All language subtitles for City Homicide - 03x04 - The First Stone.DVDRip, aAF.English.orig

Sometimes we are presented
with something horribly familiar.

A copycat, maybe,

or at the least a set of circumstances

that seems to insist

that we draw certain conclusions.

We must not do that.

We must remain open
to all possibilities.

This is not Liverpool in 1 993.

It is Melbourne, here and now.

Despite all the information
gathered so far,

we do not know what happened
to this boy.

Nicholas Santini has now been missing
for three days.

His parents are hanging onto
the hope of finding him.

The task force are no longer so hopeful.

That is why we have been brought in.

They will continue to search
for the boy alive.

But we treat this as murder.

Sarge, we have no body.

We're not even sure if there lS a body.

How are we supposed to approach this?

Senior Sergeant Leigh?

I'd like you all to take a look
at this recording

of the media appeal.

Please...he's only four.

If you have Nicholas,

don't hurt him.

Just leave him somewhere
and call the police.

It won't go any further. Please.

It's been three days
since Nicholas disappeared

from the playground near
the North River shopping precinct.

Unfortunately, there are no...

Watch the family,
not Superintendant Jarvis.

..so we have no images of his abduction.

This means we need as much help
from the public as we can possibly get.

We know he was last seen
with two older boys,

but so far, descriptions are vague.

All we have is a blue plaid shirt
and a red jacket like this one.

If you have any information about
these two boys or Nicholas himself,

no matter how insignificant it may seem,

please come forward.

My son's name is Nicholas Santini.

He's four years old.

Just let him go.

This is why we have been brought in.

Analysts have been going
over this footage.

A very high percentage of child killings

are committed by family members
or close friends.

Mr Santini comes across
as passive-aggressive.

Don't be fooled by that term.

Passive-aggressives are capable
of extreme aggression.

So you're saying that
we should be looking at him?

I'm saying that we need to do more than

just focus on the boys
that were seen with Nicholas.

From the beginning, Mr Santini
has presented as hopeful but angry,

hopeful of finding his son alive,

determined to crucify
whoever took him -

all of which fits a pattern
of concealment.

Or a perfectly reasonable response
to the situation.

Maybe.

But the daughter's attitude -
if she is really scared of her dad,

maybe it's because he's abusive.

And maybe not just to her.

We've been asked
to re-interview the parents.

Allie and Simon, I want you on this.

Senior Sergeant Leigh will brief you.

The rest of you will go over
the task force work to date.

Look at it again
from a Homicide perspective.

Backgrounds, witnesses,
associates - the works.

You really think there's a problem there?
Signs are there.

Well, we can't just walk in there
and ask the question.

How do we get them to open up
without the dad getting suss?

Split them up?
No, no.

We're interested in familial dynamics.

You see, women frequently validate
their partners' violent tendencies

by refusing to confront them.

So we leave them together
and monitor the responses.

And if you can create
a kind of schism

where the daughter feels like you're
an ally - someone she can confide in -

the father's behaviour
could be very revealing.

And the mother's too.
Yep.

If something's going on,
the woman often knows.

Have you seen the press?

Little Nicky this, Little Nicky that...

My son's name is Nicholas. Nicholas.

I know. They think it sounds cuter
or something.

Well, he was cute.

Is. IS!
For God's sake!

What do you want from us?
We've talked to so many police now.

I don't know what we're doing.

We'd just like to go over the facts again,
Mrs Santini.

Again?

Yeah, you'll be surprised -
you go over it and over it,

little details pop up,
things that may have been missed.

Just take us through it, OK?

We were going shopping.

We all drove in together.

Nicholas was being a pain.

He wanted to play.

Is he often difficult?
What's that supposed to mean?

We're just wondering why
he may have been playing up, that's all.

He doesn't like shopping.
Like his dad.

Did you stay together?
Not the entire time.

I had bills and stuff to do,
the post office.

Neda did the shopping.
We had a lot on our plate.

