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00:00I love you
00:33Morning, Selwyn.
00:36There's no hot water.
00:38Okay, come and take a look.
01:09And the carpet's all wet in here.
01:12I think we've sprung a leak, or...
01:24Right.
01:25I think the most important thing
01:27is to not panic.
01:31Need to think logically.
01:38Does the engine work?
01:41Engine. Brilliant.
01:48Humphrey? Are you all right?
01:51Fine.
02:10What's that?
02:12I'm not entirely sure.
02:13It's dripping oil.
02:21Have we got life jackets?
02:23Well, I didn't think we'd need them.
02:25You know, being parked up.
02:28Wood.
02:30We could make a raft.
02:34Humphrey?
02:35I need two pencils and a pair of underpants, please.
02:38Oh!
03:01Morning!
03:03Hello!
03:05Hello!
03:13Dad?
03:20Dad?
03:26Dad?
03:30Dad?
03:31Dad?
03:32I'm running!
03:41One morning in the month of June down by a rolling river
03:45There a weary child had a chance to stay and he beheld his lover
03:50Her cheeks were red, her eyes were brown, her hair and ringlets hanging down
03:55She'd a lovely face without a frown just as the tide was flowing
04:20If you get out on the ocean, if you sail out on the sea
04:25If you get up in the mountains, if you go climbing on trees
04:29Oh, through every emotion
04:32When you know that they don't care
04:34Darling, that's when I'm with you
04:36Oh, I'll go with you, yeah
04:51What happened? We were really worried?
04:53Yes, the mooring rope snapped and the current dragged us out to sea, Carby
04:57Thank heavens for the RNLI
04:59Yes
05:00Oh, Anne said to phone her the second you get back
05:07Uh, you all right, sir?
05:10Yes
05:12Oh, it's just a bump
05:16Um, only you're needed
05:18Esther's gone on ahead
05:19Where?
05:20Kenneth Linder's house
05:27Sir, sir
05:28Oh, yes, I'm so sorry
05:29Yes, there we go
05:30Do apologise
05:32Yes
05:42Yes
05:43Up here, sir
05:50Are you okay? How's Martha?
05:53We're both fine, thank you
05:57Oh, Kenneth
05:58Yes
05:59You know I only spoke to him last night
06:01Oh, of course
06:03You went to the book sign-in
06:09Yes, here we are
06:14I'm still not sure this qualifies as a date
06:18In my defence, I was coerced into your Mamma Mia karaoke night
06:21Coerced?
06:22Well, maybe not coerced
06:23But if those photos ever get into the wrong hands
06:27Here we are
06:30So consider this payback
06:45This week sees the launch of the new Kenneth Linder novel
06:50The Final Breath
06:52Now, since he's moved to Shipton Abbot
06:54We are brazenly claiming him as one of our own
06:58So, as your new local counsellor and treasurer of the Devon Literary Group
07:02I would like you all to give a huge welcome to our guest, Kenneth Linder
07:11His daughter Helen found him in the bath
07:14The electric fan in the water at his feet
07:17It looks like he's been here all night
07:19Looks like the power tripped eventually, but not quick enough to save him
07:24Well, this is something of a conundrum
07:28Why?
