Vera s10e04 Episode Script

[BARKING.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
PA: 'There's now two minutes to the off.
'And away they go.
' [INDISTINCT COMMENTARY AND YELLING.]
Yes! Thanks for coming.
- Hey, Alun.
- Really appreciate it.
Excuse me.
Alun, go home.
To your family.
I'll see you bright and early tomorrow.
Send me that agenda.
Congratulations.
Where's the safe? [THEY WHIMPER.]
[SHE CRIES OUT.]
We've gotta warn him.
Please! Please, please! Louise? Louise? Just let her go.
[SHE CRIES.]
- [GRUNTING, .]
- [GUNSHOT.]
- Dad? Dad? - [CRYING.]
Call an ambulance! Morning Ma'am.
Middle-aged man, Alun Wilmott.
Was murdered last night as he confronted a couple of intruders.
One of them was armed.
Apparently, the gun went off in a struggle.
This Alun Wilmott, the betting magnate? Yeah, his wife and daughter were in the house, Louise and Jess Wilmott.
So where are they now? Erm, over at the neighbours.
I've got Jac to keep an eye on 'em.
Right.
24/7 security? Lot of good that did.
- Ma'am.
- Thanks.
Now, I'm gonna need a word with the hired muscle.
And put out a press statement, so get in touch with the Press Office.
Papers'll be all over this.
Malcolm? Watch where you're putting your feet, please.
Oh, I'll come in again through the back door, shall I? Well, the scene's already been compromised.
There's boot treads all over the hallway.
So, what can you tell us? Single bullet wound to the chest.
He was dead by the time the paramedics arrived.
Now, there's some tattooing on his shirt around the bullet hole.
Hot discharge residue.
No sign of an exit wound.
If we find the bullet intact, might well help us trace the weapon.
Mm Fancy place.
Well, it's just lost a chunk of its real estate value.
[SHE TUTS.]
We'll start a sweep of the downstairs as soon as we get him bagged and tagged.
Well, let us know if you find anything.
- Watch where you put your feet.
- I heard you the first time, Malcolm.
DS AIDEN: Ma'am.
Safe's been cleaned out.
It's a combination lock so, someone must have opened it for 'em.
I've got the inventory of the contents that were taken.
There's passports, jewellery couple of watches.
Expensive watches.
20 grand in cash! 20 grand.
That's just pin money to a fella like Wilmott.
Wife and daughter were home alone when they broke in.
So where was he? He was in town at a charity race night.
That dog track he owned in the city.
Moorden Fields? So it would've been common knowledge, then, that he was at the track.
Maybe someone thought they'd be an easy target.
So why bring a firearm? Hmm? That's just asking for trouble.
They came in over the garden fence at the back.
Smashed the patio doors.
I'd say this was a botched burglary.
Husband came home, disturbed them in the act.
No, they knew there was a safe in the house.
But 20 grand in cash? Either it was their lucky day, or someone gave 'em the heads-up.
- MAN: What do you reckon? - By the front gate.
Ma'am! This is Ciaran Duggan.
He's the head of the neighbourhood security.
Right, DCI Stanhope.
I'm running this investigation.
Right, any way we can help? Well, you can start by telling us who was on patrol last night.
That would've been Ryan.
Ryan? Get over here.
Right, the, er your gaffer says you were working the evening shift.
Aye, that's right.
I did a drive past the Wilmotts' at 20:55.
You see anything out of the ordinary? It was pretty quiet, like.
Usually is around here.
So when did you hear about the break-in? I got a call from the control room, someone in the house had pressed a panic button.
- Yeah, what time was that? - Just after 9pm.
The police were informed at the time.
- We'll look into it.
- Well, I drove here as soon as I heard.
You weren't on duty yourself, then? No, I was, er, working back at the office.
Right.
Now, did either of you enter the property? Well, er, a man had just been shot.
Aye, trampled all over the crime scene.
Given the circumstances, I think we acted appropriately.
Now, can you take your boots off, give 'em to DC Lockhart.
Need to rule them out as evidence.
Well, come on, we haven't got all day! And the same goes for you.
Get 'em off! So, how long have you had this security company? We won the tender six months ago.
Four-man team.
Roving patrols and alarmed response.
Ah, all right, if you can afford it.
We're a visible deterrent.
Oh, that's obvious, all that bling you're wearing.
Right.
Logs, CCTV, body cams, dashcams, the lot.
See if we can find anything Ryan might have missed.
I found some more tyre tracks further down the lane.
Hmm? They took off on a getaway bike, out of sight of any cameras.
This must've taken some planning.
Chances are they'd been watching the place.
Well, then they'd have known about the security patrols, wouldn't they? Get the CSI team down here.
Cordon off the whole lane.
Now, we know your husband had been at the race track last night.
Charity event.
He'd messaged me to say he was on his way home.
Right.
I heard talking downstairs.
I thought it must be Alun.
Then I heard Jess scream.
So you were the first one to see these intruders? No, I didn't see their faces.
They were both wearing masks.
So, what about their voices? They sounded local.
I think one of them was older.
Oh, what makes you say that, love? Just the way he talked.
Clearly he was the one calling the shots.
Right.
Did you tell him there was a safe in the house? We didn't tell him anything until we saw the gun.
What about this other fella, hmm? Anything stand out? He was wearing trainers like, flash stripes.
It just stayed in my head, you know? Look, I know this is hard, love but if there's anything at all you can tell us that might help us to catch 'em.
There was a struggle out in the hall.
The gun went off.
Next thing I knew, he was lying there, bleeding.
Now, did either of you notice anything suspicious, weeks leading up to this? We have been getting nuisance phone calls.
Landline.
We hardly use it.
But the caller always hung up when I answered.
Mm.
Right, so, er Now, is there somewhere else you can stay, other than here with your neighbours? My mum's.
She's over in South Shields.
We'll need to get some swabs and prints.
No rush.
Yeah, we'll get someone to drive you over.
I'll need to fetch a few things from the house.
Right.
Well, that can be arranged after forensics have finished.
Maybe tomorrow.
