Vera s07e04 Episode Script

1 Hey! Hey! ~ ~ Come on.
Hey! Hey! Hey! - Got a mobile, mate? - Got a signal? Lisa, Come on.
It's raining, quick.
Come on.
Come on.
Quick now.
Come with me.
- Ma'am.
- Is it her? I've not had a look yet, but definitely female.
No, it'll be her.
I mean, how far's mam and dad from here? About five miles that way.
Liaison from Missing Persons have got the family on standby.
Dental records we already had.
Likewise DNA.
Do we know what she was wearing when she left home? Shorts and a vest top.
Right.
It was that weekend, wasn't it? Sweltering.
I weeded the path.
It's all grown back now, this weather.
- Why is this worse? - Because of the publicity.
Feel like you know her.
Less anonymous.
Well, let's have a look.
- Tony.
- OK.
The shorts are right.
The hair's right, and the age.
What's that bangle thing on her wrist? Does it say "Eastbury"? - Yeah.
- That's the festival she went to.
So, what? Killed on her way home? Well, buried deep enough.
Not just dumped here, covered in earth.
No, whoever did it put some real effort into it.
- Hm.
- ~ - Tha's the father.
- Is it her? - Mr Hinkin - Let me see! - I'll have to stop you there, sir.
- Is it Mia? We don't know, sir.
I'm sorry.
No, please No, no! Let me look! It's Mia! Mia! Left at the stables.
- Would you like a GP to look you over, love? - No, I'm all right! Here you go.
Thank you.
Look, I know how difficult it's been since Mia failed to return home.
And I know you've been asked a hundred times, but .
.
I would like to try and start with a clean slate.
Is that all right? - Now, where this body was found - For God's sake.
Stop treating us like we're stupid! Stop covering your back! I know it's her.
I can just tell.
Do you know who owns that land? No-one.
It's common ground.
Our boundary's the copse.
And so the pickers work for you? No.
They work for him over the way.
Rents the land off us.
So, going back six weeks, you last saw your daughter? - The Friday morning.
- On the day of the festival? And how did she seem? We didn't see her go.
Came back from the doctor's and she'd gone.
I was supposed to drive her to the bus station in town but .
.
she rang to say she'd make her own way there.
And was that like her, to change her plans? It was a bad feeling because we never wanted her to go to the bloody thing.
Did she tell you who she was going with? No, that was the problem.
She wouldn't tell us.
Said it was no business of ours.
But did you get the feeling it was friends? Or boyfriends? No.
Friends, I suppose.
Her boyfriend's Owen.
You know Owen? - We know of him.
- He's doing the Internet, you know? Looking for her.
Fat lot of good it did.
Fat lot of good any of it's done.
Could I perhaps have a look at her room, love? She liked it locked.
Just trying to have it like she wanted.
- I'm sorry for the intrusion, love.
- Well, we're used to it now, aren't we? You know it's her, don't you? I cannot be in here.
Did Missing Persons take her computer or anything? They said she didn't have one.
Reckon she just took a bag.
I mean, does this look empty to you? I mean, does that mean she didn't have anything? Or she took a load with her to the festival? - I can ask.
- Well, maybe not just now.
Nice view.
Her dental's a positive match.
Definitely Mia.
Well, that's that, then.
Now for the really hard bit.
Now, is that the younger brother out there? Yeah.
Yeah, that's Jason.
Has he been told? Hello.
Aw.
What's her name? - She's not a pet.
- Ah, well, it looks like you're fond of her.
Nah.
This one's my favourite.
Ah.
I like chickens.
- Are you one of the police? - Mm.
You found my sister? Let's go and talk to your mam and dad inside, love.
Are you bringing her home? Come on, son.
I think you should stay, love.
Aye, right.
Course.
- Why do you think she's dead? - She told you, the body.
But how did they know? Maybe she's just gone somewhere.
How did they know? I am so sorry, love.
I don't understand.
Get Hicham onto Social Services.
I mean, when was the last time that lad had a wash? - Sorry.
Have you just come from the Hinkins? - Aye.
Is that because those guys found Mia? We're not giving out that information yet, sir.
Only, cos there's a rumour on Twitter.
Well, it's not come from us.
Please.
We're all neighbours here.
We just want to offer condolences to Mal and Nell, you know? My guys are offering to lend a hand if they need it.
I'd say now's not a good time.
Maybe in a day or two.
That driver.
Is he the fella rents from the parents? - Must be, yeah.
- If he is, he's doing all right for himself.
His motor! And while we're looking at people in the area, see if his workers are legit.
What? What? Yeah, that's right.
Hey, Kenny.
You're a life-saver.
Ha.
What do you want me to do with Uniform? Uniform? House to house.
We're looking for bus passengers.
Anyone who saw our victim travelling to or from Eastbury.
Right.
Well, I'm not sure how a bunch of city slickers like us are gonna get on with this lot.
Aiden, do an appeal for information.
Great! Bring out your cranks and your weirdos, police are all ears.
And we're gonna have to do a public briefing.
Right, now I'm looking for a boyfriend.
Very funny.
He's in there with his mum.
But there's a chance he beat us to it on a public briefing.
Right.
- What do you need with him? - Just background, love.
I can tell you that.
What do you need? No, I need to talk to him.
Look, he's in no state.
24/7 he's been on that phone.
He were convinced that he'd find her.
And now I don't know where to start.
Well, first you can get him off the Internet.
There'll be all sorts coming out the woodwork.
It won't help.
You did your best.
Everything you did to try and find her.
- Well, that will help us.
- It wasn't the point, though, was it? But it's important we get the next bit right, yeah? So can you take me back to the last time you saw Mia? Before she went off, she came in the bar to say goodbye.
Before going to the festival? So that's Friday night.
- Why weren't you going with her? - It's not really my kind of music.
Well, she wasn't going on her own, surely? Didn't say who she was going with.
- Mm? - She got the ticket at the last minute, I think.
We hadn't even talked about it.
And how did she seem in herself? - How do you mean? - Happy? Unhappy? We were happy.
Home wasn't great.
They treated her like a skivvy.