07:29Because in his latest novel
07:31Serial killer Jeremy Cook is walking to the electric chair
07:34Which is where the last book left him
07:36But it turns out he bribed the guard to short circuit the prison power
07:40Therefore delaying his execution until the next day
07:43Hmm
07:43But that night he murdered the guard that helped him
07:47And stole his uniform to escape
07:49Nice
07:50Then he found the judge that sentenced him
07:53And like his nine previous victims, killed him
07:57By dropping an electrical appliance into his bath
08:03Hmm
08:05Hmm
08:09Ah
08:11Ah
08:13Ah
08:15Ah
08:15Ah
08:16Ah
08:17Ah
08:41Ah
08:42Ah
08:42Ah
08:43Ah
08:46Yes
08:47Ah
08:48Ah
08:49Ah
08:57Oh
09:03we've got some outside too trampled flower bed by an open rear door we did a quick check and the
09:16footprints are probably male judging by size and weight but they're not an obvious match for any
09:22of the footwear found in the house we've taken molds but there's a difference in indent depth
09:28so we're pretty sure whoever made them had a distinct limp limp yeah much less weight put on
09:35his left leg the main road runs across the back of the garden so someone could have got over the
09:40fence and along this path cameras nothing this side doorbell camera at the front we've got him
09:46being dropped off last night by his daughter Helen and then her coming back this morning I know you
09:54don't I from the book signing last night you were with your father that's right D.I. Goodman
10:04Humphrey Goodman a huge fan yeah this is my fio my wife Martha hi so Humphrey do you have a
10:16favorite case
10:17oh yes the first of the bathtub trilogy death by design the bottle top McGuffin genius oh thank you
10:29wait you're not detective Humphrey Goodman yes how'd you know that well I'm something of a fan of yours
10:40too I read the newspaper report about the case you sold the poor chap murdered by his partner made to
10:47look like a car crash brilliant thank you well a pleasure to meet you Humphrey and you Martha thank
11:01you this must be difficult for you is the family we can call no it's just me and dad are
11:11you up to a
11:12a few questions Helen I'll try when was the last time you saw your father before this morning last
11:20night I dropped him home after the book signing promise me you'll have an early night oh and I kept
11:37first I think one at least love you love you too
11:52and how did he seem himself quiet but I know he was tired can I ask was your dad a
12:02particularly tidy man
12:03tidy god no he was bloody minded intelligent playful and a rather wonderful father but tidy no
12:20there's something else you need to know
12:24he was dying he had end-stage amyloidosis an abnormal build-up of proteins stops his organs
12:33working properly said he refused to die until he'd finished his damn book but he'd been going downhill
12:40pretty rapidly these past few weeks we knew it wouldn't be long but this
12:50do you think he took his own life do you
12:56I know he was in a lot of pain but he refused the palliative care he was offered
13:08people are coming in
13:14you sure you're up to this dad stop farting I'm strong as an ox
13:25we need to take care of your dad
13:28so you might be better at home
13:31they'll take him to the chapel of rest and I promise I'll call and let you know when he's there
13:44do you think that's it he did this himself there was a towel neatly folded by the side
13:51of the bath dressing gown slippers ready so why go to all that trouble if you know
13:56you'll never be getting out of the bath exactly so it has to be an accident possibly wait you're
14:04thinking it's murder we should consider it why because the victim wrote murder mystery novels
14:10but no sergeant because there are some things that don't make sense such as well it's all rather neat
14:14don't you think too neat perhaps for a man not known for his tidiness that's it it was too neat
14:22so what if someone put those things in place to make it look like an accident and what about the
14:28fact that he died in exactly the way described in his own book can we really accept that's just a
14:34coincidence
14:37no so if we can rule out suicide accident and coincidence which we can because there's no such thing
14:44then what happened to kenneth linder must be by design let's confirm cause of death
14:51let forensics finish up and I want an electrical report why didn't the power trip out immediately
14:57oh and have his clothes checked too see if this belongs to any of them please
15:04okay thank you and we should talk to his agent yes
15:13huh
15:31p.m.
15:45Pothole Pete was on the RNLI boat.
15:48He said if they overslept, they could have ended up in Guernsey.
15:54Pothole Pete?
15:55Oh, they call him that because people try to avoid him.
15:59He goes on a bit.
16:02Ship the nabbit.
16:04No, that's not here.
16:06The press office is at the hub, darling.
16:09Do you need the number?
16:11No problem.
16:12Bye.
16:14OK, I've got a criminal damage and also an assault on a shopkeeper in town.
16:21I'll be a couple hours.
16:23OK.
16:27Ship the nabbit.
16:28As his agent, you knew he was ill.
16:30Of course.
16:31But it wasn't public knowledge.
16:33It's the way Kenny wanted it.
16:35He's a very...
16:36He was a very proud man.
16:40He didn't want people fawning over him.
16:43I saw you at the book signing last night.
16:46How did he seem to you?
16:49Oh, she...
16:50You were wonderful.
16:52Calm.
16:54Considering this was his last roll of the dice.
16:57Why do you say that?
16:59His last book was a decade ago, and that did appallingly.
17:05Obviously, he couldn't get a publishing deal, so...
17:09Started borrowing against the house.
17:11So that he could write this one.
17:13He was in financial difficulty.
17:15This book was his last chance of avoiding bankruptcy.
17:20He kept his money problems from Helen, of course.
17:23He didn't want her to worry about that on top of everything else.
17:27They seem very close.
17:28They lost Helen's mum when she was seven.
