A Touch of Frost (1992) s06e03 Episode Script

Right, must be off.
Rachel's making supper for us.
It'll keep, won't it? And Bryony, she should be home by now, so no I'd better dash.
Oh one more? Oh no, tomorrow.
I'll see you.
Laurence.
(Footsteps) Supper's ready.
Great, I'm starving.
Mum not back yet? No, she shouldn't be long though.
Right.
I'll have a quick wash.
(Phone ringing) Frost.
Right.
I'm on my way.
Hit and run? The man who found her is a neighbor.
Says her name is Bryony Darrow.
And what about the medics, what did they say? Injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle of some sort.
But she's missing her shoes.
And there's no handbag.
Right, well you go with her.
Make sure you talk to the doctor about a full examination.
And get them to bag her clothes up.
Sorry Rachel, it's just that I'm not all that hungry.
At least you turned up on time.
She must have forgotten, that's all.
She promised.
Do you think something's happened to her? No.
No.
She'll probably turn up in a minute.
Hang on just a minute.
I'd like a word with him.
How are you, sir? Feeling better? My head's still ringing.
Well, we'll get you down to hospital, down to casualty, get it checked.
Yeah, could be concussion or something.
If you want to ask me some questions first though, you know, you can.
Oh could I, Well that's very nice of you, thank you.
I was thinking about doing that myself.
So, you said there were two of them? That's right.
They had balaclavas and they had a shotgun.
A sawn-off.
All right, go on, tell me exactly what happened.
I was reading the paper.
They just burst in.
I didn't know what was going on.
I jumped up and Whuh! They got me right in the guts.
I couldn't breathe.
Then it's, I felt the lip go.
Smack in the face.
Can you tell me anything about either of them? You know, you really can't breathe when somebody hits you like that.
I was just mouth open, nothing.
And then It would be really helpful if you could tell me anything about either of them.
Well, the one who hit me he had a plaster on his wrist oh, look it's bleeding again, now that's talking, that is.
Thank you, yes.
Which wrist, right or left? Oh I can't remember.
Sorry, love.
I fell asleep watching the telly.
I'm surprised she hasn't rung yet.
Are you worried? No, no.
Have you left her some food? She can microwave it.
Might not be a straightforward hit-and-run.
She's been run over.
But she could have been robbed.
She could have been raped.
I'm about to go and tell the husband what's happened.
So, what were they? Short, tall, fat, thin, what? One was my height.
The other was ginormous, I've never seen anything like it.
Yeah right, go on then.
What happened then? They tied my hands.
Shoved me in a corner.
Started on the safe.
When you say they started on the safe.
What did they do exactly? Oh, they knew what they were doing.
They got the safe out of the wall, onto the floor.
bending it or peeling it or something.
That's what they said anyway.
Did they say anything else? Too busy.
That's why they didn't notice me freeing my hands, I suppose.
I'll have to have my wrists seen to and all.
I could feel that rope.
It was cutting through.
It had almost rubbed all the skin away.
I just kept on though.
You ignore the pain.
Yeah well of course you would.
Is that when you pressed the panic button, was it? That's it.
We thought we'd have that installed for the payroll, Fridays.
Insurance.
But the payroll wasn't in the safe tonight? No.
Paid out.
It was the takings from this big promotions thing the brewery's giving.
I see.
Well that's when they decided to leave it.
Gave me a bit of a kicking for my trouble.
And off.
I was in a bit of a state then, of course.
I still managed to get to the window.
I saw them drive off in a white van.
A white van, now that is helpful.
Did you get the number.
No.
Must have rattled them, though.
The other thing is, as they were coming back down the stairs here, their gun went off.
You heard a gunshot? Are you sure? Sure.
It was a gun going off.
A gunshot.
Sir? Mr.
Frost? Yes? We've found some spots of blood at the back of the loading bay over there.
Have you really? Right, would you take this gentleman to hospital, to casualty, and while you're there phone round all the other casualty departments, find out if anyone's been admitted with a gunshot wound.
Thank you very much for your help sir.
Richard Darrow? Yes.
Detective Sergeant Sharpe, Denton CID.
It's about your wife.
We can only wait, hope the swelling subsides.
When do you think she might.
.
regain consciousness? If the pressure on her brain persists I'm afraid she might remain like this.
It's really that bad then, is it? That's what being in a critical condition means I'm afraid.
It's touch and go.
Right.
Is there anything else you want to tell us? She took most of the impact from this vehicle, whatever, just behind the right leg.
There are head injuries from striking the vehicle and the surface of the road.
Beyond that, bruising, scratches.
To the arms and thighs.
Dr.
Jones did notice something else.
I'm no detective, but I did notice before we cleaned her up Some of the scratches She'd obviously tried to cover them, hide them, with make-up.
Oh, right.
And her feet were quite badly cut, badly bruised.
She was running in the road, you suspect? We don't know.
Well we don't know anything yet.
There is evidence of sexual activity, for the record.
I asked Dr.
Jones to take a sample for forensic.
(Car horn blowing) Sergeant Sharpe.
What are you doing here? I got sent over from Do you think you can Yes, but that's my car parking space.
Sorry, guv.
My car.
What are you doing here? I got sent over from Fyfield.
Toolan's gone down with the flu.
Oh, has he? Well if you stand there much longer you'll be joining him, won't you? Right, Iarge bulldog clip.