When you say "they" What, do you mean her parents? - You know her mam's ill? - Mm.
That meant she had to do more than her fair share.
Can you think of anyone, anyone at all, who might have wanted to harm her? You know them pickers? Off Jack Madden's farm? - Right.
- Yeah.
They're always hanging around, creeping the women out.
And Mia was friendly with them, was she? No.
They're not our type of people.
But I think it was them.
Passports.
Need photocopies of your passports, ASAP.
The police are here and they're asking questions.
- They found Mia Hinkin.
- Where has she gone? Nowhere.
She's dead.
Do you want to see these photos? Aye, I do.
- Do you need me to talk you through it? - They're pretty self-explanatory.
Strangled.
Now, what sort of ligature? I mean, this wasn't hands done this, was it? No.
We found some fibres but, as yet, that's a "don't know".
Could a woman have done it? Well, there was some kind of a struggle, but it didn't come off the back of a fight.
Upside, there's some material under the fingernails which might yield some DNA.
Oh, well, that's good.
And there's no sign of a sexual assault? I'd say no.
Not from what I've seen.
So, impulsive rather than planned? Yeah, I think so.
And the million-dollar question When? Well, I need to confer with my mate who's a meteorologist and get some accurate temperature data for the last six weeks.
- Bit of a microclimate up here.
- So it happened somewhere nearby.
- I'd say so.
- Hm.
Mia Hinkin.
18 years of age.
She lived and worked with mum and dad on a dairy farm just outside of Brindale.
Failed to return home from Eastbury Festival some time after the 2nd of last month.
Now, the body was found five miles from said dairy farm, 40 days after she left the village.
She'd been strangled.
Primary line of inquiry is to establish what time she departed the festival, who she met there, and who, if anyone, she went with.
Now, Hicham, have you got the CCTV from the bus station yet? We're trawling, but neither us nor Missing Persons found her on any bus coming or going.
And do we know who she was going to see, music-wise? - Party Crusade.
- Who? Party Crusade.
They're the ones that put up the reward.
She's been a fan since last summer, according to this.
And who are these two lasses? Er, she's the guitar player.
She's not tagged.
I mean, she could be a random.
So, she checked in at the festival 8pm Friday 2nd.
No activity online thereafter.
So, does that suggest something happened there round about that time? - Or she just lost her mobile? - We haven't found one.
Parents said she didn't have a contract, so we're looking for a pay-as-you-go.
It's taking time.
Got a number, no SIM.
OK, second line of inquiry, bearing in mind the location of the crime scene, is her relationships in the village.
Now, if the killer brought her back, or intercepted her on her way home, and who might have had motive.
We're picking up local suspicion of the seasonal workforce.
Is there any suggestion of a connection there? - Hicham? - The only link springs out is that three of the workers confirmed to Missing Persons she'd been in the pub before she left for Eastbury.
That was her last known contact with the village, wasn't it? I'll push them on their whereabouts after that.
We're picking up tensions within the family.
Mum's unwell.
Younger son, query neglect.
Yeah, I've alerted Social Services.
So some suggestion that Mia was unhappy at home.
In other words, a vulnerable young woman.
Not the raver partying every weekend, as the publicity suggests.
So, who exploited that vulnerability? Who made sure she never came home? - I was just about to bring it up.
- Ah, that's OK.
- PC Wooten, isn't it? - George.
Statements from the festival-goers.
Obviously, it's all on the system but I thought, as I'd already printed it Well, thanks, I appreciate that.
If I was cynical, I might say people are chancing their arm for a reward.
"Blonde girl in Wellingtons.
" "Blonde girl with a sun tattoo.
" "Blonde girl with red scarf.
" "Blonde girl in a cowboy hat.
" I see what you mean.
But erm But there's There's this lass, a first-aider.
Reckoned she treated her.
She was helpful.
I'll start with her, then.
Now, what about the stuff you took from her room? It's all there.
That's it? Her room strike you as being empty? Struck me more they were pretty broke as a family.
- Hm.
- How's her mam and dad? As you'd expect.
Will you pass on my condolences? Aye, course I will.
Thanks, George.
I did make her a top priority, even though she was an adult.
I did throw the kitchen sink at it.
So, according to your statement, you were on duty at the festival and you treated Mia.
- Is that right? - Yeah.
She said she'd taken a couple of pills.
- What sort of pills? - I don't ask.
We're not meant to judge.
Anyway, when I saw she was missing, I felt I had to call.
Yeah, well, thanks, love.
Did you get the sense that she was a regular drug-taker? I'd say so.
She was quite chilled about having a whitey.
I know I should have supervised her.
Did she pass out somewhere? Is it my fault? Mm She was murdered, love.
I didn't realise.
I'm so sorry.
If I'd known, I would have Would have what? It's probably nothing.
I just didn't say this with the other policeman.
What? I saw her later, like, late o'clock at the end of the night.
Arguing with a bloke.
- Should I have told you? - Would you recognise this fella? I wasn't that close.
But they were definitely having a go at each other.
Right, have a look at this.
Give us your Twitter thing.
- Is that the fella? - No.
This guy was older.
I think I've seen him on the Missing Mia feed.
Have you? Well, let's have a look.
Stop.
Maybe that guy, maybe.
How sure are you -- on a scale of one to ten? Seven.
Well, thanks, Meryl.
You've been a great help.
- And? - Gary Tovey.
According to the veg farm bloke, his wife runs the stables.
So why does he call himself the Brindale Runner? - Why not just use his real name? - Could be anything.
Impress the ladies Anything.
Tovey Stables.
That rings a bell.
Isn't that near Hinkin's fields? Oh, yeah.
We saw the horses.
You know he's retweeted everything we've posted in the last six weeks? What's that mean in layman's terms? Well, at the very least, he's following our every move.
Well, let's pay Mr Tovey a little visit.
Come on, Ellie.
That's it.
Nice.
Good.
Excuse me, love.
Looking for Gary Tovey? I'm Mrs Tovey.
Can I help? Ah.
Just a word with your husband, love.
- He's out.
- When might he be back? Good question.
