-[traffic humming quietly]
-[bird squawks]
[people chattering]
[train rumbles distantly]
[door closes]
[foreboding music]
[camera clicking]
[echoey] Stop following me!
[dramatic music]
[office chatter]
[ambient music]
-Morning.
-Morning.
I've put in a call,
the tiles are on order.
So, how was your
date with Simon?
Yeah...
yeah, no, it was nice.
Decent grub?
Erm...
four out of five, I reckon.
What'd you have?
I had the garganelli...
with chard.
Are any of those
things actual food?
'Cause, you know, I've
never heard of them.
I thought you said you'd
eaten there before?
Yeah, well, when it
was still a proper pub.
I had the ham, egg and chips,
jam roly-poly and custard.
[Thomas laughs]
[knocking on door]
Sorry to interrupt your... fun.
I need you two to
get over to Fakenham.
-Missing person.
-Who's the subject?
Gemma Hastings, 24.
Report filed by one
of her colleagues.
Works at Clyde and Sons,
a posh estate agents.
Uniform followed
it up, but no show.
So, I've upgraded
the risk level.
I need you two to
get over there.
[suspenseful music]
-THOMAS: Good morning.
-RECEPTIONIST: Morning.
Inspector Lynley,
Three Counties Major Crime.
Is your manager here, please?
Tommy?
-Tommy, oh, my God!
-Helen.
What are you... what
are you doing here?
God, sorry, I mean
how long's it been?
-Erm, it must be nine years.
-HELEN: Yeah.
It was graduation weekend...
Erm...
-Ah.
-Hi, hi.
So, you two know
each other then?
Err, yeah. Helen and I
were at Oxford together.
Mm, same college.
Oh yeah, I think you
might've mentioned Oxford,
a couple of times.
I didn't know you were
based around here.
Yeah, I'm working at Horsford.
I thought you went into the Met?
Yeah, eight years.
You've been keeping tabs on me?
Yeah, I might've seen
you in the papers
a few years ago.
What, what about you?
You're an estate agent?
Family owns the business
for generations.
I remember your father's
speech on your 21st.
-Yep.
-[clears throat]
Sorry, it's just
of all the people
to walk through my door.
-Balliol's own Prince Charming.
-What?
[nostalgic music]
Sorry, can I help or...
err, what brings you here?
Err, yeah you, you filed
a report at the station.
Of course, you're
here for Gemma. Erm...
it's right this way.
[suspenseful music]
-Have a seat.
-Thanks.
[door closes]
Gemma is my number two,
nice girl, really lovely.
She's, erm, only been
here a few months.
And you reported her missing?
Yes, so, she didn't
come into work on Friday
and then the same thing Monday,
so, I... I came
into the station.
Has she got a
family, a boyfriend?
Flatmate, Fraser.
I spoke to him, he
said he's not seen her
since Thursday evening.
And I'm... really worried.
Look, Frazer said her car's
sitting outside on the street
smothered in parking tickets.
-I think something's happened.
-Well, there may be
a perfectly harmless
explanation.
An impulse holiday
with a friend, perhaps?
No, the thing about Gemma is she
lives her life by timetables.
Look, if she was going away,
there's no way she'd
leave without telling me.
We've had clients phoning...
she'd not been turning
up to appointments.
May I take a look at
her email traffic?
Yes.
[keyboard tapping]
Could you give us a list of
possible contacts, friends?
Well, erm, I don't know
much about her private life,
and... to be honest, I'm not
sure that she really had one.
She works long hours,
she did weekends.
She was quiet, kept
herself to herself.
[dark music]
Err, Sir?
[suspenseful music]
What do you make of this?
Err, can we take the laptop?
HELEN: Yeah, sure, absolutely.
[suspenseful music intensifies]
So, who is she then?
Oh, at this stage you
know as much as I do.
Oh, I'm talking
about Helen Clyde.
Former shag?
[scoffs]
You really think that' an
appropriate question, do you?
[delighted laugh]
Right, bullseye, okay.
I told you, we were
at Oxford together.
Same staircase.
Yeah, okay, Prince Charming.
You flushed pink when you saw
her, that's all I'm saying.
-No, I didn't.
-Yeah.
And don't call me that again,
unless you want an
immediate transfer
off my team.
This is the first time
I'm seeing you lose your cool.
What is it, she
break your heart?
Err, it never really
happened between us.
Why not?
Well, most of the time she
was with my best friend.
Was he the son of an earl too?
Are you enjoying this?
Yeah, yeah, I'm starting to.
-That makes one of us.
-[chuckles]
[ominous music]
BARBARA: How long have
you been living together?
FRASER: Oh we're...
we're not together.
Oh, I meant as flat mates.
Ah, right, erm,
couple of months.
Gemma answered my ad.
Oh, so you don't
know her that well?
No, no, I... I already said
all this to the other officers.
I mean, she's pretty
easy to live with,
very private person, quiet type.
Sir?
That's good to
know. Erm, bag it.
Mm.
Did she have any visitors?
None that I saw.
What about a partner?
Err, well, I got the impression
she'd sort of left
that all behind.
Well, there was a bloke...
erm, been together
years, broke up.
Do you know the circumstances?
Err, other than it
was her decision.
She told me he
was pretty cut up.
Do you know his name?
No.
Where was this?
She didn't say.
She just said she
wanted to come here
and make a fresh start.
Are you in the same
business as her?
No, I work at Templars.
Err, school teacher,
year twos, little ones.
What about Gemma's family?
Her dad died a while back.
Mother's in a home.
Dementia.
Mm.
So, erm...
can you tell us about the
last time you saw her?
-Err...
-[mysterious music]
Thursday night...
about seven o'clock.
[door opens]
She was getting ready to go out.
I saw her for a moment,
and then she was gone,
went straight out.
BARBARA: So, if she's
missing all weekend,
how come you didn't
contact anyone?
She comes and goes
as she pleases.
We don't live in
each other's pockets.
Fraser, did she receive
any unwanted attention?
