Death In Paradise (2011) s07e07 Episode Script

Series 7, Episode 7

1 Police, please! - Are you the person who called us? - Yes! Sounded like all hell was breaking loose in there.
- Oh, yeah? - Uh-huh.
- Dwayne? - What? There's definitely someone inside.
- We know you're in there! Open up! - Dwayne, wait, wait! - What? - There's someone on the floor.
I think he's hurt.
- Eh? Stand back from the door! He's dead.
You wait here! Get me! Hey! Stop! I am arresting you on suspicion of Cordell Thomas? What is What's happened? It's OK.
I know who he is.
I know exactly who did it.
- Morning, Florence! - Morning, sir.
- Where've you been? - Night fishing, of all things.
I stopped off for a quick rum after work, got chatting to Bernard here and I happened to mention that I used to go fishing for trout with my Uncle Terence as a kid.
Anyway, one thing led to another, the next thing you know .
.
I've only gone and caught myself a real live snapper! Only he's not so live now, obviously.
Well done, sir.
That's a big one.
Thank you! So, we've got a suspected murder.
- Is it far from here? - It's a ten-minute drive.
Dwayne and JP are waiting at the crime scene.
OK, no time to waste.
Thanks, Bernard! Cracking night.
- No problem, sir.
- Must do it again soon.
So what've we got, Dwayne? Looks like a robbery gone wrong, Chief.
This neighbour called up about a disturbance.
He was putting out his rubbish just after midnight.
And he heard shouting coming from inside the neighbour's house.
Then he noticed a pick-up truck.
When we got there, I had to breach the front door.
We found the owner dead on the floor and the assailant making a run for it.
Did you manage to arrest him? That's the bad news.
Just as JP was about to cuff the suspect, he broke loose and skedaddled.
Unlucky.
I don't suppose there's any good news to go with the bad? Strangely enough, Chief, there is.
JP knows exactly who it is.
Cordell Thomas, sir.
We were at the same school for a while.
Few years ago now.
But, erm, I remember his face.
That's definitely his truck parked outside? I checked the documentation in the glove compartment.
- It's his.
- Oh, the suspect dropped this when JP tackled him.
Japers.
Jewellery! Look at that! Fair old whack! To be honest with you sir, I can't say I'm surprised to find him caught up in something like this.
Cordell was always in trouble at school.
And who here's our victim? Eugene Jones.
Quite a known face around the island.
Bit of a character.
Owns Lil's Cafe on the high street, and a few other businesses.
Er, souvenir stall by the harbour.
A couple of hire cars, you know, that kind of thing.
Quite the entrepreneur, eh? And it was definitely his voice the neighbour heard arguing? Yes, but he couldn't make out the other person.
From the shape of the wound, looks like the victim was hit by this.
Must've come from there.
So, they tussled over here by the coffee table.
The vase gets knocked over.
The pair of them end up over here, near the side-board.
Where the suspect grabs the ornament, then hits the victim on the head with it.
Victim staggers back, falls to the floor just here, and then crawls forward.
Right, let's get that ornament to the lab for a start.
You know, I always wondered about silk pyjamas.
Are they worth the extra cost? You know, compared to the more traditional cotton-polyester mix? I don't know, sir.
The worth of the pyjamas depends on the quality of the silk.
And from where I'm standing, with all due respect to the dead, that is some cheap silk.
I'll take your word for it.
You clearly know your pyjamas.
Strange! He's holding something.
- Is that a peanut, Chief? - It is indeed, Dwayne.
Now, why would our victim be clutching a peanut? You didn't notice any more of these lying around the place? - No, Chief.
No nuts.
- Ah.
Well, we should do a proper search anyway, just to make sure.
- Did he have any relatives? - Yes, one sister.
Celeste.
We're going to see her after we finish up here.
Right, then, we can release the body.
Finish processing the scene.
Florence, while they're doing that, I think we should head back to the station.
Try and figure out where our killer is hiding himself.
Right, first things first, I'm going to put Sammy here in the fridge.
Then we check the electoral register for Cordell's home address.
I mean, it's unlikely he'll head back there but we need to make absolutely sure.
Sir, you named him Sammy? What, you don't think he looks like a Sammy? Morning.
Can we help you at all? Cordell Thomas.
I know you know it was me that did it, so .
.
I've come to hand myself in.
I've been working for Eugene for the past four months.
Driving him round, making deliveries, pick-ups.
So, you knew whose house it was you were breaking into? A few days ago, I was dropping off the weekly takings.
Eugene got out this sports bag.
Asked me to take a look inside.
I knew straight away the stuff was stolen.
He asked me if I thought I could sell it on for a cut of the profits.
And what did you say? I told him I'd think about it.
Kept talking myself out of it.
- But - The little devil on your shoulder got the better of you? I got to thinking, what if I cut Eugene out? Split no profits.
Take the jewellery and sell it myself.
