Original subtitles

[engine revs]

[Beth Rowley's "I Walk Beside You"]

- ♪ You and me ♪

♪ Me and you ♪

♪ Somehow we made it through ♪

♪ I may be gone ♪

♪ I may be far away ♪

♪ But I walk beside you ♪

♪ Every step of the way ♪

♪ When you're used ♪

♪ Bruised ♪

♪ Black and blue ♪

♪ Don't think about it ♪

♪ Never doubt it ♪

♪ I walk beside you ♪

[doorbell rings]

- It's open.

- You okay?

- Uh...

- Where's Chiswell? - He's...

- How'd you get in?

- Door wasn't shut properly.

- Have you called the police? - Not yet.

He doesn't have a pulse though. I checked.

- Got a spare pair of gloves?

- Yeah.

- I'm gonna have a quick look around.

In case anyone is still here.

Police, please.

My name's Cormoran Strike.

I've come to meet a government minister

and I've found him dead.

Can I give you the address?

231 Ebury Street.

SW1...

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- "You've been stressed and unpleasant

"for a long time, and I've tried to help you,

"but tonight was the final straw.

"How stupid do you think I am,

"putting that girl from your office

"right under my nose?

"I've had enough.

"I've gone back to Oxfordshire.

"Once I've made arrangements for the horses,

I'll clear out for good."

♪ ♪

- The place is empty.

- I think he's drunk something.

There's residue in the glass.

- There's some crushed pills in the kitchen.

Do you think he left the door open

so we'd find him?

[distant siren wailing]

- He seemed happy last night.

We'd solved his biggest problem.

♪ ♪

I feel bad that Izzy's paying our bill

out of her own pocket.

- It won't be for nothing.

She'll wanna know what the police are thinking.

- Did you ask Wardle?

- DCI McMurran called him. He's not allowed to talk to me.

She's done the same with every Met detective I've worked with.

I suppose a dead government minister

isn't a case you wanna mess up.

[door clunks shut]

[phone chimes]

Billy's been moved out of critical care.

- Oh, good. Can we see him?

- We can try.

We'll head there when we're finished here.

- Thanks.

- Oh.

And that's Papa's last invoice, paid in full.

- That's appreciated.

Thanks, Izzy.

- The police still think it might be suicide.

It's not true.

See, Papa would never have killed himself.

He always said it was the coward's way out.

Kinvara murdered him.

- Have you any evidence for that?

- I just know she did.

I want to hire you to prove it.

- We can't take a case on those terms.

Either you want the truth, however it turns out,

or you look for a different agency.

- I'm just trying to save you time,

seeing as I'll be paying for your time, but...

- Well, let me ask you a question then.

- Okay.

- We heard the police were digging

on your family's estate.

- Oh, my God. That?

That was so bizarre.

Yeah, they just swooped in and dug up one of our old pets.

- What kind of pet?

- It was, like, a miniature pony we had.

It was buried behind the handyman's cottage.

The police wrote to Papa and apologized.

- How did the pony die? Do you know?

- Um...it was an accident.

- What kind of accident?

- [scoffs]

Freddie was doing target practice with his rifle and...

Well...

Papa wasn't very happy.

Even if he didn't mean to hit her.

You don't do that to an animal, do you?

Look, will you help me?

Please?

- Horse bones.

I suppose you might bury a pet in the middle of the night

if you're in a hurry to get rid of it.

- Yeah, because you've used it as target practice

when you've run out of women to humiliate.

And his father protected him.

- We don't know that.

- Yeah, well, you didn't hear the way that Chiswell talked

to Izzy and Kinvara.

They're not men, so they just didn't matter to him.

Billy still saw a girl strangled, though, didn't he?

I mean, if he was close enough to see her wet herself,

he can't have been wrong about that.

- Yeah. I still believe him.

So Billy's attacked, Chiswell is dead,

and our new client pins it all on the wicked stepmother.

- I suppose this whole estate belongs to Kinvara now.

- Everyone, this is Cormoran Strike.

I'm pleased to say that he's agreed

to look into Papa's death.

This is my sister, Fizzy, and her husband, Torquil.

Please.

- Hi, Raff. - Robin, is it?

Do I have that right?

- Izzy said you used to see Charlotte Campbell.

Is that right?

- Lucky man.

- If we could start with a few general questions--

- I have to say, with apologies to the girls,

but it's completely bloody obvious

the old man felt he just couldn't go on.

Blackmailed by this Jimmy Knight chap.

All got too much for him.

- Oh, well, you didn't help in that regard.

Jasper took investment advice from Torquil.

Almost ruined us.

- Kinvara, we've been through that.

