them let their hair down.

Am I the only one
with a heart around here?

Is there always
this many people here?

No, it's part support group, part wake.

Grief and revenge could've made
any one of them our killer.

Or not. Can we all just
be sensitive to the occasion?

You didn't know about

the Serene Flynn/Rod Barrett
friendship, did you?

No, that one slipped
under the radar.

It's funny no-one else
in the apartment mentioned it either.

What? Do you think
it could be bogus?

Just throwing round some what-ifs.

Well, it's a clever way
to deflect suspicion.

Nah, Serena's a decent woman.
She's genuine.

I got the impression
she was holding something back.

Like what?
I don't know yet.

Sparkesy, you brought
the whole crew.

This time I can buy Melbourne's
finest a drink, can't I?

Well, I won't say no, Wal.

On ya, mate. Guys?

I'll pass, thanks.
Just a squash.

Love?
Hey, watch it, Wal.

This one bites.
The pretty ones always do.

Did you know anything
about a friendship between...

Nobody cares about a dead arsonist.
Mitch!

The only criminal was
the one you found yesterday

with the rope round his neck.

That's enough, son.
They're just doing their job.

Your dad's right, Mitch. Why don't
you go back and bother your mates?

Did you tie that rope around his neck?
What?

You blamed Rod for the fire.
Did you kill him too?

Piss off!
-Serena!

He knew what you and your father
were up to, and you framed Rod.

That's not true, Serena.

Everyone knows you're on his side
because he was screwing you!

Don't you say that!
Everyone knows that.

Riley knew it. He used to
talk about it, your own son.

You shut up!
Bitch!

You're a liar and a pig!
Everyone knows about you and Rod!

You just accused him of murder!
Shut up, Wally.

Move back!
Pull your head in, Serena!

You have no right bringing
Riley into this. He's dead!

Whose fault is that, you stupid cow?

Stop it! For the love of God,
just stop it!

Haven't we lost enough already?

Come on, Sparkesy, they looked like
they were heading for an all-in.

They were grieving.

They wanted to
tear each other apart.

But no damage done?
No.

Another triumph in community
policing, hey, Sparkesy?

The lump hammer
found in Rhys Cooney's van

is not a match for
the weapon used on Barrett.

So we got sweet FA?
Not to put too fine a point on it.

Let me get this straight.

All our prime suspects say they
were either asleep by themselves

or unconscious by themselves
during the time of the murder?

They don't count as alibis to me.

It's early hours of the morning.
What do you expect?

Allie made
a good point earlier.

Rod Barrett weighed about 90 kilos.

If he wasn't unconscious

when he was taken from the motel
to the park and strung up...

A hell of a job for one person.
Accomplices in murder.

We should consider it
as a possibility.

You'd wanna choose
someone you can trust under pressure.

So who goes with who?

Two young hotheads out for revenge
or Wally the...

My honest opinion - I can't
see any of them doing this.

I can see any one of them doing this.

It's hard to beat the father/son combo
for my money.

Look, we just need one nut to crack.

Go harder, get a result.

Senior Sergeant, they got an
anonymous call from Crime Watch,

said we should check
Rod Barrett's car again.

What for?
They didn't say.

His car's still at the motel
where he was living.

Are you gonna tell me
where we met before?

If you can't remember,
why would I bother?

Did we have sex?

I'd remember if we had sex,
wouldn't I?

That is a revolting thought.

It's a fair enough question.
You're definitely not my type.

Yeah, nobody's your type.

Brad. Unlocked.

Convenient.

Nothing obvious in here.

Check the boot.

Yep.

Petrol. I hate to say I was right.

Pretty careless to torch the place

and then leave the can
in the boot of your own car.

Forensics are checking the chemical
fingerprint of the petrol

to see if it matches
the accelerant used in the fire.

What about the call to Crime Watch?
Anonymous male voice.

It could've been Mitch Chubb.
It could've been anyone.

Serena Flynn said the Chubbs
were framing Barrett.

For what reason?