Pestering emails sort of thing?
Err...
not that I'm aware.
We'll let you know if we
get any more information.
BARBARA: Uniform went door
to door, [door closes]
Checked doorbell
cameras and nothing.
There's no CCTV either.
[keys jangle]
A street of a thousand rentals.
Somebody must know something.
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music intensifies]
BARBARA: Okay, here we go.
A bloke named Gareth Burns.
Look, see? This guy.
He's on her socials.
There's a bunch of
pictures of them together
and then suddenly
they just stop,
so, I guess that's
when they broke up.
According to this, he works at
Isocase Technology in Gateford.
THOMAS: Well, let's
go pay him a visit.
[birds twittering]
Inspector Lynley,
err, DS Havers.
We're here to see,
err, Gareth Burns.
Mr Burns's office
is at the back.
Thank you.
Err, three months, a
little more, end of June.
And that's the last
time you saw her?
Well, you know how it
is, err, we split up,
she moved out, end of.
I hope you don't mind my asking
but was the split amicable?
Well, as, err... as
amicable as it could be,
I guess, under
the circumstances.
Yeah.
Sorry?
We were engaged.
Due to be married next year.
And she broke it off?
Yeah.
So not amicable at
all then, really.
[laughs] Erm, I'm sorry, what's
this, err, what's this about?
Gemma's gone missing.
Err, hasn't been
seen for four days.
Jesus, you're kidding, what...?
She left her apartment
Thursday evening,
not been seen since,
by anyone. So...
Would you say that's like her?
No, I mean, err, err,
I would say that was
totally out of character.
But, err, well...
I guess I, I didn't know her
as well as I thought I did.
Well, sorry, but, what's that
supposed to mean
exactly, Gareth?
Well, we had our
whole future planned,
we, we bought a place together,
picked out furniture, you know?
And what made her break it off?
Well, you'd have
to ask her that.
BARBARA: Well, she's missing,
and we can't find her right now
so you'll have to
fill in the blanks.
Did you have any recent
online contact with her?
Emails or...
No, no, no, no not since we...
not since we split up.
[office phone rings distantly]
[mysterious music]
Err, [scoffs] wait...
wait, i-i-is that why
you're here, you...
you think I've done
something to her?
-Am I a suspect?
-No, we're just... we're err,
eager to find her, that's all.
There's an email address.
Recognise it?
Ever used it?
No, no, sorry.
BARBARA: What do you reckon?
Are you thinking
he's our emailer?
I'm thinking that guy has money.
Did you see his suit?
Must be on a decent salary
doing what he's doing,
tech development.
So, so what?
So, Gemma Hastings leaves him,
drives 100 miles to
live in a box room
in a damp flat share.
Whatever she was running from,
it must've been pretty painful.
[car engine roars]
[sinister music]
Try and... try and
take a deep breath.
-Try, you've gotta relax.
-What's up?
What's happening?
His breathing's gone all funny.
[gasping] Dad, Dad?
Call an ambulance.
Come on, Dad. Deep breaths.
Deep breaths, come on.
[gasping]
[trees rustling in the wind]
[sultry classical music playing]
We're looking at
a chest infection,
temperature's dropped.
With your husband's
chronic emphysema,
a chest infection is
never a welcome visitor.
We'll run a course
of antibiotics,
but we need to keep him in
for observation overnight.
AMANI: Thank you, Doctor.
[heart monitor beeping]
THOMAS: There's nothing
in her email trash.
Whatever he sent her
has been deleted.
And there's no phone
triangulation either.
Thursday night her
mobile just went dead.
-Family?
-BARBARA: Her mother's in a home
in Walsall. One of the
carers tried to tell her,
but they're not sure if
she even registered it.
Any other contact?
Well, we went and
saw her ex-boyfriend,
the split was kind
of acrimonious.
We're checking his
movements, Sir.
-What about friends?
-Well, she's new to the area,
hasn't really established any.
Clients, you know,
someone she might've
met at work.
Yeah, we're trawling through
the list, but so far nothing.
-BRIAN: Oh, you're kidding me.
-Well, I know it's a bit odd,
but, you know, she hadn't
really put down roots yet.
Well, who was the
recipient of the email?
Technical support are
still working on it,
but they think he was
using a VPN blocker
to mask his address.
So, we think she has a stalker.
It gives us two possibilities.
Either she went on the run
to get away from him or...
She may be the victim
of an abduction.
Yeah.
Okay, I, err, I need to
tell you both something.
Erm...
Roland Clyde is a good friend
of the Chief Superintendent,
owns the estate agent, top
end of the property market.
I've told him we'll make
finding her our top priority.
Now, I've already
upgraded her to high risk.
I want a team of officers
combing the area.
Parks, scrub land,
building sites.
-Could do an appeal.
-What?
TV.
Local networks.
See if someone comes forward
with more information.
A good friend? I
know what that means.
It means member of the
funny handshake brigade.
Hoity-toity, alright?
No, rough night.
It was a late one.
Out on the town?
My Dad was ill, I had to
take him into casualty.
Oh, God, do you
need to be there?
-No, it's fine.
-Well, just keep me posted
-if you need time off.
-Forget I mentioned it, yeah?
[suspenseful music]
[police radio chatter]
[officers chattering]
[suspenseful music intensifies]
[officers chattering]
No one, not even her housemate
claims to know who she was.
BARBARA: Mm.
Five days she's been missing.
We should've been
called in sooner.
Well, okay, what about
these phone records?
I thought you said
there wasn't any?
Well, not in the last five days,
but I'm talking about before.
Look. Brackley, isn't
that in Northamptonshire?
Yeah, but okay, she's
been to Brackley,
where does that fit in?
Well, a couple of times.
Look, I've circled
them in pencil.
You think maybe she's
got a boyfriend there?
It's possible.
Right, err, I've just
spoken to the Super,
and he's given you the
nod for the telly thing.
Oh, great, I'll talk
to the press team,
set it up.
[suspenseful music]
Pretty boy.
Eager to get his
face in the media.
