A Touch of Frost (1992) s02e04 Episode Script

Stranger In The House

Oh, sugar.
You all right? Yes, thanks.
We have a meeting first thing tomorrow, so I've got to get it sorted.
I aint working you too hard, am I? Fancy unwinding? Quick drink down the pub? Oh, no, thanks, things to do, you know.
Well, tomorrow, then? it's about time, we got to know each other a bit better.
Perhaps.
Excuse me.
Good night.
Good night.
Get out now! No, no.
Ahhh! Ahhhh! I've forgotten all about it.
So, I don't know why you're getting cold feet now.
I mean, I'd go.
So would he, wouldn't you, Austin, eh? Sir? Tea with the Queen Mum, lad.
It's not just tea with the Queen Mum, is it.
I mean, it's, you know, it's three days in London.
You know me.
You haven't lost it, have you? What? You're George Cross.
Well, of course I haven't.
Wouldn't surprise me, the bloody rubbish you keep in that desk of yours.
Sarge, incident in Tullys Lane.
Well, don't tell me, tell that Wallace and Naylor.
They're in that thing called the patrol car.
They're already on a call, Sarge, Braxton Avenue, that alleged missing person.
Yeah, well, there's nobody else at the moment.
It sounds serious.
A man hiding in the back of a woman's car.
All right I'm there.
D.
I.
Frost attending.
I log this call time, 20.
.
41.
Attending Braxton Avenue, now, Sarge.
Mr.
Cook? We thought she was staying the night at her friend, Joanne's house.
They were going to the cinema (unintelligible).
Only she's not.
I just phoned.
Joanne says she hasn't seen her since lunchtime.
Maybe Allison changed her mind, went out with someone else.
Exactly.
It's only a quarter to nine, for God's sake.
She's 1 7 not 3.
There you go.
I'm sorry about this.
No problem.
Joanne? Dad said we ought to come over.
Why, what's happened? Nothing.
After I left Allison here at lunchtime, I looked back when she went indoors and I thought I saw a man at her bedroom window.
I didn't know he was (unintelligible).
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.
He had a black jacket, black trousers, medium height, maybe a bit less.
Quite agile the way he shot out of the car.
Did you get a better look at him in the car park.
No, it's not very well lit.
I just saw him get in the back of Emma's car, so I thought I'd --- I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I thought you were going to.
It's all right, it's all right, luv, it's all over now.
Sorry about the delay, sir.
Stay.
Go on look after her.
What do you want us to do? Well, you could search 400 acres of woodland with your torch.
Inspector Frost from control.
Yes, Frost, receiving.
The missing teenager, Braxton Avenue, Hazel Wallace needs to speak to you, very urgent.
Yes, yes, okay.
Do you live on your own, luv? Yes.
Tell you what, I want you to drive her home.
Make sure she's got someone with her, a friend or a neighbor, female.
See if you can get a statement out of her, all right? What number, Braxton Avenue, eh? Number 21, Jack.
Name of Cook.
I think I saw someone.
I mean, I didn't take that much notice.
I didn't know Allison's mom and dad weren't in.
Pauline should have been in.
I work part-time at the town hall.
Today's me day off, but they phoned, so I went in this afternoon, about 1 :00 o'clock.
To be honest, I'd forgotten Allison was coming home lunchtime, (unintelligible).
Typical.
So, you and Allison go back here about -- Half one? But you didn't actually see Allison go into the house? Well, no, she's at the front door getting out keys as I walked away.
We live 'round Delano Road.
Who was the first back home this evening? Me, about 5:00 o'clock.
Nothing amiss? No.
No sign of a break-in? No, nothing.
And you were supposed to meet Allison Iater on this evening outside the cinema? Yeah, 'bout 6:00? Bit surprised when she didn't turn up? Yeah, a bit, but I went in anyway.
Some other friends were there, I was going to phone her as soon as I got home after the film, but Mr.
Cook phoned us first.
Where did you last see her? I noticed Allison had forgotten her night things, toothbrush and stuff.
I thought she might want me to pop them 'round.
Fussing as usual.
He never leaves her alone.
It's just as well, or we'd be none the wiser now.
Do you mind if we have a look 'round? She's not here.
Martin's practically had the floorboards up.
Yes, it's just routine, if you don't mind.
You know, while the kettle's boiling.
Well, little needle down there, between mom and dad.
Little pressure, too, I reckon.
She wouldn't be the first teenager who wandered out for a while.
(unintelligible) No one's saying, because it don't bear thinking about, but this bloke you've never caught, the rapist.
He works in people's houses, doesn't he? Clare Bamtema.
Nurse.
Judy Guest, traffic warden.
Tammy Saunders, also a nurse.
And Tara Holdsworth, air stewardess.
All attacked within the last six months.
And now, suddenly our man appears to be active again.
Emma Fox, and Allison Cook, schoolgirl.
All attractive young women, all under the age of 25.
In every case, he's been lying in wait in the victim's house, except for Emma last night when he got into her car.
So there's always a high level of burglary skill involved.
Now other possible common factors.
One, uniform.
Allison Cook wasn't wearing a uniform.
Yesterday was the last day of term and the school let all the kids wear their own clothes.
Now, don't split hairs, please, Jack.
If she'd been targeted earlier, she could well have been wearing a school uniform.
What other girl, then, the girl in the car, Emma Fox? She wasn't wearing a uniform, either.
She's a P.
A.
, at an insurance firm.
She was wearing a uniform until last week.
Well, a livery.
She worked for a building society, which you would have known if you'd opened your briefing notes.
Have any of your inquiries yielded anything in respect of yesterday's attacks? Afraid not, sir, no.
No one in Braxton Avenue saw anything.
And in the other case, Emma Fox, the only witness so far is Sean Pasco, the guy who chased after her.
Nevertheless, the latest two incidents did seem to match the patent location-wise.
All the attacks took place within a one-mile radius of the town center.
I'm sorry, I just don't buy it.
Allison Cook just doesn't fit.
I mean for a start, two in one day.