He wanted high returns,

and that always comes with a risk.

- And now it's your child who'll inherit what's left.

Well, not until I'm dead.

I have the right to stay.

Jasper promised me.

- Beyond Papa's personal effects,

you have no claim whatsoever.

The estate goes to the next male in line.

- No bastards allowed.

- You'd need an income for the upkeep.

How would you even pay the bills?

- Everyone, please.

- Yes, let's focus on the real issues

while we have guests,

namely what a shit our dad could be.

- You are only here by invitation.

- Yeah, go on. Get your notebook out.

We'll start listing the shittiest things that Dad did.

- That's enough, boy. - Don't call me "boy."

- Oh, little Raffy's upset

because he got written out of the will.

- I already knew that you'd taken care of that.

- Oh, Jasper needed no persuasion from me.

Trust me. - Please. Can everyone just--

- Welcome to the family. - [laughs]

This isn't a family. - Keys.

How many keys are there to the house on Ebury Street?

- There were three.

Mine, Jasper's, and the cleaner had one.

Jasper let her go when we were tightening our belts

and she forgot to give it back.

- When was that?

- Oh, I don't know.

Few weeks before he died.

- What was her name?

- I don't know.

I never met her.

She was Polish, I know that.

Jasper wrote her a note

and she had one of those surnames

where there are Cs and Zs all over the place.

- You don't know her first name?

- Town was Jasper's concern.

I was hardly ever there.

- Any copies of the keys?

- Nope.

And you can't copy them.

They're restricted.

On some kind of central register.

- When was the last time you spoke to your husband?

- Uh...I went back to Ebury Street

after that thingy with the disabled athletes.

And I--well, I left a note for him.

And then I came back here.

Got the train from Paddington.

Look, he treated me horribly.

I am not to blame for his... doing that.

- It's all right, Kinvara.

I don't believe for a second

Papa would've killed himself over you leaving him.

- Can't you just borrow the police's notes?

We've done this.

- Just answer his questions.

- You treat me like a guest in my own home.

Well, no.

You're the guests.

I'm going for a ride, and when I get back,

I want all of you gone.

You're no longer welcome here.

- I'm sure our charming hostess means to offer you tea

at some point.

- We're gonna have to sue to get her out of here.

If it comes to it. - Please.

- Thank you for your time, everyone.

We'll follow up with each of you individually.

Sorry for your loss.

- So long, Venetia.

- Bye, Raff.

Lovely bunch, aren't they?

- Now I'm thinking it might have been suicide after all.

He couldn't face another family gathering.

- [laughs] Bloody hell, Cormoran.

That's a bit dark.

Do you want me to drop you off at the office?

- No, let's try and see Billy.

Whatever this is, it began

with the girl he saw strangled.

- Billy can't have visitors.

Not until we're confident that he's in recovery.

- And are you sure

that all his wounds are self-inflicted?

- No, but they're not typical of an assault.

They're more like, well...

I don't know quite how to describe it.

- Is it something like...

Like that?

- How did you--

- Billy asked us to remember this shape

when he first came to see us.

It's a prehistoric chalk horse.

There's one on the hillside near where he grew up.

- What does it mean to him?

- That's what I'd like to ask him.

Could we just have five minutes?

We'll leave if he gets upset.

- Sorry. We really can't.

He doesn't have the capacity to approve visitors.

It wouldn't be ethical.

- Is the ward secure?

- Well, he's not gonna run away again,

if that's what you're worried about.

- I'm thinking about people trying to get in.

He witnessed a crime.

- We'll keep him safe.

- Thank you.

- Our one lead can't talk to us.

The police won't let us near the evidence.

Not sure where that leaves us.

- I could talk to Vanessa Ekwensi.

She won't be on McMurran's radar

in the same way your contacts are.

It'd be a big ask though.

- She's a detective sergeant now, isn't she?

- Mm.

- Maybe ask her if she's angling for a promotion.

- Can we offer her that?

- I think maybe we can.

Ian Nash.

- Really?

- Who is he? - He's a people smuggler.

We've been after him for ages.

- That's the detail on how he launders his money.

Names and addresses, the lot.

- Who's your source?

- Someone I've known since I was a kid.

He knows what he's talking about.

And I paid him. A lot.

- Okay.

Chiswell's cause of death.

Antidepressants, crushed up and dissolved in orange juice.

That affected his heart,

but it's the bag over his head that killed him.

- Fingerprints?

- His fingerprints were on the glass and on the carton,

but the rest of the carton tested negative for the drugs,

which points to him mixing up the powder in the glass.

- Time of death?

- Pathology gives it a window of 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.,

but he missed two calls around 7:00.