[scoffs]
What have we got?
Buy flowers.
What were you doing
in Brackley, Gemma?
[suspenseful music intensifies]
[door squeaks open]
[people chattering]
[door closes] Evening, Rosa.
-ROSA: Hello.
-I'm meeting someone.
Is she here?
She's there.
Ah, thank you.
Hi, I'm Leo.
-Hayley?
-HAYLEY: Yeah.
[high tempo music]
[dramatic music fades in]
Have you don't this
sort of thing before?
Why?
I dunno, you just
seem really confident.
If it was me I'd be brickin' it.
[phone vibrates]
How's your father?
Have you heard
from the hospital?
Err, Mum's with him,
says he's doing fine.
Well, you know, if you
need to be there then...
Yeah, no, I said it was okay.
Sure, it's just...
Oh, what, am I...
am I not coping?
No, no, not at all.
Okay, well then, there's
no need to mention it.
You know, you just show
the tiniest bit of weakness
and everybody jumps on it.
So...
Well, it's hardly a weakness
if your father's ill.
Oh no, the last thing I need
is you gossiping in the mess,
telling everyone I'm off work
for personal reasons, or...
I'm just saying I understand.
Inspector, they're
ready for you.
Perfect.
[leaves rustling] [dog barking]
[sinister music]
Oh, gosh.
[drawer slides open]
[sinister music swells]
Just, erm, looking
for a hairbrush.
Who's she?
Your ex?
Someone.
[drawer slides closed]
What do you wanna do?
How do you mean?
Well, do you want me to stay?
LEO: Sure, whatever.
[gentle music]
Her name is Gemma Hastings,
she's 24,
brown hair, brown
eyes, five foot seven.
And she was last seen
in the Eaton Park area
of the city on Thursday evening.
She left her home
on Christchurch Road
at approximately 7:00 pm,
and she decided not
to take her car.
So, either she was
given a lift by someone,
was on foot, or using
public transport.
Obviously, we're
concerned for her
and we're urging anyone who
thinks they might've seen her
to get in touch with us.
And she was wearing
a cream overcoat,
denim jeans and burgundy boots.
If you think you saw Gemma
or have any information
that might assist us,
please... call this number.
All calls will be treated...
as confidential.
-Well?
-BARBARA: Well, what?
Well, how do you
think that went?
Is that you being insecure?
Yeah, you were
great, impressive.
-Is that you being nice?
-Oh yeah, treasure it,
because it's not
gonna happen again.
[phone pings] [crunches apple]
We've got a visitor.
You think the text is from her?
Yes, err, I got it
just after 9:00.
[suspenseful music]
Came straight here.
'Don't want you to
worry, lovely boy,
I've caused you enough pain.
I just wanted you to
know I'm okay. G.'
-That's not her number.
-No.
-BARBARA: Sent from another phone.
-Mm-hmm.
-Do you recognise it?
-Uh-uh.
But she used to
call me that name
and I don't know who
else knew that term.
Right, erm...
right, we'll contact
the service provider,
work out where it came from.
It could be a burner phone.
Why would she change phones?
Well, maybe she's trying to
stop someone tracing her.
You should text her back.
And say what?
Asking her to explain,
asking her to call you.
Tell her that you're worried,
tell her that you want to help.
Yeah, I'm, I'm sorry, I
don't know what to say.
So relieved to hear from you.
Call me, please.
You need an emoji.
A... worried face.
Sure.
Okay, right.
Give this to technical support,
see if they can
track the sender.
[door opens]
-Thank you.
-Let me know.
Of course.
[sighs] Well, what
do you reckon?
I reckon...
you should be with your family.
[keys jangle]
They'll call me if they need me.
Seriously?
I wanna wait and see if
we get anything back.
So, you go and leave it with me.
Fine.
[loud chatter, laughter]
[background music playing]
-Helen, hi.
-Hi.
I'm so sorry I'm late.
-It's alright.
-Ah.
So...
This is, err, an
official meeting,
or are we just catching up
on nine years of gossip?
[chuckles]
-It's been a while.
-HELEN: Yeah.
[suspenseful music] Okay, Gemma.
What were you looking at?
Brackley again.
Flowers.
St. Olaf's School?
What is that about?
[knocking]
Anything?
Yeah.
You know that
message from Gemma?
The text was sent locally.
Vicarage Road?
Mm, hang on.
Vicarage Road...
That was one of the
properties she was letting.
We need to get over
there. [high tempo music]
[engine rumbling]
Property got broken into,
so, it's being renovated.
Wait for me here,
in case someone comes out. Hm?
Okay.
[door creaks]
[mysterious music]
So, I took her out
for lunch, new staff,
you know, and she seemed nice.
But...
guarded.
Never worked as an
estate agent before,
but she was personable, keen.
Relocated for a fresh start.
Mm-hmm.
But she gave me the
distinct impression
that she just ended
a relationship.
She seemed... lonely, I suppose,
a little...
wounded.
Reluctant to open up.
I actually encouraged her
to start dating again.
And did she take your advice?
I don't know.
[sinister music]
[door squeaks]
[broken glass clinks]
Did you hear about my brother?
Mm, I was so sorry, Tommy.
It must've been heartbreaking.
Yeah, 31.
Which makes me next in line.
Eighth Earl of Asherton one day.
They'll expect me to step up,
do my duty, run the estate.
What, that's not what you want?
Not really.
I know all about it. [laughs]
Pressure of the family name.
I stepped in when my father
was about to sell up.
I just... I felt the
weight of responsibility.
I told them I want
something else.
You were always like that.
Restless,
even when happiness was
right in front of you.
Even when it was
staring you in the face.
[dramatic music]
[eerie music]
[banging on door] [gasps]
TONY: Havers!
It's only me.
I thought you might need backup.
[exhales]
Christ on a bike, Bekele,
-you scared the sh*t out of me.
-Sorry, sorry.
-Any sign of her?
-No, nothing.
Nothing at all, it
doesn't make any sense.
Maybe someone set us up.