When the work's done, probably.
Is it about this body? - Was it Mia? - Yes, it was.
So you both knew Mia, then? Yeah, absolutely.
Erm I mean she'd been coming here since Well, forever, really.
She'd been a Saturday girl.
So she was working for you just prior to her disappearance? On and off.
More off than on.
Let's go inside.
She hadn't been herself the last few months.
She got really teenage.
- In what way "teenage"? - Well, unreliable.
Not always coming when she said.
And sulking with me for no reason.
So would you say her behaviour recently was out of character? She just seemed more desperate, poor thing.
She was so fixated on getting out of the village.
She was a bit trapped, wasn't she? No way of getting out off her own back.
Parents never paid her a penny.
Ah, but you did.
So why is this the first we've heard of it? Well, like I say.
We kept things on the QT cos of them.
We didn't want to take sides, but we felt sorry for her.
Wanderer returns.
They're police.
They want our help about Mia.
Absolutely.
No, can't say I'm much of a party animal.
I definitely didn't go to any music festival.
Can you remember anything about that day? What you might have done? Nothing special, don't think.
I'm boring.
Either here or out running.
Or down the pub with Jack.
Yeah.
Or down the pub with Jack.
What about the evening, say after six? We were definitely in all evening.
You remember.
We talked about how awful it'd be to be sleeping in some muddy field.
We did, yeah.
Were either of you ever aware of Mia taking drugs? No.
Is that what it was, then? The change in her? That would explain it, wouldn't it? I mean, we've known her since she was, what 11, 12? And I've never seen her so miserable as this past year.
Why do you use a pseudonym on the Internet? Same reason as anyone.
Privacy.
I was in the Army.
You Google me, you'll find I was in Helmand until the withdrawal.
Certain people like to take issue with that.
Right.
Bit of a contrast to life round here, though, isn't it? Yeah.
It's all peace and tranquillity and no mistake.
- Mum! Mum! - Right on cue.
All right, I'll go.
- Where'd you find her? - By Brindale mine.
But we searched there.
What do you mean? What search is this? The one Owen organised.
We all did it.
- Went all over.
- Owen? As in Owen Travers? Mia's boyfriend? No, he weren't her boyfriend.
She'd called it off, hadn't she? What makes you say that? She told me.
She told me she'd got shot of him.
Like I say, she wanted out.
Aiden.
Bunch of us went out through the fields.
Well, you lot weren't doing anything, were you? So, why did you think she'd returned to the area? I don't know.
I was desperate.
So, were you still together, you and Mia? - Does it matter? - Aye, it does.
Because I need to be clear on her significant relationships.
And will you stop doing that while I'm talking to you? In my head, we were still together, yeah.
And in hers? She broke up with me about a week before.
People break up, then they get back together.
It happens all the time.
And when they bury her, I'll be up there, up the front.
I won't be pushed out.
Why are you making intimations at him? He doted on her.
You can ask anyone.
Look, she were a good girl.
But she could be a madam and she could play people.
Made eyes at a lot of blokes.
So, what are the intimations you're making? Everyone knows she hated her mam and dad and that they didn't much like her.
You should be looking closer to home, if you ask me.
I don't think I did ask you, pet.
Blame the pickers.
Blame the parents.
What if that barmaid's right and Mia did hate her mam and dad? Totally miserable, according to the Toveys.
Wanted out of the village, right? - And she was only seen briefly at that festival.
- So? So what if Eastbury was a chance to buy herself some time? A chance to get out of that house and not come back.
New life.
Ma'am.
Witness saw Gary Tovey in The Lion at lunchtime, day she left.
Other than that, can't find anything on the fella even to raise an eyebrow.
Maybe the first-aider just picked the wrong bloke.
Tony.
Tell me you've got a DNA match and I can go and arrest someone? Afraid not.
I do have a couple of healed fractures, though, - now that I've done a full MRI.
- Meaning what? She would have been hospitalised a couple of times for breakages.
- Might be worth checking it out.
- Right.
Thanks.
Have we got anything significant on the parents? They don't have many admirers in the village.
Ah, well, maybe that trouble at home is more serious than we've accounted for.
Hey.
This is PC Wooten, Missing Persons.
George.
Erm, I've had a little question about Mia.
- Yeah, go on.
- What colour was the festival wristband? - Blue, wasn't it? - Aye, blue.
That means she got it in advance.
It's the VIP one.
So we can't assume she went to that festival at all.
It just means that she was given it by someone in with the band.
Right.
Well, we're all going to a gig.
- Have you sorted it? - Yes, ma'am.
All sorted.
Thanks, mate.
I'm gonna check the bar.
Have you seen this lass by any chance? - Her down the front! - I can't hear you! Her down the front.
She's in one of Mia's photos! Hey! Out of my way! You were allocated a number of these bands.
Correct? - To give out to your select few.
- Yeah, maybe.
I can't say doing the door is my top priority.
Did you give one to this lass? That's the girl that went missing? - Mm-hm.
- Didn't we put up a reward or something? - Did you ever meet her? - No.
That's strange.
So when might this have been taken? Erm Sunderland, maybe? When was that? A few months back.
So how did one of those bands come into her possession? If she's missing .
.
how do you know she has one in her possession? Because she's not missing any more, pet.
Her body was found Wednesday afternoon.
We had no clue.
We've been stuck in rehearsals all this week.
Do you recognise this lass? That's Erin.
She's er She's our super-fan.
Like, where we go, she goes.
She'll have a couple of those bands.
You should ask her about your missing girl Maya? - Mia.
- Mia.
Mia, is it? Yeah.
They were mates, I think.
And were you ever mates with either of them? No.
Groupies are not my style.
No sex? No drugs? Just Just rock and roll.
- Good morning, ma'am.
- Ma'am.
- That's a matter of opinion.
- Erin Michaels.
Moved out of her last known address about a month ago.
We got her on candid camera over there, but we don't pick her up any later.
- So she jumped in the river and swam for it? - Very funny.
The good news is she left her bag behind when she scarpered.
And look at this.
Just a moment.
Look.
Illegal legal highs.
