Ludwig (2024) s01e06 Episode Script
Episode 6
1
James' phone has been cracked.
Who is this?
Someone set it so that you can't
withhold numbers any more.
The number that called last night,
they didn't know we could see it.
It's his old partner, Matt Neville.
He could be anywhere.
How do you know she
wasn't followed? Please!
I'm sorry.
Matt!
Something is being
covered up here,
but that all seems a bit big.
It has to be big, doesn't it?
Dad wouldn't just
abandon us if it wasn't.
I was obsessed with this thing,
particularly after Dad left.
He knew that our dad
was never coming back.
Same as I know that yours is.
I don't think this
woman likes me very much,
or James anyway.
Don't worry, I've wiped the system.
Are we really going
to keep pretending
like nothing happened between us?
You kissed me, remember -
not the other way round.
Lucy Taylor?
I'm Holly.
I work with your husband.
How did you, erm, get my number?
I need to talk to you in person.
It's about James.
Please come.
SIRENS WAIL
KNOCKING
Lucy?
Coffee.
DOORBELL RINGS
I'll leave it here.
Ma'am? What are you?
Holly Pinder was
discovered dead in her flat
in the early hours of this morning.
Your wife has been arrested
on suspicion of murder.
Sir, I don't know what to
It's got to be a mistake.
It has to be.
Can I see her?
Erm
Why don't we just, er?
I think perhaps my office,
DI Carter.
Ma'am.
I'd just made her coffee.
It's still on the landing.
Holly's neighbours heard a fight,
called the police.
They picked up Lucy at the scene.
She had no ID on her.
She was barely communicating at all.
It wasn't until the
day shift arrived
that she finally
told them who she was.
That's when she asked to see you.
Then let me see her.
You know that can't happen.
Guv, she was found with a knife.
No, that can't be right.
This can't be real.
No, no, no, it's a mistake or a
Or a trick, or adream.
Is this a dream?
You OK?
Sir.
Henry's school.
Get someone to pick him up.
Unmarked car, no uniform.
Sir.
Er, sir
Mrs Betts-Taylor?
My name's DI Carter.
I work with your husband.
I know who you are, Detective.
I need to speak to James.
Your husband's a DCI here.
I'm sorry, but in
circumstances like this
He's still my husband.
I still have a right to see him.
And you will.
But your connection
to this department means
we have to do this by
the book, more than ever.
Lucy, I want to help you,
and him - believe me
..but that is going to
mean answering some questions
before we can move forward.
Do you think we can do that?
CAMERA BEEPS
I am DI Russell Carter.
The date is 14th of March, 2024,
and the time is 10:05.
I need to remind you,
you are still under caution.
Mrs Betts-Taylor
..did you kill Holly Pinder?
No, I did not.
Why did you go to her flat
in the middle of the night?
Er, she called me.
She wanted to talk
to me in person.
She said it was important.
Did you know her?
I knew of her.
And yet you just went?
Right then, in the middle
of the night?
Didn't wake your husband?
Didn't tell him?
No, I
I wasn't thinking.
I need to speak to James.
Why did you take a knife?
Protection.
Holly Pinder was someone you felt
you needed protection from?
No, I was
I'm a woman, I was going
alone to meet a stranger
in the middle of the night, so
She was like that when I got there.
She died in my arms.
Look, if I could just see
my husband,
speak to him just for a minute,
then I can tell you everything.
So there's more to tell?
No, I
No, I'm not saying that. I
I have been arrested
for the murdering
of one of your colleagues,
someone that you knew,
someone everyone who
saw me brought in knew.
I'm sure the only thing that's
being talked about out there,
in every single corridor.
I just need to speak to somebody
that I know, please.
Let's take a break.
You know he's the most
brilliant man I've ever met?
I'd tell him but
I think he'd just agree.
Hmm.
Irritating, isn't it?
CHUCKLES
I can't let you talk to the guv
..but I can fetch you
a glass of water.
It'll take me about two minutes.
PHONE RINGS
Hello? John, it's me.
I don't have long.
Lucy, where are you?
What's happening?
I am in an interview room.
Your DI Carter left me his phone -
not that I trust him any more
than I trust anybody else here.
You need to get me out.
Sir?
Coroner's report.
They sent me straight down here.
In two hours?
That's unheard of.
She was one of us, sir.
Why were you even there?!
Er, she called me last night.
Said she had information
about James.
Oh.
You don't sound surprised?
I don't think being
surprised is something
I'm even capable of any more.
Why on earth didn't you wake me?
Well, would you have let me go?
Of course not!
Well, there you go, then.
No, there you go, then.
You're now under arrest, and I think
I'm being held in my boss' office.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised
if they've locked me in.
You all right, sir?
Er, yes.
Can I go to the toilet?
Yes?
OK, good.
Perhaps later.
Well, I wish I hadn't done that.
You're not thinking clearly.
I need Ludwig.
What?
That's who I need right now.
To solve this.
This was deliberate.
It has to have been.
I don't even know if
it was her on the phone.
I've never actually
heard Holly speak.
You think it was them?
Yes, of course it was them!
And whoever "they" are,
"they" are here now
in this building!
For all I know, they're
right outside this door.
Any news?
We've got a problem.
What sort of problem? The sort
that would usually be anything but.
The postmortem confirms
that the knife Lucy Betts-Taylor
brought with her to Holly's flat
is the same one used in the murder.
Well, what's she said?
That she found Holly like that and
the attack had already happened.
Which is impossible.
But why would the
DCI's wife kill Holly?
It doesn't make any sense.
And did she even know her?
I don't know, Detective Sergeant.
I've no idea what to make of
Sir?
I think there's something
I need to tell you.
I don't know what else to do, Lucy!
It's unravelling.
You must be able to see that?
Our best, our only choice now
is to just to come clean,
explain everything and
What, you think they're
just going to let us go?
Do you not see
what's happening here?
They killed Sinclair,
they killed Bowen,
and now Holly!
We don't actually know
any of that for
But we know that I didn't!
John?
John, are you there?
Mrs Betts-Taylor,
in light of new information,
I'm afraid I'm going to have
to ask you to return to holding.
We'll reconvene later.
What new information?
Henry.
Son.
You'd probably better
give me a hug, or it'll
HENRY SOBS
Are you crying?
Of course I'm crying.
Course you are.
That makes sense.
Sorry.
Come and sit down.
Notify all comms.
Tell them I want a complete
media blackout on this,
do you understand?
Yes, sir.
I assure you I'm going
to try and keep this
No, don't try. Do.
I am five minutes away
from delivering a talk
on public trust in the police force
and I do not intend to
lose column inches to a story
that completely undermines it.
I bet. Do you have
any idea how many leaks
have come from your
station in the past year?
If I so much as hear
this being alluded to,
I will personally launch
an investigation myself
and stop it once and for all.
Lock it down. When the story breaks,
it needs to break with us
already having made a charge
and anyone tangentially
connected to the situation
already moved on.
And by "tangentially connected",
you mean?
I mean, an active DCI
married to the prime suspect
in the murder of a colleague,
Chief Superintendent!
Yes, sir.
DI Carter, what's happening?
We've, er
Ma'am, Constable Evans
has some information
we believe may be important.
Is she going to prison?
No.
She didn't do it.
And I'll prove it.
How?
They're not going to let you
go anywhere near the case.
You must know that?
And how much
digging till they realise
you're not even who you say you are?
What if they search the house?
You have a photo of the
murder victim pinned up
in Dad's office, next to
pictures of half a dozen
other people working here.
And a load of weird
codes and cyphers
Yes, I have, haven't I?
That is going to look a
little bit serial-killery.
Yeah, just a little!
What are we going to do?
Trust that justice will out?
Seriously.
KNOCKING
Guv, sorry to, er
Oh, no, no, no.
I realise this is a bit awkward,
for the both of us,
but I'm afraidI need to
get a statement from you.
Only, we kind of need to do it
officially, so
Er, I won't be long.
It's Henry, isn't it?
You probably don't remember me.
The last time we met was, er
Well, it was just after
you were born, actually.
Yeah, no, I don't remember that.