And that's why you broke in? Eugene had told me he'd be out late last night, so I went round there.
- What time was this? - Just before midnight.
I know he always leaves the window round the back ajar to let some air in, so I climbed through.
Eugene must've come home early and gone to bed.
He came downstairs and found you? He lost it when he saw what I was doing.
Came at me.
Pushed me against the wall, hurting me.
So I grabbed the closest thing at hand and I hit him.
I didn't mean to do it as hard as I did, but I didn't know how else to stop him.
One question, Cordell.
When you hit Eugene, did he go down straight away? Why? What is it? Well, it's just .
.
we found this at the crime scene.
- A peanut? - Yeah, it was in Eugene's hand.
I'm just wondering if you've any idea how it got there.
Erm, I've no idea.
It's a bit odd, though, don't you think? I mean, I assume he wasn't holding on to it when he attacked you? He didn't attack you with a peanut, did he? - No, of course not.
- No! That'd be just plain weird, wouldn't it? So, if he was out cold after you hit him, then how did he end up with a peanut in his hand? - I don't know.
- Me neither.
Something tells me you don't think he's telling the truth.
It's the peanut, Florence.
Cordell was as baffled by it being in Eugene's hand as we were.
Yet he was supposedly there when it all happened.
- So, you think Cordell wasn't there when it happened? - Maybe.
Then that would mean someone else is the killer? But all the evidence we've uncovered so far supports Cordell's statement.
How he got in through the window.
Knowing the jewellery would be there.
But we've also got the witness who saw his truck outside at the time of the murder.
So, if it wasn't Cordell that did it Then why does it look exactly like he did? Ah! Well, JP, after the night we've had, I I would say we've definitely earned this one.
Huh, yeah, thanks, Dwayne.
- What's that? - Eh? Muffin.
- You have a muffin? - Yes.
Angelique at the bakery said I could have one as a treat.
So, why do you get a treat and I don't? Because it's not your special day, is it? Oh! It's your birthday! I I totally forgot, Dwayne, I'm so sorry.
It's not a biggy.
It's not a real, you know, landmark birth.
But still, happy birthday, partner.
Celeste.
- Celeste! - We're not open yet.
It's the police! - Oh! - Officer Myers.
Officer Hooper.
How can I help? It's about Eugene.
What? I'm afraid it's not good news.
We found him dead at his house last night.
I'm sorry.
- What happened? - Well, there was an intruder.
Looks like Eugene confronted him.
- An intruder? - Yes.
You know who it was? Ah, gents.
How did you get on with the sister? - Well, sir, she was pretty upset.
- Poor woman.
We told her that we have a suspect in mind.
- And what did she say? - Well, she wasn't wholly surprised.
She was a bit wary when Eugene took on Cordell.
Had heard about his reputation.
And what about the victim's house? Find any more nuts? Not a single one.
We found jars of rice, pasta and beans in the kitchen.
But none with any nuts in it.
- What's that smell? - Ah! That'll be Sammy.
Sammy? Who's Sammy? Sammy's the snapper.
I caught him last night.
He's taken up temporary residence in the fridge, so apologies for any residual pong.
- Maybe I should give it a spray.
- Yeah.
Anyway, how are things here, sir? - Any closer finding Cordell? - Closer than you'd expect, JP.
He's in the cells, as we speak.
- What? - Well, we can't take any credit for it.
Cordell was here waiting for us when we got back.
- Confessed to the whole thing.
- So that's great, case closed.
Actually, the case is still firmly open.
But you just said he confessed, sir.
The Inspector thinks Cordell might be innocent.
- I should've known.
- OK, I don't understand, sir.
Cordell has admitted that he did it.
I I know, JP.
It doesn't make any sense.
But I think Cordell has been lying to us about what happened.
And we've got 24 hours before we have to charge him, so I want us to treat this as an unsolved murder investigation.
You're the chief, Chief.
OK, so, sir, our victim.
Eugene Barnaby Jones.
43 years of age.
Never married.
Inherited his mother's business, Lili's Cafe, when she died four years ago.
- Right, and would you say he was a well-liked man? - Not really.
Used to get a lot of people's backs up.
But to the extent of somebody actually killing him And yet kill him, somebody did.
And our only suspect so far is this man, Cordell Thomas.
He claims he landed the fatal blow during a botched robbery.
28 years old.
Attended Honore High School until the age of 16.
Since he left, he seems to have drifted round the island, - taking cash-in-hand work.
- Yeah, sounds like Cordell, sir -- - was always a bit of a loner.
- And he has form, right? - Yeah, probably.
Two charges of theft and one for aggravated assault.
So if Cordell isn't our killer, that can only mean one thing.
Somebody else is.
So who was it? Why did they do it? And why is Cordell willing to go to prison for them? And if we can answer all that, maybe we get to the bottom of why our victim died holding a lone peanut in his hand.
So where do you want us to start? - Do we know where Cordell lives? - Mm-hm.