I want that girl found.
She was at that festival and never came forward, and I want to know why.
Come on, theories.
No matter how daft.
Erin supplied the drugs that caused Mia's whitey.
Mia kicked off, Erin killed her to silence her about the dodgy drugs.
Strangulation, though? - That's a bit much, isn't it? - Well, it could be an accident.
Came off the back of a fight.
No.
Tony said there was no fight.
And why take the body all the way back to the moor? How's a lass gonna do that? Unless she had some help.
Ma'am.
The little lad, the brother.
- What? - His school just phoned Hicham.
He wasn't in yesterday or this morning.
What'd the parents have to say? They told Welfare he left as usual on his bike.
- The parental concern's overwhelming! - Yeah.
So if that lad's not going to school where IS he going? Why would he come here? No idea.
He was just lying in the back seat, playing on his phone.
Maybe he came here with his sister.
I don't know.
Struck me those kids would do anything to get out of the house.
- I mean, Mia did come here fairly regular.
- Yeah? Why was that? Mam and dad collected their rent in cash.
She collected it so it wouldn't go through the books, you know.
- Right.
- Should I have rung Mal first? Aye, you should.
But you were right to call us.
I just didn't want him getting in trouble with them.
Did he have any mates here? Not as such.
I've seen him mucking about with a couple of guys on and off.
- Can you point them out to us, love? - They've gone to the depot.
Jan and Blazej, their names are.
Blazej Weren't they the fellas who were in the pub the night she left? Yeah, but that doesn't mean anything.
I was in the pub that day.
Still, they're witnesses to what we call "last known sighting".
So when they get back, will you point them in my direction, please? - Isn't that just picking on foreigners? - No.
Well, it looks like it.
These workers do you proud, don't they, love? Hm? Make you decent money.
I can see why you'd want to protect them.
I don't see why you're hassling people locally.
She went missing miles away.
Hassling? Who am I hassling? Ah.
Your mate Gary.
- Gary had nothing to do with it.
- No? That fella's been half blown up for his country.
Last thing he needs is pressure from you lot.
He's not the big "I am" everyone reckons.
Aiden.
- Did you get through to his parents? - Yeah, I just got through.
See if you can track down a couple of workers gone to the depot.
Jan and Blazej.
And chase up Hicham with those background checks.
Oi, get off! Come on, your mam will be worried about you.
She doesn't care about us.
Ah, shut up, and get in the car.
- Who gave you that? - No-one.
Well, you didn't wake up with it.
Just some lads in the village.
They pick on us sometimes.
Why's that, then? Cos I'm a Hinkin, I suppose.
Jan's gonna teach us how to box.
Jan? That's one of the pickers, isn't it? Just need to get a bit taller first.
My dad says your lot can't be trusted.
Is that why you're not being honest with me? - Hm? - Don't know what you mean.
Well, you told me your sister couldn't be dead.
Now, why did you say that? Well, we could do this the hard way and I could go through your phone log .
.
or you could just tell us the truth.
- She messaged us.
- When was this? Must have been three weeks ago.
- "JJ"? - Jason John.
Mia always called us that.
- Anyone else call you that? - Just Mia.
So, what else are you not telling us? Just the one about Newcastle.
What about Newcastle? Said that's where she was.
What was your sister doing in Newcastle? - She found herself a job.
- She tell you where? Just a bar, she said.
- One of those fancy pubs.
- So you knew she was doing a flit.
Did you tell anyone else? It was our secret.
And you kept it quiet all this time.
She said she'd come back for us.
The day she left.
Soon as she was sorted.
She promised.
Well, go on.
Sling your hook.
Go and get cleaned up.
You're filthy.
- Where'd you find him? - He was up in the fields.
Jack Madden called us.
I warned him to stay away.
He was gone for hours and it took someone else to call us.
Lives in a world of his own, that one.
That shiner he's got.
Said he was in a fight.
Well if that's what he told you.
He's been wagging school.
Did you know that? Checking up on us, were you? They're right to be concerned if he's missing classes.
I've been teaching him here at the farm.
Home schooling.
Mm.
Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Mia's postmortem.
Showed up some old injuries.
A broken arm.
She fell off a horse a few years ago.
- You can check at the hospital.
- No, no.
I don't think it'll come to that.
I know what they're saying in the village.
"It's the Hinkin girl gone missing.
They must have had something to do with it.
" Well, I won't take it from them .
.
and I won't take it from you.
Well, I'm glad we've cleared the air, love.
- All right, sir.
- You know that weekend off I promised you? I'm out on the town with the missus.
She's got a table booked.
You're out on the town with me, love.
I know where Mia tipped up after that festival.
She was working in Newcastle.
Hey! Mark's got a trace on the phone's location.
Mia sent those texts from somewhere in town.
So, definitely from here? How could Missing Persons cock that up? Her mobile phone was switched off.
Case had gone cold.
Oh, that's all right, then! And let's say she WAS planning on doing a bunk.
That must have taken some planning.
So, who else was in on it? Aside from her brother.
- Anything? - Er, nothing yet, ma'am.
They might remember a bit more when they're sober, mind.
Er, we can ask around the market and I can talk to some of the bar staff.
Aye.
Then work your way down to the quayside.
- Ma'am.
- Nice little crawl for you, Kenny.
He doesn't get out much these days.
We'll take the rest of the bars on the strip.
You got ID on you? This fella might not let you in.
We're not jumping the queue, love.
Excuse me, love.
Where will I find the manager? Zoe's over there.
- Are you Zoe, the manager? - Yeah, that's me.
- DCI Stanhope.
- How can I help? We're trying to trace the movements of this woman.
We believe she's been working in the area.
Yeah, I know her.
That's Mia.
Is there somewhere quiet we can talk, love? - I mean - Yeah, come with me.
I heard they found a body.
Mm.
Burntridge Moor.
- Poor girl.
- How well did you know her? Er, she was one of the regulars.
Asked about some bar work.
I said I'd take her on.
- She was working here? - Well, that's just it.
She was all set to start on the Saturday.
Never turned up for her shift.
