A Touch of Frost (1992) s11e01 Episode Script

(Church bells ring) You're late.
I'm here today to advise you on the outcome of our internal investigation, and whether you will be reinstated.
You've been on suspension now for .
.
seven months.
And 11 days, yes, sir.
Ultimately it is my decision whether to reinstate you or not.
- You understand that, Frost? - Yes, I do, sir.
Anton Caldwell raped and murdered children, but your professional integrity was severely compromised when you assaulted him.
Yes, sir.
I know that, sir.
I want it known loud and clear that I will not tolerate any any officer, no matter how damned clever they are, or how fine a service record they have, to assault a suspect.
Am I getting through to you? Loud and clear, sir.
The internal investigation concluded that your actions cannot be condoned.
Those actions were in response to extreme provocation from a suspect resisting arrest whilst uttering obscene descriptions of the crimes he had committed against children.
It is my decision that you are reinstated as Detective Inspector.
Yes, sir.
Thank you very much, sir.
As far as I'm concerned, Caldwell was a blight on the face of the earth.
And your career.
He's gone to where he belongs.
Well, let's just say his murder in prison saved your neck.
Well, I suppose I'd better be getting back to the villains and sundry scum of Denton who'll be wanting my undivided attention.
Well, it's my monthly meeting, Jack.
You'd better join us so I can bring you up to speed.
No, no, sir.
No, it's all right.
You've got enough to do.
You won't want me getting in your way, will you? No, no, not at all.
What better way to welcome you back than to include you in the briefing? Yes, what better way indeed, sir? - Pity about the rain.
- Yeah Now, the Lollipop Campaign has been a great success.
Lollipop Campaign? By getting doormen at various clubs to hand out lollipops at closing time, young people are verbally less abusive, and less likely to instigate physical violence.
- Where's Lawson? - Duty CID sergeant.
I bet she's done all the graft since I've been away.
A fair bit.
I'll leave a copy of these statistics on the table so that you can all peruse them at your leisure.
These statistics are proof positive that passive prevention is a vital key in diverting the latent energy of potential troublemakers.
I can't tell you how pleased we are to see you back.
Mullett's been like a mother hen.
Sticking his beak in every five minutes.
I see.
Not so much about missing me.
More to do with getting Mullett off your back, is it? - Something like that.
- Better bring me up to speed, then.
Ah, Sergeant Toolan? The monthly reports weren't on my desk this morning.
Oh, I'll get that sorted, sir.
Paperwork gone to hell in a handcart, sir, since I've been away? Quite the opposite, in fact.
DS Toolan's beenquite prompt.
(Mobile phone rings) - Oh, that's mine.
- No, no, I think it's me, Jack.
Nobody knows you're back yet.
DS Toolan I was thinking of giving these to the constables to take to the schools for the crime awareness week.
Welcome back, Jack.
Thank you, sir.
Hello, Lawson.
- Ah, guv, good to see you again.
- And you.
So, what have we got? Swimming without a licence, was he? Yeah.
A bloke from a narrow boat said he found him.
Said he saw him standing on a bridge.
Then he saw him again later half a mile up the canal.
Alone, was he? Yeah.
He didn't see anyone with him.
Here we go.
The dead man's watch.
Stopped just before half nine.
Very nice.
Expensive watch, that.
Any chance it was suicide? Well, it doesn't make a lot of sense if it was suicide.
- Even less if it was attempted robbery.
- Oh, yeah? Why's that? Well, apart from his watch and the wedding ring, we've got an envelope with 6,000 quid in 50s.
Blimey.
Certainly wasn't popping out for a packet of fags and a newspaper, was he? Go on.
What else? Well, we've got a remote key fob for a Ford vehicle, and another unidentified car key.
And a small waterlogged notebook.
Is that it? No ID? No, guv.
The wallet's missing.
Sounds like a mugging that's gone wrong to me.
Where is his car, then? No sign of it, guv.
Looks like he walked here.
Well, with 6,000 quid on him, you'd have thought he could afford a taxi.
I'd place his age at aboutearly 40s.
His hands indicate that he's a white collar worker.
He's a non-smoker.
So far there's no sign of any drug or alcohol abuse.
Oh, so he died of boredom, then, did he? Not quite.
Dr McKenzie wouldn't have noticed anything untoward as the body was cold, which would have sealed the wounds, and the water washed away any blood stains.
Wounds? Well, there's nothing obvious to me.
Just here.
Good Lord.
Two stab wounds to the heart.
Very neat and tidy, isn't it? Mm.
The cuts are so close together, there's very little change of angle.
So it wasn't a frenzied attack? No, I'd say they were caused by a short, sharp, fast thrust.
Someone got close, then maybe panicked? Yeah.
Like an amateur.
Amateur burglar going wrong.
Possibly, yeah.
Any idea what kind of knife? A very short, sharp blade.
Something like a modelling knife or a kitchen knife, perhaps.
Well, he was first seen on this bridge.
It was pouring with rain.
I don't reckon he would have walked very far, so he must have parked his car nearby.
- Let's go and have a look, shall we? - Yeah.
Aha.
Right.
It's a Ford.
Not that one.
Volkswagen.
- Ford.
(Lock clicks.
) Aha.
This is it.
Right, what have we got here? Right, first aid kit there.
Torch.
Map book.
A pair of ladies' sunglasses.
Got your kids' books in the back here.
Yeah, this bloke was married all right.
I'll see if there's anything else.
No, nothing.
No service book.
- Try that other key in the lock, will you? - Yeah.
No.
Different car.
All right.
Let's have a look in the boot, then.
Huh.
There you are, look at that.
Nothing.
This bloke wasn't very helpful, was he? No.
Let Forensic get their hands on this.
You check out this number plate, will you? - Oh! Oh - Guv? What is it? It's this bloody lolly stuck on my tooth! Oh, God! - You really shouldn't be let out.
Let's - No! You're gonna pull it out.
I'm not gonna pull anything out.
Guv, I'm not going to touch it.
MAN: Let's have a look, shall we? Oh (Moans) Ah! - Ah, yes - (Groans) It's the little vices that cause us the most pain.
(Muffled) Oh, yeah? I'm forever parking in the wrong place.
(Muffled) Oh.
Are you really? Toffee lollipops are a bit like parking tickets.
Are they? Stick like hell, and a bugger to get off sometimes.
Oh, yes, I suppose Your tooth has broken.
- Oh, no - The filling has come out, and the sticky toffee is holding onto a shattered piece of tooth which has exposed the nerve.
(Groans) Oh, no.
So, we can't get an injection into you until that lollipop comes out.
Oh? Soit's going to hurt.
Are we ready, then? Oh, no! I know the cost of those parking tickets always makes my eyes water.
Oh! Agghh! (Groans) (Shop bell rings) Hello, Reggie.
Two pork chops, thank you.
- You look bloody marvellous.
- Thank you, Reggie.
Subtle as ever.
That'll be 2.
10, please.
See you tonight, then? Of course.
Ecstasy Tango No, I think it's better if we do it like this.
- Have you told her yet? - No.
Have you told him yet? - Tonight, then? - Yes.
We'll tell them tonight.
You see, the thing is, if you haven't eaten all day, that Novocain can make you feel sick as a dog.
