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Claws Out

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This article contains plot details about an upcoming episode.

Claws Out is the third episode of the twenty fourth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.

Synopsis[]

In the idyllic village of Binwell, pets are going missing. Pet detective Frank Bailey and his crew are on the case- using technology to find missing cats and dogs. But, when someone commits murder, DCI John Barnaby and DS Jamie Winter investigate.

Plot, Part 1[]

The scene starts out with a thermal image. Frank Bailey, his wife Kim Bailey, Madeline Saunders, Reece Fleming and several other people are looking for a lost dog. The thermal map shows a heat signature. Frank gets coordinates and it is Briar’s Farm. Frank detects a heartbeat in a metal tunnel. Reece digs away weeds and Frank pulls a dog out. Kim Bailey says into her walkie talkie, “Charlie One, subject located unharmed. Over.” William Fleming watches them through binoculars from a distance.

Back at their cars, Kim says, “It's going to be tight if you want to get changed.” Frank retorts, “What? You don't think this is a good look?” Kim says, “That's up to you. It's your award.” Madeline asks Reece if he is coming to the lunch. Reece says he will help with finding dogs, but doesn’t want to sit through Frank getting an award.

Lorna McIntosh is walking to her home and spies a “Cat Missing” post on the mailbox. She tears it down. Lorna walks into her house and greets all of her cats. “Hello! Kitty, kitty, kitties! Kitty, kitty, kitties! Mummy's home. Hello! Oh, look at you. Are you greeting party?” (She gives them snacks).  “A little greeting party.”  and picks up a cat who looks like the one on the Missing Cat post. She puts a collar on the cat and says, “Look what mummy's bought for you, hmm? There you go. Don't you look handsome?”

Inside the Tandoor Kitchen Restaurant, Frank Bailey is being photographed. The photographer says, “Okay, Frank. That's great. Nice smile, Frank.” Waitress, Daniella Saunders spills a dish on Kim Bailey’s lap.  Kim jumps up and exclaims, “Are you serious? This is brand new.” Daniella apologizes and says she tripped.  Frank says, “It runs in the family.” Daniella is incensed, “What? Being clumsy. Are you talking about my brother?”

Frank apologizes, “No, of course not. I just meant what your mother's always…” Daniella says, “You meant Edison. His accident.”  Madeline Saunders, who is seated at a nearby table, says, “Come on, sweetheart. Just... Just calm…”. Daniella snaps, “No, Mum. Why are you defending him?”  The chef, Eshani Hughes says, “Okay, Daniella, go and get some fresh air.” To Kim, Eshani says, “I'm really sorry about that. Let me help you with that.”  Kim snaps, “I'm fine. Thank you.” Eshani tells Daniella, who was cleaning up the floor, to go outside and she leaves in a huff.  Aden Hughes watches Daniella leave.   “You ok? He asks.  “No not really,” says Daniella. Kim says, “It’s ruined,” about her dress. Frank Bailey leaves the restaurant.  Madeline continues to apologize to all.

At the Barnaby abode, Sarah Barnaby and her daughter, Betty, are trying to coax dog Paddy to come through a tunnel.

Barnaby asks what is going on and Sarah tells him that Betty’s determined to enter a "Dog Agility Competition." Barnaby looks at the flyer and Sarah says it’s for a good cause. Barnaby says, “Then let's donate the money and skip the humiliation.”  Barnaby has had enough humiliation for one morning due to forensics training with Fleur. She was in a bad mood- She “quit the dating apps, apparently- Sworn off men.” Sarah says, “She should get a dog. Less work and better standards of...hygiene,” at which point they watch Paddy licking his bottom.

Kim Bailey walks back to her table. Madeline asks if she has any luck on the stain?  Kim says no and asks if Frank has come back.  Madeline wonders if someone should check the gents? At that moment, Tai Yang walks in the restaurant with blood on his hands.

Plot, Part 2[]

MURDER 1: Frank Bailey is lying in a dog cage outside the restaurant. Winter tells Barnaby that Frank is a private investigator, specializing in missing pet cases. He was at the restaurant collecting a local hero award. Fleur tells the detectives that Frank received a stab wound to the neck from a medium-sized blade and has been dead less than an hour. Winter says they are still looking for the weapon. There are multiple witnesses inside the restaurant saying that Frank was at his table until a few minutes before his body was found. So he was stabbed almost as soon as he went outside. There are drag marks into the kennel. In his backpack is camera equipment.  Tai Yang found the body. He's a delivery rider who spotted the body when he came to collect a lunch order. He's also the victim's nephew. The girl standing and talking with Tai is a waitress, Daniella Saunders. Frank had an altercation with her.  They've both given DNA samples and agreed to be interviewed at Daniella's home.

The detectives go to interview Frank’s wife, Kim outside the restaurant where she is sobbing.  Kim says, “I told him it would end like this. Those people who steal dogs are dangerous. His body was found inside the kennel of the dog we were searching for. The family that own this restaurant have a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Storm. She's been missing for four days. Frank was working the case.”  Winter says, “Did he have any leads? Sorry, I... I wasn't trying to be funny.”  Kim says they put up a lot on social media, press & posters. “There's so much money in dog theft now.  There are organized gangs involved.” Barnaby says, “Pet detection is quite niche. How did Frank get into it?”  

Kim says, “He used to be in tech. He launched an e-signature app type thing. I don't know how it works. I just know that, by the time I'd met him, it had made a lot of money. He was supposed to retire after he sold the company. Then our dog, Mabel, she was stolen. Well, no offense, but the police would have done more for a stolen mobile phone.”  She was found eventually. “She was being used for breeding on a farm near Cambridge. It went in the local paper. Some other people started to ask for help and it just went from there, really.”

