Original subtitles

John, I met some friends from college. They've asked us over. Do you want to

come? Um, I don't think so.

Oh, good boy.

Look, why don't you go over? I, um, I honestly don't feel up to it.

John!

What's wrong? Look, nothing's wrong, I promise.

I've got behind with my work and I need to think about it, that's all.

Sure. Positive.

Look, why don't you go back to your friends and have a good time, eh?

I'll give you a call in the morning.

Good evening, Mr. Brewster.

Can we interest you in a hand? No, thank you. I never gamble.

And neither should you, by the look of that law.

Hello, Dr. Brewster again.

Are you sure my husband's not at the clinic? He couldn't have come back?

Forgotten something?

No.

No, it's just that he's not arrived yet.

Mr. Matthew Brewster, who's found dead in his garage with a car engine running.

This could take us half the night.

I've been on the coast since 8 o 'clock this morning.

So have I, Sergeant.

Yeah, but I haven't spent the last two weeks lying on a beach in Italy, have I?

I've spent my holiday engaged in cultural pursuits, Lewis, not lying on a

Mm -hmm.

Seems peaceful enough to me.

That's how it was when we found him, Coach.

There was nothing unusual caught your eye when you came in?

No, nothing at all.

Could you tell me what happened this evening?

Matthew was due home at about 8 .40. That was his usual time.

Due home from where?

His clinic.

My mother and father own a private clinic, Chief Inspector.

He usually left around 8 and was found later.

When he wasn't home by nine, I began to worry.

I had thought of calling the police, but I didn't want to make a fuss or be a

foolish.

I told myself he'd broken down somewhere.

I looked out of the window several times, hoping to see Matthew get out of

car.

The last time I looked, I saw John arrive and he discovered what had

What time was that?

Around eleven, I think.

When I arrived, I heard the engine running.

Then I saw the fumes.

I tried to open the garage door.

When I did, I couldn't see anything.

I tried to find the light switch, but I began to feel the effect of the fumes.

Thank you, Lewis.

Probably not.

It's something that Dr. Brewster said.

She said she looked from the house, hoping to see her husband get out of the

car. But he'd get out of the car in the garage, wouldn't he?

The doors open automatically on approach.

You can't even see the garage from that room.

Just a slip of the tongue to...

Yeah. He can clear it up in the morning.

But why do it this way, Lewis?

Drive home, I mean.

They own a clinic.

He was surrounded by any number of drugs or poisons he could have used.

I guess when you get to the point of killing yourself, you're not thinking

clearly.

But you think it was suicide?

No reason to suspect anything else.

It was murder, Lord, certainly murder, although there was a pretty tough

to make it look like suicide.

Do you mind explaining, Doctor? Well, it's all a matter of deduction, really.

See here, look.

These marks across the chest and around the wrist.

He was tied into the seat. Now, if he was tied in, he was conscious and may

felt compelled to cry out. So, I have a look around the mouth. And what do I

find?

Traces? Of adhesives and minute injuries where the facial hair has been torn

out.

He was bad and gagged, Morse.

He was murdered.

Time and cause of death?

Asphyxiation, 9 .30 o 'clock.

We know he left the clinic shortly after eight.

Would you agree that there wasn't time enough to have him killed elsewhere?

Yes, I would.

The killer was taking quite a risk there, wasn't he?

Staying in there until the job was done.

unless he came out and went back in again later.

But then he'd have to get back in, close the garage doors behind him, make sure

that Brewster was dead, take off the gag, untie the rope, and then find his

back out of the doors again.

Brewster's son was driven out by the fumes.

I've already thought of that.

Then what have you deduced?

Well, either you're looking for someone with an exceptional pair of lungs, a

Japanese pearl diver, say, Or your killer was a commoner garden Englishman,

using breathing apparatus, perhaps.

What is going on, Chief Inspector? Could we talk inside, Dr. Brewster? Tell us

what's going on, please.

I'm sorry, you are.

Mark Felton. I'm from the Radcliffe Infirmary.

Claire is my patient.

It would be better if we talked inside, Mr. Felton.

You've surely made a mistake, Chief Inspector.

My husband's death must have been an accident.

I can assure you, Dr. Brewster, it wasn't an accident.

Can you think of anyone who might want to harm your husband?

No.

Of course I can't.

Who would want to harm Matthew?

The idea's quite preposterous. Someone did.

I'd like you to think very carefully.

Did your husband mention any recent conversation he might have had?

Any incident or event that he considered out of the ordinary?

No.

Well, was that break -in that you mentioned, Claire?

At the clinic?

When was that?

Seven, eight months ago, I don't remember.

There was nothing taken. The police thought it likely that the intruder was

after drugs.

We heard no more about it.

Dr Brewster, last night you said you went to the window expecting to see

your husband getting out of the car.

How could you expect to see him if he was in the garage?

What?

Oh.

Sometimes he parked in the drive, Chief Inspector, especially if John was still

out. Matthew, he... very often left early for the clinic in the

morning.

Inspector? Of course.

Clare, I want you to go upstairs and rest.

Bye.

Why is it, Chief Inspector, that doctors make such bad patients?

Why, my way.

I'd prefer her in hospital for a day or two, but you won't hear of it.

Is her condition so serious?

Proper medical care and attention. She had three, maybe four years at bed.

And she could well do without this kind of trauma.

And that damn clinic.

They became an obsession with both of them.

Is the clinic in trouble?

On the contrary, it's thriving.

At the beginning, they invented everything they had.

Borrowed heavily.

But they made it work.

Where's Mother?

Is she all right? She's all right, John. She's upstairs. She's fine.

Will you excuse me?

We've got something here.

What's that?

More tape, I'd like a bit.

I asked him about last night.

He told me he'd spent some time with a girlfriend, a Jane Bowen, English

up at the university.

Anyway, that was around about seven o 'clock.

Afterwards, he says he went for a drive and then came home.

Well, that's four hours. What was he doing?

Thinking, he says.

He is doing a doctorate in philosophy.

All the other things, the diving equipment, sir. He doesn't use it. He

know anyone who does. I'm about finished, sir. That's the meagre

afraid. Where did this come from?

Down in the car inspection pit.

We did find two rolls of tape in the toolkit, but neither of them comes from

this. It's much broader.

All right, get it off to forensic, and thank you.

You can

take them off.

Yeah. Miss Barney?

Yes.

Shall we walk?

Yes, I'd like that.

I must have lost to know how I can help.

I've never met John's father, or his mother for that matter.

How long have you been seeing John?

Two years.

