New Tricks s09e03 Episode Script
Queen and Country
So this is where Annabel drowned.
December 2008.
This lake was covered in two inches of ice so she must have fallen through it.
How deep is it? It's only six foot.
But the cold and the shock mean she won't have lasted a minute.
Three days later, on Christmas Day there was a thaw and a jogger spotted her body in the water.
Jogging on Christmas day? Who was he? Billy no mates? Who was the last person to see her alive? Security guards saw her leave the Foreign Office over there at about 5.
30.
And nobody around here saw or heard anything? It was dark.
There was a Christmas Fair, wasn't there? Yeah.
100 metres that way.
And drowning doesn't look like drowning.
What does that mean? Well, cos you don't scream and splash about.
See, the body's concentrating solely on trying to breathe.
Which is why most people drown within metres of another adult who is completely oblivious.
Didn't Walt Disney freeze to death? No, he died and was cryogenically frozen and then stored under what is apparently now the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.
Morning Guv'nor.
Coffee? Morning.
Er, no thanks.
Morning.
Morning.
Right.
'Annabel, say something to your baby.
' 'Ummmm.
' Is that her? Yes.
Annabel Tilson.
28.
She's a diplomat in the Foreign Office.
Now, it's November 2008 and Annabel is eight weeks pregnant, she's just told her twin sister Minnie who is doing the filming.
Annabel's fiance Eddie.
He's profoundly deaf.
'He's already bought your first pack of baby grows.
' 'He's excited.
' Three weeks later, Annabel miscarried.
And one week after that her career hit the skids.
Because she lost a Government Service laptop.
Correct.
It was stolen from her home.
So this double whammy sent her into a depression.
The following afternoon, Eddie got a text from her saying "It's all pointless now.
So sorry.
Goodbye.
" And that was the last contact she had with anyone.
Suicide? Thanks.
That's what the original investigation thought.
So why did the Coroner go for an open verdict? Well, her mobile phone was never found.
And pathologists discovered she'd eaten pizza in the final ten minutes of her life.
Not much of a last supper.
Finally, there was slight bruising on her arms, indicating a possible struggle before she hit the water.
All right, so what's the UCOS angle? Well, finding witnesses and alibis was a nightmare.
Because of the cold, it was impossible to narrow down the ETD from her body temperature, also there were no sightings of her.
For the past four years, Minnie's been checking all the social network and video sites, for any sign of her sister during the time she disappeared and then finally two days ago, she came across this clip.
Posted by a family on an evening out in St James's Park.
Look at the date.
It's the day Annabel disappeared.
And it's 17:58.
Which is half an hour since she left the office for the last time.
Now, we're about 100 metres from where her body was found.
What do you see? There.
Annabel.
With dinner for two.
And on the menu? Pizza.
The camera timer is corroborated.
It matches a clock that was also filmed at the fair.
So assuming that she ate the pizza while it was still hot, we've got an estimated time of death.
Between 6.
00 and 6.
30 on the 22nd December.
Her dinner partner probably killed her or knows who did.
No, she could still have killed herself.
Jumped through the ice.
Then who sent the suicide text the next day? Well, that isn't any proof of murder.
And the afternoon she died, she was overheard having a row at work with her boss.
She was upset.
Could that have tipped her over the edge? No, no, no.
I don't think you quite What you have is interesting but a bit circumstantial.
We have several cases on our books with a far more concrete proof of murder.
What we have here, Sir, makes is far less likely to be suicide.
And in my view, that's enough to re-open the case.
OK.
Minnie? Minnie? Minnie? Oh, hello.
You couldn't just give me a minute? Yeah.
I can't hear the bell out here.
That's why I always leave the front door open.
You have a very beautiful house.
And garden.
Thank you.
Plants are my home, my career and my children.
Annabel said that.
She was the one who had boyfriends and travelled.
She'd bring back cuttings for me.
This plant here, he's called the Song Of India.
Her first job in the Foreign Office was on the India Desk.
That olive came back with her from Rome.
And that is a Chinese money tree.
China was her last job.
Yes, it was.
I hope her interpreting is better than her time-keeping.
Is this her? I'm so sorry I'm late.
Don't worry about it.
Not a problem.
You must be the lovely Vera.
Yeah.
Gerry Standing.
Brian Lane.
Hi.
Hello.
Shall we go in then? Yeah, yeah.
Lead on.
In 2006 I got a job with the Foreign Office.
That's when I met Annabel.
Her mother was deaf so she knew sign language.
And is that why you were attracted to her? No.
She made me laugh.
And she was beautiful.
That's what attracted me.
Did you think she'd killed herself? No.
Annabel wasn't that kind of person at all.
But I knew she was very unhappy.
I blamed myself for not seeing it coming.
And after that I blamed her old boss.
Peter Hammond? He ruined Annabel's career.
That's what she told me, anyway.
Over the stolen laptop? She left our flat only once, to get some milk.
That's when the break-in happened.
It was like someone was watching and waiting.
Hammond treated her like she was the criminal.
That made her really unhappy.
We were actually easy to tell apart.
Thank you.
We were such different people.
But we were very close.
Twins often are.
And you never accepted that she killed herself.
Annabel was a fighter.
She never quit anything in her life.
That is why I am so relieved to find that video.
So do you have any idea who might have killed her? I don't know anyone who held a grudge.
But I think I know why.
Why? Because of the laptop.
The one that was stolen from her house? The Foreign Office told the press it held no sensitive information.
But Annabel knew this was a lie.
She told you this? We didn't need to tell each other things.
It's a cliche, but in our case it was true.
I sensed it.
There was some great threat to national security on that laptop.
And the Government were afraid that Annabel might reveal that.
Because she was angry at how she had been treated at work? Yes.
So you're saying she was silenced? That's my belief.
Say thank you to him for us.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
We're just leaving.
OK.
What was all that about? He said, "I am content with Gina but Annabel was the love of my life.
"Please find who did this.
" That was very impressive.
Thanks.
I need you to sign this invoice.
I used to sign as a child, you know.
Really? Yeah.
You're inspiring me to dust it off.
Am I? What's your name then? Just call me Gerry.
No, I mean in sign language.
Nice to meet you, Brian.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Why do women always assume I'm trying to get them into bed? Search me.
That was true what I said about the signing.
Oh, yeah? Yeah, I had a cousin called Danny.
Well, still have.
He was deaf, but he had the best toys, and he had this amazing train set.
So I learned to sign so I'd be allowed to play with it.
So what's happened to Danny then? Well, I haven't seen him for years.
Decades.
Just lost contact.
You know how you do.
That's a shame.
Yeah.
It is actually.
Well, he didn't hang about, did he? New bird and 1.
5 children.
But what we couldn't find was a motive.
Not only that, Eddie wasn't even in London when that video was shot.
He'd gone down to his parents' house in Devon for Christmas.
His dad had cancer.
Three watertight alibis that he was on the 5.
22 from Waterloo, which left on time.
And Annabel hadn't even left work till 5.
30.
I think that sister of hers is a conspiracy theorist.
Yeah, but she probably knew Annabel better than anyone.
What's that? Basic Guide To Sign Language.
Oh, he fancies a bit of interpreting.
Really? He fancies a bit of something.
What?! Just look into the laptop theft, will you, Gerry? Yeah, all right.
Go on.
Give us a bit of this sign language you've been dusting off.
This is a well known phrase or saying.
Sandra! Brian! Sorry I didn't hear the alarm.
Up late studying, were we? So who are we going to see at the Foreign Office? Peter Hammond.
And why would that be, Gerry? To find out why he gave Annabel such a bollocking over that laptop? Yeah, and to ask him why he was heard rowing with her hours before we think she was killed.
And I'm checking pass records with door security.
In his original statement, Hammond reckoned he worked late on 22nd December.
With Laura Marsh.
That's the bird who got the New York job instead of Annabel.
And she was also her best friend at university.
Oh, and that's who you're seeing, Gerry.
Spiffing! In my experience, two cats in the same room only means one thing.
A fight.
I can't believe it.
So you were friends at uni, yeah? Yes.
Good friends.
And here.
Well, since you were so close, did you know she was pregnant? I did actually.
She confided in me early on.
When was this? November.
She'd only just found out herself.
I remember it was just before she heard she'd got New York.
Did she expect to get that? New York? God, not at all.
She'd written it off.
She had terrible morning sickness for the interview.
Getting it gave her a lot of self belief, I think.
And then you took it away from her.
Peter Hammond took it from her.
What was on that laptop she lost? I have no idea.
Why would that be relevant to her death? I was hoping you'd tell me.
Look, I'm sorry about this but where were you between 5.
30 and 7.
00 the evening that Annabel disappeared? I was in the office.
Peter Hammond needed to edit my Ministerial briefing so it could go out before Christmas.
Did you speak to Annabel that day? No.
But I did pass her in the corridor.
It was the day I got confirmation I was going to New York in her place.
She blanked me.
I worried it was part of the reason she killed herself.
Look, I've got a meeting with the permanent under secretary but I'll certainly help if I can, Detective Superintendent.
Why would the Met risk muddying waters with this office again over Annabel Tilson? We have evidence that Annabel was murdered.
I see.
Nice Yacht.
Yours? Yes.