Have you got one? Sorry, guv, no.
Well thank you very much for looking.
I'll think of something.
Now then, I know.
There you are.
What is it you're doing? I've got leaky shoes.
Noticed it last night.
Wouldn't it be better to have them repaired properly? Don't get the time, do I? Anyway, I always seem to loose the old chitty thing.
Anyway, it's all right, I can repair them myself.
So I see.
Good morning.
Morning.
Unusual to see you here on a Sunday, sir.
This armed robbery, any thoughts? Yes I think I know who our man is.
Leo Armfield.
Nice cardy.
Armfield? Well you'd better be sure about this.
You don't need me to remind you what happened last time.
No, no.
He knows how to handle a safe.
He drives a white van.
And he's got a tattoo on his wrist, in the same place where our blagger had a sticking plaster.
Yes, well just make very sure you conduct this investigation properly.
If you're right, I don't want him getting off and us getting into any more trouble.
Neither do I as it happens, sir.
Good.
Just keep me informed, will you? All right sir, thank you.
Morning.
Sir.
Hmmm About anyone being treated for gunshot wounds the other night.
Right.
Locally, nothing.
But when I tried further a field I found out that Birchfield General admitted someone with a gunshot wound to the foot.
And I know who it is.
Leo Armfield.
Yeah.
Come on Leo, open up.
Now! I've told you I can't.
Do come in, won't you? I told you I'd break it down, didn't I? I'll have to call the council now, have them send someone round to fix it.
Oh yeah? How's the foot? Bad is it? Yeah, it's terrible.
(Phone ringing) Excuse me.
Hello? He'll have to call back now, won't he? You are keen to talk to me, aren't you? Yes.
But before you start, put the kettle on, eh? I told you Karen's off at the shops and I need another remote don't I.
Make the tea.
Flush the toilet.
Let the filth in.
All right, I'll make the tea Leo.
Down at the nick, get your coat.
Ohh Yes.
I see.
Thank you.
No change.
She'll be okay, love.
She will.
It really gets up your nose that I got off again, doesn't it? What was it the judge said? Serious concerns about the way the case was investigated.
No, I wasn't there.
How many people in this room? What? I said how many people in this room? Three.
What's that got to do with anything? I just wanted to hear what it sounded like when you weren't lying, for a change.
Now come off it, you were in hospital having your tootsies sewn back on half an hour after the robbery, and I don't believe in coincidences.
Well you can believe what you like, but if you seriously think I'd use my own van on a job and then just to cap things off, shoot myself in the foot.
Then you're even more stupid than I thought.
Got an alibi, have you? As it happens, yeah.
I was out with a mate.
He was doing a bit of pest control at the wood yard where he works.
He tripped over a log, and his gun went off.
Yeah, he was here.
And what exactly were you shooting, Mr.
Garmon? Magpies.
Pigeons.
We shoot vermin round here.
Tell him to switch if off will you, I can't hear myself think.
Can you switch it off? What? Switch your bloody pencil sharpener off! Go and have a look round.
See if you can see anything.
Can't hear yourself think with this thing going can you? And I think that's your problem, Mr.
Garmon.
Otherwise you wouldn't be so uncooperative.
I can always ask these questions down at the nick if you like? Does work doesn't it? Right, what time was this? When we were shooting? Yes.
Late evening, just before dark.
Does Leo often go shooting with you, does he? Yes.
Is he a friend of yours, is he? Yeah.
Well this friend of yours told me that he had a bit of an accident that night.
Oh yeah.
Tripped over a log, gun went off.
Leo caught a bit of it in the foot.
All right.
There you are, see? Easy when you try, isn't it? Well, they may have got their stories straight, but it's that blood on the brewery floor that will clinch it.
And then we've got him bang to rights.
What's that, it's not that nicotine stuff is it? No, it's just ordinary chewing gum.
Thanks.
It's not your last one I hope? Yeah, it is actually.
Where was he last night? The pub here, I think.
Horse and Groom.
I didn't really ask.
Well you really should have.
I had to tell him his wife had just been seriously injured in an accident.
Yeah, well it doesn't look like an accident, does it? They rang about half an hour ago, the hospital.
They said there'd been no change.
She's in good hands.
But who would do a thing like this? Does she have a diary, or an address book? That might be a help.
She keeps them in her handbag.
Where is the handbag? She had it with her.
Why, is it missing? Yes, yes it is.
Did you say that Bryony works? Yes, she's a fund raiser for a charity in London.
Part time, three days a week.
Overseas aid.
That's Bryony all over.
She's always helping people.
Have you got the address? I'll get her card.
What sort of state would you say your marriage was in, sir? Good, very good.
Why? Look I love her.
Look we're really very close, ask anyone.
Where were you last night, sir? I went to the pub for a drink, then I came back here for supper.
And what time would that be exactly? After nine.
We had supper together.
Ah, thank you.
Is there no office number? Bryony was always out and about so people contacted her on her mobile.
How was she planning to get back last night? Well she'd ring a taxi, or me, I'd go and pick her up.
I see.
Look, you will get whoever did this, won't you? Oh, yes.
Last night, I was annoyed when Mum didn't come home when she said she would.
I feel really bad about it now.
We all get annoyed with people sometimes, Rachel.
You know, even people we love.
We don't mean anything by it.
Just remember that she's in good hands.
The best.
Sir? Message from forensic.
They've analyzed the blood from the brewery.
