The Chelsea Detective

[Mid-tempo music plays] ♪♪ [Laughter] [Indistinct conversations] [Indistinct conversations and laughter] YOUNG MAN: So embarrassing!

"Cowie's a ....." [Laughter] ♪♪ ♪♪ [Metal clatters] ♪♪ ♪♪ Damn.

♪♪ [Door closes] Oliver.

I was, um -- I was just waiting for you to finish.

Yeah, I'm going home.

Thing is, um, James just called me.

He's livid, obviously.

Tried to make out you'd put me up to it.

Well, it's his own fault.

Didn't need to go this far.

Well, he's on his way back from Brussels, anyway.

Oh, good.

Tomorrow'll be fun.

Oliver, about what happened -- Don't worry about it, Saskia.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -I'm staying at Petal's tonight.

-Okay.

Mum's at yoga, said it was fine.

Have you eaten?

[Siren wails] ♪♪ [Door opens] Right.

I am off.

Have you finished, Flo?

Uh, yeah.

No.

Just taking a break.

Bye, Dad.

[Door closes] -You should be studying.

-Why?

I don't care if I get into school in Japan, anyway.

Yeah, but if you do well at ISC, we've got, like, some bargaining power for you staying with us.

My dad's already said no to that.

I'm just like a wheelie case.

Wherever his next job is.

I hate him, Petal.

Hey... We just got to get through this next year.

Then you can come back.

We'll get a flat together.

[Mid-tempo music plays] ♪♪ ♪♪ Hey.

What you up to?

♪♪ ♪♪ [Cellphone chimes] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Doorbell rings] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Sirens wailing] ♪♪ ♪♪ [Sighs] [Sighs] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Woman sobbing] ♪♪ ♪♪ OPERATOR: Stay where you.

I'll get someone right to you.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Knock on door] ASTRID: Ahoy there.

Anyone in?

Oh.

I told you I'd come and pick them up.

I had a breakfast meeting nearby.

Hm.

Just as well.

You're not getting your hands on this little beauty.

Ah.

Why don't you just, uh, set up a forwarding address?

I did.

For important things.

Um, can I get you something or...?

No.

Um... [Sighs] What is it you're doing here, Max?

Sorry.

I thought you were there when you asked me to move out.

You're living like a student, camped out on this dinghy.

Even the pot plant I gave you died.

It just needs a water.

Why don't you just find a proper address, make a home for yourself, Max?

Right.

Well, thanks for dropping by.

You'll be wanting to get to your breakfast date, I imagine.

And next time, call first.

You know, I-I might be with someone or -- If you're going to be like that... Forget it.

[Sighs] [Cellphone rings] D.I.

Arnold.

Mm-hmm.

Address?

♪♪ ♪♪ [Police radio chatter] -Thank you.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-Oliver Cowie.

Head of humanities at the International School of Chelsea.

His wife, Lyn, called it in about an hour ago.

She found him when she got up this morning.

She didn't hear a thing.

There's no sign of a break-in yet.

[Camera shutter clicks] ASHLEY: [Speaking indistinctly] [Door opens] ASHLEY: We just need a picture.

We've got those.

Anything you can tell us, Ashley?

Probable cause of death -- massive head injury following blunt trauma from multiple blows to the head.

Weapon?

PRIYA: Take your pick.

Yeah, except it wasn't any of them.

Whatever caused these wounds would probably have a square edge and be heavily bloodstained.

And unlikely to be hung back on the wall afterwards.

Mm.

From temperature and rigor mortis, I'd estimate time of death somewhere between 9:00 p.m.

and midnight.

[Camera shutter clicking] I -- I got home about 11:00.

Flo was staying with a friend.

Oliver was in his study.

I didn't want to disturb him.

I knew he was up to his eyes, so I just... I went to bed.

I went to bed.

[Sobbing] Was he already dead?

We can't say for sure yet.

But we need to know if there was anything unusual.

[Sobbing] Everything.

I mean... There was just so much to do before the move.

Tokyo.

As soon as the school year was over, visas, packing, rentals.

MAX: There was no sign of forced entry, Mrs.

Cowie.

