New Tricks s11e09 Episode Script
Breadcrumbs
It's all right It's OK Doesn't really matter if you're old and grey It's all right I say it's OK Listen to what I say It's all right, doing fine Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine It's all right I say it's OK We're gettin' to the end of the day.
~ Are you the guy that reported it? ~ Yeah.
~ How long's she been gone? ~ About three days, is it? Ms Barker? Ms Barker? Tango Echo from 329, are you receiving? 'Receiving, go ahead.
' 'This is a film about the year 1812.
Six stories from around the globe.
'Each one about art and culture.
Stories' Gerry! Do you know what time it is? Bleeding gas leak.
My whole street has been evacuated.
So I'm going to have to use your sofa, mate.
Ellen Barker.
49 years old.
Librarian at UCL.
The boy Son? Philip.
Died in a car crash nine years ago.
I want officers going house-to-house as soon as we can.
Pathologist's been held up in Ealing, but I'd say we're looking at a blunt trauma, back of the head.
And she's been dead at least three days.
Or we could just wait for the pathologist Man on the left.
Don't we know him? Lurch! DS Griffin, ma'am.
Worked under him for a while.
~ Retired a couple of years back.
Now with UCOS.
~ UCOS? Don't know how long he's going to stay, Danny.
You know, I want to help the guy out but he's he's It's like he's filling up the flat.
And his snoring is like nothing I've ever heard before.
It goes all the way from, like, amplified Darth Vader, up to, like, asthmatic walrus I mean, if I wanted to be nagged, I could've stayed at one of my girls'.
And he doesn't even have anything proper for breakfast.
So this morning I offered him granola.
He's allergic.
I mean, what kind of human being's allergic to granola? One whose digestive system hasn't evolved to tolerate oats, I expect.
I've been thinking Could I stay at your place? No.
DCI Miller? You don't remember me, Sasha? Grace.
Grace Mackie.
Yeah, yeah, no, of course! Um, it was Hendon, wasn't it? ~ Wow, you look different.
~ I know.
Dropped 4st.
Cut my hair.
So when did we last, I mean Eight years ago.
Johnny Mac's funeral.
That's right.
Are you still at, um It was Peckham, wasn't it? Clapham.
No.
MIT, Homicide Command West.
Congratulations.
Who's your SO? That'd be me.
Which is why I'm here Did you know her well? Danny? I met Ellen online.
I missed the job after I retired, and she wrote a blog, Cold Crime Confidential.
Nothing sensationalist, just well researched investigations into various unsolved crimes.
She was talented.
I commented on some of the posts she'd put on.
I stopped when I joined UCOS, of course.
But we stayed in touch and, uh Sorry, how did she die? Blunt force trauma, back of the skull.
Post mortem will confirm.
Were you romantically involved with Ms Barker? No.
Why do you think that? Your photo was on her desk.
Prominent.
Look, I've got an unmarried, middle-aged librarian beaten to death in her own home.
I don't have much.
I'm just trying to find a way in.
What about motive? We're running with robbery.
No signs of forced entry.
Possibly someone tricked their way in.
Distraction theft, she catches them in the act, they panic Although we've no accounts of similar attempts in the vicinity.
Anything taken? Hard to tell, there was no computer at the property.
No, she definitely owned a laptop.
It was quite new.
Expensive with a metal-casing.
Look, I've been to her home a few times.
Maybe I can help.
If you're worried about my personal involvement ~ It's not that, it's ~ When was she killed? Pathologist thinks Sunday.
Right, well I was away all weekend, in the Cotswolds.
My friend, Fiona, can corroborate that.
~ Have Forensics finished up? ~ Nearly.
Well, then, let me visit the scene.
Good to see you again, Sarge.
I'm nobody's sarge now, Billy.
Those days are gone.
She's got cuttings going back decades.
Investigation was her hobby.
Some people go fishing, bake cakes, Ellen liked unsolved crime.
Blimey, who would actually do the job for no money? I understand you know DCI Mackie, ma'am.
~ Trained together.
~ Must know her well, then.
No, it's funny.
I can't say I ~ Were the corkboards like this when you entered? ~ Yes, Sarge.
Billy, need you to get onto PCEU, trace originating IP address behind some of the messages left on her website.
She received death threats a week ago.
May be something, may be nothing, but there was a threat to life, and now she's dead.
~ DCI Mackie.
~ Mm-hm? Ellen used these boards to display information relating to the cases she was working on.
Photographs, cuttings, that sort of thing.
Well, they were chockfull of things every time I visited.
Whatever was pinned on here, somebody's torn off.
You see, look.
There are pieces of paper stuck under the pins.
Now, she wouldn't do that.
It's a trait we shared, a certain meticulousness.
If Ellen moved onto something new, she would've removed the redundant material and filed it away.
This looks like someone just ripped off whatever was on the board in a hurry.
So you're suggesting the killer cleared them? Well, maybe he didn't want people to know what she was working on.
You said she received death threats on a website devoted to her work.
So she was killed cos she was an amateur sleuth? No disrespect, but maybe we should start with something a little less fanciful before we unleash the conspiracy theories? Billy, I want to know everything about her personal life - ex-boyfriends, affairs Anyone who could've held a grudge.
Thank you for your time, Mr Griffin.
DCI Miller, if we could stick to common approach procedure on the way out.
Danny, take the rest of the day off.
They've got this covered.
Danny! Nice surprise.
What you doing here, mate? Can we go inside, Nathan? Why would anyone hurt Ellen? What are the police saying? You know I can't talk about that.
Come on, Danny.
One ex-copper to another.
She did receive death threats on her blog.
Did she ever mention them to you? No no, she didn't.
And the corkboards in her office were virtually empty.
Have you ever seen them like that? No.
Maybe she was winding down the blog.
Someone had torn the research from the boards.
That's not very Ellen, is it? You think she was killed because of her blog? Nathan? She did mention something.
A new case, she said it was going to be huge.
Oh, Lord Oh, this is all my fault.
Your fault? 'So I'm doing it.
I've taken the week off work.
'I'm going for it, just like you said I should.
'Oh, my cab to the station.
Bye, lovely.
'Can't wait to tell you all about this one.
'You're going to be so jealous.
It's an absolute beast.
' And she never said what the case was? But she was travelling to interview witnesses.
Now, that wasn't normal practice, was it? No, but like I said, this was something big.
She wanted to take a week off work, get stuck in, go interview some of the key players.
I encouraged her.
And you've no idea where she was going? I should've told her I mean, doing this work, following the trail, that's all good fun, but what if the trail ends up at a cave, and in that cave there's a bloody great bear? You don't poke the bear! I think she poked the bear, Danny.
Could be totally unrelated.
Check her laptop.
If somebody was covering up, they would've wiped that too.
They took it? Well, that's it then, proof! She confronted somebody who didn't want to be confronted.
They've killed her and they've wiped away any evidence ~ of interest in the case.
~ Or maybe she was just robbed.
The boards wouldn't be empty.
The boards were never empty! Come on, Danny, think about it.
Why else would someone kill her? Kept herself to herself, didn't have anything to steal.
Who are you phoning? She was getting a cab to the station.
We might be able to work out where she was going.
Nathan, I'm not sure I should get involved in this.
The minicab dropped her at 10:30.
No luggage, so we have to assume she was heading there and back in the day.
So that probably rules out anywhere further than Bristol.
It's a huge area.
There's trains every couple of minutes.
This isn't going to work.
Beast.
That's what she said on her telephone message.
"A beast of a case.
" Minchinhampton.
Ellen liked to tease.
You know that.
A beast of a case The Minchinhampton Murders? The press wrote it up as the Beauty and the Beast.
It was a young girl, wasn't it? Yeah, murdered by a local man.
1990.
Yeah, it was something to do with new-agey, living outside society pacifist Buddhist types? Well, involved in a commune of sorts, yes.
The victim was one of four residents, Sally Tunstall.
But why would Ellen be looking into a crime that'd already been solved? Controversial verdict.
Maybe she thought she'd found a miscarriage of justice.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Now if Ellen was headed to Minchinhampton, she'd have had to get a stopping train to either Reading or Slough.
That's what I'm looking for.
Well, the next stopping train would've been the 10:48.
How do you know that? You have your hobbies, I have mine.
Now the next stopping train to Minchinhampton's 12:22.
Come on.
I did an inventory of your cooking utensils this morning and there are some things every kitchen needs.
A Parmesan grater A garlic press And a very big, very sharp knife.
You bought all this stuff for me? Tell you what, I might use them tonight.
~ You've never tried my beef stroganoff, have you? ~ No! So how long do the gas engineers think they're going to be? I don't know, really.
Why? No, it's just you said it'd be a night or two, just wondered.
Oh, I see.
Well, tell you what, I'll go and stay at Caitlin and Robin's tonight.
No, no, Gerry, that's not what I meant at all.
No, no, no, you did me a big favour.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, well, you don't have to Excuse me, pal.
What's going on? Ellen Barker murder.
We got a break.
Where's Griffin, Sasha? Taking compassionate leave, why? So the local bloke that did for Sally Tunstall, Dougie Haynes, lived just up the road.
He did odd jobs for the commune.
That's right.
People said he had a crush on the girl.
They say here that she went for a walk.
Haynes somehow got her into the house, tried his luck, when she turned him down, he strangled her.