Winter asks if there was anyone outside of his PI work that Frank had a problem with? Kim says, “He had a...A feud with our next door neighbor, William Fleming. He's getting quite old. He's getting slightly...But he's harmless.”  Kim says her relationship with her husband was normal- She loved him. She doesn’t know why he left the restaurant. He had an argument with a waitress after she spilled some food on Kim.  Kim says Frank’s body was found inside Storm’s kennel. The police need to find the dog if they hope to catch Frank’s killer.

Inside the restaurant, Winter looks at the CCTV footage. Frank went out the back door and into the car park. Aden Hughes says they don’t have coverage of the car park. Aden and Eshani live next door to the restaurant. They were short staffed so Aden was helping out. He is a mortgage broker and Eshani runs the restaurant. Eshani says they did report the theft of their dog, Storm, to the police. The dog was stolen at the cemetery. Aden usually comes to walk the dog during his lunch break. There was a noise from the bushes, Storm ran towards it and then she was gone.  They used Frank to find Storm, although it was a bit awkward since Eshani is Frank’s ex-wife.

At William Fleming’s house, he searches through his papers, finds an arbitration agreement between himself and Frank Bailey and puts it through the shredder.

Barnaby interviews Tai and Daniella. Tai says, “We weren’t even close. It's... It's just the shock of it.  I... I thought he was still alive, so I tried to help him, but...He was still warm.” Barnaby says, “Had your uncle fallen out with anyone?” Tai says, “I don't think so. I... I mean, he argued with Kim, like a lot, accusing her of cheating and stuff, but...I think that was just their thing. I moved out in the end.” Tai only lived with Frank for a month. “I moved to Midsomer to be with Daniella. Then the neighbor let me rent his caravan. (William Fleming) Did Kim tell you about the dog poo wars?”

Daniella says, “William’s got this really nice garden. He's obsessed with it. But he's going nuts because Frank's dogs keep getting in.” Tai says, “He's a sweet old guy, though, isn't he? We're friends with his grandson, Reece.” Barnaby asks, “Are you aware of Frank having a disagreement with anyone else?” Daniella says, “So, obviously, I guess people have been talking about earlier. I was the waitress for his table, but things got kind of…”.. Madeline Saunders comes in and interupts, “I'm Daniella's mum. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was there when she got a bit upset. It was a misunderstanding.” Daniella says, “He was asking me!”  Madeline says, “I know, I just want to make sure they know, that's all. You've never been in any trouble. She's a straight-A student, a place at medical school.”’  Daniella says, “Cause there's never been a killer with good A-levels. I'm not going to med school. Not this year, anyway.” Barnaby says, “I would like to hear from Daniella if possible.” Daniella says, “He said something about my brother, Edison. .. Four years ago, when he was hiking near some cliffs, he was trying to take a photo and he tripped. He died. So, when I tripped over, I thought that Frank was making fun of him. I went outside to calm down. I was at the front by the parasols- I had my music on.”  Barnaby says, “Daniella, this is the time to speak up. If you were upset, if the argument carried on outside.” Madeline jumps in, “My daughter is not a liar.” Daniella says, “I am actually. Sometimes. But not about this.”

Barnaby leaves the Saunders residence. Winter meets him and tells Barnaby that “Eshani Hughes divorced Frank 12 years ago after he had an affair with Kim. Frank's wife was originally the other woman.” Barnaby says, “So our pet detective wasn't just left in a dog kennel. He was left in a dog kennel belonging to his ex-wife.” Winter says, “If the killer put the body there to send a message, then it must have been planned. They knew Frank was going to leave the restaurant.”  Barnaby says, “Or they lured him out there. Any messages on his phone? Winter says no, but Frank had his SatNav open, and he'd entered the Saunders' address. Barnaby says, “Why would he be going to Madeline Saunders' house when Madeline and Daniella were both at the restaurant? Let’d do some more digging…Get the kitchen staff to check if they're missing any knives and ask forensics to give the once over to any knives they do have.”  

Both detectives hear Madeline and Daniella arguing through their front window.” Daniella says, “He was talking to me!” Madeline says, “I didn't butt in. I just wanted him to know what was going on....”

At the Hughes home, Aden reaches on a shelf for a box when his daughter, Zadie, calls, “Dad, can you help me?” Aden puts the box back up on the shelf.

At the Barnaby home, Barnaby asks Sarah if the dog agility thing is run by Madeline Saunders? Sarah says, “Yeah, she's the woman we use for Paddy's obedience classes.” Barnaby asks, “The one who made you cry?”  Sarah says, “They were tears of pure frustration. He's a delinquent,” she refers to Paddy. Barnaby says, “Well, just be extra careful on walks, okay. There have been a few dognapping cases.  Barnaby says to Paddy, “So you stay close, all right. You might be a delinquent, but you're our delinquent.”

Reece, Tai and Daniella are studying in her room when Madeline comes in.  She kicks Tai out. She asks to listen to Reece, who has her son Elliott’s heart. She puts the stethoscope in her ears and listens to Elliott’s heart beat.

Elsewhere, at the Bailey home, Kim comes downstairs and looks at a photo album from Frank and Eshani’s wedding in 2004. She slams the album down. Eshani is looking at the same album in a box at her house. She also pulls out a knife and starts to cry.

At the dog training course, a dog is going through its paces. Madeline asks everyone to grab a piece of equipment. Eshani calls to Madeline from the other side of the fence. She asks Madeline to put up some flyers about their missing dog, Storm. Madeline says sure and perhaps people will listen to her about the importance of recall training. Eshani says, “Storm was stolen. Had nothing to do with her recall.” Madeline says, “I’m sorry, Eshani, but a dog that stays close can't be stolen. I'll do what I can to help, though, of course I will.”

