Van der Valk

HENDRIK: She's dead.

PIET: Yeah, I noticed that.

Our prime suspect is someone who's been missing, presumed dead, for two years.

DANIELLE: We're activists, not extremists.

Whoever this woman is, we need to find her.

FLINN: They want their money.

They'll be coming for me next, and you!

(dog barking) (glass breaking) I am your best chance of finding her.

(thunder claps) (whimpers) (click) Raven Haven, I love you no more Dreamer redeemer Return to before Is it you?

Is it you that I hear Calling from a distant shore?

(birds tweeting and calling on recording) (switch clicks) (man speaking faintly, birds chirping in film) (saws running) (protesters chanting) (switch clicks, film stops) (footsteps approaching) (door unlocks) (door creaks softly) (door opens, bag slides) (door closes) (shatters) Hello?

Hello?

(birds chirping in film audio) (protesters chanting in film) (switch clicks, film audio stops) (gasps) (yelping) Please tell me you made it to bed.

I made it to bed.

(exhales) (bell ringing hour) You're keen, Jay.

You're never normally first here.

Ah, you know how it is, the early bird catches the worm.

Race you.

First to get set up.

Winner buys breakfast.

Where's the challenge in that?

Weird.

Mm-hmm?

They're Gerda's.

She can't still be here, can she?

Wouldn't put it past her to work all night.

Gerda?

DANIELLE: Gerda?

Gerda?

(screaming): Gerda!

(panting) (water splashes) (car approaches, engine stops) I take it you're not here for a swim.

(engine stops, rattling) Seems like your gasket's about to blow.

(exhales) Oh, I've just got a, got a lot on my mind at the moment.

I meant the car.

Your gasket's about to blow.

What you on about?

This car's a classic.

It's neglected, is what it is.

When did you last have it serviced?

Uh... (radios squawking, camera shutters clicking) Hey-- victim is Gerda Schalk, found by her business partner Danielle Panhoff.

How's that cough of yours?

Gone the way of the dodo-- extinct.

Well, good.

She's dead.

Yep.

Yep, I noticed that.

So, is, is that it?

Well, it depends on your belief system.

I mean, cultures have pondered it for millennia whether death is the end or just the beginning.

I tend to think of it as a return to the source.

Yeah, I meant more, nothing about a penetrating wound, jagged edges, or, I don't know, whatever it is you normally bang on about?

Nah.

We got a murder weapon?

Ah, maybe the, uh, neck of a smashed bottle, two or three inches in length, spattered in blood.

(exhales) So, what was the victim doing here in the dead of night, anyway?

Preparing for the Global Wildlife Congress.

Okay, well, there's got to be CCTV, right?

In a place like this?

Disabled.

Cut dead just after midnight.

Gives us a loose time of death, I guess.

What's all, uh, all this?

Oh, it's a bird exhibit connected to a video floor.

So how do you switch this on?

Here.

(birds chirping in film) What's that spell?

Cob?

Colin, cobalt, what?

I don't know.

What about next of kin?

Oh.

Family live abroad, but Danielle Panhoff forwarded me this photo of her partner from Gerda's socials, Flinn Bovens.

They share an apartment.

Address near Vondelpark.

Okay.

We'll have a word.

(camera shutters clicking) LUCIENNE: First time I've ever known Hendrik not put on a show.

Oh, it was still a show.

Just not the usual one.

(exhales) (pool ball clacks) Oh!

Reckon that's a foul, don't you?

Flinn Bovens, right?

Your neighbor said we might find you here.

It's about Gerda.

EDDIE: Do the words "col" or "cob" mean anything to either of you?

A trade name, nickname, or a bird name?

Not really, no.

No, nothing at all.

And who else might have been here late at night?

All sorts, before a conference.

Did Gerda have any enemies?

Why would she have enemies?

The campaign group you ran.

Are there any people or groups who might have disagreed with you?

Not violently.

We're both just passionate about keeping wildlife in its natural habitat.

Passionate.

Does that mean militant?

Ecological campaigners can upset people.

We're activists, not extremists.

JAY: We're all just doing our best trying to build a better world.

When did you last see Gerda?

Few days ago.

Even though you live together?

We were on a break, okay?

I've been staying with friends.

Things not good between you?

What's that got to do with you?

You know, we have to do this conversation a lot.

Ever since we gave you the news, you've been kind of distracted.

(chuckles): Wouldn't you be?

You've just told me my partner's dead, okay?

I'm trying, trying to process it.

LUCIENNE: Let us help you process it, then.

Tell us what you're thinking.

