Original subtitles

♪ It's all right, it's okay ♪

♪ doesn't really matter if you're old and grey ♪

♪ it's all right, I'm saying it's okay ♪

♪ listen to what I say ♪

♪ it's all right, doin' fine ♪

♪ doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine ♪

♪ it's all right, I said it's okay ♪

♪ we're gettin' to the end of the day ♪

[Jaunty music]

Come on, scampy.

I think I'll be all right with this, you know.

If this is the way it has to be,

well I'll be able to see a bit more of Mark

and the baby, of course.

Go on, in yer basket.

When he or she comes along

and I'll be able to hold me head up high

knowing I've done the right thing,

like what's-his-name?

Serpico, oh,

didn't know we had company, hello.

Brian, this is Margaret Kirby from my book group.

Oh, the Raymond Chandler thing?

"The little sister".

Have you read it, Mr. Lane?

No.

[Esther] Margaret wants your help.

What kind of help?

She joined the book group just a few weeks ago.

There was a sign up in the library.

But we had our first proper talk last night,

in the coffee break.

I can't drink caffeine beyond mid-afternoon,

I have a restless leg.

[Esther] Margaret's looking for her brother.

Oh.

He went missing six years ago.

Are the police aware?

We've never kept in touch, really, you know.

I thought, that is to say I'd heard,

that he'd gone to live in New Zealand.

I tried to contact him a few months ago

and I can't find him.

I employed someone.

Private detective.

He couldn't find any trace of Peter in New Zealand.

Why did you try to contact him?

I'm sorry?

Well, you said you weren't in touch.

Er, parents are dead, and Peter didn't have any children.

My son, hah, just got the one boy.

Hmm.

He and his wife had a little girl, six months ago.

Ahh.

She's a new member of a very small family,

and I thought Peter might like to meet her,

or at least that he'd like to know.

The police could help you with this, you know.

She doesn't want to go to the police.

My, my brother's name

is Peter sale.

The Florence Epstein murder?

It's an unsolved case, Brian,

that's your department.

Was.

My brother was a witness,

because he was Florence Epstein's accountant,

but he was never charged with anything.

Well, I don't know if you realise, Margaret

or if Esther's told you, but i'm-

I know you're not a policeman anymore.

If you were Mr. Lane, I certainly wouldn't presume

to ask you to shift your focus from chasing criminals.

But lots of retired policemen take on private cases.

And I'm sure we could come to an arrangement about fees.

No, no, no, no, no,

we wouldn't dream of taking your money.

No, this is about keeping those cogs turning,

isn't it Brian, exercising your muscles.

I'm fine, Esther.

You are today, what about tomorrow?

The next day, and next week?

When you're telling me,

that you can't switch your brain off.

Well, this is something for your brain to do.

Hm, oh I can't promise to find yer brother.

But you'll try?

All right yes, I'll try.

Well, here we go Esther,

working without the safety net of the metropolitan police.

Just my mind versus the problem at hand.

[Esther] Is that nice?

Like Sherlock, or the fella in your book.

[Esther] Mr. Darcy?

Darcy, no: Marlowe, Philip marlowe.

[Doorbell buzzing]

I'll get it.

[Jaunty music]

- Brian Lane? - Yes, hello.

[Maxine] Maxine Wilson, Mr. Lane.

I'm the deputy editor on the crime-

a reporter?

Well, deputy editor, but yeah.

I, I'm afraid I can't talk about any-

no, no, I understand.

This isn't about the circumstances

of your dismissal from ucos.

I actually wanted to talk to you

about a case you investigated, back in 1988,

the Derek Spencer murder?

We've received some information that calls into question

your handling of the evidence on that case.

I wonder if I might come inside?

No, you may not.

There's also the question

of your drinking problem, Mr. Lane,

and how that might've affected the investigation

of a number of cases.

[Door slamming]

[Knuckles rapping on the glass]

[Maxine] Mr Lane?

An anonymous call?

Yeah, just after four this morning, according to the note.

And who is this Larry gofton?

Small time conman, quite clever, quite successful,

hasn't been heard from in years.

Related to a ucos case?

Nothing ongoing, no,

but according to the system, his name is connected

to several unsolved cases.

So he might be able to clear some up?

If he wants to talk,

and if whoever called in was correct about his whereabouts.

They said, he's now calling himself, Archer,

Lawrence Archer.

Yeah, well it's worth checking out.

Anything else?

And I don't want to talk about Brian Lane.

That's unfortunate, because I do.

Look, what Brian did was...

[Men shouting]

Dirty tricks is what this is!

Not enough that you get rid of me from ucos,

you've gotta go and ruin me reputation, now.

[Sandra] What are you talking about, Brian?

This has nothing to do with you, Sandra.

Well, it's got nothing to do with me either, Brian,

I don't know what you're talking about,

did you let him come down here?

Couldn't stop him, guv.

But anyway, I think you should hear what he's got to say.

There's a journalist, outside my house, at my front door!

What does he want?

He's a she, and ask him!

I don't know, Brian.

Asking questions about the Spencer case.

What's the Spencer case?

Ancient history is what it is,

and it was all above board.