17:32So it's only ever really been the two of them.
17:35Everything Kenny ever did, he did for her.
17:38But Mr. Linder confided in you about his financial difficulty.
17:43And his agent goes with the territory.
17:47Can I ask?
17:56Do the initials PM mean anything to you?
18:01No. Should they?
18:03No.
18:07Look, there was another man at the book signing last night.
18:11He didn't look like a fan, but I saw you speaking to him.
18:14That would be Ken's publisher.
18:17Anthony Westley.
18:20Nice to see you pushed the boat out, Anthony.
18:24I think your client's Oxford Street soirees were over a long time ago.
18:29Don't you?
18:31He's made you a lot of money.
18:32He's made us all a lot of money, dear heart.
18:34But I'm slightly surprised that as a literary agent,
18:37you don't understand the use of the past tense.
18:41Your loyalty is staggering.
18:44Jump off your high horse, will you?
18:46He's washed up.
18:47We're both just hovering, waiting for him to die so we can revive his back catalogue.
18:54Not the nicest man.
18:57His time was over.
19:00Metaphorically speaking, people are just not buying his books anymore.
19:04And yet you still publish this latest novel.
19:07True, but on very, very different terms.
19:10No advance, and on the condition that he brought back the Bathtub Murders trilogy.
19:15They were his most successful books, so I thought they will guarantee our best chance of a return.
19:21But with no advance, would that mean that he was writing for free, essentially?
19:25Yes, but he would get the lion's share if the book sold well.
19:31But you don't expect it to?
19:34No.
19:36So a much better deal for you than him, then?
19:40Well, what can I say, business is business, plus I tend to come out in a rash when I lose
19:48money.
19:53Do you know how Mr. Linder died?
19:56He was electrocuted in his bath.
20:00Who?
20:01Exactly the same way as the first murder in his new book.
20:05To be honest, I haven't read it, but it does sound a tad ironic.
20:10You haven't read a book you've just published?
20:12I have people.
20:15Do the initials P.M. mean anything to you?
20:21No, I don't.
20:23No, I don't think they do.
20:24If it is murder, can we make him a suspect, please?
20:28I'm not sure that's quite how it works, Sergeant.
20:31Pity.
20:33This P.M. thing, could it be something else rather than initials?
20:38Such as?
20:40I don't know.
20:41Afternoon?
20:43No, P.M. only really works as a suffix, doesn't it?
20:47And why have it in your hand unless you're trying to tell us something?
20:52The name of his killer?
20:54Why not?
20:55We don't believe it was an accident.
20:57Agreed.
20:58And why take your own life if you're dying?
21:00Life insurance.
21:02His daughter would benefit.
21:04But you get that when he died anyway.
21:07If the prognosis was right, he may have only had weeks left, a day's past.
21:11Which brings us right back to the question.
21:14Who could possibly benefit from the death of a dying man on the verge of bankruptcy?
21:37They threw this.
21:41but you didn't see anyone nothing just a bang and the whole window caved in
21:45lucky no one was out and this was what time uh nine yeah just after we opened
21:59financials are on your desk makes for pretty grim reading what and he had no life insurance
22:05cancelled his policy two years ago and never renewed and the phone's been ringing off the
22:11hook journalists all wanting to know how kenneth linder died and if it's true he was in the bath
22:16i didn't think we'd released anything yet no we haven't well i passed them all on to the hub's
22:22press office all right well done margo was there anything on kenneth linder's social media
22:27that was easy he's on my facebook friends you knew what well back in the day when he was an
22:34angry
22:34young writer and i was a redcoat of perton sands wait you were a redcoat well only for eight months
22:43i got sacked why they said i rigged the over 70s fancy dress competition just because grandad won
22:52and kenneth linder oh we met at a mary opkin concert turned into a weekend of debauchery in norwich
23:01we mostly lost touch after that although people do say he based one of his characters on me
23:08oh which one uh melody alcott she was the waitress in the first bathtub murders yes she was yes no
23:17i
23:17mean she was the killer's ex-girlfriend she was the one who helped unlock the whole case yeah she was
23:21the one who eventually led horace bishop to jeremy cook at the third book yeah and that was you
23:28supposedly but i never saw it myself she was a bit strange
23:35can you give me a description of the man who hit you mr bevin he was a lot taller than
23:40me like
23:41he had on a tracksuit one of them with a hood did you see his face no he had a
23:47scarf over his face
23:49i came out on my way to the bank i only took three steps he stood right in front of