Gerda had, had been behaving strangely recently.

I don't know, it's hard to put a finger on it.

She's been distant, just...

Different.

If you were on a break, how come you're hanging out here in your local pool hall?

I wanted to see her.

Just came here to, to get my head straight first.

(sniffles) Could Gerda have been seeing someone else?

Just asking.

(sniffs) I don't know.

Maybe.

We'll need to take a look at your apartment.

Check out Gerda's belongings, her computer.

(door rattles) Wait here-- we'll take a look.

Which one's your apartment?

Second floor, room at the back.

(door closes, echoes) From the look on your face, I guess this isn't just you guys being messy.

LUCIENNE: Either Gerda upset someone or you did.

Or someone's looking for something.

Does that make any sense to you?

No, no, I swear, this...

Right, where were you last night?

At work.

I'm a barman at Icecap, on the Singel.

What time do you finish?

FLINN: I don't know, about 3:00-ish?

I came home, I crashed out.

We'll send forensics down here.

You okay?

Do you need us to get an officer to come and sit with you?

(voice trembling): No, I'll be fine.

PIET (voiceover): Flinn Bovens-- do some digging.

I want to speak to his boss at Icecap, see what time he left last night.

Will do.

So, Gerda Schalk.

Campaigned against wildlife trafficking.

Fourth-largest criminal activity in the world, apparently.

Worth tens of billions of dollars a year.

And she was particularly vocal about the illegal trade in birds.

Okay, let's see if we can find anyone specifically she might have upset.

Mm-hmm.

What's all this?

EDDIE: The CCTV was disabled inside the venue.

But there was one road camera working nearby.

Coverage is limited, but managed to catch three people.

LUCIENNE: Let's circulate images at the venue, see if anyone recognizes them.

Yeah, yeah, but before that, hang with me a sec.

Tell me.

Am I going mad or is that Cobie Stegenga?

The musician?

Thought she was dead.

EDDIE: Yeah, but it looks just like her, right?

And what if Gerda Schalk was trying to write "Cobie" on the floor with her fingers in blood?

I mean, that's not a coincidence, is it?

It might be.

Only you don't believe in them.

Well, there's a first time for everything.

Okay.

How about this?

Blue feather in her left ear.

Cobie Stegenga always wore one in memory of her mum.

Woman from last night has the same.

PIET: Okay, remind me.

Two years ago, Cobie Stegenga went missing.

General consensus was, she committed suicide.

Personally, I don't think she did.

Four years ago, she released two albums, had a couple of big hits.

"Wings of Freedom," "Torch of Peace"?

Right-- she was about to go on her first world tour, but went missing.

Car found parked by a flooding river.

She was prone to bouts of depression.

Known to self-harm and had doubts about the tour.

Sounds like suicide to me.

EDDIE: Yeah, but her body was never found, was it?

And some of her family insist she'd never commit suicide.

You mean her dad?

Mm, certainly remember him.

We all do, don't we?

I think she faked her own death because of the pressure of going on tour.

In fact, I'm sure of it.

One hundred percent.

I was a... bit of a fan.

What's that got to do with Gerda Schalk's murder?

It's just a CCTV image.

That woman could be a lookalike, a fake.

Christ, there could be any number of explanations.

Well, whoever she is, she was in the vicinity last night, and the last thing the victim did was maybe start writing "Cobie" in blood-- why would you do that?

To identify the killer, maybe.

Okay, let's just take it one step at a time.

Whoever this woman is, we need to find her.

Great.

Great, so our prime suspect is someone who's been missing, presumed dead, for two years.

Gerda's passion was campaigning against animal trafficking, particularly rare birds.

Hm.

Flinn wanted to monetize that.

How?

By setting up a charitable organization and ask for donations.

He was more interested in the money than the cause, so we said no.

Well, he wasn't really happy about that.

Do you know any of these people?

They were caught on CCTV outside last night.

Looks like that singer.

The one that committed suicide.

Cobie.

Cobie Stegenga.

It does, doesn't it?

Whoever it is, have you seen her around here?

No.

And I'd remember her.

I used to like her music.

(chuckles): Yeah, me, too.

What about him?

Yes.

I saw him once.

And where was this?

We were at a different conference.

Sweden, I think.

And did Gerda know him, too?

No.

She wasn't there for that one.

He was, he was talking with Jay at the airport.

I just remember that he didn't want to say his real name.

Said to call him "Meatball"?

Meatball.

Okay.

JAY: What am I meant to do?

Ask the police if I can take my stash of cash now?

Just sit tight, okay?