He rents a flat at the old plantation house outside town.
OK, well, why don't you fellas go and give it the once-over? Yes, Chief.
JP? And Florence, you and I should start with what I reckon is our strongest lead we have so far.
- The stolen jewellery.
- Exactly.
I really don't know why we're wasting time like this.
We've got a guy in custody with proven form.
And he's confessed to the murder.
- What more does the Inspector want? - For you to follow orders! Look, if the Chief wants us to look under every stone and give the place a twice-over, that's his prerogative.
- Hello? - Oh, oh, excuse me, miss.
We're looking for room number 12.
- Cordell Thomas' apartment? - That's right.
You know him? I care-take this place, so I see him around.
Has something happened? He's been arrested.
Er, he was caught breaking into someone's house.
But I'm afraid that's all we can say at the moment because it's still very much an ongoing police investigation.
- And the flat would be? - I'll show you.
- Bedroom, bathroom down there.
- Mm-hm.
- Well, erm, thank you, Miss, erm - Gayle.
Marie Gayle.
Ah, Marie, thank you very much.
- JP? - I'm sorry.
Are you sure it was Cordell? Why? Is there someone else you think it could be? - No.
It just doesn't sound like him.
- And what makes you say that? I don't know Cordell that well.
You know, just to pass in the corridor.
But he seems decent.
You know, kind.
That's all.
OK.
Thank you.
Look, maybe the Chief's right about this.
Maybe Cordell has changed since you knew him.
Hm? That would be great.
No, no, I can hold.
Now, that's interesting.
This necklace.
It's got the initials LB.
Have you come across anyone with those initials? I've been calling round the locksmiths to see if they've attended any unreported break-ins.
- Not having any joy? - I wasn't.
But I just spoke to a guy who got a call-out two weeks ago.
He remembered it because he thought the husband was acting very shifty.
He's just getting me the details.
First girl I ever kissed had the same initials.
Leoni Brennon.
Terrifying, she was.
Spent the whole of primary school living in fear of her.
- God, I hope it's not her.
- Yeah, yeah, I'm still here.
OK.
Well, thank you for your help.
Bye.
So, the owner of the house is a Charles Blake.
I'll check the register.
He's lived on Saint Marie for five years.
Other residents at the address are his wife.
- Lucy Blake.
- LB.
But if their house was burgled, why didn't they report it? Well, they say the only time people don't like involving the police in a crime .
.
is when those people are criminals themselves! Exactly.
See if Mr Blake has a record, would you? Whoa! Look at this.
Who's been a naughty boy, then? It's the police, love! I'll deal with it.
- Don't worry, you stay there.
- Morning! Apologies for the attire.
I've been hitting the treadmill.
Always try and fit in 5K before breakfast, if I can.
Well you're a better man than me, Mr Blake.
The most I ever manage before breakfast is a trip to the bathroom.
So, how can I be of service to the local constabulary this morning? Do you recognise this? Ah, that's Lucy's necklace.
- Where'd you find it? - At a crime scene earlier this morning.
With quite a selection of other pieces of jewellery, and some gents' watches.
Now I was just wondering if maybe they might belong to yourself and Mrs Blake as well.
I couldn't tell you without seeing them.
Ooh, so you are missing more than just this one item at the moment? We had a break-in a couple of weeks ago.
They helped themselves to my watch collection and two of Lucy's jewellery cases.
She was gutted, poor lamb.
And you didn't think to call the police to deal with it? Entre nous, I never actually got the stuff insured.
So a crime number was never going to do me much good.
- But don't tell Lucy that, eh? - If you don't mind me asking, how much was it all worth? The jewellery? The watches.
Well, couldn't tell you off the top of me head.
I mean, I'm no Louis Cartier, but I imagine that little lot set you back a bob or two.
What are we talking, 60, 70 grand, maybe? My property that got stolen, Inspector.
So how I choose to deal with it is up to me.
You see, that's what worries me, Charlie.
The person who was found in possession of it had been murdered.
You don't think it's me what done it? - We checked your criminal record.
- I was shocked, frankly.
Armed robbery, assault, numerous spells in prison.
And now I'm retired.
I don't do that any more.
Maybe.
But I can't help thinking, if a man like you gets ripped off, then something tells me you're not going to take that lying down, are you? For the record, where were you between ten and eleven o'clock last night? I was in bed.
Asleep.
- With Mrs Blake? - As it happens, I was alone, actually.
Lucy was out with the girls last night.
So, to be clear, Charlie .
.
you don't have an alibi for the time our victim was murdered? No, Inspector.
I don't.
Morning, Dwayne.
- JP? - Darlene.
So, how's my birthday boy today? All the better for seeing you, Darlene.
I take it we're still on for dinner this evening? Well, I should hope so.
I've already bought all the ingredients.
- Oh? - Your favourite.
- Mm.
- Creole-spiced ribs.