Whatever happened to Civil Service cutbacks? My father was an astute businessman, and I am an only child.
And you took a different path? That was the plan.
Yes.
Sadly these days there's only one show in town, the Prosperity Agenda.
Once you realise you're just working for GB PLC, the whole thing starts to feel rather grubby.
You're obviously leaving.
Yes.
In two days' time.
Why's that? I am midway through a book and my publisher is getting restless.
So I'm taking early retirement.
I hope you don't mind if we walk and talk? Not at all.
Why did you row with Annabel Tilson on the day she disappeared? For the same reasons I gave a week later in my original statement.
Remind me? Annabel had been moved from China to the Norway Desk.
But it was after she'd lost the Washington posting she got drunk.
She completely lost it.
She made a very public scene in here, which everyone heard, blaming me.
But you'd demoted her and stripped of her posting.
I made the recommendations, yes.
I derived no satisfaction from them.
I'd written the reference that got her the New York job in the first place.
In my and many other people's view Annabel was destined for great things.
Then why turn against her? Rules clearly state that a Government Service laptop cannot be left unattended outside the building.
Annabel broke those rules.
And 2008 was a particularly bad year to lose an official laptop.
As you will recall, there was a media witch hunt going on at the time over data leaks.
Yet Annabel was still allowed to take a Government computer home.
Yes, part of a new flexible working strategy.
Each Desk was given a shared, secure laptop.
How much secret information was on it when it was stolen? None.
The Office ran an internal security audit, which concluded there was nothing you wouldn't have found a week later in the International section of the FT.
Come on.
This isn't MI5, Detective Superintendent.
Documents in the Foreign Office rarely go above confidential.
I'd like to see a copy of that Security Audit if I may.
I'm afraid that's confidential.
Handy.
Detective Superintendent, this insidious line of questioning does you and the Met no credit at all.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Annabel's punishment didn't fit her crime.
Hammond clearly rated her so why was he so happy to make her a scapegoat? Maybe he was just very sexist.
I mean, forget about Washington, no woman has ever got any of the top ambassadorships.
Beijing, Paris, Moscow.
Nothing.
Even I was shocked.
No woman in the Met has ever made it to Commissioner.
Shocked by that too? Fair comment, yeah.
Now Laura insists there was no rivalry between her and Annabel.
What did you find out about the laptop theft? That was either bloody unlucky or bloody suspicious.
Annabel had only gone ten minutes.
Was anything else taken? Various electrical goods.
And a bottle of whisky from Eddie's collection.
Fingerprints? DNA? Nope.
Clean as a whistle.
The previous mob reckoned it was a smokescreen.
What whisky was it? I don't know.
It might be relevant.
Oh, I tell you what is odd? Annabel made two cash withdrawals of £400 each on the 1st and 2nd December.
Now that is very out of character.
What's this? It's an updated PNC check of anyone who might have been in contact with Annabel before she died.
What's this then? Yang.
In her diary for the 2nd December? I assumed it was something to do with the China Desk.
But this is her personal diary.
Hang on.
2nd December? Wasn't that when she took out the money? Yeah.
What is Yang? Sandra.
Can I have a word please? Yes, Sir.
Heavy handedness? "Bull in a china shop" were his exact words.
With all due respect I have to pass it on because the FCO are such significant stakeholders.
Peter Hammond may be leaving but our ongoing collaboration is vital to I was exploring Hammond's possible involvement in the death of Annabel Tilson.
Oh, really? He claims you were accusing the FCO of a cover up.
One of the theories I'm looking into.
Based on what new evidence? I understand there was a full security audit of that laptop.
Yes, which would push any potential cover-up further up the chain.
Oh, come on, Sandra.
Sir, in the current climate, can the Met honestly claim that management never hide dirty secrets from the staff? Just ease off the throttle, Sandra.
This is not a relationship to threaten with half-baked theories.
OK? UCOS.
Brian Lane.
Gerry, are you busy? Yeah.
I thought I'd go and see Eddie.
Talk to him about Yang and that bottle of whisky.
OK.
Guv'nor.
Look, I know you think that the Foreign Office are involved in all this and you might well be right.
All I'm doing is following other avenues, just in case.
That's absolutely fine, Gerry.
But Annabel was shafted by the Foreign Office.
She was punished unfairly and we can't dismiss that without finding out why.
Well, well, well! What's up with you, someone buy you a lolly? Even better than that.
That was FCO door security.
On the night Annabel died, Peter Hammond didn't leave the office till midnight.
And Laura Marsh worked late too.
But here's the thing.
She left the office at 5.
30pm but she came back at 7pm.
The little liar.
Which also means Hammond could be covering for her.
Hammond's having a retirement bash at his house tonight.
We'll speak to both of them there.
Oh no, I've got a cup match tonight.
No, you haven't.
Oh, bloody hell! Sandra, you going to clear this with Strickland? Why? I don't need his permission to do my job.
So, how do we do this? How we usually do it.
We blag it, Brian.
I'd better loose the scarf.
No, believe me, you're perfect.
Yeah? Hello.
Finally, let me quash rumours I am secretly plotting some new career in finance.
My good City friend Kingsley here will vouch for my credentials.
I once told him, there are three kinds of economist.
Hey up, there's Laura Marsh.
Thank you all so much for coming.
Can I ask you to raise your glasses to the Queen.
The Queen.
I think this counts as trespass, Detective Superintendent.
We'd just like a quick word.
You've been lying to us.
I don't want to embarrass you.
Laura Marsh popped out of the Foreign Office just before Annabel died, which wasn't in your statement.
I hope that isn't all you've got.
You're her alibi.
If she had popped out, how would I have known? We work in different rooms! I really don't want this to get ugly.
Please get out of my house.
Deep breath, Brian.
Sir.
Brian.
Sandra.
New evidence.
Laura Marsh was out of the building when Annabel died.
So we've come to speak to her and her alibi, Peter Hammond.
And the reason this couldn't wait until the morning is? We can't be sure where he'll be tomorrow.
Not only is the Foreign Secretary here.
I'm in conversation with the director of MI5.
I can not afford to be even slightly embarrassed.
That won't happen.
Trust us, Sir.
You're on thin ice, Sandra.
Tread bloody carefully.
Look, I know this is hard.
But can we talk about the miscarriage? It was a few days before the 12-week-scan.
I was at a conference.
She texted me and said she was having stomach cramps.
She told me she was in the bathroom and there was blood everywhere.
I came right back, of course.
But I knew I just knew.
That must have been very traumatic.
That was interesting.
Bye then.
All right.
Oh, Vera.
Yeah? "I want to dig up my elephant with you?" No.
I thought I was saying, "I want to practise my signing with you.
" That took me hours.
It's not easy, is it? No, it isn't, no.
What are you after? Honestly? I've got a cousin Danny and he's deaf.
I want to go and see him again.
Is that all? Yes.
Honestly.
OK.
But trust me, I'm doing it for your cousin.
Ta.
No, thank you.
Hello.
Sorry, have we met? No, but you've met our colleague, Gerry Standing.
On the night of Annabel Tilson's murder, where were you really between 5.
30 and 7.
00? I went to Harvey Nics in Knightsbridge.
Then I came back to the office.
Why? I bought salmon and champagne to celebrate getting New York.
So you and Peter Hammond lied to us.
Check with my bank.
I paid for them by card.
Beside the point.
You still could have got to St James's Park.
It's not looking good for you.
Not at all.
I know.
That's why I lied.
Nobody drinks champagne on their own.
She shared it with her lover, Peter Hammond.
What I don't get is, if you and Hammond were lovers, why were you celebrating going Because he'd ended it.
And I was pretending I was fine with that.
I told him I wanted Annabel's New York job, he told me that was out of his hands.
So I told him to sort it or I'd phone his wife.
My heart just If I couldn't have him, I was going to make bloody sure I had a career.
Was this before or after Annabel lost the laptop? Before.
So the burglary was good news for you.
Yes.
What's your relationship with Hammond been like ever since? I've been his shag buddy.
Here's how pathetic I am.
He gave me this in New York.
Chinese Jade.
Fake, of course.
But I thought I'd wear it tonight.
Just in case.
Can I rescue you, Laura? I thought you two were leaving ten minutes ago? Well, you know what it's like when you get chatting at these do's, Peter.
Are we done? For now.
I just had a word with your boss.
Don't think he's very happy with you.
He'll be delighted when he hears how forthcoming Laura Marsh has been.
Lover boy.
I can't talk here.
Where? I'll come to you tomorrow afternoon.
We'll expect you at 9am.
Super do, Peter.
What's it like, Pullman, still crawling through the cracks at your age? Answer the question.
No, having Laura around wasn't ideal.
But she'd have got posted somewhere eventually.
That's what happens in the Foreign Office.
So she blackmailed you? Get her New York or your wife gets a phone call.
Drivel.
Why would she come out with that? Hell hath no fury, Detective Superintendent.
Annabel's punishment was disproportionate.
You know that.
Is this a police investigation or a performance review? For Annabel to lose that posting, you had to discredit her.
Quickly.
So in that light, the laptop theft suddenly looks a bit convenient.
Did she just imply what She did.
Well, if you're not going to take me seriously.
Annabel had sussed out your affair and she threatened to expose you.
So to protect your marriage and probably your career too, you had to act.