I have phone records for you.

- Are the pills easy to get hold of?

- Well, they're the ones his wife uses,

and she had a prescription for them.

- Is she missing any?

- Well, she said she had packets everywhere

and wouldn't notice if some were missing.

- Our client thinks it's murder.

What do you think?

- Well, to get the bag over his head,

I think you'd at least have needed to drug him first.

- Poison the carton in the night,

and then replace it with a fresh one in the morning

after he's dead.

- Mm. A proper creature of habit.

Got up at the same time every morning

and always had a glass of orange juice to kick off.

- Do the antidepressants taste of anything?

- They're bitter. - Yeah.

But Chiswell's taste buds didn't work.

I saw him turn down mustard

'cause he wouldn't be able to taste it.

That's two things you'd have to know about him.

That he always drank a glass of juice

and that he wouldn't be able to taste the pills.

That's someone close to him.

Family or close friend.

- Kinvara.

Especially seeing as they're her pills.

- Yeah, but her alibi's watertight.

It's all on CCTV.

She took the train home to Oxfordshire

and her stable girl stays over

to help the farrier first thing.

Her name's Tegan Barlow.

Apparently, the floorboards creak

and Tegan would've definitely heard

if Kinvara moved about.

It's a solid alibi.

- Izzy's not gonna like that.

What about the alibis of those names I gave you?

- Well, Jimmy Knight got cautioned after he hit you.

He said he went back to his girlfriend's.

And Geraint Winn was home with his wife

and an employee of theirs called Aamir Malik.

They had dinner and he stayed over.

He does that a lot apparently.

Della Winn confirmed all that.

- And the rest of the Chiswell family?

- All checked out,

or they're home asleep alone.

Kinvara called them to break the news

when the police arrived.

They were all home when she rang.

Again, the mast records check out.

- What time was that?

- 10:30.

- And she had her key on her?

- Yep.

- [sighs]

Did you find that Polish cleaner of theirs?

- She's vanished.

Guys, that's everything I've got.

You've rinsed me.

- Thanks, Vanessa. - Yeah, thank you, Vanessa.

- We really appreciate it.

- I'll see myself out.

- See you soon.

She's great, isn't she? - Mm.

Just looking at these 7:00 a.m. calls.

Henry Drummond, Christopher Barrowclough-Burns.

- Drummond's the one organizing the sale of their paintings.

Chiswell came back from his place

just before he went to that athletics thing.

They must have had an argument or something.

He came back in a horrible mood.

- We'll talk to him. - Mm.

- So let's assume somebody poisoned the carton.

Chiswell gets up and pours himself a glass

like he always does.

Now, to make that look like a suicide,

someone's gotta get in afterward,

set up the crushed-up pills,

replace the drugged carton with a fresh one,

do the fingerprints and the rest of it.

Now, that's all easy after he's dead.

You just need access.

But Kinvara's got her key on her

when the police come to Chiswell House

and the second one's found on the minister.

- The cleaner's got the only other key.

- This might be a long shot.

I heard Jimmy's girlfriend speaking Polish.

And she was complaining

that Jimmy was making her scrub toilets.

Maybe she could use a friend to talk to.

What do you think?

- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

[Grinderman's "Palace of Montezuma"]

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

[alternative rock music]

♪ Psychedelic invocations ♪

♪ Of Mata Hari at the station ♪

♪ I give to you ♪

♪ ♪

♪ A Javan princess of Hindu birth ♪

♪ A woman of flesh, a child of the earth ♪

♪ I give to you ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Well, the hanging gardens of Babylon ♪

♪ Miles Davis, the black unicorn ♪

♪ I give to you ♪

♪ ♪

♪ The palaces of Montezuma ♪

- All right? I'm Becca.

- At least you're on time.

My other girl, every day, she's got some new excuse.

I just don't need it.

- Well, thanks for giving me a go.

[chimes ring] - What time is this?

- Tube was delayed. - Of course it was.

- No, there were some delays actually.

I tried to get here proper early.

I got stuck as well.

- This is Bibi. - Becca.

- She's doing a trial day for me,

so show her how everything works.

Right, two things. Shoplifters, you go for them.

No messing about.

Lunch is 20 minutes each, and you take it separately.

[chimes ring]

- [laughs]

Why'd you wanna work here? - [scoffs]

Went round all the shops. She said yes, so that were it.

I need work. I got sacked last week.

Don't tell her that.

- Who by? - Amazon.

- What happened? - Didn't make my daily rate.

You get targets for packing and scanning.

You get behind, they're straight onto you.

My dad would've been like, "Well, what'd you expect?"

I don't know.

Not a nightmare, is it?