And you've never met his family?

According to John, I'd simply be something else for his father to

They didn't get on, I'm afraid.

John had been expected to follow his father and mother into medicine.

When he refused, his father turned against him.

Last night, how did John seem to you?

Oh, down, I'd say.

Do you know why?

He said he'd fallen behind with his work and wanted some time on his own.

Your questions, Chief Inspector, I can't quite see their relevance.

Oh, they're just routine in cases of murder.

When John phoned last night, he seemed to think it was an accident.

Or suicide.

No. No, John's father was murdered.

Chief Inspector, what I said about John and his father, you mustn't infer... As

I said, my questions are purely routine.

You're on to a winner here, Sergeant.

Do you want to have a look?

Tell me what I see.

Hair, the tape that was brought in, and probably from the dead man's face, I

think.

I'm pretty confident that it was used as a gag.

That was a nice cup of tea.

Not too sweet.

I've had a chance to think about all this, Mother.

And I'm going to tell the police about Michael Steppings.

Steppings?

Why?

Tell them what?

That he made threats against Father in court.

But... That was two years ago.

Steppings was upset.

There were letters.

They were sent to Father.

What letters?

Anonymous threats.

Abuse.

Father thought it best.

You didn't know.

We'll be opening up that entire episode.

Think what could come out of it.

I should have mentioned these sooner, I know, but with everything that's

happened, I wasn't thinking she'd been better.

Your mother didn't mention them either.

She didn't know about them. My father didn't want to distress her.

As for himself, he didn't take them seriously.

Then why did he keep them?

He didn't. Well, not all of them.

The first few he destroyed, but after that I'm sure he was going to take them

the police.

You didn't preserve the envelopes?

They were typed, posted from various places in London.

Besides, we were pretty certain who was sending them, so... We thought they were

from a man called Michael Steppings.

You see, four years ago, his 15 -year -old daughter came into the clinic for a

minor operation.

But something went wrong.

She suffered profound brain damage.

Steppings took my parents to court two years later.

Needless to say, they were completely placed.

But Steppings couldn't accept the court's decision, so he made threats.

Who is this Michael Steppings?

He's the bookmaker.

The Michael Steppings?

Yes.

Started off with one betting shop down in London, so finished up with a regular

empire.

He should be an easy man to find.

He lives in Oxfordshire.

Whereabouts, I'm not exactly sure.

I'd like to talk about Michael Steppe.

You've spoken to him?

Not yet. My sergeant's trying to locate him.

Can you tell me about his daughter?

Tell you what?

What happened to her?

She went into cardiac arrest.

The court found the clinic blameless, Chief Inspector. I need hardly say it

a tragedy, but we were completely clear.

Dr Brewster, I am not questioning the court's judgment.

Your son came forward with the name of a possible suspect.

There are questions that have to be asked.

Yes, well... You think it might have been Steppings?

You? Well, I wouldn't know, would I?

He struck me as being a highly intelligent man.

To threaten us in open court and then send anonymous letters. It seems a

particularly reckless strategy for a killer to adopt.

You said threatened us, not just your husband?

Matthew was the surgeon, I was the anesthetist, and there was a nurse,

Hazlitt.

As I recall, he threatened all three of us.

You're not sure?

You will appreciate, Chief Inspector, that that trial was an experience I've

tried very hard to forget.

But why was it important who he threatened?

You were in the house alone.

If he did kill your husband, then why not you?

The nurse, is she still here?

No, she left soon after the trial two years ago. She's at Burnley Green

now.

We don't keep in touch.

Found him, sir.

Bit more difficult than we thought, though.

A man with an empire, Lewis?

Yeah, well, turns out he sold his business, sir.

Living the life of a recluse out near Chipping Norton.

Oh, and I checked out the report on the break -in at the clinic here.

Nothing, really.

Some damage to a couple of filing cabinets.

I want to see a transcript of the Brewster trial.

No bother, as long as somebody else has asked for a copy already.

If not, the notes will still be in shorthand. Could take weeks.

Why do we need one?

I want to know who Stepping's threatened and what he said, not what people think

he might have said.

Would you believe it?

120 grand. It won't even budge.

It's a beautiful car.

Likewise.

Michael Stebbings.

Who are you? What brings you to this neck of the woods? I'm Chief Inspector

Morse, Thames Valley CID.

I'm investigating the murder of Matthew Brewster, Mr Stebbings.

Yes, I read about it.

Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I said I was sorry, Mr Morse.

So I won't.

Am I suspect?

Yes.

Thought I might be.

Come on inside, Chief Inspector.

I've got an angry call to make.

Patrick, Mike's stepping.

Listen, why don't you get some lads over here and pick up my car?

It's not working.

That's what for.

Right?

Okay, I'll shove the keys in the exhaust and call me. Let me know what the

hell's going on.

It's a fine view.

Can't say I notice it much.

Mr. Steppings, don't you have a wardrobe?

Yeah, somewhat.

I tend to do most of my living in here now, Mr. Morse.

When things get too bad, I bung the whole lot off to the cleaners.

Now, Brewster.

Have you ever contacted him?

After what he did?

No. Why should I?

The court found him not guilty.

With respect, Mr Morse, the court was wrong.

They were removing a mole.

A simple operation.

Just about impossible for anything to go wrong.

But it is possible.

Yeah, that's what the judge said.

There's always an element of risk, and I should understand that.

An allusion to my former profession, I think.

Where were you the night Bruce was murdered?

That was Tuesday, wasn't it?

I was at Newmarket in the afternoon.

I had a meal over there.

Left about six.

I went to visit my daughter at Burnley Green Hospital.

She's at Burnley Green?

Yeah, why?

Go on.

I left at 7 .30, made for home.

You came straight home?

No, no, I stopped at a pub to go to the loo.

That would have been about eight.

I had a shandy, gone to Bandit, read the paper, even managed to do the whole

crossword, and left about nine.

Would anyone remember you there? Did you speak to anyone?

I doubt it.

The only person I spoke to was the barmaid who served me.

Oh, yeah.

There was a lady who came in and asked me to move my jacket so she could sit

down.

And that was all?

She said something about how busy the place was.

That was it.

This pub, have you been there before?

No.

It's called Black Swan on the road north.

I know.

Well, will you be checking my story at the hospital?

Oh, yes.

Any chance of any?

Your business.

Why did you give it up?

I didn't give any point to it.

When I started out, it was to get the best for me and mine.

Only now there ain't any mine.

Except, Avril.

You're not married?

Of course.