Ma'am, these are the owners of the house, Gayle and lain Beecher.
Right.
Right, you wanted to see me? You should know there's been a recent spike in crime.
Huh? Thefts from cars.
Kids hanging around on the streets.
It's the reason we hired the security patrols.
Now, who pays for these patrols? The residents, we all chip in.
I'm away a fair bit with work.
I suppose it puts my mind at rest.
So, you would've known Alun Wilmott well enough? The Wilmotts kept themselves to themselves.
I'd stop for a chat with Louise every time I ran into her, but I wouldn't say we were friends.
I know Jess was close to her dad.
She'd rather spend all his money than go out and earn it.
Spoiled rotten, that one.
[BIKE CLATTERS.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Can I come in? Wow! Constellations.
Hmm.
Wow! I bet you can name a few.
My favourite is Orion.
Ah! The Hunter.
Hmm? [HE CHUCKLES.]
Its biggest stars are super giants.
Right.
I might go into space one day.
Yeah? Wow! Now, were you looking at stars last night? Should've been in bed.
Well, I won't say if you don't.
You plainclothes, then? Well Well, that's one way of putting it.
Coppers can't be trusted.
What makes you say that? They killed Jess' dad.
No, the police didn't kill Jess's dad, love.
And it's my job to find out who did, so if there's something you want to tell us [HE SIGHS.]
They drove away on a motorbike.
Did you see their faces? They were both wearing crash helmets.
[SHE GROANS.]
It's the law.
Well, if there's nothing else you want to tell us I'd better get back to the station.
I wrote down the number plates.
Thought it might be important.
Good lad.
It's this one here.
Adam's got it into his head that it was the police who killed Jess's dad.
Adam has a vivid imagination.
But there must've been something prompted that train of thought? He confuses the police with those security patrols.
All he sees is a uniform.
I get the impression you're not that enamoured.
Glorified vigilantes.
That one even threatened Adam.
When was that? A few weeks ago.
Accused him of loitering.
He was just out on his bike! Alun Wilmott.
Owner of OnTrack Bets, a company he founded in Newcastle.
He was fatally wounded last night at his home in Loxmere.
Aggravated burglary.
His wife and daughter were held up at gunpoint by two unidentified male intruders.
Our victim had been at a charity event at the track, and he returned home early and disturbed them.
The area is patrolled by Duggan Security, and they were the first on the scene.
Some watches and jewellery were stolen from the safe, insured for over £100,000.
And not to mention 20 grand in cash! Now, the watches are personalised with the initials AAW.
Alun Anthony Wilmott.
So, what do we have to go on, hmm? - CCTV? - Camera's show his car arrived back at 9:06.
No sign of anything out of the ordinary.
Now, there's a track, runs down the side of the house.
And the intruders made access by climbing over the back fence.
Now, the lad who lives next door said he saw these intruders leaving on a motorbike.
And lucky for us, he took down the registration.
That track has direct access to the main road.
Leads straight back to Newcastle.
And we've got an ANPR grab on that registration.
- Right.
- 9:24pm on the Loxmere Road roundabout.
The plates have been doctored.
Flagged up as a double-decker bus.
Kenny, get on to the local nick and ask them to make a search of that area.
Ma'am.
Let's just assume that Wilmott and his family were specifically targeted.
Mm? So, what do we know about him? Ah, he started off with a chain of, er, high street bookmakers.
Expanded into online gambling about 15 years ago.
He's been accused of making money by exploiting vulnerable customers, like low-income families, problem gamblers.
Well, it's a mug's game, eh, Kenny? - Only when you're losing, ma'am.
- [SHE CHUCKLES.]
Well, he was recently the target of a hate mail campaign.
Was he? Er, threatening emails, suspect packages sent to the company offices.
A report was made to the police by the Director of Operations, Orla Cossdale.
Was anyone charged? Case was shelved due to lack of evidence.
Well Maybe we should to follow it up.
So, what time did he leave the stadium last night? Must have been around 8:30.
And the race meet was still in full swing? He'd been working too hard.
I told him I had things covered.
Charity event, wasn't it? Gateshead Community Foundation.
How long had you worked for him? Must be ten years.
Started on the phones, and worked my way up through the ranks.
Oh, so, he took a bit of a punt on you, then, did he? Taught us everything I know about the industry.
Now, we know the company was the target of a hate mail campaign.
It started with threatening emails.
Escalated to parcels of white powder, broken glass.
And you've no idea who might've been behind it? I'd put money on a disgruntled punter.
Anyone who's walked into a bookies and gambled away a month's pay.
But unpleasant vindictive and yet you asked the police not to pursue it.
We'd already increased security.
And Alun thought it was best if we dropped it.
These emails, do you have copies? You'll have to speak to Gareth.
He's our IT technician.
He's in the office at the end.
Oh.
Right.
Thanks, love.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Mm.
They were sent from a burner account.
Impossible to trace.
"Alun Wilmott has blood on his hands.
" "OnTrack scum need to die.
" "We know where you live, and we're coming for you.
" Ah, right, we've got the gist.
This about his murder, then? Why, you got something you want to share with us? Justice4Bookmakers.
- It's a - [HE CLEARS HIS THROAT.]
social media group page for bookies who've been screwed over by the industry.
Plenty of inflammatory posts about OnTrack.
A lot of them by former employees.
Hang on Hang on, what's that one? "Alun Wilmott has blood on his hands.
" Same wording.
Same message.
Who's that from? KathyB.
Kathy Bennions.
She managed one of our bookies in Low Fell.
Assaulted by a punter.
She was assaulted? When was that? Must have been about a year ago now.
Wilmott offered her some risible compensation.
He might have played the benevolent businessman, but he didn't give a stuff about his workers, as long as they were making him money.
OnTrack had introduced a new company policy.
"Single-manning".
A recommendation Orla Cossdale came up with to save money.
Here.
Ah, we reported our concerns to the unions, but didn't do any good.
What happened that night, if you don't me asking? The, er shop was empty save for one of the regulars.
You know, you get used to seeing the same faces.