He attacked Judy Guest and Tara Holdsworth within 24 hours, didn't he? Yes, but Allison Cook has been abducted apparently, not raped in her own home.
What's he doing now, abducting them? The others lived alone.
So, not so much time pressure in their cases.
Clare Bamtema doesn't live alone.
Clare's husband and family were away, if you remember.
How did he know that Allison Cook was coming home early? Even her own mother had forgotten.
Perhaps he didn't.
Perhaps he had time to wait.
No, no, no, you just said that he abducted her because he was under time pressure.
I merely suggested -- Unless he had insider knowledge.
Then he would have known.
Schoolteacher, perhaps.
All the teaching staff at Allison Cook's school are female, sir.
And the caretaker's 72.
Oh.
You'll find that in your briefing notes, sir.
Is Jack up there George? No, no, he's into town to see Tara Holdsworth.
He shouldn't be long.
Anything important? No, I want to speak to him about his crime report from last night.
He's hasn't signed it that's all.
Oh well Here it goes.
You're getting quite good.
Should try bank notes.
Thanks for coming.
No problem.
I'm sorry I'm so late.
It's just that we had a briefing.
It's nothing specific.
I just felt I needed to see someone.
You must be getting fed up with me.
No, no, not at all.
I'm almost at the end of the phone, Tara.
I told you that from day one.
But you know, maybe now someone else could do better for you, someone professional, hmm? What, therapy you mean, see a shrink? Talk it through with your doctor.
See what he says? He says I should make an effort to put it all behind me.
Maybe you ought to change your doctor.
Change your doctor.
Change your furniture.
Change your flat, well, that is giving in, isn't it? That's giving in to him, he wanted to force me out.
Well, not necessarily.
Anyway, he'd still be there, wouldn't he, if I moved.
He'd still be there behind the new door or behind the new sofa.
He'd always be there, that voice, whispering in me ear.
Not if we catch him.
Now that would make a difference, surely, Tara, hey? Tell, you what, make a deal with you.
If we catch him and put him away, you move and make a fresh start.
But you won't catch him, though, will you? I mean, I don't blame you for that, you just won't.
He's a clever guy, he's in control.
No, no, he's not that's my point.
I'll catch him.
No one controls me.
You ask my superintendent.
All right then, I'll see you soon.
Thanks for coming.
Don't worry, together we'll beat him.
What are you doing here, apart from trying to avoid me? Working.
Not thinking about door stepping Tara Holdsworth, are you? Why is she your private property then? There's a lot of public concern, Jack.
It's the appropriate time for the news to do a follow-up on the earlier victims.
A follow-up? What, to ask how she feels? I can save you the bother.
Four months on and she feels Iike it only happened yesterday, and it's going to happen again tonight.
She feels terrified about going out and even more terrified to stay in.
She dares not switch off the lights, and all the furniture that he touched she keeps covered up.
That's how she feels.
Anxious, depressed, and terrified.
Alright? And if you breathe one word of that, or you knock on that door, I shall feel obliged to knock your bloody head off.
You can keep away from the rest of these.
Lost something, sir? No.
Mr.
Mullett wants to see you.
As of now, W.
P.
Wallace is rape dedicated.
Beg your pardon? Rape dedicated.
Assigned, in the hope that a woman's insight will bring fresh vigor to your efforts.
I don't think you quite appreciate the effect that these crimes are having on the consciousness of local women.
No, insensitive is my middle name.
In the absence of a rape unit, and indeed the resources to set up a squad, I must make the most of what I've got.
This investigation has been allowed to drift for too long.
Drift? Drift.
Was an arrest imminent in respect to the four previous rapes? No.
Then I call that drift.
And so coincidentally does the Denton Evening News.
This is not a knee jerk reaction to adverse press comment.
There's a monster out there.
I want him caught.
And I had a call from the Chief Constable.
Ohh.
Not about the rapes.
Yet.
About the George Cross.
Your George Cross.
He wants confirmation that you'll still be going to this reunion in London? What? Why? Because you're the only hero that we've ever had in Denton.
You can put a tick in the new publicity box, you know.
Bravery's good news.
It's got to be maximized.
Please, be ready for a photo call.
Yes, sir.
Hello babe it's Mum Just called to see if you wanted to come for lunch or something if your not working Give me a ring when you can Sorry, sir.
What? For being forced on you.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
If you hadn't have been, I would have asked for you anyway.
Don't tell Mullett I said that.
So, where do I start? Well, I've no idea.
I mean, we've got nothing new to go on.
The bloke that was in the back of Emma Fox's car could have been a petty thief just trying to nick her Radio.
And as for Allison Cook well.
Has Emma Fox made a full statement? No, she hasn't.
You could do that couldn't you, make sure she's all right.
And I'll go over to the town hall.
All right, Here's half a sandwich.
No way was he after my car radio, not the way he looked at me.
I mean, he'd been sussed, but he still give me a good look before he jumped out.
But you only saw his eyes.
Yeah, he had this black hat and scarf, you know.
Do you think he was planning, well, to actually go for it in the car? If it's the guy responsible for the other attacks, it's more likely he'd have waited.
Jumped you when you got home, forced his way in here with you.
God.
Hello, Mrs.
Cook.
I called at the town hall, they told me you weren't at work today.
Can I come in? Has anything? No, no.
Thank you.
Actually, they told me you weren't at work yesterday, either.
You know, yesterday afternoon when Allison went missing.
All I'm trying to do, Mrs.
Cook, is eliminate the man in the window from our rape inquiries.
Because to me, he just doesn't belong, can we eliminate him or not.
Thank you.
Right so, what's his name? You actually need his name? Yes, and his address, It's all right, don't worry we'll be discreet.
Tony.
Tony Hawthorne, 12 Egan Road.
So you were in the house together when Allison came home yesterday afternoon? It's a regular thing.
We'd been seeing each other for quite a while, because you've seen how things are between me and Martin.
We drive each other up the wall.
Work and Allison, that's all he cares about.
Switched off from me years ago.
And I just forgot about Allison coming home early.