My wife, Julie, she felt as bad about Avril as I did, but she thought it was

wrong to dwell upon it.

But I did dwell on it, Mr. Morse.

Left off.

As for myself, I've already got more money than I need, so why go on?

Making time easy, making money. Of course.

Oh, I'm ready.

Gambling. I liked it. I was good at it.

I don't think I could live with the uncertainty.

The person you want to see is Dr. Greer.

He's in charge.

And do drop by on the chairs before you go.

Chapter 7.

Ginger continues the story.

You can confirm that he was here, Doctor.

Oh, yes, Chief Inspector.

I was on duty.

He often visits at night.

Sometimes in the early hours of the morning.

He's absolutely devoted to the girl.

What kind of man is he?

In my opinion, someone who's given up on life.

I don't think the matter except the girl.

Even his wife left them, you know.

Can't say I'd blame that.

She could see it was hopeless and wanted to put an end to it, but he wouldn't

hear of it.

I take it the girl will never recover?

No, never, Chief Inspector.

My old merry legs will take as much care of them as you or I could.

Doctor! Mr. Morse!

Avril! This is the policeman I was talking about.

Chief Inspector Morse.

This is my girl, Avril, Chief Inspector.

You'll have to excuse her not getting up.

But after her run -in with the Brewsters, there's not much she can do.

I'm very sorry, Mr Steppings.

Did you help out Mr Morse, Doctor?

Indeed I have.

I'm intruding here and you want to be alone with your daughter.

Dr. Greer?

Right. I assure you I would not sell that pony for any money. He's so

good -tempered and trustworthy.

Is that you?

Yeah. No coffee

will be fine.

You look tired.

Has it been awful?

Yes.

What would you expect?

John, listen.

I think I may have said too much to that policeman, Morse.

What do you mean?

Oh, silly.

I mentioned to him that you and your father weren't on the best of terms.

I wasn't aware of what had happened at the time.

Tell the truth.

Besides, I don't think Morse's interest in me will last very long.

Do we have a transcript?

Yeah. It was a request for one from Michael Steffings.

Did you see him yesterday?

Yes. He has a motive, a shaky alibi, and he knows how to use diving equipment.

Sounds promising.

Oh, to God it's not, Lewis.

Well, there's nothing much to tell, no unidentified fingerprints, and the

lettering came from half a dozen different newspapers. However, I put it

machine here and this crop top.

Obviously written on a sheet above the one used for the letter.

Just numbers.

Couldn't be an enemy.

Any idea what they might be?

Sorry. I did say there was nothing much.

Can I have a copy of it?

I'm no lawyer, sir.

But it seems to me the Brewsters couldn't lose that, eh?

It was a routine minor operation that they carried out three or four times

before. The barrister was able to give the court names, dates, even testimony

ungrateful patients.

And steppings?

Oh, there's no doubt he did threaten all three of them.

Yes. I want justice for my little girl.

If I don't get it here, I'll get it some other way. I'll make the three of them

pay.

Then why wasn't Dr Brewster harmed?

And the nurse, Hazlitt, for a year she's worked at the hospital where Steffings

has his daughter.

They're both of the much easier targets.

Miss Wendy Hazlitt?

Yes? Chief Inspector Moore, Thames Valley CID.

Oh, hold on.

If you'd like to come through here, Chief Inspector.

Half an hour later and you would have missed me.

You're going away?

Yes, just for a couple of days, to the Lake District.

You're very fortunate.

Well, yes, well...

I'm an amateur painter.

I expect to be working mostly.

How can I help you, Chief Inspector?

I'm investigating the murder of Matthew Brewster, Miss Haslett.

Ah. I'd like to talk to you about Michael Steppings.

Well, I don't actually know Michael Steppings, Chief Inspector.

No, I appreciate that, but he did make threats against you at the Brewster

trial. I wondered if he approached you or...

Made any attempt to carry out his threat?

No, but at least not in the way you mean.

When I left Matthew, Mr.

Bruce's clinic, I tried to support myself by painting alone. Now,

that didn't work out, and I had to look for a job. I was taken on at Burnley

Green. When Michael Stepping was found out, he tried to have his facts.

He does pay the hospital a great deal of money for keeping his daughter there,

and I expected that he'd get his way.

But fortunately, Dr Greer, one of the consultants there, went up with the

compromise. He agreed to let me stay on, provided I undertook not to go near

Avril Steckings.

Matthew Brewster was sent a series of anonymous letters after the trial. Did

receive anything like that?

No, nothing.

Do you think that Michael Steppin sent those letters?

Unfortunately, we don't know who sent them.

Well, I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help.

No, no, not at all.

I'd better let you get on. I can see myself out.

Bye -bye.

Think, damn you.

One sheet of paper, blue, eight by five.

Two rows of numbers.

To the left, 10, 50, 7.

To the right, 25.

Good morning, sir. Constable Willis, Crime Prevention Unit.

Are you the owner of the house?

That's right.

There have been a number of burglaries in the area, sir, mainly in property

this. Would you mind if I checked your security and possibly offered some

advice? Of course not. Come on in.

Thank you.

Can I get you something?

Your blood's really not drinking on, Judy.

A cup of tea would be fine, sir, thank you. Coming up.

My alarm system's controlled from in here.

Well, I must say, this all seems rather elaborate, Morse. I've no real grounds

for a warrant.

If Steppings is innocent, I don't want to upset him any more than is necessary.

You don't want to upset him?

We're not the Samaritans, Morse. A man's been murdered, and this Steppings is a

suspect. I know that.

Sir. What?

You were right about those numbers, sir.

You even gave Constable Willis a demonstration.

I've put him in the interview room. I've cautioned him, informed him of his

right. Oh.

I'd say you've got yourself a result there, Chief Inspector.

So get yourself down there, matey, and give him hell.

Give him hell.

Yes, sir.

You had a visit today from Crime Prevention Officer, Mr. Stepping.

Yeah, I did. Mr. Morse, your sergeant says I'm being held in connection with

Bruce murder.

I don't understand.

You have a safe, Mr. Stepping.

Yeah, came in the hour.

And you changed the combination six months ago?

What's that got to do with anything?

Did you keep a note of the combination?

Of course.

And a backup in case the original got lost.

Doesn't that rather defeat the purpose of a safe?

I mean, having notes of the combination lying around the house.

Well, not really, sir.

Mr Stebbins takes precautions.

He writes down his combination on a sheet of paper and then tears it in

Hide the pieces in different places. Isn't that right, Mr. Stabbing?

Yeah. Look.