- Oh, Lord! - So, you on the job right now or am I allowed to give you a little birthday kiss? Well, funny you should say that, you just catch me on a break.
That evidence isn't going to log itself, you know.
Yes, of course.
Goodbye, Darlene.
Hello? Is anybody there? Can I get some water, please? I suppose you're enjoying all this.
As far as I'm concerned, the sooner this is over with and you're out of here, the better.
Everything OK, gents? Everything's fine, sir.
Tell me.
Do you recognise this fella? His name's Charlie Blake.
Never heard of him.
Who is he? The gear that Eugene asked you to shift - belongs to this man and his wife.
- What is this? What's going on? Why haven't you charged me yet? Because I don't think you're telling us the truth, Cordell.
I think you're covering for someone.
You know, right now, stuck in this cell, I wish that were true.
But I'm afraid you are wasting your time, Inspector.
There is no-one else involved.
Sir, postmortem and lab results are in.
- I'll print off for you.
- Oh, thank you, Florence.
Oh, I almost forgot, Dwayne, a little bird by the name of Darlene tells me it's your birthday.
- Why didn't you say? - Oh, you know me, Chief.
I'm not one to blow my own birthday trumpet.
- Well, happy birthday, anyway! - Thank you, Chief.
- Yes, happy birthday! - Thank you, Sarge.
- I'd offer to buy you a drink, - only I hear you got plans.
- Well, I could still fit one in before I have dinner with Darlene, you know.
- Only if there's time, now.
- There's always time.
Right.
Let's see if any of this backs up our thinking.
So the pathologist confirmed the time of death would be just after 10 o'clock last night.
Which is when both Cordell and the neighbour say it happened.
Small traces of blood found on the ornament confirm this to be the weapon.
Partial finger-prints recovered.
And who did they belong to? Cordell Thomas.
As well as Cordell being caught at the crime scene, and then confessing he did it, we now also have a time of death that matches his and the neighbour's statements.
- Plus, his prints are on the murder weapon.
- I know, JP.
Every single piece of evidence we've uncovered so far - points to Cordell as our killer.
- So, maybe he is, then, sir.
Florence.
How're you getting on? I've been going through the victim's finances and Eugene was struggling to make ends meet.
Might also explains the sub-standard quality of his silky jim-jams.
Er, you know what, Chief? If our victim was trying to sell that stuff, maybe I should have a word with Jimmy The Fence.
- Why not? Give him a bell.
- Will do.
- Also, sir, I found a monthly payment for a lock-up Eugene rents down by the beach.
Might be worth us taking a look.
Good thinking.
How did you fellas get on at Cordell's flat? It looked like Cordell didn't use it very much, sir.
I think Eugene had him working long hours.
We also spoke to a couple of his neighbours and they confirmed exactly what JP said earlier.
The man is a total loner.
Which makes me start to wonder, how can the guy be covering for someone - if he doesn't even know anyone? - We did find this, sir.
Cordell's address book.
There's not many names inside it.
- But I'll phone around a few that's there.
- Mm.
- Sir? Key to Eugene's lock-up.
Lead the way, Detective! Wow, look at all this stuff.
Man of taste! Florence? OK, I'll speak to the man outside.
See if he saw anything.
- Hello, sir.
Can I ask you some questions, please? - Yes, Officer Don't mind if I do.
Serves you right for trying to steal a dead man's cookies.
Right, what've we got? Thank you.
Sir? That was really interesting.
He said yesterday he was working on his boat when he heard shouting coming from inside this lock-up.
When he looked, Eugene's sister was there.
She was furious.
He couldn't make out what it was all about.
But when she left, she said Eugene hadn't heard the last of it.
I am not going to be driven out of my own place! Well, I think I might know what it was about.
Look at these.
It's where Eugene keeps all his paperwork.
- He was selling the cafe? - Although Eugene owns the restaurant, it seems like it's Celeste who runs the show.
So, if he'd decided to sell it Yeah, I imagine she wouldn't be too happy about it.
Wow, this place is really something! This your mum? Lily, was it? - Yes.
- I imagine she was the life and soul of the place, am I right? Take a seat.
Yes, she was a good hostess.
Made every night feel special.
- Like a party.
- And from what I gather, Eugene was cut from the same cloth? They both had a certain charisma.
When your mother died, she left the business to Eugene.
- He was younger than you? - Mm-hm.
- Why not leave it to you, Celeste? Seems it's you who does all the work.
Eugene was her favourite.
But though it was Eugene's name on the deeds, it's my heart that beats inside this place.
Oh, well, that's plain to see.
No doubt about that.
So, then, how did you feel about the fact that Eugene was planning to sell the restaurant? Huh, I, er I only found out yesterday.
Eugene never showed any interest in this place.
Always too busy pursuing his "other ventures", as he liked to call them.
But all it ever did was brought him more debt.
So, what were you going to do about it? There is nothing I can do.
We know you had an argument with Eugene yesterday at his lock-up.