Tony and me use her room, put a sleeping bag on the floor, because it still doesn't seem right to use our bedroom.
Stupid, but it doesn't.
Anyway, Tony saw her out the window, but the next second she's in the front door coming straight up the stairs.
I never had a chance -- She found us.
I tried to say something, can't remember what.
But she just ran back down the stairs out the house.
She just freaked.
Well, that's good news.
I just think Mr.
Cooks joy will be unconfined.
Better your daughter being a runner than being abducted, sir.
Guv? Urgent from Control.
A girl's been raped in Denton Woods.
Is it Allison Cook? No, sir, just some young tart.
Oh, that's all right, then.
When did this happen? About midnight.
Midnight? She's been here ever since.
Couldn't move, drunk.
Ankle's broken as well.
That guy over there found her about half an hour ago.
Couple hundred yards in.
Course, it was about here, our mystery man dived out of the car last night.
Kelly Power? Who wants to know? Hazel Wallace, Denton Police.
More filth? Afraid so.
How you feeling? How'd you think? So, what happened? I've told about six of your lot already.
Would you like a picture? Look, don't mess me about, please luv, you could be dead.
Now, you claim you were assaulted by a mini cab driver is that right? Scumbag.
Fell over and did me ankle.
That's the only reason he got me.
Can you describe him? Short, dark hair, muscles, black leather jacket.
Age? 35,40.
What sort of car? Don't know, silver.
What cab phone? Don't know.
I was (unintelligible), right.
They have these cards by the pay phone.
I just punched a number.
Which pay phone was this? At Waggies', the disco.
You were there on your own? No.
Who with then? A boy.
Name? Steve.
Sir name? Don't know, I met him at the door.
And? We had a good evening.
Then he started losing interest so I slagged him off and came out.
So you came out on your own and phoned a cab.
Yeah.
What time was this? Don't know.
Midnight, quarter to, waited five minutes, cab came and I got in.
Where did you ask the driver to take you? Home, Paisley Road.
But he didn't.
No, we ended up by Denton Woods.
And that's where he started? Touching me and kissing me, yeah.
Did you object? No, but then he came on a bit strong, and things started to get out of hand.
Besides which, I've had ten vodkas, I needed to chuck.
So you tried to stop him.
Push him off like, yeah, but he weren't in the stopping mood, so I give him the fingernails.
That slowed him up a bit.
Mighty mad, too, so he started slapping me about.
Managed to knee him where it hurts, and got out of the car.
And then what? I legged it back along the road.
Then I came to that path that cuts through the woods towards Staunton Road, yeah.
So I went down that cause it was the quickest way home.
Only it's dark, and I'm drunk and I lose the main path.
Next thing I've tripped up and my ankle feels like it snapped.
And I'm on me hands and knees scuffling about, when wham, there's an arm around me neck, and a knife.
Here.
You sure it was a knife? Well, it wasn't a stick of celery.
How old are you, Kelly? It's all right.
It's not a major problem.
I'm on the pill.
Hello, Jack.
Hello, Shirley.
I'm sorry, I did mean to get in touch.
Are you here with the girl who's uh -- Yes, yes, my W.
P.
's with her at the moment.
It's terrifying what he's getting away with.
Yes, yes, I know.
Sorry, I didn't mean it.
No, no, it's a fair comment.
Look, he's had a go at two nurses already.
I hope you're being security-minded.
I always am, thanks.
Good.
My W.
P.
Oh, right.
Shirley, would it be all right if I phoned you sometime? Yes, do, when you can spare a moment.
Sir? Don't keep calling me sir.
Sorry, Guv.
Alright Well? There's one consolation.
I don't think it's ruined her life.
The rapist doesn't know that, and neither do you.
Penny was definitely here.
It was definitely a bust up.
Her and a lad and another girl, Kelly walked out before she got thrown out.
Oh, did you show them the photo? Photo? Yeah, of our runaway, Allison Cook.
You never know.
Come on.
Use mine.
She probably looks like a granny now, but still.
I'll do these, pick you up in half an hour.
No, mate, can't help you.
The black rats are a little slow this week, our traffic division.
Ask them to come over, have a word with your lads, sir.
You know vehicles, documentation.
Make you very popular.
Now, stocky build, dark hair, black leather jacket.
Drives a silver motor.
Could be Les Wingham.
All right? Wasn't that difficult, was it? Well.
Did you bring your picnic hamper? Nope.
Pity.
Stay here till he shows.
Frost.
Oh, damn.
I'm sorry, luv, I'll be right there.
No, don't bother, sir, I'll walk.
Anyway, she was here, Allison Cook.
Bar manager recognized the photo.
It was Allison that Kelly lost out to with this Steve guy.
He and Allison left about half an hour afterwards, with another boy and girl.
I gave you a list, didn't I, of her friends? There's no Steve on it.
Oh, um, well, he's mid to late-teens, quite tall, slim build, spots.
No.
Just thought it might be another secret? Allison share a secret with me? Please.
And you've no idea who the other two might be, either.
The boy and girl they left the disco with.
Any descriptions we've got of them aren't too good.
Look, I've told you all I know, given you all the names I know.
There may be others I've no idea.
That's the sort of family we are.
There's probably some girlfriend I don't know about, some other hysterical little bitch Allison's gone running to.
And they've had a good cry together about awful parents.
And then gone out on the razzle to spite me.
And all for what, because she caught me enjoying myself for once, after 20 years married to a zombie of a father.
News? I'll leave Mrs.
Cook to update you on that, sir.
Excuse me.
Mr.
Wingham? Tell him I'll see him on the weekend.
Yeah, about six.
I've got to go, okay, luv, bye.
Interview room, Guv.
And that's his previous.
Assault, (unintelligible), but nothing sexual.
Any burglary? Yeah, one, there.
But it was a while back.
Really? Where were you around midnight last night? I'm a mini cab driver.
I get to be in most places.
Around midnight last night, Mr.
Wingham.
Had you picked up a female passenger outside Waggies' Disco? Oh, this is the little tart in the blue skirt, is it? Well, she owes me 3 pound 50, did a runner without paying.