(shouting): Jay, shut up!

They want their money, Jay.

They wanted it at 10: 00 this morning!

They'll be coming for me next, and you.

PIET (softly): Hey!

Thanks.

PIET: Yeah!

Good, go on!

Flinn Bovens checks out.

Icecap manager confirms he was there till after 3: 00 last night.

So, person A we can rule out.

It's a local resident on their way home after a night out.

B, we're still searching.

And C-- you figured out how to find a missing person yet?

No, but I have read up on arguments for why Cobie Stegenga might still be alive.

Persuasive?

One, she'd been obsessed with the idea of becoming a recluse since childhood.

I mean, she was scared of open spaces and crowds-- agoraphobic, basically.

Which is not ideal when you're about to go on tour.

Two, every day for a week before she disappeared, she withdrew 200 euros from a cash machine.

Why do that if you're about to commit suicide?

Maybe the cash was for something else, and the suicide was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Mm, okay, but then there's three-- sightings.

Oh, several fan sightings in Goa, right?

Not long after she went missing?

Yeah, but there was also a sighting at a mental health clinic in Groningen.

Someone contacted them asking for help but bottled on arrival.

And it fits her description perfectly.

(sighs): But if it is her, what is her connection to Gerda Schalk?

You know, Cobie goes missing and is in touch with no one, not even her family.

And then maybe kills Gerda?

Why?

Don't know, but if we're serious that she's a suspect, we're gonna need to speak to her father, Marcus.

Really?

Why wouldn't we?

Because that man's heart was broken in a way which was too painful to watch.

Stubbornly convinced his daughter was still alive.

Yeah.

But now we think she is.

(bicycle bell rings) (engine stops, rattles and hisses) Don't.

Stay!

Stay!

Good girl.

(whimpers) Be back soon!

You're not going to show Marcus Stegenga the photo, are you?

We can't give him false hope.

Agreed.

My neighbor isn't in.

LUCIENNE: Oh, do you know when he'll be back?

Or where we can find him?

He'll be in his workshop in the Jordaan.

It's on Tuinstraat.

That's a long way from here.

He likes the walk.

Takes his mind off other things.

This isn't about another sighting, is it?

No, no.

No, we just need a word.

Thanks.

(gulls squawking) (keys jangle, lock turns) (door closes) (bird chirping) (twittering) (chuckles): Meatball?

Never heard of him.

Danielle must be confused.

Maybe with everything that's happened.

I, I have no idea who that is.

Are you sure?

She says you met him at an airport in Sweden.

Swear to God, mate, I, I've never seen him before-- she must be confusing me with someone else.

PIET: I get why people go missing.

I mean, I can kind of relate to that myself.

Figures.

What I don't get, given how hard it must be for the families, is why they stay missing, with no contact at all.

Maybe they feel they just can't go back.

No one chooses to have mental health issues.

Maybe they see staying away as a form of self-care, instead of seeking professional help.

(door opens and closes) LUCIENNE: Mr. Stegenga?

Nice to meet you-- Inspector Hassell.

Commissaris van der Valk.

Have you found Cobie?

No.

No, we just wanted to ask some questions.

About Cobie?

Do you have a lead?

Is that what this is about?

No.

Then why are you here?

Leave me in peace otherwise.

Does the name Gerda Schalk mean anything?

Should it?

She was killed last night at a conference center outside of town.

What's a murder got to do with me and my daughter?

Well, we're not sure yet.

Victim was an expert in birds.

You're clearly a fan, too.

Birds were Cobie's passion.

Their songs were the only thing that could calm her down when she had her episodes.

I mean, no offense, but, uh, shouldn't birds be in forests, not cages?

I mean, wouldn't they rather be flying free?

Wouldn't a dog rather be off its lead?

Besides, this one was born in captivity.

To release it now, it might not know how to survive.

Some can, some can't.

Really?

I mean, this little fella, he looks like he could handle himself.

Herself.

I'm keeping her for when Cobie gets back.

LUCIENNE: About the episodes you mentioned.

What form did they take?

MARCUS: My daughter had multiple issues with anxiety and panic attacks.

Which got worse with her success.

That's why she disappeared.

To get away from the spotlight.

Is Cobie's mother around?

No, she died.

When Cobie was little.

But Cobie's still alive-- you know that, right?

Before she disappeared, she was talking about new songs.

She'd just bought a new bed.

You don't buy a new bed if you're going to commit suicide.

You might.

Feelings can overwhelm... (softly): Yeah.

...and push someone over the edge in an instant.

She's not dead.