She said Barrett knew what Mitch and
his dad were up to, but didn't say what.

Hang on, hang on.

We all know the most obvious answer
is usually the right one.

Barrett torched his apartment,
he put the empty can in the boot.

And didn't dump it for almost a week?

Maybe he lost his nerve.
He knew he was being watched.

He had reporters breathing
down his neck 24/7.

Didn't Arson search
his car after the fire?

Yeah, it was clean.
-Right.

After they searched it,
he knew it was the safest place.

Only problem is he got killed
before a chance to dump it.

It's a theory, but it doesn't
get us any closer to his killer.

How we going on the owners'
corporation records?

Yeah, I'm onto those. So far,
nothing out of the ordinary.

OK, chat to Serena Flynn again about
her accusations. Keep me informed.

Serena.

Sorry. We need to talk to you again.

I don't know if I can
be of any more help to you.

Yesterday at the bowls club

You accused Mitch Chubb and
his father of framing Rod Barrett.

I was really angry -
what he said about Rod.

What exactly were you referring to

when you said Rod knew
what the Chubbs were up to?

Look, I don't know.

It's just what Rod always said

about how they didn't look after
the building properly

after Wally became the manager.

Mitch Chubb also described your
relationship with Rod Barrett

as more than good friends.

Yeah, he's got a gutter mouth.

So you weren't having a sexual
relationship with Rod Barrett?

No.

Which could put
a completely different spin

on the story you told.

It's not true.

There's no evidence to suggest
the Chubbs are up to anything.

You just liked Rod. You threw
that in there as a distraction.

Didn't you?
No.

Rod had a grudge against
the owners' corporation

and a jerry can full of petrol.

A grudge, yes. Petrol, no.

The fire was never meant
to get out of hand, was it?

Those two Besser kids, their mum,
old Frank Cooney, your son Riley -

they weren't supposed to die,
were they, Serena?

What the hell are you suggesting?
We're not suggesting anything.

So your lover was also the man
that killed your son.

The fire was, after all, his idea.
No!

Come on. Rod started
that fire to please you.

He was murdered
because he started that fire.

You're not the murderer,
but you're not in the clear.

No, it's not true.

None of what you're saying is true!

What was that about?

I thought I'd turn up the heat
like Jarvis suggested.

Well, you ambushed me as well as her.

Well, I knew you probably
wouldn't go for it.

I thought you were on
the residents' side.

I'm just trying to solve a homicide.

So did Serena Flynn cross the line
by supporting Rod Barrett?

No. I was just rattling her cage.

Pretty selective
on whose cage you rattle.

Didn't they teach you that
at detective school?

You didn't teach me anything
at detective school, actually.

Me? What did I have to do with it?

Yeah, you don't remember.
I'm not surprised.

You lost me, love.

I was in one of your
interrogation classes.

Yeah? Well, I don't remember.

Too many students, too many classes.

Well, you treated
the women like crap.

You were always on our backs,
always pushing us, always niggling.

And because of you,
Melanie Sherborne quit.

Should I remember her too?

Well, she works
in a chemist shop now.

And you're a good copper now.

Matt. Yeah.

OK, we're on our way.

They've found something.

What have we got?

Forensics cleaned the jerry can
you found in Barrett's car.

Almost identical.
Rhys Cooney.

The other interesting thing is
Rhys's name doesn't appear anywhere

as a contractor in
the owners' corporation books.

Are you sure?
Been through them a couple of times.

With his grandad in the building
and his mates on the corporation,

you'd think he'd get work there.

What?
I've seen him there doing work.

When was that?
A few months back.

I picked Wally up one morning.
I remember seeing him there.

You sure he just wasn't visiting?
No, he was working.

He was probably working for cash.

The really interesting thing
is that all these account balances

are signed off by an 'M. Chubb'.

Mitch.

He's currently doing
a bachelor of business studies.

Majoring in rubbery figures.

Bring them both in.
They've got some explaining to do.

You can't believe that mad bitch.