Well, there were some questions at the time.

Questions which I answered, and they're in the file

and the evidence on that case,

was as solid as anything I've ever worked on?

Absolutely was, Brian.

Then, why has this journalist got hold of it?

And why is she on my front step, trying to get me to talk?

I don't know.

Well, it's gotta be embleton's mates,

feeding stuff to the press,

so he looks like an unreliable witness.

No, no, no, hang on Gerry, we don't know that.

No, that's almost certainly correct,

they're gonna try to make you look

incompetent, dishonest and drunk, Brian.

Well, we can do something about that, can't we?

[Phone ringing]

No, we can't.

Oh, thank you very much.

Surely, you can make some calls, sir?

To whom?

No one's going to admit to being behind this

and it's certainly not in our interest to get involved.

Once they've finished painting Brian

as a disgrace to the police force,

they're gonna tell the story about

how he was forced to retire,

and then they're gonna shine the spotlight

on the people who brought him out of retirement,

and put him back on the police payroll again.

Your actions, Brian, have brought

an awful lot of trouble to our door, too!

[Energetic music]

[Metal gate clanking]

[Keys jangling]

Jonathan Epstein, I'm Brian Lane.

[Metal gate clanging]

From the unsolved crime and open cases squad?

Yes, huh.

You're reopening my case, is that what this is?

Well no, no, not exactly, huh.

I shouldn't be in here.

Well, you did lock yer wife in the basement

and then torture 'er 'til she gave up

the passwords to 'er bank account

and then cave 'er head in with a hammer.

Yeah, but now that Florence has passed on,

I'm not likely to re-offend again, am I?

I suppose, nobody wants to take that chance.

Three women write to me in here, they all wanna marry me.

Hmm, how will you choose one?

Ah, I see.

What do you see?

You're still holding a torch for Annabelle Skinner.

Look, you had an affair with this woman.

It was much more than an affair.

-Look, we were- -so where is she?

All right, you had whatever you might call it

with this woman.

Yer wife's got all this money in her own account,

which you won't see a penny of, if you leave 'er,

so, you and Annabelle Skinner

lock Florence up and torture 'er

to get yer hands on that money, and then you kill Florence.

But, what happened to that money, Mr. Epstein?

It left Florence's account and then it disappeared,

just like Annabelle Skinner.

Who do you think called the police?

She wasn't there when the police arrived, was she?

Did you ever hear from her again?

If you're not here to help me, what do you want, Mr. Lane?

I'm looking for Peter sale.

- Why? - He's gone missing.

You think he's got my money?

It never was your money.

You know what I mean.

I think Annabelle Skinner's got yer money.

Then, why you looking for Peter?

Because his sister asked me to.

[He sighs] I barely knew 'im.

He was your wife's accountant.

According to the case file, you introduced them.

He was a patient of mine.

He had ankylosing spondyloarthritis, a genetic disorder

which affects the strength of the bones,

and can cause a lot of dental problems.

I carried out two root canals and some bridgework.

Whoo.

- Squeamish? - A bit, hm.

You should still go for your regular checkups, though.

Once they're gone, they're gone.

[He sighs] I wish they'd let me practise in here.

I don't think much of the regular chap, and I miss it.

Did Peter sale come in off the street?

No, he was referred.

Can you remember who?

Lawrence Archer, two crowns and some composite fillings.

How long ago was this?

Seven years,

Peter sale had a toothache,

Lawrence Archer recommended me.

I performed the root canals and then he came back

for the bridge work, and that's when we started talking

about Florence's accounts.

So how did sale and Archer know each other?

Well, they played golf together.

What and they were close, were they?

How would I know, ask Lawrence.

Well I will, if you've got an address for 'im.

No, but I know which golf club he plays at.

[Jaunty music]

[Car engine purring]

[Bike clattering]

[Button beeping]

[Brian sniffing]

[Buttons beeping]

[Door buzzing]

[Tense music]

[Feet tapping on the steps]

[Brian sniffing]

[Brian clearing his throat]

Hello, Mr. Archer?

- [Door squeaking] - Anyone there?

[Dramatic music]

[Object whacking Brian]

[Brian hitting the floor]

Brian, Brian,

come on mate.

[Sandra] Is he okay?

I think he will be.

Don't worry mate, we're still 'ere.

[Tense music]

There was a book.

What book?

[Paramedic gasping]

I'm fine.

You've had a nasty bump to the head, sir,

for a man your age, you should be sitting down.

I'm fine.

[Investigator] Thanks, so this is how he was found, sir,

if we can just get round.

- Sorry, sir. - Get some photos.

I'm with them.

Then one of them needs to come and get you, sir.

Sandra.

[Investigator] Er yeah, please, thank you,

just make sure we cut the door frame.

He says, I need authorization.

He's right, and you don't have it.

Yeah, but I just wanted-

how's your head?

It hurts.

Okay, they're gonna get you x-rayed,

and then we're gonna have a chat, back at ucos.

Fine, I could do with a nice cup o' tea.

[Sandra] Not that kind of chat, Brian.

[Brian sighing]

What were you doing at Lawrence Archer's?

You're not gonna turn that on?

You sure you don't wanna make this official?