Henry, I'm afraid we can't
have you wandering the station,
so I'm going to have to
ask you to come with me
to the family room and stay put.
Yeah.
But if there's
anything at all you need,
please consider everyone
out there at your disposal.
Thanks.
Oh.
When you said you needed
to do it officially,
I didn't realise
I'm afraid I have some
questions to ask you
that I'm not sure you
would've wanted your son to hear.
CAMERA BEEPS
Er, please.
I am DI Russell Carter.
The date is 14th of March, 2024,
and the time is 12:14.
Is that necessary?
Guv, when I said this was
awkward, I wasn't lying.
There isn't a detective in the world
who'd want to be in my position
right now. I'd happily swap.
Trust me, if Lucy is innocent,
the only thing that's going
to help her is the truth.
DCI Taylor, what was the
nature of your relationship
with Holly Pinder?
The neighbour said What are
you standing around out here for?
Haven't we got a
crime scene to investigate?
"We", Ma'am?
Yes, Sergeant. We.
Ma'am, what are you doing here?
Well, I haven't come to perform
a limbo routine, so? Oh!
SOCO's only just left.
There's some weird
stuff in there, Ma'am.
"Weird" how?
W-Well, just that
All right.
What rumours?
Rumours from who?
From a source I trust.
Just as much as I trust you.
So you can see the
predicament that I'm in
and why I just have to
ask you this straight out.
Were you, or have you ever been,
sexually involved with Holly Pinder?
I don't know.
SIGHS
Ma'am
..do you think she did it?
She had a motive, Constable -
the oldest one in the book.
I keep thinking I've got it wrong.
Like I shouldn't have said anything.
I mean, I know what I heard,
but I just can't see it.
I mean, the boss - having an affair?
Middle-age can do
funny things to a man.
I see no reason why he'd be any
more immune to it than others.
Er, we've got a guy demanding
access outside, Ma'am.
OK.
This is ridiculous.
I don't understand
why you won't let me in.
That's her flat -
number 21, Holly Pinder!
Who are you?
Adam Newsum.
I'm her boyfriend!
Boyfriend?
Sorry, will someone please
tell me what's going on?!
Mr Newsum, when did
you last see Ms Pinder?
What? Last night.
Sorry, what's happened?
Last night? You were here?
May I ask what time you left?
I don't know! Er, midnight?
I live across town,
I had work in the morning.
But for God's sake,
would you just?
Is she OK?
Mr Newsum, I'm sorry to inform
you Holly Pinder was found dead
in the early hours of this morning.
Holly's flat is an
active crime scene,
so I'm afraid you can't be there.
I also don't think you
should be getting behind
the wheel of a car at the moment.
Officer, would you
mind running Mr Newsum
to the police station.
No questions.
We'll take a statement later.
And find him a liaison officer.
Ma'am. This way, sir.
Ma'am?
Constable?
Oh, er
Holly never once mentioned
having a boyfriend.
Holly never mentioned
a lot of things.
What is this?
She was a stalker.
I think this goes a bit
beyond stalking, Sergeant.
The guv has a twin?
Ma'am, there's a folder
here with your name on it.
Don't touch it!
Don't touch anything.
Don't press a button,
don't move a mouse.
There's files here so restricted
even I don't have access.
We need to clear out and get a
specialist team in, immediately.
Ma'am, what's going on?
Well, Holly's murder's not the only
crime that's been committed here.
How can you not know whether
or not you had an affair?
Guv?
I'm not the guv.
Russell, I'm so sorry, but
..I'm not DCI James Taylor.
I'm his brother, John.
I need to speak to James.
No, you need to speak to me.
Back in the interview room.
James?
They know.
What?
He said we know.
Ma'am! Ma'am!
All those files
Forget it.
If it doesn't relate to the murder,
forget everything you saw.
The contents of
that flat are a matter
for internal affairs now.
Ma'am, your name was
on one of the folders.
I'm aware of that, Sergeant.
Was yours?
No.
Was yours?
That's called
"plausible deniability".
I don't have it.
You do.
Whatever happens, maintain it.
Ma'am, we need to talk,
I have some very troubling news.
Not nearly as troubling
as the news we have.
Trust me, Ma'am, that is not a
bet you're going to want to take.
She said nothing else?
Only that James
disappeared a few weeks ago.
She said he left a letter
alleging he was in danger
and that she shouldn't
try to contact him.
Almost every question after
that got a "no comment".
She's paranoid as hell
and, given what
she seems to believe,
I guess that's understandable.
We're holding her for now.
And "John"?
Much the same.
Claims he just wanted access
to his brother's office,
but instead we kept sending
him off to solve murders.
If he's not a detective, what is he?
Apparently he's a
professional puzzle-setter,
goes by the name of "Ludwig".
"Ludwig"?
SIMON SCOFFS
No way! My mum's got
some of his books!
He's a!
Sorry. He's being held voluntarily.
In fact, he insisted on it.
He doesn't seem to
understand, or care,
about just how much
trouble he's in here.
His only priority is convincing us
of his sister-in-law's innocence.
Holly knew.
I don't think they
were having an affair.
I think what I overheard
was her testing him,
seeing if he knew that.
A test he failed?
She was a bloody IT consultant!
We've got four ranks
of officers in this room!
How could she work
it out and not us?!
Exactly how many cases has
your department closed
in the last fortnight?
Six, Ma'am.
It's actually a new record.
And every one will be reopened.
They'll have to be.
They could all walk free.
What are we going to do?
Your jobs, Constable.
Like it or not, you still
have a murder to solve.
As for everything
else we've discussed,
for now on, nothing
leaves this room.
If and when heads roll for this,
I intend to make sure that
yours aren't amongst them.
And yours, Ma'am?
None of your concern,
Detective Inspector.
DOOR OPENS
Where's Dad?
I think you know as well as I do
that we've absolutely no idea.
But if you're asking
where your uncle is,
he's downstairs in a holding cell.
He's under arrest?
Technically, no.
He's there voluntarily.
What?
Your mum is being held overnight.
PHONE BUZZES
Can I stay, too?
I don't want to go home.
Do you think you might be in danger?
Can you guarantee that I'm not?
We'll arrange somewhere
safe for you to stay.
If the real DCI Taylor is missing,
shouldn't we - or someone -
be investigating that?
I mean, isn't there a good chance
that that's connected to this?
More than a good chance, I'd say.
You heard the Super.
That's a can of worms we need
to kick down the road for now -
and focus on what we do have.
What do we know about the boyfriend?
Adam Newsum?
Up until today, we didn't
even know he existed.
Are we even sure they're
an actually couple?
And then there's Lucy Betts-Taylor.
That man downstairs
may not be the real guv,
but no-one can deny he
has a detective's brain.
He's known her for 40 years.
He doesn't believe she did it.
And for all the lies
he may have told
..I'm struggling to believe
he would ever protect a killer.
The evidence is so damning.
She brought the
murder weapon with her,
literally had it on her
when she entered the flat,
but claims the crime
had already occurred.
That's impossible.
Yes, well, "impossible" is a word
we've heard a lot lately, Sergeant.
Yet, in each and every case,
we've successfully
managed to prove otherwise.
No, we haven't.
I mean, it wasn't us
that did that, was it?
Well, I'd like to think we helped.
What are you thinking, boss?
I'm thinking
..that it's time you two went home.
Oh, sir, I think we'd both
agree that we'd rather stay.
I know, which is why
I'm making it an order.
OK.
Goodnight.
DOOR OPENS
DI Carter?
I'm glad you're here.
I really want to apologise for
..you know, the massive
crime I've committed.
Well, as long as you've
learned your lesson.
Sarcasm, Guv.
James.
John.
Look, it may interest you
to know that we do not believe
your brother was
involved in any form
of relationship with Holly Pinder.
Oh.
Then why did she say she was?
We're working on that.
I have two questions.
Do you truly believe that Lucy
is innocent of this crime?
Yes. And you are aware that all
the facts, and all the evidence,
suggest otherwise?
Yes.
It's quite the puzzle.
My sentiments exactly.
What's this?
Well, something that
could cost me my job.