- (Groans) - No? Right.
(Muffled) Don't forget I paid for that.
Well, we can't let it go to waste.
And I've missed my lunch.
Here, don't you tell Mullett it was a lollipop that did this.
I'll never live it down.
Course not.
Bad, is it? I've got these painkillers from the dentist.
You know, the heavy duty ones.
GEORGE: Not good on an empty stomach, that.
George, look, you've already said that once.
Anybody got any good news? Forensics have dried out the dead man's notebook.
Mind you, there's not really a lot in it.
Just these numbers.
J1210464.
J2161173, and there's - Two beginning with G.
- Yeah.
That could be anything.
Deposit box numbers, map references, Lotto numbers for some people.
Even tried working them out as telephone numbers, but without any luck.
- Well, I'd better be getting on, Jack.
- Mm.
Me too.
I'm going to check out that car number plate before we go home.
Which is approaching fairly rapidly.
Thanks.
See you in the morning.
- Thank you.
LAWSON: Guv.
Brazil - So, what are you saying? - I just told you.
- The competition's at the end of the week! - I know, Dolores, and I'm sorry.
But Shelley and I just feel connected.
I bet you bloody do.
How long have you two been going at it? Think he'd rather hobble around the dance floor with a poison dwarf like you? Personal invective is unacceptable.
Dolores deserves better than this, and so do I.
You're my partner.
We've practised for months.
Over the past few weeks, Shelley and l have had a few private sessions of our own.
- Not on the dance floor, I presume? - Len! Watch your mouth, Belmont.
Just cos you're a lawyer don't mean you can't lose a few teeth.
- I won't be threatened.
- This is bloody unfair, this is.
Dolores dances like a dream.
I'll partner you, Dolores.
We can beat them any day of the week.
Thank you, Reg.
I'll deal with this.
You couldn't dance your way round a pork chop, Muldane.
Clear off.
- It's none of your business.
- Reg, you go downstairs.
Off you go.
It's all right, honestly.
Go on.
Morrison, you're breaking every rule of etiquette.
What you've done is appalling.
Please.
Reconsider, won't you? Come on now.
We've danced together for months.
And it's a tango.
We're so good at it.
That's what'll clinch it for us.
There's always next year, Dolores.
You'll find somebody else.
Jean I'm so sorry, my dear.
Modo vincis, modo vinceris.
You win some, you lose some.
Oh, Oscar, you are a fool.
Perhaps we should partner each other.
That would show them.
Perhaps we should.
Thank you, Oscar.
You're very kind.
Right, so the car's registered to a company called CombiMed.
There's a box number and a street number.
Hang on, hang on.
Here it is.
It's the right number.
- Combi what? - CombiMed.
I thought it was a pharmaceutical company or something.
Not here, it's not.
Oh, well, it's got post boxes.
Nothing.
Right.
Who's the bloke who rents this? - No idea.
- He does come in and check the box? No, and there's never been anything delivered either.
- Did he pay for the box by cheque? - No, he pays cash.
A year in advance.
Not any more, he doesn't.
Who was this bloke? Agghh! LAWSON: Should get a hot water bottle on it.
Yeah, I'm going to look great, walking round the station with a hot water bottle strapped to me.
When you get to bed, I meant.
Yes, all right.
Well, until that time comes, who is this bloke who is a ghost in more ways than one? Must have been dodgy.
He didn't want to be found, that's for sure.
And his fingerprints weren't on file.
Why have a dummy address with a company name that's never had any mail delivered to it? Because Mr No Name was up to no good.
What, I do not know.
Yet.
George, what have you got? Forensics say they've got two partial footprints which don't match the dead man's.
All right.
We'll go down to Forensics later.
Anything else? Pathology reckon there were traces of anti-fungicide in his wounds.
Oh.
- Could that have been on the blade? - Probably, yes.
Do they know what the anti-fungicide was? We don't know yet, no.
It seems fairly common, so it's far too early to isolate it.
Thank you.
Good news.
I backtracked the sales history of that car.
Ah.
Has the mystery been resolved? Well, before it was registered to the CombiMed company two years ago, it was sold to a Jenny Burrows from North Denton.
Right, George, you stay here.
You and I will go and have a word with this lady.
And you can do all the talking.
Cos you're good with ladies.
Right, guv.
Probably a good idea you gave your jaw a rest, anyway.
(Dog barks) Come on, Bowler.
Good boy.
Good dog.
(Laughs) My little girl's just gone down.
Sorry.
Mrs Burrows, we're making enquiries about a Ford car that you sold two years ago.
Yes? FROST: Mrs Burrows Excuse me, is that your husband? Eddie? Yes.
I'm sorry.
I've got some very bad news.
(Ringing tone) (Mobile phone rings) (Car alarm rings) I don't know why he'd be at the canal.
It doesn't make any sense.
He was due back from a business trip.
He's a a pharmaceutical rep.
He travels a few days a week.
Who's that for? Um TriState Pharmaceuticals.
Mrs Burrows, have you any idea why your husband might have had a substantial amount of cash on him? Well I don't know.
He He always gave me my housekeeping in cash.
Um He said that it was better to spend what you had, and not what you borrow on a credit card.
Try those other keys in that car, will you? No.
Too much to hope for.
I don't know.
No credit card debts.
Buys his wife's car, and then registers it in a non-existent company's name.
More smoke and mirrors, if you ask me.
- Poor woman.
- Yeah, I know.
And the deeper we dig, the worse it'll get.
For her.
He used to work for us, yes.
He left two years ago.
Do you know a company called CombiMed? It seems that Burrows ran an agency business selling pharmaceutical products.
Including yours.
- As an outside agency? - Yeah.
- Frankly, that's quite impossible.
- Why? Well, no pharmaceutical company would allow an outside agency access to its products.
It'd be tantamount to giving your product to the opposition.
I haven't heard from Burrows since he left.
I see.
You haven't got a painkiller round the place, have you? The reason this watch broke so easily is because it's a fake.
A piece of old tat.
You can buy them at the market any day of the week.
So our man liked a bit of flash, then.
What about those footprints, Duncan? The rain just about washed everything away.
What, so didn't you get anything? Now, your dead fellow stood on some semi-firm ground.
Ah, so you have got something.
Here on the bridge where the dead man was seen, a nice full print.
About a size nine, I'd say.
- And? - There's another.
A partial.
Slightly prolapsed heel, and a nice distinctive rubber sole.
About a size seven.
- I don't know if this is enough.
- We found that size seven again.
Downstream.
Where your dead man went into the canal.
- Guv? - Mm? Any joy? Well, Burrows was definitely some kind of a con man.
- Even his watch was a fake.
- Well, that doesn't surprise me.
He used to tell his wife he was off to work every morning to his fake company.
Even his ex-boss hasn't seen him for the last couple of years.
Mm.
And loads of lolly in his pocket.
Bit of a lad, then? Right, I'll get started on his bank accounts.
OK, good girl.
- Ah, Jack.
Here you are.
- Yes.
How did you get on at that address? All right.
We've ID'd our floater.
Was it an Edward Burrows? That's right.
Jenny Burrows' hus How the hell did you know that? Well, we've just picked up some kids who used his credit card, and one of them was carrying a modelling knife.