23:54me just like you
23:55are now and he hit me with a rolled up newspaper so he just came up to you and hit
24:01you on the head
24:01with a rolled up newspaper i'm telling you kelly this area has gone to the dogs yesterday similar
24:07thing happened man came up to me tried to punch me in the face a different man yeah dressed the
24:14same
24:15like he was taller than me too well and he tried to punch you yeah but he missed then he
24:21started
24:21crying and ran off crying it's these kids kelly kelly they're all sniffing glue and smoking something
24:29day before one of them stole my dog poo dog poo honey butcher my dog got into the shop from
24:39upstairs
24:40it left a little presence here so i bagged it up went outside to the bin and this lunatic
24:47ran up snatched it and ran off okay can you describe him he's a border terrier no no the the
24:55man who stole
24:55your poo oh uh dressed the same like um tracksuit and face covered and was he taller than you what
25:02you
25:02mean you said the others were i'm just trying to get a description oh well yeah now you mentioned
25:11kelly kelby and he was wearing a tracksuit with his backside hanging out oh that's kids for you these
25:18days though isn't it i know you got all these fierce recognition cameras these days you'd be better off
25:24with arse recognition okay um well i'll leave it with me mr bevan i'll talk to the other shopkeepers
25:34see if anyone's seen anything but i'll be in touch right door kelly hey kelly bloody good idea that's what
25:44they need stop calling me kelly hello boy see anything happen down there at the box no
25:53see anything thank you hello
26:07that was the boat yard the lily bond might be out of the water for months it needs a complete
26:13overhaul i can't say i'm surprised it had bits falling off when i was staying on it well you
26:19know you're always welcome at mine i'm probably mortified thanks very much no not about staying
26:25with you about the boat really loves that boat doesn't he yeah but it's only ever supposed to be
26:31a stopgap until we found somewhere more permanent so maybe it's time we did just that find a house
26:40good for you motty won't be easy there's always loads of places up for sale no i don't mean finding
26:47a
26:48house i mean telling humphrey
27:07so you've heard then heard what about archie what about him i heard he was dating
27:15good for him don't you want to know who is no
27:24who no idea but very pretty by all accounts they were seen coming out of kitty jay's arm in arm
27:34hi nick okay thank you the button doesn't match any of the clothes found in the wardrobe
27:42right and the rcd switch was disabled which meant the power didn't cut off instantly so if it was
27:50murder then it was premeditated what were those initials you found pm why i might have something
27:58on kenneth linda's page someone's posted a death threat saying he's a fraud that he's sold out
28:05doing a new book that he's ruined the trilogy by having a force book some of the messages are pretty
28:10vile but the last one look be careful you don't end up like one of your own victims that fits
28:18doesn't
28:19it a deranged fan who better to copy a murder from the book paul mecca m-e-c-a paul
28:25mecca right so
28:26what do we know about him nothing just the name not much history looks like the account's only been
28:31open a few weeks i can put in a request for some more information but you know what these social
28:36media companies are like yeah i wouldn't hold your breath okay if he's a fan then maybe he was at
28:42the
28:42book signing last night and if he's not local then he must have stayed somewhere so let's check local
28:47hotels guest houses all of that right
28:55shipment out but
29:00psst you're wanted
29:02what i'm gonna help
29:05they'll just have to wait okay i need to speak to helen linda first sergeant
29:15i can't ever remember dad mentioning a poor mecca
29:19it seems he disapproved of the new book accusing your dad of selling out oh we had lots of that
29:27the thing is dad didn't necessarily disagree with him either
29:31but going back to the bathtub murders was the only way he could get published
29:36i think he needed the money oh he never said anything but he hated anthony wesley
29:44i know he'd never have gone back there unless he had to
29:49the other day
29:50sorry excuse me
29:54hello
30:06di goodman i presume james smith please
30:25i was expecting chief superintendent woods
30:30no longer withers i'm afraid oh oh not deceased in dartmouth look though some might argue they're
30:38much the same thing yeah but i digress look there's been a small restructure
30:46not trying to boil the ocean just a realignment bringing all the remaining substations under our control
30:53our administrative planning which in turn reports the local police and crime panel in your case that