Why don't you do some bloody police work? Check with door security! We have.
Officially you stayed in the building until midnight.
But you and I both know how persuasive rank can be.
Not in my office, Pullman.
Wotcher.
All right.
Oh, you're there.
Have you found out what Yang means? Yes and no.
Annabel ordered a new kitchen work top in early December.
Eddie said that the fitter was either Chinese or Japanese, which he thought was odd at the time.
He also admitted that he quite often paid cash in hand.
The cash withdrawals? Bugger.
I also had a look at Eddie's whisky collection.
Oh, yeah? Yeah, would have made you weep, mate.
The stolen bottle was called Glen Wallis.
I'd never heard of it, but Eddie said it was really special.
Glen Wallis? Oh, here we go.
It's a highly esoteric tipple that.
Is it? Yeah, they went out of business unfortunately in the '80s.
Big prices now.
So the burglar got lucky.
He certainly did Tony Symes! Who? Tony Symes.
I nicked him back in the early '90s.
He only ever nicked stuff to order.
Commissions, he called it.
Thought he was bloody burglary aristocracy.
But he did know about his whiskies, I'll give him that.
Well, is he still at it? As far as I know, he's been straight for years.
Let's bring him in.
This definitely smells like him.
Where are you going? Brian! Brian! Shit! Tony Symes.
CEO.
Symes Inc.
Bespoke commercial counter-intelligence, eh? Your secrets will be safe with us.
Where's the Met leaking and how big's your hole? This is very respectable.
The last time I saw you, you were being thrown into the back of a van bound for the Scrubs.
I've been clean for years, Brian, as you know.
Have you read the Power Of Now? No.
You should.
It changed my life.
Especially the chapter about not looking back.
But do your clients know you've done time? Twice? It does not matter whether it is a black cat or a white cat.
As long as the cat catches the mouse.
Deng Xiaoping.
President of China.
Very true.
What's this about, gents? A Government laptop, stolen in late 2008 from a flat in Southwark belonging to a diplomat.
The commission's got your name etched through it like Brighton bloody rock.
Well, as I've said It needed to be clinical.
It needed somebody with your pedigree.
I hope you've got more than that.
I mean, I was bloody good but there were others in my field of work.
Glen Wallis.
Never heard of him.
Come on, Tony.
It was stolen with the laptop.
Someone got lucky, didn't they? Only somebody like you would have noticed it.
A rare slip, I reckon.
Strictly mineral water these days, Brian.
You know it's three and out, don't you? I mean, we pin this on you, you go down, automatically.
The doors to Symes Inc will shut bloody tight if that happens.
So why don't you tell us who hired you? Well, sorry, gents, business calls.
Think about it, Tony.
Guilty.
We just need more leverage.
Problem is, even if Symes did nick the laptop, we still haven't got a motive for murder.
How about this? Symes stole the laptop for someone secretly representing the Chinese government.
Annabel knew there was a threat to national security on it.
The Foreign Office told her to keep quiet but she threatened to blow the whistle.
So someone in Government had to do the dirty.
That's what Minnie said.
Exactly.
It sounds a bit more credible now.
Does it? Well, we didn't think we were being followed before.
Now we've had a double sighting.
I can hardly see MI5 sending out a banged up old Chrysler to keep an eye on us.
Double bluff? Without registration details there's not a lot we can do.
Look, I'm sorry about this, but I still think we're focusing too much on trying to find a motive inside the Foreign Office.
Really? Cos I think we're getting somewhere.
I want you to go and see Minnie.
She thinks she's got something for us.
I'll go.
Maybe she's getting a sisterly vibe from the afterlife.
Where are you off to? Laura Marsh.
She called too.
I'm not sleeping.
I keep thinking about Annabel.
The timing of her losing that laptop always bugged me.
Even when I thought she'd taken her own life.
But now IT security gave me access.
But I absolutely did not show it to you.
Look who took the laptop home the day before Annabel.
Peter Hammond.
He hardly ever borrowed it.
I wondered if it could be relevant.
If Hammond had copied some files from his desktop onto the laptop, would that show up in here? Yes.
He transferred around 40 files.
This only lists file reference numbers.
To see the files you'll need to make a formal request through our lawyers.
He asked to meet me.
Peter.
The day after the party.
He wanted to know what I'd told you.
And he wanted this back.
He's suddenly decided it could compromise our relationship.
I told him where to go.
He got quite abusive.
What a romantic.
So now I'm wearing it all the time and praying I bump into him! May I? Who told you it was fake? He did.
When he gave it to me.
Do you mind if I have it looked at? I've been going through Annabel's things.
It's a long time since I did that.
I found this.
A post-it.
"DRY £765".
Stuck on East London.
I texted Eddie.
He's got no idea.
I wondered if it was to do with the money Annabel took out.
Mmm.
Do you know if she had any contacts in East London? No.
Thanks.
We'll definitely look into that.
Were you pleased about Annabel's pregnancy? Oh, yes.
Any kids of your own? No and that's never going to happen.
It's hardly too late.
Have you heard of the early menopause? Yes, vaguely, yes.
I was 27.
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, so, a nephew or a niece would've been very special.
You know, when Annabel miscarried, it felt a bit like she'd lost MY baby too.
Is that weird? OK, so you think that Peter Hammond put these files on that laptop knowing that Annabel was going to take it home.
And then he arranged for it to be stolen? Yes, by Tony Symes.
Why on earth would Hammond want to do that? That's the problem, I don't know.
Unless he needed to get those particular files out of the building and he used the laptop as a kind of Trojan Horse to smuggle them out.
Yes, but why? Well, he couldn't have carried them out, security was too tight.
Now you're saying that Hammond could've been spying as well? Possibly, yes.
Possibly.
Sir, the secret to Annabel's death lies in that building and I am convinced the files hold the key, so please, just sign off on this request.
Let me think about it.
She's not happy.
It's not surprising.
A potentially career-defining moment and Strickland's playing top floor politics with her.
I can't find any of Annabel's contacts on this page.
Well anyway, DRY is a computer acronym, "Don't Repeat Yourself".
It's also an album by a certain PJ Harvey.
Nah, were not getting anywhere.
If anyone asks, I've gone to a jewellers.
I had this looked at and it's worth over £80,000.
So I guess that's why he wanted it back.
No No, he could never have afforded this.
He's loaded.
Everyone falls for it.
That house, the yacht? Everything belongs to his wife.
She's the one with the wealth.
Peter just has his OK Civil Service wage and massive status anxiety.
And his inheritance.
Guess where Peter's father invested the family silver? Lehman Brothers.
Peter was left with nothing.
He let it slip one night and then begged me to keep it quiet.
I knew he had no money.
Why would he spend £80,000 on me? Maybe he cared more than you thought.
Excuse me.
Sir.
Ah, Sandra.
What's going on? Um Hammond's files? The deal was the documents can't leave the building.
I never wanted to stop you doing your job, Sandra.
Let's see if your hunch is right.
There's nothing in here that's secret, it's not even confidential.
Nothing you wouldn't find a week later in the FT.
What was that one about China? Um UK Telecoms firm 4Mobile about to sign a billion pound deal with the Chinese government to supply satellite kit.
This one's about the same deal.
It's from our Embassy in Beijing.
They've heard about an by French rival, Debut Telecoms and suspect the UK deal might be in trouble.
What's the date of that tel? Ha! The day before Annabel borrowed the laptop.
Well, they were right to be worried.
The deal collapsed two days later.
Hang on, if you had that information before the markets And you bought a shedload of Debut Telecoms shares Insider trading? OK.
According to the FSA, there was general speculation on Debut Telecoms that week, but nothing suspicious.
But you can also make money from a falling share price, it's called shorting.
Shorting? Even SOUNDS dodgy.
That week, a hedge fund manager named Kingsley Wilton sold a significant volume of 4Mobile shares at their market high on December 7th when the deal looked solid and then bought them back when they hit rock bottom four days later.
He must have made a fortune.
Oh, hello.
There's an article about Wilton.
Yeah, it says he suffered badly in the financial crisis.
"Since he gambled everything he had on the 4Mobile collapse "But since then, Mr Wilton has become red hot.
" Oh and there's a photo too.
Bloody hell, that's Hammond's mate.
How do you know? He was at Hammond's retirement do.
What? Kingsley Wilton.
He's going to prison.
And if I were you, I'd talk.
The data on that laptop made him a multi-millionaire.
How much did you get, Tony? A few hundred quid? Doesn't seem fair to me.
It's a travesty.
If he mentions your name first, you're going to end up doing three years wiping up his slops.
That's him.
The FSA have arrested your chum, Kingsley Wilton.
Fascinating.
They've also identified an offshore account in your name, in Belize, which has received a cash-flow from Wilton since December 2008.
That account currently holds well over £4 million.
The FSA are waiting outside, but it's Annabel Tilson's murder we're interested in.
Laura Marsh had to get that job in New York to keep her quiet and for that to happen, you had to discredit Annabel.
You were also desperately in need of cash.
So the theft of the laptop gave you two for the price of one.
But Annabel got suspicious.
She discovered what files you'd transferred and like us put two and two together and came up with corruption.
And that's what the argument was about.
She was on to you, she was threatening to expose you.
So you killed her.