Is that your combination?

Yes, it is.

Where the hell did you get this from?

Have you seen these before?

A forensic examination showed that one of these bore the combination to your

safe.

They were sent anonymously to Matthew Brewster.

All right.

I sent them some letters.

But you saw what they did to my girl, Mr. Marshall.

I had to get back at them some way.

I tried the law. It didn't work. They walked away scot -free.

You threatened Matthew Brewster in court.

You sent him anonymous letters threatening his life.

And then Matthew Brewster was murdered.

Possibly by someone who knew how to use diving equipment.

And you do.

Wait a minute now.

I didn't kill anyone and I didn't threaten his life.

You are evil and you will pay.

I am going to kill you.

Kill you?

I remember writing that.

Not kill you.

You expected to believe that when you lied about sending the letters in the

first place.

Look, you don't understand.

I'd get drunk, I'd sit and brood, I'd do one of these letters.

What I'm saying is I can't remember this.

I didn't kill that man, Mr Morse.

Chief Inspector Morse has some news for you.

We're holding Michael Stepping for questioning.

He's admitted sending the letters to your husband.

And the murder?

Not yet. We only brought him in an hour ago.

Then thank you for bringing us the news so quickly, Chief Inspector.

Has he said anything? What can he say?

He'll probably be making the same old accusations about his daughter, that's

all.

Inspector?

Your son's right.

Of course I have.

We have a great deal to thank you for, Chief Inspector.

Michael Steppings is being held for questioning, Mr Brewster, that's all.

If you'll excuse me, I'll continue to keep you informed.

Thank you.

You mustn't worry yourself.

Promise me.

I can't help it. You must help it.

There's nothing to fear from Michael Steffens.

Nothing at all.

What the

hell's

wrong with you?

Finding out what those numbers meant was a good piece of work.

It was a lucky guess.

What would happen to her if we did put him away?

Ah, that's it, is it?

The girl.

It's got nothing to do with you, see.

Anyway, we haven't even charged him yet, never mind put him away.

No, no, you're right.

But it's not just the girl. There's the whole question of why he ignored the

other two people he threatened.

Steffens isn't stupid, and yet we're to believe that he forewarned his victim by

sending him anonymous letters.

You can have a look at the present, you know that?

Well, it's not going to get me out of here.

No. On the evidence I have, I can hold him for 36 hours and then apply for an

extension if necessary.

In the hope that I'll eventually confess?

Something like that.

I didn't kill him, Mr. Morrison.

I'd like you to do something, Mr. Steppings.

You said that at the time of the murder you were in a pub.

from just before 8 o 'clock till after 9.

Now, I can take you there to see if anyone remembers you, but only if you

to go.

You're asking me to take a great chance.

That pub was crowded.

You said a woman spoke to you. Yeah, she asked me to shift my jacket so she

could sit down.

That's all.

Unless you care to tell me about how busy the pub was. I told you this.

Just now, I don't have another boy.

So what?

I didn't do anything.

If I go to that pub and they say we haven't seen him here, it might look bad

me. It looks bad either way.

If you don't go, we might reasonably assume you're afraid to because you

there.

You think about it, Mr. Steffings.

Chief Inspector.

You don't like this, do you?

No. Well, if it makes it any easier, I know it's a job.

You could do something for me.

Ever since Davril's been in hospital, I've never missed a day.

I'd like to know that everything's all right.

Mr. and Mrs. Hart, this gentleman has told us that he came here last Tuesday

evening, shortly before eight, and he stayed till just after nine.

Can either of you remember seeing him in the pub?

I can't, no. But that doesn't mean he wasn't here. The pub gets pretty crowded

that time of night.

I understand.

No.

No, he was here.

You're sure, Mrs. Hart?

It was his clothes.

His suit.

Not that one, but one like it.

Expensive -looking, I mean.

I remember thinking that when I served him.

Jesus, my suit.

You're sure about the time and the day? I'm sorry.

I only know it was recently.

Listen, Watson.

It's not enough.

But it had to be that night.

I've never been in here before or since.

For God's sake, she recognised me. What more do you want? Take it easy, Mrs

Steppings. Take it easy? I came here in good faith. Don't tell me to take it...

Steppings? Michael Steppings?

Yes? What is it, Mrs Hart?

He's right.

It was Tuesday night, though I'm still not sure about the time.

You lost something.

No, I didn't lose anything.

Yes, you did.

Your checkbook.

A customer handed it in.

A woman.

She was sitting next to you and noticed it after you left.

She said she went after you, but you drove off.

This woman saw Mr Stepping's lead?

Yes. Where's the checkbook now, Mrs Hart?

I kept it for a couple of days, thinking he'd come back for it. When he didn't,

I posted it to his bank in Oxford.

Could still be in the post office.

Get on to it, Lewis.

Could I use your phone?

Yeah, I'll show you in the office.

Mrs Hart, we'd like you to come with us to the station.

Why do you have to have the checkbook now? Can't you take a word for it when

turns up?

If the woman handed the book to Miffy's heart, her fingerprints will be on it.

They might help us to trace her.

At the very least, they can confirm her identity if we find her.

But can't you tell me any more?

Oh, I understand.

Yes, thank you, Chief Inspector.

But please let me know what happens.

Was that Morse?

Yes, I inquired about Stepping.

Has he confessed?

No.

Morse mentioned some new development, but that was all.

He didn't say what?

No.

But I expect we'll find out in due course.

These are the fingerprints on Stepping's checkbook.

This is Steppings, which matches the sample we took ourselves.

This is Mrs. Hart's and the one we took.

These, we suspect, belong to our missing witness.

What exactly do we know for certain, Ross?

That he was in the pub on Tuesday night. What we don't know is what time he

left.

Normally, Brewster arrived home around 8 .40.

Now, to be there in time to kill him, Steppings would have had to leave the

at 8 .20 at the latest.

Well,

that settles it.

You'd better try for a television, then.

Cheer up.

We might get lucky.

I don't know, Lewis.

There'll be a thousand reasons for her not to come forward.

What if she's a married woman?

She might not want her husband to know she spoke to a strange man in a pub.

She asked him to move his jacket.

And went on to say the pub was crowded.

It was.

The landlord said so.

But that's not the point, is it?

Her second comment was unnecessary, voluntary.

She was out on her own, Lewis. Good God, do I have to spell it out?

Well, I am interested in hearing what you have to say on the matter.

It was obviously a flirtation, Lewis.

Innocent, I'm sure.