- The murder weapon? - Well, we don't know yet.
- Have their parents been informed? - No, not yet.
But a social worker and duty brief will sit in on the interviews.
Come on, Lawson, down to the dungeons.
Dolores.
- I thought I'd catch you.
- Reg, what are you doing here? I thought I'd give you a lift down to the hall.
- You what? - A lift.
To the hall.
Besides, I've got a pressie for you.
For your tea.
I knew you hadn't had time to get to the shop, so I cut this for you.
Thank you, Reggie.
That's very considerate of you.
I hope you don't mind me saying this, Dolores, but I don't think Oscar Belmont deserves you.
To dance with, I mean.
I know.
All right, Reggie.
Just this once.
Where's the car? Goodnight, Mrs Burnley.
See you tomorrow.
Bye-bye, Dolores.
You do know how serious this is, don't you, Darryl? I just want out of here.
I've had enough of this.
I want to go home! Well, don't we all? And we can't, can we, because of you.
Because you were using a stolen credit card that was found in your pocket.
Now, how did it get there? It wasn't the tooth fairy that left it, was it? Yeah, well, I found it in the street.
This is cos I'm black, innit? - Black? - We's all black inside, bro.
Solidarity.
Respect.
That's what it's all about.
No, it's because you're black and good-looking.
You what? Well, quote The witness said, "The person who used the credit card was a good-looking black teenager who looked about 19 years old.
" Yeah, yeah, well, I'm not that black.
What is it, then? You like to use gangsta talk, do you? Yeah, well, I'm only 16, yeah, but I look after myself, you get me? I mean, I do the moves and keep it together, you know what I'm sayin'? So, how many teenagers .
.
keeping it together, wearing similar clothes to you, using a stolen credit card, do you know? Eh? The local authority's obliged to take you into care when we charge you.
Of course, if they don't have the room, you get to stay with us.
The man who owned this credit card was murdered .
.
with a knife very similar to this that was found on you.
We're waiting for the laboratory report to show us if you did it.
No, no.
I didn't kill no-one.
You're smoking the wrong stuff, bro.
That stuff shits your brains.
What did you do with his mobile phone? We sold it on.
We didn't kill no-one, none of us.
We just took it from the car.
Don't lie to me, Darryl.
I saw the car was locked when I got there.
- You killed him.
- No, I never, man.
One of you attacked him, and one of you stabbed him.
I've got footprints from the scene of the crime.
I know what happened.
You got it wrong.
We broke the window, and we saw the briefcase at the bottom of the seat.
The phone was ringing.
That's how we knew it was there.
We took it.
We never killed no-one! I saw the car.
It was locked.
It was by the canal.
We wasn't at the canal.
We bust into the car at the multi-storey.
We smashed a window.
It was a smash and grab.
That's what we did.
That's all we did.
I swear to you, honest, man.
What sort of car was it? Well, the key fits.
The attendant says Burrows paid on the dot every month in cash for two parking spaces.
So, what do we think happened? He drives here in the Renault.
Forgets his briefcase which is under the seat.
Which fits in with what the kid said about where they found it.
So Burrows was obviously in a hurry, probably for his meeting at the canal.
- He swaps the Renault for the Ford.
- And finishes up in the Denton Canal.
Come on, George.
Let's get this car impounded.
You know the guv'nor will want answers by the morning.
Fly Me To The Moon Dolores, have you heard? Len Morrison hasn't pitched up.
He's left her in the lurch.
And I bet she's got Oscar back under her thumb! Lover boy's done a bunk, hm? Dolores Yes.
Yes, it would seem so.
My guess is he's too embarrassed to show his face here.
I doubt it.
You lend him money, did you? - Of course I didn't.
- Of course you did.
We all did.
Len Morrison's taken what he wanted, eh? As if you would know.
Oh, I know all right.
I think Morrison's caused us all enough distress, don't you? And there's more to come by the sound of it, Oscar.
You do see what a predicament this places me in? Oh, I do.
And she's your partner.
Or she was until Len Morrison stabbed us both in the back.
Totus anctus, Dolores.
Oscar, do stop talking in ancient Italian.
It makes you sound like a prat.
I was simply saying in my own way, it's a world of hurt.
The championship's at stake.
One must rise above one's personal prejudice at a time of great challenge.
Oh, one must! But you'll be sorry, Oscar.
I don't understand.
You'll lose.
You, Reggie, are my last hope to win this competition.
Are you up to it, do you think? The car was broken into the day after Burrows was found murdered.
Reported by the parking attendant.
I checked with the evidence room.
All uniform found in the car was an empty briefcase and some magazines.
What about that cash we found? Oh, general circulation notes.
There's nothing dodgy there.
Sohe was attacked and stabbed by someone he went to meet.
I want his mobile phone.
The kids wouldn't tell us anything.
Too scared of Darryl.
George, you get on to him.
We get that phone, and we will find the secrets that it will undoubtedly reveal.
(Laughs) And in the meantime, I think that I've solved the mystery of those numbers.
(Laughs) Come on, then.
Let's go.
What numbers do we all need to remember? Hm? Bank account numbers, password numbers And we've discounted those so far.
The numbers I'm particularly hopeless at are anniversaries and birthdays.
Yeah, me and all.
Now, if we look at these numbers, and we put a full stop between some of them, starting with the last two, which would give us the year.
Then J1210464 would become J1 21 04 And J2161173 would become J2 the 16th of the 11th of 1973.
And so on through the numbers.
- That is pretty good, guv.
- No, that is not pretty good, Lawson.
That is deductive intuition.
That is inspired.
That's what that is.
Well, so what do these initialled numbers stand for? How the hell do I know? I'm not a fairground fortune-teller.
All we've got to do is to find people with these initials who knew Burrows.
You don't half want it easy, don't you? Jack, we've found another body.
Or what's left of it.
Cor, it's like an elephant's graveyard here.
What's this all about? Well, we can't meet the European Union's strict codes of disposal.
So councils ship used fridges over to Germany where they've got the proper facilities.
Well, of course they would have, wouldn't they? Right, Doc, what have we got here? A dismembered corpse, Inspector.
Not the sort of thing you want to find in your fridge when you come home from your holidays, is it? - What is it, he or she? - It's a man.
Pieces were found wrapped in plastic shopping bags.
So he didn't die of food poisoning, then, did he? What's apparent, Inspector, is that he wasn't killed here.
Now, this'll interest you.
His body was virtually blood-free.
He didn't have any clothes on to help us identify him? No.
No, I thought not.
Not much here for you, Inspector.
God knows why there's three of you.
A waste of taxpayers' money, if you ask me.
Well, we don't want to waste their money, do we? George, you stay here.
Lawson, you come with me.
- Where are you off to, Jack? - We're going to have some breakfast.
Would you like a bit of crispy bread? No, thank you.
I cannot eat any hard stuff at the moment.
Ah I'll chew it first for you, if you like.
You are beyond redemption, do you know that? Jack (Groans) Look after that, will you? Sir? I've just heard about the body in the fridge.
That's two bodies, then? No, sir, it's only one.
That's one in the canal, and now this one.
- Are they related? - What, like brothers, sir? Oh, for God's sake, Jack, this is no time for levity.