We don't think you killed 'im, Brian.

Oh, are you sure?

I seem to be guilty of everything else.

Grow up, Brian.

This is still an active murder case, anyway.

Shouldn't I be talking to a murder investigation team?

That's where you're going straight after this.

Listen mate, we got to that address

five minutes after you, it came up on one of our cases.

We are still involved.

What case?

So, who were you looking for?

We need to be asking the questions here, Brian.

I was looking for a man named Peter sale.

I was led to believe that Lawrence Archer

was an old friend of his and might know where to find him.

Why are you looking for Peter sale?

'Cause he's gone missing.

His sister asked me to help try and find him, as a favour.

Who gave you Lawrence Archer's name

in connection with this?

Jonathan Epstein,

I went to see him in prison this morning.

- Who? - Jonathan Epstein.

Do you not remember 'im?

Murdered his wife, Florence for 'er money,

but the money was taken by Epstein's girlfriend,

who called the police on 'im and did a runner.

Peter sale was Florence's accountant.

I remembered 'im being interviewed at the time

and I thought it might be connected with that.

So, Epstein put you onto Archer.

He told me that Archer and sale played golf together,

so I went to the golf club and they gave me

Archer's work address.

And he was dead, when you got there?

Of course he was.

That wasn't Lawrence Archer, Brian.

There's no such person.

It was an alias, his real name's gofton.

What, Larry gofton, the conman?

The same.

We got an anonymous call during the night,

telling us that gofton was now living as Lawrence Archer.

Gofton was a key witness in several open cases,

so we looked into it.

Imagine our surprise, when we show up

to find gofton dead, and you spark out on the floor.

Well, we can check the prison records,

see if Epstein made any calls this morning.

Not your job, Brian.

I'm looking for Peter sale.

Epstein told me, sale and Archer were friends.

I've tracked Archer down to his place of work,

but he was dead when I got there.

Then somebody hit me over the head.

That's all I know.

- Can I go now? - No, not yet.

When you came round, you were mumbling about some book.

I don't remember.

That'd be a first.

Well I was, I don't remember.

Fine, Gerry take Mr. Lane up to the mit, will you.

Mr. Lane?

We have a lot to talk about, Mr. Lane.

I can't go back to my boss empty-handed.

I'm not talking to you.

[Gate clicking]

I'm not stupid, Mr. Lane;

I know my information is coming from someone high up,

and it's pretty obvious they're trying

to use me to discredit you.

Why don't you give me your side of the story?

My side of the story, you say?

[Maxine] That's all I'm after.

I'm sure there's a simple explanation.

- All right. - Yeah.

[Gate clanging]

Here's my side of the story.

You're a muck raker, working for a bunch of scumbags

and I'm not talking to yer.

I feel terrible about this.

Oh, it's not your fault, Margaret;

it's Brian's fault for wandering about in places

where he's not meant to be,

and not being careful enough when he was doing it.

They sneaked up on me.

Well, you shouldn't be so easy to sneak up on, should you?

But I've got you in trouble with your old work.

No, that's a complicated situation.

Oh, I can't believe Peter would have got himself

mixed up in something dangerous.

You think this is connected to that awful Epstein business?

Well, it was Epstein who told me about Archer, but-

Lawrence Archer?

Yes, do you know 'im?

Well, I didn't know him, no.

He was a business associate of Peter's.

I only met him once, quite charming though.

Peter had a party, a Christmas thing

and Lawrence Archer was there with that awful Skinner woman.

You met Annabelle Skinner?

I didn't take to her from the off.

Of course, I didn't know just how awful

she would turn out to be.

She wore real fur, you know, mink.

I'm afraid, I don't hold with that.

I know.

My brother knew these people, but that doesn't mean

he had anything to do with what happened.

No, no it doesn't.

He was certainly never accused of anything.

And now he's disappeared.

Might there have been anyone else looking for him,

do you think?

No, well I can't imagine who.

- Why? - Nothing, just thinking.

Oh Esther, I'm so sorry for causing trouble.

You have to believe, if I thought Peter

was mixed up in anything-

nonsense Margaret, of course you didn't.

We understand, don't we Brian.

Do you think my brother's in danger, Mr. Lane?

Honestly, I wouldn't know.

Well, he's hidden himself pretty well, hasn't he.

If someone was looking for him,

you couldn't find him and you're his sister.

Yeah, I should be on my way.

I'll see you out.

Thank you, Esther.

Stay at home, goodnight Margaret.

[Door clicking]

Are you all right?

[Brian groans]

Come to bed.

Lawrence Archer never existed.

What?

It was an alias used by a conman called Larry gofton,

but if gofton was using that alias, all those years ago,

and he was at a party with Annabelle Skinner,

what if gofton was working with Skinner all along?

What if the two of them planned

to get hold of Florence's money

and let Jonathan Epstein take the fall?

Well, maybe Peter sale was involved in that plan, somehow?

He was 'er accountant, after all; He had access to all-

are you going to go on with this?

What about Sandra and the others, what about-

I don't work for ucos, anymore!

It's not up to them how I spend me time.

There was a black leather notebook,

on the desk in Archer's office.