But given that's hanging
by a thread anyway, I
I fail to see what
I've got left to lose.
Goodnight
..Ludwig.
Do you know where my dad is?
I don't, Henry.
Do you know why he disappeared?
CAROL SIGHS
I think
..because he's a good man.
That's rather cryptic.
You really are your
uncle's nephew, aren't you?
He's a good man, too, you know?
My uncle.
I don't doubt that.
Doors opening.
Coming?
How did Lucy enter the flat?
Good morning to you, too.
Er, she said the door was open.
OK, good.
Good, that makes sense.
And do you have any other suspects?
There was someone in her life.
A boyfriend, apparently.
Can you get them to the flat?
We're going to need them there.
Their reactions will be important.
I'll also need Lucy there and
Chief Superintendent Shaw.
Are you saying
you've solved the case?
Well, I wouldn't go that far,
though I do have a
strong working theory
on how Lucy didn't do it,
despite being in
possession of the murder weapon.
So
So, tell me.
I'd rather tell everyone
at the same time,
in front of witnesses.
In fact, can we ensure that DC Evans
and DS Finch are there, too, please?
No, we can't, Guv!
You're not the guv, all right?
You can't attend crime scenes
and you can't make demands.
So, if there's anything
you've spotted in here,
can you just tell me?
That's the reason I gave it
to you in the first place.
I came here to find out
what happened to my brother,
but I don't care any more.
I'm angry with him.
I have been since the very
beginning, if I'm honest.
But whatever he thinks
he may have uncovered,
Lucy and Henry should
always have come first.
Family never does in this job.
Maybe that's the difference
between you and a real detective.
Then I'm glad I'm not one.
The only thing that matters now
is proving Lucy is innocent,
which I believe I can do -
provided it's within
a controlled environment
and in front of witnesses.
Witnesses like myself,
Finch, Evans and the Super?
So you trust us, then?
I believe he's playing
the odds, DI Carter.
You've no idea who you
can trust, do you, John?
But it only takes one
of us to be on the level
so that everything you say
can't simply disappear
into the system, am I right?
Yes, Ma'am.
Can you really prove
that DCI Taylor's wife
didn't do this?
I think so.
Can you prove who did?
Wellif it all played out
the only way it could have
..then, yes, probably.
How's that? It'd be better
if we were at the actually scene.
Can't attend a crime scenes, John.
You should never have
attended a crime scene.
You do get that, don't you?
John?
Oh, hello!
Don't worry, it's good news.
They're going to let me
solve one more murder
before I go to prison.
What?
"Prison"? Sorry, who is this?
He's one of our
..consultants.
And what does he consult on?
Puzzles, actually.
And we've got a good one here.
I think I need to pace about.
Can I pace about?
Mm-hm.
Ahem! So, the puzzle is,
how was a murder
committed with a weapon
that was only brought into the scene
after the murder had been committed?
Well, that's impossible, is it?
Correct!
The murder was unplanned.
As was the presence of Lucy here,
whom Holly had telephoned
half an hour earlier,
supposedly with information
about her missing husband.
"Missing husband"?
Yes, my brother.
But that's not really relevant.
Don't worry about it.
The only important factor
here is that the killer
had no idea she was coming.
They'd arrived first,
for reasons of their own.
The flat door was left open
so I'm assuming they pretty
much barged their way in
when Holly answered it.
Whereupon an argument ensued,
spilling over into here.
Oh, this is supposed
to be a reconstruction
of the kitchen, by the way.
Is it?
Well, we only had five minutes!
Look, that's a stool
made of binders!
The murder happened here,
at which point the killer heard
someone else enter the flat
Hello?
Holly?
..and quickly hid.
Lucy comes through
Holly?
..sees the body behind
the kitchen island
..and puts the knife
that she brought with her
downhere?
Stool.
Then, like ring a ring o' roses,
she comes round this way
while the killer
Oh, Holly?!
..with the actual murder
weapon comes around this way.
I imagine their first
instinct was to run,
but then they spotted what
fate had just handed them.
And whilst Lucy was
on the floor with Holly
..they simply swapped knives
..depositing Lucy's knife here,
in this
..knife block.
A knife block from which,
only minutes earlier,
they'd snatched the
actual murder weapon.
I did hear a door slam.
DOOR BANGS
That will have been the real killer
leaving, now completely sans-knife.
Whilst you mistakenly
picked up the murder weapon.
Et voila!
How the murder
could've been committed
without Lucy doing it.
Er, could have?
Yes, well, I may not have got
every part of the sequence right,
but you get the general gist.
Erm, Constable Evans, did you?
What? Oh, yes! Hang on.
You brought the evidence up
in a bag-for-life?
Well, I thought we were
trying to be low-key?
Yeah.
There. See?
They are pretty identical.
But the ones we have at home
are a teensy bit longer,
and that's why this one
here is sticking out more.
They look the same to me.
Well, they're not.
This one is blatantly sticking more
by at least a millimetre. Trust me.
I don't suppose you'd like
to confess, would you?
Save them checking
for fingerprints?
Guv I mean, Consultant Taylor,
we've already done that.
Yes, on the murder weapon,
but that doesn't
prove anything, does it?
I'm sure a boyfriend could
come up with a dozen reason
why their prints would
be on Holly's property.
But this one?
This is Lucy's.
Her prints will be on it.
Mine will. Henry's.
Possibly my brother's if
he ever did the cooking.
He didn't. And neither do you.
Good point, perhaps mine
won't be on there either.
And what about you?
Do you think yours
might be on there?
On a knife that was brought
from another location,
by a different person,
after the murder?
It's
It'spossible.
I want
I want I want to make a deal.
Absolutely.
You tell us everything
we want to know,
and I'll see to it you
get extra pillows.
Sergeant.
Go on.
What, you?
Just this once.
Oh, hang on. Don't have the
Yeah. Please.
Adam Newsum, I'm arresting
you on suspicion of murder.
You don't have to say anything
That was terrific!
Thank you very much!
Oh, yes.
You know, for a minute there,
I almost forgot
how much trouble I'm in.
DOOR OPENS
Officers.
Am I going to a real prison now?
No, Chief Superintendent Shaw
would like to see you upstairs.
Oh.
I'm not sure if that's
better or worse.
Boss
Er, whatever you are.
..I just wanted to say that
was really good work today.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Er, Mr Taylor,
do you think you could
sign this for my mum?
He went home to get it.
Thank you, sir.
Do sit.
How's Lucy?
She's fine, as is Henry.
They're both back at home.
I said, "Take a seat."
Adam Newsum was not
Holly Pinder's boyfriend.
She employed him to do grunt work
on what she probably
considered her real job.
Real job?
Acquiring and selling information.
To who?
To whoever paid the most.
Holly Pinder has been the source
of every leak we've had here
over the past year.
She's tipped off people
under investigation,
extorted money from employees
whose emails she'd hacked,
and she sold multiple
stories to the media.
Roger Sinclair was a regular client.
I'm assuming you know all about him,
given that you have
been investigating us
for the past fortnight.
He was a journalist.
That's generous!
He was a blogger, commentator
and conspiracy theorist.
One with a surprisingly long reach.
We have no idea what
information Holly sold him.
It's been cleared from her system.
And as you've probably
already discovered,
every blog, tweet, article and post
that Sinclair ever
put out into the world
has completely vanished
from the internet.
Henry's good with computers.
He says that's really weird.
A postman saw Sinclair's body
through the window.
Your brother was first on the scene.
Within 24 hours,
I got word from on high
that a specialist team
was being brought in,
and James and his partner
were off the case.
But James didn't stop investigating.
Well, he got hold of
the amended report,
and he sat right where you are now
and told me it was all lies -
there was no robbery,
no break-in, no broken windows.
That his first instinct
was professional hit.
What did you do?
I ordered him to drop it.
And you've no idea
how much I wish he had.
Holly knew he'd been
removed from the case,
but, of course, she could also see
everything he was accessing.
Extortion was one of her sidelines
and DCI Taylor was to
be her next victim.
James would never have paid her.
Well, I'd like to think not,
but she never got that far anyway
because he left and you arrived.