At the police station, Winter shows Barnaby some photos on Frank’s camera. One is of a woman at the window waving a knife. Barnaby tells Winter to find out who she is. Winter says that Tai Yang was in the database for an anonymous allegation of drug dealing earlier this year but there was no evidence. There's a lot of neighbor feuding- Frank and Mr. Fleming accusing each other of theft, trespass, criminal damage and dangerous dog offenses. In the end, they were referred to arbitration. Also, Mr. Fleming has a caution for a pub brawl that happened years ago. Barnaby suggests Winter visit Mr. Fleming.

Fleur comes in and drops off a file. Barnaby says, “Dr. Perkins.”  Fleur says, “Flying visit. I'm going to disappoint you, I'm afraid. The lab is busy, so DNA will take a while. Cause of death, as suspected, was the visible stab wound. Hit the carotid artery, so death would have been speedy. You're looking for a fixed blade, 20 cm maybe. kitchen knife territory.  I'll... call you when I have more."

Barnaby says, “Or just if you need a chat. I mentioned to Sarah that you seemed a bit…”. Fleur says, “A bit... what?” and makes a face. Barnaby says, “She had a good idea, actually. She thought you should get a pet.”  Fleur laughs and replies, “Wow. That's extraordinarily patronizing. One bad date does not make me some lonely old spinster.” Winter says, “I’m sure she didn't mean it like that. If you were going to get a pet, what would you get? I'm 100% a cat person.” Fleur says, “Really? I'd have put money on you being team dog.”  Winter says, “Hmm. I get that. Dogs are loyal, enthusiastic, good companions. But studies suggest that cat people are more intelligent.” Fleur replies, “Exactly. That's why I thought you'd be a dog person.” Winter looks flummoxed and Barnaby laughs.

At Eshani’s home, she looks sadly at the empty dog bed and the dog toys. Then she grabs her phone and purse and leaves.

Winter goes to interview William Fleming. William shows Winter his garden and says, “They get in over there and cause mayhem. But when I complained, well, it was all out war. He even trained his dogs to sh... Do their business on my lawn.”  Winter says, “It went to arbitration, right?”  William says, “Well, Frank had to pay £500 compensation...Look how he paid it.” William opens a door and shows Winter a pile of pennies on the floor. Perry says, “Dumped it on dad's doorstep in a wheelbarrow. Then he tried to get away with a land grab.” William shows Winter where Frank put up a fence and says, “He was ordered to erect a fence, a new fence, but he did it while I was away last weekend. So when I came back, he put it up at the wrong angle. The way he'd done it, he got five feet extra garden.” Winter asks William where he was yesterday lunchtime? William says he didn’t do anything to Frank. Perry says he cooked his dad's lunch. Perry has a house with his son Reece up in the village. He also runs the garden center and has holiday rentals- the caravan and the narrow boat. Reece walks up to see what's going on. Reece works for Madeline with the dog training, so she got him to sign up to hunt for dogs despite Frank. Reece didn’t like Frank because he was bullying his grandfather.  Reece says, “I’m not gonna pretend he was all nice simply because he’s dead.” Reece turns and says, “Sorry Tai.” Tai and Daniella are at the caravan at the end of William’s land near the river.

Barnaby interviews Kim re: Storm. Kim says, “We've logged any reported sightings, but it's been five days now. I think she's been sold on.” Barnaby shows Kim the photos on Frank’s phone. Kim says, “That's Lorna McIntosh. Frank was investigating her for a cat seduction. Enticing other people's cats into her home and keeping them there. It's theft, essentially. People say that she fed her husband to the cats. Apparently she was married to a professor. Her neighbor said the post still arrives for him, but nobody's ever seen him.”  

Barnaby says that Frank put Madeline Saunders' address into his SatNav yesterday afternoon. He asks Kim if she knows why he did that. She says he must have been looking for evidence while they were both out.  Kim says, “Frank noticed a pattern. All of the dogs stolen recently, they were all clients of Madeline. She's got pretty strong opinions when it comes to dog behavior. As in, any problem with the dog is actually a problem with the owner. Frank wondered if she was taking the dogs, but not for money.” Barnaby asks, “To rehome them with other families?”  Kim replies, “That was his theory.” Barnaby asks, “Did Storm's owners use Madeline?” Kim says, “Yeah, because of her barking. Madeline thought it was because they weren't giving her enough exercise.”

In another line of questioning, Barnaby says, “Are you aware that someone used your home computer to research divorce lawyers last week?” Kim says, “Yeah, it was me. I was angry when I first found out that Frank was helping Eshani. I got over it. He was to have zero contact! That was our deal.” The only reason they were at Eshani’s restaurant yesterday was because "The Gazette" booked it.  Barnaby asks if there was still something between Frank and Eshani?  Kim says, “No. Briefly, they rekindled, or whatever it is you want to call it. Not long after Frank and I were married. That was over a decade ago- He hasn't spoken to her since."

Kim says, “There is something that I wanted to mention, actually. Frank's solicitor phoned and his nephew, Tai, the one that found him, he's entitled to 50% of Frank's estate when he turns 21. . .He told me that he wanted to leave something for Tai, and did I mind? I said "No, of course not." But I thought we were talking about a-a flat deposit or something. Not half. I might have to sell the house to pay his share. Has made me reflect a bit though, on him moving to Midsomer to be with Daniella. I mean, it's a bit unusual, no? To move halfway across the country to be with some girl that you met in the pub on Christmas Eve.”  Barnaby says, “You think Tai killed his uncle in order to inherit?” Kim says she doesn’t think that but it’s hard not to think that.

Barnaby goes outside and meets up with Winter. “Tai Yang is living next door, right?” says Barnaby.  Winter says, “Yeah. He's there now.” Winter also shows Barnaby an article from the editor of the "Causton Gazette."  She received an anonymous letter last week telling her to look into nondisclosure agreements at Frank's old software company. He was issuing gagging orders. He's obviously got something to hide.  Barnaby tells Winter to look into it but first go talk to the woman in the photos- Lorna McIntosh.