- I'll show you how the till works.

- Thanks.

- If Jimmy doesn't have a legal responsibility

for his brother, I just don't see how--

Yeah. No, I understand.

Send Billy my best.

[footsteps approaching]

- Don't.

- No.

It's good.

Who are you?

- Becca. Needed a job.

Worker's rights activism runs in family.

- Favorite band?

- The Cure, but nothing after 1989.

- Favorite album?

- "Head on the Door."

- Favorite track on that album?

- "Push." Hands down, mate. No contest.

And if someone puts it on, I can sing along word for word.

- [chuckles] You win.

- Does Sam know that he might bump into me got up like this?

- I've put him on Dodgy Doc.

If we didn't have someone on that case,

we'd have lost the client.

- How's your day been?

- I just spoke to Billy's doctors.

Jimmy's invoked next-of-kin stuff

to make sure we can't see him.

And I called Izzy's sister for a follow-up.

- Raff's been in touch.

We're gonna go for dinner in a few days.

- You're liking Raff, then?

- What's all this?

- I've put up some time and date stuff,

mainly from Geraint and Jimmy's file.

- You know that text message on Aamir's phone

in Geraint's office?

He was meeting someone on the 13th.

I think it was at 8:00 p.m.

- He wasn't with Della and Geraint?

Who was he with? - I don't know.

I didn't see the number, but they signed off CBB.

- People who called Chiswell the morning he died.

There's a CBB. Christopher Barrowclough-Burns.

- Who is he?

- I'll start to find out.

- Huh.

- What are you doing this evening?

- [laughs] Revising, I suppose.

One band isn't really enough, is it?

It just makes me look obsessive

when I'm aiming for harmless and not that smart.

[solemn music]

♪ ♪

[sighs]

♪ ♪

[sighs]

♪ ♪

- Hello, stranger.

- Morning.

- You got five minutes?

Stupid question, really. I know you haven't, but...

all the same...

I'm sorry for saying "I love you."

- Christ. You don't have to apologize.

- No, listen.

I wish I could take it back, but...

well, these things happen.

[chuckles]

Can we just go back to how things were?

Hanging out, having fun.

- I'm sorry.

This case has been...

I was gonna call you.

Anyway, yes. Let's have dinner.

Tomorrow night?

- Okay.

Great.

Cheers.

That was easy.

How's your day looking?

- Gotta go round someone's house

and call them a liar.

You?

- Trying to sell more dresses.

[serious music]

♪ ♪

- You all right?

- Me?

Yeah. Why?

- You just seem proper quiet.

- I'm cool.

My boyfriend's being...

- Oh, say no more, mate.

Were you thinking of dumping him?

- No.

Jimmy and me, our life is my whole life.

No, it's just--

we've been through some mental stuff.

We've been trying to prove

that the people who make our laws are the ones

doing the illegal shit, but...

I think maybe it's having a lawyer as a mum.

It makes you super aware of how things can go.

- What's Jimmy got you doing?

- I'm fine.

Don't worry about me.

If Jimmy tries to make trouble for me,

he'll find out I own my own shit.

- God, I wish I had your balls.

I just get... freaked out by everything.

I mean, London's just proper hard, though, ain't it?

Nobody talks to you. - Mm.

Do you wanna come out tomorrow?

I'm having a party.

- Oh, I don't wanna, like-- - No, you'll love it.

My mates are amazing.

- Don't wanna make a tit of myself.

- You're cool. I'll look after you.

- Cool. - [laughs]

- Yeah. [chimes ring]

[doorbell buzzes]

- Mr. Malik?

- What do you want?

- I'm Cormoran Strike. I'm an investigator.

Jasper Chiswell's family hired me.

Can I come in?

- I'm... - I won't take up much time.

It'd mean a lot to his family.

- Okay.

- Don't let me keep you from your lunch.

- It can wait.

- What's really good with cheese and pickle is

those crunchy fried onion things.

You can get 'em in tubs.

- It was your partner who pretended to be

Chiswell's intern, wasn't it?

- Spot on.

Could I have a glass of water, please?

Mind if I take some notes?

- I've not got anything to say.

- Easier if I have it to hand, in case that changes.

- So you think I had something to do with Chiswell's death?

- If you want to blurt out a confession, feel free.

You'll save me a lot of work.

I'll tell you something I know,

and maybe we can start from there.

You were helping Geraint Winn blackmail Jasper Chiswell.

- I wasn't.

- So you never met up with Jimmy Knight?

For example.

- Who's Jimmy Knight?

- He's the brother of the man you had staying here.

Billy?

Has a thing about horses?

It's a big place for one guy.

How much do the Winns help you out?