He told us that one of the machines weren't working, so I unlocked the counter and came round to check it.
That's when he hit us with a hammer.
She hasn't worked since.
Too scared to go out.
Ronnie pops round when she can.
That must be a struggle, when you've got a child.
Zak's no trouble, really.
And you sued Alun Wilmott for damages.
50 grand compensation! With all his millions! Lawyers cost us more! Well, I can see why you might have had a grievance, love.
So, is that why you sent those packages to head office? What? We also traced a series of nuisance phone calls.
All made to the Wilmott house, from a phone box, 200 yards away.
Mam? So, not quite housebound, eh, pet? It was just a few emails.
I never sent no packages! What the hell were you thinking? He thought he could buy me silence! Someone had to make him pay.
Well, maybe someone did, love.
Cos he was murdered last night.
So, you can see why we're taking these threats very seriously.
You might want to get in touch with that lawyer again, love.
[DOOR OPENS.]
She had a cast iron motive for going after Wilmott.
- Can't say I blame her.
- [TEXT ALERT BEEPS.]
Though she's hardly in a fit state to go climbing over anyone's garden fence.
Here you are.
"Local businessman, Royce Hobson, has offered a reward of 25 grand "for any information regarding Alun Wilmott's murder.
" That's all we need.
[HE SIGHS.]
You should have spoken to us first before going public with this.
Alun Wilmott was a personal friend of mine.
I'll do whatever it takes to catch the people who did this.
Oh, we'll catch 'em, love, I can promise you that.
But this just complicates things.
We're holding a memorial fundraiser in a few days over at the stadium.
Proper send off.
What? You'll not wait till the fella's buried? You a regular, are you? Down at the dog track? Alun sold us some shares in the stadium.
DS JOE: Generous of him.
The place was on its arse.
He was looking for trusted investors.
Were you there last night, this charity benefit? Never miss a meet if I can help it.
So, how did Wilmott seem? He was on decent form.
Working the room, as usual.
Left it early, didn't he? There was a shareholders' meeting set up for this morning.
Oh.
And what's on the agenda? The falling share price was an ongoing concern.
There were rumours of impending job losses.
Betting industry's not what it was.
Ah, well, we'd heard it'd had a bit of bad publicity the last few months.
The fine, you mean? Alun took it as a personal slight.
The fine? What fine's that, then? A rap on the knuckles from the Gambling Commission.
£2 million.
Lost the company a sponsorship deal.
Listen to this.
OnTrack Bets.
What? They were officially censured for offering bonuses to problem gamblers.
- Were they? - Failure to perform social responsibility checks.
Well, that's what you call turning a blind eye! There's no proof of any criminal intent.
What, £2 million? They've got to have been up to something.
That sheds a new light on Alun Wilmott.
Aye, doesn't it just? Bit of a ruthless operator.
DRIVER: Hang on! Not on the track.
Oh, right, er DCI Vera Stanhope.
Looking for Orla Cossdale.
Is this about Alun? Aye it is, love.
We're investigating his murder.
News hasn't really sunk in yet.
You know him personally, did you? I've been a kennel hand here for 25 years.
He always found time for a chat.
Did you talk to him last night at the benefit? Why, he came down to the track for a photo call, you know.
How did he seem? Worn out.
Any reason for that? A man like Alun Wilmott, everybody wanted a piece of him.
She'll be up at the bar.
Top of the stands.
Right, thanks, love.
Thought you'd like an update.
Now, that compo claim, Kathy Bennions.
Yeah.
What about it? Well, it's her, who's been sending these emails.
You must have known she'd be harbouring a grudge? I knew she was trouble.
Well, maybe she had cause to be aggrieved, love.
She was alone in the shop, she was assaulted at work.
The high-street bookmakers don't earn their keep.
We needed to cut costs.
[SHE LAUGHS.]
Well, that fine wouldn't have helped, would it, love? £2 million quids? Failure to monitor problem gamblers? The fine was an oversight.
We updated our compliance policy.
Right.
Well, I'm going to need a list of these problem punters.
The accounts will have been closed by now.
All the personal details removed from the database.
So, if that's all, I'm due at the Head Office.
Oh, ma'am, I've been going through those door-to-door statements.
One of the neighbours reported seeing a vehicle parked up outside the Wilmott house on two separate occasions.
- A blue BMW.
- When was this? Two weeks ago? Well, could have been casing the house.
She said that she'd passed on the details to Ciaran Duggan.
Well, why didn't he mention that? Funny you ask that, ma'am.
I've just run a background check.
Ciaran Duggan, previous for ABH.
Has he now? He would have been vetted, wouldn't he? Criminal record check.
Well, clearly he knows how to work the system.
Ma'am, I've been trawling through that footage that they handed over.
So, according to the log, Ryan Derring did a drive past the Wilmott house at 20:55.
Yes, he told us that.
There's nothing on the camera that verifies that.
So, either Ryan got his times wrong Or he lied to us about his movements that night.
So this could be an inside job.
Have you got a minute? I'm late for a shift at the Retail Park.
We need to clarify that statement that you gave us.
What about it? Well, it didn't stack up, that's what! Now, if you'd driven past the house at the time you said you did, you'd have seen Alun Wilmott returning home.
I was parked up on Millerton Lane.
Must have dozed off.
I'm working double shifts at the minute, all right? Maintenance payments for a kid I never see.
What, so you lied about your movements? I got a call saying Wilmott had been killed on my watch.
All I did was fill in the logs and keep quiet about it.
Look, if the boss finds out about this, I'm finished here.
And if I find out you've been lying to me again, son, that's gonna be the least of your worries.
Any reason you're harassing my staff? Just a couple of follow up questions, that's hardly harassment.
Night of the break-in, you said you went inside the house.
I checked the body for a pulse.
Made sure the property was clear, then I went outside and called an ambulance.
- Yeah, did you touch anything else? - Not that I remember.
So how come your prints are all over the house? I might have opened the patio doors.
Ah, you installed the alarm system, hmm? So you'd know the layout of the place.
The location of the safe.
It's my business to know.