- Are the murders connected? - How the hell do I know? It'd be a great help if you could give me a few more officers to do the legwork.
I hope that's not a crude expression of humour reflecting the state in which the body was found? Oh, legwork! Yeah The media will plague me.
All right.
I'll see what I can do.
Thank you.
Jack, I have to say, we didn't have this intensity of violent crime when you were away.
I hope you're not holding me personally responsible for that.
Hm - Pathologist's ready for you, guv.
- Any more grief, and I shall be ready for her.
Thank you.
Saves me having to send it to you.
The toxicology tests on the man in the canal.
Thank you.
Oh! He was a drug user, then, was he? He was taking anti-depressants.
Oh, well, the way things are going since I've been back at work, I could be heading that way myself.
And by the way, that anti-fungicide found in the wound It's a very common type.
Household cleaner, plant sprays, decorators' paste, that kind of thing.
Well, that narrows it down quite a lot, doesn't it, eh? (Laughs) - ls this my jigsaw man? - For God's sake, Inspector! This is a dismembered human being! Yeah, well.
Didn't die of shortness of breath, did he? I haven't completed my examination yet, but a blow to the head probably killed him.
And looking at the condition of his skin, I'd say he was probably hit whilst taking a bath.
Which would allow the killer to let the blood just drain away.
Yes.
He was cut with something like a large kitchen knife, and the bones sawed through with what I think was an electric cutter.
Oh, well.
Come on.
We'll get started at our end.
Would that it were that simple, Inspector.
Huh! It never is, is it? All right.
Come on, then, what else? His feet.
You what? This man hadtwo left feet.
Eddie was never on anti-depressants.
I would have known that.
You didn't know he had another car.
No.
And why would he have? We don't know.
Your late husband's life does seem a bit of a mystery.
Mrs Burrows, I wonder if you could .
.
tell me if any of these, um, letters and numbers mean anything to you.
J2 16 1173.
That's my birthday.
Eddie always called me Jay.
Any of the others? Do any of the others mean anything? Um G2.
That'sGerry's birthday.
- Gerry? - Gerald, our son.
Um He'll be five in June.
And S is Susie, my daughter.
She's three.
- Does that help? - Yes.
Yes, it does.
It does.
Thank you very much.
Mrs Burrows, I wonder if you could you let me have your husband's mobile phone number? Well We've got two cars, two sets of initials, and two sets of birthday dates.
Now, we know who J2 is, and G2.
What we need is J1 and G1.
This bloke was leading a double life.
Tell you what, go to the bank, and see if there's any other Burrows with an account locally.
Guv, it is getting a bit late in the day for the banks, isn't it? Hm? You got a date, or something? It's my partner Tessa.
Her little girl has got a school concert on.
I (Clears throat) I said I'd be there.
All right, well, come on.
So, you've got yourself an instant family, then? - I suppose I have, really.
- So, how is it? - ls it um (Clears throat) you know, what? OK? - It's good.
- It's good, yeah.
- All right.
Well Right, well, um Bank managers are a bit like detective inspectors.
They don't get paid for overtime, so they don't want to do it.
You can do it tomorrow.
Get the team on it.
Oh, guv, thanks.
What are you gonna do? Me? Well, sewer rats come out at night, and there's one particular rat I want to get hold of before he goes down his hole.
Look at you.
You're like an old granny waiting for your pension, you are.
Come 'ere.
'Ere, look.
Why do you think my name is on the top of that list? Same reason you're on the top of my list.
This is easy, this.
Another high score coming up, Ritchie.
In your dreams.
No Oh.
Do you remember a lad named Darryl .
.
the lad who sold you a phone? - Don't know him.
- Oh.
Let me jog your memory.
Mm.
Very young lad.
Likes to nick things from cars.
Got an identity problem.
Likes to speak gangsta - Hello, it's ringing.
(Mobile phone rings) Hm.
Thank you.
Do you remember him now, Ritchie? You see, the man who owned this phone was murdered.
Now, that could make you an accessory to the fact.
So you'd better think of a nicer answer on your way to my nick.
Go on, take him away.
Let's Face The Music And Dance Not bad, eh, Dolores? Got Belmont on the ropes, I reckon.
- You think so, Reggie? - With a bit more practice, yeah.
You're so bloody heavy! Carry your own weight.
It's you.
It's your frame! Are you listening to me? Don't walk away! - You did very well.
- Thank you.
You followed beautifully.
Well, of course.
Reggie, we can beat them on all the other dances, but it's the tango we have to concentrate on.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
It's you, Reggie.
You have to take us there.
You have to think it, Reggie, and feel it.
But this is where it is.
You have to move from here.
Sinisterand passionate, Reggie.
Can you do that? I reckon.
Good.
Because that's how we'll win.
Can I Can I see you home? No.
Thank you.
Not tonight, anyway.
Too soon, Reggie.
A bit too soon, don't you think? So, we've got Edward Burrows' phone? Yes, sir, which had a call on it from someone called Jay.
That's J-A-Y.
And whoever that was, they phoned Burrows the day after he was killed.
And the body found in the fridge has been identified by its fingerprints? Yes.
That's providing the hands do belong to the other body parts, yeah.
Apparently, he was a bit of a con man, especially with the ladies.
Have we checked for anyone else at his house? We don't have his current address yet, sir.
It's a priority.
We're still looking for the body that belonged to the other left foot.
Get a move on, will you, Jack? I've had the press calling me nonstop.
Having a demented killer on the loose is doing us no good at all.
That's true.
Not much fun for the victims either, is it? (Door bell rings) (Barks) - Yes? - Ah, hello.
I'm Detective Inspector Frost.
Denton CID.
This is Detective Sergeant Lawson.
- ls your name Jay, by any chance? - Yes.
(Barking) - Quiet, Bowler! Is it erMrs Burrows? Yes.
JAY: Eddie Yes.
I phoned him.
He'd just left on a business trip.
He travels two, three days a week.
And he has a company called CombiMed, doesn't he, a pharmaceutical company? Yes.
Mrs Burrows Do any of these letters and numbers mean anything to you? This one particularly - 21st of the 4th, '64.
Yes, it's my birthday.
I see.
LAWSON: And this one - the 19th of the 2nd, '93? My son Gerry's.
Gerry.
And any of the others? Do they mean anything? No.
- Thank you.
- And your name It isn't just an initial, is it? It's spelt J-A-Y.
Yes.
- Can we contact anyone for you? - No, thank you.
- What about your son? - Don't tell him yet.
I I'll do thatafter school.
That That's soon enough.
I'll um I'll make some tea, shall l? Yeah.
That's a good idea.
Mrs Burrows? Is there anywhere in the house that your husband used to use as an office? - Look at this.
- What? Well, this is similar to the other woman.
2,000 a month.
Paid in, I suppose, for basics, from a direct debit.
Two families.
Two lives.
Yeah, he was a bigamist all right, this bloke.
Blimey, just thinking about it makes me tired.
Why two cars, though? What? I don't know.
I suppose you can't afford to leave something from one family in the wrong car.
What if one of the wives had found out about the other? Well, it is a motive for murder, I suppose.
Inspector, do you mind? I just need a minute.