How on earth could she have retrieved those records? She wasn't senior enough.
Like you say, she was bright.
She'd have found a way.
Annabel Tilson knew nothing.
And since you can't put me outside the building at the time she died, I doubt a jury will.
I liked Annabel.
I didn't murder her.
I'm genuinely relieved she didn't kill herself.
The only positive to come out of this is that I no longer feel any guilt over her death.
We started out with murder and solved a fraud.
But what about Laura Marsh's bracelet? It's how Hammond hid his money, he used Laura as a kind of human safety box.
Kingsley Wilton's alibi has worked out.
The night Annabel died, he was in his hotel suite, in Singapore.
However, on a brighter note, the FSA are delighted with your work, so well done.
Really.
I don't know, we solve a huge case for them and get a poxy bottle of Bulgarian Cava.
We've officially moved from recession to depression.
Isn't this still fraud though, them buying us booze? Shut up and drink your juice.
That video clip is now the only new evidence driving a murder investigation.
Am I right? Well, no.
No, we've got an A-Z with a random post-it note in it.
Annabel did not kill herself, sir.
Sandra, for all your endeavours, I think it might be time for UCOS to commit its resources to something else.
No, that's not who she was.
I've got a senior management meeting upstairs.
Have a think about it.
Yeah, cheers.
Well, has anyone got any bright ideas, cos at the moment we're getting absolutely nowhere.
Yeah.
I think we should go back to the FACTS of the case.
Which is why, if you don't mind I'm going back to the scene of the crime.
I'll see you later.
Yes! Hey! Get in! Just in.
Transport for London records showing Annabel's Oyster card usage in the weeks before she died.
Annabel never went near that page of the A to Z.
We'd worked that out, Brian, yes Except she did, once.
December 3rd, the day of her miscarriage.
She took the tube to Chigwell and from there she got on a W20 bus.
Now the thing is, there are no hospitals along that route.
However, there is one medical establishment not far from Chigwell station.
Abortion clinic.
Yes.
So is that what an abortion costs then? £765? I wouldn't know, thankfully.
Course we still don't know what DRY means.
Don't worry, Brian.
I'm prepared for another dead end.
Oh, my good God! Arson.
Just after 10am.
Well, I've just had a word the clinic administrator.
She's pretty sure all the computers were destroyed.
However she'd already backed them up off-site.
Turns out Annabel did pay a visit here.
On 3rd December 2008 at 2pm.
She was seen by a Doctor Yang.
Doctor Y.
D-R-Y, DRY.
Oh! Well, somebody obviously didn't want us to find that out.
They must have panicked.
Gerry! It's starting to come back! I think it's watching all those interviews you did with Eddie, that must have helped.
Oh, no, that's a point, can I ask you about that last interview? Yeah, go ahead.
Well, Eddie said he was sure that the kitchen worktop was laid by an Asian.
Right? That's true.
Yeah.
But then he said he THOUGHT it was.
Like it was a stammer.
Yeah, he did.
I wonder why? Thank you.
That was the crime squad.
A witness has come forward who spotted a car driving away from the clinic at speed just after 10am this morning.
Registration? No, only the year.
But they did get the make and colour.
A green Chrysler Sunbeam? I'll run a search on it, shouldn't take a moment.
So, for a 1998 lime green Chrysler Sunbeam we have Oh! Minnie? What's happened? Annabel had an abortion, not a miscarriage.
Where were you this morning? I had some time off.
So I went to Sissinghurst Castle to look around the gardens.
How did you get there? In my van.
Anyone go with you? No.
Did you meet anyone there, who might remember you? No.
Look I didn't burn down that clinic, of course I didn't.
I know.
I know.
Because you're a good person.
And all life is precious to you.
Yes! But here's why I think you DID burn it down, Minnie.
You got scared.
Of what? You've always known Annabel had an abortion.
What? How?! Because she owned up to you in St James's Park that she'd got rid of her child.
Your child.
No.
To push your sister through the ice and let her die, that must have been really tough for a good person like yourself to live with.
But to confess? That takes more than goodness.
That takes guts! Granted, you came half way.
You found enough evidence for us to re-open the case and when we got stuck, you even dropped us a few crumbs, but when we closed in on the abortion clinic, then you changed your mind.
Because the reality of going to prison hit you and you panicked.
And you know what?! I understand! No! No, no! Enough! You've got it all wrong.
I'm still trying to understand how my sister could have murdered her child! What a pair, eh? Who? Eddie and Annabel.
His earth to her fire.
Sounds like it worked pretty well.
Maybe she appreciated his calming influence.
Cos she had a terrible temper, you know.
Yeah? Oh, yeah.
If she had an argument you could hear it all over the Foreign Office.
That's a point.
Drowning doesn't seem like drowning.
But an argument sounds like an argument even 100 metres away! Sorry? No, I'M sorry.
I'm really sorry, I've got to get back to the office right now.
Look, can I give you a lift somewhere? No, no.
It's fine.
Are you sure? Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Vera we will meet again.
Guv'nor! We've missed something.
Now, people love ogling public arguments, right? And we know that when Annabel argued, she made a right racket.
Yet no-one in St James's Park reported hearing anything.
Why? Because it was silent.
Sign language.
Minnie.
Sorry.
Has anyone borrowed your car recently? Who? Well, we don't know.
Maybe someone you lent it to before? Erm Eddie borrowed it to pick up his daughter from nursery once.
When? About three weeks ago.
His car was being repaired.
Thank you.
This way, please.
Eddie found out about the abortion.
He met her in St James's Park, he confronted her with his discovery, completely lost it and then pushed her under the ice.
Yeah, but why follow us? To check that we weren't onto the abortion.
He knew that was the only way he could be caught.
And then when Minnie handed in the A to Z and we started asking questions about Fan Yang, he panicked and burned down the clinic.
No, no, wait.
There are two problems here.
First, it's all circumstantial.
Again.
We can search Eddie's house.
Yeah, but that's not the issue, is it? Cos we've always known that Eddie couldn't have killed Annabel at 6pm cos he was already on the train to Exeter! Why don't we go to Devon.
Break his alibi.
OK.
Thank you very much, thank you.
Anything? Eddie's mum swears that she saw the arriving at 8.
55 and she watched her son get off it.
Yeah, well Eddie's mates swear blind that they saw Eddie and his mum walking to the car park just after 8.
55.
So the alibi's solid.
He caught that bloody train.
That's it, isn't it? The end of the line.
Someone burned down that clinic.
And someone's been following us in Minnie's car.
I don't know.
Coincidence? Speculation? Come off it, Gerry.
Annabel was murdered.
You know it.
I know it.
No, all I know is you're seeing what you want to see in this bloody case! Sandra, Sandra! Watch these two girls.
They totally disappear.
Now what if Eddie was already in that shelter when the 5:22 came in? Then all his mum saw was him coming out of there and walking up the stairs.
So she saw what she expected to see! Possible, isn't it? She confessed to the ultimate crime.
Killing your baby.
But when you say she died I was on a train.
I don't think so.
Waterloo may be the nearest station to your house.
But the fastest trains to Exeter leave from Paddington.
So after you killed Annabel, you jumped on a tube and struck lucky.
A train left at 6.
40pm and arrived at Exeter at 8.
50.
Once there, you hid for five minutes until the Waterloo train arrived.
And then your mum saw you walk over the footbridge.
Your alibi was safe.
You have no proof of this.
Found in your house an hour ago.
A duplicate key to Minnie's Chrysler.
So? You watched the woman you loved drown and you did nothing! I wanted I wanted her to look at me and tell me she hadn't killed our baby.
She looked away Everything went black.
The next thing, she was in the water looking at me.
Those eyes.
I hated her.
I'm really sorry that we had to jump to the wrong conclusion in order to reach the right one.
I really believed they loved each other.
Well, I think they did.
No, my sister acted selfishly and broke his heart and he chose to watch her die, and live with that terrible secret.
That's not love.
That can't be anything to do with love.
I wish I'd never found that video.
Why don't you take some time off.
A change of scene.
Then I really would be in trouble.
Bye.
That was quite impressive, Gerry.
Thank you Guv'nor.
I think you're ready to visit your cousin.
Oh, thank you.
And also thank you for seeing beyond your first impression.
What first impression? Sir.
Your instincts were spot on about Annabel and about the Foreign Office of course.
Well done.
I also missed a double sighting of Minnie's car which slowed down the investigation.
You solved not one but two cases here! And the arson attack on that clinic could have been fatal.
Yeah, but it wasn't.
You know, I used to think I was unstoppable in this job.
First female commissioner even.
Just like Annabel, I thought it was all possible.
And with this case you wanted to show the Met you still had it? No, no, no.
I've hit my ceiling here, I know that and I've dealt with it.
No, I wanted to prove it to myself.
And did you? Not really, no.
Well for what it's worth, you proved yourself to me years ago.
You can still get Washington, you know.
Now if I may, I'd like to buy you all a drink.
Thanks very much.
Sandra? Yeah, OK.
Already booked, I'm afraid.
See you tomorrow.
Ta-da.
Who? Vera? Danny.
Your cousin?! Yeah, I Skyped him.
All the Yeah.
The picture quality wasn't very good but we got on like a house on fire.
Bought him a present.
I thought you said he was into trains? No, no, he's into planes now.