So Lily said she'd take him
to the playground.

And watch him.

I only took my eyes off him for a second,

to buy him an ice-cream.

What flavour?
Strawberry.

She already told the other police that.
It's Nicholas favourite.

OK, so you gave him the ice-cream,
and then what?

And I went to pay the man.

And then, when I turned around,
Nicholas was gone.

I looked for him for about half an hour.

We said we'd pick them up
at the playground.

When we got there,
she was in a panic,crying.

You can read the rest in the papers.

I need another drink.

Dad's angry with you?

I'm angry with myself.

It was just a second.

Little kids can be hard to handle.

Bet Nicholas can be
a cheeky little bugger when he wants.

Yeah.

They're looking for a body now,
aren't they?

I... I love Nicholas.

He's a great little kid.

I don't...I don't know what I'd do if...

You gonna drink that?

Or did you just have to get out of there,
away from your dad?

He blames me.

Is that all?

Or is there more to it?

Hey, tell me - are you sure
it was strawberry?

The ice-cream.

What? Why?

Because in his statement,
the ice-cream guy said

he thought he saw a little boy
like Nicholas with a vanilla ice-cream.

How would he remember that?
There were lots of little kids there.

The cone from a melted vanilla
ice-cream was found

nearly half a k away
near the overpass.

And that's where they're looking.

But if it was strawberry...

..then maybe they're wasting their time.

There's more to it, isn't there?

Is that why you're scared of your dad?
You haven't told him everything?

I can't.

I can't tell him.

He will kill me.

Are you scared of him
or are you scared of what you've done?

I lied.

But...I can't tell him.

I can't.

OK.

OK, it's alright. You can tell me.

You can tell me, then we'll work out
what to say to your dad.

She says that she wasn't gone long -
she gave him money for an ice-cream

and told him to play on the swings.

So he bought the ice-cream himself.

Or another kid bought it for him -
she doesn't know.

Could've been one of the boys
he was seen with.

She said strawberry because that's what
she assumed he'd buy. It's his favourite.

Well, this explains the tension
in relation to her father.

We were on the wrong track -
it's not dysfunction or abuse.

She was hiding something from him.

She was scared because
of WHERE she'd gone too.

And where was that?

You wanna leave those alone
for a minute?

They're supposed to be in order.
Alphabetical or genre?

What?

Tell us about Lily Santini.
What about her?

You're her boyfriend, for starters.
Yeah. So?

So there's a full-on search
for her little brother.

You're mixed up in the disappearance
and you haven't come forward.

Because I don't know anything.

You were with Lily when
her brother disappeared.

She came to see me, yeah.

She told police she was up the road
at the playground the whole time.

Yeah, I know.

You knew that wasn't the case
but didn't say anything.

She asked me not to. She was scared
she'd get into trouble with her dad.

Now she's in trouble with the police.

Look, she only came over to say g'day
for 1 0, 1 5 minutes.

You stayed here the whole time?
I was running the store.

I couldn't go anywhere.
She just came for a chat?

Well, you know.

No, tell us.

Well, we went the pash for a while
out the back.

OK, what time was that?
You know when. About 4:00.

Hey, Look, she's really upset
about Nicholas.

She knows she screwed up,
but she couldn't say anything

'cause her dad's a loop.

A loop?
Strict. Possessive.

He hates me. He told her
she couldn't see me anymore.

He thinks I'm weird.

Romeo Tango 1 to Tango Lima.

Conducting spot searches
in grid area Alpha.

WOMAN ON RADIO: Copy that.

MAN 2: Received, Romeo Tango 2.

Please update
as you move through the grid.

We've had dozens of people through
in the last couple of days.

Usual mix - some who just wanna help
but don't have anything useful.

Same cranks and stickybeaks?

Has that ice-cream van been back
since you've been here?

Uh, no.

Those ladies are regulars.

They were here on the day.
Already been interviewed.

Saw nothing.