Sounds like you got pretty worked up there, Celeste.
From the moment that child was born .
.
Eugene had not a single ounce of common sense in that head of his.
Mamma didn't care.
"He has spirit," she'd say.
But what good is spirit if you don't have the gumption to go with it? I admit it.
I disliked my brother.
And I would have gladly murdered him for what he planned to do to this restaurant.
Except that she .
.
Mamma, would never have forgiven me.
And unlike Eugene, I at least have some respect for my mother's memory.
Where were you last night around ten o'clock? I was here.
Cleaning up after service.
Anyone vouch for that? I was alone.
But sir, if Celeste killed Eugene, why would Cordell agree to cover for her? When me and Dwayne spoke to her earlier, - she said she didn't even trust the guy.
- It's a fair point, JP.
I don't quite have an answer yet.
And it's the same problem with our first suspect, Charlie Blake.
We can't find a strong enough connection between him and Cordell.
Also true -- thank you, Florence.
So we only have two possible suspects and, in both cases, there's absolutely no reason for Cordell to take the blame for either of them.
Again, spot on.
Much appreciated.
Dwayne, JP, I don't suppose you've found anything to support my theory that Cordell might be innocent.
Dwayne, what about Jimmy the Fence, was he any help? Still waiting for him to call me back.
JP, what about Cordell's address book? - Did you manage to speak to any of them? - All of them, sir.
Mostly older friends who said they've hardly seen Cordell in the last year.
What about his phone records? There's no registered accounts with any of the island's networks.
He must've used a pay-as-you-go phone and disposed of it because we didn't find one at the crime scene or at his flat.
- Maybe he ditched it before he handed himself in.
- Well, that could help.
Because you'd only ditch your phone if there was something on it - you didn't want the police to find.
- But how we going to find that, sir? It could be anywhere on the island.
So, the truth is, Cordell leads an isolated life.
With few, if any, friends.
Which makes it hard to believe there's anyone he could be protecting, even if he wanted to.
On top of which, every single piece of evidence we have so far points firmly to him as the guilty party.
- Apart from the peanut.
- Apart from the peanut.
All right, let's take a breather.
Clear the heads.
Here, sir.
I made you a cup of tea.
I thought you looked like you could use one.
Ah, that's very thoughtful, JP.
No situation can't be remedied by a nice hot cup of cha.
- Sir.
Can I ask you something? - Course you can.
Well, that peanut.
Is that the only reason why you're convinced Cordell is innocent? I'll tell you what, JP.
I'll answer your question on the proviso that you answer one for me.
- Deal? - Deal.
What's your question? Cordell Thomas.
Why are you so convinced he's guilty? There's more going on here than just an old face from the past, isn't there? Cordell wasn't a very nice person at school, you know? In fact, he was very nasty, sir.
Bullied people, bullied me.
Sorry to hear that.
Yeah, must've been tough.
What age were you when this happened? I was 11.
It lasted about a year.
I mean, I was small for my age and easy to pick on.
And because I didn't ever put up a fight, I think Cordell, well, he realised he could do whatever he wanted to me.
So he did.
What I saw inside him then, you know, looking into his eyes as he picked on me and pushed me around I don't think that just leaves you.
Anyway, your turn.
Oh, yeah.
The peanut.
Yeah.
My old man was a copper.
Did I ever tell you that? - No.
A detective like you? - No, no, no, no.
Strictly uniform.
But he was good, you know.
He had a nose for it.
And he used to say you know the truth not just by the reason, but also by the heart.
And I guess that's how I feel about Cordell.
There's something in here, telling me that he didn't do it.
So, no.
Wasn't just about the peanut.
But what can you do about instinct when all the physical evidence is solidly stacked against you? Running out of options, JP.
You know what, sir? I think I know what we need to do.
Florence! JP and I have just had an impromptu case conference out on the veranda and, well, the upshot is we've decided to work through the night to try and crack this one.
- If that's the plan, then I'm in.
- Which means the pressure's on.
Because we've got less than 10 hours before we have to charge Cordell.
- Thank you, Jimmy.
- Is that your man, Jimmy The Fence? Oh, yes, about two weeks ago, Jimmy got wind on the grape vine that one of the local thieves had burgled Charlie Blake's house.
Did he say who it was? That was the only thing I couldn't get out of him.
As soon as that thieving little toe-rag realised whose house he'd broken into, he started to sweat like a hot banana.
He didn't want a man like Charlie Blake on his back.
- So, what did he do? - Well, he went to find someone to sell the gear to.
And in steps the unwitting Eugene Jones, I take it? Exactly.
So, anyway, Jimmy then heard that Charlie Blake was kicking and screaming, running up and down, asking everybody if they knew who had his gear.
So, Charlie wasn't going to just let go of it.
You better believe it! Apparently, he was fuming.
Saying that he was going to make sure whoever had stolen his stuff was going to suffer.