It looks like your husband let his attacker in.

Is there anyone you can think of who may have had an argument with him or held a grudge?

Oliver didn't make enemies.

I'm going to need the clothes.

[Sobbing] I work here!

I'm the cleaner!

-They'll be expecting me!

-No, no, no.

You can't come in.

There's a crime scene.

Okay?

You can't come in.

Sorry, boss.

She says she's the cleaner.

You need to stay behind the cordon, madam.

This is a crime scene.

[Gasps] [Sobs] Carmel!

Lyn!

Let's get you back in the house.

-Sweet Jesus.

-Come on.

Let's go back inside.

Alright.

Come with me.

-What happened?

-I'll explain.

-I'll explain it to you.

-You need to tell me.

First instincts?

An angry attack, personal.

Hm.

Spouse seems the most likely place to start.

Well, she seems shattered enough.

-But she would be, wouldn't she?

-I'd say so.

JESS: Morning, boss!

I've got a neighbor across the road said he saw a push-bike leaning on the wall here last night around 9:00.

It wasn't chained up, and he thought it might get stolen.

What kind of bike?

Any details?

Just a bicycle.

No basket or defining color.

Flo?

I'm Detective Shamsie.

-What's going on?

-Can you come with me, please?

Miss Fry cleans alternate days, 9:00 till 4:00.

Depending on requirements.

She was off yesterday.

You've worked for the Cowies for four years, Miss Fry?

Since they moved back from Canberra.

Have you noticed anything unusual recently?

They're a wonderful family.

Devoted to each other.

I was gonna miss them terribly.

Mrs.

Cowie mentioned the move.

Pretty stressful for any family.

I mean, Flo didn't want to go to Japan, obviously, being the age she is.

Lyn and Oliver had their hands full in that respect.

What do you mean?

Oh, you know, just playing up at school and whatnot.

Bless her.

I mean, now what's she gonna do?

Um, "alternate days."

So that's, what, three days a week?

More if they need.

I cook, as well, when they're busy.

And I used to sit for Flo when she was younger.

I suppose Mr.

Cowie didn't like you in his office.

The mantel's a little dusty.

It's all this shifting things around, preparing for the move.

So you'd notice if anything were missing?

A trophy.

Cowie coached the debating team at his old school in Australia.

The cleaner said it was there the day before yesterday.

Of all the weapons in the room, why'd the killer choose that?

Hm.

I doubt they "chose" anything.

Just went for what was nearest.

So, what -- Impulse, red mist, rage, or fear?

There's something not right about Lyn.

She's out late, goes to bed without even checking in on her husband, and doesn't notice or care that he hasn't come to bed.

Or hopes he won't.

Either way, I agree -- it doesn't look good.

Well, let's get everything we can from their situation before last night.

Well, according to the cleaner, they were the perfect couple.

Huh!

There's no such thing.

♪♪ Would you say I live like a student?

Pardon?

Something Astrid said.

Harsh.

Actually, I think she was trying to be kind.

Which makes it even worse.

[Indistinct conversations] [Bell rings] ♪♪ Impressive building, innit?

PRIYA: Mm.

[Indistinct conversation] Thank you.

-Hello.

-I'm D.I.

Arnold.

This is D.S.

Shamsie.

We have an appointment with Mr.

James Green.

If you'd like to follow me, please.

♪♪ ♪♪ I'm only just back from a conference in Brussels, so I can't tell you first-hand about his movements yesterday, But, um, he left the building at, um... ...18:38.

He had a lot to clear before end of term.

He was leaving, you see.

Mm.

Japan.

Yes, yes.

Uh... Gosh, it's appalling.

He was very -- very well-liked with, um, staff and -- and the student body.

And, um, a very, you know, popular teacher.

And head of department, I mean.

Would you say you were friends?

We -- Well, we weren't bosom buddies.

We had our differences.

But, uh, goodness, I hired him, didn't I?

We'll need to see Mr.

Cowie's office and access any online facility he had here at the school.

Obviously discretion is paramount while we conduct our investigation.

I'll do my best to keep a lid on it, Detective, but his daughter, Flo, is a pupil here.