Least, I bloody hope that's what he said!
December 2008.
This lake was covered in two inches of ice so she must have fallen through it.
How deep is it? It's only six foot.
But the cold and the shock mean she won't have lasted a minute.
Three days later, on Christmas Day there was a thaw and a jogger spotted her body in the water.
Jogging on Christmas day? Who was he? Billy no mates? Who was the last person to see her alive? Security guards saw her leave the Foreign Office over there at about 5.
30.
And nobody around here saw or heard anything? It was dark.
There was a Christmas Fair, wasn't there? Yeah.
100 metres that way.
And drowning doesn't look like drowning.
What does that mean? Well, cos you don't scream and splash about.
See, the body's concentrating solely on trying to breathe.
Which is why most people drown within metres of another adult who is completely oblivious.
Didn't Walt Disney freeze to death? No, he died and was cryogenically frozen and then stored under what is apparently now the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.
Morning Guv'nor.
Coffee? Morning.
Er, no thanks.
Morning.
Morning.
Right.
'Annabel, say something to your baby.
' 'Ummmm.
' Is that her? Yes.
Annabel Tilson.
28.
She's a diplomat in the Foreign Office.
Now, it's November 2008 and Annabel is eight weeks pregnant, she's just told her twin sister Minnie who is doing the filming.
Annabel's fiance Eddie.
He's profoundly deaf.
'He's already bought your first pack of baby grows.
' 'He's excited.
' Three weeks later, Annabel miscarried.
And one week after that her career hit the skids.
Because she lost a Government Service laptop.
Correct.
It was stolen from her home.
So this double whammy sent her into a depression.
The following afternoon, Eddie got a text from her saying "It's all pointless now.
So sorry.
Goodbye.
" And that was the last contact she had with anyone.
Suicide? Thanks.
That's what the original investigation thought.
So why did the Coroner go for an open verdict? Well, her mobile phone was never found.
And pathologists discovered she'd eaten pizza in the final ten minutes of her life.
Not much of a last supper.
Finally, there was slight bruising on her arms, indicating a possible struggle before she hit the water.
All right, so what's the UCOS angle? Well, finding witnesses and alibis was a nightmare.
Because of the cold, it was impossible to narrow down the ETD from her body temperature, also there were no sightings of her.
For the past four years, Minnie's been checking all the social network and video sites, for any sign of her sister during the time she disappeared and then finally two days ago, she came across this clip.
Posted by a family on an evening out in St James's Park.
Look at the date.
It's the day Annabel disappeared.
And it's 17:58.
Which is half an hour since she left the office for the last time.
Now, we're about 100 metres from where her body was found.
What do you see? There.
Annabel.
With dinner for two.
And on the menu? Pizza.
The camera timer is corroborated.
It matches a clock that was also filmed at the fair.
So assuming that she ate the pizza while it was still hot, we've got an estimated time of death.
Between 6.
00 and 6.
30 on the 22nd December.
Her dinner partner probably killed her or knows who did.
No, she could still have killed herself.
Jumped through the ice.
Then who sent the suicide text the next day? Well, that isn't any proof of murder.
And the afternoon she died, she was overheard having a row at work with her boss.
She was upset.
Could that have tipped her over the edge? No, no, no.
I don't think you quite What you have is interesting but a bit circumstantial.
We have several cases on our books with a far more concrete proof of murder.
What we have here, Sir, makes is far less likely to be suicide.
And in my view, that's enough to re-open the case.
OK.
Minnie? Minnie? Minnie? Oh, hello.
You couldn't just give me a minute? Yeah.
I can't hear the bell out here.
That's why I always leave the front door open.
You have a very beautiful house.
And garden.
Thank you.
Plants are my home, my career and my children.
Annabel said that.
She was the one who had boyfriends and travelled.
She'd bring back cuttings for me.
This plant here, he's called the Song Of India.
Her first job in the Foreign Office was on the India Desk.
That olive came back with her from Rome.
And that is a Chinese money tree.
China was her last job.
Yes, it was.
I hope her interpreting is better than her time-keeping.
Is this her? I'm so sorry I'm late.
Don't worry about it.
Not a problem.
You must be the lovely Vera.
Yeah.
Gerry Standing.
Brian Lane.
Hi.
Hello.
Shall we go in then? Yeah, yeah.
Lead on.
In 2006 I got a job with the Foreign Office.
That's when I met Annabel.
Her mother was deaf so she knew sign language.
And is that why you were attracted to her? No.
She made me laugh.
And she was beautiful.
That's what attracted me.
Did you think she'd killed herself? No.
Annabel wasn't that kind of person at all.
But I knew she was very unhappy.
I blamed myself for not seeing it coming.
And after that I blamed her old boss.
Peter Hammond? He ruined Annabel's career.
That's what she told me, anyway.
Over the stolen laptop? She left our flat only once, to get some milk.
That's when the break-in happened.
It was like someone was watching and waiting.
Hammond treated her like she was the criminal.
That made her really unhappy.
We were actually easy to tell apart.
Thank you.
We were such different people.
But we were very close.
Twins often are.
And you never accepted that she killed herself.
Annabel was a fighter.
She never quit anything in her life.
That is why I am so relieved to find that video.
So do you have any idea who might have killed her? I don't know anyone who held a grudge.
But I think I know why.
Why? Because of the laptop.
The one that was stolen from her house? The Foreign Office told the press it held no sensitive information.
But Annabel knew this was a lie.
She told you this? We didn't need to tell each other things.
It's a cliche, but in our case it was true.
I sensed it.
There was some great threat to national security on that laptop.
And the Government were afraid that Annabel might reveal that.
Because she was angry at how she had been treated at work? Yes.
So you're saying she was silenced? That's my belief.
Say thank you to him for us.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
We're just leaving.
OK.
What was all that about? He said, "I am content with Gina but Annabel was the love of my life.
"Please find who did this.
" That was very impressive.
Thanks.
I need you to sign this invoice.
I used to sign as a child, you know.
Really? Yeah.
You're inspiring me to dust it off.
Am I? What's your name then? Just call me Gerry.
No, I mean in sign language.
Nice to meet you, Brian.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Why do women always assume I'm trying to get them into bed? Search me.
That was true what I said about the signing.
Oh, yeah? Yeah, I had a cousin called Danny.
Well, still have.
He was deaf, but he had the best toys, and he had this amazing train set.
So I learned to sign so I'd be allowed to play with it.
So what's happened to Danny then? Well, I haven't seen him for years.
Decades.
Just lost contact.
You know how you do.
That's a shame.
Yeah.
It is actually.
Well, he didn't hang about, did he? New bird and 1.
5 children.
But what we couldn't find was a motive.
Not only that, Eddie wasn't even in London when that video was shot.
He'd gone down to his parents' house in Devon for Christmas.
His dad had cancer.
Three watertight alibis that he was on the 5.
22 from Waterloo, which left on time.
And Annabel hadn't even left work till 5.
30.
I think that sister of hers is a conspiracy theorist.
Yeah, but she probably knew Annabel better than anyone.
What's that? Basic Guide To Sign Language.
Oh, he fancies a bit of interpreting.
Really? He fancies a bit of something.
What?! Just look into the laptop theft, will you, Gerry? Yeah, all right.
Go on.
Give us a bit of this sign language you've been dusting off.
This is a well known phrase or saying.
Sandra! Brian! Sorry I didn't hear the alarm.
Up late studying, were we? So who are we going to see at the Foreign Office? Peter Hammond.
And why would that be, Gerry? To find out why he gave Annabel such a bollocking over that laptop? Yeah, and to ask him why he was heard rowing with her hours before we think she was killed.
And I'm checking pass records with door security.
In his original statement, Hammond reckoned he worked late on 22nd December.
With Laura Marsh.
That's the bird who got the New York job instead of Annabel.
And she was also her best friend at university.
Oh, and that's who you're seeing, Gerry.
Spiffing! In my experience, two cats in the same room only means one thing.
A fight.
I can't believe it.
So you were friends at uni, yeah? Yes.
Good friends.
And here.
Well, since you were so close, did you know she was pregnant? I did actually.
She confided in me early on.
When was this? November.
She'd only just found out herself.
I remember it was just before she heard she'd got New York.
Did she expect to get that? New York? God, not at all.
She'd written it off.
She had terrible morning sickness for the interview.
Getting it gave her a lot of self belief, I think.
And then you took it away from her.
Peter Hammond took it from her.
What was on that laptop she lost? I have no idea.
Why would that be relevant to her death? I was hoping you'd tell me.
Look, I'm sorry about this but where were you between 5.
30 and 7.
00 the evening that Annabel disappeared? I was in the office.
Peter Hammond needed to edit my Ministerial briefing so it could go out before Christmas.
Did you speak to Annabel that day? No.
But I did pass her in the corridor.
It was the day I got confirmation I was going to New York in her place.
She blanked me.
I worried it was part of the reason she killed herself.
Look, I've got a meeting with the permanent under secretary but I'll certainly help if I can, Detective Superintendent.
Why would the Met risk muddying waters with this office again over Annabel Tilson? We have evidence that Annabel was murdered.
I see.
Nice Yacht.
Yours? Yes.
Whatever happened to Civil Service cutbacks? My father was an astute businessman, and I am an only child.