Armfield.
If he's a cat.
Yes, just give us a bit of room.
Thank you.
So we now know that Bryony did have a handbag with her.
So we are still looking for that.
And as for this charity that she was supposed to be working for, well, so far it doesn't seem to exist.
So ask anyone who says they know her if she ever talked about where she worked.
Well could she have had a lover? What, three times a week? Anyway, so we start in Churcham, and work our way outwards.
And we're looking for anybody who was out and about last Saturday night who saw anything.
Yes, or heard, or maybe heard anything.
Now as for Bryony Darrow.
She was supposed to meet a friend or friends for drinks and then she was going home for supper.
Now we do know that her husband dropped her off in the town center.
So here in Denton I want a troll of all the pubs, the bars even the shopping center cafeterias.
All right, go on.
Oh yes, I've provided a list of places that she's known to have visited in the past.
So come on, let's have some witnesses.
That's what we want.
Ah-ah-ah, not yet children.
It's not playtime.
The armed robbery, at Trenchard's Brewery.
Now we do know that the white van that was involved was stolen from the car park in Bridge Street yesterday morning.
So, we want to find anyone who saw that.
Well come on then, what are you waiting for.
Chop chop.
Right, well I think that went quite well, didn't it? Is that right your nickname is Razor? Yeah, Razor Sharpe.
I warned you Jack, remember? He's laughing at us.
I will not have the likes of Leo Armfield doing that.
He was a suspect, and I still think he's involved.
Perhaps if you hadn't gone charging in.
What do you mean, charging in? Literally, breaking the door down.
What was I supposed to do, stand there and wait? In a word, yes! It wants to go down a bit on the left.
The fact is there's nothing to link him to the Trenchards robbery, nothing at all.
And we are now in a position where taking any further action against him would lay us wide open to charges of harassment.
Still wants to go down a bit on the left.
He's already contacted the News.
I've had Sandy Longford on the telephone.
We're playing right into his hands.
You played right into his hands, Jack.
Ah well, is that all? No.
Not quite.
I think perhaps we should accept the fact that we've been taught a lesson here.
We mustn't allow your desire to see Armfield apprehended cloud our judgment.
We'll back off for the time being.
Clear? Very.
Sir.
What's clear is he's frightened of the thought of a little bit of bad publicity.
And Armfield's sticking to his story.
Yeah, and wants to tell his story to Sandy Longford.
Garmon tripped over a log and his gun went off, my foot.
Anyway, It's not let's get out there and finally nail the sods, now it's equal rights for the scumbags, Iet's not.
Bryony Darrow Go on, I'm listening.
We've had quite a few people in Churcham mention an Owen Kimble.
Bit of weirdo apparently.
In the habit of wandering through the woods Iate at night.
They say if anybody saw anything, he did.
Well let's see then, shall we? Mind you if Armfield slips up just once more, I'm having him.
Mullett may have given up on him, but I haven't.
Come on.
Hang about.
Stay here and finish your fag.
I want a quick word with Ernie.
All right, Ernie? Hello, Jack.
This attempted armed robbery at Trenchards, I've been thinking.
Hardly an obvious target, wouldn't you say? True.
I mean the only reason there was any money in the safe anyway was because of this promotion they're running.
And to go in tooled up with a sawn off is a bit OTT.
I mean it's not like it was Fort Knox, is it? Didn't have to go about it like that.
No.
Add in a bit of violence and the fact that they knew what they were doing with the safe and you've got a rather unusual MO.
Don't you think? I take it you want me to dig around and see if I can come up with anything? How did you guess? Thank you, Ernie.
It's all right, Jack.
Hey Razor come on! You must have finished that fag by now.
What do you two want? My room.
That's Owens.
What about the garden? Mine.
He's got the whole of the woods, I told him.
That where he is now, is he? Nothing wrong with him going up the woods whenever he wants.
No, no, not at all.
Is that where he went last Saturday night? He was here with me.
It must be difficult, you know He's my brother, I love him.
Yes, but he's got problems though, hasn't he? Since he got out.
He's not the only one who's found it difficult to adjust, you know.
And he's not the only soldier who's had problems since the Gulf either.
No, I know.
No you don't.
He cleaned the oven with a toothbrush the other day.
If he's not cleaning, tidying, polishing, the only place he's really happy is at the woods.
What does he do up there? Not a lot.
Watches stuff.
Birds mostly.
Used to collect owl pellets when he was a kid.
Owl pellets? Fur and bits of bone.
From the mice and that, that they eat.
They urrrghh, sort of puke it back up.
They can't digest it.
So he doesn't work at all, then? What do you think? He thinks there are people out to get him too.
He has nightmares.
Sometimes he just won't speak.
What does your doctor think about all this? None of your business.
Now don't you think that's enough questions, eh? Yes.
Thank you for your help, Emily.
All right, come on let's go.
I took that in the Lake District last summer.
It's the one with the boats in the background, remember? Have something to eat.
Look at her.
Dad.
On the front of the newspaper.
Please eat something.
Are we going to see Mum today? Dad? Sorry uh, sorry I have to do something, have to do some work.
Well, can you give me a lift then, drop me off? Drop you off? At the hospital.
No, I'll go.
We'll both go.
You stay here.
Why, I want to see her.
I don't want you see her.
Not like she is.
Look, I'll go, okay? I am old enough.
I know, I know.