You didn't call her to find out what had happened? There are always people looking for work.
I don't give second chances.
Mm.
You say she came in here a lot? There were plenty of fellas who'd buy her a drink.
Did any of these fellas ring alarm bells? Well, yeah.
There's one.
Parks up in his car, never comes in.
Still there sometimes after closing.
- Did you clock what sort of car? - Nothing flash.
Mud on the bonnet, windows needed a clean.
Did you ever see this fella with Mia? I'd have warned him off.
Something about him, you know? You seen him lately? I'll run a check, see if the plates jump out at us.
Hold on, love.
Hold on.
Who did she knock about with? She was mates with one of the barmaids.
It was Erin who put in a good word for her.
And is this Erin working tonight? Mm, should have been.
Called in sick.
Got an address? Oh, come on.
Can we come in, love? Do I have a choice? I'll take that as a no Bit of a party? Aye.
Just a few drinks.
The boys from the band.
- Look, I've told you all I know.
- Somehow I doubt that.
Just tell her we're here, love.
Save me saying everything twice.
- You must have known she'd gone missing? - Yeah, I knew.
- It's nothing to do with me.
- So why'd you scarper the other night? I had a bit of weed on us.
I panicked.
Yeah, and the rest.
We found these in that bag that you dropped.
Here you are.
Yeah, we might as well nick her for those.
Unless you want to start being straight with us.
Hm? Those WhatsApp messages sent from your mobile, day of the Eastbury Festival.
Mia sent you a selfie.
6:52.
"Drop dead gorgeous" and a smiley face.
- That's the last time I heard from her.
- Mm.
So she's all dressed up, on her way, hm? How's she getting there? - A lift, I think.
- A lift with who? I don't know.
She didn't say.
7:45, you send her another message wondering where she is.
Her phone was switched off.
Why would she switch her phone off if she's looking to hook up with you? I don't know.
And then, a couple of days later, you do hear she's gone missing -- six weeks and counting -- and you never thought to come forward.
I just thought she was keeping her head down.
Now, why would you think that? Hm? I'll tell you why.
Because you knew she was planning on doing a flit.
We know that Mia pitched up in Newcastle.
Come on, Erin.
- She weren't with me.
- So where was Mia staying, then, if she wasn't staying with you? She said she'd found a flat share somewhere in town.
Well, that would have cost an arm and a leg, love.
She mucks out stables.
Where would she find the deposit? I know she was seeing someone.
Maybe he sorted it.
So, who was this someone? A fella came into the bar once.
Decent-looking, I suppose.
Older.
He was giving her grief about summat.
Did she know this fella or was it just some random bloke chancing his arm? She definitely knew him.
I asked Mia if she was OK.
He told me to stay out of it.
Just left them to it.
These here drugs.
Did Mia ever take these? Mia never touched drugs.
Yes, she liked a bit of a drink, but that was it.
Mark, Mia's postmortem results.
What does the tox screen tell us? Er, traces of alcohol.
Nothing else found in her bloodstream.
That conflicts with the account we got from Meryl Fairchild.
Aye, it does.
- How much was that reward? - £10,000.
Do you think she's chasing the money? She's been giving us the run-around.
Get your coat.
You told me Mia had taken a couple of pills.
That's what she told me, yeah.
The tests we ran didn't show up any drugs in her system.
Her pupils were dilated and she was definitely slurring her words.
And the fella you picked out, the one she argued with, end of the night - What about him? - We've tracked him down, love.
Told him he's a murder suspect.
Wife, couple of kids I said I wasn't sure.
So is that a retraction? I should really get to work.
I'm on a shift in 20 minutes.
You never saw that fella, did you, love? - And I don't think you saw Mia.
- She was there.
I know she was.
If this had gone to court, lying under oath, that is a serious offence.
You'd be looking at a seven-year stretch.
- Prison? - Obstructing a murder inquiry! - I didn't know she was dead! - Why did you do it? For a pay-out? Her face was all over the Internet, papers and that.
I just thought where's the harm in coming forward? I didn't think they'd pay me much attention, but PC Wooten .
.
he listened to me for a couple of hours.
I suppose I felt important.
I'm so sorry.
- I can't believe you didn't nick her.
- Leave all that to the CPS.
We've been looking at this with tunnel vision.
What if Erin was telling the truth and Mia never did turn up at that festival? Everyone just assumed she had.
Ran with Missing Persons.
Living in Newcastle, first day new job, never turns up for work.
That fella she's been seen with.
He's the answer to all of this.
- I'll show it to the boss.
- Thank you.
Er, reported assaults on females in the city centre, ma'am.
This one stood out.
Lorna Doyle.
On a night out with her mates, fella grabbed her up one of the side streets off the strip.
Was this 7th of August, early hours? She screamed and scared the guy off.
Get her in, Kenny.
Get another statement.
- Will do.
- You might want to see this, ma'am.
We ran that AMPR check.
A few plates flagged up.
One was traced back to Mal Hinkin.
Yeah, he got a parking ticket two months ago.
It was marked up as a vehicle of interest.
- This is before his daughter went missing.
- Yeah, but he'd driven into town that night.
Well, he could have been there for any number of reasons.
Six other times that we know about since, always late.
So where's he parking? Collingwood Street, Mosley Street, close to the Diamond Strip.
This was captured on camera three weeks ago.
That's just a couple of hundred yards from where this woman was followed, Kenny.
And does that look like mud to you? - It could do with a wash.
- What did that bar manager say? Parked up in his car, mud on the bonnet.
Get him in.
- Why am I here? - Your plate flagged up on routine surveillance.
So? I drive into town now and then.
Here you are Friday night three weeks ago, parked up on Mosley Street.
And you drive off again three hours later.
And again Saturday night into Sunday.
I just needed to get out the house.
See, we think Mia was living in Newcastle since she left Brindale.
- What? - Yeah.
We think she rented a room in town.
Oh, and you didn't think to tell us? Maybe you already knew.
Now, if you wanted your daughter back home where she belonged locked away in that bedroom, you'd have every incentive to try and find her, wouldn't you? So, how did you know where to look? - Mia called me once.