Buried her body in the woods behind his house.
Wasn't he a bit of a Lennie figure? Henry? Small.
Steinbeck, Of Mice And Men? You know, gentle giant, but a bit lacking.
Yeah, halfwit, yeah.
Confessed.
But like you said, he wasn't the brightest.
He changed his story post-conviction.
Said he was innocent.
Kept saying that until the day he died.
December 2003, aged 41.
Diabetes related illness.
What if Ellen uncovered a flaw in the investigation? We don't even know she was here for sure.
Like you said, miscarriage of justice.
What if Haynes was innocent, and Ellen confronted the real killer with her findings? Yes, Steve? There's a DCI Mackie here asking for you.
Any idea why? I don't know, but you better get back here.
Take me a while.
Next train's not for another two and a half hours.
~ Where are you? ~ 'Minchinhampton, Berkshire.
' Right, stay where you are.
I'll come pick you up.
'Keep your phone on.
' What was all that about? I have no idea.
Dogs.
Big dogs.
Lots of big, aggressive dogs.
Well, that's a good start.
I said all I have to say in my letters! I take good care of my damned animals.
I think there may be some mistake.
What, you mean you're not the RSPCA? We're here about Ellen Barker, Mrs Haynes.
Did you know her? Course I didn't know her well, but she seemed a good sort.
When did Ellen visit you? Um, not sure Couple of weeks back? But of course, we'd been in contact for a few months before that.
~ Tea? ~ Thank you.
Help yourself to cake.
No idea what's in it.
So, how did she die? I'm afraid we can't discuss that.
Her death's still under investigation.
Well, if you're not the police, who are you, then? I was police.
I drive a black cab these days.
But I also do what Ellen did.
I look into cold cases, blog about them.
I work for the Unsolved Crime and Open Cases Squad, but I should emphasise I'm not here to investigate your son's case.
What, rake up your own mucky past? No.
Course you won't.
Better just to let it be and sod the truth.
It's ten years since he died.
Whole world's forgotten and moved on, but not me.
Mrs Haynes, we're just Ellen's friends.
We're trying to figure out what happened to her in the last weeks before she died.
Perhaps you could tell us how you got in contact with her? Well, I just came across her blog.
And it covered a case that was a bit like my son's.
And this other chap had had his verdict overturned and Ellen wrote all about it.
I liked what she wrote.
~ So you got in contact? ~ Yes.
I told her all about Dougie.
About how the police had intimidated him and put words into his mouth.
So she said she'd have a dig around.
And then a few weeks later, I got a phone call and she said she had come across some discrepancies.
~ Did she say what they were? ~ No, she didn't.
She said they were just theories and she didn't want to raise my hopes.
~ Not until they were more solid.
~ That's very interesting.
So what else did Ellen do whilst she was here? That's where they found Sally Tunstall.
Buried less than a foot down, covered in leaves and sticks.
Why did Ellen need to see where she was buried? Because she'd read the pathologist's report.
And she was bright enough to see what was going on.
~ We haven't had a chance to ~ Sally Tunstall was murdered and then her body was dragged here to her grave.
Now look, we've just come the most direct route from the house, right? Well, what would you expect to find on any body that had been dragged through all that? ~ Ripped clothing, cuts, abrasions ~ Exactly.
But they also found some chips of flint embedded in her neck, as though the body had been dragged down along a path.
But there is no path.
No, no, there isn't, not to our house.
But there's a path over there.
~ And the path leads where? ~ To the road.
And then it comes out near the same bloody farm where she'd been staying all those months.
Were forensics able to prove that the flint came from that exact path? As far as I know they never even tried.
They'd already got my boy in their sights.
I seem to remember there was other evidence.
Yes, they found some of her hair in the house.
Like I said to the police at the time.
I told them, I'd been doing their laundry for over two weeks because their machine had broken down.
So her hair could have entered the house that way.
Look, one of them killed her, you know.
And then they pinned it onto my boy, I know that.
Your son confessed.
Because the police confused him and he didn't know which way was up.
Do you actually think that I didn't know my own boy? I raised him, I knew what he was capable of and what he wasn't.
Ellen understood that.
She'd lost her boy, too, so she knew about mothers and sons and pain and anger.
She just knew.
Jim Tanner, you daft bugger! What do you think you're doing? Rabbits.
Rabbits, he says.
You've scared this pair half to death, you damned fool.
Well, either our friend is a very bad shot or Minchinhampton rabbits can climb trees.
Keep walking.
Steve, where are you? It'll be OK.
I promise.
Don't, Jim.
Steve.
Steve, this is Nathan.
Nathan's an ex-copper.
A friend of Ellen's.
Nathan, you're flying under the radar, pal.
I need to get you back.
Yeah, there's one place I'd like to see before we do.
~ Danny, come on ~ I need to do this.
What's so significant about this place? It housed a commune where the victim, Sally Tunstall, lived along with Gabriel Stokes, Caroline Tate, and Peter Walsh.
On the night she was killed, she was heading up the path towards Haynes' cottage.
Looks pretty run down.
I presume the SO wants to speak to Dan cos he was Ellen's friend? No, I think it's a lot more serious than that.
~ Hey, Danny ~ What time did she leave the house? It was eight, I think.
And this was October, so it would have been dark.
So she went for a walk in the dark on her own.
Hello? Danny, there's nobody here.
We need to go.
One quick look.
Maybe Ellen came here, too.
~ Oh! ~ Sorry we knocked.
~ We don't mean to disturb you.
Are you friends of Ellen? ~ You know her? ~ She came to see me.
To talk about Sally Tunstall? We lived here together.
You're Caroline Tate.
Did Ellen send you? I'm afraid Ellen's dead.
There used to be more like you Mostly at weekends.
They'd drive from Birmingham, London, all over Some even brought their children, a family day out.
But they don't come anymore.
The world's moved on to new horrors.
We're not murder tourists, Ms Tate.
And if you spoke to Ellen, you'd know that she wasn't either.
So What did she want to know about? I don't remember.
I know we talked about the past, the commune.
She wanted to know how things worked, what the rules were.
I told her Gabriel made it up as he went.
Just wanted to be surrounded by people who loved him.
~ Gabriel? ~ Her ex-husband.
So there were just the four of you? We expected to be the first of many.
And Peter Walsh was one? College friend of Gabriel's.
I said we shouldn't take him, but Gabriel insisted.
You didn't like him? Peter? No No, I adored Peter, but he was a mess.
Drink, drugs.
He overdosed in 1999.
Poor, sweet man.
And Sally Tunstall? We picked her up at an all-nighter outside Nottingham.
She was pretty, clever, fun.
Sally was a different kind of mistake.
What do you mean by that? How did Ellen die? Ellen was murdered.
You should go.
Yes, if you could just tell us everything that you told Ellen.
I don't remember.
I'm sorry, I can't help you.
Well, perhaps she told you who else she was going to visit? ~ Your ex-husband, perhaps? ~ No.
Do you have an address for Gabriel Stokes? I haven't seen Gabriel for a long, long time.
And now, I'd like you to leave.
Nathan? Nathan! He's gone.
Why would he do that? ~ Certainly seemed a bit jumpy.
~ That makes no sense.
Ah, here we go.
Gabriel John Stokes.
All the dates fit.
It's definitely him.
He started using his second name in his by-election run in '99.
By-election? He's an MP? He was appointed Junior Defence Minister in May of this year.
John Stokes is a rising star.
Somebody with a lot to lose.
Did you see how she reacted when I asked whether Ellen had gone to see him? ~ Avoided eye contact, involuntary hand to throat.
~ Definitely lying.
I think she's scared.
~ I'll call John Stokes' office.
~ OK.
~ See whether Ellen was successful.
~ Yep.
I understand you wanted to see me.
That's right.
You clearly didn't understand the urgency.
Sit down, Mr Griffin.
~ So, where've you been all afternoon? ~ Minchinhampton.
It's a little village, a couple of miles west of I'm glad you had a nice day out, but I'm trying to investigate a murder.
So was Ellen.
She was looking into an old murder at Minchinhampton.
I think she suspected there'd been a miscarriage of justice, so she started digging around into the case, travelled down to the scene, conducted a few interviews, and within a week, she was dead.
So you think she was killed because she unlocked some information ~ that implicated someone else? ~ Possibly.
It's just conjecture for now.
Know what isn't conjecture? The death threats found on Ellen Barker's website.
Well, it must have been linked to her investigation.
PCEU traced the anonymous posts, Sarge.
Good.
Turned up to interview the suspect.
No-one home.
Neighbour said he left with a tall, gaunt man in an overcoat.
Nathan? You think Nathan posted those threats? No, that's not possible.
Well, he did seem a bit spooked when I said the SO wanted to talk to you, Danny.
Where is Nathan Wicks? We left him in Minchinhampton.
You left him or he absconded? Well, he wasn't in custody, so yes, he disappeared but he probably came back on the train.
Get a team to Paddington.
You cover his home.
I'll have to make Strickland aware that Wicks has absconded.
Why do you need to take this to Strickland? No offence, Sasha, but what's it got to do with you? Danny Griffin works for me.
And I let him onto my crime scene.
I screwed up.
I had to let my boss know that.
He's away so he called Strickland.
He's now in charge of the investigation.
You can't seriously think that Danny was aiding him.
~ He's done everything he can to help.