Look just let me go, all right? Those court papers, and the Ashworth's divorce stuff you asked for.
Thank you, Alison.
And What? There's a woman been knocked down in a hit-and-run.
Bryony Darrow.
Weren't we doing something for her? Critical.
I don't know what to do.
What can I say to Rachel, our daughter? You can never be certain about these things.
She can't hear us, can she? I very much doubt it, but again you can never be absolutely sure.
If she regains consciousness could there be brain damage? We have to consider that possibility.
But you still don't know if she'll regain consciousness at all? No.
She might even die.
I am sorry, Mr.
Darrow.
We are doing everything we can for her.
I don't know what to do.
If you and your daughter talk to her, it can only help.
Come on Bernard.
You're no use to me as a snout if you never tell me anything.
I haven't brought you up here so you can stick your nose in my chips.
Honest, I haven't heard anything.
Maybe Armfield didn't do it, eh? Come on, pull the other one.
There is one thing though.
Yeah? You're not going to like it.
He has been, you know, saying a bit round some of the pubs.
What do you mean, saying a bit? Round some of the pubs.
Go on, what's he been saying? You're not going to like it.
How do I know if I'm going to like it or not if you don't tell me what it is? He says you're an incompetent you know, I won't use the exact words.
Cost him a few quid down the Black Swan though, Iandlord's got a swear-box on the bar.
Yeah, I bet it did.
Any nuggets left, are there? Look at that, look! Stop the car! Stop it! What's the matter? Beds in there are half price.
Go on pull over, pull over, come on.
Now the thing is, I don't really know what I want.
I mean do I want a double, or king size? Knowing my luck, I'll end up with a single.
I hadn't realized you hadn't kitted the house out yet.
Well, when do I get time? Anyway, I wasn't quite sure if I was going to stay there.
You know, the old house.
Full of memories, it is.
So where've you been sleeping then? On a sofa bed.
It's the first thing I bought.
Right, Iet's see what this is like.
Having to unfold the bed first is not going to do my love life much good, is it? (Phone ringing) Yeah, Sharpe? Yep.
Ah, right.
Okay I'll tell him.
Forensic.
They've been examining the blood stains on Bryony Darrow's clothing.
Apparently not all the blood was hers.
Some of it came from a rabbit.
A rabbit? Hey, didn't some people say that Kimble liked to do a spot of poaching? Yeah, they did.
Well, whatever else he did he was there at some time that night.
He knows something.
Just browsing.
This is Mum's solicitor, Dad.
Her solicitor? Yes.
Graham Rutherford.
I'm acting for your wife in a compensation case at the charity.
One of those fundraiser's.
I see.
There are a few papers.
Bryony's in the hospital.
I know, I'm sorry.
It's a bad time to call.
Later perhaps? Kimble.
He doesn't drive though, does he? They're saying she might have been attacked.
Could have run in front of a car.
You mean he might have attacked her first? Yeah, wait till you see him skulking about night, gives me the creeps.
I reckon he's a bit of a peeping-tom if nothing else.
Is that what the coppers said? Well they said it was a possibility.
We should have had them onto him years ago.
Bloody psycho.
What are these? What do you think they are? Where is he? There he is.
Tell the others.
I'll tell the police.
The people in the pub will come too.
Just leave it to us sir, will you? Uniform, you two uniform, go on get after him! Leave him alone! Where's the keys? Where's the keys, give them to me.
You mad bitch! You mad bitch! You stupid old sod! I don't know what the two of you are doing here anyway! He's hasn't done anything! What's he done that brother of yours? He's done nothing! Used to watch birds here.
And now? Come here just to get away.
Be on my own.
If there's a war I'll live off these woods.
Why did you run? Kimble, Private, Owen, did you go out that night? Squirrel, gone up that tree.
It's questions, isn't it? It's nothing but questions.
I know, I get sick of asking them myself.
I was home with Em.
You ought to get your brakes re-lined.
It's direct questions he doesn't like.
Seems to remind him of interrogation, so you've got to handle him very carefully.
You said it yourself.
He must know something.
Apart from the fact that he hasn't got a car, he hasn't got any fingernails either.
He bites them.
So if you think about it, Bryony Darrow had fingernail marks on her wrists and her arms.
Okay, so you don't think that he attacked her.
But he could have found the body, stolen the handbag.
Yes, well, I won't put the thumbscrews on him just yet.
I'll question him again later.
When he's had a chance to think things over.
Yes, and perhaps you should think things over too, Jack.
It would appear that Kimble is all you've got to go on at the moment.
When Katherine had her paper route, I told her, you're not delivering anything there.
He worried me even then.
Freaks, both of them.
They are weird, aren't they? Their mother was weird.
They're weird.
Called me a stupid old sod.
Mad bitch.
She's as crazed as he is.
What do you think he did to Bryony? Well, he hasn't got a girlfriend, has he? And God knows what starts to go through his head when he's out there in the woods.
Might have got a bit excited that night, saw her walking down the road.
Maybe from behind and Richard.
Alright? Yes.
I am sorry to bother you.
It's about that compensation case.
It really is important I find those papers.
Well you'd better come in and look for them then.
Thank you.
I'll look next door.
Thanks.
No.
She didn't keep a list of contacts, by the way? Anything like that? Not that I know.
Don't you know? No.
How well did you actually know my wife, Mr.
Rutherford? Not very, you know.
No, I don't know.