I'm not interested in your 3 pound 50, Mr.
Wingham.
A serious crime has been committed.
Yeah, look.
It's her ought to be nicked.
This is turning septic.
Would you mind telling me exactly what happened from the time this little tart got in your car? What did she say happened then? Where'd you drive her to? Tully's Lane.
She lives on the other side of town.
Why go by Tully's Lane.
Because she was putting herself on offer, all right? It happens all the time.
You're in a one-to-one situation with her, aren't you? It's natural.
So any woman that gets in your cab is really asking for it? No, not any woman.
No, but the girl last night.
You see the skirt she was wearing? So any woman wearing a short skirt is really asking for it? What? Well, I'm a man, right? What does she expect? She might expect you to leave her alone if she asked you to.
Did she ask you to? Not to start with no.
But after the preliminaries.
She started playing hard to get, yeah, but they all do that, don't they? So no doesn't mean no, as far as you're concerned? Well, it doesn't, does it, it's all part of the game.
And hitting her? Is that why I'm here, because of the patsy slap.
And when she scratched your face, that's part of the game as well, is it? That doesn't mean you know, stop, let me out.
Yeah, well, it's too late, then, isn't it? Too late? Yeah, if they're into that sort of teasing.
I mean, we're not machines, are we? They can't expect us to just switch off when we got that far.
She deserved a slap.
So, not being a machine, a great bloody male with natural instincts that no reasonable person could expect you to control, you raped a 15-year-old girl.
What? She was 15, Mr.
Wingham.
Rape? Yeah, nasty little word there, isn't it? But she got out of the car, she run off.
Yes, and a few minutes later she was attacked in Denton Woods.
So what happened to your natural instincts, eh? You just told us that you couldn't switch them off, so you followed her into the woods.
No.
You were in the car with her, Mr.
Wingham.
Five minutes later, 200 yards away, she was raped.
Who else should we be looking at? I don't leap out at women in the woods.
That's a pervert job.
Look, I thought this was about giving a little cow a slap, right? I put my hand up to that, no problem.
She got out of order, the fur started flying.
But I'm an indoor man, back seat of the car, sitting at home.
We think whoever attacked this girl was an indoor man as well, Mr.
Wingham.
The what? This is the fifth rape in six months.
The others involved burglary.
You've done burglary in your time, haven't you? I'm not a rapist.
No? You apply force, you don't take no for an answer, Iegally that's rape.
She got out of the car.
I let her go.
Then what? If you didn't follow her, then what? I drove off.
I drove off.
Parked out by the industrial estate.
I had a fag to unwind a bit.
And I went on air, worked till about 4:30, went home to kip.
Where were you half past 8:00? What? Half past 8:00 last night? I don't know, working.
We're investigating another incident involving someone who matches your description.
Back seat of a car actually, your favorite environment.
So obviously it would be very helpful if we could eliminate from that inquiry whilst you're here.
Also I'm going to ask my colleague here to give you a list of dates and times, and I want you to think very hard about where you were at those times and whether you can prove it.
And then with your permission, I'm going to get very intimate.
Initially I want to take some hairs from your head and other regions.
Some scrapings from under your fingernails, a few drops of blood and other bodily fluids.
And I want the shoes and the clothes that you are wearing and also any other unwashed garments I might find at your home address.
And if you are still in the frame after we've examined that lot, I'm going to get all-technical on you and try DNA testing.
Is that okay.
Jim Allen says we've got a suspect? Oh, yes, sir.
He denies the actual rape, though, so it's down to medical and forensic.
The doctor's squeezing and scraping him now.
I've asked him to be excruciatingly thorough.
Does that mean you've got ten minutes to spare for the photo call? You, me and the evening news, with your George Cross? Where's Sergeant Toolan? Staunton Towers, sir? Where? It's the office block where Emma Fox works.
It's continuing inquiries about the man in the car.
He's called me there urgently.
Has he? Sorry, sir.
And make sure Mr.
Mullett is informed.
Yes, sir.
When you realize that the George Cross is awarded once every ten years on average, you begin to get an idea of the extraordinary bravery and devotion to duty required of its recipients.
Anything on the rapes? A man is helping us with our inquiries.
That's all I can tell you at the moment.
Inspector Frost is of course is touchingly modest about his own achievements, but I think the fact that he keeps his decoration in his desk drawer where it can be a daily source of inspiration tells us a great deal about the true feelings he has on the matter.
I'm fortunate to have such an officer serving under me, and the Town of Denton is fortunate.
Come in? Message from Mr.
Frost, sir.
He's been called away.
Well, like I told the uniformed boys last night, we normally work 8:00 till 8:00.
And it's the day shift as well, of course.
But you two were on duty last night, when Emma Fox -- 'Afraid so, yeah.
Well, don't say much about our security, does it? She's a nice kid.
Oh, hello, there.
I didn't expect to see you here.
No, hmmm.
Detective Inspector Frost, Gordon Perryman, Nick Daish.
Night security staff.
No closed circuit Tv on the gate or in the car park.
No, well, the owners were talking about it, but what with the recession and that.
I mean, it's only four floors out of the 12 that are actually lent that in the moment.
So basically you patrol all night, do you? Well, not all night, not me.
But yeah, officially.
I mean, let's be honest, it's a dawdle.
You didn't see anything, though, Emma Fox's car? Well, no, I was just saying -- What about later, around midnight? There was another incident quite close by in Denton Woods.
Footpath finishes here, doesn't it? Yeah.
I must admit we tend to stay indoors when the staff are all gone.
That's right.
Basically we're just here to keep an eye on the contractors.
There's all sorts of refitting going on.
Is he one? Eh? Contractor.
Oh, yeah, Martin Cook.
Been doing a bit of pipe work.
The heating's never worked from day one.
None of the big firms are interested.
He's good.
Mr.
Cook? Oh, this is a coincidence.
I just happened to be in the building.
What's this union work? Better than sitting at home.
Yes.
'Specially when you've been updated.
First things first.