At Kim’s house, Eshani comes to the door with flowers and says she is sorry about Frank and asks Kim if she can keep looking for Storm.  Kim lets Eshani in the house.

Barnaby goes to talk to Tai. Reece tells him they’ve already spoken to police. Perry is coughing in the background. His handkerchief is full of blood. Meanwhile, Daniella gets a phone call and runs to a car down the road. It is Aden’s, who gives her an envelope full of money.  Meanwhile, Kim and Eshani put up flyers about Storm at a community bulletin board by the graveyard. Kim adds a note about dogs being stolen from the graveyard.

Barnaby tells Tai that he is due to inherit half of everything of Frank’s when he turns 21, which is next week. Tai says he had no idea.

Winter goes to talk to Lorna McIntosh. She is dressed in a very colorful outfit and her hair is disheveled with a sagging barrette. She shuts the cats in the kitchen and gives Winter a cup of tea. He removes a hair from his cup.  Lorna says, “Not everyone appreciates the full clowder. The collective noun for cats.” Winter asks her how many cats she has and Lorna says, “You don't own a cat. You simply borrow their attention for a short while.”   Winter says, “Some of your neighbors have said that your cats are, in fact, their cats…At least three local families have asked you to give their pets back, and you've refused.” Lorna says, “Cats choose their people, not the other way round. But if I was made aware that a family was missing their animal, I would reunite them. That goes without saying.”

Winter asks where Lorna was around 2 pm yesterday. Winter shows Lorna a photograph of her looking out a window waving a knife. Lorna says that “A… A vulnerable woman is exercising her right to self-defense.”  Winter says, “You're threatening the photographer?”  Lorna says, “I was minding my own business when suddenly there's a man in the garden with a camera.”  Winter says that the photographer was gathering evidence about the kidnapping of local cats. He was a private investigator, Frank Bailey. Yesterday afternoon, he was killed- stabbed in the neck. Lorna says, “I’m sorry he lost his life. But if he made a habit of this kind of thing, I'm not entirely surprised."

Aden Hughes comes home and tells his wife, “Hey, I decided to finish early today. Well, I say finish. I just sort of gave up, really. Are you okay, Eshani?” Eshani shows Aden her phone. Aden says, “Right. We have to go to the police. The police need to see this right now.”

Tai is riding his motorcycle when he gets a phone call.  He asks if he can receive any of his inheritance now.

Winter is walking through the graveyard when Tai passes him.  Winter calls Barnaby. “Sir, I've just been to the spot where Aden said that Storm was stolen and Father Hinton was there. He said that he saw Frank and Aden arguing by the cemetery gates on Monday afternoon. Now, he couldn't hear what they were saying, but he felt, from their body language, that it looked like Aden was... was pleading with Frank. There's more to this than a missing dog, sir.”

Barnaby speaks to Madeline at the dog training center about Frank, “His theory was that you steal the dogs because you care. You want them to have better lives.” Madeline says, “I've been tempted, believe me. They're intelligent creatures.” Just then Sarah and Betty run by chasing Paddy. Barnaby says, “I can think of exceptions.”

Madeline says, “These are animals that can keep a blind person safe. Or spot that a person is about to have a seizure. My Labrador is being trained to sniff out bowel cancer. So if a client gives it five minutes on a lead and wonders why it has behavioral problems, then, yes, I do feel like taking it away. But I don’t.” Madeline claims she was work friends with Frank. And personally she liked him. She worried about the neighbor feud. Madeline says, “My son, Edison, was an organ donor, and the only good thing to come out of his accident was Reece. He'd been on the transplant list for over a year, and then Edison's heart saved him. He extended the lives of five people. Reece was one of them. He'd just finished his third year at medical school when he died. So he was always going to end up helping people one way or another.” Barnaby says, “And you're close to Reece and his grandfather now?” Madeline says, “The whole family. They're the reason we moved to Midsomer. When the transplant coordinators put us in contact, we just felt right.”

Barnaby asks, “And what about your daughter's boyfriend, Tai? What do you know about him?” Madeline says, “Enough to know she deserves better. Well, not... better. I don't mean to sound... It's just that she worked so hard for those grades, and now he wants her to go round Canada with him. She'd be throwing it all away.”  Barnaby asks, “Do you think Daniella was the only reason he came to Midsomer? Is there something I need to know about Tai?” Madeline says, “You have to tell me. If he's a...danger to my daughter. Did he do this to Frank?”

At their home, Aden and Eshani show Winter and Barnaby the ransom demand for Storm that they received on her phone. “Five grand in cryptocurrency for the safe return of Storm.”  Aden says, “She wants to use our savings.”  Barnaby says, “Don't do that.”  Eshani says, “If it gets her back?” Aden says, “How do we even know it's for real?” Winter says, “There's a chance that we can trace where this came from.” Eshani says, “But it says we have to pay by tomorrow if we want to see Storm again.”

Barnaby insists they leave it with them. Barnaby asks Aden about a conversation you had with Frank the day before he was murdered. A witness saw Aden in the cemetery. He were pleading with Frank. Aden says he just wanted Frank to be professional with Eshani.  Eshani says, “Because if he did manage to get our dog back, I'd obviously want to run off with him?” Eshani admits that she did get back together with Frank after their marriage ended 10 years ago. Eshani says it was a mistake. Aden says he just bumped into him in the cemetery- “It's where Storm went missing. I was retracing my steps.” Eshani adds, “Look, no one was happy about being in touch with Frank again, but he was the best person to get Storm back, and that's all we care about. We just want her home.”  Aden tries to reassure Eshani, who walks off.

Later at night, Tai arrives at his caravan. He shuts the curtain.  

At the Barnaby’s house, Fleur and Sarah walk in laughing. Fleur says she has deleted the dating apps and is going to get a pet. She is going to test drive dog ownership by taking Paddy for a walk later in the week. “Walkies!” Paddy whines and runs off. Barnaby says he’ll come round.