A parent just knows these things.

If you believe your daughter's alive, why do you think she's still missing?

Why not get in touch to say she's okay?

I don't know.

Maybe she thinks I'm angry-- I'm not.

I just want her back.

(bird twittering) We came across this image.

The image was captured last night at the conference center.

Took your time.

Apologies.

You know, it might not be her.

It's her.

And you know it.

Or you wouldn't have shown it to me.

It's compelling, I'll give you that.

But I don't know for sure.

I do.

In here.

Can I keep it?

Yeah.

But I'd prefer if you kept it to yourself.

Of course.

Can trust me.

You know, we don't know where she is.

We don't know what she's involved in.

But I have to be honest with you.

Your daughter is the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

My daughter is not a murderer.

LUCIENNE: So you're convinced the woman in the photo is Cobie.

I don't...

I don't think you have to be a parent to sense that it is.

Talking of which, you thought any more about that, uh... You know, that, that thing you mentioned.

What thing I mentioned?

You know, parenting.

Exercising your biological right to go for it.

You mean have a baby, Piet?

Yeah, that's the one.

Yeah, I have, actually.

I was thinking about it this morning.

I've made the decision I'm gonna start looking for a surrogate father.

I mean, ideally, someone I know, someone with good bone structure, decent genes, generally, qualities to admire.

I don't know, what do you think?

(exhales): Um... Hard to find one of those these days, isn't it?

Hmm.

I think you're better off, you know, with a good sense of humor.

I mean, that's important, isn't it?

That's overrated, I think.

Really?

Funnily enough, I know a strong contender.

Do you?

Tall, dark, and handsome?

Rather than short, fair, and slim?

(mouths) Yeah, you're winding me up.

(laughing): Course I am.

(exhales) But stop asking me stupid questions about it, will you?

You're like my gran.

Believe me, I will never, never mention it again.

For a few seconds there, the universe went very, very strange.

Good.

(shudders) (chuckles) (pills rattling) (bottle closing) (breathing deeply) (sighs) EDDIE: Bury my wings (whines) Of freedom I want to beat my heart into feelin' I want to beat my soul (stammering): I was just listening to one of Cobie's songs-- think of it as research.

(exhales): I definitely don't think of it as singing.

Has anyone at the conference recognized Cobie?

A couple of people spotted the resemblance, but nobody said they saw her at the venue.

And they would have remembered.

How about you guys?

Anything?

Oh, your man here is convinced the woman in the photo is, indeed, Cobie Stegenga.

Is he now?

Although Cobie's father insists she isn't a murderer, which, he would.

Wouldn't he?

And if she isn't, then what was she doing at a conference center late last night?

Seeing Gerda Schalk, maybe.

Connection being?

PIET: Birds.

Cobie Stegenga was into them, as was Gerda Schalk.

Maybe Cobie's afraid of crowded spaces.

That's why she went there at night.

All right, let's go over Gerda Schalk's computer, see if anyone's communicated with her about our feathered friends.

How come you look like the cat that got the cream all of a sudden?

I did a trawl of known animal traffickers, in particular, bird smugglers.

And guess what?

Carl Simons.

A.K.A.

Meatball.

Loan shark and smuggler.

Now, he did three years in prison for importing rare birds and selling them onto the exotic pet market.

Any connection to Gerda Schalk?

She was part of the undercover operation that got him caught.

Wow.

Okay, well, that gives him motive.

What's odd, though, is, Danielle Panhoff thought she recognized him-- someone she'd seen at another conference with Jay Waldock.

But Waldock "denies" any knowledge of him.

You got an address for Meatball?

Oh, I'm working on it.

Oh.

You showed Marcus Stegenga the photo, then?

(sharply): What?

Yeah, press office just sent this, on Marcus's website.

"Police confirm new sighting."

Thank God Dahlman's away.

Right, come on, we better find him before he causes any more problems.

PIET: What's this?

What's it look like?

Autopsy report.

And?

You can read, can't you?

(playing slow melody) (song continues) There you go, sir.

Thank you.

Hey.

What you got?

I need help.

Which do you want?

Cobie Stegenga song lyrics or blogs about songbirds?

Songbirds.

Takes me back to my childhood.

All right.

Want a drink?

Coffee, please.

Sure.

PIET: Hey.

Marcus in this time?

No-- following a lead, apparently.

Hm, why do I not like the sound of that?

A fan contacted his website saying they thought they knew where the new photo was taken-- he's gone there.

Been quite a response to his website.

Local press have been here, too.

Whoever showed him that photo should be shot.