I think it's time you and I had another little chat with Mr Blake.
And why don't you fellas pop back to the victim's house? - Give it another search.
- Yes, sir.
And see if you can speak to the neighbour again.
See if there's anything at all he forgot to tell us.
With all due respect, Chief, it's getting a bit late and some of us have places we need to be, remember? Oh, your birthday dinner! I am so sorry, Dwayne.
You go on, we can manage.
- Well, if you're sure it's OK? - Yeah, go on! Enjoy yourself.
Thank you, Chief.
You know, Florence.
Maybe I should change my shirt first.
Still smells of fish.
What do you think? Yeah.
You know what the hardest thing is about being a detective, Charlie? No.
But I get the feeling you're going to tell me.
It's having the faith to trust your instincts.
Because it's abstract, intangible.
Nothing more than a feeling in your guts telling you something's wrong.
- Your point? - Earlier today, I had the same feeling about you.
And I was right to trust it.
We have a witness who claims you were threatening revenge - on whoever had your jewellery.
- The next thing, the man in possession of it turns up dead.
Now, are you telling me that's just a coincidence? I'll be brief, Inspector, cos I've had my fill of your time-wasting.
You're right.
I was looking to get my jewellery back.
And if I found whoever had it, there were going to be consequences.
However, things never got that far.
Because it now seems someone beat me to it.
And anything to prove to us that it wasn't you who did it? Nothing.
But if your instinct's as good as you seem to think it is, then why don't we let that be the judge? I didn't do it, Inspector.
Well, as the English would say, - blimey.
- Blimey indeed.
Hmm! Oh! It's your birthday, so help yourself to as much as you want.
Oh, yes! I've been waiting for this all day, you know.
I thought I'd nearly have to cancel.
- Oh? - Yeah, see, we've got this case, it's really baffling, you know.
So, the Chief wanted us to work up all night.
But my very own boy in blue managed to solve it just in time, eh? If I had, they wouldn't still be up there working on it now.
I reckon they'll be up there for most of the night.
Anyway, so the Chief said to me, "Look, it's your birthday, "go and enjoy yourself.
" So here I am.
Is something wrong, Darlene? So, you have hot-footed it up here to stuff your face.
- You better believe it! - While the rest of your poor colleagues are working through the night to bring justice to this island.
But it's my birthday! - Here, caffeine'll do you good.
- Thank you.
I mean, it probably won't in the long run.
But it might stop us from nodding off.
So, Charlie Blake? - I hate to say this, sir, but - You think he's telling the truth? Maybe we've had our murderer locked up in that cell all along.
Cordell.
He had a coffee with him.
Sir, if you were going to hand yourself in to the police to protect someone, what's the last thing you'd do? Well, let the person I was protecting know that's what I was doing.
So, what, you think Cordell phoned whoever it is he's covering for before handing himself in? It's like JP said, the phone could be anywhere.
Except I remembered he had a takeaway coffee, it was six in the morning when he got to the station and there's only one place open at that time in Honore.
- The bakery.
- He must've bought it before he came to us.
Cordell knows he has to make one last call before he gives himself up.
So he goes and buys a coffee, phones whoever it is.
And then Bins the phone, and he makes his way to the police station.
That's the route you'd take from the bakery to the station.
We need to check every bin along that route.
Dwayne? What are you doing here? Well, I I couldn't enjoy myself knowing my colleagues were still working on the case.
So I came to help.
Darlene told you to, didn't she? No, she didn't.
Though she's a very intimidating woman when she wants to be.
Yeah, well, you're just in time because we need to search every bin - from the bakery to the police station.
- Seriously? Bin duty? But it's my birthday! And you didn't see anybody at all while you were waiting for us to arrive? I would have told you if I had.
- And there's no-one else in the house that might have seen something? - No.
Been just me here for a few years now.
Since my wife passed.
I'm sorry to hear that, Mr Palmer.
Is that her over there? There's my Bessy.
Well, you both look very happy.
We were.
You know, between us .
.
I used to be a bit of wild thing, back in the day, you know.
Different girl every night.
But then, this one came along and something changed.
Like, everything suddenly make sense in life.
Of course it did.
Maybe Cordell has changed since you knew him.
- You all right, son? - Er, yes.
Erm, thank you, you've been very helpful.
Come back again.
Sir! I got it wrong.
I got this whole thing wrong, sir.
- Got what wrong? - Cordell.
All this time, sir, I was sure it was him.
But it was like what Mr Palmer said, sir -- something changed.
You've lost me, JP.
OK, think about everything we've learned about Cordell.
OK, he stopped seeing his friends.
He was spending hardly any time in his own flat.
Sir, that's what happens when you meet a girl.
That's what I was like when I first started seeing Rosey.
I mean, the man even got himself a job, sir! Cordell was settling down.
- You mean he's got a girlfriend? - Yes, sir.
And I think it's her he's protecting.