Plot, Part 3[]

Murder 2: At Tai’s caravan, someone plugs in something to an electrical outlet. Then Tai wakes up and struggles. He is electrocuted.  

In the morning, Winter reports that Tai was found by William Fleming just after 9:00 AM. Fleur says, “Electric dog training collar- Banned in the UK. They usually emit a low-level electric shock using batteries, but this one has been tampered with.”  Barnaby notices that it was wired up to the main power outlet. Tai has electric burns on the neck and scratch marks around the neck, probably caused by him trying to claw the collar off. Fleur adds, “Given the degree of rigor, I would usually say he'd been dead for at least eight hours. But with electrocution, the violent muscle contractions cause rigor to set in earlier, so it could be closer to four. I'll let you know when I have more.”  

Barnaby and Winter discuss the case. An uncle and nephew killed two days apart, both involving some sort of pet paraphernalia. They need to find out if Tai was involved with Frank's PI work. Tai is still a suspect in his uncle's murder.  He was covered in his blood. And Frank's death was going to make him a very wealthy young man if he made it to his 21st birthday. Or, assuming that Tai was innocent, he turned up moments after Frank had been stabbed, and maybe he witnessed something. The lock on the caravan door looks like it's been ripped off, which is presumably how the killer gained entry. But there is no evidence of a struggle inside? Smashing the door would supposedly alert Tai to an intruder, wake him up if he was asleep, and then, surely, he'd fight back to stop the collar going on. Unless the door was smashed after the event. Which the killer would only do if...They wanted to disguise the fact that Tai let them in. Or that they had a set of keys.

William Fleming is watching the detectives. Barnaby and Winter go to ask him how long had Tai been renting the caravan? William says since Easter. Tai said he wanted to save some money so he could go traveling. He had all sorts of plans.  His girlfriend had come to see Tai. And William’s grandson, Reece. Then Perry comes up to defend William. Perry asks if the police are behaving themselves. Perry says he doesn’t want the police interrogating his dad. William says he and Perry both have keys to the caravan, they keep one spare under a rock and the Bailey’s have one.

At the Holmes residence, Eshani is speaking to the bank on the phone. Her bank account is overdrawn.

Barnaby and Winter go to talk to Kim Bailey over the fence.  Kim asks if she should have security or something. Someone seems to be working their way through the family. Kim says Tai didn’t help out with Frank’s investigations as he wasn't interested. Barnaby mentions that Tai was due to inherit his half of the Bailey estate when he turned 21. Now Kim won’t have to worry about selling the house or splitting the estate. Kim sneers at the logic that she would kill Tai to prevent him from inheriting.

Barnaby interviews Daniella, who is crying. She says Tai had a delivery shift on his bike last night. Then he was going to meet her and Reece in the park. But he texted and said he was going straight home.  Madeline inserts that Daniella was home by 10:45. Daniella is annoyed that her mother is keeping tabs. She tells Barnaby that she and Tai were getting on fine. “Better than fine. He was like...He was my person…”. Madeline interupts, “Oh, sweetheart,” and tries to comfort Daniella. She erupts, “No, you don't get to do this! You did everything you could to undermine us. You reported him to the police for dealing drugs.” Madeline says Tai gave her packets of white powder to look after for him and flushed them down the toilet. Daniella says, “They were mine. He just took the blame when you found them. If anyone was a bad influence, it was me. They were my drugs.”  Madeline says, “Think about what you're saying. They won't let you be a doctor if you have a criminal record.”  Daniella says, “That's a good thing, then, isn't it? Because Edison is the one who wanted to be a doctor, not me!” Daniella gets up and walks away.

Barnaby and Winter discuss the situation. Winter says that Daniella was angry, impulsive. That row with Frank could have escalated and She could’ve grabbed a knife on the way out of the kitchen, followed Frank outside, and then Tai turns up and witnesses it. He covers up for her to begin with, but then maybe Daniella and Tai fall out.

Barnaby gets a text from the "Gazette.” She says two lawsuits were started against Frank and then suddenly dropped, presumably because he paid to make them go away. The first litigant was Perry Fleming. He apparently spent six years employed as Frank's office manager before trying to sue him. The second litigant was Professor Lorna McIntosh, the cat lady.

At the garden center, Perry admits, “I worked for him a long time ago now. Nobody asked me for my employment history. The whole environment in that place was toxic. Frank outed me to clients. Humiliated me in front of me colleagues. Constant homophobic remarks, banter, as he called it.” Barnaby asks, “So you were suing for constructive dismissal?” Perry says, “I wanted to. But Reece was waiting for his heart transplant, and things with my ex, Noah, well, that was all falling apart. In the end, it was just easier to take the money and sign the NDA. I needed to move on with my life.”

Barnaby asks, “And did you? Frank forced you out of your job, but he was still living next door to your father, bullying him in his own home. It seems like you couldn't get away from him. Now Frank is dead, and the person most likely to have witnessed his murder is also dead on your father's property. And the letters to the local paper? Sending complaints about Frank's local hero award. Hardly the action of someone who's moved on. Those letters referred to the nondisclosure agreements. How many people knew about those?”

William says, “I did. Bah, it made me sick calling him a hero? I wanted people to know what he was really like. I'm glad he's dead but that doesn't mean either of us killed him.”

Winter goes to speak to Lorna McIntosh about the flyer that says “The Future of Digital Encryption, Professor Lorna McIntosh.”  Lorna says, “It was another life.”  Winter says, “I looked you up online. You developed encryption software, lectured on cyber security. But then you left academia to help Frank launch his company. What did you do for him, exactly?”