[rustling]
[foreboding music]
OFFICER: Over here, body!
[chilling music]
PRESENTER: Good morning from
Three Counties Local News.
It's 8:25 on Friday,
And before the
regional headlines,
it's over to Michael
Anderson with the weather.
WEATHER PRESENTER:
Good morning...
[phone pings]
[television continues]
[foreboding music]
And here are the headlines
from Three Counties News.
Police have confirmed that
the body found last night
in the Stepsgate District
was that of the missing
estate agent, Gemma Hastings.
Gemma went missing
after leaving her flat
in Christchurch Road
on Thursday the
A spokesman for the
police said that
there were following a
number of lines of enquiry...
[television continues]
...more developments
in this tragic story.
In other news...
[officers chattering]
[keyboard tapping]
THOMAS: Victim's Gemma Hastings.
She was attacked with
some kind of blunt object,
the skull is caved in.
She left her flat on
Christchurch Road,
then we think walked into
town. The state of the body,
it's likely she was
k*lled the same night
she went missing.
Now the body's found
in some parkland
near a disused railway.
There's no blood spray,
so indications are
this isn't where
she was m*rder*d.
The attacker dumped
her body there.
[background chatter]
[sinister music]
[car rumbling]
We believe you were the
last person who saw her
before she was k*lled.
I'm afraid we're going
to need a DNA sample.
Sorry, err, what?
For traces on the body.
You're a close contact.
We need to eliminate
your DNA from the search.
Fraser, can you tell us a bit
about her behaviour that night?
Maybe tell us a little
bit about her routine?
Sorry, I don't, I
don't understand.
That's okay.
Was she in a hurry?
Did she give you the sense
that she was meeting someone?
Not really, erm...
Did she take anything with her?
Erm, she just had her
handbag, I think, erm, yeah.
Did she give you any indication
at all of where she was going?
No, I, err...
I think I just assumed...
What? [chilling music]
Well, I just assumed
it was a date.
Okay, why would you assume that?
She, she had this...
err, thing on her phone.
What thing?
It was a new, sort of dating app
she'd just downloaded.
[chilling music]
[office chatter]
How you getting on with CCTV?
Nada. Vicarage Road
is a blank spot.
Can you check this out?
It might be something,
it might be nothing.
Phone records?
Yeah, only interested
in the two I've circled.
-Brackley.
-Mm-hmm.
Little market town
in Northamptonshire.
Gemma Hastings...
was there recently.
But she made some
calls in the vicinity.
Could you get a
more exact location?
How?
Well...
it says detective
on your badge there.
DS Havers, somebody
here to see you.
[dramatic music]
[keyboard tapping]
Didn't you go in today?
I phoned in sick.
Why? Why are you so upset?
[train clacking distantly]
-Huh?
-Can you...
can you not, please.
PAOLO: Fraser, I'm sorry.
How many more
times can I say it?
I don't...
You need to get your own place.
Yes, but it is not that easy,
not when you've just
come out of prison,
-you know that!
-I just don't know who you are.
Some days...
I mean, you can, you
can be so different.
[mysterious music]
Come on.
Let me cook something, okay?
To say sorry?
And then...
we'll light some candles,
maybe get some wine in.
It'll be nice.
I'll make pasta.
Do you happen to have
some, err, some cash?
Because I don't remember...
Thanks.
Do you think I
could get that too?
Sure.
[speaking Italian]
When was it that
you first met him?
Last night.
Err, at a pizza restaurant.
He said he'd been
there before, so, yeah.
And you spent the
evening with him?
Just talking or...?
Yeah, and...
And...?
I went back to his house.
Did something happen?
He had this, er,
picture, a photograph...
Her.
[sinister music] You're sure?
Absolutely. She was wearing
the exact same coat.
Can you tell us a little
bit more about the image?
That's the thing,
it was sort of...
...weird.
Weird how?
Like she was angry he
was taking the photo.
[dramatic crescendo]
Mr Hodgson.
We've got a warrant.
[high tempo music]
[officers chattering]
[clattering, drawers
opening, closing]
[high tempo music continues]
Inspector!
DI LYNLEY: Gemma.
DS HAVERS: Afraid so.
[background chatter]
[sinister music]
Looks like Leo wouldn't
take no for an answer.
I am Detective Inspector Lynley,
my colleague is Detective
Sergeant Havers,
and we're interviewing...?
My name is Leo Hodgson.
Thank you, Leo.
Now, you've been made aware
of your right to a solicitor
but you're happy to be
interviewed without one present?
Yes, yes I am.
I just want this dealt with.
Great.
Do you know this woman?
No, no I don't.
Well...
here's a photograph of her
we found at your house.
And another one.
And another.
Got many more, if
you take my point.
They're just photos.
It's my job, I work
in a photography lab.
You took those photos
yourself, so you know her.
I've seen her about, yeah.
Okay.
So, why did you just lie to us?
We weren't close.
I saw her on the street.
I take pictures of people.
It's a kind of hobby.
Women?
-Yes.
-And how do they feel about it?
Being followed, having
their picture taken...
It's just harmless.
Is that what they would call it?
Tell us about your date.
You went on a date
with Gemma Hastings,
now she's missing.
I... err, yeah, alright.
Where was the date?
We met at a local restaurant.
Alterio's.
Is that one of your
favourite places?
I've been there before, yeah.
It's just round the
corner from my house.
How'd the evening with
this one go then, huh?
It was fine.
Did you agree to meet again?
No.
Why?
It didn't really
work out between us.
You broke things off?
We just weren't...
compatible.
But you wanted to see her.
You made several
requests on the app.
We checked.
One or two, yes, but...
DS HAVERS: Ten.
[suspenseful music] Ten
and she never replied.
Is that right?
And then you wrote
her some emails.
That is your account,
isn't it, Leo?
Then you turn up at
Christchurch Road.
Followed her,
took her photo...
Why?
As a memento?
It was a stupid thing
to do, I know that now.
DI LYNLEY: She's dead, Leo.