All we have to do now, sir, is find out who she is.
- Sir? Wrapped up in an old newspaper.
- Good work, Detective Sergeant.
Last number dialled was at 5:32am yesterday morning.
- 20 minutes before Cordell handed himself in.
- Someone called Marie.
Marie? Looks like you got this right, JP.
But who's Marie? The caretaker.
OK.
First we get Cordell to revoke his statement and tell us exactly what's gone on.
And if we're right about this, then we'll have to go and arrest the girlfriend.
I'll save you the time.
You can arrest me now.
Is anybody else here getting a touch of deja vu? Cordell? From the start of this case, I struggled to believe that you killed Eugene Jones.
I thought you were covering for someone.
And I was right, wasn't I? That's right.
He didn't break in to Eugene's house to steal the jewellery.
He went there to help me.
Because I killed Eugene.
About a week ago, Eugene did ask me to sell some stolen goods.
But I told him no.
I didn't do that any more.
Cordell told me what happened.
And I told him he did the right thing.
But I know how much we could use the money.
So I thought I could sell it myself, as a one-off.
Cordell need never know.
After a couple of days, I'd already sold about a quarter of the stuff.
But then, one of the market traders told me some man was asking round.
That he heard I was selling his stuff and he wanted it back.
Charlie Blake was on to you.
Apparently, he was making some nasty threats.
So, what did you do? The night before last, I went round Eugene's to hand over the money I made.
And I told him I was scared about this Charlie Blake.
And he just shrugged.
Told me I'd been careless and it was my problem.
So I told Eugene, if he wasn't going to help me, I'll go to the police.
- And he didn't like that? - He started shouting at me.
I tried to leave.
But he wouldn't let me.
You know, he was holding me back.
Hurting me.
And I just wanted to get away.
So I grabbed the ornament and lashed out.
You hit him? I went to, but I missed.
And he stumbled back, he fell and banged his head on the coffee table.
And just laid there, dead.
Which is when you went to Cordell? She was in a state, hysterical.
She could hardly speak.
I said not to worry.
I'd go check it out.
Next thing I know, I get a call from him, telling me I'm to keep quiet.
That he's going to take the blame.
To protect me, both of us.
Sorry.
Both of you? You're pregnant? Four months.
That's why Cordell did all this.
- To stop us going to prison.
- That's why it all started? Why you needed the money? We wanted to put a deposit down on a house.
Just wanted to do the best for our baby.
I'm sorry, Cordell.
Truth is, if anybody should be apologising, it's me.
I know what I did to you all those years ago, JP.
I get it.
Er, we were different people back then.
- Erm, I I think I need some air.
- Yeah.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
- Everything OK, sir? - It makes absolutely no sense.
- What doesn't? - If Eugene banged his head on the coffee table, then he would have been found lying the other way around.
And there was blood on the weapon.
Which supposedly isn't a weapon at all.
So how did that get there? And Marie said she gave Eugene the money, but we never found any.
All we found was this lousy legume.
And ever since, we've located not a single other nut anywhere during this case.
Not in the victim's house, his restaurant, his lock-up.
That's right.
We never found any nuts in the lock-up.
But there was a cookie jar, wasn't there? Except there were no cookies.
Or nuts, for that matter.
Only elastic bands.
No cookies, no nuts, no money.
The night before last, I went round Eugene's to hand over the money I made.
We found jars of rice, pasta and beans, none with any nuts in it.
This neighbour called up about a disturbance.
He was putting out his rubbish just after midnight.
I was in bed, asleep.
I was here, cleaning up after service.
That's it! Why else would a dead man be holding a peanut in his hand? - It makes perfect sense.
- You want us to round up all the suspects? It would be churlish not to, Dwayne.
And Florence, there's something I need you to do for me.
- Sir? - I need you to go on a nut hunt.
Um Enjoying yourself, Inspector? Very much, Charlie.
And all the more so for you being here.
So glad you could make it.
Now, two nights ago in this very room, Eugene Jones was murdered in cold blood.
And it's important to take note of that phrase because that's exactly what it was.
In cold blood.
That night, Marie Gayle pushed Eugene Jones, causing him to fall and bang his head on the coffee table.
She then turned to Cordell Thomas who, to protect the woman he loved, admitted to the crime himself.
However, we've come to realise by the time Cordell got to the crime scene and started to clean it up, there were significant differences to how Marie left it.
For a start, this ornament here had traces of Eugene's blood on it.
If Eugene died banging his head on the coffee table, why was there blood on this? And if Eugene banged his head on the table .
.
he would've been found lying with his head here.
So, then, why, when he was discovered, was he facing the opposite way, lying with his head here? Doesn't make any sense.
We also know that between Marie leaving and Cordell arriving, a sum of money had gone missing.
How much money was it you handed over to Eugene? About 10,000.
Marie, when you gave Eugene the money you'd made, tell me, - where did he take it? - Into the kitchen.