And unlike the rest of us,
she clocked something
was amiss straight away -
and she's been
testing you ever since.
She was going to
blackmail me instead?
You and Lucy.
That's actually what their
meeting was supposed to be about.
It happened to fall on the
same night that her dogsbody
caught a glimpse of
their Bitcoin account
and their supposed 50/50
split was anything but.
Ma'am, why did you tell my
brother to stop digging?
The entire contents of the
Sinclair house were brought here.
Box upon box of documents, pictures,
thumb-drives
and God knows what else.
They were all eventually packed
up and sent to Scotland Yard.
They never got there.
The van did, but it was empty.
The driver and the escort
were fully investigated,
and they couldn't explain why.
Your brother was never
going to win this fight -
not when the people at
the top can move mountains
to ensure that he doesn't.
He was going to lose everything.
What happens to me now?
Tell me something, John.
Does the identical
nature of the twin thing
stretch as far has handwriting?
Your brother's resignation letter.
Lucy gave it to me.
Apparently she was supposed to
have posted it on the day he left.
Did you notice it was
unsigned and undated?
Sign it on his behalf,
would you, and add today's date?
Why? So that we have
it on record that,
up until three o'clock today,
the only Taylor who'd been
working at this station -
and solving a record
number of cases -
was the one who was
actually a detective.
And then? And then, John, you
can go back to your own life.
I learned a long time ago what I can
and I can't control in this job
..but I make it my
business to look around
and work out who the good guys are,
and then do everything in
my power to protect them.
Your brother was one.
As are DI Carter, Sergeant Finch
and Constable Evans.
So, for their sakes, if
not yours, sign the letter.
Did you sign it?
Yes.
Thank you.
Oh, er, here you go.
Oh, thanks.
Great, thanks.
I, er
I just wanted say that, you know,
outside of the whole lying
to me about everything stuff
..it's been a pleasure
working with you.
You, too, Russell.
KNOCKING
Come in.
PHONE PINGS
DCI Taylor
..I've heard your wife
has been released.
Well, yes, she didn't do it.
I see.
Come with me. I want a full report.
Erm, sorry.
I'm going home.
Excuse me?
I've actually just quit.
Here you go.
You have one new message.
Hi, John.
It's James.
You know, I thought through
100 different scenarios
for how all this might play out -
and not one of them involved
you taking on my identity
and going undercover.
That was never the plan.
How could it have been?
How could it have occurred to me
that you would ever
even leave Mum's house,
let alone travel halfway across
the country to play detective.
Look, I mean, that's not you, is it?
But now I realise
there was one variable
I never fully factored in.
Lucy.
You were always her best friend.
I may have been
the one to marry her,
but that never changed.
There's nothing you
wouldn't have done for her.
So, I need you to do
something for her now, John -
and that's tell her the truth.
Because I've been lying,
more to myself than anybody else.
Something was rotten in
the state of Cambridge
and I threw myself
into it wholesale.
I disappeared from my family's life
weeks before
I disappeared from home.
And I told myself I was
doing so in search of answers
and the greater good.
But the truth is
..I was just looking for
anything to pull me away
from a life I'd grown unhappy with.
We're identical in
almost every way, John
..but there's one major difference.
You take after Mum.
And me
..I take after Dad.
I'm the Bowerbird, John.
I'm the Bowerbird.
Hello.
Hey!
I wanted to do that at the station,
but it was a bit awkward -
what with the murderer
being there and all.
So she kept her promise?
You've signed the letter?
She let you go?
Yes. That doesn't mean
we can trust her, though.
And it doesn't mean we're
going to stop, does it?
Lucy
No, no, no!
Don't "Lucy" me in that Ludwig way.
Just because we don't have
access to the station any more
doesn't mean that Er, Mum
Oh, God, now what?
Henry, go and put
the kettle on. But
Just Thank you, please.
What do you want? All the
charges have been dropped.
Relax, I come in peace.
And with a peace offering.
What's this? That is a contract
to put you on a retainer.
It's admittedly hastily written,
but I wanted to get it out to you
before the Super changed her mind,
or someone changed it for her.
A contract? We're offering
to put John on the payroll
as a consultant.
A consultant in what?
Puzzles.
We phrased it as
"lateral problem-solving" -
but, yeah, puzzles.
Look, I recognise
this isn't a decision
you're going to want
to make on the spot,
but I do urge you to make one soon,
before the situation changes.
We don't want to lose the
best detective we never had.
Thank you.
Yes!
This is brilliant!
This means we can carry on now!
Amazing!
Oh, we can get cracking now!
I'm not taking it.
What?
What do you mean? Why?
Lucy, I'm going home.
And I think you should come with me.
Both of you.
Get away from this place -
no more conspiracies,
no more murders,
no more danger.
We could just live a life.
John, what are you talking about?
My husband is still missing.
He left you, all right?
My brother left you.
Can we all stop pretending
he didn't have a choice?
Well, of course he had a choice!
And one that I would
never have made.
John, we don't know how is.
He could be in a terrible state.
He's fine.
He's alive, well and leaving
me answerphone messages.
What?!
He left you a?
What did he say?
That he was like Dad.
He's even the same age as when he
Perhaps it's just in our DNA.
You don't believe that.
He said he was the Bowerbird.
What?
It's a bird that leaves the nest
the moment its mate lays
their eggs, never comes back.
How do you know that?
It's in that book
that James gave him,
the same one that our dad gave us.
I used to stare at that
one page in it so much,
that cartoon of the Bowerbird,
leaving the family nest,
clutching a suitcase.
I don't understand.
Why would Dad say that?
What does he mean?
It's a metaphor.
Oh, come on!
Since when did James,
or you for that matter,
ever use metaphors?
Never, they're ridiculous.
Why describe one thing
by describing another?
I never saw the sense in that,
and neither did
Oh, my God!
I'm not a genius.
I'm a complete moron.
John, are you all right?
It was so obvious!
The only thing we
ever really shared,
and it's just been sitting
there throughout all of this!
I'm so embarrassed.
What exactly is happening?
I'll tell you what's happening,
my brother knew full well
that someone else could
listen to that message.
Probably already has.
He was giving us an out -
while also giving us a clue.
That's a clue?
Not the picture, the text.
It's the source code.
It's how we solve the cypher.
First page of his notes.
First page is important.
If we crack this,
we might crack it all.
C.
F.
Well, that's not it.
There'd need to be
a vowel in between.
So, er
It can't be that complicated.
Wouldn't need to be, so
Every seventh word?
Seven was always
James' favourite number.
Who has a favourite number?
Every seventh letter
or paragraph?
No.
U.
The Taylor boys, apparently.
N.
I.
T. I think this is it.
We multiply each number by seven
and find the corresponding
word in the text.
And we take the first letter
of that word.
V.
What is it?
S-T-O
It's an address.
Number seven.
Well, the security guard
said it's on the right.
What's all this?
It's all of Sinclair's "research" -
and I use the term loosely.
It was stolen, all of it,
from the back of
a moving police van.
Even Chief Superintendent Shaw
didn't understand
how it was possible.
You think Dad stole it?
I've no idea.
But what I do know is that,
somewhere in here,
amongst all the nonsense
about fake moon landings
and false flag operations,
there's one small,
probably completely
insignificant-looking story
which even Sinclair himself
didn't realise was,
A, totally true,
and, B, important
enough to kill him over.
We have to call the Superintendent.
So it can go missing again?
Not on your nelly.
But look at it all! It'd take
a team of ten over a year
to go through all this!
Well, ten normal people.
I don't mean to blow my own trumpet,
but I'm a very fast reader.
And good at filtering out gibberish.
Does this mean
..he's staying?
Where are we going to put all this?
We'll find somewhere.
I'm just going to
say it again, sir -
is there absolutely no way that
the body could've been moved?
It wasn't.
He died here, exactly
where he was found.
He was heading to his car,
he had his keys in his hand,
he was about 20 feet away
from it and then he just
Drowned.
That's impossible!
Isn't it?
Course it is.
Five, six, seven
So, er, do you have any idea
what happened here, then, John?
Oh, well, yes.