~ Help who? Why was he so keen to get to the crime scene? Why did he go straight round to Wicks' house soon as he'd finished? Why did he lie to you about where he's been all day? And why are you acting like such a bitch, Grace? Oh, that's rich.
Excuse me? Do you actually remember what you were like at Hendon? Charmed all the people you thought could advance you.
And the rest of us? Just so much shit beneath your shoe.
Well, look at us now - I'm running an MIT squad, you're playing Cluedo in an old folks' home.
~ Look, Sasha ~ Why didn't you tell me what you were doing? Both of you.
Made me look a complete fool.
Don't you ever embarrass me like that again.
Out.
I'm heading off now, so, um Just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Danny DS Wainwright called.
They've apprehended Wicks.
Thank you for letting me know.
It wasn't Nathan.
I don't know why he did what he did, but it wasn't him.
It all links back to the Tunstall murder.
Now I've been gong back through some of the old case records ~ and I'm pretty sure I know where Ellen went next.
~ Listen I trust your instincts, Danny.
I know that you want justice for your friend, but nobody has sanctioned this investigation.
I'm sorry, Danny.
The police took a statement from Stokes after Tunstall's body was found.
But two days later, he volunteered some extra information and said Dougie Haynes was infatuated with Sally Tunstall.
Why didn't he say that when he was first interviewed? Do you think he was trying to lead them towards Haynes? Maybe.
What makes you think he's going to make a move today? Because I called his office.
Oh, I see.
If he's got something to hide, maybe he'll panic, make a wrong move.
He claims never to have met Ellen Barker.
So either he's a dead-end or Or we've got a lie to work with.
Yeah.
Um, does the governor know we're doing this? Not yet.
Hope he's not going to be too long, Danny.
I've got 20 witness statements from the Clacton case to work through by 12:00.
Look, I know I'm asking a lot.
~ Oh, come on.
~ No, it's good fun.
Tailing a politician under the governor's radar.
Yeah, takes me back to when I was working in vice.
~ Oh, dear.
~ You all right, Gerry? ~ No, yeah, I'm fine.
It's just that Caitlin's sofa bed isn't exactly pocket sprung.
Is that Stokes leaving now? Not taking his car.
~ Keep your phone on.
I'll follow on foot.
~ OK.
He's going into the tube.
Just exiting Paddington tube.
Danny.
All right? ~ Under the clock.
~ Waiting for someone.
~ Probably a bird.
It's always a bird, isn't it? ~ Yep.
Oh If you're that uncomfortable at Caitlin's come and stay at mine tonight.
I'm not sure your sofa's much better.
Well, take my bed, why don't you? Yeah, all right.
You seriously going to take me up on that? ~ You just offered it to me.
~ Gerry.
Look, I told you, bit a fluff.
That's his ex-wife.
All this cloak and dagger stuff to meet an ex? Bit weird, isn't it? You follow Stokes, I'll take her.
Yesterday, you said you hadn't seen your ex-husband in over 20 years.
Why the sudden renewal in relations? Gabriel I mean, John .
.
rang me a couple of weeks ago.
He was furious.
He said.
someone had been asking questions about Sally Tunstall.
And he wanted to know if they'd been in contact with me too.
Ellen.
Did he say he met her? Did he say where? He mentioned a pub.
Don't remember a name? I'm sorry, no.
But he did say it was her suggestion.
I'll get onto it.
Why meet with him today? He rang again last night.
Why last night? I don't know.
Well, what did he say when he called? Just that he wanted to speak to me.
He said he'd drive over to Minchinhampton, but I said I'd rather meet somewhere more public.
Here, in London.
What did he want to talk about? ~ Sally.
~ What about Sally? I don't think I can do this Yesterday, you told me Sally Tunstall was a mistake.
What did you mean by that? Nothing.
I didn't mean anything.
I want to leave.
Can I go now? Caroline, listen.
We understand if you're afraid of this man, but you can't go on covering for him now.
If the SO on the Ellen Barker murder decides to go this way, it's all going to come out anyway.
You're better to be on the side of the angels.
That's us, by the way.
The night she was killed, I discovered that Sally and Gabriel were having an affair.
We argued.
Sally left and I went upstairs.
And what did Stokes do? He followed her.
How long was he gone for? I don't know exactly.
An hour maybe? If you knew this, why didn't you tell us? Because it's what Gabriel wanted.
And Gabriel always gets what he wants.
He said we should all tell the same story.
Best not mention the argument, and by that stage, we were trying to heal the relationship.
And the police were already looking at Haynes, so Which is where Stokes wanted us to look.
Hence the additional statement.
Do you really think Gabriel could've done this? Well, now we know it was logistically possible.
The question is why.
Do you know why, Ms Tate? We now know that Stokes had the opportunity to kill Sally, and Caroline thinks he may have been motivated by money.
Stokes' father-in-law was a city financier.
He lost it all on Black Wednesday in '92, however at the time of the murder, he was still a very wealthy man.
When Caroline found out about the affair, Stokes made it clear that he was ending it.
He chose his marriage over Sally.
Now, understandably, Sally was very upset and angry and threatened to tell everybody she knew.
Including Caroline's father, Stokes' golden goose.
Motive, means, opportunity.
And none of this was reported to the original investigation team? The argument, the affair? No.
As far as they were concerned, Sally Tunstall just took a walk in the evening light.
I don't understand.
~ What don't you understand? ~ Why I'm here.
Well, we think Ellen Barker's murder could be linked to her investigation into Sally Tunstall's death.
I just don't think that because Ellen was asking ~ Do you have a suspect, DCI Mackie? ~ Nathan Wicks.
And you're confident? We've interviewed.
He's given us an alibi.
We're in the process of corroborating.
What else have you got on Stokes? He denies meeting Ellen Barker.
But I've just come back from Ellen's local in Hounslow, the Crown and Sceptre.
The landlord there recognised Stokes and said they definitely met on Thursday 8th.
Three days before she was killed.
So you're saying that Stokes, or someone working for Stokes, murdered Ellen Barker because she was getting close to the truth? Do you buy this? It's a lead.
We can check it out.
Let us talk to him, sir.
Well, it's a little difficult dragging a serving minister off the street.
I understand it might make life a little difficult, sir, but this is a strong lead.
Let us talk to him.
Ellen Barker is an MIT investigation.
Surely all that matters is that we find who is responsible.
Look, sir, I understand Stokes' position might make things difficult for you, but a woman has been murdered and everything is pointing his way.
And I realise that she was your friend, Danny.
That's irrelevant, sir.
I'll admit to being led by emotion in the first instance, but not now.
This is about uncovering a truth.
For Sally and for Ellen.
All right Contact his office.
Request the Minister's attendance.
But make it clear that he's not a suspect at this moment, we just want to talk.
Stress the importance, but allow him to come in under his own steam and interview him here, away from the buzz of the main investigation.
I want to be in the room, Sir.
If there's even the slightest chance this interview could be relevant to the Barker murder, I need to be there.
All right.
So you are now saying you did meet Ellen Barker.
Yes, she came to my constituency surgery.
Said she was looking into Sally Tunstall's death.
I told her I couldn't talk to her then, but I'd happily sit down with her some other time, diary permitting.
And you did.
Yes, she e-mailed me.
I replied.
We met.
On Thursday, 8th September at the Crown and Sceptre Pub, Hounslow.
Correct.
She didn't have a car, so I asked her to arrange a pub somewhere near her home.
Didn't want any of your office staff knowing who she was? Why meet at all? Could've fobbed her off quite easily.
Yes, I was curious.
What did Ellen Barker want to know? Well, I've already said, she wanted to talk about Sally Tunstall.
Look, is all this relevant? Forgive us, Minister, we're just trying to establish the nature of your relationship with the dead woman.
There was no relationship.
What about your relationship with Sally Tunstall? Ah, somebody's been talking to my ex-wife.
Were you sleeping with Sally Tunstall? I came here in good faith.
Are you investigating Sally's death or Ellen Barker's? I'm confused.
Both.
Are you planning to arrest me? Not at this time.
Then this interview's over.
There's no point in lying.
We will find out.
Were you sleeping with Sally Tunstall, Mr Stokes? Yes.
'Why didn't you tell the police?' I was trying to save my marriage.
The night Sally Tunstall was murdered, your ex-wife found out about the affair.
There was an argument, yes? And you followed Sally Tunstall outside.
No.
I never left the house.
Your ex-wife disputes that.
Said you were gone for up to an hour.
My ex-wife isn't in a position to know.
She was otherwise engaged upstairs, smashing up our bedroom.
You lied about the argument, you lied about your movements.
People don't lie without a reason, do they, Minister? 'No, you're right.
They don't.
' You know you really are a terrible judge of character, as am I.
My ex-wife has done a number on us both.
Caroline could never forgive me for what happened with Sally.
She grew bitter, she couldn't move on.
So I had to.
Our break-up was extremely unpleasant.
I can't remember exactly when it was that she first asked me for money, but it was about the time that Pete died.
Around the time my political career began to take off.
I have it all documented at home.
She came to you for money? Yes, and she's been hanging this threat over me for the last 15 years or so.
What threat? That if I didn't pay her, she'd rake up the past, say I'd gone out after Sally.
It didn't matter if it was true or not.
She knew the doubt would finish me.