- No, no.
Of course not.
- Are you all right? Right.
I want you to watch her face.
I'll watch Jenny Burrows' face.
See if they make any sign of recognising each other.
Right.
OK.
Listen, when I knock on the door, you tip the wink to George.
- Gotcha.
- Go on.
Mrs Burrows.
Are you all right? - Are you sure you don't want to sit down? - No.
Let's get this over with.
Oh, just a minute.
Mrs Burrows, it's this way.
She recognised her, I'm sure of it.
I'll trust your woman's instinct, then, Lawson.
Trust my copper's instinct's, it's more reliable.
- George.
- Yeah? Did you get the second Mrs Burrows home all right? Yes, I did, but I don't think she had any idea about that other woman.
- I think the first Mrs Burrows did.
- All right.
I tell you what.
Let's check the two wives' accounts.
See if they've got anything else in common.
Apart from their hubby, I mean.
Jack, I got these from Forensic.
Anti-depressants.
When those the kids ransacked the briefcase, the lid opened, and they rolled under the seat of the car.
Oh, OK.
Tell you what, all right, we'll chase that up later.
Now, then.
In the meantime, Mr Mullet is getting his knickers in a twist about our dismembered corpse.
The late Len Morrison.
Now, come on.
Any progress? (Knocking at door) Excuse me, sir.
We've tracked down an address for Len Morrison.
Ah! Thank you very much.
There you are, you see, George.
Ask and you shall receive.
Some of us have got it, and some of us haven't.
Some of us have someone to do the fetching and carrying.
You want me to go down and check out Morrison's place? No, no.
I want you to get your snout stuck into those two wives' accounts.
Lawson and I'll do that.
Come on, Lawson.
You ain't got time for that.
Come on.
We've got your car.
You're driving.
My head aches.
Must be from all that thinking.
Some of us have got to do it, though, haven't we? Bit of a trophy room, this.
He was a soft-shoe shuffler.
Not bad at it, by the looks of things.
Well, he's got at least a dozen women here, from different dance places round the country.
I tell you what some of his lady friends weren't shy about giving him money.
He was doing very well for a low-life con man.
It's er It's in here you'll be wanting to look.
That's blood.
Everywhere.
The killer thought he'd cleaned up, but the victim was murdered and butchered in this bath.
And there's something else.
There's no fridge.
But there was an electric saw, with nasty bits on the blade.
A bit of DIY dissection, then, was it? LAWSON: Guv! Look at this one.
It's dated a couple of months ago.
Yeah, well That proves that Morrison has been around at least that long.
Well, I only know of one dance hall in Denton.
Remordimiento Passion, Reggie! LAWSON: Well, there she is.
I can't see her.
FROST: I don't know which one she is.
Ask her if she can recognise her.
It's the one in the lilac skirt and white top there.
Her name is Dolores Delmonte.
Dolores Delmonte! Sounds like she ought to be in Hollywood, not a dance hall in Denton.
- Or as part of an exotic fruit salad! - Yeah.
All right, I tell you what - you go and have a nose round.
I'll go and have a tango with our Miss Glamour Puss.
I can't believe it.
Len Morrison had a police record.
He conned vulnerable women.
Do I look vulnerable to you, Inspector? No, no, of course not, but he was your dance partner.
And? A vicious murder has happened to someone who was very close to you.
I've just heard.
I'm here if you need me, Dolores.
- And you are? - Oscar Belmont, Barrister-at-Law.
And I am Detective Inspector Frost, policeman-at-large! This is a private interview.
If Miss Delmonte requires legal advice, I'm sure a solicitor will be made available for her.
Thank you.
I'd like to put a policeman outside your house.
Oh, don't be ridiculous! This is no run-of-the-mill killing.
This was a particularly vicious murder by a very disturbed person, who was full of hatred.
Well Why would Burrows want to get his prescription from a chemist miles from where he lived? I don't know, guv.
Why? I don't know.
It's a question.
It's a question that has to be answered.
Thank you.
No, I can't tell you why this man had his prescription filled here.
You see, this Ed Burrows, he lived right on the other side of Denton.
It just doesn't make much sense, does it? No, I'm afraid it doesn't.
Your computer would have the name of the doctor who prescribed them.
Wouldn't it? Yes.
Yes, yes, it would.
Well, if you wouldn't mind.
No, he's not listed at all.
No Edward Burrows, and no doctor's name.
Maybe one of the locums made a mess of putting his details on the computer.
Well, you see, if you um count the number of anti-depressants that are left, and you work out how many a day he was taking, it means that he was in here not more than three weeks ago.
Inspector, I fill 100 prescriptions a day.
How would I remember him? No, OK.
Perhaps if you just have one one more look, just in case it jogs your memory.
Hm? No.
I don't recognise him.
OK.
All right.
Thank you very much for your time.
A pleasure, Inspector.
I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help.
There you are.
(Doorbell) Oh - Oscar.
- My dear, I was as circumspect as I could be.
I thought I should be here to comfort you in your moment of need.
Only a moment, Oscar? I might need a bit longer than that.
As you wish, my dear.
Modo cogito quid prosit rebus tuis.
I'm only thinking of what's best for you.
(Phone rings) (Groans) (Groans) Yes, hello.
LAWSON: Guv, it's me.
I'm outside Delmonte's flat.
What are you doing there? I thought I'd just keep an eye on Miss Twinkle Toes.
That's all very commendable, but I've got this raging tooth, I have.
Dentist says I've got to have root canal work.
After a couple of non-prescription brandies, I shall be blotto for the rest of the night.
That's fair enough, guv, but I thought you might just like to know that Oscar Belmont's been in her flat for the last hour.
And Reggie Muldanehas just gone in.
Right, Mr Belmont.
Thank you.
That'll do for now.
- Utinam, Inspector.
- You what? Utinam - hopefully.
Well, Mr Belmont, the only bit of Latin that I know is mens rea.
That is the state of mind to commit a criminal offence, and I shall chase down anyone who has it ad infinitum.
Do you understand? Yes, I'm sure you do.
Thank you.
Good night.
See him out.
Guv.
(Groans) Lawyers.
You know, they're not usually inclined to brutal murder and dismemberment.
Normally, they just bleed their clients to death.
All right.
Anyway, I don't want any of those dancing off into the sunset.
Ah.
How did you get on with that chemist and Burrows' anti-depressants yesterday? Oh, no.
Nothing.
No record at all.
But we do know that's where he got the prescription filled.
Tell you what - find out the names of the GPs who are anywhere near that chemist's.
Right.
Now, the good news is, I've found something on the two Mrs Burrows' credit card bills.
Now, Jay Burrows - that's the first Mrs Burrows - her card shows a regular payment at a hairdressing salon which is in the same area where the second Mrs Burrows lives.
And on three or four occasions, both women were in the same salon at the same time.
Blimey, you don't think that these two are in it together, do you? They do say that a burden shared is a burden halved.
Yeah, they do say that, don't they? I discovered what Eddie was doing about six months ago.
I wanted to see who she was.
I used to sit there, and watch her having her hair done, listening to her.
Why torture yourself like that? She was younger.
Prettier.
She was the competition.
I wanted to get as close to her as I could.
Did you ever speak to her? No.