Couldn't agree more.

I mean, how does some idiot think that showing Marcus that photograph's a good idea?

What is wrong with people?

PIET: Uh, I don't know.

Probably just a innocent mistake.

Marcus needs to be left to get on with his life.

Cobie wouldn't have wanted any of this.

Uh...

Sorry, um... Who are you?

This is my son Jesse, visiting his mama.

So you two knew her well?

Of course we did.

We practically grew up together.

So you think she's dead?

I'm sorry to say it, but yes, I do.

Every year on my birthday, wherever she was, wherever I was, she'd be in touch.

Without fail.

She'd never miss it.

She's gone-- I know she's gone.

ANKI: Oh, Jesse.

It's okay, darling.

Have you seen her?

I haven't seen her.

Thanks.

What do you think you're playing at?

I asked you to keep the photo to yourself.

You asked.

I didn't say I would.

Uh, yes, you did.

You said I could trust you.

You know I could arrest you for obstructing an investigation.

Or you could help me find Cobie.

Well, I am your best chance of finding her.

No.

I'm her best chance.

She's my priority.

Everything else comes second.

Including you.

We're trying to find Cobie.

You going public doesn't help.

Don't see why.

Well, she's managed to stay missing this long.

You interfering, I don't know, it might set her back.

She needs to know I'm looking and that I'm still here for her.

(Sniffer whimpers) (whimpering, whining) What is it, girl?

(quietly): What is it?

(whines) Go on, then.

(barking) Go on.

(barking) (Sniffer barking) (grunts) You going somewhere?

Home!

What's wrong with this stupid dog?

There's nothing wrong with "this dog."

She's called Sniffer for a reason.

(Sniffer barking) She's particularly partial to drugs and cash.

(bag rattling) (exhales) So...

Which is it?

Want to show us what's in your hold-all, then?

(door closes) Look, it's nothing to do with me.

I'm just a middleman.

Middleman for who and about what?

Okay, let's look at it another way.

You may just be the middleman.

But you're also the only one in custody, so, right now, you need to start helping yourself.

Well, I don't know anything.

Try harder.

I mean, you're into sustainability.

Try and sustain your chances of freedom.

(chuckles) You lied when you said you didn't know Carl "Meatball" Simons, right?

Are you selling or buying?

And who's the money for?

Come on, get smart.

You may as well come clean.

We know trafficking birds is Meatball's speciality.

Is it yours, as well?

Being one of the good guys has got to be a good front for trafficking.

No one's going to suspect an expert in sustainability, are they?

It's no big deal.

I just helped source and ship some songbirds from Indonesia via Amsterdam to Brazil.

The cash was payment for that.

Via Meatball?

So, you do know him.

Why the nickname?

He got it in prison.

So what happened last night?

Did Gerda discover the money?

Did Meatball get a little jumpy and silence her?

Or was the plan always to kill her?

(exhales): I don't know.

I don't know what the hell happened last night.

(clicks tongue): But Meatball might.

So, address, please.

I can't do that.

(clicks tongue, inhales) Yes, you can.

You see, I'm no trafficking expert.

I mean, that, that is not my bag.

But murder is.

And right now, there's a body of a young woman lying on a slab in our path lab.

And we need to know who took her life.

So, if you don't mind, address.

(calling out): Eddie?

(engine revving) (tires squeal) (car doors close, dog barking in distance) (gate creaks, dog barks in distance) (dog barking in distance) ("Bia Bare Safar Bandim" by Mohammad Nouri playing softly) (calling out): Mr. Meatball!

(song continues) (inhales deeply) (song continues) Hey.

(grunts, gun falls) (grunting) PIET: Halt!

Don't move!

EDDIE: Hey!

Let's go.

(panting) (engine starts) (grunts) EDDIE: Oi!

(Meatball panting) MAN: Hey!

(Meatball grunts) Ow.

(yelling, grunting) (yelps) (grunting) (yells) (yelps) Hey!

(tires squealing) (grunts) (grunts) (shouts): Halt!

(panting): Guys, guys, I didn't do anything.

Yeah, save it for the judge.

Is this about last night?

At the conference center?

I think I saw someone.

Saw who?

(panting) (speeding car approaching) (yelps) (brakes squeal) (firing) Get the plates!

(engine revs, tires squeal) (breathing heavily, sighs) (click) LUCIENNE: Two very different victims.

There's got to be a connection.

When did her issues start?

How did she react?

JESSE: Violently.

(tires squealing, gun firing) COBIE: You!

There's something going on with Hendrik.

You should have been a detective.

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