Ah, now that's the thing that's been niggling me, love.
Mm-hm? The alarm system was down that night.
So either security didn't do their job properly, or else someone was looking the other way.
You're trying to pin this on me? Previous for ABH.
Bet that's not on your website! That were over ten year ago.
Oh, reformed character? I don't think so, love.
Not if that bogus accreditation is anything to go by.
I built this business up from nothing.
You think I'd throw it all away for a burglary? I think you're the sort of fella who likes to throw his weight around! We've even got a neighbour said you'd threatened her son.
I caught him hanging around outside the Wilmott house.
Not the first time, neither.
We've also got a statement from another neighbour who said she reported a car parked up outside the Wilmott's house.
Blue BMW.
Followed it up myself.
She said she was visiting someone.
Driver was a woman? Late 40s, dark hair, disabled badge in the window.
You know, she didn't look the type to be breaking into houses.
Right, well, we found some of his prints on the patio door frame, on a couple of kitchen drawers, but they may well have been left there when he entered the house.
So, stacks up with what Duggan told us.
Any other prints I should know about? None that haven't been accounted for, but we did get a lift off some gloves.
Dot grips.
Ah, yeah, I wear those when I'm weeding.
Well, burglars get careless wearing them, because what you won't know is they leave an impression as unique as a fingerprint.
Yeah, I knew that.
Of course you did.
So, what about the post-mortem, Malcolm, what can you tell us? Well, the bullet hit his chest bone, shattered on impact, so there's nothing for ballistics to work with.
But something didn't stack up.
- What? - Well, the trajectory.
The angle of the impact.
According to those witness statements, the gun went off during a struggle.
Yeah, well, that's what Jess, the daughter, told us.
Well, the entry wound was clean and round.
That tattooing on his shirt, it suggests to me the shot was carefully aimed.
Sees him in the hallway, points the gun, fires.
Clear shot? Nice and tidy.
Makes you realise just how little you actually need.
How's Jess bearing up? You tell me.
Ah, well, she's grieving.
Alun always indulged her.
Past few months, they'd not been getting on.
And why was that, if you don't mind my asking? Jess started staying out late.
God knows who with.
Answering back.
Bit of a mouth on her.
Ah, well.
No telling 'em at that age.
Alun said she never understand the value of money.
Even threatened to cut off her allowance.
Did he? Oh, er I found out who'd been making those anonymous phone calls.
Woman called Kathy Bennions.
I know who she is.
Oh, well, then you'll know about the assault.
Alun was gutted when he found out what had happened.
Did his best to put things right.
He paid her that money out of his own pocket.
You're not saying that she had anything to do with this? Ah, we're still following it up, love.
- I'll walk you to the car.
- I think I know the way, thanks.
Ma'am.
Something I noticed when she started packing.
None of her husband's clothes are in here.
All his stuff is in a bedroom across the way.
Separate rooms.
- DS AIDEN: Boss? - What? That blue BMW.
We can rule out Kathy Bennions as the woman in the car.
She doesn't drive.
Looking for anything in particular? Well, Malcolm reckons Jess's statement is at odds with these finding.
And I got the impression she was holding something back.
Well, her dad had just been shot.
She can't be thinking straight.
Plus, her mam thinks she's going through a rebellious stage.
Did you know Adam had been watching the Wilmott house? Surveillance, he calls it.
He was worried the police were gonna hurt Jess.
Oh, and by "police", you mean Ciaran Duggan and his heavies.
Adam has a tendency to form close attachments.
And did he form a close attachment to Jess Wilmott? Adam sees the world differently to other kids.
People tend to misjudge his behaviour, - when it's all perfectly innocent.
- I'm not judging him, love.
But you should have been straight with us.
I wish I'd had one of these when I was your age.
Is Jess in prison? What makes you think that, love? They took her away in a police car.
Aye, not much gets past you, does it? I've been doing my own patrols.
So, er, do you wanna tell us what you've found out? He was in Jess' bedroom.
- Who? - The policeman.
I saw them.
Was this the night of the burglary? Day before.
Would you recognise this fella again? Jess say's it was our secret.
OK.
She tell you his name? The police have been asking us questions.
Is that why you wanted to see me? - What have you told them, Jess? - Nothing.
I didn't tell him anything! Take your time, Adam.
He can't see or hear you.
Good lad.
OK.
DCI Stanhope has entered the room.
Right, Jess Wilmott's phone records.
And messages to your mobile.
Yeah, we'd been messaging.
So what? Oh, I think things have moved on from texting, love, cos we have a witness who can place you inside the Wilmott house.
More precisely, in Jess's bedroom, just the day before her dad was killed.
That little creep's been spying on us, has he? Mm.
Which makes us wonder what else it is you've been up to, apart from the obvious.
Maybe casing the place for a burglary, mm? Memorising the alarm code, clocking where the safe is.
What? You think I had something to do with the break-in? You told us yourself you were strapped for cash.
Those child maintenance payments.
Oh, another poor lass who'd succumb to your charms.
I had nothing to do with it! Did you see Jess Wilmott on the night of the murder? We met up in The Bailer, early doors.
Just before I started me shift.
Now, did she tell you her dad had gone out for the night? She might've mentioned it.
Did you give the heads-up to your mates? - No! - No? Well, that's strange, because not two hours later, those intruders had broken into the house on your watch, while you just happened to have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Me and Jess had a bit of a barney.
I was in the pub until closing time.
Yeah, because you knew what was going down that night.
Do you think that I would have let her leave, hey? Knowing there was a fella with a gun in the house? Lover's tiff, was it? I told her that I wanted to finish things.
She got upset.
Stormed off home.
Now, then, we've found a couple of grand in your bank account.
Cash deposit, just three days ago.
You said you were skint! Jess told her dad that we were getting a place together.
No idea where that one came from.
I'm working the evening patrol.
Parked up in the street.
And Wilmott taps on the window.
Calm as you like.
Tells us how everything's gonna play out.
Tells us that I should walk away from Jess.
Tells us that I need to leave me job.
Then Then he hands us an envelope full of cash.