Isn't it obvious?
James' phone has been cracked.
Who is this?
Someone set it so that you can't
withhold numbers any more.
The number that called last night,
they didn't know we could see it.
It's his old partner, Matt Neville.
He could be anywhere.
How do you know she
wasn't followed? Please!
I'm sorry.
Matt!
Something is being
covered up here,
but that all seems a bit big.
It has to be big, doesn't it?
Dad wouldn't just
abandon us if it wasn't.
I was obsessed with this thing,
particularly after Dad left.
He knew that our dad
was never coming back.
Same as I know that yours is.
I don't think this
woman likes me very much,
or James anyway.
Don't worry, I've wiped the system.
Are we really going
to keep pretending
like nothing happened between us?
You kissed me, remember -
not the other way round.
Lucy Taylor?
I'm Holly.
I work with your husband.
How did you, erm, get my number?
I need to talk to you in person.
It's about James.
Please come.
SIRENS WAIL
KNOCKING
Lucy?
Coffee.
DOORBELL RINGS
I'll leave it here.
Ma'am? What are you?
Holly Pinder was
discovered dead in her flat
in the early hours of this morning.
Your wife has been arrested
on suspicion of murder.
Sir, I don't know what to
It's got to be a mistake.
It has to be.
Can I see her?
Erm
Why don't we just, er?
I think perhaps my office,
DI Carter.
Ma'am.
I'd just made her coffee.
It's still on the landing.
Holly's neighbours heard a fight,
called the police.
They picked up Lucy at the scene.
She had no ID on her.
She was barely communicating at all.
It wasn't until the
day shift arrived
that she finally
told them who she was.
That's when she asked to see you.
Then let me see her.
You know that can't happen.
Guv, she was found with a knife.
No, that can't be right.
This can't be real.
No, no, no, it's a mistake or a
Or a trick, or adream.
Is this a dream?
You OK?
Sir.
Henry's school.
Get someone to pick him up.
Unmarked car, no uniform.
Sir.
Er, sir
Mrs Betts-Taylor?
My name's DI Carter.
I work with your husband.
I know who you are, Detective.
I need to speak to James.
Your husband's a DCI here.
I'm sorry, but in
circumstances like this
He's still my husband.
I still have a right to see him.
And you will.
But your connection
to this department means
we have to do this by
the book, more than ever.
Lucy, I want to help you,
and him - believe me
..but that is going to
mean answering some questions
before we can move forward.
Do you think we can do that?
CAMERA BEEPS
I am DI Russell Carter.
The date is 14th of March, 2024,
and the time is 10:05.
I need to remind you,
you are still under caution.
Mrs Betts-Taylor
..did you kill Holly Pinder?
No, I did not.
Why did you go to her flat
in the middle of the night?
Er, she called me.
She wanted to talk
to me in person.
She said it was important.
Did you know her?
I knew of her.
And yet you just went?
Right then, in the middle
of the night?
Didn't wake your husband?
Didn't tell him?
No, I
I wasn't thinking.
I need to speak to James.
Why did you take a knife?
Protection.
Holly Pinder was someone you felt
you needed protection from?
No, I was
I'm a woman, I was going
alone to meet a stranger
in the middle of the night, so
She was like that when I got there.
She died in my arms.
Look, if I could just see
my husband,
speak to him just for a minute,
then I can tell you everything.
So there's more to tell?
No, I
No, I'm not saying that. I
I have been arrested
for the murdering
of one of your colleagues,
someone that you knew,
someone everyone who
saw me brought in knew.
I'm sure the only thing that's
being talked about out there,
in every single corridor.
I just need to speak to somebody
that I know, please.
Let's take a break.
You know he's the most
brilliant man I've ever met?
I'd tell him but
I think he'd just agree.
Hmm.
Irritating, isn't it?
CHUCKLES
I can't let you talk to the guv
..but I can fetch you
a glass of water.
It'll take me about two minutes.
PHONE RINGS
Hello? John, it's me.
I don't have long.
Lucy, where are you?
What's happening?
I am in an interview room.
Your DI Carter left me his phone -
not that I trust him any more
than I trust anybody else here.
You need to get me out.
Sir?
Coroner's report.
They sent me straight down here.
In two hours?
That's unheard of.
She was one of us, sir.
Why were you even there?!
Er, she called me last night.
Said she had information
about James.
Oh.
You don't sound surprised?
I don't think being
surprised is something
I'm even capable of any more.
Why on earth didn't you wake me?
Well, would you have let me go?
Of course not!
Well, there you go, then.
No, there you go, then.
You're now under arrest, and I think
I'm being held in my boss' office.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised
if they've locked me in.
You all right, sir?
Er, yes.
Can I go to the toilet?
Yes?
OK, good.
Perhaps later.
Well, I wish I hadn't done that.
You're not thinking clearly.
I need Ludwig.
What?
That's who I need right now.
To solve this.
This was deliberate.
It has to have been.
I don't even know if
it was her on the phone.
I've never actually
heard Holly speak.
You think it was them?
Yes, of course it was them!
And whoever "they" are,
"they" are here now
in this building!
For all I know, they're
right outside this door.
Any news?
We've got a problem.
What sort of problem? The sort
that would usually be anything but.
The postmortem confirms
that the knife Lucy Betts-Taylor
brought with her to Holly's flat
is the same one used in the murder.
Well, what's she said?
That she found Holly like that and
the attack had already happened.
Which is impossible.
But why would the
DCI's wife kill Holly?
It doesn't make any sense.
And did she even know her?
I don't know, Detective Sergeant.
I've no idea what to make of
Sir?
I think there's something
I need to tell you.
I don't know what else to do, Lucy!
It's unravelling.
You must be able to see that?
Our best, our only choice now
is to just to come clean,
explain everything and
What, you think they're
just going to let us go?
Do you not see
what's happening here?
They killed Sinclair,
they killed Bowen,
and now Holly!
We don't actually know
any of that for
But we know that I didn't!
John?
John, are you there?
Mrs Betts-Taylor,
in light of new information,
I'm afraid I'm going to have
to ask you to return to holding.
We'll reconvene later.
What new information?
Henry.
Son.
You'd probably better
give me a hug, or it'll
HENRY SOBS
Are you crying?
Of course I'm crying.
Course you are.
That makes sense.
Sorry.
Come and sit down.
Notify all comms.
Tell them I want a complete
media blackout on this,
do you understand?
Yes, sir.
I assure you I'm going
to try and keep this
No, don't try. Do.
I am five minutes away
from delivering a talk
on public trust in the police force
and I do not intend to
lose column inches to a story
that completely undermines it.
I bet. Do you have
any idea how many leaks
have come from your
station in the past year?
If I so much as hear
this being alluded to,
I will personally launch
an investigation myself
and stop it once and for all.
Lock it down. When the story breaks,
it needs to break with us
already having made a charge
and anyone tangentially
connected to the situation
already moved on.
And by "tangentially connected",
you mean?
I mean, an active DCI
married to the prime suspect
in the murder of a colleague,
Chief Superintendent!
Yes, sir.
DI Carter, what's happening?
We've, er
Ma'am, Constable Evans
has some information
we believe may be important.
Is she going to prison?
No.
She didn't do it.
And I'll prove it.
How?
They're not going to let you
go anywhere near the case.
You must know that?
And how much
digging till they realise
you're not even who you say you are?
What if they search the house?
You have a photo of the
murder victim pinned up
in Dad's office, next to
pictures of half a dozen
other people working here.
And a load of weird
codes and cyphers
Yes, I have, haven't I?
That is going to look a
little bit serial-killery.
Yeah, just a little!
What are we going to do?
Trust that justice will out?
Seriously.
KNOCKING
Guv, sorry to, er
Oh, no, no, no.
I realise this is a bit awkward,
for the both of us,
but I'm afraidI need to
get a statement from you.
Only, we kind of need to do it
officially, so
Er, I won't be long.
It's Henry, isn't it?
You probably don't remember me.
The last time we met was, er
Well, it was just after
you were born, actually.
Yeah, no, I don't remember that.