I kept well away.
I tried not to look at her that day at the mortuary.
I felt so sorry for her.
She has a young family.
If you knew what your husband was up to, why didn't you challenge him about it? I didn't want to lose him.
They had their life.
We had ours.
When he was home, he was with me and our son.
It was wonderful.
Better to have something than nothing at all.
Sir? This knife.
We found it in the conservatory.
All right.
Thank you.
I use it for pruning and grafting my plants.
It keeps me busy while he's away.
I didn't kill my husband, Inspector.
Get this knife off to Forensic as soon as you can.
Want me to go and see Jenny Burrows again? No, no, no.
She's right.
She's young, with kids.
Let her grieve.
Go on, off you go.
(Mobile phone rings) Frost.
Yes, George? - Who is this bloke? - A Dr Patrick Knight.
He's the only GP within a mile of that chemist.
He does know we're coming, does he? I don't want to sit for hours in a waiting room full of bloody lead swingers.
He knows.
Oh Bennett! - When are they going to do that root canal? - What? - End of the week.
- Terrible thing to have.
I had one once.
First thing they have to do is dig out the filling.
Then they stick a long wire brush right down into the nerve.
Do you mind, George? I'd rather get run over by a bus than listen to your dentist stories! - Jack! (Beeps horn) I'll have my surgery manager double-check, but I'm absolutely certain we've never had an Edward Burrows registered here.
Does this help, sir? No.
I don't think I've seen him before.
Ah.
You don't think so.
Now, is that a perhaps, or a maybe? Would you be careful with that, Inspector? They are rather expensive.
OK.
Sorry.
Well, come on, then, Doctor.
A perhaps or a maybe? I think he was a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company.
He wouldn't be a sales rep for a veterinary company, would he? (Clears throat) Sorry.
Do you remember the name of the company? No, sorry.
And you were here last Monday morning? Yes, of course.
What time does the surgery open? 8:30.
I start seeing patients at nine.
So you were here that morning? No, I had a house call to make before I came in to surgery.
A Mrs Chalmers.
It will be in the receptionist's book.
I see.
And what time was that? It was a quick call, from about quarter past nine to twenty-five to ten.
I was back in the surgery by ten.
I see.
All right.
Thank you very much.
You've been very helpful.
Sorry if we've interrupted your surgery.
Glad to have helped.
If our Mr Burrows visited our Dr Knight as a sales rep, he must have visited the chemist at the same time.
I would have thought so, yes.
Then how come our chemist says he doesn't remember him at all? - I don't know.
- No, neither do I.
Yet.
We erdon't like to talk about personnel who wereshall we say, let go.
Well, I need to talk about personnel who were let go, who are now gone.
We don't like to admit that we got it wrong.
Right.
Well I seem to have got it wrong.
Thank you.
I don't really know enough about this bloke.
Burrows was doing all right, then his sales dropped off.
We thought at first it might have been family problems.
- I think you might have got that right.
- So we were patient.
He was a pharmaceutical rep.
Over the counter, main-line brands.
- Nothing on prescription.
- Does that mean that he wouldn't visit GPs? Oh, no, Burrows was purely a product representative.
He was strictly chemists, small supermarkets.
Would he have called in on a chemist's called Four Square on his route? Yes.
Really? Thank you.
Thatis interesting.
Whatever's going on, it doesn't reflect on the company, does it? No, no, not Not at all.
Oh! Special reserve.
Don't do anything silly with them.
What do you mean? Like try to swallow them? Ah, Jack.
- How's the tooth? - (Replies incoherently) What? (Tries to respond) It's progressing.
Someone gave me a painkiller that would floor an elephant.
I've got to have root canal work at the end of the week.
Root canal? You don't want one of them.
I had one done once, and it was all All right.
Thank you very much, Trigg.
George Toolan's already given me the gory details.
Talking of which, you know that chopped-up bloke in the fridge? Division had a similar case about a year ago.
Oh, yeah? What, a mutilated body? No.
Some bloke went missing.
Used to do a bit of ballroom dancing.
His partner was a Rita Matthews.
She had a fancy stage name.
Yeah, go on.
Which was? Delamonte, or something.
Not Dolores Delmonte? Yeah, that's her.
She moved to Denton.
I was talking to a mate of mine in Division Records.
Was she ever under investigation? No.
They found some blood in his flat, but It was treated as suspicious.
They even thought she might be in danger, which is why she moved here.
Don't tell me we've got a demented tango dancer out there, trying to kill off the opposition.
Jack, ballroom dancing can be a hotbed of jealousy.
I've had a dalliance or two myself at the Police Social Club.
It's not for the faint-hearted, I tell you.
Yeah, I'm sure.
Especially if you've got Mullet as a dance partner, which I probably would have.
All right, thanks, Trigg.
Guv! Forensics have found a label with a number on it Oh! Come here.
Forensics, guv.
They've found a label with a number on it.
It was stuck under that fridge.
Sullivan's - 796.
Sullivan's That's the auctioneers, isn't it? Go on.
You go and check it out.
I've got a bad foot to see to.
George, just the man.
Now, listen.
Go and find out all you can about that Dolores Delmonte, will you? OK.
Ah.
Hello.
This pruning knife you took from the dead man's wife.
One of his wives.
Mrs Jay Burrows.
Whoever.
Toxicology can't give us a definite match on that anti-fungicide.
Oh! Well, the wounds.
Could her knife be the murder weapon? Well, knives like that make very similar entry wounds.
I'd need to be absolutely certain before I could say yes to that.
Well, a definite would be helpful.
I've got two jealous wives out there.
- Some joy, though.
- Mm? The unknown owner of that left foot you found with your dismembered victim was preserved with formaldehyde.
He was embalmed? Was he a body snatch, or what? I'd say there's a strong possibility that that body came from a funeral parlour.
Oh, well.
Some poor sod had to hop his way through the Pearly Gates, didn't he? Sorry to keep you waiting, Reggie.
That's all right.
Is something wrong? Police came to the shop.
Took some stuff away.
That and tonight.
One thing after another, really.
Don't lose your nerve, Reggie.
Your attention span might be very short, but I need it all when we dance.
I won't let you down, Dolores.
Not now.
I promise.
We're going to win, Reggie.
And when we do, everything will be different.
Dolores is a wonderful person.
We love her to bits.
She does a great deal of charity work as well.
Did you know that? No? Well, she does.
She visits old-age homes, does a bit of lippy and powder for the ladies.
She's an excellent beautician.
I can quite see how she looks glamorous on the dance floor.
- And she's worked here for - For a year.
She's freelance.
I wish I could get her full-time.
Did she have any references? Of course, yeah.
Our Mr Oscar Belmont introduced Dolores to us.
Belmont? The barrister? Yes.
Mr Belmont's a valued client.
He likes his tan to be just right.
Of course, one shudders when one thinks how his family made their fortune.
But there we are.
Made his fortune? How? Oh, God.
You know Creepy Creepy stuff.
Doing what? His family run a chain of funeral parlours.
Bandstand Boogie Guv.
Two second-hand fridges.
One last year, one a couple of weeks ago.
Found out where they were delivered.
Somewhere In Time COMPERE: Wonderful dancing! Where are they? Where's the bloody dance? I don't know, guv.