OK, so, there you were, in the pub, all night, drowning your sorrows and spending Wilmott's bribe money.
I got a call around closing time.
And that was the first thing I heard about the murder.
Did Jess know her dad had given you a bung? She worshipped her dad.
I wasn't about to burst her bubble.
He was always so wrapped up in the business, he's never, ever had time for any of us.
Oh, so, was that why you mentioned you'd met someone, to get his attention? Maybe.
Come on, love, help me here.
When he found out about me and Ryan And suddenly, he started taking an interest.
Where was I going, what time I would come home.
It was like he wanted to keep us locked up.
Look, I am sorry to have to ask you this, love but did you find out that your dad had paid Ryan off? No, I don't believe you.
My dad would never have done anything like that.
Oh, he did.
So did you try to get your own back on him, hmm? You told Ryan your dad was going out that night and there was money in that house.
- No.
- Now, we know Ryan had been to the house.
No? Oh, well.
Now, you said in your statement that the gun went off in a struggle.
Did you see the shot fired? My dad was out in the hall.
The fella with the gun went out to meet him.
I tried to warn him, but then the other one grabbed me, and that's when I heard the shot.
You just heard the shot? You didn't see it? Ryan's alibi checks out.
He was propping up the bar until closing.
Bit of a regular by all accounts.
Doesn't mean he wasn't involved.
Set up his mates for the burglary.
So what if we've been looking at this the wrong way, mm? He hadn't been himself for the past few weeks, paranoid about security.
Cameras, new alarm systems, neighbourhood watch.
Now, what does that tell us? Someone was out to get him.
Victim of a hit? Right.
- He certainly gets around.
- Oh, staff meeting, is it? We were just reviewing security.
Alun Wilmott's memorial fundraiser.
Ah, well, you can't be too careful.
Not in light of recent events.
Oh, by the way, we pulled in Ryan Derring for questioning.
He lied on his statement about his movements that night.
Which makes me wonder what else it is you're all hiding.
[KNOCK ON DOOR, DOOR OPENS.]
Can we come in? Another update? Ah, well, you could say that, love.
Er, see, we're pursuing the possibility that Alun Wilmott's murder was premeditated.
Just dressed up to look like a burglary.
So why are you talking to me? Because you told us yourself that security had been stepped up.
This cosy arrangement with Ciaran Duggan.
So he must have known there was a tangible threat.
Our operating system was hacked.
A denial of service attack.
Customer accounts were compromised.
A few hours later, we received a threat.
Another attack was imminent, unless we paid a ransom.
How much were they asking for? 50,000.
Who else in the company knew about this? Apart from Alun and myself erm, his PA, Ciaran Duggan, and, er, a couple of the employees from internet security.
Any money change hands? Alun said he didn't want to give in to blackmail.
Ah, but you, on the other hand, had no such qualms.
Mm? Paid up anyway behind the boss's back, am I right? I thought the threat had been dealt with.
- But they came back and asked us for twice as much.
- When was this? A few days ago.
But this time, I said I wouldn't pay.
And you thought you'd keep this little nugget to yourself in the face of a murder enquiry? Oh Am I disturbing you, pet? I was just having me dinner.
Right, well, you going to invite us in? Sorry about the mess.
Toon Tipster? I, erm I do a bit of moonlighting.
Online pundit.
What, insider tips? Quantitative analysis.
Say we're looking at some horseflesh.
We feed the runner's stats into the computer.
Speed, power, form and handicap.
This system details over a hundred different variables in order to predict race outcomes.
I pick out the most profitable bets.
What, and then you pass all that knowledge onto your punters, right? - In return for a small premium.
- Ooh! So, why the home visit? OnTrack accounts system was recently hacked.
- You must've known about that.
Hmm? - Hmm.
Distributed Denial-of-Service Attack.
A network of zombie PCs infected with Trojan horse backdoor tools.
They can be remotely directed to packet a targeted online suspect with spurious traffic.
You lost me at Trojan horses, love.
A few thousand up front can get rid of the threat.
Either that, or you risk losing millions.
And is there any way of tracing who was behind it? It's usually organised crime.
Gangs in Eastern Europe.
They're experts at covering their tracks.
This fine by the Gambling Commission, OnTrack customers pegged with being problem gamblers.
You must have their names on your database, hmm? - I should be able to find them.
- Excellent.
So you'll be able to give me all their details.
Right, listen up everyone.
Now, Alun Wilmott was the victim of an online extortion plot.
A dressed-up protection racket.
Now, we could be looking at organised crime, but whoever it was, he refused to pay up.
Jac, get onto the Cyber Crime Unit, see if they can put a trace on that, mm? Meanwhile, Kenny, check out this list of people.
They're problem gamblers.
See if there's any connection, money laundering, drugs, or anyone you wouldn't want to mess with.
Er, ma'am? That Blue BMW you asked us to trace, I've got a fix on some plates.
Owner's registered as Wilma Howland.
A business address in Wallsend.
It's listed as a Private Investigators.
What? Your car was witnessed on a couple of occasions parked up outside Alun Wilmott's house.
Blue BMW.
Hmm.
Gonna tell us why? I was out on a job.
Basic surveillance.
Mm So, who were you keeping tabs on? I'm not obliged to share that information.
Look, he's dead, love.
So cut the flannel, and I'll turn a blind eye to that disabled badge.
Alun Wilmott hired me to follow his wife.
Now, why would he want to do that? Well, he suspected she was playing away.
And was she? Louise Wilmott's private life was fairly mundane.
Didn't get out much aside from regular visits to South Shields.
- That's where her mum lives.
- Yes, Trethaway Street.
Turned out her mam was covering for her.
I found out her secret soon enough.
Gave my client a full report, and advised him to drop the case.
So, are you gonna enlighten us? Tuesdays and Thursdays.
St Kea's Church Hall.
It's been two days since my husband was murdered.
And I really need a drink.
This is a closed meeting so, I I'm going to have to ask you to leave.
It's OK.
I know her.
So, how long have you been clean? - Six months.
- Hey, that's good.