And she wasn't asking for vast sums, just enough to keep her in whiskey, poor dear.
I mean, I don't even think it was about the money at all.
This paltry lie you've uncovered, is about the only thing that Caroline and I still share.
And I could see it nourished her.
And so I paid her.
And I carried on paying her right up until yesterday, in fact.
So I don't know who she has made to look more of a fool - me or you.
So it's his word against hers.
Go back to Caroline Tate if you want to, but let MIT handle Ellen Barker.
Thank you for your cooperation, Minister.
If we need anything further we'll be in touch with your office.
You do know that this didn't have to be quite so uncivilised.
I was quite prepared to tell you what happened when I met with Ellen.
I think she, like you, suspected I'd done something wrong.
She'd talked to Caroline, after all.
She started by asking about Sally, then about the set-up at the commune.
And then she took a call and I went to the bar, and when I came back everything had changed.
She seemed embarrassed, couldn't get out of there quick enough.
What do you mean? She apologised to me, said she'd got it wrong.
Didn't want to talk about Sally Tunstall anymore.
Said she was sorry for wasting my time.
And this was straight after the phone call? Yes, the phone call changed everything.
Did she say who it was from? No.
I'm sure you have ways of finding out these things out.
This is good.
I mean, really good, eh, Danny? ~ It's fish soup.
~ It's Cullen skink.
Very good fish soup.
Just thought I'd give you a little taste of home.
It was either this or mince and tatties.
Right, now for something English - wiener schnitzel.
Now they've e-mailed Ellen Barker's phone records.
When do we think she got that call? Thursday evening between Nothing.
No incoming, no outgoing.
Why would Stokes lie about her getting a phone call? Maybe he didn't.
And she only used this number for Cold Crime work, yes? I'm sorry, Danny.
That's not enough, Nathan.
I was in love with her.
I loved her ever since I met her that night in the pub.
So you write obscene messages on her website? I didn't mean any of that.
I loved Ellen.
You threatened to kill her! Cos she could never see me that way.
She could never see me that way and that broke my heart.
And those things that I wrote, those horrible, horrible things That was just me letting off steam.
I was sat at home on my tod, pissed, lonely, frustrated.
Full of all that stuff.
I wanted to top myself.
It was only ever two things I wanted in life.
A job in CID And Ellen.
I didn't hurt her, Danny.
I know.
~ Another? ~ It's fine.
You've made your gesture.
We can go now.
What gesture's that? Buy me a drink, prove you're not a monster.
Tell me Did I sleep with your boyfriend back then and forget all about it? What boyfriend? I'm gay.
Oh, oh, right.
OK.
~ Christ, Sasha, I'm not gay.
~ Oh.
It just goes to show though, doesn't it? I didn't even register on your radar.
Look, obviously this isn't going to work.
I thought we could just have a quick drink and put the past behind us, but .
.
clearly you don't want to do that.
Vodka.
Was I really that bad? I don't remember being this uber bitch.
Just knew what you wanted.
Knew how to get it.
Maybe I should have paid attention earlier.
Learnt how to play the game.
Might be sitting in a bigger office.
It's not a game worth playing, believe me.
It's like designed by men to be played by men.
They encourage you to act like them and when you do, they hate you for it.
Do you know I got promoted once in 13 years.
Lost weight, cut my hair.
Two promotions in four.
Maybe losing all that weight helped you do your job better.
So you play the game and then you get to half-time and you stop and you look around and you think, "What's the point?" I'm tired all the time, and everyone I know is a total arse.
That's why I love my old boys.
They're done with all that.
There's no preening, no politics, it's just the job, and that's how it should be.
~ To the old boys.
~ Yeah, to my old boys.
How do you know she had a separate work phone? Ellen may have been an amateur, but she liked to keep things professional.
Danny.
Thursday the 8th.
Got it.
Incoming call.
~ Reading area code, and that includes Minchinhampton.
~ Brilliant.
Here we go.
'Yeah?' Good morning, am I speaking to the house owner? 'What you selling?' I'm trying to trace the person who made a phone call What're you doing? I know that voice.
It's confirmed the number's registered to James Thomas Tanner.
His family have been tenant farmers in Minchinhampton since the early 1960s and he works a farm 300 metres from where Barbara Haynes owns a property.
We know he called Ellen Barker at 7:49pm on Thursday 8th.
We don't know what he said to her, but it obviously upset Ellen.
Mr Tanner here is the proud owner of a 1992 4x4 Toyota pick-up.
Which the ANPC cameras picked up travelling eastbound on the M4, and then travelling back the same day, Sunday the 11th.
~ The day Ellen was killed.
~ Can we put him closer to the scene? Well, the Brentford cameras didn't pick him up so.
He got off.
Hounslow.
Got officers going door-to-door.
Billy, contact Thames Valley, see if they'll play ball.
We need to speak to Mr Tanner.
You called Ellen Barker on Thursday the 8th of September.
May we ask why? Mr Tanner.
The phone call to Ellen Barker.
Wanted her to stop.
This is your vehicle caught on camera driving into Greater London three days earlier.
Where were you going, Mr Tanner? To see her.
What was the purpose of your visit? After I called her that one time, she wouldn't answer my calls no more.
So I drove to see her.
Had to make her stop.
Why was it so important that Ellen should stop her investigation? Because she might find out the truth? The truth about what really happened to Sally Tunstall? In your witness statement at the time, you claimed to have been at the pub the night Sally was killed.
Now that was corroborated, and we know that you couldn't have done it, so What did happen to Sally Tunstall? I don't know.
You're not making much sense Mr Tanner.
You didn't want her to find out a truth, but you don't know what that is? It was upsetting Barbara.
I killed her.
I killed the Barker woman.
~ James Tanner, I'm arresting you on suspicion ~ Just a moment.
I want him to tell us why.
Why did you kill her? Told you why.
So let me get this straight, you killed her because Ellen's investigation was going to uncover a truth that you claim to have no knowledge of, but that would, what, upset your neighbour? Yes.
~ That's why you strangled her.
~ Yes.
That's why you put your hands around her throat ~ and you choked her to death.
~ Yes! Ellen Barker wasn't strangled.
But you did phone her.
And that phone call changed everything for Ellen.
She backed off, and Ellen would never back off unless she was threatened or convinced of a truth.
So either you threatened her or you convinced her.
But convince her of what? I threatened her.
I killed her.
No.
No, no, no You convinced her.
You knew something.
Oh, yes Yes, yes, yes There was no miscarriage of justice.
Dougie Haynes did it after all, and you knew.
That's what you wanted Ellen to stop her investigation.
How did you know for sure? Did you see something? No, no, because you weren't there.
Did he confess? Of course he did.
Wouldn't tell his mother, terrified of disappointing her, so he came to you.
Dougie Haynes did it.
And you knew.
And it was only a matter of time before Ellen came to the same conclusion.
I threatened her.
I killed her.
Because it was upsetting Barbara.
That's what you said.
That's why you called her and that's why you wanted her to stop.
Because you never told Barbara Haynes what her son had told you that night.
Did you? How could I? With Dougie gone .
.
that's all she had left.
Did Barbara Haynes kill Ellen? Ellen promised me she'd stop all contact.
Promised me she'd never tell Barbara.
Mrs Haynes? Barbara? Mrs Haynes Put the weapon down.
Old dogs.
Not having them end up in a shelter.
Always taken good care of my animals Dougie was nearly three before he could walk, you know.
~ Mrs Haynes.
~ That was my job.
I had to defend him.
Kids can be so cruel, can't they? What happened to Ellen Barker, Mrs Haynes? I called her up on the Sunday morning.
I just wanted to know what's going on.
And she said she was stopping the investigation.
She didn't give any reason for it, and I'd been waiting, I'd been hoping So I decided I was going to borrow Jim's truck.
Did he know what you planned to do? No.
He would've tried to stop me if he'd known.
He was always on at me to let the past be.
So you drove to Ellen's.
Yes, and I asked her, I begged her I said, "Why are you giving up?" And all that she said was She said that she thought Dougie was guilty.
She'd got absolutely nothing to back it up, she was just like everybody else.
I was so angry.
So you killed her.
Because I thought she was the one who was finally going to see.
But your son was guilty.
He confessed.
Because the police confused him.
He confessed to Jim Tanner the very next day.
Tanner was trying to protect you.
Ellen Barker paid the price.
So she confessed straightaway? Yeah, they found Ellen's laptop buried in her garden along with some paperwork she took from the house.
So in a way, following Ellen's trail led us straight to her own killer.
In a way, yes.
Just had to follow the breadcrumbs.
You did well.
She was your friend.
You did her proud.
Excuse me, boys.
Those two are thick as thieves these days, aren't they? Talking of out-of-hours bonding, you must be relieved to get back home, no? Yeah, I will be.
Yeah.
I'm still at Steve's.
But you got the message from the gas company? No.
What message? The work's finished.
It's safe to return home.
I told Steve to pass it on.
Oh, that must have slipped my mind Well, I just thought you and me, you know, it was going well.
I just thought It's got nothing to do with you and me, it's all down to my grub.
Well, OK, OK.
I was looking forward to your lamb tagine, all right? Were you? Well the lamb tagine is staying in the pot.
From now on Gerry's Caff is closed.
Nice one, Dan.