How is it that nobody can remember

what the two boys who led him away
looked like?

Nobody took any notice -
just a couple of kids going for a walk.

So he wasn't screaming and yelling.
He went willingly.

They bought him an ice-cream.
Why wouldn't he?

We're thinking the boys killed him, right?

The instruction is avoid preconceptions.

Still, it's hard to put them aside.

Either way, they think he's dead.
That's why Jarvis has pulled you guys in.

You know what I think?
I think I would like an ice-cream.

Here, girls.
Thanks.

See ya! Have a nice day.

What can I get you?
Strawberry, thanks.

And I'll have some information,
Mr Roebuck.

Not more questions. I already
talked to a whole bunch of police.

Consider that a rehearsal.
I was serious about the strawberry.

You said in your statement you served
Nicholas Santini a vanilla cone.

No, I said I thought I could've done.

I was here at the playground,

then I thought I recognised
the kid's jacket when I saw it on the telly.

That's all.
Did you see this girl?

That's his sister.

Yeah, I saw her on the telly too,

but I can't remember
whether I saw her that day.

Why not?
I was busy, mate. Swamped.

Here you go - on the house.
No, thanks. I'll pay.

Who bought Nicholas ice-cream?
I don't know.

Look, I just remember seeing the kid
with a cone in his hand - I think.

Were the boys with him then?
I don't know.

What time did you leave the playground,
Mr Roebuck?

A few minutes later.

To another destination,
to sell more of these?

Actually, no.
The playground was my last stop.

I was running low on stock,
so I went back home.

To the wife and kids?

No, I live alone.

Look, I already had this out
with those task force blokes.

What am I gonna do -
grab him and stick him in the freezer?

An ice-cream van's not exactly
the perfect cover, now, is it?

It depends - it's something people
are used to seeing around, isn't it?

MAN ON RADIO: Areas Alpha
and Bravo are now cordoned off.

Patrols found that ice-cream cone.

They could have started
searching that area yesterday

if she hadn't said
it was bloody strawberry.

I was scared.

You were supposed to be
looking after him.

Now they can't even find him.
Leave her alone. She's upset enough!

Your little brother was by himself

while you were
with that oversexed bastard!

We didn't do anything!

No wonder you were so keen
to take Nicholas to the park.

Copy that. I'll let headquarters know.

Mapplethorpe.

Oh.

OK, thanks, Karen.

Yep?

OK.

Thanks.

No matter how many you see,
you never get over something like this.

So you've finished the preliminary?
Yeah.

Nicholas has several bruises
and abrasions.

Residue in the wounds suggests
they were the result of

being hit with stones and rocks.

Lots of smaller ones,
and one big one here that killed him.

The killing blow was from a brick,

probably used as a bludgeon
rather than thrown.

He was struck very hard on the back
of the head as he lay facedown.

I found bits of dirt
and broken teeth in his mouth.

OK, thanks.

Let's find these little bastards.

Nothing much from the scene, Sarge.

Clothing was undisturbed.
No footprints or trace.

Just one animal print in some mud.

We got a photograph of the plaster cast.
Probably a dog investigating.

It left him alone, thankfully.

Doorknock parameters?

We'll be speaking to residents
on both sides of this strip.

People walk their dogs here,
there's a bike track, kids play here too.

Someone might have seen something.

We can track the boys from the
playground to the edge of the open land.

The body was found here.

And up here, about 500m away,

there's a bunch of broken bottles
and tin cans.

Look like they've had rocks
thrown at them.

Our boys?

Pelted with stones. Sounds like boys.

Let's not forget - the boys are important
but we can't focus on them entirely.

Why not? It's happened before.

And they were last seen
in the open ground with the kid, Sarge.

But smashing a kid's head with a brick -
it's way out there.

If a child did do that,
we're looking for a monster.

Or a fledgling psychopath.

Look, I'm not telling you
to discount them entirely.

There were two of them.

One would most likely be
the dominant personality,

a narcissist who likes to surround
himself with people that look up to him.