With the help of my support group.
They had no idea who I was married to, and they really didn't care.
Did your husband know about these meetings? - No, he didn't.
- Hmm.
Why d'you ask? Well because he'd been having you followed, love.
Private detective.
Alun always hated the idea of me airing dirty linen.
I'd already embarrassed him at too many functions.
It was easier to leave me at home.
Now, a couple of witnesses have told us that your husband hadn't been himself lately.
We'd been living separate lives for a while.
I'm not sure he would have confided in me.
So there's nothing you can tell us that might've been ringing alarm bells? Work always came first.
He was worried that one day, it would all come crashing down.
Ma'am, we've had a breakthrough.
They've found the stolen motorbike.
Oh, at last! Malcolm, tell me you've got something.
They did make a decent attempt to destroy the evidence.
Unlikely we'll lift any finger prints or DNA, but there is a ray of light.
The letters on this plate have been altered.
- Someone turned the L into an E.
- Well, I could have told you that! Using black insulation tape.
Impossible to handle with gloves on.
We picked up latent prints from the sticky side.
And they gave us a match on the PNC.
Leon Wilson.
Yeah, he's got previous for possession with intent to supply.
He was pulled in 12 months ago.
- Address unknown.
- [SHE TUTS.]
- Leon Wilson? - Aye.
His name's on this list of problem gamblers, ma'am.
There's our connection to Wilmott.
So OnTrack must have his personal details.
No, there's nothing there.
Aiden, with me.
Mrs Wilmott, can we have a word? Of course, come in.
I think we might be getting somewhere with the intruders.
Erm Does the name Leon Wilson mean anything to you? Leon Wilson? My dad took him on.
He helped out in the garden.
I thought the gardener had been accounted for? Sometimes he'd need a little help.
Heavy lifting.
So how long had this lad worked for you? Six months, on and off.
He didn't turn up for a shift, that was the last we saw of him.
So, is that where you got your weed from? Drugs? Look, I just want to know when he was up at the house, love.
I might have scored off him once or twice.
Hadn't seen him in weeks.
Well, if he was on the payroll, you'll have an address.
Alun always paid him cash in hand.
Like I said, it was casual labour.
He brought his son to work once.
I remember him playing in the garden.
I think his name was Zak.
Jac, Mark round the back.
It's the police.
Can you open up, please? What? You can't just barge in here! Can you step outside, love? Come on, Zak.
Out you come.
- There's a good lad.
- Mum? All rooms check out clear, ma'am.
No sign, ma'am.
So, where is he, love? I have no idea.
She's just grieving, love.
And I'm not? I miss him so much, Nan.
I know love, I know.
Alun Wilmott's watch.
Now, that was stolen from his house on the night that he was murdered.
So, how did it end up in your biscuit tin? If I'd have known it was there, I would have dumped it.
Now, we know Leon did a bit of gardening for the Wilmotts.
He packed in the job a few weeks ago.
Oh, got in the way of the bookies, did it? Leon doesn't gamble any more.
Well, that's very wise, love, because he's nearly six grand in debt.
Ran it up after OnTrack extended his credit.
Oh, and we also found his gardening gloves.
Kitchen cupboard.
Now, the impressions on the tips match those found at the murder scene.
Doesn't mean he was there.
Ah, that's true that.
But this here is a tape used to tamper with the number plates on the getaway bike.
And Leon's finger prints are all over it.
Leon did not kill anyone.
So did he take that job so he could case the house? Alun Wilmott offered Leon that job! Now, why would he go and do that? He got in touch with us after the trial.
Thought he was making amends.
I told Leon not to take it, but he said he needed the money.
You knew Leon was wrapped up in that burglary, and you just sat there when we talked to your mam, and you didn't say a word.
I didn't know he'd got himself mixed up in a murder! When was the last time you spoke to him? He came home late that night.
Pocket full of money.
Said he needed to lie low for a while.
Left first thing next morning.
I haven't heard from him since.
So who else was involved? He must have told you.
He said it was best if I didn't know anything.
I don't believe you, love.
He was frightened.
More scared than I've ever seen him.
[HE GRUNTS.]
[HE YELLS.]
[CAR HORN BLARES.]
Hi, can I have quick word, please? Patched you up, then? Mild concussion.
Whiplash.
Could have been worse.
She was lucky.
This is Tony, my sponsor.
From the meeting? Can you give us a minute, love? Sure.
I'll be out in the corridor.
I'm sorry.
It's fine.
It's what I'm here for.
Whatever possessed you to get into a car? I went out looking for Jess.
We'd had a bust up.
About that lad selling her drugs.
Well, we can talk to her, if you like? I don't want her to see me like this.
Oh, er, we've arrested Kathy Bennions' daughter in connection with your husband's murder.
Her daughter? Hmm.
Did you know she was Leon Wilson's partner? Like I said I barely knew him.
It was my fault.
I wanted him home for dinner that night to sort things out with Jess.
I wanted us to talk, as a family.
"For once in your life, don't be late.
" That was the last thing I said to him.
They're discharging her this afternoon.
Oh, well, that's something, I suppose.
Tony, isn't it? How's she doing? Ah, she'll be fine once she's sobered up.
I've been there myself.
Er she's had a run-in with her daughter.
Doesn't want to see her.
I'll see if I can talk her round.
- Make sure she's looked after.
- Thanks, love.
Tendon injury.
Picked it up in her last ever race.
- What's his name? - Lucky Lass.
Guess her luck ran out today, though.
Is there something I can help you with? Erm, aye.
Erm 25 years, you said you'd been working for Alun Wilmott, so you must know him as well as anyone.
Well enough.
Did he ever mention crossing someone? There were always plenty of characters.
What about this fella? Oh aye, I know him.
Leon Wilson.
Bit of a gambling habit.
Now, we think, possibly, he had something to do with that break-in.
Well, you're not likely to find him down here anymore.
He's been barred from the stadium.
Aye.
On whose say so? - Aye.
You need to talk to security.
- And that'd be Ciaran Duggan? Ciaran and Alun gan way back.
They grew up together in Backworth.