Now you've upset the Mrs It's all right It's OK Doesn't really matter if you're old and grey It's all right I say it's OK Listen to what I say It's all right, doing fine Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine It's all right I say it's OK We're gettin' to the end of the day.
~ Are you the guy that reported it? ~ Yeah.
~ How long's she been gone? ~ About three days, is it? Ms Barker? Ms Barker? Tango Echo from 329, are you receiving? 'Receiving, go ahead.
' 'This is a film about the year 1812.
Six stories from around the globe.
'Each one about art and culture.
Stories' Gerry! Do you know what time it is? Bleeding gas leak.
My whole street has been evacuated.
So I'm going to have to use your sofa, mate.
Ellen Barker.
49 years old.
Librarian at UCL.
The boy Son? Philip.
Died in a car crash nine years ago.
I want officers going house-to-house as soon as we can.
Pathologist's been held up in Ealing, but I'd say we're looking at a blunt trauma, back of the head.
And she's been dead at least three days.
Or we could just wait for the pathologist Man on the left.
Don't we know him? Lurch! DS Griffin, ma'am.
Worked under him for a while.
~ Retired a couple of years back.
Now with UCOS.
~ UCOS? Don't know how long he's going to stay, Danny.
You know, I want to help the guy out but he's he's It's like he's filling up the flat.
And his snoring is like nothing I've ever heard before.
It goes all the way from, like, amplified Darth Vader, up to, like, asthmatic walrus I mean, if I wanted to be nagged, I could've stayed at one of my girls'.
And he doesn't even have anything proper for breakfast.
So this morning I offered him granola.
He's allergic.
I mean, what kind of human being's allergic to granola? One whose digestive system hasn't evolved to tolerate oats, I expect.
I've been thinking Could I stay at your place? No.
DCI Miller? You don't remember me, Sasha? Grace.
Grace Mackie.
Yeah, yeah, no, of course! Um, it was Hendon, wasn't it? ~ Wow, you look different.
~ I know.
Dropped 4st.
Cut my hair.
So when did we last, I mean Eight years ago.
Johnny Mac's funeral.
That's right.
Are you still at, um It was Peckham, wasn't it? Clapham.
No.
MIT, Homicide Command West.
Congratulations.
Who's your SO? That'd be me.
Which is why I'm here Did you know her well? Danny? I met Ellen online.
I missed the job after I retired, and she wrote a blog, Cold Crime Confidential.
Nothing sensationalist, just well researched investigations into various unsolved crimes.
She was talented.
I commented on some of the posts she'd put on.
I stopped when I joined UCOS, of course.
But we stayed in touch and, uh Sorry, how did she die? Blunt force trauma, back of the skull.
Post mortem will confirm.
Were you romantically involved with Ms Barker? No.
Why do you think that? Your photo was on her desk.
Prominent.
Look, I've got an unmarried, middle-aged librarian beaten to death in her own home.
I don't have much.
I'm just trying to find a way in.
What about motive? We're running with robbery.
No signs of forced entry.
Possibly someone tricked their way in.
Distraction theft, she catches them in the act, they panic Although we've no accounts of similar attempts in the vicinity.
Anything taken? Hard to tell, there was no computer at the property.
No, she definitely owned a laptop.
It was quite new.
Expensive with a metal-casing.
Look, I've been to her home a few times.
Maybe I can help.
If you're worried about my personal involvement ~ It's not that, it's ~ When was she killed? Pathologist thinks Sunday.
Right, well I was away all weekend, in the Cotswolds.
My friend, Fiona, can corroborate that.
~ Have Forensics finished up? ~ Nearly.
Well, then, let me visit the scene.
Good to see you again, Sarge.
I'm nobody's sarge now, Billy.
Those days are gone.
She's got cuttings going back decades.
Investigation was her hobby.
Some people go fishing, bake cakes, Ellen liked unsolved crime.
Blimey, who would actually do the job for no money? I understand you know DCI Mackie, ma'am.
~ Trained together.
~ Must know her well, then.
No, it's funny.
I can't say I ~ Were the corkboards like this when you entered? ~ Yes, Sarge.
Billy, need you to get onto PCEU, trace originating IP address behind some of the messages left on her website.
She received death threats a week ago.
May be something, may be nothing, but there was a threat to life, and now she's dead.
~ DCI Mackie.
~ Mm-hm? Ellen used these boards to display information relating to the cases she was working on.
Photographs, cuttings, that sort of thing.
Well, they were chockfull of things every time I visited.
Whatever was pinned on here, somebody's torn off.
You see, look.
There are pieces of paper stuck under the pins.
Now, she wouldn't do that.
It's a trait we shared, a certain meticulousness.
If Ellen moved onto something new, she would've removed the redundant material and filed it away.
This looks like someone just ripped off whatever was on the board in a hurry.
So you're suggesting the killer cleared them? Well, maybe he didn't want people to know what she was working on.
You said she received death threats on a website devoted to her work.
So she was killed cos she was an amateur sleuth? No disrespect, but maybe we should start with something a little less fanciful before we unleash the conspiracy theories? Billy, I want to know everything about her personal life - ex-boyfriends, affairs Anyone who could've held a grudge.
Thank you for your time, Mr Griffin.
DCI Miller, if we could stick to common approach procedure on the way out.
Danny, take the rest of the day off.
They've got this covered.
Danny! Nice surprise.
What you doing here, mate? Can we go inside, Nathan? Why would anyone hurt Ellen? What are the police saying? You know I can't talk about that.
Come on, Danny.
One ex-copper to another.
She did receive death threats on her blog.
Did she ever mention them to you? No no, she didn't.
And the corkboards in her office were virtually empty.
Have you ever seen them like that? No.
Maybe she was winding down the blog.
Someone had torn the research from the boards.
That's not very Ellen, is it? You think she was killed because of her blog? Nathan? She did mention something.
A new case, she said it was going to be huge.
Oh, Lord Oh, this is all my fault.
Your fault? 'So I'm doing it.
I've taken the week off work.
'I'm going for it, just like you said I should.
'Oh, my cab to the station.
Bye, lovely.
'Can't wait to tell you all about this one.
'You're going to be so jealous.
It's an absolute beast.
' And she never said what the case was? But she was travelling to interview witnesses.
Now, that wasn't normal practice, was it? No, but like I said, this was something big.
She wanted to take a week off work, get stuck in, go interview some of the key players.
I encouraged her.
And you've no idea where she was going? I should've told her I mean, doing this work, following the trail, that's all good fun, but what if the trail ends up at a cave, and in that cave there's a bloody great bear? You don't poke the bear! I think she poked the bear, Danny.
Could be totally unrelated.
Check her laptop.
If somebody was covering up, they would've wiped that too.
They took it? Well, that's it then, proof! She confronted somebody who didn't want to be confronted.
They've killed her and they've wiped away any evidence ~ of interest in the case.
~ Or maybe she was just robbed.
The boards wouldn't be empty.
The boards were never empty! Come on, Danny, think about it.
Why else would someone kill her? Kept herself to herself, didn't have anything to steal.
Who are you phoning? She was getting a cab to the station.
We might be able to work out where she was going.
Nathan, I'm not sure I should get involved in this.
The minicab dropped her at 10:30.
No luggage, so we have to assume she was heading there and back in the day.
So that probably rules out anywhere further than Bristol.
It's a huge area.
There's trains every couple of minutes.
This isn't going to work.
Beast.
That's what she said on her telephone message.
"A beast of a case.
" Minchinhampton.
Ellen liked to tease.
You know that.
A beast of a case The Minchinhampton Murders? The press wrote it up as the Beauty and the Beast.
It was a young girl, wasn't it? Yeah, murdered by a local man.
1990.
Yeah, it was something to do with new-agey, living outside society pacifist Buddhist types? Well, involved in a commune of sorts, yes.
The victim was one of four residents, Sally Tunstall.
But why would Ellen be looking into a crime that'd already been solved? Controversial verdict.
Maybe she thought she'd found a miscarriage of justice.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Now if Ellen was headed to Minchinhampton, she'd have had to get a stopping train to either Reading or Slough.
That's what I'm looking for.
Well, the next stopping train would've been the 10:48.
How do you know that? You have your hobbies, I have mine.
Now the next stopping train to Minchinhampton's 12:22.
Come on.
I did an inventory of your cooking utensils this morning and there are some things every kitchen needs.
A Parmesan grater A garlic press And a very big, very sharp knife.
You bought all this stuff for me? Tell you what, I might use them tonight.
~ You've never tried my beef stroganoff, have you? ~ No! So how long do the gas engineers think they're going to be? I don't know, really.
Why? No, it's just you said it'd be a night or two, just wondered.
Oh, I see.
Well, tell you what, I'll go and stay at Caitlin and Robin's tonight.
No, no, Gerry, that's not what I meant at all.
No, no, no, you did me a big favour.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, well, you don't have to Excuse me, pal.
What's going on? Ellen Barker murder.
We got a break.
Where's Griffin, Sasha? Taking compassionate leave, why? So the local bloke that did for Sally Tunstall, Dougie Haynes, lived just up the road.
He did odd jobs for the commune.
That's right.
People said he had a crush on the girl.
They say here that she went for a walk.
Haynes somehow got her into the house, tried his luck, when she turned him down, he strangled her.
Buried her body in the woods behind his house.
Wasn't he a bit of a Lennie figure? Henry? Small.