Tell me.
Not very.
Professionally? In passing? Socially? Biblically perhaps? No.
You bastard! You were having an affair with her, weren't you? No! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Yeah, we're watching you.
We're also watching your neighbors don't do anything.
Like the shoes the bag was found in a ditch so I've ordered another search of the whole area.
Good.
The purse had only got some small change in it.
I think Kimble took the rest, then just tossed the bag away.
And you still think that he didn't attack her? I'm sure he didn't.
He steers clear of everyone.
But there is one thing I'm fairly sure of.
Bryony Darrow had got a lover.
Yes, well it doesn't exactly look as though she was planning a leisurely evening's shopping, does it? I can't seem to concentrate on anything at the moment.
I know it must be difficult for you, sir.
I've been to the hospital of course.
For hours with Bryony.
I keep hoping it might be like you hear about.
You know she might understand something that I say to her.
But I don't think she can.
There's nothing.
So I thought I'd come home.
Do a bit of work.
Try and take my mind off things.
Sir, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you some difficult questions.
So you'll forgive me if I'm being a bit blunt.
Was Bryony having, or ever had had an affair? An affair? We're just trying to find out where she went on the night of the accident, you know, who she saw.
So far we've drawn a blank.
But maybe we're just clutching at straws.
Yes well I think you are.
I'm afraid I've got an even more sensitive question to ask you.
Did you and Bryony make love on the night of the accident.
No.
Why? Kimble found her didn't he? That's why you're asking this, isn't it? What happened? What did he do to her? What did you do to her, eh? What did you do? You should clear on out of here if you know what's good for you Kimble.
Walk away, that's right.
Walk away.
They're coming back, you know.
The police.
They know about you.
We all know about you! (Car horn) Oi! Oi! You posh git! Leave us alone.
Owen, come here Owen! My wife's lying hospital and you're still here.
Are you listening to me? He's done nothing.
Leave us alone! Owen! There's nowhere you can hide Kimble.
You're going to get what's coming to you.
Do you hear me? Move! What do you think you're doing, eh? You ought to be worried about what he's done.
Ask him what he's done! He's done nothing, do you hear me? What are you protecting him for, eh? He's fought for this country.
And you people treat him like dirt.
He is dirt.
You're going to get it.
Farmer found it, handed it in.
Thank you, WPC Holland.
Don't mention it.
Got a bit of fresh air.
Got to see Harris slip up in a cow pat.
What is it? Building society passbook.
Bryony's.
Dear, there's loads of money in it.
Yeah? Yeah.
And she's been paying in ever so regularly.
In cash.
Prostitution? It fits the pattern.
It's worth pursuing.
This is a touch fanciful, don't you think? From the possibility that she has a lover, to prostitution? And why? She is, need I remind you, happily married, by all accounts, by your account, and she certainly doesn't need the money.
No, well, maybe she needs something else.
Look, I'm only trying to put things together.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't know, I've just got this feeling.
I see, you go in feet first with Armfield, you go easy on Kimble, and now this.
Well I suppose I should to be grateful that your unique insights weren't lost to us, Jack.
Owen! Owen! Owen! Owen, can you stop now? What's the matter with you? Take care of your kit, you kit takes care of you.
Owen? I'm not scared of them.
Them out there? No, they're scared of you.
I've just about had enough though.
I want to be left alone.
I'm helping you.
I've been holding myself back, I have.
I know you have.
Owen? You're not going to do nothing stupid.
You haven't done anything stupid, have you? You haven't, have you? I'm going to bull my boots now.
Watch the telly.
Sir, there's someone to see you at the front desk.
You said if there was anything you could do.
I was going to call you to talk.
Well, you can.
Why have you upset my dad? He's in a right state.
He told me all the things you'd been saying.
Now listen, Rachel Why don't you just catch whoever put my Mum in hospital, eh? Why don't you just do that? She started the job when I started at Denton High.
Wanted more of a life for herself, I think.
But she never works when I'm off school.
If I'm on holiday, she says, so's she.
She's like a friend really.
You're very lucky.
Yes, I am.
Did you often go to London with her? Quite a few times.
Showed you where she works, did she? No shopping usually.
Anyway, she doesn't often work in the office.
I see.
Dad says she might have brain damage.
I won't lie to you Rachel, your mother is in a serious condition.
She's critical.
I can't talk to Dad about what's happening.
No, well I've never seen him like he is.
He's worried about brain damage.
I'm worried about him.
Keep an eye.
Filing, Jack? Hmm? Oh, yeah.
That little job you asked me about? Er, what was that? Oh, you mean the OTT blaggings where shouldn't have been a blagging in the first place.
Don't tell me you've got something? I have.
Here you are.
Good man.
Now quite a few cases fit your criteria exactly.
But what's really interesting is, on the two occasions they haven't pulled it off, once the burglar alarm went off, once they were simply disturbed by someone, they went back a second time.
Finished the job.
Really.
It's one obsession after another with you, isn't it? Well try to think of it as dogged persistence, Sir.
The link between the attempted armed robbery at Trenchards and these are somewhat tenuous, don't you think? Well, you told me to lay of Armfield, so I had to take a different tack.
Well this will involve a major stakeout operation.
Even if they are linked, what guarantee is there that the perpetrators, Armfield or otherwise will actually return.
There's no guarantee.
But it is a chance.
