The Coroner

See you tomorrow, Mabel.

And no chasing after Mr Roberts tonight.

All right, love? No need to pick me up in the morning, I'll walk.

Casserole's in the oven. Oh, ta. I might go out with Nick later.

Just so long as he doesn't stay over. What do you take me for, Mum?

See you later.

Where are you?

Well... Well, just pretend you've got something else to do and hurry up!

Good morning, Devon! We're walking on sunshine.

Walking On Sunshine by Katrina And The Waves

What do you reckon? Hot off the press.

That you should've printed them last week, not the night it's happening.

Better late than never. You and Beth coming?

Karaoke starts at 8pm.

Oh, well, Beth's got a sleepover.

I've got admin to do. Child death overview panel.

I've got health and safety forms... Oh, it's been done.

In my appraisal, you said I should be more proactive.

Coroner's office.

Great. Thanks.

Me and Mick are doing a turn, really pushing the boat out.

Jane? Davey - says it's urgent. Right. Sorry.

Davey.

Lone driver. Judging by the sand in the car, she'd been to the beach.

She looks so young.

Yeah. 17.

Ellie Patterson. Debs' daughter.

Cath's sister, Debbie?

I'm on my way to see Debs now.

Can't get hold of Dean.

Dean?

Lowe. Cath's husband. Remember him? Year above us at school?

Yeah, 'course.

Poor Debbie.

Would you mind if I go and see Cath?

No. Not the best way to meet up after 20-odd years, is it?

I think she could do with a friendly face right now.

Got her address? Yeah, I'll find it for you.

Davey. You all right, Debbie, love?

I've just finished at Oaklands. Ellie not in?

Can we go inside?

Cath? Jane. Jane Kennedy.

Sorry, it's just not a good time right now.

I just, er... I've got to, er...

You've already heard. About Ellie.

You're the coroner. Yeah, Dean phoned.

He, er... he was on duty in Plymouth when he...

You know, when they, um... I'm so sorry.

DS Hig... Davey, he... he's on his way to see Debs now.

Dean's on his way home from work now.

He's going to take me and Alex over.

Alex, he's my son. He's... he's devastated!

Look, I... I can take you both, if you like?

No, Dean will take him. Alex?

I'm going over to see Auntie Debs.

Your dad will take you when he gets home, OK?

Oh, Jane, I can't believe it! I can't believe it!

So, I think if we keep half for tonight, the other half for Reading?

Advance planning. I like it.

Oooh, found some wine.

A cheeky little rose. Nice!

You sure they won't notice?

Nah. Anyway, Gran wouldn't mind.

That's nice of me.

Not sure your mum would feel the same, mind.

Or yours, Megan.

I thought you were out. I figured. I forgot this, for tonight.

Schnapps?

Beth, not even I'd drink that.

Please don't tell Mum!

I tell you what,

you hand all these out and we'll talk about it.

But I'm going to a sleepover at Megan's.

OK, OK.

Hand all those out and you can pick this up later.

Gran won't mind!

Debs.

I'm so sorry!

Jane, thanks for bringing Cath over.

I'm so sorry about Ellie. If there's anything I can do to help...

Right. Well, the collision investigation unit's

finished doing their thing now, so...

What did they find? Do they know what happened?

They think she might have been driving a bit fast,

came to a sharp bend, lost control.

You OK?

Ellie never speeded. She's too sensible.

No sign of anyone else?

No, no, not that we can see.

We checked her mobile phone.

Last call was to Debs at 6pm,

and there's a couple of texts a few days ago, to a Nick.

Her boyfriend - Nick Caldwell.

Ellie said she might be seeing him last night.

Any relation to Stuart Caldwell?

Mm. His son.

Can't say I approved.

We all know what you thought of him. You made that very clear.

You don't even know him.

Can I see my daughter now?

Yeah.

She looks... peaceful.

Like she's sleeping.

We should go outside.

Why?

Er... I've got the postmortem results.

Well, why can't we talk about it here?

Well, don't look at her.

I'm Ellie's mother.

Did she suffer?

Ellie died from chest injuries.

But given the level of alcohol in her blood,

she wouldn't have known much about it.

She was driving drunk?

No, the bruising ran from her left shoulder to her right hip.

So? Ellie was a passenger.

Someone else was driving.

Done it - handed out 260 fliers.

Tonight's cancelled.

We've just been all over Lighthaven.

Out of respect. Our old barmaid's daughter died.

Only two years older than you.

She used to come here as a little 'un,

run around in her nappy.

Ran around once without it - made a right mess.

Who was she? Ellie Patterson.

What happened?

Car accident. Did you know her?

No, not really.

I'm just going to take this and leave you to it.

There's been a change of plan.

Oh! Hi, Mum, this is Megan.

Gran told me you've got half an off-licence in your bag.

She's exaggerating. Really? You can go.

Cheers. Come on, Beth. No, not you.

That's not fair! I'll tell you what's not fair.

I've just been with a dead 17-year-old, so you're not going,

and certainly not with someone who encourages you to steal alcohol!

Excuse me? You heard.

Whatever, suit yourself. See you later. No, she won't.

That is so out of order!

The drinks were my idea, if you must know!

Megan's my best mate, what am I supposed to do now?

I'll find you something.

Oh, yeah, like, cleaning the toilets, again!

I have to take this. Clint.

Cos last time I checked, unpaid work is called slave labour.

No, it's called reimbursement for all the booze you've nicked.

Where is he now? I didn't nick anything.

Only because I stopped you. I handed out all of your fliers.

Look, Mum... Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can.

Don't let her out of your sight.

What...? Go on, then, ignore me!

Oi! Where are you going, missy?

Fine, but I'm not doing the bogs.

We should talk to a funeral director.

Maybe Ethel Blackstone, who did your mum's?

I'll give her a ring.

Stop the car! Stop! What?!

Pull over!

Debs!

Debs?

What did you do?! What? Debs!

Ellie's dead.

Don't be stupid. Hey!

I've just seen her lying in the mortuary. You think it's funny?

Debs, leave him. What's she talking about?

Ellie died this morning. Car crash. Only she wasn't the one driving.

What? What did you do?!

It wasn't me! I'd never hurt her, I swear!

What's going on?

Dean?

Is it true? Ellie wasn't on her own?

You can't take the law into your own hands.

Even you. I got this.

Take Debs home, will you? Look after her.

This isn't the way, love.

DS Davey Higgins, South Dart Police.

I'm guessing you're Nick Caldwell?

What happened? You tell me.

I haven't seen Ellie for a week.

That's funny, cos Debs said she may have been with you last night.

I was at my aunt's in Torquay.

She dropped me back this morning.

All right. You got any idea who Ellie might've been with?

Not a clue.

I wouldn't have put you and Ellie together. Meaning?

No reason. How's your dad?

Are we finished? No, I don't think so.

I think we'll continue this down the station, check out this alibi.

Might be good to get your prints, as well. What for? Elimination.

Haven't got a problem with that, have you?

Come on.

I'm really sorry. It's just...

you said if you could do anything to help...

Sure. What's wrong?

Mum said Ellie wasn't alone.

I talked to Ellie a couple of weeks ago.

She said her boyfriend was... too controlling.

Didn't like her seeing anyone else.