- Did she? Yeah.
The middle of the night.
She'd gone out without telling us, drinking.
Right.
And when was this? Couple of months ago.
She just spent all her money, needed her dad to pick her up.
I found her at one of those bars.
Sitting on the pavement, vomit all over her.
I just took her home, cleaned her up, and put her to bed.
Never mentioned it again.
She always hated the farm, living in the middle of nowhere.
Nell - What? - There was never any It was almost as if she resented her.
Resented Mia, her whole life in front of her.
So she couldn't let her go.
Do you think that's why she left home without telling you? If I'd been a better dad .
.
maybe she'd still be alive.
I couldn't just sit there, waiting for news .
.
with her disapproving silences.
So I used to drive into town after dark.
The place was so full of life.
Sit there, waiting, watching.
Hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Just a glimpse Then I'd just know that she was OK.
Is this the man? So we've ruled out Mal Hinkin as Lorna's attacker.
Well, I'm not ruling him out completely.
What about mistaken identity? I mean, they look very alike.
They could be sisters.
And say this fella is our mystery bloke from the bar.
So we're thinking Lorna was in the bar the same night as Mia? Could have been.
Blonde leaves at closing time, coat on, it's dark.
He goes after her, turns out it's Lorna.
Big mistake.
Sorry to interrupt, ma'am.
Uniform have reported a disturbance.
Brindale.
In Jack Madden's field.
Now what? - ~ - Lads, calm down.
You got any idea what's going on here? A woman came into the pub, said Jan had tried it on with her.
Got a bit hands-on.
What, and this lot have come to teach him a lesson? Yeah, well, he says it was all a misunderstanding, so - If he threw a punch - Yeah, well, it was Owen who provoked him.
He's done nothing wrong.
Follow him down to the station.
Friendly face? Now you listen to me.
Any justice needs dispensing, that's my department.
Well, you ask him what he's been up to? Everyone knows he killed her! You want to hope that's not broken.
- I want him charged with assault.
- Clear off, before I charge you an' all.
Go on.
You think he killed her? No, I'm keeping an open mind, love.
Why, do you think he killed her? I was with Jan the day the girl disappeared.
Aye, in the pub.
I know.
And you both walked back here together.
Is that right? - That's what he told the police? - Mm.
I left him in the village.
Didn't see him again for a couple of hours.
- So, where did he go? - He disappears all the time.
I don't think Janusz is a bad person.
I know him as well as anyone.
Thanks.
Ma'am.
Janusz Hiszpanski.
He was arrested in Poznan for domestic assault.
Beat up his missus.
He jumped bail before it went to trial.
Get a SOCO team over to those fields.
I want a sweep of the van and the huts, see what else we've missed.
Will do.
Erin, come here.
Now, you think yourself lucky we didn't press charges.
This whole Mia thing just messed my head up.
Get your head sorted out, because next time I won't be so understanding.
So are you heading back to Woody's? - Got nowhere else to go.
- Yeah, well, at least we know where to find you.
Now, go on, hop it.
Erin, love? Erm, if you do think of anything that might help us with the case, - here's my direct line.
- Yeah.
I'll call you.
- How long are you keeping him in for? - That depends what he can tell us.
- Shall I get a solicitor? - I think that's a very good idea.
Well, well, well.
There's a warrant out for your arrest.
Domestic assault.
You had no right to take this.
The bairn got a name? Hannah.
Left the pair of them high and dry, didn't you? - She wouldn't want to see me, anyway.
- I'm not surprised, if you knocked her about.
- I've put all that behind me.
- Save it all for the coppers in Poznan, love.
- Are you going to send me back? - What do you think? But not until you've answered my questions.
What do you want to know? How long have you been working for Jack Madden? A couple of month.
When a job's finished, we go somewhere else.
Mm.
And you drive the van.
A few of us take it in turns, yeah.
Do you ever visit the bars in the city? Nah, no.
Not on the wages he pays us, no.
You prefer the village pub.
That place wouldn't stay open without us.
Course, you were in the pub the night Mia Hinkin went missing, weren't you? Along with your mate, Blazej Bobienski.
I've already told the police this.
What is it? 20 minutes from the pub to the fields? - It's near enough.
- Mm.
But you were gone for a couple of hours, weren't you? According to your mate, who's come forward and given us another statement.
So where were you? Hm? There was somewhere I needed to be.
I've got a forensic team checking that van as we speak, so I'm gonna need something better than that, love.
Where were you? I've got all night.
He'd been carrying on with the landlady.
Said they went for a walk.
It's the first time I've heard it called that.
I take it Owen doesn't know, then.
Hey, Kenny.
Get over to The Lion and talk to that landlady.
- See if his alibi checks out.
- Will do.
Tony.
That million-dollar question you asked me.
Might just have worked out the answer.
I measured the enzymes in Mia's muscle tissue.
The breakdown products that presented, they prove that she was dead for at least five weeks.
What? Are you sure about that? It wasn't consistent with the rate of tissue decomposition.
Maybe her body had been stored somewhere cold.
- Dead five weeks? - Mm-hm.
Well, that means she couldn't have sent those texts to her brother.
And if she didn't send them .
.
well, who did? I take it you did go home last night? Mia was killed five weeks ago.
So she didn't send those texts to Jason.
No, she didn't.
The killer must have done.
Wanted the lad to think she was still alive.
I mean, let's face it, our chances of finding that body were less than zero.
We'd all be thinking she was still alive if it wasn't for that downpour.
Clever, then.
So, we are back to square Those witness statements - Something you want to share? - No, I want George.
- Morning, ma'am.
- Aye, morning.
- George, where are you? - Hello? George, that string of tip-offs you had, Mia Hinkin case.
- You still got all that on your computer? - Aye, still on the system.
Could you bring it up for us, love? Ah - Ah - Mm.
Witness statement.
Mm.
Here you are.
"Blonde wearing a red scarf.
" - Now, who called that in? - Erm male caller.
Rang Missing Persons three days after Mia disappeared.
Witness reported seeing a girl walking along the road, 7:30pm, - on the night she was last seen.