And please regard this as a formal reprimand.
Your deliberate absence from the photo call last night.
I was called away on urgent inquiries.
I've heard that one from you too often to believe it.
Frankly, your attitude to these occasions does you no credit.
You're a little old to play the truant schoolboy.
Did your urgent inquiries produce anything? No, sir.
Well, that leads me on to my second point.
And take a seat.
Our rape suspect has fallen the first hurdle.
What? The cab driver.
In your absence, the doctor reported direct to me.
Simply ruled out on blood group.
No need for further forensic.
Mr.
Wingham is a definite Group A, and the one thing or the only thing in fact we know for sure about our rapist is that he's Group O, along with 40 percent of the rest of the male population.
Now, Jack, my final point.
The Chief Constable holds you in very high regard, as you well know.
But unfortunately -- He's taking me off the case.
Yes.
He's bringing in the heavy mob from County.
It's out of my hands, Jack.
When? They should be with us by the end of the week.
Now, this really isn't a reflection -- No, no, of course not.
He just feels that major resources have got to be thrown at this now before it becomes a national scandal.
So, there's really no reason at all why you shouldn't attend the George Cross reunion.
Where's the Governor? Gone home? Why does he have to do this? What? Go off in a sulk.
You know, he should be grateful that county is taking over.
I will be.
It's not our problem any more, is it? Read that.
Go on, read it.
It's a letter from Judy Guest.
The first rape victim? It's a letter of thanks to Inspector Frost.
Oh, yeah.
He spent every evening for a fortnight badgering the Council till they re-housed her to get her away from where it happened.
What do you do with your evenings, other than pee them up the wall, hmm? I'm impressed.
But it's not my fault he's a lonely old git with nothing better to do with his time, is it? George, local rag, Sandy Longford just dropped it off for Jack.
No photos, though, except for Mullett.
But did he find it, by the way? What? His George Cross? He said he lost it Must have got burned in the incinerator, eh, along with his crime returns.
Hello? Hello, Shirley? It's Jack.
I know this may sound like a funny questions, but do you know anyone who does any housework? Just need a couple of hours a week.
Two hours? Yeah.
If you'd like to have a look around on your own, just to see if there's any dirty corners I haven't shown you.
Yeah, right, I'll do that.
She's not going to turn me down, is she? She's very picky.
I've been thinking.
I owe you a dinner.
Sorry? You know, we never did make it to -- Lorenzo's? Lorenzo's, did we? Yeah, that'd be nice.
Wouldn't it? Oh, good.
Or you could come round to my place, this evening, if you prefer.
For real.
Well, that way, when you get called away after the first drink I can just switch on the television without having to get a taxi home first.
Right.
Yeah, well, if you leave it with us, we'll look in all the usual places.
Oh, you have.
Well, we'll keep our eyes open.
We know his face quite well.
No doubt well see him come to notice.
Yeah.
Bye, now.
Sarge? What? Wardlen Place Children's Home.
Our favorite teenager's just gone AWOL again.
Our very favorite.
Stephen I know my rights Galloway.
Been missing since last night, actually.
As long as that, oh, dear, dear.
Staff have been trying to retrieve him with us, no sign.
Well, with a bit of luck he'd been run over by a bus.
So anyway, I brought it home.
Mary's sister from America wanted to see when she was over.
And it had been lying there ever since.
I thought I'd lost it, I was in a sweat I can tell you.
Not because of Mr.
Mullett's PR, no because oh, I don't know.
I feel a bit of a fraud for having been given it in the first place.
I felt guilty, you know, as if by not taking proper care of it, I was insulting all those people who have earned it.
You know, have actually faced death because it's their job.
Not like me, just a copper.
You're very hard on yourself.
Anyway, that's the excuse I give myself for not going to the reunion after all.
You know, that I'm not worthy to rub shoulders with genuine heroes.
But if I'm really honest, it's because I haven't got the bottom to go on my own.
I'm not a very social person anyway.
It's a family occasion, really.
I haven't even got a geriatric aunt I can drag along.
I suppose there's always Mary's sister in America, but I wouldn't take her.
I wouldn't mind.
What? Being your geriatric aunt.
If that's all that's stopping you from going.
Yeah? Yeah.
I think you should go.
I think you should make the effort.
You won the George Cross, Jack.
Whatever you say, I really think you should start living up to it, not keep trying to live it down.
And you'd come to London with me? As your geriatric aunt, yeah.
Yeah, yes, of course, you know, no problem.
Good.
Right.
See if I can swing it.
Right.
So a shot of a little Sangria, or is the phone going to ring? Not for me it's not.
Morning, Jack.
Morning.
Hazel gave use a description yesterday, the guy seen with your missing girl, Allison Cook.
Anyway, I think we've got a match.
You're not going to like it.
Stephen Galloway, age 15, absconded from Wardlen Place Children's Home two nights ago from the umpteenth time.
Not now, lists criminal damage, shoplifting and car theft amongst his hobbies.
Uniform pick him up once a week on average.
Magistrates give him a lecture and the Children's Home give him his dinner and off we go again.
But still no suggestion of foul play? All right.
You've established the girl wasn't abducted from her home, but there's no suggestion that Galloway abducted her from the disco, either, is there? Not yet, no.
So it's just a couple of teenage runaways, not a CID matter.
Leave it with uniform till we get another sighting.
Leave this, leave the rapes what do you want me to do? You're not officially off the rapes till the end of the week.
You could prepare yourself for a gracious handover.
All units from Control, all units from Control.
A red BMW, Index Charlie 594, Echo Yankee Fox Trot.
Reported taken from the Raven Road car park sometime between 9.
.
00 and 10.
.
00 a.
m.
this morning.
Advise any sighting, please.
That'll be Galloway.
He always nicks red ones.
How much does that make? 72 from Control.
Receiving.
A neighbor concerned about occupant, 92 Talbot Road.
Oh, Guv, Arthur Hanlon thought you'd want to know, Clare Bamtema tried to top herself.
Just go now, I'll follow on Come on, kids, now, please.