A doer and a follower.
Exactly.

And the follower would want to please.
They'd join in.

What other background factors?

The follower would most likely
come from a broken home.

Suffer neglect and feel nurtured
by his relationship with his friend.

And the other one?

Would probably come
from a violent background.

Kids like this, they become numb
to violence. They normalise it.

And they show no remorse.

Fledgling psychopath.

And we may have found one. We have
an interesting hit on the red jacket.

The jacket belongs to one Peter Shipley.

A teacher from his school
visited the information van, Sarge.

Hang on, Let's not get too excited here.

There are quite a few
of those jackets about.

We think it's a real possibility, Sarge.

The task force have already
questioned several boys,

and they've cleared them all.

What's so special about this one?

Teacher thinks the kid's strange.

He's had him in detention
three times for bullying.

Broken home, single working mother.

He fits Senior Sergeant Leigh's profile
and our description.

OK, what about the teacher?
Have you checked him?

He's been overseas for the holidays
till this morning.

I checked with Immigration.

So, how do you want it handled, Sarge?

Carefully. It's a lead, not a result.

Talk to the boy at home,
but keep it low-key.

Jennifer! A word.

Your secondment to
Counter-Terrorism came through.

Fantastic! These things
usually take forever.

Congratulations. You've earned it.

So, how does it work?

I head there at the end of the month?
Or when we get an arrest on this case?

You're going over there now.

Sarge, I can't go now.

I wanna see this case through.

Unfortunately, you can't
pick and choose your time.

Well, you could call them
and let them know that I'm needed here.

Yeah, that wouldn't
make any difference.

Surely it doesn't matter to them
if I start now or in a few weeks!

I'm sorry, Jennifer.
Sarge, please!

There has to be a way around this.

I'll withdraw the application. I don't mind.
There'll be other opportunities.

If you turn this one down,
they will not give you another chance.

So it's literally now?

Jennifer?

Whoever did this to the Santini boy,

we'll get them.

Your son, Peter - does he own
a jacket like this one?

Uh, yep, he does.

Why?

Is your son home, Ms Shipley?
Yes.

Peter!

Lots of kids have those jackets.

What's this about?
Not that Nicky Santini thing?

Why do you think that?

Well, it's all over the TV, the papers
you're looking for a jacket like that.

G'day. You're Peter, are you?

These are the police, darling.
They're asking about your jacket.

The red one.

I lost it. I told you, remember?

I forgot. Three weeks ago, yeah.
He lost it.

You can have a look if you like.

Just like
the 'Village of the Damned'.

There was no fear or nothing.
It was just weird.

He's got his mum pulled into line,
though. She backed up his story.

Yeah, with a bit of prompting.

Hey, where's Jen?

Sarge said she got her secondment.

Timing! Dunny's already on leave.

Hey, you run those checks
on Colleen Shipley?

Solo mum. Dad split about six years ago.

There were several call-outs
to domestics prior to that.

Fits.
Mum works in a deli.

No convictions or charges.
Same goes for the son. Cleanskins.

Not anymore - she lied to police.

He didn't lose that jacket
three weeks ago.

Uniforms followed up
with students in the class.

They remembered the Shipley boy
having that jacket at the end of term.

We can't just go dragging this boy in.

There's already a perception out there

that this is the Australian version
of kids killing kids.

It's looking more and more likely,
though, isn't it?

Unfortunately.

If the press catch on
we've got a person of interest,

they'll eat him and his mum alive.

Pull them in anyway. Avoid the media.
This could very easily get out of hand.

I already told you, he lost the jacket.

Three weeks ago, you said.
But that's a lie, isn't it?

We spoke
to your teacher, Peter.

He said that you had that jacket
at the end of term.

- Said you loved that jacket.
- Where is it now?

He lost it, or it was stolen.

Who stole it?
I don't know.

Where from?

Peter, answer the police.

Where'd you put the jacket, Peter?