- Well, where was that? Er, just off the 629.
That's the road down to Brindale Town.
I'll print this out.
So she'd already left the village.
Why wasn't this followed up? Caller was anonymous and it was never established she was wearing a scarf.
Well, we didn't know she was.
Must have been in her bag, put it on after she left the pub because, look, she sent her mate a selfie and she's wearing it.
- So if the police didn't put out that information - Precisely.
Whoever called that in must have seen her that night.
- I need you to trace that caller.
- OK.
Er, ma'am? Zoe Merrin just called.
- Said Erin didn't turn up for her shift last night.
- So, what's new? Actually, has anyone called the boyfriend? He says he hasn't seen her, but I've sent a car to his place.
Keep us posted.
Now, listen up, everyone.
Finally a few chinks of light, thanks to our friends in the basement.
A tip-off! Someone saw a blonde girl wearing a red scarf the evening Mia Hinkin went missing.
Now, we know a scarf or something similar was used as the murder weapon and I'd lay money that the fibres found will match that scarf.
- So, who called this in? - Anonymous.
Saw her down the Brindale road.
- She could have hitched a lift from anyone.
- No.
I think she knew her assailant.
- What makes you so sure? - Because of those texts to the brother.
"JJ"? That was Mia's nickname for him.
So, who else would have known that? So, her killer must have known she was doing a flit.
Exactly! Now, how did he find that out? Hm? Well, it's certainly not from her brother.
- That was his big secret.
- Sorry to interrupt, ma'am.
We got lucky.
Tip off the Missing Persons.
Call came from a phone registered to Gary Tovey.
Well done, George.
- Any news? - There's been a few developments, yeah.
- Is your husband home? - He went out about an hour ago.
I can call him if you need me to.
Is this his number? Aye, that's his mobile.
What's all this about? The evening Mia Hinkin went missing.
You told us your husband was home all evening.
- Yeah, that's right.
- That's not the case, is it, love? Because we can place him up on the Brindale road.
He might have gone for a run, that's all.
So why did he tell us he saw Mia Hinkin that night? Gary never saw Mia at all that night.
I was there when he told you.
Look, I'm sorry to have to ask you this, Mrs Tovey, but was there something going on between your husband and Mia Hinkin? What kind of question's that? One you haven't answered, love.
No.
- You seem pretty sure of that.
- I know my husband.
I know he wouldn't She was still just a kid.
Mm.
So where can I find him? You could try the Ropehaugh Woods.
Your wife said we'd find you here.
- So, what couldn't wait? - Phone call to Missing Persons.
Anonymous tip-off traced to your mobile.
I just heard she'd gone missing.
- Wanted to make sure they found her.
- Ah, we found her right enough.
Dead and buried up on the moor.
Go there a lot, do you? - It's good for running.
- Is that what you were doing? - What else would I be doing? - We'd like to interview you down the station.
I've got to speak to Claire.
You're talking to me first.
My sergeant will drive.
Give me the keys.
How long were you in Afghanistan? Two-year tour.
Royal Engineers.
Back from the war.
That must have been hard, finding your feet.
No.
Good to be home.
Your missus, running the stables, making ends meet.
You must have felt surplus to requirements.
Bit of a third wheel, hm? And then Mia starts showing some interest, well She got it into her head there was something between us.
And was there? Look, maybe I indulged her.
We had a laugh, you know? - Ah.
- Teasing, bit of banter.
That's all.
She confide in you? Sometimes.
I think we both knew what it felt like to be stuck in the village, you know? Did you ever meet her in a bar in the city? No.
Why would I? Well, we think she'd taken a room in a flat there.
Someone must have paid for that.
And you think it was me? She didn't get that kind of money mucking out your stables, did she, love? She told me she'd found a place to stay.
I don't know how she paid for it.
Ah.
So, you knew she was leaving? I knew she needed a lift to the bus station.
That's all.
How'd you know that? She phoned me.
Must have been lunchtime.
I was in the pub with Jack.
What, and asked you to pick her up later? Seven o'clock in the village.
Should have said no, but she could really lay it on when she wanted to.
Hm.
So you tell your missus you're going for a run, hm? - Yep.
- Do you tell her you were picking up Mia? She didn't know about that.
Well, we know she didn't make it as far as Brindale.
So what happened in the car that night? I'm driving, she's talking.
She's saying she's gonna miss me.
She says we should run away together.
I've no idea where any of this is coming from, so I pull the car over just to talk, mind.
- And er - What, she makes a move on you? I swear, I didn't see it coming.
Ah, well, how would you, love? It's all in her head.
So I says, "Look, Mia, I'm taking you home.
" Mm-hm.
So why didn't you? Then she threatens to tell Claire everything.
There's nothing to tell .
.
and I tried tried to make her see sense, but she was already out of the car.
Slammed the door, walked away.
- And you just let her go? - Yeah, I just let her go.
Hm.
You sure about that? Yeah.
I just drove off and left her alone on the road.
I think you killed her.
I swear on my kids' lives I didn't kill her.
Gary Tovey's swabs.
They been tested yet? - Still waiting on results.
- Give Tony a kick up the arse.
- I need some evidence to tie him to this.
- We got hold of Erin Michaels' boyfriend.
- He hasn't seen her since you brought her in.
- Try her mobile.
- Just keeps ringing out.
- Well, keep trying.
'You have one message.
Message one.
' 'Yeah, this is Erin, Mia's mate.
You said to call you if I remembered anything.
That fella that came into the bar, the one that was pestering Mia.
I think I've just seen him.
' Please! Somebody! Oh, come on, wake up! We've got her leaving the station on CCTV.
Nothing after that.
Why would anyone want Erin out of the way? What are we missing? What if Gary Tovey was the one who argued with Mia at the bar that night? And Erin saw them.
Well, she did.
So, she's a witness.
And that could tie him to the murder.
Let's see what he's got to say about that.
Hang on, ma'am.
His DNA profile's just come back.
Yeah? And? Doesn't match the skin cells that we found under Mia's fingernails.
- You're kidding me? - Sorry, ma'am.