And if they do come back I reckon it'll be on Friday or Saturday night when the money's in the safe from the promotions.
All right then, let's hope you're right.
Right, thank you.
Now, if I may, Bryony Darrow.
Yes, sir? I'm not sure you should be interviewing the daughter in some local park.
I didn't interview her.
Look, she just wanted to talk.
I am quite prepared to accommodate your theories Jack, as I hope I have just made abundantly clear, but just take care how you choose to substantiate them.
Hello, Paula.
Business? Police business.
I just want you back, Mum.
I wish there was something you could do, squeeze my hand, blink, anything, so I know you can hear me.
I love you, Mum.
Rachel.
I've got to go.
I'll see you tomorrow.
My taxi? Outside.
You won't tell my Dad? Not if you don't want me to.
Please don't.
Don't worry.
He still thinks I'm his little girl.
He just wants to protect you.
I can't stay at home, and not see her at all.
I know.
I just want her back.
Read about her in the paper.
Hit-and-run.
How is she? Not very good.
Do you know anything about her otherwise? Apart from what you've read in the paper? Anything in this for me, is there? Well I bought you those.
And I'll do the usual.
Turn a blind eye.
Yeah, I know her.
And is she? On the game? Would you be asking me otherwise? Yeah, she is.
All right.
Go on.
Tell us what you want to know, then I'll tell you what I know.
I want to know everything I can.
I don't know anything about this other life.
I see her on the train quite often.
On the train? To London.
That's where she works? She's got a flat.
Live-in maid.
Doesn't know I know.
I've got this mate that works in a block opposite.
I've smiled at her once or twice.
Doesn't want to know.
Fair enough, I mean some girls don't.
She not like the rest of us away day ladies.
No? That's what I'm saying.
She's 'upmarket'.
Probably thinks I'm a right slag.
Probably right.
You're all right, Paula.
Always have been.
Yeah.
I was shocked when I heard though.
Apart from anything else you always wonder, I mean was it an accident? I know.
I wasn't surprised that she was married though.
And Churcham? It's hardly money-in-the-meter land, is it? That didn't surprise me either.
But that's the thing about girls like her in my experience.
They're not always in it for the money.
I don't understand them.
If I didn't have to do this I wouldn't bloody do it.
I can't remember the last time I went to London.
The smoke.
No, hang on, it was during the sales.
Yeah, that's right, year before last.
Took Ann.
The wife.
Anything you'd like to see while we're down there? You know, Big Ben, Thames Barrage? The Millennium dome? I was just saying.
Yes I know, well don't worry, let's get going open up.
Yeah, it's open.
Right.
Cigarettes, chocolate, chewing gum.
Petrol.
We're closed.
We're the police.
Right then, so you are? The maid.
Marion.
Maid Marion.
Really.
My name is Marion.
What is it you want? And you are maid to? What is all this about then? She's the only girl who works here, if that's what it is.
No it isn't.
She hasn't done anything that is against the law.
This is a respectable house.
I'm sure it is.
Now, what is the name of the girl who works here? Magenta.
Magenta.
That's not her real name.
You live here, I believe.
I live here, yes.
The girl owns it.
Nothing wrong with that either.
Bit of a funny arrangement, isn't it? I have to live somewhere.
What is it you want? Is this 'Magenta'? Yes.
Do you know her real name? Of course I do.
Well we're here because we've got some bad news.
Bryony is in hospital.
What? Who? Bryony.
Bryony Darrow.
Natalie.
Her real name's Natalie.
This is Natalie.
What's happened to her? Tea? Thank you.
Course I'm upset.
Course I am.
You're very close then? Go back a long way.
Been through a lot.
She looks after me.
Do you know if she, works from home at all? Home? As I said we're from Denton CID, we're not from the MET.
Denton? You do know that's where she lives? No.
Are you trying to tell me that you don't know anything about her life away from here? She'd never let me.
Said she'd only, all this only if I didn't ask.
How critical is critical? She's not off the danger list.
Oh no.
You mean she's going to die.
I don't understand.
She owns this flat.
You work for her.
I'm her mother, alright.
I'm sorry, what did you say? I'm her mother.
She said she would provide for me.
So, you were right.
Yes.
I wish I'd been wrong really.
Yes, it'll be hard on her, and on her family.
Still, better this than mere speculation.
Thank you very much.
Changed her name by deed poll.
Her real name is Natalie Williams.
And, according to the Met, she has a record of prostitution.
Have you worked out what you are going to say? No not really.
Mr.
Darrow, I think it would be better if I talked to you on your own.
I'm not leaving.
She's my Mum.
I've got a right to know.
Just go on.
Well there's not easy way of breaking this to you.
I wish I didn't have to tell you.
Oh, for God's sake.
Mr.
Darrow, your wife Bryony has been working as a prostitute.
What? A prostitute? Yes, I'm sorry.
Where? In London.
There was no charity job.
That was just a blind.
Dad! Leave him, Rachel.
Just leave him.
You're wrong.
I'm sorry.
It's not true.
You've made a mistake.
No.
But how? Why would she? Rachel.
Your mother loves you, right? Yes.
And you love your mother, yes? Then that's all that matters.
Then mum wasn't having an affair? I understand that you and Mr.
Darrow had a bit of a fight.
Why didn't you report it? It was my fault.
Oh? I shouldn't have called when I did.
He was under a lot of pressure.
Sounds as though it was a serious assault.