We just need you to tell us the truth.

He lost it.

Where's the jacket, Peter?

We need to get her out of there.
Oh, no!

No, you're getting from her
what you'd get from him.

She knows what she has to say.

Do you think she's scared of him?

She's his mother.
She wants to protect him.

Doesn't look like he needs
much protecting.

So you didn't find the jacket
at the house?

Full search, no sign.
I bet his mum got rid of it.

You ditched it, didn't you?

Hey? After you chucked stones
at Nicholas Santini.

Tell me, what was it -
was it a game that went wrong?

- Or did you mean to kill him?
- Stop it! You'll scare him.

Nothing would scare that boy.

Yeah, you're right. There's no fear.

No empathy, pathological lying.

He does tick a lot of boxes
as a classic psychopath.

But not all psychopaths go on to murder.

Who was the other boy -
who was the boy you were with?

The one in the blue shirt.
You were seen.

Do you know where your son was when
Nicholas Santini was taken and killed?

He was at home, with me.
He was at home, with me.

Were you?

Sure.

Nicholas Santini was still a baby.

He never got to see his fifth birthday.

He was tortured, he was beaten.

And your son is a known bully
who lied about losing his jacket.

He's probably lying about this too.

Mrs Shipley, a boy was murdered.

Think about that day, Colleen.
What happened?

When Peter left the house,
was he wearing the jacket?

And when Peter got home
that afternoon, how was he?

Did he seem upset, scared, excited?

Oh, God.

ALLl E: What happened that day?

Oh, God.

Mrs Shipley, right now
he needs your help, not your protection.

It was that other boy,
that's who it was. Peter is not a bully.

It's his so-called friend.

- His friend?
- What was his name?

Lleyton. Lleyton Penning.

This is ridiculous.
It's not even his jacket.

Mr Penning,calm down. You don't
want to turn this into a public event.

It doesn't belong to him.
He's looking after it for his mate.

Bloody hell! Let's go! Come on!

Let's go. Come on, guys.

Mr Penning!
Get out of it! Leave us alone!

Are the police arresting your son?
He didn't do anything!

Has this got something to do
with the death of Nicholas Santini?

Detective, is this young man a suspect?
Are you arresting him?

Mr Penning, would you
like to say anything?

You know what's in here?

Photos of Nicholas Santini
the way he was found.

We're not gonna show them to you
because they're too horrible.

I don't mind. I'll look.

Someone threw stones at him,
then bashed him with a brick.

I'm afraid your friend Peter
is saying you're the one who did this.

What?!

No.

Lleyton?

That's not true.

Lleyton denying it. He says
the whole thing was your idea, Peter.

He says that you wanted to see what
it would be like to hurt that little boy.

Or kill him - was that the plan?

He is not a killer!

We don't think you meant to hurt him.
We're not sure what happened, though.

So Peter's the leader, you think?

Although just because
Lleyton doing the tears,

it doesn't mean he's the innocent.

He could be playing us.

So you only threw small stones.
Is that what you're telling us?

He's telling the truth.

So,can you tell me who hit Nicholas
with the brick, Lleyton?

We didn't do that!

They didn't hit him with any brick!

So, who killed the boy?
Neither of us did.

What do you mean?
We threw stones at him. We hurt him.

But when he started to bleed,
Lleyton got scared, so we left.

He was just sitting there...

..blood on him,crying.

So then we just ran away.

For what it's worth,
I think they're telling the truth.

Three hours.

And photos of these two have already
appeared on a so-called 'news' website.

It'll be in the papers by tonight

and by tomorrow morning, these two
will be labelled Little Nicky's killers.

I put out a statement to counteract this,

but the rubber band just got
wound a whole lot tighter.

And if these little turds didn't do it,

I wanna know before
the media crucifies them.

Stanley.

Our boys independently claim
that they left Nicholas here.

The body was found here,
just under 500m away.

Well, either the child walked
or someone took him.