30:59would be shipped and abbott of course it's non-invasive just building a loop everyone's in it and we all
31:08open our kimono kimono share what we have get all our ducks in a row
31:14that's how we move the needle you follow yes no not really now the first carriage on the train to
31:23efficiency harbor is streamlining trimming the fat cutbacks
31:29well unclogging the pipes there's only four of us which is rather the point in what way there should
31:37only be three your staff to square footage ratio is off message
31:45oh but it's not all bad news no the decision about who to lose all yours
31:59hey sam it's martha goodman
32:03there's um one of your properties i'd like to see if it's still available
32:07on polka hill cheer up it might never happen that's the point what everyone seems to have
32:16things going on martha's looking to buy a new house and she's been made a new counselor going
32:20off on fancy lunches all the time or she's dating again and here's me exactly the same as i was
32:27last
32:28week last month pretty much the whole of last year literally nothing is happening in my life right now
32:36one morning i'm just gonna wake up and find out i'm old still on my own and still living in
32:44chipton
32:44abbott can't think of anything worse i know right so who's actually dating then not that i'm bothered
32:52just interested no idea it's supposed to be really pretty though
33:15no one seems to have seen anything if it's the town center the cctv should have picked them up
33:22hi sir so the name mecca i ran a quick trace we have 34 families with that last name in
33:30devon
33:30and cornwall but with nothing to cross-check it with it's tough to narrow down right so what do
33:38we know about him uh he's a kenneth linder fan he's got a limp and he's got a button missing
33:45not much
33:46all right uh see if there's a kenneth linder fan club or a book reading group um they'll have a
33:53list
33:53of members wouldn't i think of that yes and uh maybe we could take a punt on the limp too
33:57check for
33:58local hospital admissions in the last six months injuries to his left left leg i'm on it yes
34:06so the hub anything to report uh yes yes seems we're under new management everyone
34:14the chief super's moved on and we are now being overseen by the planning team and the local police
34:23and crime panel so where's charlie woods gone darkmouth i think he said oh no she was lovely
34:30i really liked her yeah she was definitely one of the better ones is that it though now charlie's gone
34:37no new directives or anything uh uh no
34:42so
35:03wow
35:11I have to do that.
35:23Lab have confirmed Kenneth Linder as death by electrocution,
35:28although they have listed his amyloidosis as a secondary cause.
35:32His body was so weak, he was unlikely to survive the initial shock.
35:36Mm-hm.
35:37This is madness.
35:39What's that, Kelby?
35:40The local bookmaker, David Bevan, assaulted three times in three days.
35:46Got the town centre CCTV footage, but not one of them makes any sense.
35:51Look, here, this is the first one.
35:54His dog makes a mess in his shop.
35:56He bagged it up and was taking it to an outside bin.
36:00Then someone snatches it off him.
36:02That's weird.
36:03Then the next one, same time, next day, near enough.
36:08A different bloke runs up and tries to punch him, misses,
36:13and then Mr Bevan said that he started crying and then ran off.
36:17Right.
36:17And then, this morning, a third bloke came out of nowhere,
36:22whacks him on the head with a rolled-up newspaper for no reason,
36:26and then just runs off as well.
36:27It's all very odd.
36:28It's just kids messing about.
36:31I think I found your poor mecca.
36:37Yeah, he arrived two nights ago.
36:40I said he was here on business.
36:42Kept himself to himself.
36:49Would you know him if you saw him again?
36:52No doubt it.
36:54Don't pay much attention to overnighters.
36:57Can I ask how he paid?
37:00Er, cash.
37:01Cash.
37:04Has anyone else stayed in this room?
37:06No.
37:08Er, the cleaner's supposed to check for things like this.
37:12Er, did he give any personal details when he checked in?
37:15Address, phone number?
37:16He filled a registration card out.
37:19Can we see it?
37:20It's downstairs, in the office.
37:22Esther.
37:28Do you have any security cameras?
37:30We have a doorbell camera.
37:32Excellent.
37:33Hmm.
37:34Can't see him arriving.
37:36Oh, but he might have come in through the side door.
37:39Let's look at when he left.
37:42OK.
37:43Thanks, Margot.
37:45Address and phone number are false.
37:48There he is.
37:50He's got a limp.
37:57That's him.
38:03Come on.
38:04You should have gone an hour ago.
38:06Er, nearly done.
38:08Boy, your age should be rushing home, getting ready to go out.
38:12Haven't you got a date or anything?