Lorna picks up her cat, “Come here, bunny. Do you want a cuddle? Yes? Is it time for a cuddle?”  Winter prompts her, “Professor McIntosh?” Lorna continues, “I wrote encryption algorithms for identity verification. When you sign something online, you need software that will keep that signature secure and legal. That's what I was working on. Frank turned it into an app. I loved that company. The idea of building something from scratch. So I didn't want to admit what was going on there, who he was. Perry Fleming- Frank would humiliate him in front of the entire office and then pretend it was all a joke. I tried to stand up for Perry, but once I did, there was a target on my back. If I stayed, it would be hell. He made that quite clear.”

Winter asks, “You didn't want to go back to academia?” Lorna says, “Oh, no, no, I did, but... but everything with Frank left me...I don't know. I've been struggling with people.” Winter says, “Cats are more straightforward.” Lorna says, “Oh, I know what they all say about me. The crazy cat woman thing. But if it keeps people away, then fine. I'm not crazy. I just want to be left alone.”  Lorna starts talking to her cat. At the police station, Winter and Barnaby look at their evidence board. Barnaby muses,

  1. “A pet detective stabbed in the neck and left inside the kennel of the dog he was trying to find. Who belongs to his ex-wife. And now the murder of his nephew, who may or may not have witnessed his uncle's death. And there's something about Aden's encounter with Frank in the cemetery, something he wasn't saying.”
  2. “Frank's wife- we know that she was contemplating divorce. And the fact that Tai didn't live to see his 21st birthday saved her inheritance.”
  3. Winter argues, “Daniella had an argument with Frank moments before he was killed. We know that she went outside, passing a kitchen full of knives. And then, victim number two is her boyfriend. The timing works that he saw her killing Frank.”
  4. Barnaby says, “In this version of events, Daniella is killing in a fit of rage. She hasn't planned it. She hasn't taken steps to cover her clothes. So why wasn't she soaked in blood?”
  5. Winter: “Hmm. Her mother then? Premeditated. Perhaps Frank was right that she was stealing her clients' dogs, and she knew that he was on to her. He was trying to get to her house, right?”
  6. Barnaby: “Rock solid alibi, though. Several people confirmed she didn't leave the table. I'm wondering if this is actually about Frank's life before he became a PI. Perry Fleming and Lorna McIntosh both have a long history with him, and both of them lied about it.”

Elsewhere, Kim Bailey is removing Frank’s name from the door and putting herself up as Pet Detective.

Fleur reports to Barnaby, “My initial assessment was correct. Ventricular fibrillation leading to cardiac arrest caused by electrocution.” Barnaby laments, “Not even 21. He was saving up to go traveling.”

Fleur says, “You know the rule. We don't go there. I can't do this if I let myself do that. We've got blood under the fingernails, but before you get excited, it could turn out to be his own.” Barnaby says, “Oh, from scrabbling around the collar.” Fleur replies, “Exactly. The lab's taking a look…I hope I didn't outstay my welcome at your place the other night. Although that second bottle of Malbec was Sarah's idea.” Barnaby says, “Oh she’s a terrible influence, that woman. Are you still taking Paddy out this lunchtime?” Fleur says, “I’m not sure about adopting actually. That was possibly the wine talking”  Barnaby says, “But I promised him you'd do it. He'll be crushed.”

Fleur says, “And on the subject of overenthusiastic mutts…” Winter comes in and Fleur poses like a dog behind him with front paws up and tongue out. Barnaby tries to cover his smile. Then she pretends to be a dog peeing on the door as she leaves.

Winter reports that Aden Hughes was fired from his job over a month ago for turning up late, failing to turn up at all, and getting high at lunchtime. And, I wasn't the first person to ask about Aden this week. Frank called on Monday, asking the same questions. Frank obviously knew something about Aden because he was doing his own investigation into him.”

At the Hughes house, Eshani pulls down a box and a tin falls on the floor. A white packet falls out of the tin.  Madeline is cleaning up at her house and finds a butt. She also finds a book about Canada written to Daniella, which Madeline shoves in the trash bag.

Aden tells the detectives that he was clean for about 10 years, but then it crept back in. His wife doesn’t know. She always said, once we had kids, if I went back to it, it'd be game over. He has been hoping to line something else up and until that happens he puts on his suit, waves good-bye, parks up near the cemetery, walks the dog at lunch, and waits for the day to end. Aden admits that he is still using some days. Frank found out about his job situation.  Frank told him, "If the father of Eshani's kids was using drugs, then she had a right to know." He gave me till the end of the week to tell them.” Aden says he has an alibi for when Frank was killed. He was with Dani.  Eshani walks in and says, “You were buying drugs off her!

Fleur tries to play with Paddy in the road. “Good boy, Paddy. Good boy, Paddy. Good boy. (They struggle with the ball). Uh, no, no, no. Give it to me. That's it. Now fetch!” Paddy runs away into the woods and growls at someone.  Fleur calls out, “Paddy. Paddy! Hello? Who's there? Paddy! Paddy!”

Later, Fleur tells Barnaby she will pass on dog ownership. “Not my idea of a hobby.”  Fleur found a backpack in the bushes where Paddy had run off to. Fleur says, “They must have taken it off to crawl into the bushes, then decided running away from me was more important than going back for it.”

Winter says, “If I was being chased by you, I'd definitely prioritize getting away.”

Inside the backpack is a collar, muzzle, treats. It's a dog catching kit. Barnaby notices a key ring with a cork ball on the end. The cork stops the keys from sinking if you drop them in the water.  Winter deduces that the dog thief is keeping the stolen dogs somewhere near water. There were a number of sightings of dogs along the river & Storm was a problem barker. That would make her difficult to hide if she stays in one place- the noise would attract attention- she's being kept on a boat.