Either way, someone
may have seen something,

or maybe there's evidence
between these two points.

A line search, then, Sarge?
Already happening.

You and Allie check back in
with the information van.

Inform Sergeant Hatzic
of the new elements.

Claudia, give us an assessment, darling.

If those little bastards are lying,
they're wasting our time.

If not, they may have
something more to give.

Ronnie!
I've got the full report.

Oh, you didn't need to bring it over.
Yes, I did.

I've done the autopsy and can confirm

the cause of death
as massive head injury.

But?

We assumed the boy's clothing
was still intact.

It appears now some of his clothes
were removed and then replaced.

There's evidence of sexual molestation.

Excuse me.

Um, I heard the appeal on the radio

about the new developments
in this case.

I think I might be able to help.
OK. Detectives!

Yeah, g'day. I was just saying -
I think I might have seen something.

I was walking the dog
on the day that all this happened.

I saw a young fella
down where the police are looking now.

Doing what?

He appeared to be, you know,
looking for something.

Was he carrying anything?
Don't think so.

Mm-hm. What age?
1 7, maybe 20.

I mean, kids look a bit alike
when you get a bit older.

Hair colour, height, dress?

Black hair. Like, all dressed in black.

He had that long, black hair,
like, hanging down over his face.

What do you call them - goths?
What do you call them?

Emos.

I had nothing to do with killing Nicholas.

Tell me - how did you find him?

Tyler, you live across the road
from Lleyton Penning

and you were seen at the overpass.

You expect us to believe
that's just a coincidence?

What were you doing there?
I wasn't there. I was at the video store.

You were seen!

You followed them down there,
didn't you?

No!
You saw what they did to that little boy.

And then, when they ran away,
you walked over, you picked him up,

you carried him from the overpass
to somewhere more secluded

and then you killed him.

Why would I carry him away to kill him?
It's just dumb.

You carried him over
to where you wouldn't be seen

because you didn't JUST kill him,
did you?

What?

You needed time with him,
and you know why.

No... Oh, Jesus, no! I didn't...

It wasn't like that! It wasn't...

So, what happened?

I know Lleyton, yes. I've known him
since he was smaller than Nicholas.

I taught him to ride his bike,
I played footy with him.

I'm like his big brother.

So he came to you.
Yeah. He was crying and scared.

His dad was still at work.
He came to the store.

And?

He said that him and his mate
had done something bad -

that they'd hurt a little kid.

I'd just finished work.

I told him to show me where,

but he just said "near the overpass"
and then he ran off.

And then you went there alone.

I looked all over where he'd said.
I couldn't find any kid.

There was some broken bottles,
a bit of blood.

I figured he'd got up and gone home.

When the search for Nicholas Santini
was on,

and the body was discovered,

you didn't come forward!

Because it turned out to be
my girlfriend's brother!

I hadn't done anything. By then it was
too late. What was I supposed to do?

You're supposed to speak up.

Lleyton swore to me
that the kid they'd hurt

had just been sitting there,crying,
when they left him.

I thought he'd got up,
wandered off, died.

I thought I'd be in trouble
for not saying anything. I was scared.

His version fits
with what our dog-walker saw -

someone poking around,
looking for something.

Or just maybe when Tyler Drew
took the boy,

he lost something, was worried
about evidence, and went back to check.

He's not in the clear.
He was pretty convincing, Sarge.

Maybe, but he's still not in the clear.

What about the lab? There was
a sexual element. Was there any DNA?

We can go for a match,
but you know how long it takes.

We have a neighbourhood ready
to explode. We need a result quickly.

Thought you'd still be here.

Yeah. You're working late?

With these ones, sometimes
I don't feel like I can go home.

You know?
Mmm.

This sexual element
doesn't change things?

Still keeping the two boys in your sights?

It's not out of the question.

When I do get home,

I look at my kids, think about my day...

What a world, eh, Stanley?

Anyway, staying late
sometimes pays off.

It's a hair - a white hair.