So are all her friends.

If you'll follow me down the staff corridor.

Is it true?

About Oliver?

The security guard's saying that -- I'll pop into the staff room shortly, Miss Turner.

♪♪ [Door unlocking, keys jingling] Can you think of any pupils, past or present, who may have held a grudge?

Or their parents even?

I mean, this is the International School of Chelsea, Detective.

I mean, it's competitive, yes, and obviously some pupils fail their baccalaureate, but really... -What about a staff member?

-Oh, that's absurd.

We're just going through all possibilities, Mr.

Green.

[Keys jingle] Thank you.

♪♪ I still can't quite believe it.

His poor family.

We'll send a team to collect his belongings.

[Camera shutter clicking] And we'll need to liaise with your pastoral care.

Nice view.

Oh!

That's new.

Bloody estate kids.

[Camera shutter clicking] Oh, yeah.

That is impressive.

"Deadwood Price"?

Is that the graffiti artist or a musician?

Or an anagram.

"Drop dead, Cowie."

Huh.

♪♪ Same glasses as the victim.

-A chicken?

-It's a boy chicken, mate.

A ..... [Laughter] PRIYA: We checked the security cameras.

The artist painted over the CCTV camera around 6: 00, after the security guard locked up.

Message is on the money, anyway.

It's a bit of a giveaway pointing out your animosity so publicly when you're about to commit murder.

Maybe they thought the anagram was foolproof.

Teenagers, right?

Who says it's a teenager?

You know, a piece like this takes skill and planning.

They've left us a signature anyway.

I've seen that around.

Anything further on that bike that the neighbor saw?

Nothing.

Got confirmation on Florence Cowie's alibi -- Petal Fisk, school friend.

Dad works nights as a staff nurse, so Florence often stays over.

The families are friends.

Turns out a couple of our lot called round the Cowies' place only two nights ago about a domestic.

So much for the perfect couple.

It was a stupid row.

PRIYA: But there was angry shouting, wasn't there?

And something smashed?

Did your husband ever hit you, Lyn?

What?

No!

Look.

[Sighs] I lost my temper.

That's all.

Okay.

What did you lose your temper about?

I thought he was having an affair.

And I flipped because it's been a nightmare having to pack up and move yet again.

London was supposed to be the last time.

He promised.

Finally found something that I loved.

And he was offered some -- [Scoffs] But he isn't.

Wasn't.

But what made you think he was in the first place?

I saw a text appear on his screen from a female colleague, thanking him for being "so great last night."

[Laughs] Can you believe the cliché?

And there had been this staff night out, so my imagination went nuts.

But Oliver explained he'd only driven her home 'cause she was drunk.

He was kind like that.

Genuinely.

-And you believed him?

-Yes.

I even remembered him mentioning it once I'd calmed down.

I was upset.

I'd just handed in my notice at the yoga studio.

Do you know this female colleague?

I've never actually met her, but her name's Saskia.

Saskia Turner.

[Bell ringing] [Indistinct conversations] ♪♪ -I bet you loved school.

-I did, actually.

I was one of those bloody estate kids.

I bet you were head girl.

You weren't one of those estate kids, Max Arnold.

I was a Chelsea Grammar boy.

Not that the grammar part did me much good.

Couldn't even spell.

Must've been tough, being dyslexic in the '80s.

Mm.

It was.

Academically.

How you see yourself, how others see you, has a knock-on effect.

It was all very character-building.

And look at you now.

I was head girl.

[Clicks tongue] Where were you last night, Saskia?

At home, marking books.

Ask any teacher.

It's relentless.

Can anyone back that up?

Uh, my flatmate stays with her boyfriend during the week.

But, I mean, I -- I didn't kill Oliver, if that's what you're saying.

I really liked him.

What were you sorry about, then?

PRIYA: Yesterday evening, a few hours before he was murdered, you sent a text -- "Sorry about everything."

He deleted it before replying.

What I meant was, I'm sorry if I caused him any trouble.

Okay.

And what kind of trouble would that have been?

With the school.

With the position I put him in.

Um, over an issue.

A-A work thing.

So why do you think Oliver Cowie deleted your apology?

