Deadline 14/10

According to the medical examiner the body lay

in the water for five weeks.

That means on or shortly after August 21

it was thrown into the Scheldt.

Bernard De Ley previously was charged with drunk driving.

Then his political friends can't help him this time.

Did you phone Bulthé to quash the charges?

Looking for anyone special? - No.

Commissioner Serter and a journalist are having an affair.

Check that out? - Yes, I will do for sure.

Did Marianne Smidt offer you certain favours

sexual or otherwise, to quash those charges?

No, Marianne Smidt isn't a whore.

I'm divorced, Volkan's single. Who cares?

I care, and management.

You'd better care, if you want to continue working here.

I think it's better we don't see each other any more.

If that's what you want.

Did you see Lena? - No.

Her bike? - I didn't see anything.

I didn't see anyone, okay?

Sonja's gone. - If there's anything I can do...

I'd like to go and see Lena but I didn't dare go by myself.

ID card? Please.

Yes, that's Lena's earring.

Sure? - I engraved the L myself.

Where did you get it? - It was in my mailbox.

De Ley, who knocked her down, is he still locked up?

Yes, he's locked up.

I don't know.

Why did they bring it to you and not to us or the police?

I don't know, Ludo. I don't really know.

It just was in my mailbox. - Like this?

So. - What?

Yes. - No note, no message?

Yes, just like this.

Everyone, good work on Nijs case, thanks a lot.

Also to Marianne for making time in her busy schedule

to come here. Vic?

De Ley's officially been charged

for knocking down Lena Nijs. He admitted he ran over something,

but apparently so drunk he doesn't remember anything.

Also he doesn't think he threw her body into the Scheldt?

It's evident. There's matching paint on his car, on Lena's bike and vice versa.

Case closed right? - Work group is dissolved.

June follow up the file. Vic, keep in contact with Oudaan

And good bottle of champagne? - Or what goes with it,

and saves you a lot of phone calls. - For the rest, everyone on standby

for the last poll. To work, guys.

Got it? - Yes.

Suddenly Lena's slid to page twelve or so.

Yes, but that's for a good reason. Lena Nijs is old news.

There it is. Take good care of it, huh.

Isn't that Ludo?

Miss Smidt? - Yes.

Yes, Herman Vandepoel, from the fourth floor.

My wife said you called her about the mailboxes this morning.

That's right. Did you see someone? - Yeah, probably not really important,

but woman inserted something in there.

Do you know what she looked like? - Rather small and actually...

Dark hair, medium length.

And yes, a familiar face exactly.

As if I knew her from TV or... That doesn't help much, right?

Yes, yes. Thank you. - Yes? Go on. Good.

Good afternoon. - Yes, good day.

Marianne discovered Lena's second earring.

In her mailbox.

So she thinks maybe De Ley isn't to blame.

Then the killer's still out there.

Don't you want to find out what asshole killed our daughter?

It's enough, Ludo.

It's enough.

Ms Smidt. - Good day, Mr. Vandepoel.

Sorry to disturb you, but could it possibly be her?

Yes, it's her. Certainly.

Do we have an appointment?

That photo was taken in Bütchenbach.

18 months ago we went there for a week to brainstorm as the group.

That's where the main threads of our program were plotted out.

Now to convince the voters. - Seen the latest polls?

Certainly. 26.6% for Van Laer, 24.8 for you.

You gain a little, he loses a bit.

It's too early for a reaction. We're still analyzing

the figures. - No, I'm here to see Mrs. Goddaert.

I have some questions related to your mailbox campaign.

Okay, I'll let you. I'll let you know, huh?

I'm afraid it'll have to be another time, because I have an appointment.

Why did you put the earring in my mailbox?

Not here and not on the record.

I'm tired of hearing things I can't do anything with,

so this is on the record. - Then I have nothing to say.

Where did you get that earring?

Veerle ? Please. - Bart, which one can I take?

Oh ... Take number seven. - Okay, thanks.

Haven't you got your car back yet?

What's wrong with your car, Mrs. Goddaert?

Is something wrong with your car?

Hadn't we agreed not to see each other anymore?

Yes, Volkan, but I like you. Can't I just call you, or not?