And you took a different path? That was the plan.
Yes.
Sadly these days there's only one show in town, the Prosperity Agenda.
Once you realise you're just working for GB PLC, the whole thing starts to feel rather grubby.
You're obviously leaving.
Yes.
In two days' time.
Why's that? I am midway through a book and my publisher is getting restless.
So I'm taking early retirement.
I hope you don't mind if we walk and talk? Not at all.
Why did you row with Annabel Tilson on the day she disappeared? For the same reasons I gave a week later in my original statement.
Remind me? Annabel had been moved from China to the Norway Desk.
But it was after she'd lost the Washington posting she got drunk.
She completely lost it.
She made a very public scene in here, which everyone heard, blaming me.
But you'd demoted her and stripped of her posting.
I made the recommendations, yes.
I derived no satisfaction from them.
I'd written the reference that got her the New York job in the first place.
In my and many other people's view Annabel was destined for great things.
Then why turn against her? Rules clearly state that a Government Service laptop cannot be left unattended outside the building.
Annabel broke those rules.
And 2008 was a particularly bad year to lose an official laptop.
As you will recall, there was a media witch hunt going on at the time over data leaks.
Yet Annabel was still allowed to take a Government computer home.
Yes, part of a new flexible working strategy.
Each Desk was given a shared, secure laptop.
How much secret information was on it when it was stolen? None.
The Office ran an internal security audit, which concluded there was nothing you wouldn't have found a week later in the International section of the FT.
Come on.
This isn't MI5, Detective Superintendent.
Documents in the Foreign Office rarely go above confidential.
I'd like to see a copy of that Security Audit if I may.
I'm afraid that's confidential.
Handy.
Detective Superintendent, this insidious line of questioning does you and the Met no credit at all.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Annabel's punishment didn't fit her crime.
Hammond clearly rated her so why was he so happy to make her a scapegoat? Maybe he was just very sexist.
I mean, forget about Washington, no woman has ever got any of the top ambassadorships.
Beijing, Paris, Moscow.
Nothing.
Even I was shocked.
No woman in the Met has ever made it to Commissioner.
Shocked by that too? Fair comment, yeah.
Now Laura insists there was no rivalry between her and Annabel.
What did you find out about the laptop theft? That was either bloody unlucky or bloody suspicious.
Annabel had only gone ten minutes.
Was anything else taken? Various electrical goods.
And a bottle of whisky from Eddie's collection.
Fingerprints? DNA? Nope.
Clean as a whistle.
The previous mob reckoned it was a smokescreen.
What whisky was it? I don't know.
It might be relevant.
Oh, I tell you what is odd? Annabel made two cash withdrawals of £400 each on the 1st and 2nd December.
Now that is very out of character.
What's this? It's an updated PNC check of anyone who might have been in contact with Annabel before she died.
What's this then? Yang.
In her diary for the 2nd December? I assumed it was something to do with the China Desk.
But this is her personal diary.
Hang on.
2nd December? Wasn't that when she took out the money? Yeah.
What is Yang? Sandra.
Can I have a word please? Yes, Sir.
Heavy handedness? "Bull in a china shop" were his exact words.
With all due respect I have to pass it on because the FCO are such significant stakeholders.
Peter Hammond may be leaving but our ongoing collaboration is vital to I was exploring Hammond's possible involvement in the death of Annabel Tilson.
Oh, really? He claims you were accusing the FCO of a cover up.
One of the theories I'm looking into.
Based on what new evidence? I understand there was a full security audit of that laptop.
Yes, which would push any potential cover-up further up the chain.
Oh, come on, Sandra.
Sir, in the current climate, can the Met honestly claim that management never hide dirty secrets from the staff? Just ease off the throttle, Sandra.
This is not a relationship to threaten with half-baked theories.
OK? UCOS.
Brian Lane.
Gerry, are you busy? Yeah.
I thought I'd go and see Eddie.
Talk to him about Yang and that bottle of whisky.
OK.
Guv'nor.
Look, I know you think that the Foreign Office are involved in all this and you might well be right.
All I'm doing is following other avenues, just in case.
That's absolutely fine, Gerry.
But Annabel was shafted by the Foreign Office.
She was punished unfairly and we can't dismiss that without finding out why.
Well, well, well! What's up with you, someone buy you a lolly? Even better than that.
That was FCO door security.
On the night Annabel died, Peter Hammond didn't leave the office till midnight.
And Laura Marsh worked late too.
But here's the thing.
She left the office at 5.
30pm but she came back at 7pm.
The little liar.
Which also means Hammond could be covering for her.
Hammond's having a retirement bash at his house tonight.
We'll speak to both of them there.
Oh no, I've got a cup match tonight.
No, you haven't.
Oh, bloody hell! Sandra, you going to clear this with Strickland? Why? I don't need his permission to do my job.
So, how do we do this? How we usually do it.
We blag it, Brian.
I'd better loose the scarf.
No, believe me, you're perfect.
Yeah? Hello.
Finally, let me quash rumours I am secretly plotting some new career in finance.
My good City friend Kingsley here will vouch for my credentials.
I once told him, there are three kinds of economist.
Hey up, there's Laura Marsh.
Thank you all so much for coming.
Can I ask you to raise your glasses to the Queen.
The Queen.
I think this counts as trespass, Detective Superintendent.
We'd just like a quick word.
You've been lying to us.
I don't want to embarrass you.
Laura Marsh popped out of the Foreign Office just before Annabel died, which wasn't in your statement.
I hope that isn't all you've got.
You're her alibi.
If she had popped out, how would I have known? We work in different rooms! I really don't want this to get ugly.
Please get out of my house.
Deep breath, Brian.
Sir.
Brian.
Sandra.
New evidence.
Laura Marsh was out of the building when Annabel died.
So we've come to speak to her and her alibi, Peter Hammond.
And the reason this couldn't wait until the morning is? We can't be sure where he'll be tomorrow.
Not only is the Foreign Secretary here.
I'm in conversation with the director of MI5.
I can not afford to be even slightly embarrassed.
That won't happen.
Trust us, Sir.
You're on thin ice, Sandra.
Tread bloody carefully.
Look, I know this is hard.
But can we talk about the miscarriage? It was a few days before the 12-week-scan.
I was at a conference.
She texted me and said she was having stomach cramps.
She told me she was in the bathroom and there was blood everywhere.
I came right back, of course.
But I knew I just knew.
That must have been very traumatic.
That was interesting.
Bye then.
All right.
Oh, Vera.
Yeah? "I want to dig up my elephant with you?" No.
I thought I was saying, "I want to practise my signing with you.
" That took me hours.
It's not easy, is it? No, it isn't, no.
What are you after? Honestly? I've got a cousin Danny and he's deaf.
I want to go and see him again.
Is that all? Yes.
Honestly.
OK.
But trust me, I'm doing it for your cousin.
Ta.
No, thank you.
Hello.
Sorry, have we met? No, but you've met our colleague, Gerry Standing.
On the night of Annabel Tilson's murder, where were you really between 5.
30 and 7.
00? I went to Harvey Nics in Knightsbridge.
Then I came back to the office.
Why? I bought salmon and champagne to celebrate getting New York.
So you and Peter Hammond lied to us.
Check with my bank.
I paid for them by card.
Beside the point.
You still could have got to St James's Park.
It's not looking good for you.
Not at all.
I know.
That's why I lied.
Nobody drinks champagne on their own.
She shared it with her lover, Peter Hammond.
What I don't get is, if you and Hammond were lovers, why were you celebrating going Because he'd ended it.
And I was pretending I was fine with that.
I told him I wanted Annabel's New York job, he told me that was out of his hands.
So I told him to sort it or I'd phone his wife.
My heart just If I couldn't have him, I was going to make bloody sure I had a career.
Was this before or after Annabel lost the laptop? Before.
So the burglary was good news for you.
Yes.
What's your relationship with Hammond been like ever since? I've been his shag buddy.
Here's how pathetic I am.
He gave me this in New York.
Chinese Jade.
Fake, of course.
But I thought I'd wear it tonight.
Just in case.
Can I rescue you, Laura? I thought you two were leaving ten minutes ago? Well, you know what it's like when you get chatting at these do's, Peter.
Are we done? For now.
I just had a word with your boss.
Don't think he's very happy with you.
He'll be delighted when he hears how forthcoming Laura Marsh has been.
Lover boy.
I can't talk here.
Where? I'll come to you tomorrow afternoon.
We'll expect you at 9am.
Super do, Peter.
What's it like, Pullman, still crawling through the cracks at your age? Answer the question.
No, having Laura around wasn't ideal.
But she'd have got posted somewhere eventually.
That's what happens in the Foreign Office.
So she blackmailed you? Get her New York or your wife gets a phone call.
Drivel.
Why would she come out with that? Hell hath no fury, Detective Superintendent.
Annabel's punishment was disproportionate.
You know that.
Is this a police investigation or a performance review? For Annabel to lose that posting, you had to discredit her.
Quickly.
So in that light, the laptop theft suddenly looks a bit convenient.
Did she just imply what She did.
Well, if you're not going to take me seriously.
Annabel had sussed out your affair and she threatened to expose you.
So to protect your marriage and probably your career too, you had to act.
Why don't you do some bloody police work? Check with door security! We have.