It had a, a number on it, a phone number.

I remember everything, why can't I remember that number?

Maybe because somebody hit you over the head?

Well, come to bed.

It'll come back to you in the morning.

Well, I'm going to bed.

[Tense music]

So this bloke, who Brian's looking for, Peter sale

was the accountant of this dead woman.

If Lawrence Epstein, yeah.

Who was killed by her husband, Jonathan with a hammer,

so he could run off with another woman.

But that other woman nicks all the money

and shops him to the cops.

Well, why haven't we got anything on 'er?

- Love, Gerry. - Love?

This Jonathan Epstein is a complete fruitcake.

He falls for this Annabelle Skinner woman so hard,

that even though she rips him off and does a runner,

he won't so much as give a description of her to the police.

Whoo, what and he thinks he's gonna come out

and they're gonna live happily ever after, does he?

Ch, she's long gone.

I mean, why does love makes such a mug of some people?

And how many times you been married?

Morning.

- Oh yeah, guv. - Oh, yeah.

I've looked through the logs at that anonymous call,

but it looks like it was made from a pay-as-you-go phone,

bought for cash.

The service provider confirms,

it hasn't been switched on since that call,

so it looks like it was used once, and then dumped.

And it's taken you two days to find that out?

We are a man down, sir.

In the absence of a lead on our anonymous caller,

you're meant to be compiling background information

on gofton, for mit.

Well, I hadn't quite finished, sir.

There's no trace of gofton, as we know,

but now we realise he's calling himself Lawrence Archer,

a different backstory emerges.

Have a look at that,

longbow company: High-class domestic cleaning,

hoovering and dusting, rich people's houses.

You think gofton was running this as Archer?

So it seems.

Bit of a come down for him.

Actually, this might be a nice little earner.

Three years ago, a team out of west end central

were investigating a series of high profile burglaries,

and they noticed that a large proportion of the houses

that were burgled, were cleaned by Archer's company.

So, he was using his people as scouts.

That's what they thought, but they couldn't prove it.

[Jaunty music]

- Brian? - Hmm?

That journalist, still out there.

Good luck to 'er, she's getting nothing out of us.

It's harassment, surely?

How are you feeling today?

You made short work of these eggs, anyway.

- Mm-hmm. - Your head?

[Brian] What about it?

- How's it feeling? - Hmm.

- Brian? - Yeah, go on,

if you're putting the kettle on anyway,

I'll have a cup, ta.

A serious head injury, who would know?

Six, two, three, six, two, three,

six two three, 0-6-2-3!

Yes, Lane shoots, Lane scores!

Hey!

Ooh, bloody 'ell.

[He splutters] Ow!

[He sighs] 0-6-2-3.

[Answering machine] This is the longbow cleaning company,

sorry nobody's 'ere to take your call,

but if you leave a message after the tone, we'll contact.

[Phone beeping]

[Phone clattering on the table]

[Jaunty music]

Mr. Lane?

[Car engine whirring]

[Traffic rumbling]

Well, that's that, then.

Well, I can pull the company accounts,

see who they were trading with and follow that trail.

Er, companies house'll have an address for Archer

and then registration details about this place,

and the design company.

Oh, that's smashing, thanks very much.

Yeah, it turns out that this place closed down

nearly three years ago.

[Sandra] About the time that west end central

were looking at it, in connection with those burglaries.

[Gerry] Exactly.

So Archer shut up shop,

things started getting too hot

and moved onto pastures new.

Design company?

Well, er not directly no.

The design company has only been open for four months.

But I think it's worth checking,

whoever was working there at the time,

when it closed and see if they know what Archer went on to.

[Car engine starting]

[Gerry] Yeah.

[Tense music]

[Traffic humming]

[Door clattering]

[Door slamming]

[Tense music]

[Door squeaking]

[Tense music]

[Rat squeaking]

[Brian gasping]

[Aerosol clattering]

[Rat squeaking]

Oh, aw you silly old sod.

[Brian sighs]

[Phone ringing]

[Tense music]

[Phone ringing]

[Phone clattering]

Hello?

[Steve] Is that the longbow cleaning company?

Uh-huh, yes.

Yes, this is Steve mcandrew.

I work for the metropolitan police's

unsolved crime and open cases squad.

Er, we've just been run to your registered office,

and it seemed to be deserted.

Can I ask you where you are right now?

Hello, hello?

I know you're still there, I can hear you breathin'.

[Brian gulping]

What's goin' on?

Can we turn around and go back?

Why, what is it?

[Steve] I'm sure there's somebody in that building,

I think we should go back and take a look at it.

Hello?

[Phone clattering]

[Brian sighing]

[Energetic music]

[Door squeaking]

[Brian breathing heavily]

[Energetic music]

[Staple gun clattering]

[Brian breathing heavily]

[Footsteps echoing]

[Tense music]

[Footsteps echoing]

[Bird wings flapping]

[Dramatic music]

[Mysterious figure] Who are you?

[Staple gun firing]

[Brian crashing to the floor]

[Dramatic music]

Esther!

What the bloody hell?

Shoo, shu, shush, keep your voice down.

[Brian groaning]

Why would someone be hiding in here?