Someone smashed her skull in.
Dumped her body in
some scrub land.
It wasn't me.
I liked her.
Maybe a little too much, yeah?
[sinister music]
No alibi for Thursday night.
Do you reckon we've
found our guy?
What, what's up?
Well...
he's hard to read, that's all.
-Like a movie with the sound off.
-Mm.
Hard to interpret.
We've been getting press calls.
Someone's leaked that
we've made an arrest.
THOMAS: Okay, Simon,
so what have you got?
I've taken a look at
what you've sent me,
hair samples from Hodgson's
house, fingerprints...
-And?
-None of it's Gemma,
no DNA traces.
Oh, bollocks.
If she was in his house, then
he's obliterated any evidence,
scrubbed the place clean.
About the only chemical
trace I could find
was NACLO, bleach.
BARBARA: Yeah, we found about
ten different kinds
of cleaning fluids.
Either he's guilty as hell or...
OCD about his cleanliness.
Likewise his car, I'm afraid.
No discernible traces, nothing.
If he transported her, he
didn't use his vehicle.
So, there's no evidence
linking him to the m*rder?
[dramatic music] We
have to release him.
Oh, his face is gonna
be in the press.
That's all we need.
I warned you both.
The Chief Superintendent
is demanding a result.
Are you really gonna let
him walk out of here?
There's no evidence
linking him to the body.
Get some.
[suspenseful music]
What if he was smart?
What if he managed
to cover his tracks?
-Do you wanna keep on him?
-Yeah.
Me too.
Around the clock.
Contact the surveillance unit.
It might take 24
hours to set up.
We can't wait that long.
I'll run surveillance
tonight, yeah,
-leave it with me.
-Are you sure?
What about your father?
Sorry.
[doorbell buzzes]
[door buzzes open]
[melancholic music]
Helen, I, err...
I saw the news.
I just wanted to
say how sorry I was
and I wanted to say
it face to face,
not on the phone.
I feel like it's my fault.
What?
-Why?
-If she met some creep online,
I encouraged her.
You know, she was fragile.
She was on the rebound.
I told her to get out there.
[microwave beeps]
[tense music]
[tense music crescendo]
[curtains swish]
[car door closes]
[keys jangle]
[knocking] [car door opens]
[grunts]
Right, my turn.
You're done for the night.
Reckon he's not
coming out again.
What happened with
Brackley? Any leads?
Still working on it.
Had to shelve it to do this.
If you're pissed off that I
picked you, you shouldn't be,
I'm giving you an opportunity.
-We've gotta work twice as hard.
-We?
You know what I mean.
-See you tomorrow.
-[sighs] Yeah.
[car engine starts]
It's sort of scary, isn't it?
[soft music]
Like how random it all is.
I suppose everything
that's happened
has made me realise
a lot of things.
Like?
Like...
everyone's got...
a perfect partner
out there, but...
fate intervenes and...
you might not end up with them.
Like, life is short.
Live in the moment.
[leaves rustling]
[suspenseful music]
[phone buzzes]
[dark music fades in]
[envelope tears]
[dark music crescendo]
Oh, come on...
[dramatic music fades in]
Urgh.
[suspenseful music]
-TONY: Hey, what's up?
-Hi, I need you back here.
I've gotta get over to the
hospital, my Dad's taken a turn.
-TONY: Err, okay, yeah.
-Okay, thanks.
[keys jangle]
[car engine starts]
Oi!
Don't want you here, m*rder*r.
Urgh! Argh!
[kicking, fighting, struggling]
[coughs] Urgh.
[gasps for air]
[background chatter]
-Where am I supposed to go?!
-Paolo, if you just sit down...
No, no, no, no, no! You
told me, so I'm listening!
-We'll talk it through...
-Shut up!
I'm just, I'm...
just, could you...
[shouts in Italian]
Where am I supposed to
go?! [glass smashes]
I ask you, where?!
Can you just calm down?
Where?!
[door slams]
[sobbing]
[sinister music]
Barbara. How is he?
We've given him Theophylline,
he's a little more stable.
[oxygen hissing]
[heart monitor beeps]
Hi, Papa. Hi, it's me.
I'm here. [Dad groans weakly]
[dramatic music]
Leo?
[sobbing uncontrollably]
[background chatter]
[coins clink]
Tony, what are you...?
[suspenseful music]
What's happened?
I got a call from the station.
What happened?
Tell me.
-We were...
-It's not Bekele's fault,
-it was...
-One of you, please.
I was running
surveillance, Sir, and...
I was the senior
officer on duty...
Spare me the Spartacus routine,
just the facts.
We were shadowing
him from the street.
And?
There was a handover,
a gap just before
I got there, and...
I found him lying in the
driveway outside his house,
someone had...
-attacked him.
-[sighs]
They don't know if
he's gonna survive.
Possible bleed on the brain.
Jesus Christ.
Where were you?
I was, erm...
I was here.
THOMAS: Here?
At the hospital?
I got a call about my dad.
[sighs]
Is he okay?
Yeah, he's fine,
he's out of danger.
But obviously...
A suspect gets beaten to a pulp
while we're supposed
to be watching him.
Do you have any idea
where this puts us?
Nies will have a field day.
Do we know who attacked him?
There's no witnesses.
We found a note in the house,
a threatening letter.
The case is starting to
get a lot of coverage.
People are angry, I guess.
Tony, you, erm, wait
outside for a minute.
Sir.
[door opens]
[dramatic music]
[door closes]
-It's on me.
-Okay, listen.
I mean it.
It's neglect of
duty, I left my post.
No, you called me.
I have a missed call from you.
Just to tell you about my dad.
THOMAS: You were
calling me for backup.
Yeah.
[sighs] Okay, I, erm...
What?
I, err, I need to
talk to the Chief.
Well, what are you
gonna say? I mean...
[door opens]
[heart monitor beeping]
[sombre music]
[people chattering]
[oxygen hissing]
[heart monitor beeping]
Hey.
You alright?
No.
I really messed up.