Steinbeck, Of Mice And Men? You know, gentle giant, but a bit lacking.
Yeah, halfwit, yeah.
Confessed.
But like you said, he wasn't the brightest.
He changed his story post-conviction.
Said he was innocent.
Kept saying that until the day he died.
December 2003, aged 41.
Diabetes related illness.
What if Ellen uncovered a flaw in the investigation? We don't even know she was here for sure.
Like you said, miscarriage of justice.
What if Haynes was innocent, and Ellen confronted the real killer with her findings? Yes, Steve? There's a DCI Mackie here asking for you.
Any idea why? I don't know, but you better get back here.
Take me a while.
Next train's not for another two and a half hours.
~ Where are you? ~ 'Minchinhampton, Berkshire.
' Right, stay where you are.
I'll come pick you up.
'Keep your phone on.
' What was all that about? I have no idea.
Dogs.
Big dogs.
Lots of big, aggressive dogs.
Well, that's a good start.
I said all I have to say in my letters! I take good care of my damned animals.
I think there may be some mistake.
What, you mean you're not the RSPCA? We're here about Ellen Barker, Mrs Haynes.
Did you know her? Course I didn't know her well, but she seemed a good sort.
When did Ellen visit you? Um, not sure Couple of weeks back? But of course, we'd been in contact for a few months before that.
~ Tea? ~ Thank you.
Help yourself to cake.
No idea what's in it.
So, how did she die? I'm afraid we can't discuss that.
Her death's still under investigation.
Well, if you're not the police, who are you, then? I was police.
I drive a black cab these days.
But I also do what Ellen did.
I look into cold cases, blog about them.
I work for the Unsolved Crime and Open Cases Squad, but I should emphasise I'm not here to investigate your son's case.
What, rake up your own mucky past? No.
Course you won't.
Better just to let it be and sod the truth.
It's ten years since he died.
Whole world's forgotten and moved on, but not me.
Mrs Haynes, we're just Ellen's friends.
We're trying to figure out what happened to her in the last weeks before she died.
Perhaps you could tell us how you got in contact with her? Well, I just came across her blog.
And it covered a case that was a bit like my son's.
And this other chap had had his verdict overturned and Ellen wrote all about it.
I liked what she wrote.
~ So you got in contact? ~ Yes.
I told her all about Dougie.
About how the police had intimidated him and put words into his mouth.
So she said she'd have a dig around.
And then a few weeks later, I got a phone call and she said she had come across some discrepancies.
~ Did she say what they were? ~ No, she didn't.
She said they were just theories and she didn't want to raise my hopes.
~ Not until they were more solid.
~ That's very interesting.
So what else did Ellen do whilst she was here? That's where they found Sally Tunstall.
Buried less than a foot down, covered in leaves and sticks.
Why did Ellen need to see where she was buried? Because she'd read the pathologist's report.
And she was bright enough to see what was going on.
~ We haven't had a chance to ~ Sally Tunstall was murdered and then her body was dragged here to her grave.
Now look, we've just come the most direct route from the house, right? Well, what would you expect to find on any body that had been dragged through all that? ~ Ripped clothing, cuts, abrasions ~ Exactly.
But they also found some chips of flint embedded in her neck, as though the body had been dragged down along a path.
But there is no path.
No, no, there isn't, not to our house.
But there's a path over there.
~ And the path leads where? ~ To the road.
And then it comes out near the same bloody farm where she'd been staying all those months.
Were forensics able to prove that the flint came from that exact path? As far as I know they never even tried.
They'd already got my boy in their sights.
I seem to remember there was other evidence.
Yes, they found some of her hair in the house.
Like I said to the police at the time.
I told them, I'd been doing their laundry for over two weeks because their machine had broken down.
So her hair could have entered the house that way.
Look, one of them killed her, you know.
And then they pinned it onto my boy, I know that.
Your son confessed.
Because the police confused him and he didn't know which way was up.
Do you actually think that I didn't know my own boy? I raised him, I knew what he was capable of and what he wasn't.
Ellen understood that.
She'd lost her boy, too, so she knew about mothers and sons and pain and anger.
She just knew.
Jim Tanner, you daft bugger! What do you think you're doing? Rabbits.
Rabbits, he says.
You've scared this pair half to death, you damned fool.
Well, either our friend is a very bad shot or Minchinhampton rabbits can climb trees.
Keep walking.
Steve, where are you? It'll be OK.
I promise.
Don't, Jim.
Steve.
Steve, this is Nathan.
Nathan's an ex-copper.
A friend of Ellen's.
Nathan, you're flying under the radar, pal.
I need to get you back.
Yeah, there's one place I'd like to see before we do.
~ Danny, come on ~ I need to do this.
What's so significant about this place? It housed a commune where the victim, Sally Tunstall, lived along with Gabriel Stokes, Caroline Tate, and Peter Walsh.
On the night she was killed, she was heading up the path towards Haynes' cottage.
Looks pretty run down.
I presume the SO wants to speak to Dan cos he was Ellen's friend? No, I think it's a lot more serious than that.
~ Hey, Danny ~ What time did she leave the house? It was eight, I think.
And this was October, so it would have been dark.
So she went for a walk in the dark on her own.
Hello? Danny, there's nobody here.
We need to go.
One quick look.
Maybe Ellen came here, too.
~ Oh! ~ Sorry we knocked.
~ We don't mean to disturb you.
Are you friends of Ellen? ~ You know her? ~ She came to see me.
To talk about Sally Tunstall? We lived here together.
You're Caroline Tate.
Did Ellen send you? I'm afraid Ellen's dead.
There used to be more like you Mostly at weekends.
They'd drive from Birmingham, London, all over Some even brought their children, a family day out.
But they don't come anymore.
The world's moved on to new horrors.
We're not murder tourists, Ms Tate.
And if you spoke to Ellen, you'd know that she wasn't either.
So What did she want to know about? I don't remember.
I know we talked about the past, the commune.
She wanted to know how things worked, what the rules were.
I told her Gabriel made it up as he went.
Just wanted to be surrounded by people who loved him.
~ Gabriel? ~ Her ex-husband.
So there were just the four of you? We expected to be the first of many.
And Peter Walsh was one? College friend of Gabriel's.
I said we shouldn't take him, but Gabriel insisted.
You didn't like him? Peter? No No, I adored Peter, but he was a mess.
Drink, drugs.
He overdosed in 1999.
Poor, sweet man.
And Sally Tunstall? We picked her up at an all-nighter outside Nottingham.
She was pretty, clever, fun.
Sally was a different kind of mistake.
What do you mean by that? How did Ellen die? Ellen was murdered.
You should go.
Yes, if you could just tell us everything that you told Ellen.
I don't remember.
I'm sorry, I can't help you.
Well, perhaps she told you who else she was going to visit? ~ Your ex-husband, perhaps? ~ No.
Do you have an address for Gabriel Stokes? I haven't seen Gabriel for a long, long time.
And now, I'd like you to leave.
Nathan? Nathan! He's gone.
Why would he do that? ~ Certainly seemed a bit jumpy.
~ That makes no sense.
Ah, here we go.
Gabriel John Stokes.
All the dates fit.
It's definitely him.
He started using his second name in his by-election run in '99.
By-election? He's an MP? He was appointed Junior Defence Minister in May of this year.
John Stokes is a rising star.
Somebody with a lot to lose.
Did you see how she reacted when I asked whether Ellen had gone to see him? ~ Avoided eye contact, involuntary hand to throat.
~ Definitely lying.
I think she's scared.
~ I'll call John Stokes' office.
~ OK.
~ See whether Ellen was successful.
~ Yep.
I understand you wanted to see me.
That's right.
You clearly didn't understand the urgency.
Sit down, Mr Griffin.
~ So, where've you been all afternoon? ~ Minchinhampton.
It's a little village, a couple of miles west of I'm glad you had a nice day out, but I'm trying to investigate a murder.
So was Ellen.
She was looking into an old murder at Minchinhampton.
I think she suspected there'd been a miscarriage of justice, so she started digging around into the case, travelled down to the scene, conducted a few interviews, and within a week, she was dead.
So you think she was killed because she unlocked some information ~ that implicated someone else? ~ Possibly.
It's just conjecture for now.
Know what isn't conjecture? The death threats found on Ellen Barker's website.
Well, it must have been linked to her investigation.
PCEU traced the anonymous posts, Sarge.
Good.
Turned up to interview the suspect.
No-one home.
Neighbour said he left with a tall, gaunt man in an overcoat.
Nathan? You think Nathan posted those threats? No, that's not possible.
Well, he did seem a bit spooked when I said the SO wanted to talk to you, Danny.
Where is Nathan Wicks? We left him in Minchinhampton.
You left him or he absconded? Well, he wasn't in custody, so yes, he disappeared but he probably came back on the train.
Get a team to Paddington.
You cover his home.
I'll have to make Strickland aware that Wicks has absconded.
Why do you need to take this to Strickland? No offence, Sasha, but what's it got to do with you? Danny Griffin works for me.
And I let him onto my crime scene.
I screwed up.
I had to let my boss know that.
He's away so he called Strickland.
He's now in charge of the investigation.
You can't seriously think that Danny was aiding him.
~ He's done everything he can to help.
~ Help who? Why was he so keen to get to the crime scene? Why did he go straight round to Wicks' house soon as he'd finished? Why did he lie to you about where he's been all day? And why are you acting like such a bitch, Grace? Oh, that's rich.