But I doubt if her husband would see it that way. The Oxford police are

interested in hearing from anyone who visited this popular public house on the

wood -eaten road north of Oxford last Tuesday.

You might have noticed this well -dressed man of stocky build with grey

hair. We know the man was in the Black Swan last Tuesday night and we know he

lost an item of value when he was in there.

This item was subsequently handed in to the landlady by a woman.

We would very much like to speak to this woman and...

What's

wrong?

What's wrong?

What do you think is wrong?

I don't like watching it.

What a bloody stupid question.

Hang on.

Don't take this out on me. It's just not fair.

It must be terrible for you. I can see that. But they've got their steppings,

haven't they?

It'll be all over soon.

This one sounds promising.

It's a Miss Jeffery.

Hello, Miss Jeffery.

Yorkshire? No, no, no, no, no. Wait till I get there.

We've had a call from a Miss Margaret Jeffries who lives in Harrogate. She saw

the broadcast and claims to be the woman who spoke to you in the pub.

Now, your photograph and the third fingerprint taken from your checkbook

been faxed to Harrogate CID.

She's agreed to be interviewed in the morning.

You found her?

What if she's some kind of nutter?

A crank?

I mean, you must get people like that all the time.

We get our fair share, but we have the fingerprint.

We have that, Mr. Stepping.

Well, I must say, I'm not going to see the day.

What's that?

But I'd be trying to get a bookmaker out of jail.

And why have I never met these Steppings? That's what I don't

I mean, normally these nouveau riche types are hammering on the door of

circles five minutes after they move down from Dundon.

You mean you've never come across them down at the lodge, sir?

Not quite, Sergeant. What's so funny, Morse?

Nothing, sir. I was just reflecting on what Sergeant Lewis considers to be

polite society in Oxfordshire.

I see.

Well, you might reflect on this.

What happens if Stepping's story is confirmed?

Do we have another direction to go in?

No, sir.

Ever since Brewster's death was confirmed as murder, all the facts have

towards Stepping's. We've had no reason to look elsewhere.

She just comes for a second.

At 8 o 'clock this morning, two officers from Harrogate CID interviewed Margaret

Jeffries at her home.

She volunteered to be fingerprinted and the prints mapped those on your

checkbook.

Can you say what time I left the pub?

No, she can't. What?

What's all this?

Let me finish, Mr Steppings. She can be certain about the time she went into the

pub.

She was listening to the 8 .30 news as she drove into the car park.

What does that mean?

It means that at the time she sat down next to you, Matthew Brewster was

arriving home to be met by his killer.

You can leave here whenever you want.

Hello, Mr Steffi.

I can come back and do this later if you like.

Thank you, I'd appreciate that.

No?

Miss Flowers?

They arrived this morning.

There was no card.

Everything all right? Yeah.

There were some fresh flowers in Avril's room.

I hope you don't mind. I was passing a florist.

I saw them and I sent them.

This is a nice place.

You know, I've got two things in this world, Mr. Morse.

I got Avril and I got money.

And I can never give you my girl, but... Maybe... This.

Mr. Stepping. Just put your name on it and it's yours.

I got ten times that amount last time I went.

I won't miss it.

I was going to say that what I did... That's my job.

This is not for what you did.

This is for the flowers.

All the time my girl's been there, you're the first person to treat her as

though she's still alive.

That's very generous of you, but I can't accept it.

You can go anywhere you like.

Yes, I could, but what would I do when I get there?

It's a pity you don't gamble, Mr. Morse.

Cards should be your game.

Mind you, if you ever do take it up... Remind me not to sit in with you.

What will happen to Avril?

I'm not stupid, Mr. Morse.

I know I can't keep her like that forever, but I can't let her go right

When I was in that cell, I kept wondering what would happen to her if

didn't get out.

I curse myself I haven't sent those letters, but I had to get back at them

way. But why just Matthew Brewster? Why not his wife or the nurse? I suppose

the Brewsters could share his.

As for the nurse, well, that would have been a dead giveaway, wouldn't it?

I was never that drunk.

Why would the nurse cover up for them?

That's a good question, Mr. Morse.

When we were preparing the court case, my QC hired a private detective to talk

to other patients and have a look at the Brewsters.

Anyway, this character comes back and says he thinks Matthew Brewster, Wendy

Hazel, are having an affair.

Brewster was a regular visitor to her flat, he says.

If they were lovers, that would explain why she covered up for him.

That's my theory anyway.

I don't know. It's a private detective. They tend to spice up their report.

Yes, but if Brewster and the nurse were having an affair, this could be a crime

of passion, couldn't it?

Well, if it was, then we'd stop at the nurse.

With Claire Brewster, she might have found out about it.

She's an unlikely killer, Lewis, especially given the way it was done,

gagged. And then there's this...

Fearing about the aqualung.

Very doubtful, given her condition.

Ah, Chief Inspector, do come in.

Thank you.

Would you mind coming through to the kitchen, please?

You have some news.

Yes, I do.

We've released Michael Stepping.

He had an alibi.

I am relieved it's not stepping.

Coffee?

Nothing.

So, what will you do now?

That depends on the outcome of this conversation.

I don't understand.

Dr. Brewster, it's been suggested to us that your husband may have had an affair

with Wendy Hazlitt.

I have to know if that's true, if I'm to conduct this inquiry effectively.

Can you tell me if that's true?

Yes, Chief Inspector, it was true.

Well, Wendy is a young, attractive woman.

And sometimes when a husband and wife work and live together, they can become

little tired of each other's company.

Were they still seeing each other prior to your husband's death?

No, they were not.

When did the affair end?

About two years ago, when Wendy left the clinic.

Were there recriminations?

I understand Wendy had some idea of a future for herself with Matthew, yes.

And when he chose to end the affair, she had difficulty accepting it.

What had this to do with Matthew's death?

Could have nothing. I'm sorry, I had to ask.

Oh, you needn't, Inspector.

As I said, it was over a long time ago.

Of course.

Sergeant Lewis.

That's right. I'm Wendy Hadlett.

You asked for me.

Yes.

Is there somewhere we could talk? Yes, go outside.

Miss Hazlitt, you and Matthew Brewster, your relationship was

more than just professional.

Yes.

Yes, it was.

Ah.

Can you tell me where you were on the night he was murdered?

I obviously remember quite well, Sergeant. I was at home finishing a

Can anybody verify that?

No. I was alone all evening.

Surely you don't suspect me.

In a murder inquiry, Miss Hazlitt, we have to question anybody close to the

victim. But why should I kill him?

Matthew and I were planning to marry.

Oh, yeah.