[couple chatting]
[glass tinkles]
[door opens]
[footsteps approaching]
Ciao. [in Italian]
You're not talking to me?
Look, I'm... sorry.
I was upset, okay?
I didn't mean to
get in such a mood.
I thought, I dunno...
I thought you were
trying to get rid of me.
Come on, let me do that.
I got it.
I'm not usually like that. I...
had way too much to drink and...
You scared me.
Chucking stuff around.
Some of the things you
said, they made me upset.
I just... I just
meant with the...
with the police around,
maybe you should... you should
keep a low profile, that's all.
Paolo, listen to me.
I just don't think
it's a good idea
you come here quite so often.
[suspenseful music]
[background office chatter]
Well?
It's a disciplinary
hearing, isn't it?
Serious misconduct?
Look, just tell me, just...
Look, I can, I can take it.
I've been taken off the case.
What?!
What are you talking about?
[dramatic music]
You?
The rest of you
are off the hook.
That doesn't make
any sense. What...?
You carried the can
for me and Bekele?
One of the perks of
leading the team.
Well, I just assumed...
well, I thought...
Well... well, what'd
you say to him?
I am Spartacus.
But it wasn't your fault.
You left me in charge.
Buck stops with me, there's
no point pretending otherwise.
Excuse me.
[keys jangle] Nies
is gonna step in,
take charge of the
case personally.
Play nicely.
REPORTER: A man has been
hospitalised after an attack
at his Stepsgate
home last night.
Reports that he'd been helping
the police with enquiries
into the death of estate
agent Gemma Hastings,
are unconfirmed a
police spokesman said.
An official statement
is expected shortly.
[message pings]
Investigators were
seen carrying out
an examination throughout
the property...
[news continues in background]
[treacherous music]
Right, heads up everyone.
[knocks on door]
Erm...
Right, what can I say?
This has been, err...
a very difficult last few days,
and this is a critical
moment for this force,
for everyone in this room.
A suspect has been
seriously injured
during what should've been
a routine surveillance
operation.
Naturally, there'll be an
internal investigation,
not to mention a media frenzy.
But whilst the investigation
is being put in place,
I am personally...
in charge of the case.
Any questions?
[waves crashing]
[wind blowing strongly]
[phone ringing]
Hi, this is Helen Clyde.
Sorry I'm not available,
please leave a message.
[beep]
Helen, hi, erm...
It's me, err...
Yeah, I just, err...
For God's sake, Tommy.
[background chatter]
Christ.
[clears throat]
Something you wanna say to me?
It wasn't the
inspector's fault, Sir.
Listen.
If you wanna hitch your
wagon to him, fine.
But he's out.
So, for the sake of your career,
I'd keep your mouth shut.
[soft classical music]
[clatter]
[office phone rings]
[background chatter]
You okay?
It doesn't feel
right, any of this.
Are you beginning to have
doubts about Hodgson too?
Maybe he's just some loner,
and now look what
we've done to him.
Sorry, did you want
me for something?
Yeah, just this.
You mentioned it.
-Brackley.
-Yeah?
You asked me to check
her last movements,
-Gemma Hastings' last days.
-And?
The phone company were
able to give me something.
It says 'detective' on my badge.
[dramatic music]
Hmm. Brackley Cemetery?
[wind blowing]
[doorbell chimes]
-Hi.
-What the hell is going on?
Are you okay?
Come on into my nightmare.
The water's warm.
I saw the news, something
about a suspect?
Yeah, a guy who we
thought was stalking her.
-He's been hurt?
-Yeah, a surveillance operation
that went wrong. But my case,
so, I took the fall.
Jesus, Tommy.
Oh, Tommy what a mess.
Oh, I know.
Tell me, is it
really your fault?
Or are you just being noble?
I don't know what to say.
I care about you, you know that.
-Thank you.
-Mm.
Wine?
Your father is, err...
is he still local?
[wine pouring]
Yes, why?
Apparently he's a friend of
the Chief Superintendent.
Apparent he, err...
made a call, put
some pressure on.
Oh, Tommy, I'm so sorry,
I'll call him now.
No, no, God no, that's
not what I meant.
It's not my style, really.
No, taking me off the
case is just politics.
Nies was getting heat, he
needs someone to take the hit,
I was the perfect candidate.
[doorbell chimes]
Sorry.
Hey. Something's come up...
Oh...
Not disturbing you, am I?
You two must need to talk.
I'll go.
[kiss]
-Thanks for coming.
-Yeah.
Didn't take you long.
To do what?
Renew old acquaintances.
-She just came round to check...
-Oh, I don't care.
If you must know, they just
told me you were at home.
Yeah, restricted duties.
Nies insisted.
Thin end of the wedge.
Reckon he's gonna push
for a full suspension.
What are you doing here?
Brackley?
What?
-I've got a lead.
-Well, take it to Nies.
Well, I'm bringing it to you.
Are you interested?
-Yeah, tell me.
-BARBARA: Okay, Gemma Hastings.
It's a pattern of
behaviour in the weeks
before she was k*lled.
It could be significant.
It's an outside chance,
but you never know.
Look, I'm out, okay?
Nies is running
things now, so...
Well, if you wanna play the
tragic hero, be my guest.
But you and I both know
the truth of what happened.
The mess up with Hodgson,
it's got my name on it.
And I pay my debts.
[up tempo music]
[traffic whooshing]
Gemma was making visits to
the cemetery in Brackley.
THOMAS: Right.
Well, go on Sergeant,
what's the connection?
Well, there's this pattern
we found in the records.
At least twice in the
fortnight before she died,
she came and sat here for hours.
Phone company confirmed it.
Maybe it was her father's grave?
No, I checked, he's
buried elsewhere.
What the hell are
we looking for?
I don't know,
something, anything.
THOMAS: Okay.
So, we check every grave.
Well, it stands to reason
there must've been something
painful in her past
to make her drop everything.
And you think it's something
to do with this place.
Yeah. Buy flowers, it's
in her diary, so...
we've just gotta look
for fresh flowers.