38:14Nah, I've given up on all them dating apps.
38:17Last one I met up with.
38:19Must have used a photo that was older than me.
38:23She keeps sending me photos of her lasagna.
38:31Well, don't be long.
38:34I won't.
38:47Hi.
38:50Bye.
38:56Bad day.
38:58You're not as bad as Selwyn.
39:00Look, he's homeless.
39:02Oh, your author's been all over the news.
39:05Saying it was murder.
39:06I think so, yeah.
39:08Any idea who it was?
39:09Well, we've got a good suspect.
39:11A disgruntled fan who's sending threatening messages and we can place them at the seams, so...
39:17I'm sorry.
39:18I know you liked him.
39:20I did, yeah.
39:23But it's not that.
39:27I got called into the hub.
39:29Oh.
39:31You've been told off again?
39:32Not this time.
39:36They're saying I've got to lose someone at the station.
39:40What?
39:41Yeah.
39:43Apparently there should only be three of us at the station, so I need to lose one of either
39:46Esther, Kelby or Margot.
39:51That's awful.
39:52Yeah.
39:53What will you do?
39:53I have no idea.
40:01So, I've got something that might cheer you up, or make you feel ten times worse.
40:08Right.
40:10If it's bad timing and you don't want to talk about it, then just say so.
40:14It's bad timing.
40:18But the lily bond will be out of the water for weeks, maybe months.
40:23And, although we can stay at Mum's again, I was thinking that maybe it was time to move
40:31on, and went back to our original plan when we first moved down, and bought house.
40:45Are you serious?
40:47Look.
41:02Hello, Peter.
41:03Where have you been?
41:05Oh, Arthur.
41:06Still not bare that leg.
41:08Aw.
41:08Hello, lovey.
41:09See you Friday.
41:21You're in early.
41:22What's up with you?
41:23Weren't you, Ben?
41:24No.
41:26So, I had a brainwave.
41:28Oh.
41:28I was sitting in the bath, listening to Billie Eilish, when I realised that all those
41:35things that happened to Mr. Bevan, outside the bookmakers, all happened at the same time,
41:41between five to nine and ten past nine, three days in a row.
41:47So, what if they're there again today?
41:48I can get there first, and wait for them to show up.
41:52So, what's Billie Eilish got to do with it?
41:56Oh, nothing.
41:57I just like her.
42:16The fan club hasn't got a poor mecca listed.
42:20I'm still waiting on hospital reports.
42:22Okay.
42:24That's sad.
42:25What is?
42:26It's an interview with Kenneth Linder.
42:28They asked him where the title of his book came from.
42:31When his wife was dying, she made him promise to look after their daughter, Helen.
42:36He said to her that he would.
42:38To his final breath.
42:41Hmm.
42:41I think he kept his promise.
42:43They were very close.
42:44Yes.
42:45I only wish we had more answers for her.
42:51Right.
42:53Let's run through what we've got again.
43:05Hey!
43:07Hey!
43:08Stop!
43:10Oi!
43:11Stop!
43:18Go get him, Kelly!
43:32Hey.
43:36Go!
43:37Hey!
43:38Go!
43:39Hey!
43:49She's the best girl that I ever had
43:52I fought the law ever
43:54You're the one I fought the law ever
44:13If we see, who's the trap?
44:26You're the one I want you to do
44:27There's nowhere to go
44:33She
44:34Come here
44:37We're going in
44:39No
44:40Stop it
44:41Ok
44:42Oh
44:49You lived here as a teenager, didn't you?
44:51Yes, I did.
44:52Didn't you find it weird?
44:54Seeing the same people every day.
44:56And them always looking the same.
44:59Kelby!
45:02Hello.
45:03Um, can I use your bathroom, please?
45:07Oh!
45:11Oh, neither can we roll out, Tom.
45:13Kelby?
45:14Kelby?
45:15Mum's washing my uniform.
45:17I was chasing one of the kids that assaulted Mr Bevan.
45:20Caught one of them, and he dobbed the other two in.
45:23They're in the hub at the moment being questioned.
45:26Well done, Kelby.
45:27Yes, indeed. Well done, Kelby.
45:29So, what was it all about?
45:31OK, so, Mr Bevan keeps the cash from the tills and the slot machines
45:37in a safe overnight, then banks it the same time every morning.
45:42They obviously found out about it and decided to rob him.