Officially you stayed in the building until midnight.
But you and I both know how persuasive rank can be.
Not in my office, Pullman.
Wotcher.
All right.
Oh, you're there.
Have you found out what Yang means? Yes and no.
Annabel ordered a new kitchen work top in early December.
Eddie said that the fitter was either Chinese or Japanese, which he thought was odd at the time.
He also admitted that he quite often paid cash in hand.
The cash withdrawals? Bugger.
I also had a look at Eddie's whisky collection.
Oh, yeah? Yeah, would have made you weep, mate.
The stolen bottle was called Glen Wallis.
I'd never heard of it, but Eddie said it was really special.
Glen Wallis? Oh, here we go.
It's a highly esoteric tipple that.
Is it? Yeah, they went out of business unfortunately in the '80s.
Big prices now.
So the burglar got lucky.
He certainly did Tony Symes! Who? Tony Symes.
I nicked him back in the early '90s.
He only ever nicked stuff to order.
Commissions, he called it.
Thought he was bloody burglary aristocracy.
But he did know about his whiskies, I'll give him that.
Well, is he still at it? As far as I know, he's been straight for years.
Let's bring him in.
This definitely smells like him.
Where are you going? Brian! Brian! Shit! Tony Symes.
CEO.
Symes Inc.
Bespoke commercial counter-intelligence, eh? Your secrets will be safe with us.
Where's the Met leaking and how big's your hole? This is very respectable.
The last time I saw you, you were being thrown into the back of a van bound for the Scrubs.
I've been clean for years, Brian, as you know.
Have you read the Power Of Now? No.
You should.
It changed my life.
Especially the chapter about not looking back.
But do your clients know you've done time? Twice? It does not matter whether it is a black cat or a white cat.
As long as the cat catches the mouse.
Deng Xiaoping.
President of China.
Very true.
What's this about, gents? A Government laptop, stolen in late 2008 from a flat in Southwark belonging to a diplomat.
The commission's got your name etched through it like Brighton bloody rock.
Well, as I've said It needed to be clinical.
It needed somebody with your pedigree.
I hope you've got more than that.
I mean, I was bloody good but there were others in my field of work.
Glen Wallis.
Never heard of him.
Come on, Tony.
It was stolen with the laptop.
Someone got lucky, didn't they? Only somebody like you would have noticed it.
A rare slip, I reckon.
Strictly mineral water these days, Brian.
You know it's three and out, don't you? I mean, we pin this on you, you go down, automatically.
The doors to Symes Inc will shut bloody tight if that happens.
So why don't you tell us who hired you? Well, sorry, gents, business calls.
Think about it, Tony.
Guilty.
We just need more leverage.
Problem is, even if Symes did nick the laptop, we still haven't got a motive for murder.
How about this? Symes stole the laptop for someone secretly representing the Chinese government.
Annabel knew there was a threat to national security on it.
The Foreign Office told her to keep quiet but she threatened to blow the whistle.
So someone in Government had to do the dirty.
That's what Minnie said.
Exactly.
It sounds a bit more credible now.
Does it? Well, we didn't think we were being followed before.
Now we've had a double sighting.
I can hardly see MI5 sending out a banged up old Chrysler to keep an eye on us.
Double bluff? Without registration details there's not a lot we can do.
Look, I'm sorry about this, but I still think we're focusing too much on trying to find a motive inside the Foreign Office.
Really? Cos I think we're getting somewhere.
I want you to go and see Minnie.
She thinks she's got something for us.
I'll go.
Maybe she's getting a sisterly vibe from the afterlife.
Where are you off to? Laura Marsh.
She called too.
I'm not sleeping.
I keep thinking about Annabel.
The timing of her losing that laptop always bugged me.
Even when I thought she'd taken her own life.
But now IT security gave me access.
But I absolutely did not show it to you.
Look who took the laptop home the day before Annabel.
Peter Hammond.
He hardly ever borrowed it.
I wondered if it could be relevant.
If Hammond had copied some files from his desktop onto the laptop, would that show up in here? Yes.
He transferred around 40 files.
This only lists file reference numbers.
To see the files you'll need to make a formal request through our lawyers.
He asked to meet me.
Peter.
The day after the party.
He wanted to know what I'd told you.
And he wanted this back.
He's suddenly decided it could compromise our relationship.
I told him where to go.
He got quite abusive.
What a romantic.
So now I'm wearing it all the time and praying I bump into him! May I? Who told you it was fake? He did.
When he gave it to me.
Do you mind if I have it looked at? I've been going through Annabel's things.
It's a long time since I did that.
I found this.
A post-it.
"DRY £765".
Stuck on East London.
I texted Eddie.
He's got no idea.
I wondered if it was to do with the money Annabel took out.
Mmm.
Do you know if she had any contacts in East London? No.
Thanks.
We'll definitely look into that.
Were you pleased about Annabel's pregnancy? Oh, yes.
Any kids of your own? No and that's never going to happen.
It's hardly too late.
Have you heard of the early menopause? Yes, vaguely, yes.
I was 27.
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, so, a nephew or a niece would've been very special.
You know, when Annabel miscarried, it felt a bit like she'd lost MY baby too.
Is that weird? OK, so you think that Peter Hammond put these files on that laptop knowing that Annabel was going to take it home.
And then he arranged for it to be stolen? Yes, by Tony Symes.
Why on earth would Hammond want to do that? That's the problem, I don't know.
Unless he needed to get those particular files out of the building and he used the laptop as a kind of Trojan Horse to smuggle them out.
Yes, but why? Well, he couldn't have carried them out, security was too tight.
Now you're saying that Hammond could've been spying as well? Possibly, yes.
Possibly.
Sir, the secret to Annabel's death lies in that building and I am convinced the files hold the key, so please, just sign off on this request.
Let me think about it.
She's not happy.
It's not surprising.
A potentially career-defining moment and Strickland's playing top floor politics with her.
I can't find any of Annabel's contacts on this page.
Well anyway, DRY is a computer acronym, "Don't Repeat Yourself".
It's also an album by a certain PJ Harvey.
Nah, were not getting anywhere.
If anyone asks, I've gone to a jewellers.
I had this looked at and it's worth over £80,000.
So I guess that's why he wanted it back.
No No, he could never have afforded this.
He's loaded.
Everyone falls for it.
That house, the yacht? Everything belongs to his wife.
She's the one with the wealth.
Peter just has his OK Civil Service wage and massive status anxiety.
And his inheritance.
Guess where Peter's father invested the family silver? Lehman Brothers.
Peter was left with nothing.
He let it slip one night and then begged me to keep it quiet.
I knew he had no money.
Why would he spend £80,000 on me? Maybe he cared more than you thought.
Excuse me.
Sir.
Ah, Sandra.
What's going on? Um Hammond's files? The deal was the documents can't leave the building.
I never wanted to stop you doing your job, Sandra.
Let's see if your hunch is right.
There's nothing in here that's secret, it's not even confidential.
Nothing you wouldn't find a week later in the FT.
What was that one about China? Um UK Telecoms firm 4Mobile about to sign a billion pound deal with the Chinese government to supply satellite kit.
This one's about the same deal.
It's from our Embassy in Beijing.
They've heard about an by French rival, Debut Telecoms and suspect the UK deal might be in trouble.
What's the date of that tel? Ha! The day before Annabel borrowed the laptop.
Well, they were right to be worried.
The deal collapsed two days later.
Hang on, if you had that information before the markets And you bought a shedload of Debut Telecoms shares Insider trading? OK.
According to the FSA, there was general speculation on Debut Telecoms that week, but nothing suspicious.
But you can also make money from a falling share price, it's called shorting.
Shorting? Even SOUNDS dodgy.
That week, a hedge fund manager named Kingsley Wilton sold a significant volume of 4Mobile shares at their market high on December 7th when the deal looked solid and then bought them back when they hit rock bottom four days later.
He must have made a fortune.
Oh, hello.
There's an article about Wilton.
Yeah, it says he suffered badly in the financial crisis.
"Since he gambled everything he had on the 4Mobile collapse "But since then, Mr Wilton has become red hot.
" Oh and there's a photo too.
Bloody hell, that's Hammond's mate.
How do you know? He was at Hammond's retirement do.
What? Kingsley Wilton.
He's going to prison.
And if I were you, I'd talk.
The data on that laptop made him a multi-millionaire.
How much did you get, Tony? A few hundred quid? Doesn't seem fair to me.
It's a travesty.
If he mentions your name first, you're going to end up doing three years wiping up his slops.
That's him.
The FSA have arrested your chum, Kingsley Wilton.
Fascinating.
They've also identified an offshore account in your name, in Belize, which has received a cash-flow from Wilton since December 2008.
That account currently holds well over £4 million.
The FSA are waiting outside, but it's Annabel Tilson's murder we're interested in.
Laura Marsh had to get that job in New York to keep her quiet and for that to happen, you had to discredit Annabel.
You were also desperately in need of cash.
So the theft of the laptop gave you two for the price of one.
But Annabel got suspicious.
She discovered what files you'd transferred and like us put two and two together and came up with corruption.
And that's what the argument was about.
She was on to you, she was threatening to expose you.
So you killed her.
How on earth could she have retrieved those records? She wasn't senior enough.