Henry, I'm afraid we can't
have you wandering the station,
so I'm going to have to
ask you to come with me
to the family room and stay put.
Yeah.
But if there's
anything at all you need,
please consider everyone
out there at your disposal.
Thanks.
Oh.
When you said you needed
to do it officially,
I didn't realise
I'm afraid I have some
questions to ask you
that I'm not sure you
would've wanted your son to hear.
CAMERA BEEPS
Er, please.
I am DI Russell Carter.
The date is 14th of March, 2024,
and the time is 12:14.
Is that necessary?
Guv, when I said this was
awkward, I wasn't lying.
There isn't a detective in the world
who'd want to be in my position
right now. I'd happily swap.
Trust me, if Lucy is innocent,
the only thing that's going
to help her is the truth.
DCI Taylor, what was the
nature of your relationship
with Holly Pinder?
The neighbour said What are
you standing around out here for?
Haven't we got a
crime scene to investigate?
"We", Ma'am?
Yes, Sergeant. We.
Ma'am, what are you doing here?
Well, I haven't come to perform
a limbo routine, so? Oh!
SOCO's only just left.
There's some weird
stuff in there, Ma'am.
"Weird" how?
W-Well, just that
All right.
What rumours?
Rumours from who?
From a source I trust.
Just as much as I trust you.
So you can see the
predicament that I'm in
and why I just have to
ask you this straight out.
Were you, or have you ever been,
sexually involved with Holly Pinder?
I don't know.
SIGHS
Ma'am
..do you think she did it?
She had a motive, Constable -
the oldest one in the book.
I keep thinking I've got it wrong.
Like I shouldn't have said anything.
I mean, I know what I heard,
but I just can't see it.
I mean, the boss - having an affair?
Middle-age can do
funny things to a man.
I see no reason why he'd be any
more immune to it than others.
Er, we've got a guy demanding
access outside, Ma'am.
OK.
This is ridiculous.
I don't understand
why you won't let me in.
That's her flat -
number 21, Holly Pinder!
Who are you?
Adam Newsum.
I'm her boyfriend!
Boyfriend?
Sorry, will someone please
tell me what's going on?!
Mr Newsum, when did
you last see Ms Pinder?
What? Last night.
Sorry, what's happened?
Last night? You were here?
May I ask what time you left?
I don't know! Er, midnight?
I live across town,
I had work in the morning.
But for God's sake,
would you just?
Is she OK?
Mr Newsum, I'm sorry to inform
you Holly Pinder was found dead
in the early hours of this morning.
Holly's flat is an
active crime scene,
so I'm afraid you can't be there.
I also don't think you
should be getting behind
the wheel of a car at the moment.
Officer, would you
mind running Mr Newsum
to the police station.
No questions.
We'll take a statement later.
And find him a liaison officer.
Ma'am. This way, sir.
Ma'am?
Constable?
Oh, er
Holly never once mentioned
having a boyfriend.
Holly never mentioned
a lot of things.
What is this?
She was a stalker.
I think this goes a bit
beyond stalking, Sergeant.
The guv has a twin?
Ma'am, there's a folder
here with your name on it.
Don't touch it!
Don't touch anything.
Don't press a button,
don't move a mouse.
There's files here so restricted
even I don't have access.
We need to clear out and get a
specialist team in, immediately.
Ma'am, what's going on?
Well, Holly's murder's not the only
crime that's been committed here.
How can you not know whether
or not you had an affair?
Guv?
I'm not the guv.
Russell, I'm so sorry, but
..I'm not DCI James Taylor.
I'm his brother, John.
I need to speak to James.
No, you need to speak to me.
Back in the interview room.
James?
They know.
What?
He said we know.
Ma'am! Ma'am!
All those files
Forget it.
If it doesn't relate to the murder,
forget everything you saw.
The contents of
that flat are a matter
for internal affairs now.
Ma'am, your name was
on one of the folders.
I'm aware of that, Sergeant.
Was yours?
No.
Was yours?
That's called
"plausible deniability".
I don't have it.
You do.
Whatever happens, maintain it.
Ma'am, we need to talk,
I have some very troubling news.
Not nearly as troubling
as the news we have.
Trust me, Ma'am, that is not a
bet you're going to want to take.
She said nothing else?
Only that James
disappeared a few weeks ago.
She said he left a letter
alleging he was in danger
and that she shouldn't
try to contact him.
Almost every question after
that got a "no comment".
She's paranoid as hell
and, given what
she seems to believe,
I guess that's understandable.
We're holding her for now.
And "John"?
Much the same.
Claims he just wanted access
to his brother's office,
but instead we kept sending
him off to solve murders.
If he's not a detective, what is he?
Apparently he's a
professional puzzle-setter,
goes by the name of "Ludwig".
"Ludwig"?
SIMON SCOFFS
No way! My mum's got
some of his books!
He's a!
Sorry. He's being held voluntarily.
In fact, he insisted on it.
He doesn't seem to
understand, or care,
about just how much
trouble he's in here.
His only priority is convincing us
of his sister-in-law's innocence.
Holly knew.
I don't think they
were having an affair.
I think what I overheard
was her testing him,
seeing if he knew that.
A test he failed?
She was a bloody IT consultant!
We've got four ranks
of officers in this room!
How could she work
it out and not us?!
Exactly how many cases has
your department closed
in the last fortnight?
Six, Ma'am.
It's actually a new record.
And every one will be reopened.
They'll have to be.
They could all walk free.
What are we going to do?
Your jobs, Constable.
Like it or not, you still
have a murder to solve.
As for everything
else we've discussed,
for now on, nothing
leaves this room.
If and when heads roll for this,
I intend to make sure that
yours aren't amongst them.
And yours, Ma'am?
None of your concern,
Detective Inspector.
DOOR OPENS
Where's Dad?
I think you know as well as I do
that we've absolutely no idea.
But if you're asking
where your uncle is,
he's downstairs in a holding cell.
He's under arrest?
Technically, no.
He's there voluntarily.
What?
Your mum is being held overnight.
PHONE BUZZES
Can I stay, too?
I don't want to go home.
Do you think you might be in danger?
Can you guarantee that I'm not?
We'll arrange somewhere
safe for you to stay.
If the real DCI Taylor is missing,
shouldn't we - or someone -
be investigating that?
I mean, isn't there a good chance
that that's connected to this?
More than a good chance, I'd say.
You heard the Super.
That's a can of worms we need
to kick down the road for now -
and focus on what we do have.
What do we know about the boyfriend?
Adam Newsum?
Up until today, we didn't
even know he existed.
Are we even sure they're
an actually couple?
And then there's Lucy Betts-Taylor.
That man downstairs
may not be the real guv,
but no-one can deny he
has a detective's brain.
He's known her for 40 years.
He doesn't believe she did it.
And for all the lies
he may have told
..I'm struggling to believe
he would ever protect a killer.
The evidence is so damning.
She brought the
murder weapon with her,
literally had it on her
when she entered the flat,
but claims the crime
had already occurred.
That's impossible.
Yes, well, "impossible" is a word
we've heard a lot lately, Sergeant.
Yet, in each and every case,
we've successfully
managed to prove otherwise.
No, we haven't.
I mean, it wasn't us
that did that, was it?
Well, I'd like to think we helped.
What are you thinking, boss?
I'm thinking
..that it's time you two went home.
Oh, sir, I think we'd both
agree that we'd rather stay.
I know, which is why
I'm making it an order.
OK.
Goodnight.
DOOR OPENS
DI Carter?
I'm glad you're here.
I really want to apologise for
..you know, the massive
crime I've committed.
Well, as long as you've
learned your lesson.
Sarcasm, Guv.
James.
John.
Look, it may interest you
to know that we do not believe
your brother was
involved in any form
of relationship with Holly Pinder.
Oh.
Then why did she say she was?
We're working on that.
I have two questions.
Do you truly believe that Lucy
is innocent of this crime?
Yes. And you are aware that all
the facts, and all the evidence,
suggest otherwise?
Yes.
It's quite the puzzle.
My sentiments exactly.
What's this?
Well, something that
could cost me my job.