The detectives spot a long boat on the river and hear a dog barking. A dog comes out of the cabin of the boat and Reece follows.  Reece tells the detectives, “I’ve been taking good care of her." Storm is the third dog he has stolen. He felt bad for the owners but needed the money to help a friend. The friend owes money to people you don't want to owe money to- Daniella- She just sort of spiraled after exams finished. Like, once that focus was gone, everything with her brother just…” Barnaby says, “Grief.” Reece says, “It's like she's got this self-destruct button. This kid from school. H-His older brother sells pills, and he said that she could have 'em for free if she held on to a package for him, only…” Barnaby says, “Only Madeline found the drugs, thought they were Tai's, and flushed them away.”

Reece continues, “So he said that she had to pay him back. But it was so much. Like, Tai was working extra delivery shifts to help. And then, I remember this guy I met at this dog training thing. He said he was looking for specific breeds to sell and that...he wouldn't ask questions if I ever... found one. I told Daniella I was getting the money from my dad.”

Barnaby asks, “Where did you learn to use such sophisticated encryption?” Winter adds, “The ransom note. Tech team were impressed. You used some kind of dark web proxy.” Reece says, “I didn't send a ransom note. Honestly, that wasn't me.”

The detectives go to talk to Lorna. Barnaby says, “I’m not going to pretend to know what a Tor node IP is, but you're the expert, aren't you? Professor McIntosh. Our digital team can take it from here if you prefer.”  Lorna says, “ I sent it. I've been feeling sick ever since. After everything with Frank, I wanted to get back to work, but I...I get very anxious now. It's all got a... a bit out of control.” She goes to a drawer and pulls out overdue bills. Lorna says “I-I stopped opening them months ago, so I'm not sure how bad it is.” She thought Storm’s family could pay her bills.  They looked like they were well-off. And they're dog lovers,  I thought they'd pay. Dog people are crazy.”

Storm is returned to the Hughes family. Aden goes to hug Eshani, but she pulls away angrily and walks off.

Plot, Part 4[]

MURDER 3:  Cue creepy music. A dog catching pole is slowly pushed through the kitchen window and lowered so that the loop fits around Lorna’s neck. She is strangled as the water boils and the cats watch.

At the crime scene, Winter explains to Barnaby that Eshani found the body. Apparently, when uniform returned Storm to the family, they told her where the ransom note came from. So Eshani came to confront Lorna and she found her. Lorna is lying on the floor and a cat is sitting on her. Fleur tells Winter to get rid of the cat. It is all over the forensic field. The dog catching pole, called a snare pole,  is used for catching dogs. Winter says he was just there interviewing Lorna at 2:45. Fleur points out the cat food dispenser went off at 3:00.  She was dead on the floor by the time it went off. The doors were all locked except for the kitchen window that was open.

Barnaby says the method is different from the other murders. Frank and Tai were both killed at very close quarters.  So what was special about Lorna?” Winter says, “Maybe her murder is not connected to the others.”  A dog kennel, a training collar, and then a dog snare- all items associated with dogs. A neighbor reported that Lorna let a man into her house at lunchtime today. Early 40s, slim, blue beanie, and a beard.

The detectives go to speak to Perry Fleming. Perry is mystified as to why anyone would want to hurt Lorna. Reece comes in and asks who Lorna was. But, William suggests they leave and shuts the door. Perry says he couldn’t believe what Reece was up to with stealing the dogs.  Perry says he did visit Lorna at her home for about half an hour.  They just talked about their old boss just being murdered. Perry was on the travel boat.  “When Reece phoned us from the station, told us what he'd been doing, he said the dog had caused some damage. I've got someone renting it from tomorrow, so I thought I'd go and do some repairs.”

Fleur calls and says that the blood under Tai's fingernails,  is a familial match for William Fleming. The genetic relatedness is exactly 50%. It can only be his son, Perry.

Plot Denouement[]

Inside the garden center, Perry is writing notes in cards. Barnaby comes looking for him. Barnaby says, “It won't look good if you run. We have DNA. When Tai fought back, when you put that collar around his neck, he scratched you.”  Barnaby asks Perry to show them his arms. Perry rolls up his sleeve and there are scratch marks.  Perry says, “I didn't want to hurt Tai. Or Lorna. It was only ever about Frank.” It was revenge for how Frank treated him at work and for what he had done to Perry’s dad.  “Because people like that, they don't stop, do they? Not unless somebody stops them.” Perry says Tai saw “the blood on my clothes. I promised him cash, but then he was getting that inheritance. He didn't need my money anymore.” So the only way to silence him was to kill him.  Lorna knew how much Perry despised Frank... she worked it out. “When I saw him going after my dad, it was like it was all starting up again. I couldn't let that happen, could I? Not when I wasn't going to be there to protect him.” Perry has cancer and won’t be around to take care of Reece, who will need another heart transplant.

Barnaby is having lunch with Fleur and Sarah. Sarah walks up with Paddy, “I just had to pay for that guy's dinner because someone jumped up and stole his sausage roll.” Barnaby says, “Seriously, Paddy, you know that there are...There are dogs who can lead blind people across the road, rescue people from mountains, sniff out disease. All we ask you to do is sit in the pub without causing chaos.” 

Winter walks up with drinks. He says, “Perry's alibi for Lorna's murder checks out. He was on his boat. The pub's CCTV, it points straight across there. You can see his boat and that he was on it.”  Barnaby exclaims, “Well, why did he just confess to killing her?” Winter says, “Maybe he's trying to protect someone. His father, his son. Neither of them could have killed Lorna. Reece was in our custody suite and William was there to collect him.”  Barnaby muses, “If Betty needed an organ transplant, if her life was saved by someone's sacrifice, I'd do almost anything for them.”  Winter says, “Madeline Saunders.”  Barnaby says, “Madeline told me that her dog could sniff out cancer. Perry said no one knows about his diagnosis. But what if Madeline did know and used that knowledge to her advantage? What if Madeline is the one with the motive, not Perry, and she persuaded him to kill for her?”

