Vera

We may need you to provide a statement, OK?

Sure.

Kenny, when did they start building houses out here?

Oh, a good ten years ago now, ma'am.

So, what have we got? Freddie Gill.

Owner of the house. He was shot. Twice.

What's with the heavy mob? Oh, bailiffs, ma'am.

They showed up at six this morning to repossess the property.

Right.

Is this the deceased's vehicle?

It is.

I could see you in one of those.

I wouldn't drive that if you paid me.

Morning, Malcolm. Mm.

Are you sure you've got enough lights?

Well, the lighting is poor and the property doesn't have any power.

The electricity was cut off last week.

So, what can you tell us?

He's been dead for 12 hours.

Maybe slightly less.

The victim's been shot twice in the chest.

We recovered two nine-millimetre casings.

Likely fired from a handgun.We're still searching for the weapon.

Mm.

The diameters of both the entry wounds are fairly tight.

So, I would suggest the shooter was no more than six feet away

when the gun was fired.

Roughly where DS Healy is standing now.

So, up close and personal.

Indeed.

Any witnesses? I've got a next-door neighbour.

She says she was home all night,

but swears she didn't see or hear anything.

What?

Didn't hear two gunshots?

Is that his bag? Most likely.

There's a monogram on the inside. Initials FG.

And was it open when you found it? Mm-hm.

He was obviously going somewhere.

Or coming back from somewhere. The boxers are clean.

The shirts are pressed. He was going.

So, we need to find out where to.

So, how did they get in?

The bailiffs found the front door open.

It could be our man let his killer in.

But Forensics, they found a window open in the ground floor bedroom.

Anything? Prints on the outside of the glass.

Well, they're not the window cleaner's, are they?

Mm, it could be the access point.

So, are we thinking burglary?

Don't know. No, it's doubtful.

Still had a wad of cash on him and a brand-new sports car in the drive.

And yet he's not paying his mortgage or his leccy bill.

Whose room's this? We think Gill's son. Riley Gill.

According to the neighbour,

Riley and his mum Jade moved out about eight months ago.

We're still trying to trace them.

Right, well, let's make that a priority.

What did he do for a living?

A bit of an entrepreneur, by the looks of it.

His main interest was a used-car garage in the city.

He owned it with a partner, Nasir Ali.

Excuse me, have you touched that?

The sun visor. No, ma'am.

What is it? Well, it's been pulled down...

..and the mirror flipped open.

Maybe he had a passenger.

Probably a woman.

Why probably a woman?

It's a vanity mirror.

What, only women are vain, is that it?

No. But normally they use them...

You're right. It could be a man.

Nah. Probably a woman.

The question is, where is she now?

Hm.

Right...

Let's go and see Nasir Ali.

That looks like it's done a few miles.

Looking to trade her in?

Oh, we're not here to buy, sir.

Or sell.

DCI Vera Stanhope. This is DS Healy.

We're looking for Nasir Ali.

That's me. Is there a problem?

Right, well, you could say that, love.

Can we go inside?

Of course.

Follow me.

It's unbelievable.

I mean, why would anyone...?

He was such a good bloke.

When did you last see him?

A few days ago, maybe.

And how did he seem? He seemed in good form.

He wasn't worried or anxious?

Freddie? No.

I never saw him worried in all the time that I've known him.

And how long have you known him?

About six years.

Although, it's me who's in charge of running the operation.

Had he been in any kind of trouble lately?

What kind of trouble? Well, the sort of trouble

that gets you killed in your own home, Mr Ali.

No. Nothing like that.

He was just a businessman. Everyone liked him.

Well, clearly, not everyone.

Did you know he was losing his house?

He was being evicted this morning.

No.

But business here is good, is it?

Aye, we're ticking over.

So, he'd have had some money coming in, if you're ticking over.

Of course.

What about family? He had a wife.

Jade. But they've been separated a while now.

She and the son Riley had moved out.

She came by yesterday.

Jade did.

His wife was here?

She was looking for him.

Why was she looking for him?

I'm sorry.

No idea.

Well, thanks very much, Mr Ali.

Well, if this is the business ticking over,

I should hate to see it when it's struggling.

Do you think we should check the books?

Aye.

Let's see what the real story is.

Jac's traced the wife.

She and the son are living with her family, the Tripps.

Where?

They run the pub on the road to Osterhead.

I know it.

Right.

The pub's closed this morning.

Arthur's friends and family only.

Ah, well, we're sorry to intrude,

but I need to talk to Jade Gill.

Is this important? It's just, er...

..we buried her dad today, so...

What's your name, love? Darren Tripp.

Arthur was me brother.

I'm Jade's uncle.

Well, I'm sorry for your loss, Mr Tripp.

But this can't wait.

Mrs Gill? Yeah. What do you want?

Is there somewhere quiet we can talk, love?

Yeah, through here.

It's the police talking to our Jade.

When did this happen?

Well, sometime last night, we think.

Now, in order to find out who did this,

I need to ask you some questions.

Now, can you think of any enemies your husband might have had?

I can think of plenty.

Obviously, I don't mean anyone who'd kill him, like. I just meant...

Freddie had a reputation.

A bit of shark, when it came to business.

He liked getting one over on folk.

Anyone in particular? No.

Freddie wasn't fussy.

When did you last talk to him?

A few weeks ago.

We broke up in October last year.

We've barely spoken since.

But you were looking for him yesterday.What?

Nasir Ali said you turned up at the garage,

looking to talk to Freddie.

Yeah.

But I didn't find him.

Why did you need to see him?

I wanted to make sure he didn't come to Dad's funeral.

I didn't want him upsetting Riley.

Riley being his son?

Technically, yes.

But Freddie never showed much interest in him.

Jade, dear, you're needed back in here.

We're supposed to be mourning our dad.

I'll be there in a minute, Mum.

Mind telling us what's going on? It's about Freddie.

He's dead. What do you mean, he's dead?

I mean, he's dead. Someone shot him.

Riley, love... I'll get him.

Look, I know you've had a rough day, Mrs Gill.

But I have to ask...

..where were you last night?

She was with us.

Her family.

And where were you?

My husband's body went into the chapel last night.

We were there and then we all came back here.

And can I ask, what time was that?

The vigil finished at 6:30.

We were back in the pub by 7:00.

Now, there'll be time enough to mark Freddie's death.

But today, we're here to celebrate my Arthur.

A decent man. And a loving father.

Freddie Gill.