You also said you thought Alun changed the weeks leading up to his death.
What did you mean by that? He was worried about losing the business.
Some sort of takeover bid.
Do you know the details? He tell'd us not to worry.
Said, you know, he'd got things covered.
What you looking at? She's looking forward to retirement.
She's earned that, right enough.
Right, thanks.
If Alun Wilmott was facing a corporate takeover, he's not the kind of bloke who'd take it lying down.
You're right, the vultures were circling.
And I want to know what his trusted friend and shareholder has to say for himself.
Those shares you bought in the dog track Ah, what about them? Well, the site must be worth a bit these days, all this urban regeneration.
Alun would never have sold it.
Sentimental value.
Well, maybe that's why you wanted to force him out.
That takeover bid that's been brewing? - I had nothing to do with that.
- You knew of it, then.
Ah, now, now, see.
That's the thing about reward money.
It often smacks of a guilty conscience.
Orla Cossdale approached us with a business proposal.
She was considering a bid from some Chinese investors.
They'd shown an interest in redeveloping the stadium.
An injection of cash would've turned the company around.
Oh, aye, not to mention a tidy packet for yourself, once Wilmott was out of the picture.
It wasn't personal.
No, selling out a mate for a profit? It was me that tipped him off! Told him what was going down.
That company was his life.
I wasn't about to ruin him.
Orla Cossdale's planning a boardroom coup, and now we know Wilmott was onto her.
Hardly gives her motive for wanting him dead.
Doesn't it? Her days would've been numbered.
She'd have lost everything.
That makes her a suspect in anybody's book.
Ma'am, we've had an update from forensics.
They didn't find any gunshot residue on the gloves that Leon Wilson was wearing, rules him out as our shooter.
So the sooner we find him, the sooner we'll know who was! Ma'am, I signed up to that gambling blog.
The Toon Tipster.
Well, I'm pleased you found the time, Kenny! Got any hot tips for us? Well, to gain access to any picks, the punter has to sign up to an affiliated bookmakers.
The bookies in question, OnTrack.
Well, that's a conflict of interest.
The tipster builds up a following on social media.
The punters get some money back, while they're building up a pot.
Then, they bet big on a dead cert from the tipster.
That loses, bookies clean up.
The whole thing's a scam.
And Gareth Wyatt's up to his eyes in it.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
It was one of Orla's hush-hush initiatives.
A way of attracting more attention to OnTrack.
Yes, so, what's in it for you? 10% of every punter's losses.
Well, rent on this place must have cost a bit.
Look I don't give a stuff about your little scam, love.
But a fella called Leon Wilson was one of those targeted.
He was a name that Orla gave to me, that's all.
Yeah, well, he's now a suspect in Alun Wilmott's murder enquiry.
That's nothing to do with me.
No? Well, you can explain yourself to the Gambling Commission.
We're obliged to report it.
There's no need for that.
You must have known Orla Cossdale was planning a takeover bid, seeing as the pair of you were thick as thieves.
Which takeover bid was this? Oh, don't give me that, love.
You had access to the database.
Personal emails.
And don't tell me you didn't hack into them.
I might have read something.
A Chinese conglomerate.
Macau Sun Casino.
Orla had been sounding out shareholders.
Why? To call for a vote of no confidence at the next general meeting.
To oust Alun Wilmott as CEO.
Now, I'm guessing this meeting was cancelled? Orla rescheduled it for this afternoon.
The memorial benefit, over at the stadium.
[BUZZER.]
[COMMENTATOR SPEAKS OVER PA.]
We're about to go into a meeting.
Oh, no, that's gonna have to wait, love.
Now, we can talk here, if you like, in front of your foreign investors, or you can talk to us down at the station.
Excuse me.
Leon Wilson.
That name ring a bell? Can't say I know him.
Ah, that won't wash, love.
That's Ronnie Bennions' partner.
A regular down at the dog track.
Currently missing.
And I think you paid him to disappear.
Now, why would I want to do that? Well, maybe he could tie you to Alun Wilmott's murder.
Hmm? That takeover bid you'd been planning.
I already had the numbers.
And I didn't need him dead.
Are you sure about that, love? Because Royce Hobson had already changed his mind.
Hmm.
Crisis of conscience.
Alun was finished as CEO.
And you thought you could do a better job? He could have stood down with his dignity intact.
You knew he was onto you! You have got nothing to tie me to any of this.
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- What? Sorry, ma'am.
A word.
I wouldn't be too sure about that, love.
This'd better be important, Kenny.
We've found Leon Wilson, ma'am.
Oh, it's about bloody time! His body was pulled out of the river this morning.
Is it definitely him? - Yep, we found ID in his wallet.
- Right.
Who called it in? One of the dockers.
Saw the body in the water.
Well, I want 'em all questioned.
And CCTV.
And find out who was working the evening shift.
Keeping you busy, Malcolm? Blunt injury trauma to the head.
The body is still swollen.
You're lucky he didn't sink.
Could he have gone in somewhere else and floated in on the current? No, we found blood over on the quayside.
He was definitely murdered here.
Middle of the night, the place would've been deserted.
Someone lured him down here, with every intention of killing him.
Now, I think someone wanted to silence him.
Someone connected to that break-in.
The best chance for you and that lad of yours is for you to cooperate us.
They were only supposed to rob the place.
Wilmott came home early, caught them in the house.
Leon didn't even know the other fella had a gun.
Ah, I'm gonna need a name, love.
I swear he didn't tell us.
Just some fella he got talking to.
What, down at the dog track? No, I think it was one of the clubs.
He knew Leon had worked at the Wilmotts.
Knew the layout of the house.
How well did he know him? He'd seen him around.
I he might've worked on the doors there.
Which club was this? Could've been anywhere in Jarrow.
All depended on which bookies he'd spent the afternoon in.
Did he ever cross paths with Orla Cossdale? That feud with OnTrack? Only at the trial.
What, your compensation claim? Orla offered Leon a deal.
She said she'd pay off his debts, provided we agreed to drop the case.
I told her where to stick her offer.