[suspenseful music]
THOMAS: What is it?
What?
G?
That's how she signed her name.
[birds twittering]
Luke Kneighton, did
you find anything?
There's a bit of press.
Ten years old, stabbed to death.
Looks like it happened
in a school, God.
St. Olaf's? That's
the name of the school
that was in her search history.
She was looking it up online,
it's only a couple of miles
from here.
She left flowers.
There must be a connection,
or else why would
she visit his grave?
[keyboard tapping]
[chilling music]
[sighs]
[keyboard tapping]
[suspenseful music]
Where have you been all day?
Just out chasing a lead.
Well, anything to report?
No, nothing yet. Sorry, Sir.
We need a result...
-and quickly.
-Mm.
[people chattering]
DI Langham?
A time warp, this place.
DI Lynley.
-DS Havers.
-Pleasure.
BARBARA: Thanks for
helping us out with this.
Ah, no problem.
-Gemma Hastings, you say?
-Mm-hmm.
We think she's connected
to Luke Kneighton,
but we're... we're not sure how.
You were the investigating
officer in Luke's m*rder?
Yes, terrible case.
The case was in all
the papers at the time.
It was a cause célèbre, huh?
Luke Kneighton was stabbed and
k*lled in a school corridor.
-Jesus.
-A kid called Jason Parry.
Obviously, Parry was very young,
so, he got given a new identity.
Oh, this Gemma...
To be honest, I don't
remember anyone by that name
connected to the case.
Maybe Luke's mother knows her.
Would you like me to call her?
We're still friends.
DI LYNLEY: Thanks.
[sighs] I don't remember much
about that time. [chuckles]
All a bit of a blur.
Yeah, of course.
Why are you asking questions?
Has... something happened?
Actually, we need your help.
Her name's Gemma Hastings.
She was found m*rder*d
a couple of days ago.
[sighs]
And you...
You think there's a
connection to my son?
In the weeks before she died,
Gemma left flowers
at Luke's grave.
What?
[poignant music]
I don't understand.
I've never met her.
I mean...
I go there every week.
I've...
seen...
fresh flowers once
or twice, I...
I didn't know who
they were from, I...
thought maybe a school friend.
Would you mind if we
took a look around,
get a clearer sense of things?
Mm, no, sure, go ahead.
[dramatic music]
Who is she?
THOMAS: Who was he to her?
What's the connection?
There's 11 on a
team, isn't there?
Yeah, obviously.
What?
You're a rugby man, of course.
Hang on.
This photo doesn't look right.
[mysterious music]
It's been doctored, you see?
[dog barking distantly]
Mrs Kneighton?
All this stuff.
[chuckles] I should've
got rid of it.
No one plays with it anymore.
How'd you get on?
Did you find what you wanted?
I wanted to ask you
about this photograph.
Hmm, Luke was a
very gifted player.
But someone's missing here.
Someone's been cut
out of the picture.
[Mrs Kneighton sighs]
[suspenseful music]
I can't talk about him.
I'm sorry?
MRS KNEIGHTON: The
boy in his team.
I can't say his name.
Jason Parry.
[sinister crescendo]
So, Jason Parry
stabbed Luke Kneighton.
Apparently he's
sent down for it.
Are you thinking
what I'm thinking?
He would've served his
prison term by now.
[keys jangle]
No one knows his new identity,
except maybe a handful of people
at the Public Protection Unit.
-Hmm.
-Probation, police services...
[tense music]
What if Gemma met him?
Somehow she found out he
was really Jason Parry.
It's possible.
That card at the grave,
she felt guilty.
She felt bad that she's
gotten close to a m*rder*r,
that's why she changed.
That's why she was
so sad and broken.
That's why she ran.
And, if she knew
his true identity...
You think he
could've m*rder*d her
to keep his secret
from coming out?
Perhaps we've met him before.
[car engine starts]
[high tempo music]
[doorbell rings]
[door opens] GARETH: Oh, hi.
-THOMAS: Can we come inside?
-GARETH: Err, yes.
[door closes] Err,
come through, err, err,
I've just gotta
turn the dinner off.
Erm, please, make
yourselves at home.
We need to talk to you.
Erm, sure.
What's this about?
Jason Parry.
Erm...
I'm... I'm sorry I... I'm
not... not sure who that is.
We know you attended St. Olaf's
Junior School in Brackley.
Same school year
as Luke Kneighton.
The kid that was k*lled.
[sinister music]
We understand there are
certain safeguards in place
for people like you.
But Gemma found out, didn't she?
And she wasn't able to cope.
She felt guilty when
she discovered it.
Guilty that she'd
fallen in love with you.
I think about it every day.
Replay it in my mind.
He just always had it
in for me, you know,
always humiliating me,
and I guess something just...
snapped.
So, I took a knife into school,
[dramatic music]
And I just walked up to him...
and...
And you felt you
had to tell her?
You felt you had to tell Gemma?
Oh, I just... I just,
I shouldn't have done.
It was a... it was
a terrible mistake.
You know, she, she,
she couldn't bear
to touch me afterwards, she...
she started digging through all
this old press coverage, and...
She looked at me
like I was evil.
I came home one day and
she said she was leaving.
Who k*lled her, Gareth?
I didn't do it, alright?
I... I know because of
what happened to Lu...
to him...
that you think it
might've been me.
But I... I swear I
didn't do it, alright?
She... she... she must've
told someone about me.
That's when I started
getting the emails.
-Gareth, Gareth, hey, hey...
-Hey, hey.
My laptop, alright? It's just...
here.
[dark music]
[mysterious music]
There was, err, a
postbox somewhere
where I had to drop the money.
And you decided to play along?
Yeah.
Yeah, I managed to
get the cash together.
I've got savings.
I've still got it in the house.
Look, when you told
me she was missing,
I... I didn't know it
was connected, alright?
But now she's dead and I...
So, you think maybe
the blackmailer
is involved in all this?
Yeah, I... I don't...