- Are you sure about Belmont? - I double-checked, Jack.
- If you're right about them fridges - They went to two separate addresses.
All right, all right.
Trigg.
Jack.
Where would they hold regional dance championships? Hernando's Hideaway (Sighs) I've made you a cup of tea.
You danced like a wildebeest.
Like a cockroach.
You were not very good, Reggie.
I know, I'm sorry.
I was nervous.
I'll be better next time, I promise.
I'm a little overwrought.
I can see that, Dolores.
Why don't you run us a nice, hot bath? Magic.
OK, George.
Take a couple.
Go round the back.
The rest and Lawson, you come with me.
(Sirens) (Applause) Police! Stay where you are! Sorry to burst in on you like this, Miss Delmonte, but I didn't want to miss the last waltz.
How did you know? Oscar Belmont didn't just get you a job in the beauty salons, did he? You also worked in the funeral parlours.
Well, even the dead should be attractive.
Who wants to die ugly? We traced two second-hand fridges.
A year ago, one was delivered to a man's address outside Denton.
That man is still missing.
Ah, yes.
The most recent purchase, the one that we found on the tip, was sent to Len Morrison's flat.
Not a coincidence, I think.
No, not really.
We also learned of a woman who ordered a new fridge for Reggie Muldane's flat and organised the removal of the old one.
That's just in case I needed it.
These men were the key to my success.
But they weren't good enough dancers.
And Len Morrison abandoned me for someone younger, more glamorous lighter on her feet.
You cut off someone's foot in the funeral parlour, didn't you? Mm.
Not much different from carving a roast, really.
Besides, who was going to miss a foot or two once they'd sealed the casket? You've done this before.
Mm.
I did the first oneabout a year ago.
But no-one ever found him.
Sowhat did you do with the right foot of the victims that you cut off? I put them in the bin.
I see what I did as a charitable act, Inspector.
They wouldn't make it in the dance world without me.
They weren't good enough.
They certainly weren't nimble enough for the quickstep.
Danse macabre, I would have thought.
Wouldn't you? So, there's no sign of the man she killed a year ago.
No, he's been recycled by now.
It makes him environmentally friendly, I suppose.
Well, congratulations at least, Jack.
It looks as though you got to Muldane just in time.
Yeah.
Otherwise he would have been clobbered in the bath and packaged up neatly inside a fridge.
She'll no doubt be sentenced to a psychiatric unit.
Yeah, I expect so.
Oh, the body in the canal.
Are his wives involved? I don't know.
Not sure yet.
If they're not, who gets to claim the body when it's released? Mm-hm.
There you are.
Share and share alike.
Can't have a double funeral, that's for sure.
Ah, George, there you are.
What you got? Well, I've been going through Dr Knight's surgery diary.
These are the house calls he made.
Only one on the morning of the murder.
A Mrs Chalmers.
Oh, well.
Seems like he's got an alibi, then.
Well, I can't see anything dodgy in these records, Jack.
- Nothing to say Edward Burrows was a patient.
- No.
All right.
Thank you.
Well, I think our Dr Knight is hiding something.
Why would he lie about knowing Burrows? Well, we can't go to his office to cast a beady eye, so I think I shall make a house call.
He'll be doing surgery, Jack.
I know.
Would you ask my husband to phone me as soon as he's finished with his next patient.
Thank you.
Inspector.
I'm not too certain just how I might be of any help.
Your husband said he'd met an Edward Burrows once or twice, in a professional capacity.
Then why don't you speak to my husband? Well, the thing is The thing is, I feel a bit guilty about taking up the doctor's time.
You know? They're always so busy, and I just thought that I'd check with you, in case the name was familiar.
It isn't, no.
He was a pharmaceutical rep.
I'm not a doctor.
I'd have no reason to meet him.
No, I just thought you might have met him at one of the do's that they have, you know.
Product launches, that sort of thing.
TriState Pharmaceuticals.
CombiMed.
Any of those ring a bell? No.
Oh.
Apparently, our Mr Burrows was a bit of a charmer.
Are you implying something? Mm? No, no.
No.
I just thought that er you know, if he'd been a bit of a flirt, you would probably have remembered him.
- At one of the do's.
- I didn't go to any do's! I'm sorry I can't be of any help.
That's all right.
Thank you, Mrs Knight.
I'm sorry if I've got in the way.
It takes a professional to see where the cracks are.
To make sure they can be covered, so that no-one will notice.
I'll see myself out, Mrs Knight.
Thank you.
You've no right to harass her! She's not part of any investigation.
I wanted to get under their skin.
Her husband is involved in this somewhere along the line! - You've no proof of that whatsoever! - Oh, come on! He said that Burrows had visited his surgery.
He lied! - Perhaps he made a mistake.
- Oh, leave it out! He phoned as soon as you'd left his house.
Unless you have grounds to question him, remember he's a respected member of the community! History's proved that all doctors aren't angels of mercy.
Jack, I am warning you - we can't afford to be sued for harassment! I understand that! Remember, you are only just back from suspension.
OhGod! - If you're a risk factor, I'll pull you off the case! (Door slams) Jack, Mullet was in a bit of a flap.
I know that.
I'm still pulling the feathers out of my hair! He thinks I'm not doing things by the book.
- As if.
- Yeah, exactly.
All I do know is, that that Dr Knight sends his kids to private schools, and his house is, well, knockout.
Most GPs do all right.
There was another call to the surgery on the morning of the murder.
Oh, yeah? Which was? His house-call patient, Mrs Chalmers, insisting that Dr Knight did not visit her that morning.
But according to the doctor's receptionist, Mrs Chalmers is more than a bit forgetful.
Which means she isn't exactly going to be a star witness, is she? No.
But it's a lead.
When in doubt, shout! It scares the horses.
Bring in Dr Knight for questioning.
OK, George.
Got anything? Majendie the chemist has a cast-iron alibi.
He was at the pharmacy from early till late.
Right.
What about erDr Knight's clothing? No, Forensic couldn't find a thing.
But the shoes fit.
You what? Exact same size as those found at the canal site, but they have been resoled in the last couple of days.
Right.
I tell you what - tell Dr Knight that he can go, but we're keeping his shoes for forensic tests.
Jack, Jack, Jack You've already done that.
I know.
I know, I know, but he doesn't know, does he? Tell me, is this your handiwork? Sure? All right.
Thank you.
Is that your work? - Oh, yeah.
I did these.
- When? A few days ago, I think.
Right.
What do you do with the waste? We fill these, and then the Council takes them down the tip.
We get through hundreds of shoes a week.
Oh, well, time for a bit of sole searching, then, innit? All right? This could take a year and a day! It's all right, George.
I'm in no hurry.
Our killer's footprints are in there somewhere.
Don't forget - look for the muddy ones first.
- Have you got a minute, Inspector? - Yeah, sure.
Didn't just bring in a pair of shoes.
There was a jacket as well.
I only got it done yesterday, or the day before, maybe.
Yeah.
This is it.
A fleece.
They come in for the shoes, but this wasn't ready.
Can you remember anything about the man who brought these in? It was a busy day.
I'm not sure it was a man.
It might have been a woman.
Yeah.