Look, don't come here blaming me.
Don't.
I'm not, Terry, I heard.
I just called round to see if there was anything you could do.
I'll tell you what you could do.
You can catch the bastard, bring him here, and give him to me, that's what you can do.
Look, I'm sorry.
This has been coming for months.
You know, she just couldn't handle it, even now.
I try, I talk to her, I tell her, over and over again, you're not dirty, you're not dirty.
It doesn't matter, nothing's changed.
Everything's changed.
You know why? Because deep down inside she thinks she should have stopped him.
I mean, he held a knife at her throat, and she thinks she should have stopped him.
She thinks I think so, too.
It's crazy.
I couldn't keep my fingers crossed in that situation, much less my legs.
She's right, though, you know.
It won't go away.
It's up here.
It's in my head, too.
Not even for a little doubt.
Every time we get close to each other.
(unintelligible) I'll give you a lift to the hospital if you want.
(unintelligible) They're really suffering, you know, the kids.
This house, I mean look at it, a dream home.
I haven't done a stroke.
I see you're not doing all of the work yourself, though? What? Cook, the plumber.
Oh, well, I'm no plumber, but we got him to give us an estimate a few months back.
It's up in limbo now.
I hope he wasn't counting on the work.
Promotion? Civvies.
You used to drive a Panda, right? Sideways move, just temporary.
You done me for no lights, spot fine, Half road, about three months ago.
very strict you were.
Sorry.
No problem.
I enjoyed it.
So these entries? Contractor's movements, date, times, in, and out.
Why? New line of inquiry, possible witness.
Can I borrow this? Yeah sure.
Oh, hello, is this Tammy Saunders? Oh, hi, this is Detective Sergeant Toolan, Denton Police.
I don't know if you remember me, but I -- oh, good.
Yeah.
How are you? Ah.
Yeah, well, it is early days yet.
Tell me, look, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I wonder if you could tell me, have you had any work done on your house in the last year or so.
Well, plumbing, that sort of thing.
I see.
And was this before the -- the attack, or -- right.
There's nothing to get upset about, Tara, it's just that -- you know, anyone who's worked in the flat source is familiar with them in any way might have some information that could help us.
Tiny little things that no one's thought of before.
I had the whole place done soon after I moved in.
You know that's true.
Plumbing, central heating, electrical, everything.
I even had to move out again while the central heating was being done, all the floorboards up and no hot water.
Who did the work? Cook.
The missing girl's father.
Purely circumstantial at the moment.
You're losing the case, so anything's worth a spin.
He's been in Clare Bamtemas' house, Tara Holdsworth's and Tammy Saunders, all at some point before the attacks took place.
He knows the layout, the weaknesses, where to hide.
He could have copied the keys and faked the break-in.
Plus he was doing night work at Staunton Tower at the time all the rapes took place bar one.
Looks like a pretty good alibi to me.
Bearing in mind that dozy pair of security guards keeping tabs, that's no alibi at all.
He could have been in and out of Staunton Tower all night, and no one would have been any the wiser.
Yeah, but he wasn't at work when Emma Fox's car was broken into.
He was at home, phoning us about his missing daughter.
And Kelly Power, the same night.
Cook's worried sick about his own daughter, so he goes out and rapes somebody else's? Yeah, well, unloading his tension and frustration over Allison.
For God's sake.
Look, there's some pretty sick people out there, you know that as well as I do.
I also know how much you care about this, how much you've done to support the victims.
Then why are you letting Mullett take me off the case? Because at the end of the day, you're just a detective inspector, not King of Denton.
What did he say? What do you think? I'll talk to Cook anyway.
Red BMW, I think it's Galloway.
All right, hold on.
Red BMW, Index Charlie, 594, Echo Yankee Fox Trot.
sighted on Blundo Road.
Heading west, two on board, one believed to be Stephan Galloway.
Doing a right into Star Street.
All units from Control.
Suspect vehicle, red BMW, Index Charlie, 594, Echo Yankee Fox Trot.
Proceeding along Star Street.
7-2, are you hearing this? Yes, we're on the far side of the ground, ETA Star Street, five minutes.
Right into Welton Avenue.
I think he might have dropped us.
Received.
Stay with him if you can, but no dodgies.
Geez, come on.
Take left, you're supposed to turn left on the roundabout.
On the Ring Road, heading east towards the motor way.
Received.
Ease off now.
County will track him from there.
He's doing a right, into Cherry Lane.
If you get frightened, just close your eyes, Iike I'm doing.
Damn.
We lost him.
Back there.
Bloody idiot.
Oh, you prat.
Look what you've done now.
I'd like to put you in the crusher along with all the cars that you write off.
Guv? It looks like Allison Cook.
Come on out of it.
So, you picked her up at Waggies' Disco.
No, they picked us up.
They were looking for a good time.
Allison and her friend? Hmm.
And after the Disco? Walked them home, got the biggie on the doorstep.
Where was this? Her mate's house, Kate, I think her name was.
Thought we were way in there, she said her parents were away.
Well, I was out on my face wasn't I so I couldn't make an issue of it.
Who's we? Me and Trev, the bloke I hang out with when I'm out of Wardlen place.
And this morning? Met them again round the back of the high street, didn't we? We was in the motor, offered them a ride.
And Trev and the other one got out.
So it was just me and Allie.
It was nice, until you smashed us up.
I think she's going to be okay.
You mean they're going to try and rebuild her.
Where's the boy? He's at the station.
What'll happen to him? He can't be banned.
He's too young to drive.
I won't keep you too long, Mr.
Cook.
That's all right.
I couldn't handle it anyway.
God knows how long the operation's going to take.
Well, she's still alive, and you've got her back.
There is that at least.
One big happy family again.
Yes.
Mr.
Cook, you might think I'm rather callous, mentioning the subject here and now, especially when you've got Allison to worry about, but inquiries are still continuing regarding the recent rapes, urgent inquiries.
Thing is, you might be able to help us.
I believe that you're acquainted with at least three of these young women who were attacked.