Don't know.

What about the staff party, Saskia?

I believe he drove you home, right?

The apology, was it something that Oliver didn't want his wife to know?

I got drunk.

I made a fool of myself.

I tried to kiss him.

I know I shouldn't have.

And obviously he stopped me.

Said it was inappropriate.

And it was.

I can't believe I did that to Oliver after everything he's... He was backing me in a formal complaint about James Green.

Sexual harassment.

Unwanted touching.

Always getting way too close, you know?

Little massages.

Stuff.

And he wouldn't take the hint, and you can't argue 'cause he's the boss, right?

So Oliver's... was the more senior.

So he said he'd have a word, spare James his blushes.

But James denied it.

So I made it official.

Okay.

When was this?

Yesterday morning, while James was still in Brussels.

Would James have been informed?

It's part of the process.

How did he take it?

♪♪ Max.

♪♪ [Sighs] What are you doing in here?

I could ask you the same thing.

It's a faculty matter.

Nothing to do with the police.

This office has been quarantined.

Maybe so, but it's still school property, and as such, I'm in charge.

This is a murder case, Mr.

Green, and as such, we the police are in charge.

In fact, we have a few things to ask you about the night of the murder, if you wouldn't mind stopping by the station.

Yeah.

Once I've contacted my solicitor.

Much appreciated.

♪♪ ♪♪ [Door closes] [Line rings] MAX: James Green's solicitor called.

They'll be at the station late morning.

Oh, great.

That'll give us a chance to speak to Ashley first.

Can you hold on, Max?

Thanks.

You go see Daddy.

Mm.

Hey.

Don't forget.

I'm out tonight.

Hey.

Okay.

I'll see you at the mortuary.

Mortuary?

[Door opens] It's where you get to sleep forever.

[Sighs] Contents of his stomach suggest time of death was the earlier side of my window, say 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.

Seven or eight blows altogether, from the separate bruises and tears on the scalp.

I'd say four were direct and the rest tangential.

He probably lost consciousness quickly, hence no defense wounds, and the intracranial bleeding finished him off.

And the weapon?

The trophy would fit.

This is the same make.

Even as a layman, you can see how the edges would work, and the side here for maximum damage.

Now we just have to find it.

Green's in with his solicitor now.

Okay.

Well, we know there was bad blood between him and Cowie.

We know he's arrogant enough to muck the police about.

Just because he was in Brussels doesn't mean he couldn't get someone to do his dirty work.

Except he wasn't.

James Green was booked on the 8: 00 Eurostar, but he boarded an earlier train.

This one got him into St.

Pancras at 8: 25.

That gives him plenty of leeway to get to Chelsea within Ashley's kill time.

Yeah.

If you know about the accusations, then you'll understand why I wanted to return to London as soon as possible, clear my name.

And how did you go about that?

Where were you between 8: 30 and 10:00 on Tuesday night, Mr.

Green?

I went to the school, if you must know.

Straight from the station.

And your fob will show a record of your comings and goings?

[Whispers indistinctly] It'll also show that I went into Oliver's office.

Another faculty matter?

I wanted to check his computer, see what he'd said to the board.

But his laptop wasn't there.

It occurred to me that he might have kept some sort of written record.

No.

You thought, with Oliver out the way, all you'd have to do is pressure Saskia into withdrawing her complaint.

I wouldn't want the man dead, for God's sake!

I just wanted to protect my thus far unblemished record from a personal vendetta.

I mean, my God.

All because I'm friendly?

Well, let's go back to that night.

What did you do after you left Cowie's office?

Go home?

I went for a walk.

I bought a pint at, um, that pub on Shawhill Street, The Cinder.

I sat outside for a while.

I wanted to think.

And I didn't want my wife to know that I'd taken an earlier train.

She was, until now, unaware of these false allegations, which clearly she is very upset by.

Mrs.

Green has our heartfelt sympathy.

[Clears throat] Okay.

Thanks.

The pub have Green buying the pint at 9: 25, but there's no CCTV coverage outside.

We don't know when he left.

He could have knocked back his drink then gone to Fernlea Place and killed Cowie.