And which mad bitch is that, Mitch?
Serena Flynn.

That's what this is about, right,

what she said yesterday
at the bowls club.

You keep
the owners' corporation books

for your dad, don't you, Mitch?

So?

I've never done any work
for the owners' corporation.

Never?
That's why I'm not on their books.

I saw you there, Rhys.
I was visiting my grandfather.

You had your tool belt on,
a roll of triple cord under your arm.

You were working.
So let's cut the crap.

So he might have done some
minor stuff for his grandad.

Sometimes we turn a blind eye.
But not for Rod Barrett?

OK, I've done some
cash-in-hand jobs. That's all.

So NOT on the books?

You'd have to speak
to Mitch about that.

Don't worry. We will.
Can you tell us about this?

It's a jerry can.

Yours?
I don't know.

All jerry cans
look the same, don't they?

Except this one's
got your initials on it.

Well, yeah, it looks like mine.
it's a lot cleaner than mine, but.

Yeah, Forensics cleaned it up.
They removed the grease and dirt.

How did your jerry can end up
in the boot of Rod Barrett's car?

What?
it's a simple question.

He didn't know it was there.
-I don't know.

Sarge, Arson sent this over.

Said it was important
you get it asap.

Thank you.
How's it going?

One cocky, one nervous.

Explain these.

Invoices.
-That you paid.

Might have. They're made out to us.

Except when we contacted these firms,
none of them had ever done any work

for the Wattle Grove
owners' corporation.

What?
Too late to act surprised, Mitch.

You put that can
in Barrett's car, didn't you?

No.
Well, then how did it get there?

I told you, I don't know.
That's not good enough.

Think it's time to start telling the
truth, son. it's your only chance.

It's the truth that he's afraid of.

You and Rhys
had a little earner going.

No.
Then Rod Barrett found out.

So you killed him
to shut him up, didn't you?

No! I didn't kill anyone.

Rod Barrett didn't start that fire.
Sparkesy got it wrong.

And Rhys Cooney
is in serious trouble.

The fire started in the wall cavity
of your grandfather's apartment

due to substandard electrical wiring,

wiring carried out by you.

Isn't that right, Rhys?

Rhys?

I killed my grandfather.

I killed my mate and I killed those
two little kids and their mum.

It shouldn't come
as a total surprise, surely?

After the fire,
you were afraid, right, Rhys?

I was there.
I know what it was like.

I tried to help them,
but I couldn't.

Yeah, I know.

Why kill Rod Barret, Rhys?
What?

Come on, Rhys. it's crunch time.

I didn't kill Rod Barrett.

Did Barrett find out about
the scam you and Mitch had going?

No.
-Rhys?

No, I swear. Look. And Mitch didn't
know anything. He wasn't involved.

Don't protect him.
He was doing the books.

But only at the end of the month.
The whole thing was Wally's idea.

Wally Chubb?
Yeah.

He'd get the quotes
and then he'd get me to do the work,

but really, to make any profit,

we had to...cut a lot of corners.

Take risks with safety?

So after the fire?

I went to Wally and...

..I told him that
I thought the fire

might have been
started by the wiring.

And what did he say?

He said he'd fix it.
Those were his exact words?

Yes.

I just... I didn't
want it to be my fault.

And then he found me
a few hours later

and said not to worry,

that Rod Barrett
had started the fire.

Rhys, your initials
are on this jerry can.

It looks to me
like you were the person

who splashed the petrol
around Rod Barrett's apartment.

No.

No, I didn't.

Do you think I'd be so stupid
to leave my jerry can in his car?

Wally must have done it.

We don't like being
played for fools, Wal.

Jesus, Sparkesy!
You made me whiz on me dacks.

This is the gents, love.

Don't call her 'love'.
You're under arrest.

I'm a bit pissed.
Your jokes are wasted on me.

Bloody hell!

We're not joking. Move.
Hey!

Shut up.
This is a mistake!

Talk about a bad hair day.
Are we sure he's sober?