Did he say that? Did he accuse you of having an affair with his wife? Yes.
And were you? No.
She's merely a client.
But what was so important that you had to go to the house then? Isn't that uncanny? That was exactly my next question, thank you.
Sir? Bryony had come into a fair bit of money, she told me.
A family bequest.
She was setting up a trust fund for her daughter.
Rachel.
Thing is, and I assume this doesn't have to go any further, she doesn't want her husband to know.
Ah.
Anyway, she'd signed the trust form.
Now I knew that it was very important to her so I thought I'd better retrieve it as soon as I possibly could, not least of all because of course if the worst happens and she dies the money will otherwise simply pass straight to the estate.
Now I told Mr.
Darrow that I was dealing with some compensation business at the charity where Bryony works.
Did find you this form? No.
Do you think Mr.
Darrow twigged what you were up to? No.
And you haven't pursued the matter since.
Not in the circumstances.
Do you know why Mrs.
Darrow would want to set up a trust fund without her husband knowing? She didn't say.
Rachel's her daughter, not his.
Richard knows that, Rachel doesn't.
They're going to tell her when she's older.
Eighteen, I think.
What are you doing? Going out.
Owen.
Like I said.
I'm not scared of them.
I've had enough, Em.
I'm going to tell the truth, I've decided.
Tell the truth? What are you talking about? Let me through, Em.
Owen, that night you went out for those rabbits.
Nothing happened, right? You told me the truth? I just want to be left alone.
But it's not gonna happen until I do something about it.
Now I'm going out.
Don't try to stop me.
(Car horn) Come on! Darrow doesn't know about this trust fund.
Rachel doesn't know that he isn't her father.
And neither of them know about Marion.
I don't know, it's like it's like peeling an onion.
And she doesn't know about them.
I mean Marion.
I don't know, years I've been in this job.
I still can't believe the secrets people keep.
You wonder why, don't you? Hmmm? Why she wanted to lead her life like that.
(Phone ringing) Frost.
All right.
Thank you.
Well, we won't be able to ask her now.
Bryony Darrow died ten minutes ago.
I should have told you straight off.
You're a decent man, Mr.
Frost.
I just wanted to be left alone though.
Well, go on, you can tell me now.
I'm not proud of what I've done.
What exactly did you do? I found her.
Bryony Darrow? She was lying in the middle of the road.
I rolled her over to see if she was still alive.
And that's when I saw Go on, what happened? Years of army training and I panicked, that's what I did.
I panicked.
I took her bag and some money, I threw the bag away.
It's too late to say I'm sorry.
I'm telling the truth though.
Here, here's the money too.
So, robbery wasn't the motive.
And you think Kimble's telling the truth? Yes, I do.
So it was just a hit and run after all? Well, that's what it looks like.
But I don't think it was.
Oh, why not? Just a hunch.
I see, a hunch.
And in the meantime I suppose we have to wait and see if Leo Armfield comes limping into your other hunch at Trenchards.
Guv.
We've found someone who saw a woman being dropped off near the main road on Saturday night.
Been away on business, just got back.
Tell you what.
I feel a bit like that Humphrey Bogart in that film of his.
What is it? The Big Sleep? Yes, that's the one, The Big Sleep.
Aren't you hot? Melting.
Anyway, Mr.
Walker.
Would you like me to go through what I told the officer over the phone? Yes, please, if you would, for a start.
Well, as you know, Churcham is just up the road.
I always drive through it on my way up to the main road, on the way into Denton.
And that's where you were going that night, to Denton? The night this woman was injured, yes.
Now, I don't know if the woman I saw was the same woman, of course, but Oh, excuse me, could you? Oh sorry.
Thank you.
What I did see was a woman, very similar in appearance certainly, being dropped off near the main road.
And the car was a Rover was it? A 6 series, same as mine.
The car was just turning back towards the road as I approached.
On the road into Churcham? Yes.
I ended up behind it.
I remember the whole episode, the woman, the car, because the driver was obviously drunk.
All over the road.
If I hadn't been in such a hurry, I'd have reported him.
I also remember, part of the licence number.
Really? Now that is interesting.
P Paralytic, I thought.
I sometimes pretend the letters are acronyms you know, make up a little phrase.
Let me think.
Ah-ah, I wouldn't if I were you, Inspector.
It's anti-fungal.
Yes.
Yes, yes I remember it now.
You didn't enter the house to try to retrieve any trust form.
You were looking for Bryony's little black book, in case your name was in it.
Am I right? Hmmm? Yes.
Yes.
So now perhaps you can tell us the truth, Mr.
Rutherford.
You know, the whole truth.
Yes, okay I was seeing Bryony.
Seeing her? We first met in London.
About two years ago.
Met, What do you mean by met exactly? I went to see her.
No, no, no, no.
You didn't go to see her, you went to see a prostitute, that happened to be Bryony.
Right? Yes.
Yes.
Then after that I used to visit her quite often.
When you were in London? Yes.
And then we discovered we both lived here.
So we made an arrangement.
She'd visit me.
Where exactly? In a hotel.
Or at home.
My home.
When? My wife is a consultant pediatrician.
She often works in the evening.
And that evening? Bryony came over.
And we had some drinks.
And things got a bit out of hand.
A bit out of hand? We had a bit of a fight.
About what? You know.
What you mean is that you got a bit out of hand, because that's the way you like it.
Yes.
Yes.