[birds singing]
Every instinct in my body is
telling me to... arrest him.
For what, though?
He's not that
ten-year-old boy anymore.
The law says he's
served his time.
Yeah, for sure, that's
what the law says.
[car doors close]
That's not what I meant.
If he'd come clean
about the blackmail,
she might not be dead now.
At the very least he's
guilty of perverting
the course of justice.
Perhaps.
Let's assume she let
it slip to someone...
Okay and, what, that person did
something with the information?
What if Gemma was
trying to stop them?
What if she was actually
trying to protect him?
[engine revving]
[people chattering]
[phone ringing]
-Havers?
-Mm?
In my office.
[door closes] Don't
treat me like an idiot.
What? Sorry, Sir,
what's this about?
You were with Lynley.
I, Sir, well look...
We had a call from
an ex-officer,
Doug Langham.
What the hell were
you doing with him?
He had some vital leads
he wanted to share.
Lynley's no longer on the case.
Actually his information's
led to some progress that...
Then then you should've
brought it straight to me.
-Lynley's old news.
-It wasn't his fault!
Oh, that is nonsense,
and you know it!
Please, Sir.
I was in charge that night.
I agreed to take
charge of surveillance.
He's covering for me.
[dramatic music]
Okay, I see,
and you thought that
you owed him something?
You're the idiot, Barbara.
Lynley is likely to face
a disciplinary hearing,
you've already had
one warning yourself.
If you have any sense
of self-preservation,
you won't tie yourself to him.
Get out.
Sure, come in. [door closes]
Listen, we've gotta finish
this case, you and me.
Look, I appreciate it,
but I'm dead in the water.
But you won't be if we
just sort this, together.
-Havers...
-Come on, come on,
you said it yourself,
Gemma Hastings, right,
she moved here
from the Midlands,
she hardly knew
anyone, who'd she tell?
Close friend? Family?
She must've told one
person about Jason Parry
and then all we have to do is
we just have to find
that one person.
[suspenseful music]
-The email address.
-What?
Gareth's emails,
the blackmailer.
The email address
might still be active,
we can use it to contact them.
We?
We.
Tell the blackmailer
you know who they are.
Say Gemma revealed
their identity to you.
Tell them you're
ready to meet, Gareth.
They'll believe you.
Right, so I'm the bait.
Yeah.
[sighs] Okay.
Good man.
[dramatic music]
[office chatter]
[ping]
[high tempo music]
[sinister music]
[keys clatter]
[birds twittering]
[sinister music]
[stair creaks]
She told me.
Who the hell are you?
[treacherous music]
You know who I am.
How'd you get in here?
She still had your key.
You and I,
we need to talk, Gareth.
She was upset.
Cried herself to sleep.
I heard her.
I felt bad, so I asked her.
I asked her what was wrong.
Eventually she
poured her heart out,
about you...
about your past...
about the wedding you never had.
-You...
-She was very loyal to you.
She never told me your name.
I found it.
I mean, it took a
little bit of digging,
but eventually I found
you on social media.
Your smiling face.
Why are you doing this to me?
I'm in a bad situation,
and I need money
to get out of it.
-You k*lled her.
-No, no, no it wasn't like that.
I never meant to hurt her.
She found out what I was doing.
[dark music] Saw the
emails I'd written you.
What are you doing?
Why are you on my laptop,
Gemma? Why are you in my room?
Why did you send this
to him? I told you...
-You're threatening him?
-I don't know what you...
You can go to jail for
that, do you know that?
-Calm down, don't...
-Don't touch, get off me!
-Gemma please, just calm...
-Get off me!
Just calm down! Just
wait a moment, just...
I said don't touch
me! [loud punch]
Gemma, give me your phone.
Get off of me! No!
[thud]
[frenetic music]
[struggling]
[bone shattering smash]
[thumps on the ground]
I was just trying
to... stop her. I...
-It just happened in the...
-You...
I... I... I don't wanna
have to do this, Gareth.
[treacherous music]
One click...
and I can tell the world.
It's just a message...
Saying you are Luke
Kneighton's k*ller.
Do you understand
what that would do?
That would mean an end to this.
An end to everything.
You would be persecuted forever.
Unless...?
Unless you give me the
money you promised me.
Argh!
[struggling, grunting]
There's someone
in there with him.
Argh. Argh.
[vicious punch]
[struggling continues]
You took her from
me, and I loved her.
BARBARA: Gareth
stop! Get off him!
Gareth!
Argh! Urgh...
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
[dramatic music]
[Gareth breathing heavily]
A full confession.
BARBARA: Yes, Sir.
Where is he now?
Downstairs, in the cells.
CPS have enough to charge him.
Well, congratulations...
both of you.
Actually, it was
Inspector Lynley
who solved it, Sir.
Err... there's still the...
the matter of Leo Hodgeson.
He's in recovery.
He isn't being
charge with a crime.
But we'll pass on the
information we have
to the anti-stalking unit.
And the person
that attacked him?
Ongoing. Forensics found a
print on the letterbox, so...
-Okay, very well, dismissed.
-BARBARA: Sir.
Oh, err, Havers,
err, could you...
wait behind a moment?
[door closes]
[tense music]
I, err...
I thought you and I...
had an understanding.
I thought we were
together on this.
Will there be
anything else, Sir?
[people chattering]
What was that about?
Nothing, don't worry about it.
-Come on.
-Where we going?
I reckon I owe you
dinner and a pint.
I owe you one too.
We can toss for it?
Does it have to be one
of your posh places?
You choose, whatever you want.
You could even have a roly-poly.
Yes!
[poignant music]
[dramatic music]
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01x02 - This Body of Death
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A mismatched crime-solving detective duo working for the fictitious Three Counties police force and based in Norfolk are teamed up: an aristocratic male police inspector and a maverick female sergeant from a working-class background.
A mismatched crime-solving detective duo working for the fictitious Three Counties police force and based in Norfolk are teamed up: an aristocratic male police inspector and a maverick female sergeant from a working-class background.