45:47But they weren't very bright.
45:51The first one thought Mr Bevan was on his way to bank his takings,
45:55but he wasn't.
45:56He was disposing a bag of dog poo.
46:02The next day, they had a different plan.
46:05The second one was going to throw Pepper into Mr Bevan's face
46:08and steal the bag of money.
46:10But he didn't account for the window issue.
46:20The third one had another plan.
46:22He had put a big chisel in a rolled-up newspaper to caution.
46:26But he hadn't wrapped it tightly enough.
46:29So when he pulled his arm back...
46:41So, that's what happened to the Barber's window.
46:44And lucky it did.
46:45It could have killed someone.
46:48Oh, what have you done?
46:51I turned my ankle when I was getting pulled out of the mud.
47:01Esther, have we got the doorbell footage of Paul Mecker?
47:04Uh, yes.
47:05Hang on.
47:07Ooh, they're talking about us.
47:09Shifton Abbott police have no comment on the theories
47:11that the author was murdered in the same way as the victims
47:14in his latest thriller.
47:15The new book is flying off the shelves,
47:18with fans saying his death is something he could have written himself.
47:22Yes, it could!
47:34Oh, that's exactly what it is.
47:39The final bread.
47:42Yeah.
47:43But why Paul Mecker?
47:47Who is he?
47:49Oh, an accomplice part.
47:51He...
48:04Oh, that's very clever.
48:06Do you know what happened?
48:10I think I do.
48:12So was it murder?
48:15Not exactly.
48:17He took his own life?
48:19Strictly speaking...
48:21..both.
48:23The button, the memo pad, the footprints in the garden,
48:27the mysterious Paul Mecker,
48:29the jacket he just happened to leave behind.
48:31All very convenient and easy to find.
48:35All ultimately leading nowhere.
48:39Why?
48:41Because they weren't clues at all.
48:44They were simply the penstrokes of a master storyteller.
48:49Kenneth and his books were no longer attracting the following they once did.
48:54And facing financial ruin.
48:58He was then very literally dealt a killer blow.
49:06He was dying.
49:08But his thoughts were not for himself.
49:10They were for his daughter, Helen.
49:12Having kept his financial woes from her,
49:14he knew that when he was gone,
49:16she'd be left with nothing.
49:18So I think when he was told he was dying,
49:21he concocted a plan.
49:23First, he had to get a publishing deal.
49:26He did so by agreeing to return to his most successful trilogy,
49:30The Bathtub Murders.
49:33But, more importantly,
49:35I think he's the one who suggested he write it without an advance.
49:38Instead, taking the lion's share of profits from book sales.
49:45But, why would he do that if he was broke?
49:49Because he intended to make sure the book was a runaway success.
49:54And I think he did so by murdering himself.
49:58Knowing he only had weeks,
50:00perhaps days left to live,
50:02Kenneth Linda said goodbye to his daughter.
50:05But, as he wasn't insured,
50:06he knew he had to find a way to secure her future.
50:10Promise you'll have an early night.
50:11Oh, a nightcap first, I think.
50:15One.
50:15At least.
50:17I love you.
50:19Love you too.
50:20To fulfill the promise he made to her mother,
50:23all those years ago.
50:27I doubt that any right-minded person
50:29would consider such a thing.
50:30But once he made his plan,
50:32his course was set.
50:34First thing he did was plant his clues.
50:37First, the footprint.
50:38Adding a limp for dramatic effect.
50:41Then, the mysterious note.
50:51And the button.
50:57And then, with everything in place,
51:02he carried out his plan.
51:08A few days before,
51:10he booked into Sandal's guest house
51:12in the name of the character he created,
51:14making sure that he left the jacket
51:16with a missing button behind
51:17and to get caught on the doorbell camera,
51:21allowing us to see the supposed limp
51:24he'd orchestrated in the flowerbed
51:26to confirm his identity.
51:29I also think he sent himself the death threats.
51:32The account used by Paul Mecker,
51:34it had only been operating a few weeks.
51:36So he did it all himself?
51:39Yes, Kelby.
51:41I think he did.
51:43As news spread of the fictional matter
51:46that became real life,
51:47he ensured that his new book
51:49became a bestseller.
51:53Remember the words
51:54that he spoke to his dying wife
51:56all those years ago
51:57when she begged him
51:57to look after their daughter?
51:59That he'd look after her
52:01until his final breath.