And if they are hiding, why answer the phone?

- Is that Gerry? - Ssh.

Oh, it's Gerry and Sandra.

[Brian] Keep yer voice down, your voice-

[Esther squealing]

[Esther] What are we hiding from?

[Brian] Shut up, Esther!

[Footsteps echoing]

[Phone ringing]

[Steve] Ah, here's the phone that I rang.

[Gerry] Huh.

Yeah, well it doesn't look like there's anyone 'ere now.

They must've got out, when they realised

we were coming back.

[Steve] I think we need to get a serious look

through the company's records and get

a search warrant for this place.

[Gerry] Well, if he's going to be trawling

through company records, I'm with you governor.

[Sandra] Okay, let's go and see Jonathan Epstein.

[Door slamming]

Ugh, oh, now what on earth is going on, Brian?

Why did you come here?

Well, you are acting strangely, stranger than usual,

and the address for this place was on yer computer.

Uh, I was looking for clues.

The phone number for this company was on a note pad

in that place where I got hit,

but there was only an answering machine when I rang,

so, I thought I'd come down here

and see if there was anyone I could talk to.

Now, it sounded as though someone

answered the phone to Steve.

- No, that was me. - What?

You, you've broken into the place,

why would you answer the phone?

Er, spur of the moment thing.

It's a miracle you lasted so long as a detective.

Oh come on, let's get outta here.

[She sighs] Well, did you find any clues?

No.

Oh hang on,

what about this?

- What about what? - This,

would this be something?

[Tense music]

"Ennis mccrea, building contractors".

What have they got to do with anything?

Ennis mccrea,

there was a cold case about six years ago,

it was an organised crime thing.

Ennis mccray was a front company for organised crime.

What concrete boots, bodies buried in motorway Bridges?

Does that still go on?

You'd be surprised.

What could it have to do with any of this?

Tell us about Lawrence Archer.

Two crowns and some composite fillings.

Well, that'd be handy if we needed his dental records

to identify his body.

His body?

Yeah, someone strangled Lawrence Archer

or Larry gofton as he's known on his long criminal record.

I'm just a dentist.

He was a patient of mine,

he registered as Lawrence Archer.

You sent a friend of ours to his office yesterday.

He found the body, and then

somebody hit our friend over the head.

Is that what was supposed to happen?

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

So it's just a coincidence, is it?

That you led Mr. Lane to Lawrence Archer on the day he died?

Mr. Lane was looking for Peter sale.

He asked me how I first met sale,

I told him Lawrence Archer introduced us,

that's as much as I know.

So, sale knew Archer,

and now Archer's dead and sale's missing.

Er, I have no idea about either of those things.

Why would I possibly want Archer dead?

He was a good friend of mine.

When did you last have contact with either sale or Archer?

I haven't heard from either of them since I was arrested.

Oh, we're very good friends, eh?

[Sandra] And your accomplice, Annabelle Skinner?

The woman who grasped you up to the police,

and then scarpered with all yer wife's money.

Er please, don't tell you still hold a torch for 'er.

You wouldn't understand.

Clearly not, how'd you meet?

Lawrence introduced us.

She was a friend of his.

Lawrence Archer?

There really is one born every minute.

So what do we think?

Archer, sale and Skinner,

conspire together to get Florence's money

and then let Epstein take the rap for it.

Well, they picked the right bloke,

he was obviously more than happy to off his wife.

Yeah, but now Archer's dead,

and the other two are missing,

there's a decent chance that one of them is a murderer

and the other is the next victim.

[Doorbell ringing]

We know you're in there, Mr. Lane.

So much easier if you come out and have a word,

and we can be on our way.

I received some information this morning

on the arrest of Mr. Adrian cope in 1989.

It seems you may have a few things

to clear up there as well.

Mr. Lane?

[Letterbox tapping]

[Esther sighing]

There are three of them out there, now.

The ennis mccrea number's not in use.

You know, it's hardly surprising,

they were shut down six years ago.

Did you hear what I said?

Three of what?

- Reporters! - Oh, ignore them.

I can't ignore them,

they're shouting through the letterbox,

they're out there watching the house all day.

It's, it's like living behind the iron curtain.

They'll get bored.

And what if they don't?

Esther love, we have to wait them out.

I'm not gonna talk to 'em,

so we just have to wait them out.

Focus on something else, that's how you do it.

You find something to focus on, and just shut the world out.

Would you mind telling me how I'm going to do that?

All right, here.

Just tell me the story, so far.

Ooh, I can hardly read your writing.

Right well, Jonathan Epstein and Annabelle Skinner

killed Florence Epstein for her money.

Correct.

Peter sale was Florence Epstein's accountant

and he was introduced to the epsteins by Lawrence Archer,

real name, Larry gofton.

Are we calling him Archer or gofton, it's confusing-

Archer.

Archer was a notorious conman.

We don't say "notorious", we say "known".

Oh, Archer was a known conman.

Margaret said that she met Archer

and Annabelle Skinner together,

and they seem to have known each other

for quite a long time.

Annabelle Skinner and Jonathan Epstein,

they start an affair and decide to kill Florence Epstein,

for her money.