Go on.
I drove her back, I swear to you, Iike I always did.
So whatever happened after that, I just drove her back.
And you paid for these little encounters? We were more like friends.
Yeah friends.
But you paid.
You paid her didn't you, eh? Yes.
Yes! I beg you, please don't tell my wife.
I've told you the whole truth.
Please.
I can see how highly you value your marriage.
No, I don't know.
Maybe she like the thrill.
You know, the risk of doing it so close to home.
I know Rutherford did.
Well, he did up until now.
Do you think there really is a little black book? No, I think whatever secrets Bryony Darrow had she has now taken them with her.
Frost.
Rachel? What's wrong? Dad, you're going to hurt yourself again.
I should kill you.
What you said about Bryony.
Alright just put the bottle down Richard.
You Police, you're so cynical.
You don't believe that people can change, do you? I knew you know, I know! I knew! You knew what, Richard? I knew Bry was a prostitute.
I mean she was, used to be before we met.
Not now, not now.
Dad, what are you saying? You didn't need to know Rachel.
She loved you.
She loved me.
She was a prostitute when you met her.
I loved her.
I loved her.
All right Rachel, all right.
I'll get WPC Holland to stay with you tonight.
Come on.
We knew Kimble was a psycho, but Bryony, a prostitute? She can't have been working around here.
And you should know, Charlie.
That was a long time ago and just the once.
That good.
I always thought there was something about her.
Ever since you saw her stocking tops at the church fete, wasn't it? That's right.
Poor Richard.
Perhaps not.
Oh, come on, She's just I'll tell you one thing.
He's been knocking it back a bit, Richard.
He has.
I've been, you know, on the house.
It's cost me a small fortune.
I'll bet.
I'm going to have to stop.
So stop.
A bloody prostitute though, eh? Have I told you yet, Guv, what a great pleasure it's been working with you again? Don't worry, I'm right behind you.
I don't suppose there's any chance of a pint, is there? I thought this was a bit of a flyer.
I should have had a bet on it.
(Sounds) The odds have just tumbled.
I think we've got a visitor.
Bugger.
Down now, down! Stop armed police.
Don't let him go.
For Christ's sake.
Get out of the bloody way! Ah, ah, ah, ah, Mr.
Armfield.
Ah, Jack.
So you were right again then.
Oh.
Very well done.
Thank you, sir.
Sir? Yes? DNA results you were waiting for.
Oh right, good.
What made you think that Bryony was having an affair with Rutherford? I just got suspicious.
One night I followed the taxi that she took.
She went to Rutherford's on the night of the accident.
And you knew that she'd been there, didn't you? Did you plan to kill her? I loved her.
And you made love to her on the night of the accident, didn't you? Did you know that she'd gone back to being a prostitute? No.
You know her real name, don't you? Yes.
Natalie.
She always used to say that it was Natalie who did that.
Like it was someone else.
After we met she said she wanted to put all that behind her, settle down.
Rachel was about eleven months old then.
Her mother's name, Bryony.
I knew that you'd made love to her on the night of the accident because there was evidence of sexual intercourse.
You were the last person to see Bryony alive.
Weren't you, Mr.
Darrow.
Yes.
Do you want to tell me what happened? She was just there.
I was driving home, and there she was.
I asked her where she'd been.
She said she'd been with some friends and had got the late bus.
I just You attacked her? I knew that she had been with him.
I just wanted her.
After I'd She got out of the car, screaming.
Said that she'd been unhappy for years and that um she wanted to leave.
She was going to take Rachel with her.
She ran away.
And she ran back towards the main road? And you did what? I couldn't bear the thought of her being with anyone else.
I just drove after her.
I just drove after her, and went on driving.
How would you feel? You think your wife's having an affair and the man turns out to be one of many.
I don't think it matters that he knew that she used to be a prostitute, it's the fact that she was one now that he can't handle.
I still can't understand why she went back to it.
Well, he met her when she was a prostitute.
And then he marries her.
Takes her off to the country life.
You know all lovey dovey, and church fetes, coffee mornings.
I suppose she just got bored.
Strange things happen in marriage.
Yeah.
Well, we've got all that we need.
We don't need to dig up any more dirt.
I don't think she deserves it.
I know Rachel doesn't.
Poor kid.
Dear oh, dear.
Finds out that her mother was on the game, her father, who isn't her father, is a murderer.
Heaven forbid she ever finds out that her grandmother was a prostitute's maid.
And I was the one that exposed it all.
They're charging Kimble with assault then? Maniac.
They should lock him up and throw away the key.
And Richard? Richard.
Used us, he did.
We were there for him, all the time.
And you think you know people, eh? Rachel.
What are you doing here? I just wanted to say goodbye.
You didn't have to.
No, I know.
I wanted to.
Thanks.
Can I? I also wanted to say that I was sorry.
Why? For the way things have turned out.
You were just doing your job.
Rachel, you must remember that your mother loved you.
And so does your father.
People's lives do get wrecked.
Sometimes they wreck them themselves.
I know why dad didn't want me to go to the hospital now.
He was scared.
Thought I mind find out if mum regained consciousness.
There's lots of things that I wish you hadn't had to find out about, Rachel.
I'm not sure that it's always a good idea to be protected from things.
No maybe you're right.
I'll be alright.
Where are you going? Seems I have a grandmother.
She's got a flat in London.
Says she'll provide for me.