He was going to leave his wife for me.

Now the clinic was a success financially, he could afford to take

and marry me. It's what we'd always dreamed of.

Can you prove that, Miss Hazlitt?

I'm not sure.

I know that Matthew told his son John of our plans and that his mother would

need a great deal of help and support and that he'd have to provide that for

her.

But as to whether or not John would confirm it, I'm not sure.

Not if he thought it was going to help me.

Married?

I've just spoken to Mrs Brewster. She said the affair ended two years ago.

Do you believe her, Miss Nurse?

She claimed Matthew Brewster told someone else about their intentions.

Your son, John.

So, couldn't it have been the son?

I mean, when you think about it, it would make sense.

We know there was no love lost between them.

John Brewster watches his parents breaking their back to make that clinic

success. Probably destroyed his mother's health.

Then the old man says he's going to dump her and take off with another woman.

His mother's dying, sir. John's hardly likely to be overjoyed, is he?

So, he kills him.

Tries to make it look like suicide, botches the job.

And then he remembers Michael Stepping.

Stepping's letters?

Would explain why he took his time bringing them to us, sir. He was

all through.

He may have been doing more than thinking it through, Lewis.

Now, Stepping said that he couldn't remember making any specific death

If you're right about John Brewster, that he's been trying to frame

then isn't it just possible that Steppings didn't make this threat?

As I told you before, the newsprint came from several different sources and

would tell us nothing, but this time I looked at the adhesive.

The same stuff was used throughout, except for this one phrase, I'm going to

kill you.

As you can see, that is most certainly different from the rest.

Want to pick him up?

On what charge?

We'll try it against Brewster. See where it takes us.

It would be Brewster's word against Steffings.

Steffings is on record as saying he can't remember making the threats. He

actually deny it.

There's the glue.

We'll try and make that stick.

Couldn't we?

No.

There must be something we can do.

We need a fact.

Louis, nothing left.

We haven't really looked into this aqualung theory yet, have we?

There can't be many places in Oxford selling diving equipment, can there?

Nothing.

There might be a record of sales somewhere.

Another blank.

What did he say?

Oh, he's held diving equipment, all right, but not off the shelf.

Not the demand.

If you want it, you have to order it.

There's no record of Bruce having ordered anything.

Nowhere else, is there?

Not in Oxford, sir.

That bloke did mention one possibility.

But Bruce would have to be stupid, sir.

Way too obvious.

What can I do for you, Jen?

Chief Inspector Morse is a Sergeant Lewis. Did you have a membership list?

Yes, we did. Could we have a look at it? Yeah, of course.

This is the present list.

It's in alphabetical order.

Lovington.

Well, as you said, he's not that stupid.

I'm sorry to trouble you. No trouble.

Blue, is it?

Is this Jay Foley?

That isn't Jane Foley, is it? Jane, yeah.

Do all the members have lockers? Yes.

And the keys?

I've got one. They've got another.

All right, I'll do them, sir.

Mr. Brewster?

Thank you.

Inspector, what brings you here?

Your father was murdered, Mr. Brewster. Why should a visit from the police seem

so odd?

You're right, it shouldn't, I suppose.

I don't know what's wrong with me today.

I was trying to read before you came in.

Couldn't.

Go and find that, Chief Inspector.

You're reading and your mind's trying to take it in. Mr. Brewster.

This afternoon, we found out that Jane Foley is a member of the University

Subaqua Club.

You told me you didn't know anyone who was interested in diamonds.

Did I?

I must have forgotten.

That's all.

Why did you wait so long before bringing us the letters?

Look, Chief Inspector, I told you that the... We think one of the letters was

altered. How altered?

A phrase was added, a specific death threat against your father.

Michael Stepping couldn't remember doing it.

I think you did.

Nonsense. You can't prove that. Your father told you he intended to leave

mother, didn't he?

What? He and Wendy Hazlitt planned to marry.

Chief Inspector, I hear everything you're saying, but I can't believe your

thing.

Detective Sergeant Lewis entered the room at 22 .02.

It's all over.

What is it?

What is that?

It's a forensic report on a roll of tape we found in Jane Foley's locker at the

Subaqua Club.

It says, categorically says, that the piece of paper used to gag your father

the last piece torn from the roll.

They even sent a photograph showing how they match.

Would you like to see it?

Now.

Are we to believe that Jane Foley is the killer, Mr Brewster?

No.

I'm the one you want.

I killed him.

He was going to leave my mother after all she'd done for him.

I should remind you that this interview is being taped.

I wish to make a full statement.

I'd like you to give this news to my mother.

And for the love of God, get Mark Felsham there when you do.

Please.

I can't understand his reluctance to tell us more about it.

Can you?

You know what police were like.

Everything by the book?

You're right.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you for coming, Doctor.

Quite frankly, I'd rather be a million miles away. You're sure about this? John

Brewster's confessed. Right now, he's making a full statement.

Good evening, Mr. Rooster.

There.

Chief Inspector Morse has some bad news.

Very bad news.

Oh.

Then perhaps I'd better hear it.

Earlier today, I took your son into custody.

This evening, he admitted killing his father.

That's ridiculous.

John killed his father.

I have never heard such rubbish.

Why would he tell me that? Why would he?

Your husband told him that he was about to leave you and that he was going to

marry Wendy Haslett.

That is vile rubbish.

Matthew left that slut two years ago, he told me.

He said he'd made a mistake and begged, begged for my forgiveness.

Please. No!

I won't have it. I won't listen to this. I want to see my son. That's not wise.

May I see him?

May I speak to my son?

Wait for me.

And she survived, Doctor.

She's had a massive heart attack, Chief Inspector.

The odds are not good.

Mark, what the hell's going on? Why wasn't I called earlier?

This is Chief Inspector Morse. Chief Inspector, this is Thomas Neely, the

booster solicitor.

Under the circumstances, I thought it best to call him.

Why wasn't I told about this?

Your client was informed of his rights, Mr Neely. He didn't ask for a solicitor.

He just sat there and confessed to murder, hmm? Yes.

I intend to listen to his confession in the morning.

You're welcome to be there, say, ten o 'clock.

In the meantime, I'd like to speak to my client, if you don't mind.

Why should I mind?

Morning.

Morning.

You've got it back.

A blocked fuel line, they say. Come on. I was going to give it a trial run.

No, thank you.

I thought you should know that we've arrested someone for Matthew Brewster's

murder.

Who? His son, John.

You're joking.

Why should a son want to kill his father? Because he didn't like the idea

father taking off with another woman.