But given that's hanging
by a thread anyway, I
I fail to see what
I've got left to lose.
Goodnight
..Ludwig.
Do you know where my dad is?
I don't, Henry.
Do you know why he disappeared?
CAROL SIGHS
I think
..because he's a good man.
That's rather cryptic.
You really are your
uncle's nephew, aren't you?
He's a good man, too, you know?
My uncle.
I don't doubt that.
Doors opening.
Coming?
How did Lucy enter the flat?
Good morning to you, too.
Er, she said the door was open.
OK, good.
Good, that makes sense.
And do you have any other suspects?
There was someone in her life.
A boyfriend, apparently.
Can you get them to the flat?
We're going to need them there.
Their reactions will be important.
I'll also need Lucy there and
Chief Superintendent Shaw.
Are you saying
you've solved the case?
Well, I wouldn't go that far,
though I do have a
strong working theory
on how Lucy didn't do it,
despite being in
possession of the murder weapon.
So
So, tell me.
I'd rather tell everyone
at the same time,
in front of witnesses.
In fact, can we ensure that DC Evans
and DS Finch are there, too, please?
No, we can't, Guv!
You're not the guv, all right?
You can't attend crime scenes
and you can't make demands.
So, if there's anything
you've spotted in here,
can you just tell me?
That's the reason I gave it
to you in the first place.
I came here to find out
what happened to my brother,
but I don't care any more.
I'm angry with him.
I have been since the very
beginning, if I'm honest.
But whatever he thinks
he may have uncovered,
Lucy and Henry should
always have come first.
Family never does in this job.
Maybe that's the difference
between you and a real detective.
Then I'm glad I'm not one.
The only thing that matters now
is proving Lucy is innocent,
which I believe I can do -
provided it's within
a controlled environment
and in front of witnesses.
Witnesses like myself,
Finch, Evans and the Super?
So you trust us, then?
I believe he's playing
the odds, DI Carter.
You've no idea who you
can trust, do you, John?
But it only takes one
of us to be on the level
so that everything you say
can't simply disappear
into the system, am I right?
Yes, Ma'am.
Can you really prove
that DCI Taylor's wife
didn't do this?
I think so.
Can you prove who did?
Wellif it all played out
the only way it could have
..then, yes, probably.
How's that? It'd be better
if we were at the actually scene.
Can't attend a crime scenes, John.
You should never have
attended a crime scene.
You do get that, don't you?
John?
Oh, hello!
Don't worry, it's good news.
They're going to let me
solve one more murder
before I go to prison.
What?
"Prison"? Sorry, who is this?
He's one of our
..consultants.
And what does he consult on?
Puzzles, actually.
And we've got a good one here.
I think I need to pace about.
Can I pace about?
Mm-hm.
Ahem! So, the puzzle is,
how was a murder
committed with a weapon
that was only brought into the scene
after the murder had been committed?
Well, that's impossible, is it?
Correct!
The murder was unplanned.
As was the presence of Lucy here,
whom Holly had telephoned
half an hour earlier,
supposedly with information
about her missing husband.
"Missing husband"?
Yes, my brother.
But that's not really relevant.
Don't worry about it.
The only important factor
here is that the killer
had no idea she was coming.
They'd arrived first,
for reasons of their own.
The flat door was left open
so I'm assuming they pretty
much barged their way in
when Holly answered it.
Whereupon an argument ensued,
spilling over into here.
Oh, this is supposed
to be a reconstruction
of the kitchen, by the way.
Is it?
Well, we only had five minutes!
Look, that's a stool
made of binders!
The murder happened here,
at which point the killer heard
someone else enter the flat
Hello?
Holly?
..and quickly hid.
Lucy comes through
Holly?
..sees the body behind
the kitchen island
..and puts the knife
that she brought with her
downhere?
Stool.
Then, like ring a ring o' roses,
she comes round this way
while the killer
Oh, Holly?!
..with the actual murder
weapon comes around this way.
I imagine their first
instinct was to run,
but then they spotted what
fate had just handed them.
And whilst Lucy was
on the floor with Holly
..they simply swapped knives
..depositing Lucy's knife here,
in this
..knife block.
A knife block from which,
only minutes earlier,
they'd snatched the
actual murder weapon.
I did hear a door slam.
DOOR BANGS
That will have been the real killer
leaving, now completely sans-knife.
Whilst you mistakenly
picked up the murder weapon.
Et voila!
How the murder
could've been committed
without Lucy doing it.
Er, could have?
Yes, well, I may not have got
every part of the sequence right,
but you get the general gist.
Erm, Constable Evans, did you?
What? Oh, yes! Hang on.
You brought the evidence up
in a bag-for-life?
Well, I thought we were
trying to be low-key?
Yeah.
There. See?
They are pretty identical.
But the ones we have at home
are a teensy bit longer,
and that's why this one
here is sticking out more.
They look the same to me.
Well, they're not.
This one is blatantly sticking more
by at least a millimetre. Trust me.
I don't suppose you'd like
to confess, would you?
Save them checking
for fingerprints?
Guv I mean, Consultant Taylor,
we've already done that.
Yes, on the murder weapon,
but that doesn't
prove anything, does it?
I'm sure a boyfriend could
come up with a dozen reason
why their prints would
be on Holly's property.
But this one?
This is Lucy's.
Her prints will be on it.
Mine will. Henry's.
Possibly my brother's if
he ever did the cooking.
He didn't. And neither do you.
Good point, perhaps mine
won't be on there either.
And what about you?
Do you think yours
might be on there?
On a knife that was brought
from another location,
by a different person,
after the murder?
It's
It'spossible.
I want
I want I want to make a deal.
Absolutely.
You tell us everything
we want to know,
and I'll see to it you
get extra pillows.
Sergeant.
Go on.
What, you?
Just this once.
Oh, hang on. Don't have the
Yeah. Please.
Adam Newsum, I'm arresting
you on suspicion of murder.
You don't have to say anything
That was terrific!
Thank you very much!
Oh, yes.
You know, for a minute there,
I almost forgot
how much trouble I'm in.
DOOR OPENS
Officers.
Am I going to a real prison now?
No, Chief Superintendent Shaw
would like to see you upstairs.
Oh.
I'm not sure if that's
better or worse.
Boss
Er, whatever you are.
..I just wanted to say that
was really good work today.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Er, Mr Taylor,
do you think you could
sign this for my mum?
He went home to get it.
Thank you, sir.
Do sit.
How's Lucy?
She's fine, as is Henry.
They're both back at home.
I said, "Take a seat."
Adam Newsum was not
Holly Pinder's boyfriend.
She employed him to do grunt work
on what she probably
considered her real job.
Real job?
Acquiring and selling information.
To who?
To whoever paid the most.
Holly Pinder has been the source
of every leak we've had here
over the past year.
She's tipped off people
under investigation,
extorted money from employees
whose emails she'd hacked,
and she sold multiple
stories to the media.
Roger Sinclair was a regular client.
I'm assuming you know all about him,
given that you have
been investigating us
for the past fortnight.
He was a journalist.
That's generous!
He was a blogger, commentator
and conspiracy theorist.
One with a surprisingly long reach.
We have no idea what
information Holly sold him.
It's been cleared from her system.
And as you've probably
already discovered,
every blog, tweet, article and post
that Sinclair ever
put out into the world
has completely vanished
from the internet.
Henry's good with computers.
He says that's really weird.
A postman saw Sinclair's body
through the window.
Your brother was first on the scene.
Within 24 hours,
I got word from on high
that a specialist team
was being brought in,
and James and his partner
were off the case.
But James didn't stop investigating.
Well, he got hold of
the amended report,
and he sat right where you are now
and told me it was all lies -
there was no robbery,
no break-in, no broken windows.
That his first instinct
was professional hit.
What did you do?
I ordered him to drop it.
And you've no idea
how much I wish he had.
Holly knew he'd been
removed from the case,
but, of course, she could also see
everything he was accessing.
Extortion was one of her sidelines
and DCI Taylor was to
be her next victim.
James would never have paid her.
Well, I'd like to think not,
but she never got that far anyway
because he left and you arrived.