Acquainted? Yes, Clare Bamtema's, Tara Holdsworth, Tammy Saunders.
You've done work for each of them.
Holdsworth.
Perim Court? Oh, yeah, right.
Yes, it was just that I was wondering, maybe you could help fit in the background for me.
You might remember something that we could use.
Like what? I don't know.
That's why I wanted to talk to you.
The three women that I've mentioned, they all said they got to know about you through a leaflet that you pushed through the door.
You have to do something to drum up trade.
I target particular blocks of flats, individual houses with sold signs.
I soon get to know the sort of properties that need improving or get bought by people who might want to improve.
You must have Denton pretty well assessed.
I lived and worked here a long time.
Now, these three women in particular, you know, when you were going in and out, to and fro, did you ever see anybody outside, hanging about or sitting in a car maybe? No.
Oh, sorry.
And none of the women mentioned anything that might have happened to them? They made me cups of tea, that was it.
I'm not a chatty person.
I finished the job out.
But you don't mind working for women? I mean, it doesn't bother you, being alone in the house with them it must happen quite often.
Do you ever get propositioned? You know, like the proverbial milkman, alone in the house with a woman? Must happen.
I concentrate on my work.
I'm not interested.
What do you think of men who are? You know, take what's on offer, what they think is on offer, even when they know it isn't on offer.
You've actually got me in the frame, haven't you? That's really why you're here, because I target customers.
Yeah.
Well, I'm sorry mate, but you're about as wrong as you can get.
See, when I said I'm not interested, I mean, I'm not interested.
Come on.
You're the detective.
Why do you think our marriage is down the tubes? Why do you think Pauline needs a bit on the side? Need a letter from the hospital? I'm impotent.
Well, you can forget Cook.
He's got an alibi? Kind of, yes.
Lab report on Kelly Power's came in.
Well? They found black woolen fibers, plus a few dog hairs, golden.
They also found a few dog hairs of similar color on the back seat of Emma Fox's car.
And forensic on the previous rapes didn't mention dog hairs, did they? No.
No terrific.
My last day on the case and I'm going backwards.
But then again, lack of forensic on those four doesn't mean it wasn't the same man.
Or that he's not a dog owner.
It could have been the same guy wearing a clean pair of trousers.
Or he might not have been a dog owner at all, he might have just had a chance meeting with a Labrador on a No.
49 bus.
Where does Emma Fox live? Laffield Avenue.
Yeah.
Talbot Road, Regis Road, Casu Gardens, Pelam Court.
What have they all got in common? Guv? On the map? Open space.
All next to patches of open space.
And what do people do on an open space, hmm? Part from the obvious, I mean.
They walk their dogs.
I mean, if you wanted to watch a block of flats or stand about, follow someone even, what's the best way to do it? With a dog.
No one would spot you, would they? I mean, you could even lurk about in the woods as long as you got a dog's lead in your hand, and no one would take a blind bit of notice.
Even better if it's a family dog, Iike a retriever or a Labrador.
Hmm? Oh, I don't know, maybe I'm just clutching at dog hairs.
Two train tickets, London.
George Cross.
Well, Paddington, actually.
Oh, BCI's gone to County for a rape briefing.
He said to make sure you leave all the papers in here.
Yes, all right, thank you.
What are you doing tonight? Guv? No, no, no, forget it.
I shouldn't even be asking.
I thought you weren't going until tomorrow.
What? London.
No, no, no, I'm not talking about London.
Look, if we follow the pattern, our man is running out of patches of grass, unless he repeats himself.
But there's still plenty of scope in Denton Woods.
I mean, he struck it lucky there once.
And as the attacks usually take place twice in fairly quick succession, he might just try it again, but this time further round, at the other main path, between Tallis Lane and East Dean Avenue.
You want me to be a decoy.
Well, is the super in his cage? No, sir, lunch with the Chamber of Commerce.
Ah.
That usually means straight home afterwards, slumped in the back of a taxi.
Can I help you, sir? No, thank you.
Do what? A decoy operation with Hazel Wallace as bait.
What, for just one night.
I've only got one night.
Does Mullet know about this? I've just come from his office.
How many bodies can you give me as backup? How many did you want then? A dozen.
At this notice? You can have two.
Eight.
Four.
Done.
Ready, Guv? Just about.
Come on in.
You haven't changed your mind then? Nope.
Good.
Do you want a cup of coffee? No, no time, briefing 10:00 you said.
Oh, yeah, that's right.
Listen, Hazel, I do appreciate what you're doing.
I mean, you know, I mean, I know it's risky.
If he does bite.
Yeah, well, if he does bite and it all goes pear-shaped, I could lose my job and you -- I have done the self-defense course.
It's our last chance, I understand that.
Yeah, but when you see what he's left behind, those women.
I mean, I know they're alive, but they're all psychiatric cases.
They'll never be the same again, never.
All because of one man, because he felt like it.
What have you lost? Cigarettes.
You've given it up? Yes, of course I have.
Come on, let's go.
Wallace, to base, Wallace to base.
I'm leaving now.
What's the time? 1 0:36.
You know what I wish? That you've actually got Mullett's approval for this? No, I wish I'd never given up smoking.
Base Wallace.
Yes, Wallace, receiving.
200 yards in, and nothing yet.
Hold on.
I see a male with a dog.
Got the time, luv.
Five to 1 1 :00.
Cheers.
Base to Wallace.
Receiving.
Okay, I think.
Wrong kind of dog anyway.
What's she expecting? One with a label around his neck, my owner is a rapist.
Base Wallace, about 600 yards in.
Ahh! Wallace, from base, receiving over.
All units, from base, main path, 600 yards, go.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'm okay.
I saw him, he was there.
Which way, which way? That way, go on, go on, go for it, go on.
He disappeared when I screamed.
I couldn't speak.
Sorry.
Did you see his face? No, just his eyes.
He was wearing a black scarf and a black hat.
Damn.
All units from base, all units from base.
Knock it on the head, there's no way near enough of us.
Come on.
I'm really, really sorry, sir.
No, it's not your fault.