I found it stuck on the inside
of the little boy's cheek.

I sent it in for analysis.

The lab's found a few more hairs
like that stuck to his clothing.

It's a dog hair.

They're working on the breed.

They found an animal print
in the mud near the body.

My bet is it'll definitely
be a dog's paw print.

A lot of people walk their dogs
on that bit of land.

Any persons of interest own a dog?

No.

But one of our witnesses does.

Tom Lincoln. Last night I ran a thorough
check on him on our database.

He's squeaky clean. No arrests,
no charges, no complaints.

Nothing on the paedophile register?

No. We're putting out enquiries
in all states this morning.

So what about the boys?
We're just discounting them entirely?

I spent five hours with those boys.

I could only imagine what Peter Shipley
COULD be capable of,

but they didn't murder Nicholas.

OK, so, Tom Lincoln.

Why would he step up
and make a statement if it was him?

Why would he put his face out there?

It's characteristic behaviour -
being helpful, ego tripping.

Some of these people
even join in searches.

Alternatively, he could be getting scared.

He wants to see how close we are
with our investigation.

So he lD'd Tyler Drew.

OK, so if Tom Lincoln
was already there,

he could have seen Tyler
when Tyler went to search for Nicholas.

Lincoln could have been
with Nicholas right then,

concealed in those bushes
a few hundred metres away.

Of course he could ID Tyler Drew.

Something else very interesting - this.

Tom Lincoln has a dog.
We've checked - a border collie.

And we've confirmed the animal hairs
on Nicholas Santini

were from that breed of dog.

OK, so you're thinking transferred trace
from the dog to the man to the boy.

The experts believe the paw print
found near the body

would fit for a border collie too.

All of this coupled with him trying
to send us in the wrong direction -

I reckon it's enough
for a search warrant, Sarge.

Matt's picking one up now.
You execute it with him.

But we do not want Lincoln to know
that we're looking at him.

So he is "helping us further
with our enquiries".

That should give us some time.

I know it must feel like
we're going over and over this,

but sometimes new details come up,
you know?

That's OK. It's fine - I'm happy to help.

The coffee you wanted.
Oh, thank you very much.

It's very good of you to come in like this.

It's alright.
I mean, it's a terrible, terrible thing.

Oh, appalling. That poor little boy.

Mmm.

So let's start again, shall we?

Um, well, I'm not sure how I can help.

Did you end up speaking
to that young bloke?

We have, yeah.

The person you indicated is denying
ever being at that exact location.

Oh, well, he would, wouldn't he?

He was definitely there. I mean,
other people must have seen him.

You know, he stands out in a crowd,
you know?

Mmm.

If you could give us any other details,
it'd be a great help.

Yep, OK. Um...

Matty.

We turned up a marriage certificate.

Tom and Gwen Darby.

Darby, not Lincoln.

We found computer discs too.
You don't want to see what's on them.

Kiddy stuff.

Worst kind.

So, how does Sarge
want us to play it?

He says to keep him tied up for a bit.
Stay cool.

Stay cool?
I want to put his head through the glass.

What have we got?

Married, one kid. Divorced.

Moved interstate
after the marriage broke up.

Tom Lincoln is just an alias.

Real name?

All happened in Darwin, so I've been
running the Northern Territory database.

Hits?
Coming through now.

Thomas... Darby.

Three charges of indecent exposure,
one conviction.

And a second conviction
of unlawful sexual intercourse

with a child under 1 6 - a boy.

Where's the evidence from the house?
Tagged and logged, Sarge.

Sign it out. Now.

Search warrant.

Marriage certificate, Mr Darby.

And your collection.
Now, start telling the truth.

You were happy for two boys,
1 2 and 1 3, to take the fall for this.

They've been charged with
child stealing and serious assault.

We still have a murder outstanding.

Nicholas Santini - the boy you killed.

No.

Photos are in here,
DNA tests are in the lab.