And unlike the rest of us,
she clocked something
was amiss straight away -
and she's been
testing you ever since.
She was going to
blackmail me instead?
You and Lucy.
That's actually what their
meeting was supposed to be about.
It happened to fall on the
same night that her dogsbody
caught a glimpse of
their Bitcoin account
and their supposed 50/50
split was anything but.
Ma'am, why did you tell my
brother to stop digging?
The entire contents of the
Sinclair house were brought here.
Box upon box of documents, pictures,
thumb-drives
and God knows what else.
They were all eventually packed
up and sent to Scotland Yard.
They never got there.
The van did, but it was empty.
The driver and the escort
were fully investigated,
and they couldn't explain why.
Your brother was never
going to win this fight -
not when the people at
the top can move mountains
to ensure that he doesn't.
He was going to lose everything.
What happens to me now?
Tell me something, John.
Does the identical
nature of the twin thing
stretch as far has handwriting?
Your brother's resignation letter.
Lucy gave it to me.
Apparently she was supposed to
have posted it on the day he left.
Did you notice it was
unsigned and undated?
Sign it on his behalf,
would you, and add today's date?
Why? So that we have
it on record that,
up until three o'clock today,
the only Taylor who'd been
working at this station -
and solving a record
number of cases -
was the one who was
actually a detective.
And then? And then, John, you
can go back to your own life.
I learned a long time ago what I can
and I can't control in this job
..but I make it my
business to look around
and work out who the good guys are,
and then do everything in
my power to protect them.
Your brother was one.
As are DI Carter, Sergeant Finch
and Constable Evans.
So, for their sakes, if
not yours, sign the letter.
Did you sign it?
Yes.
Thank you.
Oh, er, here you go.
Oh, thanks.
Great, thanks.
I, er
I just wanted say that, you know,
outside of the whole lying
to me about everything stuff
..it's been a pleasure
working with you.
You, too, Russell.
KNOCKING
Come in.
PHONE PINGS
DCI Taylor
..I've heard your wife
has been released.
Well, yes, she didn't do it.
I see.
Come with me. I want a full report.
Erm, sorry.
I'm going home.
Excuse me?
I've actually just quit.
Here you go.
You have one new message.
Hi, John.
It's James.
You know, I thought through
100 different scenarios
for how all this might play out -
and not one of them involved
you taking on my identity
and going undercover.
That was never the plan.
How could it have been?
How could it have occurred to me
that you would ever
even leave Mum's house,
let alone travel halfway across
the country to play detective.
Look, I mean, that's not you, is it?
But now I realise
there was one variable
I never fully factored in.
Lucy.
You were always her best friend.
I may have been
the one to marry her,
but that never changed.
There's nothing you
wouldn't have done for her.
So, I need you to do
something for her now, John -
and that's tell her the truth.
Because I've been lying,
more to myself than anybody else.
Something was rotten in
the state of Cambridge
and I threw myself
into it wholesale.
I disappeared from my family's life
weeks before
I disappeared from home.
And I told myself I was
doing so in search of answers
and the greater good.
But the truth is
..I was just looking for
anything to pull me away
from a life I'd grown unhappy with.
We're identical in
almost every way, John
..but there's one major difference.
You take after Mum.
And me
..I take after Dad.
I'm the Bowerbird, John.
I'm the Bowerbird.
Hello.
Hey!
I wanted to do that at the station,
but it was a bit awkward -
what with the murderer
being there and all.
So she kept her promise?
You've signed the letter?
She let you go?
Yes. That doesn't mean
we can trust her, though.
And it doesn't mean we're
going to stop, does it?
Lucy
No, no, no!
Don't "Lucy" me in that Ludwig way.
Just because we don't have
access to the station any more
doesn't mean that Er, Mum
Oh, God, now what?
Henry, go and put
the kettle on. But
Just Thank you, please.
What do you want? All the
charges have been dropped.
Relax, I come in peace.
And with a peace offering.
What's this? That is a contract
to put you on a retainer.
It's admittedly hastily written,
but I wanted to get it out to you
before the Super changed her mind,
or someone changed it for her.
A contract? We're offering
to put John on the payroll
as a consultant.
A consultant in what?
Puzzles.
We phrased it as
"lateral problem-solving" -
but, yeah, puzzles.
Look, I recognise
this isn't a decision
you're going to want
to make on the spot,
but I do urge you to make one soon,
before the situation changes.
We don't want to lose the
best detective we never had.
Thank you.
Yes!
This is brilliant!
This means we can carry on now!
Amazing!
Oh, we can get cracking now!
I'm not taking it.
What?
What do you mean? Why?
Lucy, I'm going home.
And I think you should come with me.
Both of you.
Get away from this place -
no more conspiracies,
no more murders,
no more danger.
We could just live a life.
John, what are you talking about?
My husband is still missing.
He left you, all right?
My brother left you.
Can we all stop pretending
he didn't have a choice?
Well, of course he had a choice!
And one that I would
never have made.
John, we don't know how is.
He could be in a terrible state.
He's fine.
He's alive, well and leaving
me answerphone messages.
What?!
He left you a?
What did he say?
That he was like Dad.
He's even the same age as when he
Perhaps it's just in our DNA.
You don't believe that.
He said he was the Bowerbird.
What?
It's a bird that leaves the nest
the moment its mate lays
their eggs, never comes back.
How do you know that?
It's in that book
that James gave him,
the same one that our dad gave us.
I used to stare at that
one page in it so much,
that cartoon of the Bowerbird,
leaving the family nest,
clutching a suitcase.
I don't understand.
Why would Dad say that?
What does he mean?
It's a metaphor.
Oh, come on!
Since when did James,
or you for that matter,
ever use metaphors?
Never, they're ridiculous.
Why describe one thing
by describing another?
I never saw the sense in that,
and neither did
Oh, my God!
I'm not a genius.
I'm a complete moron.
John, are you all right?
It was so obvious!
The only thing we
ever really shared,
and it's just been sitting
there throughout all of this!
I'm so embarrassed.
What exactly is happening?
I'll tell you what's happening,
my brother knew full well
that someone else could
listen to that message.
Probably already has.
He was giving us an out -
while also giving us a clue.
That's a clue?
Not the picture, the text.
It's the source code.
It's how we solve the cypher.
First page of his notes.
First page is important.
If we crack this,
we might crack it all.
C.
F.
Well, that's not it.
There'd need to be
a vowel in between.
So, er
It can't be that complicated.
Wouldn't need to be, so
Every seventh word?
Seven was always
James' favourite number.
Who has a favourite number?
Every seventh letter
or paragraph?
No.
U.
The Taylor boys, apparently.
N.
I.
T. I think this is it.
We multiply each number by seven
and find the corresponding
word in the text.
And we take the first letter
of that word.
V.
What is it?
S-T-O
It's an address.
Number seven.
Well, the security guard
said it's on the right.
What's all this?
It's all of Sinclair's "research" -
and I use the term loosely.
It was stolen, all of it,
from the back of
a moving police van.
Even Chief Superintendent Shaw
didn't understand
how it was possible.
You think Dad stole it?
I've no idea.
But what I do know is that,
somewhere in here,
amongst all the nonsense
about fake moon landings
and false flag operations,
there's one small,
probably completely
insignificant-looking story
which even Sinclair himself
didn't realise was,
A, totally true,
and, B, important
enough to kill him over.
We have to call the Superintendent.
So it can go missing again?
Not on your nelly.
But look at it all! It'd take
a team of ten over a year
to go through all this!
Well, ten normal people.
I don't mean to blow my own trumpet,
but I'm a very fast reader.
And good at filtering out gibberish.
Does this mean
..he's staying?
Where are we going to put all this?
We'll find somewhere.
I'm just going to
say it again, sir -
is there absolutely no way that
the body could've been moved?
It wasn't.
He died here, exactly
where he was found.
He was heading to his car,
he had his keys in his hand,
he was about 20 feet away
from it and then he just
Drowned.
That's impossible!
Isn't it?
Course it is.
Five, six, seven
So, er, do you have any idea
what happened here, then, John?
Oh, well, yes.
Isn't it obvious?