The nurse?

Yes.

I don't expect you to agree, Mr Morse, but I can't help seeing there's some

of justice for Avril.

I can't see it that way, no. But if I'm wrong, Mrs. Brewster hasn't escaped her

measure of divine judgment.

How's that, Mr. Morse?

She collapsed when we told her about her son.

She'll be all right, then?

Her chances aren't very good.

I'd taken Jane's aqualung from the club and some rope and tape from the boot of

my car.

I walked back to the garage and waited.

I had a gun.

When my father drove into the garage, I got in behind him and had him into the

car.

There's a lot more to come.

I want to hear something again.

I walked back to the garage and waited.

I had a gun.

When my father drove into the garage, I got in behind him and...

Nothing wrong.

I want to talk to him again, and I'd like you there, McNeely.

Your solicitor has objected to your treatment here, Mr. Brewster.

He wants you to go over your statement again.

You freely admit to killing your father?

Yes.

You waited until he drove into the garage, got him behind him?

Yes.

How many more times do I have to say it?

When you say you waited in the garage, do you mean you were hiding there?

Yes.

But how could you have known that your father would drive into the garage?

Your mother said that if he intended leaving early in the morning, he often

parked in the drive.

I just don't know how... I waved him in.

That was it. I waved him in.

I remembered when I was hiding in the garage that he might not come in, so I

waved him in.

You waved him in.

Satisfied, Mr. Neely?

Yes.

Chief Inspector?

What the hell was that all about?

Would you agree that your client just lied to me? Is he mad?

You don't expect me to answer that, do you? Why would a man admit to murder and

then lie about how he did it?

All right.

I think he lied.

But you have evidence, Morse. The diving gear, the tape, a damn confession. I

have everything but the truth.

Inspector, what's wrong?

I have John Brewster in custody. He says he killed his father.

Incredible.

I can't believe it. You may be right not to, Miss Foley. Why don't you get in

and I can give you the details.

What is this?

How did you get in here? Mr. Neely got me in. We've come to get you out.

I don't understand it. Did they confess?

Why? Did they threaten you?

Threaten me?

Nobody's threatened me. Look, John, sit down and shut up. Jane's got something

to say.

More to say, you used my aqualung. If you had, you'd be dead.

The bloody thing's not working.

The valve jammed and won't let air through.

Once more, we can prove it.

I asked the instructor to get it repaired two weeks ago.

He never got round to it. I'll have you out of here in five minutes. No.

No.

You mustn't do that.

They mustn't know.

Don't you see?

They have to believe. What do we have to believe, Mr Brewster?

That you killed your father.

Not anymore, we don't.

You've no idea.

You don't know what you've done.

So, if it wasn't Stebbings, then it wasn't the son, doesn't it have to be

missus?

Why else would John Brewster have confessed if not to protect his mother?

It's difficult to arrive at any other conclusion.

You see, I ruled her out simply because I thought she was physically incapable

of killing anyone.

This way, Sergeant.

We had to let John Brewster go.

I know. He phoned to ask about Claire.

Coffee? Yeah,

his confession was a lie.

We think he was trying to protect his mother.

Would she have been up to it, sir?

Physically, I mean.

Perhaps I'd better show you her records, Sergeant.

I looked after Claire for five years.

I'd hardly describe her as a robust human being.

I see what you mean.

This date here, sir, the 10th of June, 1989, does that mean she was in here

day? Yes, and overnight. Why?

I've kept her in on a number of occasions.

I'll be as brief as I can. I don't want to keep you from the oil. No, I was just

finishing anyway.

These are very good.

Thank you.

You're not in the market by any chance, are you?

I might be, I'd like to say.

Yes, through a small gallery, are you?

I could let you have a card before you go.

Right.

Now.

There's just one question, Miss Haslett. Is it possible that Claire Brewster

knew that her husband was about to leave her?

I don't think so.

I know Matthew was very worried about how she might take the news. He

wasn't eager to tell her.

Is that it?

Yes, that's it.

Right, I'll let you have that card.

That one's not for sale, Chief Inspector.

Oh? No, it's a private commission.

The setting's somewhere in Wales. Do you like it?

Very much. Well, there's my card. The gallery's not very far out of town.

Thank you. I look forward to going.

Chief Inspector, one thing.

Your question.

Why don't you ask Claire?

I'm afraid I can't.

Claire Brewster is critically ill in hospital.

Well, I'll leave you in this.

Where the hell have you been?

Bruce's clinic.

I wanted to check.

Have you come up with something?

Yeah.

Whether it's relevant or not, I don't know.

This morning I went down to the Radcliffe infirmary.

Mark Felsham showed me Claire Bruce's medical file.

According to the file, she was in the Radcliffe for treatment on June the

1989, right?

Yes. In the trial transcript, the Brewster's QC quotes three successful

operations similar to Avril Stebbing as proof of the Brewster's competence.

Even gave the dates.

One of those operations took place on June the 10th, 1989.

So what did you find out at the clinic?

Claire Brewster signed as the anaesthetist that day.

So, I checked against all the dates given in Felsham's medical records,

two other examples of her being in two places at the one time.

There's nothing else, sir.

Proved Michael Steppings was right.

That was one dodgy clinic.

The proof was right here in the trial transcript all the time.

If you compare it to the clinic's records, I mean.

But you'd have to be told what was in the transcript, wouldn't you?

And know what to compare it with.

Yeah, obviously.

You said that Steppings had asked for a transcript.

When was that?

I don't know, sir. I could soon find out, though.

Yes, do that, would you, then?

Oh, hello.

You have a patient there, Claire Brewster. I'd just like to know how she

No, a friend.

Colonel's friend.

Ah, no.

I don't think so.

Michael Stepping's asked for the transcript nine months ago.

More than a year after the trial.

Why? It doesn't make sense.

Doesn't it?

It was shortly after Wendy Hazlitt started work at Burnley Green.

And what if she told him where to look?

The transcript itself isn't enough.

Was that break -in at the clinic, Lewis?

What was it you said?

Some filing cabinets were damaged? Now, when was that?

Eight months ago.

Hazlitt starts work at Burnley Green?

And then suddenly Michael Steppings wants a transcript of the Brewster

He gets one and there follows a break -in at the clinic.

There's nothing taken.

No drugs, no equipment.

The intruder contents himself with rummaging through some files.

It has to be coincidence.

Hazlitt and Steppings, he threatened them. Trying to have a fact.

They were enemies.

I was at her home, Lewis.

I saw a painting.