- London's expensive, so--

- Who's Mrs. Collier?

- That was Della's mum.

She died recently, so it was empty.

It's all legal.

- This photo used to be on the Foreign Office website.

They took you on as part of a diversity scheme.

There you are with the man they assigned your mentor,

Christopher Barrowclough-Burns.

CBB, as his friends call him.

Where were you at 6:00 a.m. on the 14th?

- At the Winns' place. I stayed there.

- With Geraint? - And Della. Yeah.

- So you're all each other's alibi?

- Well, if you wanna call it that.

- What made you leave the Foreign Office, Aamir?

- You keep going back and forth.

It's just--

I didn't enjoy it.

- How did you meet the Winns?

- I've had enough of this.

- Your family disowned you

right about the time you left the Foreign Office.

Isn't that right?

That was when the Winns found you.

Here you are graduating from LSE,

your whole family there.

That was before they started with the homophobic comments.

- Out.

- Why are you lying to me about where you were

at 6:00 a.m. on the 14th?

- Get out, now.

- You stayed the night with Christopher Barrowclough-Burns.

- [grunts]

- Don't.

Enough.

You gonna butter me?

- [grunts]

- You try and hurt me again, I'll snap it.

Stay down.

- [breathing heavily]

- And when he came in, guess who was sat on the sofa?

- No. - Yeah.

- No way. - [laughs]

- Oh, my Lord! [squeals]

[chimes ring]

What are you doing here?

- I need to talk to you.

- Can you mind the shop for a bit?

- You know Caroline's hanging out across the road?

- Is she? Shit.

- Well, I mean, I can be out front

if you want the stockroom.

I can say you're stock-taking or something.

- Who's this?

- My mate Becca. Her dad's a trade unionist.

- Well, he was a rep.

- All right. Come on, then.

- One second. Can I just get a till roll?

And then it's all yours.

[phone chimes]

All yours.

- ♪ Give me ♪

♪ Give me ♪

♪ Deliverance ♪

♪ Brother ♪

♪ Sister ♪

♪ Give me, give me deliverance ♪

- You're a bad liar, Aamir.

And you're gonna get sent to prison

if you don't start telling the truth.

And you won't get to share a cell

with Della and Geraint either.

- Leave her out of it.

Please.

Della had nothing to do with anything.

- Don't you know what happens

when an MP gets caught lying to the police?

It's over for them.

- [crying]

- So one last time,

before I make these calls and ruin her.

What were you doing at 6:00 a.m. on the 14th?

- At his flat. - Whose?

- You know.

- Say it.

- Christopher's.

- Why were you there?

- I was trying to get something off his computer.

Some stuff Geraint wanted.

I swear, Della had nothing to do with it.

- Where was Geraint?

- I don't know.

I met him later.

- And Della lied to the police.

- Yeah, but she only did that for me.

Please don't get her in trouble.

- Why was Billy Knight staying here?

- Jimmy needed somewhere to put him

where you wouldn't find him.

But he was fucking nuts.

We made Jimmy take him back.

- Did you get the files Geraint wanted?

- Christopher caught me.

- What were these files?

- [sighs]

I was told to search for the keyword "Murape."

I didn't get any further than doing that.

- Did Geraint ever tell you why he was blackmailing Chiswell?

- He blames the Chiswells for his daughter's death.

- He told you that?

Did you believe him?

- I don't know why he'd lie.

They don't ever talk about her.

- All right, Aamir.

Finish your sandwich.

I'll see you around.

- ♪ Never really knowing it was always ♪

- Is the lavender oil cold-pressed?

- Very cold. That's 15 quid, please.

- [muffled] Insurance policy?

- Oh, my fucking God. What?

- We've run out of CBD oil.

Everyone's getting right shirty.

Thanks.

- ♪ And it's getting better all the time ♪

[chimes ring]

♪ There's nothing you and I won't do ♪

[Modern English's "I Melt with You"]

♪ I'll stop the world and melt with you ♪

- [scoffs]

[chimes ring]

- What's he done to you?

- It's what I'm gonna do to him if he keeps on like this.

I can have him fucking put away and he knows it.

I'm fine.

[crying]

[dog barking in the distance]

- [sighs]

Hey.

- That's an interesting new look.

- Oh, it's work. [laughs]

[sighs]

What's this?

- Um...

I tried to get a replacement, but they're sold out.

So I just had that one mended as best I could.

I'm sorry.

- Thanks.

Nice of you to try.

- I don't want you sleeping in the spare room.

- [sighs]

- Will you come back?

- I feel like you're trying to punish me for something.

- That's not true.

- Why do you wanna be with me, Matt?