Does that mean Archer and sale were in on it too?

- The numbers. - What numbers?

On the back of this card, the numbers,

I know what they mean.

Well, how did you get that from what I was saying?

Hey, no I wasn't listening.

I thought you just wanted something to do.

Come on, get yer coat.

[Door clattering]

Well, I've been through the records for longbow cleaning

and the bowman design company, they're tied up in knots,

and it'll take a better man than I am to untie them.

Well, that was Brian's forte.

Yeah.

Any connection to Peter sale in any of that paperwork?

Not, exactly, no, but I did look into a company

run by Peter sale, when he was doing

Florence Epstein's accounts.

One of his other clients was a company called ennis mccrea,

they were listed as building contractors.

Pull the other one, ennis and mccrea are proper gangsters.

Exactly, they were sent down a few years ago.

Well, from the look of the books, Peter sale

was investing money, on their behalf,

through a company run by Lawrence Archer.

[Sandra] You're kidding?

Well, it's gotta be a scam, innit:

Skimming money off of ennis and mccrea,

and then funnelling it through to Archer.

That's what it looks like.

It's a dangerous game to play.

Oh, say that again, and by the way,

there's no trace of Peter sale, beyond six years ago,

just after the Epstein case.

Well, that's what his sister told Brian.

Well, I think his sister's right,

when she says he didn't go abroad;

there's no evidence for that,

but he did just vanish into thin air.

Well, if ennis and mccrea got wind of what he was doing,

he's probably at the bottom of the thames.

Do you know what really bothers me?

Why did we get an anonymous call on the exact same day

that Brian was asked to look for Peter sale?

That's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?

The storage place stands on the exact spot

that used to be the ennis mccrea builder's yard.

- And you think? - Yes, I do.

[Jaunty music]

- Hello. - Hi.

Hey, we're looking for some stuff.

Yeah?

Hope you, er, number 1-0-7-1.

Okay, sir.

[Keys tapping]

If you could sign in for me, Mr. Sale.

Ooh, huh.

Ah.

I never intended to get poor Mr. Lane into any trouble,

he's a very kind man.

Why now, Mrs. Kirby, why are you

looking for your brother now?

He's been missing for six years.

Yes, I didn't know that,

I thought he'd moved abroad.

We were never close.

My son and his wife were expecting a baby,

the family never meant a great deal to Peter,

but I thought he should know.

Your son lives in France, is that right?

Nantes, yes.

It's not that far, now you can get a flight

from city airport.

You came to Brian through his wife, Esther?

Yes, we're in a book group together.

Can I ask what this is about?

Have you found something out about Peter?

Quite the opposite, I'm afraid,

we can't find any trace of him.

When did you last have contact with Peter?

Well, I suppose it would have been

in the aftermath of that awful Epstein business.

Um, Peter was being questioned by the, by the police.

I called him to see how he was bearing up,

he was finding it all rather stressful

but he hadn't done anything wrong, so-

are you sure about that?

Did you know a man called Larry gofton?

Gofton? Er, no.

Lawrence Archer?

Oh, I met Lawrence at a party, I didn't take to him.

And I met her, Annabelle Skinner,

before everything had happened, obviously.

I didn't like her, I told Mr. Lane,

you know how you get a feeling about people?

But your brother knew her?

Yes, hmm, how well I couldn't say.

Peter had nothing to do with what happened,

you do know that?

Actually, we think he may have been more involved

than was originally suspected.

No, no, Peter would never,

he was an honest man,

he'd never been in trouble before.

Maybe not, but he was hangin' around

with a lot of people who knew the ropes.

Maybe he was pushed into it?

Maybe he needed the money to pay back a debt?

Did Peter ever mention two men called ennis and mccrea?

No.

We think your brother may have owed them money.

These are not two people you want to owe money to.

Whatever kind of trouble he was in,

Peter would never have hurt anyone.

But now, Lawrence Archer is dead.

Then it's her.

What, Annabelle Skinner?

That woman had trouble written all over her.

There was something purely nasty inside her,

you could feel it and she looked at you,

and if she killed Lawrence Archer,

oh god.

You have to find Peter, please.

You have to help him.

If Annabelle Skinner is looking for him,

whatever he's done, you have to help him!

[Jaunty music]

[They whisper to each other]

This one here.

- Oh, and whatever. - I know.

[Bolt clattering]

[Door squeaking]

[Tense music]

[Clasps squeaking]

[Chest creaking]

Oh, oh, oh!

[Dramatic music]

This investigation, Brian, that you've mounted

has hardly been done by the book.

It wasn't an investigation,

I was just looking for someone's brother.

Yeah, well now there's a body

and we can't even talk about how we found it,

without revealing that you discovered a business card

whilst illegally entering

the longbow cleaning company building.

The door was unlocked.

And anyway, I don't work for you anymore.

And surely if a civilian stumbles onto something

and brings it to the police-

he's not a civilian, Esther,

he's a retired police officer.

And the cps think that someone like Brian

should've known better.

And then they don't know Brian.

Well, that's certainly true.

It's a trail I was meant to follow.

From the phone number on that notebook in Archer's office,

to the cleaning company, to that storage place.