When you land a thousand to one shot, you're entitled to a payout.
I could have caught him for you.
You could have been killed.
I'm lucky I ended up with a blowout and not a funeral.
Oh, well, we're all on tomorrow, for everyone's sake.
Go on.
Why don't you nip off home.
What about you? Not me, I'm wide awake.
I think I'll just stay here and annoy night duty for awhile.
Well, I'll see you when you get back then.
What? London, George Cross thing.
Oh, yes.
Thank you for reminding me.
Burch Road burglary.
Suspect's on -- Yeah, received.
ETA, Burch Road, three minutes.
Do you have a half number of that? Yeah, it's reported by a Mrs.
Collins at Number 6.
Received.
Can't win them all, Jack.
Why not? Thank goodness you've come.
There was a man, I saw him come over the wall from the woods straight into next door's back garden.
All right, luv.
Right next door, you want to try the front.
Can I use your back door, luv? If it's a burglary, there's no one in the house.
Mr.
Perryman works nights.
What the hell's going on here? Who are you? What do you mean who am I? I live here.
Oh.
Mr.
Perryman.
Mike.
This is yours, is it, sir? It's obviously been used to force that door.
Still got wooden paint on it.
So, it's mine.
Forgot my front door key.
What a stroke of luck then.
Having this in your back pocket.
Ain't a crime to break in your own house.
Would you mind telling us where you've been all evening, sir? Shouldn't you be at work? Hello, you still here? Oh, yes, sir.
Uniform has nicked Perryman, for burglary.
Do you want me to stay? No, no, no, no, no.
You've done your bit for the night.
'Night.
Jack? Perryman's got form.
Of course he's got form he's a security guard.
And the burglaries' has been reported East Dean Avenue.
Items missing match what was found at Perryman's house.
And? I said Jack, sorry, nobody hurt.
Husband and wife out for the evening, came home, found they've been done.
Oh, all right.
Where else have you been tonight, Mr.
Perryman, apart from East Dean Avenue? Nowhere.
Nowhere.
What were you doing in the woods then? Like I said, I forgot my front door key.
The back wall's the only way in.
Live on your own, do you? Yeah.
Haven't got a dog by any chance? Dog.
No, my wife took it with her and our kids.
When was this.
Eight, nine months.
Get lonely, do you? You're joking, I'm well over it.
So, how does it work.
Hmm? The fiddle, you and Nick Daish, Staunton Tower.
What fiddle? No, I'm sorry.
You're on official leave tonight, then, are you? Don't mind if I check that with your employer, do you? Don't make a lot of difference now, does it? No.
So, there's only the two of you there, right.
The work's a dawdle.
So anytime you want to take a night off to supplement your income, Nick Daish clocks in for the both of you.
And if there's a burglary that night you've got a perfect alibi.
Or you did have.
No comment.
You see, Mr.
Perryman, you've got to realize that we have a very specific reason for taking an interest in every burglar that we come across, because there's one burglar in particular in Denton who also commits rape.
Yes.
And all of these attacks occurred late evening, which unfortunately is the time you're out and about.
Me? Why not? Oh, you're joking.
I'm just a foxy housebreaker.
Ah, but what if when you were out burglaring, these rapes had occurred.
Yeah, but I wasn't.
But we don't know that.
Your alibi's worthless.
Nick Daish could say you're in work, when we know that isn't always so.
Look it -- Like tonight, for example.
Look, it's not just me, you know, he's done it as well.
What burglaring? Well, you best ask him that.
I'm just saying, I cover for him sometimes if he wants a night off.
(phone ringing) No answer, perhaps he's on his rounds.
I don't think they bother.
Get a car around there to make sure.
And have you run a check on him, Daish? No.
Do that as well, please? Sir? Oh, yes.
The other night, Emma Fox, man in the car, Iocal inquiries, Staunton Tower.
Did you speak to the security staff.
Yeah, Perryman.
No, no, not Perryman, the other one, Daish.
Did you speak to him.
Did you see him? No.
Well, I don't know, do I? He should be there.
What about this for a possibility.
Sometimes you both go AWOL on the same night.
If the one who's there on his own, after clocking you both in, fancies popping out, who's to know? Right? Because if asked, Nick Daish would swear blind that you were with him all night, and vice-a-versa, because your alibi is his alibi, and his yours.
Agreed? Agreed? Yeah, yeah.
Good.
Now, this Nick Daish, tell me about him.
I just work with the bloke, I don't live with him.
Oh, come on, you're with him 12 hours a night sitting on your bums drinking tea.
Don't tell me you don't talk.
Yeah, we talk.
Does he own a dog? What do you got this thing about dogs for? Does he own a dog? Yeah.
Yeah, his wife brings it with her when she picks him up from work sometimes.
It's a big lollopy thing, hairy.
A retriever.
Does he ever talk about women? Does he ever talk about women? Of course he does.
We all do don't we, but that's all it is, talk.
Like that W.
P.
C.
that came 'round the other night, we talked about her.
W.
P.
C.
Wallace? Yeah, it's a fantasy, isn't it? Funny meeting you in the woods.
I was going to pay you a visit soon anyway.
What's the matter? Don't you like me being here? Oh, it's a pity, because I'm going to keep you company a long time.
Now, stand still and shut your eyes.
(Door bell ringing) Are you all right? Are you all right? Your sure? Good.
Don't you worry.
I'll take your statement later.
Yes, you're all right.
I'm not off me trolley, right? Not mentally ill, I don't want anyone thinking that.
I just like women.
They're all I think about.
You know, all those women out in the street that walk past you, they have no idea what's in your mind.
That's good, that feeling, the power you have over all those women.
It's no good if they're willing, is it? Taking it from them, that's the best.
Is there anyone you want informed about your arrest? The wife, I suppose.
Sorry.
We all thought it was their dad.
Oh, oh, yes.
He doesn't look like a rapist.
They never do, do they? And he's confessed to every single one.
We're in the process.
I had to stop to give him his meal.
Well, I suppose as the arresting officer, you want to see this thing through.
Pity about London.
London?
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