Pretty tight if we have him back home at 10: 30, which his wife confirms.

He could have done it between the school and the pub while he was out "walking."

He'd have needed a drink after that.

He'd be covered in blood, Max.

Okay.

Let him go.

But tell him we'll need to speak to him again.

The school's pastoral care have been back.

There were only three pupils that clashed with Cowie in the last year.

Two have since moved abroad, but the third hadn't even been processed.

Eric Heidegger.

18.

Poor academic record.

Casualty of too many schools, the counselor says.

Dad's an exec for a German shipping company.

Cowie cut Eric some slack, but it seems even he ran out of patience when Eric spray-painted "Cowie's a ...." in the junior playground.

Looks like we've found our artist.

Yeah.

And listen to this -- Cowie suspended Eric pending an exclusion hearing the day of the murder.

Let's get his address.

So, I checked in with Lyn Cowie's yoga studio.

She was on the rota to teach a class, but turns out someone stepped in last-minute.

Okay.

You and Connor go and have a little chat with Eric Heidegger, and we'll see what Lyn Cowie has to say.

[Siren wailing in distance] ♪♪ RORY: I've got a shift, I'm afraid, but Lyn's outside and the girls are upstairs.

I said they can stay as long as they want.

It's as much for Petal as it is for them.

She's had a tough time.

She lost her mother a few years ago, and this has kind of pushed all her buttons.

I'm sorry.

That must have been really tough.

Yeah.

Well, at least they've got each other.

Anyway I'll, uh, leave you to it.

Yeah.

MAX: You need to start telling us the truth, Lyn.

LYN: I went to meet a friend.

An old uni mate.

Darren Floyd.

We just went for a drink at a bistro on Chelsea Green.

It's not what you think.

He's a family lawyer.

Divorce lawyer.

You were planning to divorce your husband?

I just wanted to know what my options are.

[Sighs] Were.

-Because of Saskia Turner?

-No.

I didn't really care about all that nonsense with Saskia.

It's been a difficult year.

When I thought, for a moment, that Oliver might be having an affair, I was jealous, but not of her.

Of him.

That's what I wanted.

I owned my own business once, you know?

I sold up so Oliver could take Canberra.

I lied because I didn't want Flo knowing I was unhappy!

She's had enough!

Did you know Oliver was involved in a complaint about the head teacher?

Everyone's knight in shining armor.

Except mine.

♪♪ -You can't tell them.

-I promise I won't.

I swear.

Wouldn't just be me lying, Petal.

You already said I was with you.

But, Flo, I'm your best friend.

When my mum died, I thought I'd die, too.

Literally.

But you won't, Flo.

Your mum died of cancer, Petal.

She wasn't killed.

She didn't get her head smashed in!

-[Sobbing] -You loved your mum.

You looked after her when she was sick.

And I told my dad I hated him!

[Sobbing] You can't just fix this by telling me it'll all get better.

[Sobbing] What's going on?

-I want to go home.

-What?

-[Sobbing] -Oh, sweetheart.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ JESS: Mr.

Heidegger?

Can we have a word, please?

[Sighs] [German accent] Come in.

It's your son we need to speak to, Mr.

Heidegger.

Eric?

What for?

There was a very serious incident two nights ago.

An attack on a teacher from the International School of Chelsea.

My wife, she texted.

Well, perhaps we can speak to her, then?

I'm sorry.

She's in Bern.

Her mother had a bad fall.

[Door opens] I could have her call you if that helps.

Was Eric at home on Tuesday evening, Mr.

Heidegger?

Yes, of course.

Tuesday, Eric, I said you could order in because Mum wanted an early night.

Tell them, Eric.

Detective Constable Jess Lombard, and this is DC Connor Pollock.

ALEX: Eric!

-Eric!

-Stay there!

He's heading towards the estate!

I'm on it!

[Tires screech] [Up-tempo music plays] ♪♪ [Siren wailing] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Tires screech] ♪♪ Alright, Michelangelo.

You dropped your paints.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ See, four grand in March, and the same in January, and more the year before.

Payee reference "RAF."

Lyn Cowie claims not to know anything about it.