Excuse me? Do you actually remember what you were like at Hendon? Charmed all the people you thought could advance you.
And the rest of us? Just so much shit beneath your shoe.
Well, look at us now - I'm running an MIT squad, you're playing Cluedo in an old folks' home.
~ Look, Sasha ~ Why didn't you tell me what you were doing? Both of you.
Made me look a complete fool.
Don't you ever embarrass me like that again.
Out.
I'm heading off now, so, um Just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Danny DS Wainwright called.
They've apprehended Wicks.
Thank you for letting me know.
It wasn't Nathan.
I don't know why he did what he did, but it wasn't him.
It all links back to the Tunstall murder.
Now I've been gong back through some of the old case records ~ and I'm pretty sure I know where Ellen went next.
~ Listen I trust your instincts, Danny.
I know that you want justice for your friend, but nobody has sanctioned this investigation.
I'm sorry, Danny.
The police took a statement from Stokes after Tunstall's body was found.
But two days later, he volunteered some extra information and said Dougie Haynes was infatuated with Sally Tunstall.
Why didn't he say that when he was first interviewed? Do you think he was trying to lead them towards Haynes? Maybe.
What makes you think he's going to make a move today? Because I called his office.
Oh, I see.
If he's got something to hide, maybe he'll panic, make a wrong move.
He claims never to have met Ellen Barker.
So either he's a dead-end or Or we've got a lie to work with.
Yeah.
Um, does the governor know we're doing this? Not yet.
Hope he's not going to be too long, Danny.
I've got 20 witness statements from the Clacton case to work through by 12:00.
Look, I know I'm asking a lot.
~ Oh, come on.
~ No, it's good fun.
Tailing a politician under the governor's radar.
Yeah, takes me back to when I was working in vice.
~ Oh, dear.
~ You all right, Gerry? ~ No, yeah, I'm fine.
It's just that Caitlin's sofa bed isn't exactly pocket sprung.
Is that Stokes leaving now? Not taking his car.
~ Keep your phone on.
I'll follow on foot.
~ OK.
He's going into the tube.
Just exiting Paddington tube.
Danny.
All right? ~ Under the clock.
~ Waiting for someone.
~ Probably a bird.
It's always a bird, isn't it? ~ Yep.
Oh If you're that uncomfortable at Caitlin's come and stay at mine tonight.
I'm not sure your sofa's much better.
Well, take my bed, why don't you? Yeah, all right.
You seriously going to take me up on that? ~ You just offered it to me.
~ Gerry.
Look, I told you, bit a fluff.
That's his ex-wife.
All this cloak and dagger stuff to meet an ex? Bit weird, isn't it? You follow Stokes, I'll take her.
Yesterday, you said you hadn't seen your ex-husband in over 20 years.
Why the sudden renewal in relations? Gabriel I mean, John .
.
rang me a couple of weeks ago.
He was furious.
He said.
someone had been asking questions about Sally Tunstall.
And he wanted to know if they'd been in contact with me too.
Ellen.
Did he say he met her? Did he say where? He mentioned a pub.
Don't remember a name? I'm sorry, no.
But he did say it was her suggestion.
I'll get onto it.
Why meet with him today? He rang again last night.
Why last night? I don't know.
Well, what did he say when he called? Just that he wanted to speak to me.
He said he'd drive over to Minchinhampton, but I said I'd rather meet somewhere more public.
Here, in London.
What did he want to talk about? ~ Sally.
~ What about Sally? I don't think I can do this Yesterday, you told me Sally Tunstall was a mistake.
What did you mean by that? Nothing.
I didn't mean anything.
I want to leave.
Can I go now? Caroline, listen.
We understand if you're afraid of this man, but you can't go on covering for him now.
If the SO on the Ellen Barker murder decides to go this way, it's all going to come out anyway.
You're better to be on the side of the angels.
That's us, by the way.
The night she was killed, I discovered that Sally and Gabriel were having an affair.
We argued.
Sally left and I went upstairs.
And what did Stokes do? He followed her.
How long was he gone for? I don't know exactly.
An hour maybe? If you knew this, why didn't you tell us? Because it's what Gabriel wanted.
And Gabriel always gets what he wants.
He said we should all tell the same story.
Best not mention the argument, and by that stage, we were trying to heal the relationship.
And the police were already looking at Haynes, so Which is where Stokes wanted us to look.
Hence the additional statement.
Do you really think Gabriel could've done this? Well, now we know it was logistically possible.
The question is why.
Do you know why, Ms Tate? We now know that Stokes had the opportunity to kill Sally, and Caroline thinks he may have been motivated by money.
Stokes' father-in-law was a city financier.
He lost it all on Black Wednesday in '92, however at the time of the murder, he was still a very wealthy man.
When Caroline found out about the affair, Stokes made it clear that he was ending it.
He chose his marriage over Sally.
Now, understandably, Sally was very upset and angry and threatened to tell everybody she knew.
Including Caroline's father, Stokes' golden goose.
Motive, means, opportunity.
And none of this was reported to the original investigation team? The argument, the affair? No.
As far as they were concerned, Sally Tunstall just took a walk in the evening light.
I don't understand.
~ What don't you understand? ~ Why I'm here.
Well, we think Ellen Barker's murder could be linked to her investigation into Sally Tunstall's death.
I just don't think that because Ellen was asking ~ Do you have a suspect, DCI Mackie? ~ Nathan Wicks.
And you're confident? We've interviewed.
He's given us an alibi.
We're in the process of corroborating.
What else have you got on Stokes? He denies meeting Ellen Barker.
But I've just come back from Ellen's local in Hounslow, the Crown and Sceptre.
The landlord there recognised Stokes and said they definitely met on Thursday 8th.
Three days before she was killed.
So you're saying that Stokes, or someone working for Stokes, murdered Ellen Barker because she was getting close to the truth? Do you buy this? It's a lead.
We can check it out.
Let us talk to him, sir.
Well, it's a little difficult dragging a serving minister off the street.
I understand it might make life a little difficult, sir, but this is a strong lead.
Let us talk to him.
Ellen Barker is an MIT investigation.
Surely all that matters is that we find who is responsible.
Look, sir, I understand Stokes' position might make things difficult for you, but a woman has been murdered and everything is pointing his way.
And I realise that she was your friend, Danny.
That's irrelevant, sir.
I'll admit to being led by emotion in the first instance, but not now.
This is about uncovering a truth.
For Sally and for Ellen.
All right Contact his office.
Request the Minister's attendance.
But make it clear that he's not a suspect at this moment, we just want to talk.
Stress the importance, but allow him to come in under his own steam and interview him here, away from the buzz of the main investigation.
I want to be in the room, Sir.
If there's even the slightest chance this interview could be relevant to the Barker murder, I need to be there.
All right.
So you are now saying you did meet Ellen Barker.
Yes, she came to my constituency surgery.
Said she was looking into Sally Tunstall's death.
I told her I couldn't talk to her then, but I'd happily sit down with her some other time, diary permitting.
And you did.
Yes, she e-mailed me.
I replied.
We met.
On Thursday, 8th September at the Crown and Sceptre Pub, Hounslow.
Correct.
She didn't have a car, so I asked her to arrange a pub somewhere near her home.
Didn't want any of your office staff knowing who she was? Why meet at all? Could've fobbed her off quite easily.
Yes, I was curious.
What did Ellen Barker want to know? Well, I've already said, she wanted to talk about Sally Tunstall.
Look, is all this relevant? Forgive us, Minister, we're just trying to establish the nature of your relationship with the dead woman.
There was no relationship.
What about your relationship with Sally Tunstall? Ah, somebody's been talking to my ex-wife.
Were you sleeping with Sally Tunstall? I came here in good faith.
Are you investigating Sally's death or Ellen Barker's? I'm confused.
Both.
Are you planning to arrest me? Not at this time.
Then this interview's over.
There's no point in lying.
We will find out.
Were you sleeping with Sally Tunstall, Mr Stokes? Yes.
'Why didn't you tell the police?' I was trying to save my marriage.
The night Sally Tunstall was murdered, your ex-wife found out about the affair.
There was an argument, yes? And you followed Sally Tunstall outside.
No.
I never left the house.
Your ex-wife disputes that.
Said you were gone for up to an hour.
My ex-wife isn't in a position to know.
She was otherwise engaged upstairs, smashing up our bedroom.
You lied about the argument, you lied about your movements.
People don't lie without a reason, do they, Minister? 'No, you're right.
They don't.
' You know you really are a terrible judge of character, as am I.
My ex-wife has done a number on us both.
Caroline could never forgive me for what happened with Sally.
She grew bitter, she couldn't move on.
So I had to.
Our break-up was extremely unpleasant.
I can't remember exactly when it was that she first asked me for money, but it was about the time that Pete died.
Around the time my political career began to take off.
I have it all documented at home.
She came to you for money? Yes, and she's been hanging this threat over me for the last 15 years or so.
What threat? That if I didn't pay her, she'd rake up the past, say I'd gone out after Sally.
It didn't matter if it was true or not.
She knew the doubt would finish me.
And she wasn't asking for vast sums, just enough to keep her in whiskey, poor dear.
I mean, I don't even think it was about the money at all.