He had six hours' sleep in the lockup
and he just blew 0.02.

Good enough.

I need some water.
-He looks rooted.

He is.
Good.

Rhys Cooney has made a full statement

detailing the maintenance scam
that you and him were involved in.

You may also want to know
that the cause of the fire

has been determined
as unsafe wiring.

Rhys Cooney says he came
to you on the night of the fire,

worried that his wiring
may have been the cause.

He said you told him
that you'd fix it.

Is that correct, Mr Chubb?

It was a terrible night.

No-one was thinking clearly.

Is his statement correct?
Yes.

What did you mean by "fix it"?

Shift the blame onto Rod Barrett.

And how did you do that?

You know how.
Tell us.

I took a...

..jerry can from Rhys's van.

In the confusion after the fire,

got into Barrett's apartment
and splashed some petrol around.

Well, that's another
six-pointer for Arson

but we still need to kick a goal.

What did you do
with the jerry can afterwards?

I put the can
in the boot of his car.

And made a call to Crime Watch.

So is that when you decided
you had to get rid of Rod Barrett?

I had nothing to do with that.

That's right. You were at home,
asleep, by yourself.

I was.

I'd done a good enough job making
the whole world think he was guilty.

Any allegations he might make

would be seen to be the desperate
attempts by an arsonist

to clear his own name.

What? Why would I kill him?

So if it's not Wally...
And it's not Rhys...

Dad always used to say
you were a good bloke, his mate.

He and Rhys were ripping off the
other residents at the building.

He's also admitted
to splashing petrol

around Rod Barrett's apartment.

Will he go to jail?

Your dad's going down for arson.

He's also in the frame
for Barrett's murder.

If you know anything,
now's the time to say.

So Barrett...

Yeah, an innocent man.

Dad didn't kill Barrett.

How do you know that?

'Cause I know who did.

Go on.

I can't even remember
who suggested it.

What?
Teaching Barrett a lesson.

I'd already gone cold on the idea
by the time we got there.

Have you got any idea
what time it is?

But he went for him.
Straightaway, pow!

I was really scared,

but I helped him carry him
across the road and into the park.

Can't we just leave him here?
-Nup. No way.

We're gonna string
the bastard up. Come on.

Who was it, Mitch? Who killed him?

Rod was still alive when I left.

I was scared.
I didn't know what to do.

I can't.

It was Len Besser, wasn't it?

Stay back.
Put it down, Len.

Come on, mate. This is no way out.

My life's over.

I don't have a future, just a past.

You think that now,
but you can recover from this.

I don't want to recover.
I don't want to forget.

No-one's talking about forgetting.

You'll always remember them.
They'll always be in your heart.

They need me. They're my family.

I should be with them.

Yeah, you should.

You should all be together, here,
alive. And it's a tragedy you're not.

But they wouldn't want you
to do this, Len. You know that.

I killed Rod Barrett.

I know.

Now they're saying on the radio
that he didn't start the fire.

Is that true?

You weren't in a proper state of
mind. That'll be taken into account.

Did I kill an innocent man?

Did I?
Yeah.

More reason, then.

More reason to be a man and take
responsibility for what you've done.

If there is a heaven,
how are you gonna explain this

to Sophie and Jack and Stephanie?

I just miss them so much.

I know that, Len,
but this isn't the answer.

Just give me the gun.

Come on, mate.

Will you stay with me?

Yeah, of course I will.

Yeah.

Sarge, we found the lump hammer and
rope in the boot of Len Besser's car.

He's made a full confession.

How is he now he's in custody?

He's having a full psych evaluation.

They'll keep him in hospital
for the time being.

I'm just on my way over to see him now.

You got a good one there, Stanley.
She's a keeper.

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure
Detective Kingston

has learnt a lot from you, Wilton.

Well, I better get going.

Thanks for having me
along for the ride.

You did a good job.
Me and my partner.

Hey, Sarge.
Yeah?

Come again when you
can't stay so long.

See ya, love.

What?

Hmph.