- Because you're my girl.

[phone ringing]

- Go on.

- Don't go through my bag! I checked it.

- I had it in my wallet.

- So you dropped it somewhere.

- Yeah, or someone took it.

- Why would I take it?

- Insurance policy? - Oh, my fucking God.

What?

I was only there because of you.

You've dropped it somewhere. Go through your own wallet.

- Get this through your head!

That note proves we had access.

It's got Billy's fucking name on it.

Someone just needs to see Ebury Street on it

and remember that from the news,

and then we're fucked.

- Jimmy, I haven't got it.

- So there's a note.

- If he thinks she's hiding something

that would incriminate him,

maybe he's right.

Maybe she did take it.

I could see if I could find it.

She's invited me to a party at her place.

- You're gonna search during the party?

- I'll be subtle.

Jimmy doesn't think much of women.

He won't see me coming.

- Be careful.

And let Vanessa Ekwensi know what you're planning.

[sighs] Sorry.

I'll call you tomorrow

and we'll get dinner organized somewhere.

- Well, if you're too all over the place for dinner,

you could always come here.

We could have breakfast in the morning.

Everyone loves breakfast.

- Sounds good. [doorbell rings]

I'll call you.

[sighs]

It's Cormoran Strike.

We spoke on the phone earlier.

- Yes. Come in, then.

- Mind if I turn a light on?

- Just remember to turn them off

on your way out.

No sense in burning the planet needlessly.

We have a Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010 open.

Would you pour me a glass of that?

And pour one for yourself.

- Thank you.

Very kind.

- Are you from the West Country?

- Spent a lot of time in Cornwall.

- I can hear it in your vowels.

- No Geraint?

- No. He's moved out.

We're getting divorced.

- Sorry to hear that.

- Thank you.

It'll be in the papers next week.

- You know where he's gone?

- No.

- I know you lied to the police, Mrs. Winn.

Aamir wasn't here

the morning of Chiswell's death.

He wasn't here having dinner the previous evening.

And he didn't stay the night.

I've spoken to Aamir. He admits it.

He was at pains to let me know you hadn't done anything wrong.

Apart from lying about his alibi to the police.

Why did Geraint send Aamir to Christopher Barrowclough-Burns?

- To steal information. I don't know what.

- Does the word "Murape" mean anything to you?

- No.

- Given it's the Foreign Office,

I thought it might be Samuel Murape.

He was a British teenager.

He went missing on his gap year in Zimbabwe.

Ring any bells?

- No. Sorry.

Not my department.

Aamir could go to prison for this.

All because Geraint needs someone to blame.

- Blame for what?

- We had a daughter.

- Rhiannon. - Mm.

Geraint, he wanted her to make friends

with a wider circle.

He thought that way, she'd mix

with people with connections.

He pushed her into things.

She wanted a pony, but we couldn't afford it,

and so fencing.

Well, that was his idea.

She was unhappy.

But he promised her they'd come to like her.

Only in the end,

well, she killed herself.

Geraint, well, he's always blamed the Chiswell family.

[chuckles]

Well, it's easier than blaming himself.

Aamir,

well, he's been like a son to us.

And Geraint,

well, he would've sacrificed him.

I won't ever forgive him.

[Headie One and Fred again..'s "Know Me"]

[people shouting and chatting]

- Hiya.

[heavy electronic beat]

♪ ♪

Hiya. - Becca!

- You all right? - Yeah. Yes.

- And I brought this. - Oh, you're so sweet.

Let's get you a drink.

Hope you're ready to get mashed!

Drunk!

Yeah.

♪ ♪

Hayley, what do you reckon about my mate Becca getting

Laura's half of the room once she--

- Shanice asked already. - She didn't ask me.

- You wanna tell her no?

- Mate, I'm sorry! - It's all right.

- Jimmy's arrived.

- In a bit.

♪ ♪

- No, you.

Sorry.

- ♪ They say more money, more problems ♪

♪ Not-not me, it's them ♪

♪ In the pen, but I need, but I need, but I need ♪

♪ But I need, but I need a pen ♪

♪ Girls in the ends ♪

♪ Nah, I didn't need a friend ♪

♪ They didn't wanna know me, know me, know me ♪

♪ Know me, know me then ♪

♪ They say more money, more problems ♪

♪ Not-not me, it's them ♪

♪ In the pen, but I need, but I need, but I need ♪

♪ But I need, but I need a pen ♪

♪ Same Heads, just a different head ♪

♪ Same buj, just a different press ♪

♪ I was depressed, now I'm in the press ♪

♪ New year, it's a different stress ♪

♪ Same Heads, just a different head ♪

♪ Same buj, just a different press ♪

♪ I was depressed, now I'm in the press ♪

♪ ♪

♪ They say more money, more problems ♪

♪ Not-not me, it's them ♪

♪ In the pen, but I need, but I need, but I need ♪

♪ But I need, but I need a pen ♪

♪ ♪

[knock at door]

- Oi, hurry up.

