Strike

- We've been sent a leg. - Whose leg did you think it was?

It might be a girl called Brittany Brockbank.

Do you still think it's one of those three men?

Whittaker got away with murder twice.

Laing charmed everyone while he kept his wife terrified.

Brockbank was a child rapist,

who managed to convince everyone that he was the injured party.

Careful exiting the hotel. We were followed last night.

- Are you having an affair? - Robs, please... I...

We've just found a young woman's body

in a building in Whitechapel High Street.

We found it was you that invited her there.

You've never met her? Kelsey Platt.

Let's start with the photograph.

Sent to the papers by a concerned friend, is that right?

Paedophile and murder suspect.

It's not a popular spot on the Venn diagram.

- Do you think the photo is doctored? - No.

Excuse me. Is this seat taken?

- No. - Thanks.

Simple as that.

If you're trying to make me look dodgy, at some point I'll look up

at the same moment you're looking at me.

The photo taken in that split second

will make it look like we're having a conversation.

You find the person who took that photograph...

...you'll have Kelsey's killer.

It's probably someone she trusted. What else?

That girl's wearing a vest top. So it was warm weather.

Probably taken at least five months ago. And she's reading a magazine.

If the papers were sent a high-res image that'll help you date it.

Anything else? Kelsey's holding a bottle of water.

Who goes to a coffee shop to sit and drink water?

I'd skew towards saying she came specifically to sit next to me,

rather than to enjoy

a freshly-prepared caffeinated beverage.

You seem annoyed.

Have you found the three men I told Wardle about?

I can't discuss that with you.

- Because it's now part of a murder investigation? - Exactly.

- I don't care. I'll pay the fine. - I have asthma.

Sorry.

Do we have a print out of Donald Laing's fundraising page?

Yes, somewhere. Where are you?

I just had a social down at the station.

- Right... Do they have a lead? - Yes, me. So we better get a move on.

Just coming up now.

This is the Strata building. Elephant and Castle.

We can use this to work out what block he lived in.

- There's no guarantee he's still there. - Great.

I called Brockbank last night.

He suggested meeting in Shoreditch, but then he hung up on me.

We know he has a history of bouncing round strip clubs.

- I thought that would be a good place to start. - Yeah.

I think he's living with a little girl.

OK.

Head down to Elephant and Castle.

If you see Laing, keep your distance.

No working after dark. Keep on the busy routes.

Yes, I have done counter-surveillance.

If it was up to me you'd stay in Yorkshire until he's caught.

He addressed the leg to you. He followed you.

- That's the pattern we have so far. - I know, and I will be careful.

Right, so you're checking out Laing. I'll look for Brockbank.

Do you know this guy?

No, don't think so, mate. Sorry.

- Have you been here before, darling? - No. - You know what this is?

Yeah, I think so.

You want to dance? Private dance with me?

- I'm looking for a friend. - I'll be your friend.

Not that kind of friend, sadly.

Perhaps you know my friend? Niall Brockbank?

- He owes me some money. - Des fired him.

You're no use as a bouncer if you have a fit and piss yourself.

Would anyone here have his address?

I think he lives with Alyssa.

She's got the worst taste in men.

- She's one of the dancers? - Mm. Des fired her as well.

They're in some council flat over in Bow.

She bitches about it but she likes the nursery her kids are in, so...

Could you introduce me to Des?

Thanks for the drink, darling, but I reckon you're trouble.

Normally I like trouble.

What is it? What's wrong?

Uh, nothing, I'm fine. I've found Laing's block.

It could be one of 100 flats but...

Make sure you're home before sunset.

- How are the strip clubs? - Expensive.

Look, put yourself in a cab now, I can't...

Cormoran, you have to stop treating me like I'm part of the problem.

I'm having dinner with my mum tonight round the corner from work

- so I will be perfectly safe. - Right.

- Matt shouldn't have called you. - I'm glad he did.

I'm not stopping doing this job. Not for anyone.

Whatever you do, you'll always have mine and your dad's full support,

but, Robin, I do think it's time to make a decision.

The wedding day's nearly here.

Have you seen this guy, Donald Laing?

- No. - Thank you.

- Hello. - Hello. Do you know this guy?

No.

Would you like to come back to Masham for a bit?

- Be a bit looked after? - No. Sorry.

I don't mean it like that. I just, um...

I worry if...

I worry I'd feel like I did before.

Like I was shutting out the world.

I want to stay in it.

Is that the famous Cormoran Strike?

- Donny Laing. - You here to see me?

I'm not on licence or anything.

I'm a private investigator now.

Are you? Well... What're you here for, then?

I recently spoke to a woman in Corby.

- Not Lorraine, was it? - That's right.

I never hit her, you understand?

Lesson learned first fucking time.

Did you steal her jewellery?

You've come to find...? That was years ago!

Well, it had sentimental value.

Well, tell her I'm sorry but her stuff's long gone.

It's the truth. I didn't feel good about it.

I'll pass that back to her.

- What, is that it from you? - Yeah.

A fine private investigator you turned out!

Tracking down old bits of tat!

There's £500.

It could be the deposit on renting a flat of your own.

Or it could be a pair of really beautiful wedding shoes.

Cormoran?

- Thanks. - I, uh...

...came back for some files and you were...

Look. I've, um, been given some money.

Oh, it's only 500 quid but if we don't pay the bills

we won't be able to work here any more.

Someone's trying to destroy me.

I think I make a fairly poor prospect for investment.

Under the circumstances you're better off putting it on a horse.

Uh, I'm better off here.

Let me do this for us.

- Shit! - What?

Slept through a date.

Who's the lucky girl?

Swedish. Pretty. Doesn't give a fuck.

Sounds perfect.

I should go to bed.

Thanks for Donald Laing, by the way.

But it's a dead end.

Guy's even more crippled than I am.

- I really don't like you being out after dark. Take a cab. - Sure.

Night.

Night.

What's all this?

Uh, I made that Nigel Slater salmon thing you like.

Thanks. I ate with Mum.

How is she?

- She's fine. - Good.

Look, I've got something I need to say to you.

What I did was unforgivable.

I was 21. I was in so much pain.

I was incredibly lonely and I made a mistake.

You are the love of my life.

And I want to marry you.

More than anything that's what I want.

But that's for you to decide. So...

I'm asking you again.

And if you say no, I'll accept it,

and I'll leave the flat in the morning.

I love you, darling.

One day, you'll feel like that about somebody.

Went for the knife. Very good.

I'm just checking the locks.

I can see your door at the back there is, um...

Well, it's not adequate.

I need to go back to Masham for a few days

for dress fittings and stuff.

I know it's not great timing but is that OK?

No, it's...

It's good.

Keeps you out of harm's way.

Good.

We'll just stick a padlock on that.

Hi, Dad.

Where's Mum?

You've never met her...

Kelsey Platt?

Look...

Oh, my God, it's you.

I need to ask you about your sister.

- Please. - Who is it, love?

It's...

It's Cormoran Strike.

Why's he here?

Close the door!

Wait...

- Can, can you wait? - Yeah.

You saw those photos of him and Kelsey!

Look, I know what you're saying, but...

...the police say they think he got set up.

How's he even allowed to come here?