It was by her. It was recent.

And for my money, it was of the view from Stepping's window.

Now, how was it done if they're such enemies?

But he had an alibi.

The man had an alibi.

He's saying the witness lied.

Why not?

All I know is that if I'm right about that painting, and I think I am, then

she's lied to me. Not only about the painting, but about how well she knew

stepping. These prints, they're identical.

Margaret Jeffreys and Wendy Hazlitt are one and the same person.

Miss Wendy Haslett?

Yes. We'd like you to come with us, Miss Haslett.

Look, I'm afraid I can't. I'm going away.

No, you're not.

Here, check it on that one.

Go on, Ted.

Left in a hurry by the look of it.

Call the hospital, ask if he's been there. If he hasn't, then he's not gone.

I want that hospital watched at all times.

Roger.

Let me be clear about this, Miss Hazlett.

You were an unqualified person, and yet you were acting as an anaesthetist at

the Brewster Clinic.

When Claire became ill, she had to cut her workload.

They couldn't afford a qualified replacement, so Matthew asked me if I

help out.

He knew I wouldn't refuse.

I was to handle only minor cases when Claire wasn't feeling up to it or had to

go into the Radcliffe.

And it worked.

Until Avril Steppings came in.

I didn't give her enough anaesthetic.

When Matthew started to cut, she went into cardiac arrest.

I panicked.

Froze.

Why was Claire bruised?

lying down in her office. By the time she got to theatre, the damage had been

done.

You told the court you followed the proper procedure.

Yes.

And after all that, when I'd helped him, I'd risked imprisonment,

ruined the young girl's life.

Matthew Brewster rejected me.

I suddenly saw him for what he was. He was just an old man wanting a bit on the

side.

So I decided he was going to pay for that.

You didn't have the stomach for it yourself, so you went to Michael

Is that why you took the job at Burnley Green?

Well, I... I had to judge the strength of his feeling.

He'd made threats in court, but anyone can make threats.

That first time...

He saw me by Avril's bedside. I knew what he was capable of.

So I told him the truth.

Look, he understood that it hadn't been my fault, that I'd been used.

And the alibi?

Six months ago, Steppings gave me the money to buy a house in Harrogate. I

my name as Margaret Jeffreys.

What happened in the pub?

When I arrived, Steppingham had already left.

I waited a while and gave the barmaid the checkbook.

You said that Brewster ended the affair, but you told Sergeant Lewis that you

and Brewster intended to get married.

Well, that was a lie, of course.

But John Brewster confirmed it.

John Brewster knew what was going on at the clinic.

On the night of the killing, Steppings called John.

He said he had proof of malpractice.

Now, Steppings said that he knew the Bruces couldn't be retried for Avril,

there were other cases.

There would be fresh trials.

And all that would mean for Claire.

If John wanted to help his mother, he would have to go to Steppings' house and

wait there till 9 .30.

If Steppings hadn't arrived by then, he had to come back the following day.

Well, Steppings didn't show.

He was in the garage, killing Buster.

Yes.

But he'd got John out of the way, ensuring that he had no alibi.

The next day, Steppings actually told John what he'd done. He pointed out

options.

If he went to the police, Steppings would publish his evidence of

If he didn't... John had to ask himself the question, could his mother survive

another trial, possible imprisonment?

He must have thought not.

He agreed to admit to the murder in exchange for Steppings withholding his

evidence.

But it was always possible that John's confession would finish his mother off

and then he'd be free to tell the truth.

What would that truth be, Lewis?

That Michael Steppings was the killer?

As far as we were concerned, Bruce had already tried to frame Steppings.

And what of Miss Hazlitt?

Why should we suppose that she'd lie for Michael Steppings? They were mortal

enemies, weren't they?

And then there was Steppings' alibi.

Now, how could John Brewster possibly account for that when they'd managed to

fool us?

By the time we'd taken Brewster seriously, Hazlitt and Steppings would

Where, Miss Hazlitt?

Anywhere I wanted to go.

Stepping's promised to take care of me after John Brewster had been put in

prison. Take care of you.

Something tells me that's exactly what he would have done.

Nothing from the hospital, sir.

Must be out of the country by now.

I just can't believe that he'll abandon his daughter.

It's been almost 16 hours.

What about his car? Someone must have seen it.

It's hardly inconspicuous.

Yeah, Lewis.

Right, then.

Claire Brewster died at six this morning.

His mother's been dead for two hours, Lewis.

Bruce is free to tell the truth, yet he hasn't contacted us.

What?

The writer didn't abandon her.

I found this with his bag.

Dear Mr. Morse, when you get this, I'll be long gone.

I always knew I'd have to take off only not so soon.

I don't know what you've found out.

So here's something for you.

Hazlitt was my alibi.

I didn't like deceiving you.

I really didn't.

And don't worry about Avril.

My ex -wife will take care of her.

Steffing said he deliberately marked the anonymous letters.

He said if the police were halfway clever, they'd trace the letters to him.

I was to say the letters had been sent to my father.

The tape I was to put in Jane's locker.

How did he find out Jane was a member of the Subaqua Club?

Through me.

He'd watched the family for months.

Jane's hobby had been a real find, he said.

It had helped him decide on how he'd kill my father.

He stayed in the garage the whole time, you know.

Poetic justice, he called it.

My father had stood and watched his daughter.

Now he could do the same.

And just as his daughter was alive, but not alive.

So Mother would spend her remaining time with me in prison.

Why did you kill him?

I didn't intend to kill him.

When I got to his house, he was about to leave.

I pleaded with him.

I'd kept my part of the bargain. I couldn't help it if it hadn't worked

He wouldn't listen.

He said if Mother recovered, it would be to find her name in all the papers.

I tried to prevent him from leaving.

There was a wrench lying on the... And I... He

was monstrous, Chief Inspector.

Monstrous.

Was he, Mr Brewster?

Your parents and Nurse Haglet ruined his daughter's life.

And for no other reason than to save money.

You knew that and you stood by them.

If Michael Steppings was monstrous Mr.

Brewster, he was made monstrous.

Can I help you?

I've come to see Avril Steppings.

Are you a relative?

No, no, nothing like that.

Her father and I were friends for a while.

That's all.

Well, I'm afraid Avril's no longer with us.

Her mother arrived and asked us to take her off the life support system.

I'm so very sorry.

What's wrong?

He's not there anymore, Lois.

Ah.

Seems a shame to waste, doesn't it?

Red roses? About the most expensive flowers around.

Not really.

I plundered some flowers once before they had a much higher price tag.