This paltry lie you've uncovered, is about the only thing that Caroline and I still share.
And I could see it nourished her.
And so I paid her.
And I carried on paying her right up until yesterday, in fact.
So I don't know who she has made to look more of a fool - me or you.
So it's his word against hers.
Go back to Caroline Tate if you want to, but let MIT handle Ellen Barker.
Thank you for your cooperation, Minister.
If we need anything further we'll be in touch with your office.
You do know that this didn't have to be quite so uncivilised.
I was quite prepared to tell you what happened when I met with Ellen.
I think she, like you, suspected I'd done something wrong.
She'd talked to Caroline, after all.
She started by asking about Sally, then about the set-up at the commune.
And then she took a call and I went to the bar, and when I came back everything had changed.
She seemed embarrassed, couldn't get out of there quick enough.
What do you mean? She apologised to me, said she'd got it wrong.
Didn't want to talk about Sally Tunstall anymore.
Said she was sorry for wasting my time.
And this was straight after the phone call? Yes, the phone call changed everything.
Did she say who it was from? No.
I'm sure you have ways of finding out these things out.
This is good.
I mean, really good, eh, Danny? ~ It's fish soup.
~ It's Cullen skink.
Very good fish soup.
Just thought I'd give you a little taste of home.
It was either this or mince and tatties.
Right, now for something English - wiener schnitzel.
Now they've e-mailed Ellen Barker's phone records.
When do we think she got that call? Thursday evening between Nothing.
No incoming, no outgoing.
Why would Stokes lie about her getting a phone call? Maybe he didn't.
And she only used this number for Cold Crime work, yes? I'm sorry, Danny.
That's not enough, Nathan.
I was in love with her.
I loved her ever since I met her that night in the pub.
So you write obscene messages on her website? I didn't mean any of that.
I loved Ellen.
You threatened to kill her! Cos she could never see me that way.
She could never see me that way and that broke my heart.
And those things that I wrote, those horrible, horrible things That was just me letting off steam.
I was sat at home on my tod, pissed, lonely, frustrated.
Full of all that stuff.
I wanted to top myself.
It was only ever two things I wanted in life.
A job in CID And Ellen.
I didn't hurt her, Danny.
I know.
~ Another? ~ It's fine.
You've made your gesture.
We can go now.
What gesture's that? Buy me a drink, prove you're not a monster.
Tell me Did I sleep with your boyfriend back then and forget all about it? What boyfriend? I'm gay.
Oh, oh, right.
OK.
~ Christ, Sasha, I'm not gay.
~ Oh.
It just goes to show though, doesn't it? I didn't even register on your radar.
Look, obviously this isn't going to work.
I thought we could just have a quick drink and put the past behind us, but .
.
clearly you don't want to do that.
Vodka.
Was I really that bad? I don't remember being this uber bitch.
Just knew what you wanted.
Knew how to get it.
Maybe I should have paid attention earlier.
Learnt how to play the game.
Might be sitting in a bigger office.
It's not a game worth playing, believe me.
It's like designed by men to be played by men.
They encourage you to act like them and when you do, they hate you for it.
Do you know I got promoted once in 13 years.
Lost weight, cut my hair.
Two promotions in four.
Maybe losing all that weight helped you do your job better.
So you play the game and then you get to half-time and you stop and you look around and you think, "What's the point?" I'm tired all the time, and everyone I know is a total arse.
That's why I love my old boys.
They're done with all that.
There's no preening, no politics, it's just the job, and that's how it should be.
~ To the old boys.
~ Yeah, to my old boys.
How do you know she had a separate work phone? Ellen may have been an amateur, but she liked to keep things professional.
Danny.
Thursday the 8th.
Got it.
Incoming call.
~ Reading area code, and that includes Minchinhampton.
~ Brilliant.
Here we go.
'Yeah?' Good morning, am I speaking to the house owner? 'What you selling?' I'm trying to trace the person who made a phone call What're you doing? I know that voice.
It's confirmed the number's registered to James Thomas Tanner.
His family have been tenant farmers in Minchinhampton since the early 1960s and he works a farm 300 metres from where Barbara Haynes owns a property.
We know he called Ellen Barker at 7:49pm on Thursday 8th.
We don't know what he said to her, but it obviously upset Ellen.
Mr Tanner here is the proud owner of a 1992 4x4 Toyota pick-up.
Which the ANPC cameras picked up travelling eastbound on the M4, and then travelling back the same day, Sunday the 11th.
~ The day Ellen was killed.
~ Can we put him closer to the scene? Well, the Brentford cameras didn't pick him up so.
He got off.
Hounslow.
Got officers going door-to-door.
Billy, contact Thames Valley, see if they'll play ball.
We need to speak to Mr Tanner.
You called Ellen Barker on Thursday the 8th of September.
May we ask why? Mr Tanner.
The phone call to Ellen Barker.
Wanted her to stop.
This is your vehicle caught on camera driving into Greater London three days earlier.
Where were you going, Mr Tanner? To see her.
What was the purpose of your visit? After I called her that one time, she wouldn't answer my calls no more.
So I drove to see her.
Had to make her stop.
Why was it so important that Ellen should stop her investigation? Because she might find out the truth? The truth about what really happened to Sally Tunstall? In your witness statement at the time, you claimed to have been at the pub the night Sally was killed.
Now that was corroborated, and we know that you couldn't have done it, so What did happen to Sally Tunstall? I don't know.
You're not making much sense Mr Tanner.
You didn't want her to find out a truth, but you don't know what that is? It was upsetting Barbara.
I killed her.
I killed the Barker woman.
~ James Tanner, I'm arresting you on suspicion ~ Just a moment.
I want him to tell us why.
Why did you kill her? Told you why.
So let me get this straight, you killed her because Ellen's investigation was going to uncover a truth that you claim to have no knowledge of, but that would, what, upset your neighbour? Yes.
~ That's why you strangled her.
~ Yes.
That's why you put your hands around her throat ~ and you choked her to death.
~ Yes! Ellen Barker wasn't strangled.
But you did phone her.
And that phone call changed everything for Ellen.
She backed off, and Ellen would never back off unless she was threatened or convinced of a truth.
So either you threatened her or you convinced her.
But convince her of what? I threatened her.
I killed her.
No.
No, no, no You convinced her.
You knew something.
Oh, yes Yes, yes, yes There was no miscarriage of justice.
Dougie Haynes did it after all, and you knew.
That's what you wanted Ellen to stop her investigation.
How did you know for sure? Did you see something? No, no, because you weren't there.
Did he confess? Of course he did.
Wouldn't tell his mother, terrified of disappointing her, so he came to you.
Dougie Haynes did it.
And you knew.
And it was only a matter of time before Ellen came to the same conclusion.
I threatened her.
I killed her.
Because it was upsetting Barbara.
That's what you said.
That's why you called her and that's why you wanted her to stop.
Because you never told Barbara Haynes what her son had told you that night.
Did you? How could I? With Dougie gone .
.
that's all she had left.
Did Barbara Haynes kill Ellen? Ellen promised me she'd stop all contact.
Promised me she'd never tell Barbara.
Mrs Haynes? Barbara? Mrs Haynes Put the weapon down.
Old dogs.
Not having them end up in a shelter.
Always taken good care of my animals Dougie was nearly three before he could walk, you know.
~ Mrs Haynes.
~ That was my job.
I had to defend him.
Kids can be so cruel, can't they? What happened to Ellen Barker, Mrs Haynes? I called her up on the Sunday morning.
I just wanted to know what's going on.
And she said she was stopping the investigation.
She didn't give any reason for it, and I'd been waiting, I'd been hoping So I decided I was going to borrow Jim's truck.
Did he know what you planned to do? No.
He would've tried to stop me if he'd known.
He was always on at me to let the past be.
So you drove to Ellen's.
Yes, and I asked her, I begged her I said, "Why are you giving up?" And all that she said was She said that she thought Dougie was guilty.
She'd got absolutely nothing to back it up, she was just like everybody else.
I was so angry.
So you killed her.
Because I thought she was the one who was finally going to see.
But your son was guilty.
He confessed.
Because the police confused him.
He confessed to Jim Tanner the very next day.
Tanner was trying to protect you.
Ellen Barker paid the price.
So she confessed straightaway? Yeah, they found Ellen's laptop buried in her garden along with some paperwork she took from the house.
So in a way, following Ellen's trail led us straight to her own killer.
In a way, yes.
Just had to follow the breadcrumbs.
You did well.
She was your friend.
You did her proud.
Excuse me, boys.
Those two are thick as thieves these days, aren't they? Talking of out-of-hours bonding, you must be relieved to get back home, no? Yeah, I will be.
Yeah.
I'm still at Steve's.
But you got the message from the gas company? No.
What message? The work's finished.
It's safe to return home.
I told Steve to pass it on.
Oh, that must have slipped my mind Well, I just thought you and me, you know, it was going well.
I just thought It's got nothing to do with you and me, it's all down to my grub.
Well, OK, OK.
I was looking forward to your lamb tagine, all right? Were you? Well the lamb tagine is staying in the pot.
From now on Gerry's Caff is closed.
Nice one, Dan.
Now you've upset the Mrs It's all right It's OK Doesn't really matter if you're old and grey It's all right I say it's OK Listen to what I say It's all right, doing fine Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine It's all right I say it's OK We're gettin' to the end of the day.