It's about a missing car. Would you...

They're keeping an eye on me.

I want... - Okay, just leave me alone. Okay?

Thanks for nothing.

What are you doing here? - On August 21

Lena Nijs was hit. That evening you were at the Lotto Arena.

Now it seems your car disappeared and two months later

you stick a note in my mailbox with Lena's earring

and ask me to look into it further.

I can't say anything. - Now I'll go to the police.

It was an accident.

Really.

We didn't see Lena.

We?

You and who else?

Wim Geens?

Ms Smidt. - Good day.

Are the competition jealous of all the attention the Gazette's giving us.

Sure you don't want a VDU party card?

I already have a debit card. At least you get a discount with it.

Good quote, I must remember that. - The Gazette's doing a series

on the campaign leaders, so yes - That's a good plan,

but does it have to be now? Because we have a appointment, huh?

We're just finishing. - We'll talk more tonight.

20:00?

Have a nice day. - Good day.

I want the mayor prepared for any question

From the opposition. Mr. Hanegreefs, the ongoing road works

are an eye-sore for your party?

We can't do anything but conclude the middle class

in the inner city continues to migrate to the suburbs and we wonder

when the city council will represent their interests.

Well, Mr. Hanegreefs. May I point out, it was your party

during previous tenures in government that insisted

on building new roads and new bike paths in the city center?

This immediately proves my point: Your party only represents the elite,

the happy few, but what do you do for the ordinary man on the street?

For me, the ordinary man on the street is the elite, including foreigners,

Mr. Dewit.

Wim? Marianne Smidt here for you.

Did you hit Lena Nijs while driving with Veerle Goddaert?

Who whispered that to you? Your father?

Your mistress.

Ms Smidt, are you going to let yourself be caught out again?

You should now know the difference between gossip and spinning?

It's clearly a desperate attempt by the CDU using Veerle and me,

to get the mayor and Bert Coenen all worked up.

Veerle told me that herself. You were in the car together.

Ah yes? And... When would this have happened?

August 21, after the Antwerp Giants-Ostend match.

Yes. Yes, that was a good match.

After the match I went home with my wife.

Your wife wasn't there. I've seen the video on ATV.

My wife came get me after the match.

You know what? I'll give you her number.

Then you can check it out.

There it is.

May I now go back to work or must I immediately turn myself in?

Robert, put that on my tab.

Hi, honey. - Baby, it's me.

Will you do something for me? - Yeah, go ahead.

This is Ilse De Meyer's voice mail. Leave a message after the beep.

Good day, Ms. De Meyer. Marianne Smidt, Antwerp Gazette.

Could you call back to me as soon as possible, please? Thank you.

So Van Laer on my side and Coenen next to Johan, yes?

Yes, and Hanegreefs and Dewit.

Then the green party stands next to Antwerp Interest.

Good afternoon. - Bert.

Peter. Lex.

Well, we're going to record everything with three cameras.

You all will get microphones. For you will ask the questions

Appearing on the teleprompter. - Where are you going?

I thought I told you, I can't carry on?

And how is the setup? - Yes.

You're here, the mayor across,

Mr. Hanegreefs, Ms. Poelemans, Mr. Dewit and Mrs. Kitir.

If dividing the seats after October 14 is just as easy...

And the questions? - We propose

to let the Lena Nijs item rest.

I didn't know there were taboo subjects.

We want to avoid manipulating public opinion

on such a sensitive issue.

The parents of the girl watch TV as well.

Sorry, but any pertinent questions should be admissible.

Also those about Lena Nijs.

Shall we agree on that?

What is it now?

Do you realize what's at stake?

Not another word, okay? To anyone.

I can't stand it anymore, Wim.

Okay, you have your conscience.

And me too, you have to decide. A lot's at stake.

Call Marianne Smidt. Say you were stressed...

I can't live with it. Don't you understand?

You realize you'll be the only loser, if you continue?

Not me, not Van Laer and even Coenen, just you.

You don't think you can place the blame on me?

If you don't shut up, then it's every man for himself.

Veerle, Veerle, Veerle...

I didn't want to.

But what we're doing, is necessary