A trail set by who?

The body's Annabelle Skinner.

[Sandra] What?

There's a bracelet with her initials engraved on it.

Yeah, soco reckon that she's been strangled.

Just like Lawrence Archer.

Only more violently, yeah.

They think 'er neck was snapped in the attack.

And if Annabelle Skinner's our victim,

then the killer has to be-

Peter sale!

I don't mean to be rude, Esther, but you and Brian

really can't be here whilst we're discussing-

this is all a bit obvious though, isn't it?

A trail laid by someone, that leads neatly to Peter sale.

Peter sale's been missing for six years.

Why did he come out of hiding to kill somebody?

Esther!

Yes, all right, I know it's not our business.

Come on, Brian, let's get out of their hair.

Now, the business card I found was for ennis mccrea.

Not this again.

Annabelle Skinner's body was hidden in a storage facility,

on the site of their old offices.

Somebody is trying to point up

a connection to ennis mccrea, here.

Well, we think that sale and Archer

were skimming money off of ennis and mccrea.

Then they had to steal all the money

from Florence Epstein to pay it back,

but we think that ennis and mccrea found out,

killed sale but somehow Archer got away.

But if sale and Annabelle Skinner are dead,

then who killed Lawrence Archer?

Exactly!

What if Archer took the money

and left sale to carry the can with ennis and mccrea?

Well it's in character.

Then Archer stays hidden,

'til ennis and mccrea are sent down,

but why would he risk coming back into Peter sale's radar?

Because sale had already disappeared.

What, you mean he got away as well?

No, he might've gone one better.

Can we get the ennis mccrea file up?

Sir, erm?

All right, go ahead,

because there's someone looking to put away

ennis and mccrea,

a man with inside information about their affairs,

like Peter sale would have, as their accountant,

and who's in fear of his life,

would be like the holy grail.

Oh my god.

I think Brian's right.

There's a closed session in court with an anonymous witness.

Peter sale?

Oh no, now before we get overexcited,

this is all supposition.

But you still haven't found Peter sale?

No, not yet.

Well, should you have?

With all the access you've got to databases and whatnot?

Yes, we should.

But you can't, because Peter sale's in witness protection.

If we have good reason to think

he's committed a crime, sir,

then surely you could access him.

All right, I'll make some phone calls in the morning.

But there must be no mention of Brian's involvement

in any of this.

What, in spite of the fact

that he's joined all the dots for you?

Isn't it a shame when politics gets in the way of policing,

and there are reporters outside our house.

Well, that's not my doing.

I didn't think it was.

[He sniffs] All right, I'll see what can be done.

Come on, Brian.

Nothing's certain Margaret, we just wanted to update you.

[Margaret] Yes.

Does any of it ring true?

I don't know, it,

it would explain why I can't find him.

How could Peter have got himself mixed up

with these kind of people?

Well if he has, least we should start

to get some answers, now.

You've found him?

It's become a police matter now.

Will they, er I mean, will they keep me up to date?

Oh I'm sure they'll tell you everything they can.

Will I be able to see him?

I don't know Margaret, i'm not in the loop, so to speak.

Do you think he killed these people?

Oh, Margaret.

You do, don't you?

No one knows yet.

[She breathes heavily] I should go.

[Margaret sighing]

If there's ever anything you need, just ask.

Yes, [she sniffs] Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lane.

I'm sincerely sorry to have brought

all of this trouble to your door.

[Jaunty music]

[Esther sighs]

[Esther] Strickland was true to his word.

Esther, come 'ere.

- What is it? - Hmm, look at this.

- What? - A grandchild.

Aww. [She laughs]

Can we tell what's what?

Hmm, that's the head and the arms,

I think, unless it's upside down.

[They both laugh]

Oh, what, what's that?

Er, I've been readin' about ankylosing spondyloarthritis.

[Esther] What's that when it's at home?

It's a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton.

- Hmm, sounds nasty. - Yeah.

Jonathan Epstein mentioned that Peter sale had it,

said it causes all kinds of dental problems,

but its main symptom is a fusion of the spine.

[He sniffs] I was just wondering how easy it would be

for Peter sale to strangle two fit and healthy people,

if he was suffering from it.

And not just strangle, even;

he broke poor Annabelle Skinner's neck.

After what she did, we can hardly call her,

"poor Annabelle's"...

What?

- 'Er neck snapped. - And?

- Her other bonds were. - Well, what?

I need to see those forensic photos.

You do know how much trouble I could get into, don't you?

Esther isn't even an ex-copper.

She won't let me go anywhere on me own.

Where are the others?

They've gone to see Peter sale.

Yeah, you were right, he is in witness protection.

He testified against ennis and mccrea,

strickland got them access for a visit.

Now, I think we were wrong and right.

We think that Annabelle Skinner's neck broke

while she was being strangled, yeah?

[Gerry] Yeah.

And it did, look there's the fracture.

You think, ooh blimey.

But how often do you see that, Gerry?

Well once, twice maybe,

I mean you've really gotta go something

to break someone's neck like that.

Unless the neck's already damaged,

or the spine isn't flexible enough

to compensate for the force.