♪ ♪

- Becca, was it?

- Yeah. What were your name again?

- Jimmy.

- Hmm. Nice to meet you, Jimmy.

Sorry, I'm a bit pissed.

- What's your last name?

- You what? - Your last name.

- Cunliffe.

Like, do you wanna look at my birth certificate?

I'm old enough to drink,

if that's what you're worried about.

Losing your license.

- Nah, it's cool.

We've had some problems

with the security service recently,

so we check the newbies out.

- All right.

- It was nice to meet you, Becca.

- You too.

[electropop beat]

♪ ♪

[knocks at door]

♪ ♪

- There's lots of hits for Cunliffe in Yorkshire.

What's Becca short for?

- You fucking kidding?

- All right.

Let's assume Rebecca.

[tense espionage music]

♪ ♪

[knock at door]

- Oh, one second. Won't be a minute.

♪ ♪

[shutter clicking]

♪ ♪

- [singsong muttering]

"The wedding of Miss Robin Ellacott

"to Mr. Matthew Cunliffe,

"both from Masham.

"Mr. Cunliffe is a qualified accountant.

"Miss Ellacott has a somewhat unorthodox employment

being a partner at"...

♪ ♪

Jimmy, she's a fucking spy.

- Hey, don't be greedy.

- Who the fuck is she, Flick?

- What? - #RobinEllacott.

#RobinCunliffe.

Works for Strike.

- The fuck have you done?

Where the fuck is she?

Where's Becca?

- Think she's in the loo.

Hey, what's up?

♪ ♪

- Open the fucking door!

♪ ♪

Come on.

Move!

♪ ♪

- This is some deep state shit.

- Shut up, Digby.

- What are you gonna do

when we find her, though, Jimmy?

- I'll fucking kill her.

- We've got two units on their way to you now.

- Okay, great. Thanks, Vanessa.

Thanks. Bye.

♪ ♪

Shit.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

- [grunts]

Bitch!

♪ ♪

[tires squeal]

[sirens wailing]

- You okay? - [groans]

- I'm Robin Ellacott. I called--

- Keep still, sir. - Vanessa Ekwensi.

He's Jimmy Knight.

- We've arrived at the scene. She's with us now.

Just lie still in case you've injured your neck.

[sirens wailing]

Okay, we've got a male.

He's breathing and conscious.

Can we get LAS on scene?

- Police! Coming in.

- What are you doing? Hey! [all shouting at once]

- Out the way. Out the way.

[indistinct radio chatter]

- Hey.

You all right? - Oh, yeah, I'm fine.

- How did you guess where she'd hid it?

- Just a hunch.

- DCI McMurran rang this morning.

- Have they charged him? - Still being questioned.

They'll get an extension to 36 hours.

She was really just ringing to say thank you,

in a roundabout way.

I said I'd pass it on.

- It's definitely Chiswell's handwriting.

- Jimmy Knight's got an old Suzuki.

I've got a photo of him driving Aamir.

I'm assuming "Bill" is Billy. Jimmy obviously thinks it is.

Or "Bill" could be a bill.

- What's "Blanc de blanc"?

White from white.

- Blanc de Blancs is a champagne

made from 100% chardonnay grapes.

Something you learn at Oxford.

- No, wait.

I've seen "Blanc de blanc" before.

- What are you looking at? - Matt's Instagram.

Where we went on our anniversary.

It's only an hour from Chiswell House.

I'm sure I remember there being a...

[footsteps approaching]

Nobody buzzed.

- Hey. - Someone let me in.

I thought it was my best chance of actually seeing you.

- Do you wanna go through-- - Here's fine.

I've called. I've texted.

You stood me up. - Are you sure we can't--

- You know, if you want a hot meal and a shag

with no human emotions involved,

there are restaurants and brothels.

If you're not prepared to pay for it,

at least have the decency to treat that person

with a minimum of respect.

A phone call to say you won't be calling again.

Breaking up with someone by telling them,

not just hiding.

This is how it's done, you fucking coward.

Face-to-face.

- Yeah, Blanc de Blanc is a room at that hotel.

- That was a bit awkward.

- [clears throat]

Well, she should really have buzzed up first.

Not fair to take someone by surprise like that.

I suppose living above your office, though,

it's that work/life balance people talk about, isn't it?