Winter says, “But why would Madeline want to kill Frank?” Barnaby says, “I don't think she did. But she hated Tai, didn't she? She tried everything to keep him away from her daughter. And Tai turned up in that car park moments after Frank. Two men of the same height and build, both wearing dark jackets, both in full-face motorbike helmets.”  Winter says, “You think Tai was the target all along? It was just a case of mistaken identity?” Barnaby says, “Wrong time, wrong place. It's possible.” Barnaby asks Fleur to let Sarah know they’ll be back. Paddy is running across the pub grass and Sarah is chasing him.

Winter is walking along the river. He calls Barnaby, “Sir, I found him. Uniform took him to the river to locate the knife. And you're right. It wasn't Frank being lured to the restaurant car park. It was definitely Tai. The takeaway that he was meant to collect was ordered to a church hall. When it wasn't delivered, no one chased it up. The whole thing was a trap.” Perry is in handcuffs at the river’s edge.

Barnaby goes to Madeline’s house. He asks Madeline about the dog that can sniff out cancer. Barnaby says, “He was good enough to spot Perry's illness wasn't he? You did an incredible thing, allowing your son's heart to go to Reece. I can't imagine how difficult that was and how grateful Perry was.”  Madeline says, “He always said...if there was anything he could do. When I found the...drugs in Daniella's bag...I had to do something. And it is like...it all fell into place. (She starts to cry) Charlie (the dog) had been behaving strangely around Perry, and I eventually persuaded him to go to the GP, and he confided in me about his diagnosis. I saw a solution.”  

Winter and Perry walk up, Perry says, “You saw a way to take advantage of a terminally ill man. I know what I owe you. When I see Reece laughing with his mates, or kicking a football, when I can still look in on him at night, I know that's only possible because of what you lost. I would have done anything you asked me to do.  But you shouldn't have asked me to do that.”  Madeline says, “I just thought that you were more able to take the risk.” Perry replies, “Because I wasn't going to live to see the consequences.”’ Winter says, “All the planning for Tai's murder, luring him to the restaurant, that was you?” Madeline says, “I used to wait behind the kitchens to collect Daniella after her shifts. Hardly anyone used that area. Just the takeaway drivers and..the delivery app that Tai worked for. You could see the rider's name, but...it went wrong.”  

(Flashback: Perry waits outside the door watching his phone for the delivery man. “It accepted the order. Then, right on time, there he was. He was coming from the wrong direction, black jacket, same sort of helmet.” Perry attacks the figure and then realizes it is Frank. “It was only when I heard him screaming that I realized it wasn't Tai.” Perry opens up the visor on the helmet.   “And then I heard the bike. I knew I had to hide him. The only place I could see was that kennel.”  He hides Frank in the kennel, covers him with a cloth, removes his coveralls and grabs the knife and runs).  

Barnaby asks, “That story about buying Tai's silence.”  Perry says, “That was a lie. He didn't witness anything.” Barnaby says, “And he was still alive. So you tried again in the most brutal way. You electrocuted him.”  Madeline says, “Everyone was saying that Frank had been killed because of his PI work. And when I heard that theory, it was easiest to play into it.” (Flashback: Perry says, “She told me it would be painless for him. It wasn’t.” Tai wakes up and tries to get the collar off.  “And his eyes...When I put the collar on, he woke up. When he realized what I was doing, it was just sheer terror.”)

Winter says, “We know that Perry didn't kill Lorna. You did that.” Madeline says, “He told her everything.” Perry says, “I had to talk to someone, and we could have trusted her. She understood.”  Madeline says, “I couldn't take the risk. (Flashback: Madeline sticking the pole through the window and strangling Lorna.)  I tried to do it quickly. She didn't know it was coming.”

Barnaby says, “He killed for you, and then he lied for you. Was it worth it?” Perry shakes his head.  Perry says, “I thought I was helping, but…”. Madeline says, “You were! He was saving my daughter's life. The way Edison saved Reece.”  Barnaby says, “Except Daniella didn't need saving.” Madeline insists, “She did. She'd worked so hard! And she was just...throwing it all away! From the moment that she met Tai, her life went off the rails.”  Barnaby says, “You mean, it went in the direction she chose.” Madeline says, “You do not know what you're talking about. She's my daughter.” Perry exclaims, “Exactly. She's your daughter, not your pet. You don't own her. You think you can control everything, and you even managed to control me, but it's over. I did what you wanted. Now we're quits.”

Daniella and Reese walk up. Daniella says, “Mum? What's going on?”

Barnaby and Winter meet Sarah at the pub. Sarah tells Barnaby that Fleur has gone to get Lysander. Fleur walks up with a parrot on her shoulder. She says, “Here he is. I did the postmortem on his owner and heard he needed a new home.”  Winter quips, “Now I see it. It's like you've been missing a parrot this whole time.” Fleur says, “Birds are more my thing than dogs. More chat, less excrement.” Winter puts a hand up to Lysander and says, “Who's a pretty boy then? The parrot says, “Not you, nitwit. Not you, nitwit.” Then he laughs. Fleur says, “See? My soul mate? Barnaby says, “I think you've finally found the one.”

Cast[]

Galleries[]

Body Count[]

Supporting Cast[]

Episode Images[]

Arrests[]

Notes[]

The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:

Trivia[]

The Trials and Tribulations of Jamie Winter:

  • Persistent teasing/harassment by Fleur Perkins. Jamie is extremely tolerant of Fleur's behavior.

Quotes[]

“


Fleur: “They must have taken it off to crawl into the bushes, then decided running away from me was more important than going back for it.”
Winter: Winter says, “If I was being chased by you, I'd definitely prioritize getting away.”


”


“


Winter: to the parrot- "Who's a good boy?"
Parrot: "Not you nitwit. Not you nitwit."


”


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