Like you say, she was bright.
She'd have found a way.
Annabel Tilson knew nothing.
And since you can't put me outside the building at the time she died, I doubt a jury will.
I liked Annabel.
I didn't murder her.
I'm genuinely relieved she didn't kill herself.
The only positive to come out of this is that I no longer feel any guilt over her death.
We started out with murder and solved a fraud.
But what about Laura Marsh's bracelet? It's how Hammond hid his money, he used Laura as a kind of human safety box.
Kingsley Wilton's alibi has worked out.
The night Annabel died, he was in his hotel suite, in Singapore.
However, on a brighter note, the FSA are delighted with your work, so well done.
Really.
I don't know, we solve a huge case for them and get a poxy bottle of Bulgarian Cava.
We've officially moved from recession to depression.
Isn't this still fraud though, them buying us booze? Shut up and drink your juice.
That video clip is now the only new evidence driving a murder investigation.
Am I right? Well, no.
No, we've got an A-Z with a random post-it note in it.
Annabel did not kill herself, sir.
Sandra, for all your endeavours, I think it might be time for UCOS to commit its resources to something else.
No, that's not who she was.
I've got a senior management meeting upstairs.
Have a think about it.
Yeah, cheers.
Well, has anyone got any bright ideas, cos at the moment we're getting absolutely nowhere.
Yeah.
I think we should go back to the FACTS of the case.
Which is why, if you don't mind I'm going back to the scene of the crime.
I'll see you later.
Yes! Hey! Get in! Just in.
Transport for London records showing Annabel's Oyster card usage in the weeks before she died.
Annabel never went near that page of the A to Z.
We'd worked that out, Brian, yes Except she did, once.
December 3rd, the day of her miscarriage.
She took the tube to Chigwell and from there she got on a W20 bus.
Now the thing is, there are no hospitals along that route.
However, there is one medical establishment not far from Chigwell station.
Abortion clinic.
Yes.
So is that what an abortion costs then? £765? I wouldn't know, thankfully.
Course we still don't know what DRY means.
Don't worry, Brian.
I'm prepared for another dead end.
Oh, my good God! Arson.
Just after 10am.
Well, I've just had a word the clinic administrator.
She's pretty sure all the computers were destroyed.
However she'd already backed them up off-site.
Turns out Annabel did pay a visit here.
On 3rd December 2008 at 2pm.
She was seen by a Doctor Yang.
Doctor Y.
D-R-Y, DRY.
Oh! Well, somebody obviously didn't want us to find that out.
They must have panicked.
Gerry! It's starting to come back! I think it's watching all those interviews you did with Eddie, that must have helped.
Oh, no, that's a point, can I ask you about that last interview? Yeah, go ahead.
Well, Eddie said he was sure that the kitchen worktop was laid by an Asian.
Right? That's true.
Yeah.
But then he said he THOUGHT it was.
Like it was a stammer.
Yeah, he did.
I wonder why? Thank you.
That was the crime squad.
A witness has come forward who spotted a car driving away from the clinic at speed just after 10am this morning.
Registration? No, only the year.
But they did get the make and colour.
A green Chrysler Sunbeam? I'll run a search on it, shouldn't take a moment.
So, for a 1998 lime green Chrysler Sunbeam we have Oh! Minnie? What's happened? Annabel had an abortion, not a miscarriage.
Where were you this morning? I had some time off.
So I went to Sissinghurst Castle to look around the gardens.
How did you get there? In my van.
Anyone go with you? No.
Did you meet anyone there, who might remember you? No.
Look I didn't burn down that clinic, of course I didn't.
I know.
I know.
Because you're a good person.
And all life is precious to you.
Yes! But here's why I think you DID burn it down, Minnie.
You got scared.
Of what? You've always known Annabel had an abortion.
What? How?! Because she owned up to you in St James's Park that she'd got rid of her child.
Your child.
No.
To push your sister through the ice and let her die, that must have been really tough for a good person like yourself to live with.
But to confess? That takes more than goodness.
That takes guts! Granted, you came half way.
You found enough evidence for us to re-open the case and when we got stuck, you even dropped us a few crumbs, but when we closed in on the abortion clinic, then you changed your mind.
Because the reality of going to prison hit you and you panicked.
And you know what?! I understand! No! No, no! Enough! You've got it all wrong.
I'm still trying to understand how my sister could have murdered her child! What a pair, eh? Who? Eddie and Annabel.
His earth to her fire.
Sounds like it worked pretty well.
Maybe she appreciated his calming influence.
Cos she had a terrible temper, you know.
Yeah? Oh, yeah.
If she had an argument you could hear it all over the Foreign Office.
That's a point.
Drowning doesn't seem like drowning.
But an argument sounds like an argument even 100 metres away! Sorry? No, I'M sorry.
I'm really sorry, I've got to get back to the office right now.
Look, can I give you a lift somewhere? No, no.
It's fine.
Are you sure? Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Vera we will meet again.
Guv'nor! We've missed something.
Now, people love ogling public arguments, right? And we know that when Annabel argued, she made a right racket.
Yet no-one in St James's Park reported hearing anything.
Why? Because it was silent.
Sign language.
Minnie.
Sorry.
Has anyone borrowed your car recently? Who? Well, we don't know.
Maybe someone you lent it to before? Erm Eddie borrowed it to pick up his daughter from nursery once.
When? About three weeks ago.
His car was being repaired.
Thank you.
This way, please.
Eddie found out about the abortion.
He met her in St James's Park, he confronted her with his discovery, completely lost it and then pushed her under the ice.
Yeah, but why follow us? To check that we weren't onto the abortion.
He knew that was the only way he could be caught.
And then when Minnie handed in the A to Z and we started asking questions about Fan Yang, he panicked and burned down the clinic.
No, no, wait.
There are two problems here.
First, it's all circumstantial.
Again.
We can search Eddie's house.
Yeah, but that's not the issue, is it? Cos we've always known that Eddie couldn't have killed Annabel at 6pm cos he was already on the train to Exeter! Why don't we go to Devon.
Break his alibi.
OK.
Thank you very much, thank you.
Anything? Eddie's mum swears that she saw the arriving at 8.
55 and she watched her son get off it.
Yeah, well Eddie's mates swear blind that they saw Eddie and his mum walking to the car park just after 8.
55.
So the alibi's solid.
He caught that bloody train.
That's it, isn't it? The end of the line.
Someone burned down that clinic.
And someone's been following us in Minnie's car.
I don't know.
Coincidence? Speculation? Come off it, Gerry.
Annabel was murdered.
You know it.
I know it.
No, all I know is you're seeing what you want to see in this bloody case! Sandra, Sandra! Watch these two girls.
They totally disappear.
Now what if Eddie was already in that shelter when the 5:22 came in? Then all his mum saw was him coming out of there and walking up the stairs.
So she saw what she expected to see! Possible, isn't it? She confessed to the ultimate crime.
Killing your baby.
But when you say she died I was on a train.
I don't think so.
Waterloo may be the nearest station to your house.
But the fastest trains to Exeter leave from Paddington.
So after you killed Annabel, you jumped on a tube and struck lucky.
A train left at 6.
40pm and arrived at Exeter at 8.
50.
Once there, you hid for five minutes until the Waterloo train arrived.
And then your mum saw you walk over the footbridge.
Your alibi was safe.
You have no proof of this.
Found in your house an hour ago.
A duplicate key to Minnie's Chrysler.
So? You watched the woman you loved drown and you did nothing! I wanted I wanted her to look at me and tell me she hadn't killed our baby.
She looked away Everything went black.
The next thing, she was in the water looking at me.
Those eyes.
I hated her.
I'm really sorry that we had to jump to the wrong conclusion in order to reach the right one.
I really believed they loved each other.
Well, I think they did.
No, my sister acted selfishly and broke his heart and he chose to watch her die, and live with that terrible secret.
That's not love.
That can't be anything to do with love.
I wish I'd never found that video.
Why don't you take some time off.
A change of scene.
Then I really would be in trouble.
Bye.
That was quite impressive, Gerry.
Thank you Guv'nor.
I think you're ready to visit your cousin.
Oh, thank you.
And also thank you for seeing beyond your first impression.
What first impression? Sir.
Your instincts were spot on about Annabel and about the Foreign Office of course.
Well done.
I also missed a double sighting of Minnie's car which slowed down the investigation.
You solved not one but two cases here! And the arson attack on that clinic could have been fatal.
Yeah, but it wasn't.
You know, I used to think I was unstoppable in this job.
First female commissioner even.
Just like Annabel, I thought it was all possible.
And with this case you wanted to show the Met you still had it? No, no, no.
I've hit my ceiling here, I know that and I've dealt with it.
No, I wanted to prove it to myself.
And did you? Not really, no.
Well for what it's worth, you proved yourself to me years ago.
You can still get Washington, you know.
Now if I may, I'd like to buy you all a drink.
Thanks very much.
Sandra? Yeah, OK.
Already booked, I'm afraid.
See you tomorrow.
Ta-da.
Who? Vera? Danny.
Your cousin?! Yeah, I Skyped him.
All the Yeah.
The picture quality wasn't very good but we got on like a house on fire.
Bought him a present.
I thought you said he was into trains? No, no, he's into planes now.
Least, I bloody hope that's what he said!