And how'd she take that? She said we'd be sorry we ever crossed her.
Leon Wilson met his accomplice in a boozer in Jarrow.
Now, he could have been a doorman.
Now, I want door-to-door enquiries.
Bars, clubs, anywhere with a licence.
That's gonna take a while.
So, why you still here? Er, ma'am, I got some intel back from Cyber Crime.
Erm, a recent payment was made by OnTrack, 7.
6 Bitcoin.
How much was that in real money? About £50,000.
That's our ransom demand! Looks like we've hit a wall though.
The payment was sent to a public IP address.
An internet cafe in Ouseburn.
Sorry to have kept you, love, only we've just pulled Leon Wilson's body out of the river.
So we're now looking at a double murder.
Silenced before he could implicate anyone.
So, did one of the bookies tip you off, love? Are you seriously suggesting I had him killed too? Only when we broke the news to Ronnie Bennions, she told us you offered to write off Leon's debts.
I advised them to drop the case, that's all.
Well, it sounded like a threat to me.
I was the one that was keeping that company afloat.
It was only that Alun couldn't see it.
Nah, he saw right through you, love! Saw you for what you really are.
If I'd been looking for someone to kill Alun Wilmott, he's the last person I'd have trusted.
Leon Wilson was a business opportunity.
A gullible punter who made us some money.
Well, now he's dead too, love, and you're as much to blame as anyone.
I've got nothing to do with any of this.
So, unless you're gonna charge me with something there's a shareholders' meeting I'm missing.
Won't sit too well with those shareholders, will it, when they find out that you paid off that ransom demand, misappropriating company funds? [ORLA SCOFFS.]
Ah, we established the identity of that cyber extortionist.
Seems it was an inside job.
You've been played, love, by the Toon Tipster.
Ma'am, forensics have just released Leon Wilson's personal effects.
Branhill Road Social Club.
Who works the doors there? That'll be Duggan Security, ma'am.
You're a diamond, Kenny! Leon Wilson.
You must have heard we found his body.
I heard.
Now, I think he was killed to silence him by the same person who killed Alun Wilmott.
You still think it might be me? I heard the pair of you grew up together.
He never forgot where he came from.
Money might've changed him, but he was still one of us.
Now, listen Leon Wilson's accomplice worked at Branhill Road Social Club.
And if I'm not mistaken, that's one of your gigs.
Nah.
Nah, it weren't one of my boys.
Are you sure about that, love? I know 'em all too well.
But you must've bumped heads with plenty of hard cases in your time.
What about a former employee? Think! Branhill Road.
Any number of faces in there.
You want to pull 'em all in, be my guest.
Tony Hinshaw.
We only hired him for a few months.
Bit of a drink problem.
No sign of Gareth Wyatt.
Looks like he's done a runner.
'Never mind him!' I think I know who killed Alun Wilmott.
Tony Hinshaw, Louise Wilmott's sponsor.
He's got previous.
Two DUIs and assault.
Well, make sure Louise is all right.
Get someone over to her mam's house to check.
We've got an address.
Cullyston Burn.
It's boat on the river.
Now, I'm already over in Towden, so I'll see you there.
Boss, wait! Tony's boat, isn't it? Tony Hinshaw.
He's gone to the garage.
Cigarettes.
Well, it's time for a quick chat, then.
Just the two of us.
OK if I come up? This is DS Healey on route to Cullyston Burn.
Solo officer dealing with a suspect in connection with a murder.
Request armed response attend, with additional units as back-up.
Now, Jess'll be worried if you've not been home yet.
She's better off without me.
I doubt that, love.
She's only just lost her dad.
I mean how's the poor lass gonna feel, eh, when she hears what her mam has done? Your husband got it right, didn't he, when he suspected you were playing away? Is that when you and Tony came up with the plan? Hey, you played your part well enough.
Made sure those alarms were turned off.
Even had your daughter there as a witness.
Alun would never have let me go.
That must've taken some planning.
All those afternoon meetings at the church hall.
I tried to stop him.
I told him I'd changed my mind.
He could have taken the money and walked away.
You might have wanted to change your mind, love, but you stood there in that house and watched it all play out.
And after the job was done, you lied to us, you lied to your daughter.
And then you just carried on covering your tracks.
I think we're done talking.
She was on her way to warn you, wasn't she, when she crashed her car? And you went to the hospital cos you were afraid the booze might've loosened her tongue.
I told you, didn't I? I said I had everything covered.
Was that before or after you killed Leon Wilson? Tony? What else was it she offered you, love? Widow's insurance money? I didn't do it for the money! I love her! [POLICE SIRENS.]
More than her husband ever did.
Eyes on the suspect.
What the hell is she doing? Put the gun down, love.
Or are you planning on killing me, too? Don't think I wouldn't.
What two dead souls not enough for you? - Tony - Stay where you are, love! - Tell them to hold back.
- OFFICER: Stand down.
Tony it's finished.
Don't, love.
[SHE SCREAMS.]
I'll shoot her too! Do you hear me? All right.
OK.
Tony, put it down, love.
There's a team of armed officers, and if they give the order to fire, you know as well as I do, they're not gonna be aiming at me.
Look, after everything you've done, if you harm her you'd never be able to live with yourself.
Put the gun down, love.
I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry.
Armed police! Show me your hands! [SHE SOBS.]
That's it, keep going.
Keep moving.
I'll be outside.
I hope they lock you up for life.
Get the measure of him, did they? "Titan of industry".
All the money in the world's not gonna bring him back, is it? Ma'am, thought you might need a wee drink.
Eh, thanks, Kenny.
I tell you what, you keep that cold for us, cos, er I've just got to nip out.
Where's she off to? All right, place your bets.
Hairdresser's, what are the odds? 1,000 to one.
She probably cuts her hair herself.
£20 says she's halfway home already.
The day she's had.
Well, come on, if you're coming.
Someone I want you to meet.
Well, here you are, Adam.
- She's all yours.
- What's his name? Well, she answers to the name of Lucky, so I should stick with that, all right? Bye-bye, Lucky.