52:05That's exactly what he did.
52:07So what gave him away?
52:09But who's Paul Mecker?
52:11Why, okay.
52:12Two things were his undoing.
52:15Footprint casts from the garden
52:18show that the weak leg was on the left.
52:21Yet, walking away from the guest house,
52:25the limp was clearly on his right leg.
52:29Any other thing?
52:30Or the hubris?
52:31No.
52:49It's an anagram.
52:52Paul Mecker,
52:54Mea,
52:55Culper.
52:56Latin?
52:58An admission of guilt.
53:00Quite literally.
53:01It was me
53:02who did it.
53:15Thank you for taking the time
53:17to stop by.
53:18We thought you'd want to know.
53:21No, I doubt it's much comfort.
53:23No, not at all, to be honest.
53:27The truth is,
53:28I'd swap every penny
53:29of the fortune
53:30he worked so hard
53:31to leave me for
53:33one more day with him.
53:44Yeah, well, lots of, you know, like, filing and stuff.
53:48Here we go.
53:49Don't think I forgot anything.
53:50Oh, there you go.
53:51Well, don't kill me.
53:53Want some good news?
53:54Yes, always.
53:56Kenneth Linda's publisher,
53:58Anthony Westley,
53:59just got sacked.
54:00Why?
54:02For signing a contract
54:04that gives most of the money
54:05from the booksellers
54:05to the Linda estate.
54:07Yes, the book is bigger than ever.
54:08It's a bestseller.
54:10Losing all that money,
54:11you must have a nasty rash.
54:14Yes.
54:16Well, I think we shouldn't lose sight
54:17of the fact that
54:18our daughter lost her father,
54:20but, uh...
54:21Well done, everyone.
54:23And well done, you.
54:24To our amazing inspector,
54:27Martha,
54:28who saved him from a watery grave,
54:30our brilliant Kelby,
54:32who cracked his own case
54:33and waded through mud
54:34to bring his prisoner in,
54:36and Margot,
54:37who is the font of all knowledge,
54:39and Esther,
54:40the voice of reason
54:41and the glue that holds us all together.
54:44Oh, and not forgetting
54:46our new counsellor.
54:47Oh!
54:48Cheers!
54:49Cheers!
54:49Cheers!
54:51Cheers!
54:51Cheers!
54:52Cheers!
54:58OK,
54:59so the pictures I showed you
55:00are a bit old,
55:02and no-one's lived here for a while.
55:04Really?
55:05Close your eyes.
55:12Oh, God.
55:14I can't see anything.
55:16Ooh!
55:16This way.
55:17And, uh,
55:18there's the step.
55:20OK, yeah.
55:22Do we have a key?
55:23I don't need one.
55:24There's no front door.
55:26Up, up, up, up.
55:28Yeah.
55:30Oh, God.
55:31I'm sorry.
55:33Oh, seriously.
55:35Oh, what's that smell?
55:38Let's not ask.
55:40Right, Martha.
55:42OK.
55:45Are you ready?
55:47I'm not sure.
55:49Open your eyes.
55:54OK, two questions.
55:55One,
55:56are you sure we're in the right house?
55:57And two,
55:58if we are,
55:59what on earth possessed you?
56:01I'm glad you asked.
56:05Oh!
56:06Oh!
56:07Oh!
56:11Isn't it amazing?
56:14Oh!
56:16Oh!
56:17Oh!
56:21Oh!
56:23Oh!
56:26Oh!
56:26Oh!
56:27Oh!
56:27Oh!
56:27Oh!
56:27Oh!
56:29Oh!
56:29Oh!
56:32Oh!
56:36Two crimes?
56:38Two attempts to undo those crimes.
56:40I am not mad!
56:42You think someone trashed the place, then immediately put everything back?
56:46Mr. Smith is still pounding me for a decision on who I'm going to let go.
56:51Oh my god, ma'am. There's Archie in that woman.
56:53Pausing fostering still feels like the right thing to do.
56:56Especially now we're back living with your mom.
56:58Remember, you are enough.
57:02I've definitely had enough. Know that much.
57:04It came this morning.
57:10A mythical beast lurking offshore next night on BBC One.
57:13The series finale of Death in Paradise coming up.
57:17And it was ahead of its time.
57:19The cult classic turns 30.
57:21Who can forget this life?
57:23Press red to watch on iPlayer.
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