The two boys were slipping off the hook,
so you gave us another suspect, right?

No.
Yes!

These say yes!
No!

That's history. That's...

That's all it is - it's history.

It's on the news.

The boys - the press are
camped outside their houses.

It's gonna get very nasty.

Nuh. We need to change tack.

It has to be you.

You're the leader -
you're the important one.

Coming from you, this might work.
What are you thinking?

His ex-wife, his daughter -
they could hold the key.

You searched the house.
It's more of a granny flat, really.

Rented, behind another place.
Pretty grotty.

And the dog - it lives inside with him?

Yeah, it certainly smelt like it.

Were there photos?
His wife, the daughter?

Y es, lots of them.

Alright. Stanley, you need
to get in there and take over.

Use the family.
Try to get into his heart.

You know, talk about his wife,
the break-up.

Show him understanding and empathy.

Compassion.

You want me to show
that man...compassion?

That's the only way.

I will ask you again.
Why lie about your name?

Because of this - exactly this.

No, you use a fake name
because of what you've done -

what you're still doing.

No! I did not touch that boy.

We have the physical evidence!
You're facing rape and murder charges.

OK, let's take a break, shall we?
I think we all need a break.

Mr Lincoln and I need to have a talk.

One with and one without.

Your choice.

I don't mind.

Let's take a few steps back, Mr Lincoln.

You loved your daughter.

Yes.
And your daughter loved you.

Of course.

And your wife took her away.

She said she didn't trust me.

With my own daughter.

I mean, I don't blame her for leaving.
Who wouldn't?

I would never, NEVER hurt my daughter.

I believe that.

And I haven't seen her for years.

I have daughters of my own.

They live with my wife now.

So I do...understand what it's like
to feel alone.

And you do feel lonely,
don't you, Tom?

Yes.

I am...alone.

Your dog. He's cute.

He's company.

Your world just got...smaller and smaller,
didn't it?

What do you mean?

Company.

That's what these are, right?

People think it's about sex.

It's not.

No.

You go from a nice house,
wife, child,

to living with your dog
in a place that you hate

by yourself - a kennel.

These were about company
as much as anything.

Something to have in your head
apart from the loneliness.

Yes. In a way, yes.

Well, it's more than loneliness,
really, isn't it?

It's a sense of people...looking at you.

A sense of loss.

A sense of despair, I suppose.

Yes.

Yes.

And that's why you can't
go through it again...

..over Nicholas.

What do you mean?

What do you mean?

I mean when you found the boy,
your first impulse was to help.

I bet it was, wasn't it?

He's hurt, he's crying.

Poor little fella.
You pick him up, you carry him.

You tell him he's gonna be OK.

He was bleeding.

Yeah, 'cause those rotten little bastards
had been throwing stones at him.

He was hurt.

And somewhere, there was
someone who loved him.

A family that he belonged to.

You wanted to help.

But it went wrong.

Didn't it?

I do understand, Tom. I do.

But it just went wrong, didn't it?

You don't know what it's like.
You don't know what it's like.

I had him in my arms.

I couldn't help myself.

You don't know what it's like.
You don't know what it's like!

And then after...

..I didn't know what to do.

He wouldn't stop crying.

I had to make him stop crying. I had to.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

Sorry!

Jesus, it just never bloody ends.

# Oh, my beautiful child

# My beautiful child

# The brightest of stars

# Couldn't match your sweet smile

# But you grew up too soon

# Far beyond your young years

# Now all that remains

# Is your memory and tears

# When they found the body that day

# Some said you smiled

# And I wish I was with you right now

# My beautiful child. #

Anybody got a dart?

Run us off a hundred copies of that,
will you, love?

There's dartboards in police mess halls
all across the state be wanting them.

You lot cheer up.

You closed the case.
You can't bring back the dead as well.

And you can't put those families
back together.

You've given them all a chance
to move on.

That's something.

Great job today, Stan. Well done.

If you weren't such a wowser,
I'd buy you a drink.