Yeah, it was a woman.
A woman? Mrs Chalmers, Dr Knight said that he was here last Monday morning.
No, he was not.
I'm certain of that.
What makes you so certain? I've got my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my tablets I have to take, and Dr Knight's visits.
Those are the important things to remember.
He wasn't here, I'm telling you.
Mm.
- Mm! - What? - Oh! (Gasps) It's nothing.
I'm sorry.
- Got yourself a toothache or something? - I'm all right.
- Course you're not.
I can see that.
I've got just the thing.
I've just the thing for just about everything.
No, no, Mrs Chalmers.
Really, I'm all right.
It's just that I want to know about last Monday morning.
This stuff I've got takes away the pain so quickly.
Itmust be next door.
You just wait a minute.
I'll be right back.
Look, Mrs Chalmers Honestly, I'm all right.
Mrs Chalmers, have you recently moved house? Only you seem to have got a lot of the previous owner's mail.
- It's here! - Oh.
Now, you put this on your finger, and you rub it on your gum.
- On your gum.
- You understand? - Yes, I understand.
- You promise me? I promise you, yes.
Thank you.
Mrs umChalmers, how long have you lived in this house? About seven years.
My son bought this house for me.
Did I tell you about my son? He runs a big office, and he's very responsible.
You see, Mrs Chalmers, half a dozen of these letters are addressed to different people at this address.
I know.
That's why I'm sure Dr Knight was not here when I called him, because he did not take his letters, as he usually does.
- You mean, these are his letters? - He's very kind to me, is Dr Knight.
And he always takes the letters away for me.
Really? My colleague thinks that you've been defrauding the NHS, by adding non-existent patients to your practice.
You've been sending false medical documents to the NHS, registering them by using an elderly lady's address.
Every week, you collect the mail on the pretence of making a house call.
We believe that in due course we will find more elderly patients whose addresses you have fraudulently used.
That's not the half of it, though, is it? Mm? This afternoon, we brought in a pharmacist for questioning.
His name was Ruhander Majendie.
Burrows was blackmailing you two, wasn't he? Mm? That's why you killed him.
- I didn't kill anybody.
- Oh.
You have to believe me.
I couldn't do that.
LAWYER: You don't have to say anything.
No, that's true.
You don't have to say anything.
But this is murder we are talking about.
Not on the evidence you have here.
Fraud's one thing.
Murder's another.
The wounds on the dead man are consistent with those made by a scalpel.
(Door opens) DS Toolan has entered the interview room at 15:58.
We found the soles of his shoes.
A perfect match.
(Tuts) Well that puts you on the bridge with the dead man just before he was killed.
Two years ago, Burrows discovered we were dispensing cheaper drug alternatives against NHS prescriptions.
Burrows didn't know about the non-existent patients.
So Burrows realised that a local doctor had to be implicated in order to cover the pharmacist.
Yes.
In case anyone questioned the efficacy of the medication.
How much money were you making? 100,000 a year.
100,000 a He demanded an immediate payment of50,000, and then 6,000 a month.
It was hardly worth the risk after that, but we had to keep going.
So you went to meet him on Monday to pay him off? Yes.
But I didn't kill him.
I gave him the money, and left.
I had a house call, and I was running late.
I left him just after nine.
I did the house call, and I was back in the surgery by ten.
I took the shoes in the next day when I heard about his death on the news.
- I was scared.
- You were guilty! Mrs Chalmers says you weren't there on the morning of the murder.
I was.
I was there.
I can prove it.
Thank you very much, Mr Chalmers, for coming in.
Most helpful.
Thank you.
Right, come on.
Mrs Chalmers' son spoke to his mother last Monday There you are.
I was just saying, Mrs Chalmers' son spoke to his mother last Monday morning, and she said that the doctor was with her.
He spoke to Dr Knight because he wanted to see how his mother was getting on.
- What time? - Just before half past nine.
- He was going into a meeting.
- So Knight was telling the truth.
He's got an alibi.
Burrows died at 9:27.
We can't escape that fact.
Yes, can I help? I sent the decorators home early.
- Inspector Frost.
- Yes.
- ls my husband still in custody? - Oh, yes.
And for a very long time to come.
You know what? When I had a go at my front room .
.
the bloke in the DIY shop told me I ought to wear gloves.
Do you know why? It's because of the anti-fungicide that's in wallpaper paste.
What are you doing here? These knives that are used for cutting and trimming wallpaper always have a residue of anti-fungicide on the blade.
You're not making any sense.
I'd like you to leave, please.
By sheer coincidence, your decorator told me that he mislaid his knife about a week ago.
You knew all about the blackmail.
You followed your husband, and you killed the man who would ultimately destroy you, and all this.
You took his shoes in the next day, because you didn't want him to be incriminated.
- No.
- Oh, yes.
Cos when we questioned him, he realised that it must have been you who killed Burrows.
He lied to try and save you.
We believe we'll find enough forensic evidence on your husband's fleece to prove you were wearing it.
But you'll never be able to prove I killed Burrows.
Oh, yes, I think we will.
What's one of the things that you ladies can't bear to throw away? A pair of very expensive, all-weather boots.
Favourites, by the looks of things.
We've got a partial print of these.
They're a size seven.
Worn-down heels, distinctively patterned rubber sole.
We've also got Burrows' blood stains on the fleece.
We've also got this.
The other half of a dry-cleaning ticket found in the pocket of one of your coats.
You see, your husband had a full day's appointments the day after the murder.
And that was the day you took in the shoes and the fleece into the shop.
I didn't kill him.
I didn't mean to kill him.
I just wanted to scare him off.
I followed my husband.
Then Burrows walked off.
I waited, and then I went after him.
He just laughed at me.
I was so angry.
I was so angry! He was trying to take this all away from us, bit by bit.
He was getting greedy.
Yeah.
And that's one thing medicine can't cure, isn't it? No matter who you are.
So Are they sorted, then, guv? Yes, they've filled in their bits of paper, and Well, both families are going to bury him.
Right.
Time I was off, then.
Yes, right.
Well, it's been great working with you again, Maureen.
- Sorry to see you go.
- Thanks, guv.
You take care and get that tooth seen to, eh? Oh Oh, yeah.
Mrs Chalmers' snake oil Mm.
Smells like it.
- Ta-ra.
- Bye-bye.
- Ah, Jack.
Excellent result.
- Sir.
Yes, everyone deserves a shot at happiness, whoever they are.
Yes, er Lawson.
Very good officer.
- I was referring to the case.
- Oh.
Just because someone is a respected member of the community, it should not blind us to their capacity to commit crime.
No, no, no.
- No, no, no.
No.
- Quite.
What's that, uhsmell? Oh, yes It's um It'sdiesel and petrol fumes.
Comes in when the door's open.
Oh, Jack.
Um Those lollipops.
The supplier has advised me that the cherry fizz toffee balls had a manufacturing problem.
The centre didn't stay hard, apparently.
Oh, really? - ls that right? - Mm.
Just thought you ought to know.
- Went like glue inside.
- Mm.
Just in case you thought of giving any to your constables for the Schools Awareness Week.
- Yes, well, I'll bear it in mind, sir.
- Hopefully, it's a timely warning.
Mm.