And look here, see the way these vertebrae are fused,

causing a curvature of the spine, here.

That's known as bamboo spine.

It's a classic symptom of ankylosing spondyloarthritis.

What is it?

It's a degenerative disease.

Now Epstein told me that Peter sale has it.

And you said it's genetic.

Genetic, and very rare.

So what are the chances that Annabelle Skinner

and Peter sale both had it?

Hold on, hold on, what are you saying,

that they're related?

I'm saying this isn't Annabelle Skinner.

Well, who is it?

Oh no!

This is Peter sale's sister.

[Melancholy music]

[Tyres crunching on the gravel]

[Car door clattering]

[Car engine vibrating]

[Tense music]

[Knuckles rapping on the door]

[Peter] Who is it?

Police, Mr. Sale, detective superintendent Pullman,

you should have been told to expect us.

[Car engine purring]

Well just keep trying,

reception's probably a bit patchy round here.

I always knew this Epstein business'd

come back to bite me.

It's not at all what it appears to be.

I was just the money guy, hah,

I had no idea what Archer and Annabelle were up to.

But you did take the money?

I arranged the money to come out of Florence's account

and go into an offshore account, set up by Archer.

I never saw a penny.

Archer took the money and vanished,

leaving me empty handed to face ennis and mccrea, huh.

[Phone ringing]

That's why I testified against them, I had no option.

[Phone ringing]

Excuse me.

- Hi, Gerry. - No, it's Brian.

Brian, what on earth are you doing on Gerry's phone?

Gerry's driving, listen.

The dead woman isn't Annabelle Skinner,

we think it's Margaret Kirby.

The woman we know as Margaret Kirby

is actually Annabelle Skinner.

She knew Peter sale was in witness protection,

so this whole thing, the anonymous phone call,

the trail I was sent on,

it's all been about us leading 'er to sale.

She wants revenge, and if she was waiting outside

ucos this morning, she could well have followed you

all the way there.

Okay, thanks, bye.

What's goin' on?

Annabelle Skinner is on her way,

if she's not already here.

Annabelle?

[Steve] Well, who, whose was the body we saw?

Not now Steve, it doesn't matter.

Mr. Sale, I'm afraid we're gonna have to

get you out of sight,

so Steve, draw the curtains, secure the house.

[Steve] Yeah, I'll call the local station,

get someone out.

Yeah, Gerry already has, they're on the way.

[Steve] Okay.

[Sirens wailing]

[Dramatic music]

[Car doors clattering]

[Esther] Brian!

[Tense music]

[Brian groaning]

[Brian breathing heavily]

[Gate squeaking]

Brian! Brian!

[Dramatic music]

[Gate squeaking]

[Tense music]

Mr. Sale, Mr. Sale!

[Dramatic music]

[Brian choking]

You bitch!

[Spade clanging on Annabelle's head]

- [Annabelle groaning] - [Brian choking]

I'd stay exactly where you are, if I was you.

[Police radio crackling]

I don't think we're very popular with witness protection.

Yeah, but sale was involved in the Epstein business,

- wasn't he? - Yeah, he was,

and he claimed he didn't know Florence

was going to be killed,

but that's between him and a jury to sort out.

He picked on the wrong woman.

So did Annabelle Skinner.

[Steve] Nice spade work there, Esther.

Oh, thank you.

Now, what do we reckon that pub's like?

Time for a drink to your new-found freedom, Brian.

Freedom, yeah.

That's what it is really, isn't it?

Oh, it might seem like freedom to you lot,

you're not the ones who have to keep him out of harm's way.

Oh, yeah.

Why don't you go on and we'll catch you up.

- Yeah, sure. - Yeah, come on Esther.

[Esther] Right.

Sandra, I, I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

Don't.

Yeah, but for getting you all into trouble

and bringing all this down on ucos.

The way you handled embleton was stupid.

Sandra.

And you threw yourself on your sword

for a complete stranger,

but I'd like to think I'd have done exactly the same thing.

That's what we're here for, isn't it?

Especially ucos, bringing closure to people

who've waited too long for it.

I wish there'd been another way.

So do I.

You'll be missed, Brian.

Oi! Oi!

When you two have stopped kissing and making up,

there's a pub there that wants to sell us loads of beer.

So, come on then.

Listen, well done mate,

we could never have solved this without you.

Ah, bugger off, course you could.

Yeah, I suppose so.

[They laugh]

[Door banging]

Paws, here, come on, there we go.

Scampy nearly got mugged by two squirrels.

Come on, back, there.

[Scampy panting]

And this one.

Go on, basket.

[Brian sniffing]

Esther?

I said scampy nearly got mugged by,

what are you doing?

That's nice.

No, no, I said, what are you doing?

Sorry Brian, what?

What's all this?

It's that jogger that got attacked

in the park the other week.

What about 'er?

I thought they caught the bloke?

Uh, they got a man who answers to the description,

but I found several other similar attacks online.

There's lots in common, but it can't be

the man they've got, because he's left-handed.

Esther, what are you doing?

It's just interesting.

It's none of our business, and I'm retired now,

for the second time.

You might be, but I'm not.

[Jaunty music]