Gary Tovey couldn't have killed her.
DC Edwards.
We're chasing our bloody tails here.
Right, so that's a match? Thanks for that.
- Ma'am? - What? Forensics have just finished a sweep of the pickers' van.
Mia's DNA was found in the back.
That puts Jan back in the frame.
Erin and Jan were at the front desk together.
- Jan's in custody.
He can't have gone after Erin.
- The pickers were working together.
- What about the other worker? - Blazej? - Yeah.
He gave us that statement.
- He made sure his mate got arrested.
- Trying to take the heat off himself? - It's always the quiet ones.
But I saw him loading up the van.
The day we dropped Mal Hinkin off at the farm.
I want an All Units up at those fields now.
You lot never give up, do you? You're gonna put me out of business.
We need to talk to anyone who'd been driving that van.
- I didn't do anything! - Calm down.
You're in enough trouble as it is.
- Is JJ here? I don't want him to see this.
- I think he's in the warehouse.
It was you Erin recognised at the station, wasn't it? Where is she? What have you done with her? - Stay where you are, Jason! - Jack, what's going on? - Let the lad be.
- You trust me, don't you? Hasn't his family suffered enough? Leave him be.
Come on, Jack.
You don't want to be doing this.
Hey.
Come on Stop him! Stop him! Jack, it's over! Jack! Jack, it's over.
- It's over, Jack.
- Come on.
Come with me.
Thank you.
I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Mia Hinkin.
Thank you, Blazej.
Take him to the office.
I want a phone call.
Tell us where Erin is, I'll see what I can do.
- Erin? - The lass you followed out of the station.
All right, we'll do this the hard way.
Two months ago, you put down a deposit.
Rented room in Newcastle.
The agency emailed us your signature.
I needed a place in town.
Weekends, mainly.
Nah.
You rented that place for Mia Hinkin.
I barely knew the girl.
Her family own these fields.
She collected the rent from you on a regular basis.
You told me that yourself.
It was business.
Now, Erin, this lass that's gone missing, she told us she saw you and Mia in town together.
Mm.
Bit of a row, she said.
Oh, I bet it put the wind up you when you clocked her down at the station, wondering if she'd been talking.
Is that why you followed her? Where is she? Where's Erin? What were your movements the day Mia Hinkin went missing? It was weeks ago.
Oh, I bet it's seared on your memory, love.
But I'll give you the heads-up.
You meet your mate Gary in the pub.
Mia calls him, trying to cadge a lift into town.
Oh, I bet he bragged about that, didn't he? A schoolgirl crush.
She was wasting her time with Gary.
Oh? What, when she could have been wasting her time with you? A fella who's used to getting what he wants.
It was Gary picked her up, so why are you talking to me? Because we found her assailant's DNA under her fingernails, love.
Which rules Gary out.
So we'll be doing a little swab test in a minute, if that's all right.
And here's what I think happened.
You meet Mia on the Brindale road.
She's upset.
Tells you she's argued with Gary.
Tells you she loves him.
So you offer her a friendly shoulder to cry on.
I didn't see her that night.
Cos you were the only one who ever helped her, weren't you, love? Hm? The flat in town, keeping it between you.
The money and whatever else.
Cos you thought you were on a promise.
Well, you got that wrong, didn't you? It was Gary she wanted.
No comment.
She was never gonna settle for a fella like you, was she, love? Hm? - That why you killed her? - No comment.
He throttles a young lass to death, buries her up on the moor, and he's got nothing to say for himself.
I gave her everything she ever needed.
And she threw it back in my face.
I will nail you for Mia's murder and that is a promise.
But Erin? She has nothing to do with this, love.
- So, come on, do the right thing.
- Well, if you're so clever, YOU figure it out! - We've got officers on the way to your flat.
- Be my guest! Huh? You'd better hope I find her.
We don't even know if she's still alive.
Well, we've got to assume she is.
He'll have her here somewhere, out the way.
Where no-one can hear her.
Where do they keep those leeks before they go to the depot? Cold storage.
And Tony said Mia's body was kept somewhere cold.
We're looking for a refrigerated unit! Mal says we're looking for a barn.
There's a couple of cold stores that are rarely used.
- Did he say how far? - It's there! Erin? Get this open! Erin, love? Erin, it's the police! Erin, love? - Erin, love - I've got her.
Kenny, get an ambulance down to Hinkin's field.
It's OK, we've got you.
We've got you, love.
You're safe now, love.
- You still at it? - Ah, paperwork.
Never stops.
We got the fella who killed her.
Thought you'd like to know.
How's the other girl? Shaken.
But she'll be all right.
- Team effort, then.
- Aye, you could say that.
- You ever fancy a move upstairs - Ha! Now, there's an offer! Nah, 25 years, I'm still getting used to this place.
No, Mia was killed the day she left home.
Three days before she was reported missing.
So, there's nothing you could have done, love.
Those are the people we found in the last six weeks.
The big pile? Still missing.
That's the trouble with this job.
You spend your life chasing ghosts.
A few of us erm are going for a pint later.
I might even stretch it to a round if you fancy it? Oh, no Too many loose ends to tie up, love.
There's a meat raffle.
Ah, you smooth talker! Be lucky.
Ah All right, Jason? Come on, then.
Mrs Hinkin? They've released your daughter's body.
You can bring her home.
- So if there's anything else you want - We'll be fine.
Right.
I loved her, you know.
I bore her and I raised her.
And I miss her more than anything.
But your lad needs some loving, too.
Miss.
- Fetched you some eggs.
- Oh.
Couldn't find any boxes.
Eh, thanks, love.
Look at them.
I'll have them with a little bit of toast.
- That's lovely.
- Why do you wear that hat? - Eh? - Do you wear that all the time, like? - No.
- Maybe it's about time you got a new one.
- See you.
- Yeah, see you, love.
- Not a peep.
- I didn't say a word.
- Good lad.
- Well, come on.
Get a wiggle on.
- Why, have you got to be somewhere? - Aye, haven't you? - I thought you wanted to take your missus out? - Are you gonna baby-sit? Don't hold your breath.