Hmm.

Standing order?

Some form of payment?

CONNOR: I'll put a trace on the account number.

Max, the on-call brief has arrived.

Oh.

I didn't do anything.

I swear.

I was home with my mum.

Yes, we've spoken to her, and she confirmed that.

She also confirmed that your father was in his office at Imperial Wharf overseeing a late shipment and that she herself went to bed at 8:30.

So neither of your parents saw you after that time.

That's not my fault.

So why did you leg it?

I-I thought I was getting done for tagging.

I-I was freaking out.

There were rumors something went down at school.

But you were the one who spray-painted "Drop dead Cowie" the day he suspended you.

I just wanted to prove it to him.

If I wanted to say he was a ...., I'd do it better than what they pinned on me at school.

Stitched me up, man.

-Who stitched you up, Eric?

-Cowie.

He said someone saw me, which wasn't true.

Plus, he planted a can of paint in my bag which wasn't mine.

Fact.

I don't care what you think.

I know what I did and didn't do.

And no way am I putting my name on this.

Why would Mr.

Cowie risk his professional reputation to stitch you up, Eric?

Obvious.

To me, anyway.

I got back with his daughter.

Sorry?

Got back with?

We went out, for six months maybe, before he killed it.

Have you got a bicycle, Eric?

So, what do you reckon?

Mum's fast asleep, Dad's not home till 1:00 a.m.

Eric could have been, done it, and gone to bed by then.

But?

Well, no, I can't see him covering his tracks and keeping his head all this time.

-I heard he's a bag of nerves.

-Yeah.

Well, let's see what we've got anyway.

Thank you.

In the meantime, I've checked Lyn's story.

Her lawyer mate supports her account and the bistro where they met.

I've asked for CCTV to confirm.

So Lyn and her daughter now have solid alibis.

-Mm.

-But Saskia Turner doesn't.

Just 'cause her boss is sleazy doesn't mean she liked Cowie.

I don't know.

Her texts are "Thanks for being great," "Sorry for being an idiot."

Doesn't scream "stalker."

There's nothing of note on any CCTV local to the Cowie house on Fernlea Close.

Multiple prints on the front door, including the family's and Carmel the cleaner, obviously, but nothing else that checks out.

Who else knew Oliver was home alone?

I've found out who RAF is.

A is for Alistair, his middle initial.

-Rory Fisk.

-Of course.

Cowie's been giving him money.

10K over the last year.

Regular installments.

Giving?

Or paying?

Her bursary ran out the previous year, and I couldn't afford to keep her at the school without it.

And Oliver knew how good Petal's grades were.

Him and I become close friends after the girls teamed up.

Why not pay the school direct?

Just to save my pride, so that I could pay the school.

He didn't even tell Lyn about it.

Just told me to pay him back whenever I could.

Which of course I will.

Somehow.

You were on shift here the night of the murder?

Yeah.

I mean, I did nip out for a burger during my break.

♪♪ Do you know a kid called Eric Heidegger?

He's on/off with Flo.

I knew she had some kind of boyfriend mucking her about.

You know, Petal is such a worrier.

But I have noticed a difference in Flo's behavior recently.

PRIYA: Like what?

Oh, just you know, temperament, mood swings.

It's a teenager's job description, isn't it?

Yeah, of course it is.

I mean, don't get me wrong.

I'm really fond of Flo.

The Cowies moved back to London after my wife died, and Flo was missing her school in Australia.

Her and Petal just kind of saved each other, you know?

But recently she's been getting up to all sorts.

Did you talk to Oliver about it?

Oh, yeah, he knew all about it.

It was him that she was rebelling against, mostly.

But at least with Petal, she does her homework.

And I can't exactly ban Flo from the house, can I, given Oliver's generosity?

You must have been a little relieved, then.

-About Japan.

-If I'm honest.

I just can't believe what's happened.

Him and I were really close, you know?

We were good friends.

If you think of anything else, please do let us know.

Hi.

It's me.

Listen.

The police have just called round to talk to me.

I know, I know.

I know, but I think it would be a good idea if we just kept our distance, just until things blow over, okay?

Okay.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