- Ms. Chiswell's happy for us to share the records.

We have to keep it all

in case there are insurance claims.

So you have the room.

One registered guest, Kinvara Chiswell.

Dinner for two.

Afternoon tea taken in her room.

- How about cars?

- Yes.

She registered a Mercedes with reception.

- Is that a list of all the cars that day?

- Mm-hmm.

- Jimmy Knight's Suzuki.

[bells ringing]

- I overheard Chiswell on the phone to a hotel

asking for details about the bill.

- Sounds like he thought she was having an affair.

- Mm-hmm.

- Wrote down everything he could piece together

about where she had been.

- That's the note that Flick stole

from Ebury Street.

You don't think

Jimmy and Kinvara are sleeping together?

- Kinvara poisons the carton of juice,

then heads back to Oxfordshire.

Jimmy lets himself in using Flick's key

and stages a suicide after Chiswell's dead.

- It works, doesn't it?

- I'll call DCI McMurran.

After we tell her what we've found,

she'll owe us a favor.

- Yeah, sorry. It's just a work thing.

So I'm gonna be late.

- All right. Okay.

Well, will you want dinner?

- No, no, no. I'll get something with Tom.

We're gonna be a while sorting this shitstorm out.

- Well, I'm back now,

so I'll probably just get an early night.

I'm completely done. - All right.

Well, I'll try not to wake you when I come in.

- Okay.

Ow!

[scoffs]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Hey.

I thought you'd be asleep. - No.

I'm awake.

- Right.

Would you like a cup of tea, or...

Going on a mini break, or--

- I'm leaving you.

- Sorry? - You heard me.

- You wanna leave me?

- No, I am leaving you.

- Why?

- Because you're sleeping with Sarah.

- Robin-- - Ugh, don't bother.

You're no good at it. Let's just--

[sighs]

Let's just sort out some practical things,

and then I'm going.

- Robin. Robin.

Hang on.

Are you being serious about this?

- She's not stupid.

She pointed these out to me at the party,

and then magically, one appears by the side of my bed.

I suppose you promised her you'd tell me eventually.

Well, she got bored waiting.

Good for her.

- Have you spoken to Tom? - Ugh. Matt.

Are you anxious about your prospects for promotion?

- No, this has nothing to do with work!

- I have, actually. I have spoken to Tom.

You said you were eating with him tonight.

Or have you forgotten what lies you've told.

He said he wasn't with you.

Had no plans to see you.

- I've just been ending it with Sarah.

That's where I've been.

- [scoffs]

[phone ringing]

- Don't answer it.

- Hi, Cormoran. - Hey.

DCI McMurran wants to see us at 9:00 a.m.

She thinks we're right about-- - Now's not the fucking time!

All right?

- Sorry about that.

- Everything all right? - Yeah, it's fine.

I'll meet you there in the morning.

Just text me the address.

[line beeps]

- We're trying to save our marriage

and you're taking calls from him!

- I'm not trying to save our marriage.

- Well, I am!

You know that everything that happened with Sarah is--

- Matthew!

The problem is that I don't care

that you're cheating again.

I don't wanna be with you anymore.

We should've split up on honeymoon.

I mean, we shouldn't have even got married.

I thought I owed you this face-to-face--

- How do you think your life looks to other people?

You bailed out on uni. Now you're bailing out on us?

You're a flake.

You are a Peeping Tom for a living,

and you managed to get sacked from that.

You know he's only taking you back

because you're cheap.

- Thank you.

You just made this really easy.

[horn honks]

Let me past. - No.

- Matthew, get out of my way. - I'm not gonna let you.

- That is not your decision to make

and I am not that person anymore.

- You're my wife!

I have a right to fight for this.

Listen, I'm not gonna let you fail!

Not with this one!

We're gonna work it out together.

Will you please just sit down?

Robin, look at you. You're a mess.

You're shaking.

You don't wanna be on your own. Trust me.

- I have a taxi outside.

I'm leaving now.

You'll have to hurt me to make me stay.

And that'll get you done for assault

and you'll be ruined.

- Robin, you won't do that.

[whispering] You won't do that.

- [sighs]

I was falling out of love with you at uni.

We'd have broken up then.

But then I got attacked and I just needed to feel safe.

And you gave me that.

But it's not enough.

I don't love you.

The truth is, I'd have never have married you

if I hadn't have been raped.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

- All set? - [sobbing]

Thanks.

Sorry.

I just...

[sniffles]

I just left my husband.

- Yeah?

I've left two.

- Oh.

- Gets easier with practice.

- [laughs tearily]

♪ ♪

["I Walk Beside You" instrumental version]

♪ ♪

[engine revs]