But we searched the kitchen.
And we never found any money there.
- So where did it go? - Someone took it? Exactly.
The person who murdered Eugene Jones took it.
And now, I can finally reveal our thief .
.
our murderer .
.
isn't one of you four in this room right now.
It is in fact Eugene's neighbour, Samuel Palmer.
I have a feeling that could be him right now.
Where's Samuel? He wasn't there, sir.
All his clothes are gone, and so is the money.
Dwayne, JP.
Alert all the ports and search his house, - see if you can find any clues as to where he might be going.
- Yes, Chief.
Lost your culprit, Inspector? I don't understand.
How could Samuel kill Eugene? - It was me that pushed him.
- Well, from the outset, everything that Cordell told us made sense of the crime scene.
Except for one thing -- this peanut we found in the victim's closed right hand.
So what was it doing there? Well, I think you'll find the answer lies in that kitchen with the missing money.
All these jars full of rice and pasta, beans, flour.
None of them contain nuts.
So, we assumed that Eugene never had any nuts in the house.
But once I knew something had gone missing, specifically, a stash of cash .
.
well, then, maybe Eugene's jar of peanuts had gone missing as well.
We found it in Mr Palmer's house.
In the cupboard, underneath his sink.
And just as a cookie jar can contain nothing but elastic bands, so too a jar of peanuts can contain a big load of money.
This is where Eugene kept his cash.
In this tube, secreted amongst the nuts.
And this is where he put the 10,000 dollars that you gave him, Marie.
And ultimately, this is what Samuel killed him for.
So, here is the final version of what happened the night of the murder.
Shortly after midnight, Eugene's neighbour, Samuel, he heard arguing, so like the good neighbour he was, he came over to investigate.
On hearing a fairly serious fight taking place, he returned to his own house and he called the police.
Police, please! Now, while he was doing that, Marie here, who Samuel had heard arguing with Eugene, panicked and fled to her boyfriend, Cordell.
Knowing that the police were on their way, I believe that Samuel came back over here to see if things had calmed down a bit.
And finding the door open, he came inside and there was Eugene's body lying on the floor.
What happened? Who did this? I can only assume while looking for a first-aid kit, he came across the opened jar of nuts with the money inside.
Hard to resist the temptation, so he took it.
And nobody would've known.
Except Eugene came around! And he saw Samuel with his money.
Must've been furious.
So he tried to stop him from taking it.
I'm guessing Samuel knew that Eugene would tell the police that he'd tried to steal it.
He didn't want to go to prison.
He just wanted the money.
So, seeing the ornament on the floor, he picked it up and he hit him.
Clever fella that he was .
.
he hit him in exactly the same place Eugene had already been injured.
The trail would lead back to the original assailant.
In theory, nobody would ever have known that he was here.
Which is entirely what happened, except for one thing.
While Samuel was busy shoving the spilled nuts and the And the cash back into the jar, your brother, in his last dying moment, put his hand around this.
The one piece of evidence we had for the entire case that made no sense.
But ultimately -- please excuse the pun here -- it cracked it wide open for us.
Mm.
So, I take it you're done with me now? We are indeed, Charlie.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
Sorry you didn't get your man, Inspector.
So, what happens now? Well, you'll be facing charges, the pair of you.
But I would hope that a forgiving judge will take your situation into account.
Thank you.
JP, how are you getting on? Well, sir, I'm afraid there's nothing in here that indicates where Mr Palmer might be.
No address book or laptop.
No mobile phone.
- Nothing.
- Chief! - I've got the harbour master.
He said a man fitting Samuel Palmer's description was seen carrying two suitcases and paying a fishermen to use his boat.
He's heading to one of the other islands.
- Any chance we could catch him? - I've spoken to the other port authority.
He's heading that way, so he shouldn't get far.
- Thanks, Dwayne.
Good work.
- Chief.
Harry! Well, I guess that's all we can do for now.
Hm, I guess his wild days aren't over just yet.
Eh, Bessy? So, I was thinking if you were free and fancied coming over later for a beer, we could make a start at putting the past behind us.
I'd like that.
- Darlene just texted me.
- Oh, yes? She's doing my birthday all over again.
Wow! That's a really great woman you got there, Dwayne.
Yeah.
I know.
Better days are coming by and by OK! Muah! Don't you get down-hearted, don't you cry Troubles will be over, all our joys come over Better days are coming by and by Don't you know better days are coming .
.
by and by Hurry back, you know! Don't you get down-hearted, don't you cry - Dwayne.
- Hmm? - There's someone here to see you.
- Me? Hello, son.
.
.
by and by! Blessed love to you all.
- Everything all right? - It's Billy.
He's not answering.
Billy's wife was murdered 30 years ago.
We never caught the person that did it.
- What's he doing here? - Is everything OK with Dwayne? I think his dad being around is bothering him more than he'd like to admit.
I need for us to put this right.
We will, sir.
We will.

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