Professor T

'Un Bacio A Mezzanotte' by Quartetto Cetra.

Miss Snares?

These two ladies are seeking an audience with "the Professor".

The "famous" one. Who "solves everything".

Indeed. I said you might see them instead.

After you, Sophie.

Have we met before? Not to my knowledge, madam.

So how do you know Sophie's name?

Your family's particulars have been extensively publicised

in the light of recent events.

You're aware, then, that Sophie's mother has been murdered?

Indeed I am.

So you'll know a man is in custody?

Yes. Mr... Kane Carty.

Sophie is adamant Mr Carty did not kill my daughter.

Fascinating.

The police won't take seriously what Sophie has to say,

so we thought we'd come to you instead.

It's just that...

Well, when she gets something in her head like this, it can't

Sophie, do you know who killed your mother?

I've asked her that myself. If she does, she's not telling.

Extraordinarily fascinating.

We arrested him weeks ago.

Why didn't she raise this before now?

Her grandmother says that she tried to, but you were not listening.

She was interviewed by video link, Ma'am.

She couldn't provide any evidence or usable information,

so she was discounted as a witness.

She has an intellectual disability.

Which raises an obvious question about her reliability as a witness.

She has Down syndrome, not total brain death.

Quite. And how has this ended up with you, Jasper?

Sophie has nominated me as her personal Sherlock.

Are you joking?

She has concerns about the reliability

of her own detective sergeant.

She insists she will only cooperate with the professor.

It's a nailed-on conviction, Ma'am.

It's a place we go, you know, to get a fix.

That's why you were in the woods, to take drugs?

I'm not a bloody boy scout.

Someone who can vouch for you?

Yeah, my mate Badger, if you can find the little toe-rag.

You got any fags?

No.

So, tell us what you remember.

We were smoking skag.

You want me to draw you a picture? No need.

Next thing I know, Badger's gone. So's my stash. Thieving sod.

And then what happened?

I thought I saw someone.

'But if I did, they pissed off pretty quick.'

How convenient.

Then I stumbled over her.

I thought she was just out of it, like Badger and me.

With a bloody great head wound?

Yeah, I wasn't seeing straight, was I?

So you helped yourself to her watch and her handbag.

I didn't know she'd copped it. I wouldn't have robbed her if I did.

A junkie with morals. How touching.

I may be a junkie but I'm not frickin' stupid.

Kane was picked up the day after, trying to pawn her watch.

Which, to Mr Carty's point, is an unimaginably stupid act

for someone who has just committed a murder.

He was probably too out of it to notice

her name was engraved on the back. Or too desperate to care.

And how do you explain the blood on his sleeve?

The stains are consistent with accidental contact.

Is there anything else that might corroborate his account?

Yes, Mr Carty's blood test.

It confirms Kane Carty ingested a large quantity of an opioid

in the 24 hours prior to his arrest. Which proves what?

Have you ever smoked heroin, DS Donckers?

No. Neither have you.

No, but I have studied numerous accounts of its effects

upon human psychology,

and all are agreed it induces feelings of euphoria,

of intense pleasure and relaxation.

Until you start getting desperate for your next hit.

Not murderous rage and psychosis.

Until you start getting desperate for your next hit!

All right, enough.

Perhaps it's time we brought Sophie in again.

As well as having Down syndrome, Sophie is autistic,

a condition I'm somewhat familiar with.

I suspect she may know who killed her mother,

but something is preventing her from sharing whatever she's witnessed.

So how do we handle this?

She's extremely literal.

If I can work out exactly what happened to her mother,

I suspect it may only take the right question at the right time

to unlock what she knows.

Let's bring her in.

Hey, wait up.

Are you OK?

You haven't replied. To what?

My message from the other night. You know.

Any plans for tonight?

What's it look like to you, Dan?

Nuh. Don't cheat.

This is a fun date, isn't it? Yes, it is.

Betty, will you marry me?

I know you always worry about money,

but this job with the police is solid.

I can buy us a house and look after you, honey.

Dad.

Sorry I'm late.

Sophie, we need you to tell us what you know.

If you are withholding evidence, you could get into trouble.

I've told her that.

Could she have witnessed the murder?

She was at home. I was looking after her.

We saw Beverley leave.

Sophie, did someone say something to you? Is that how you know?

I want to speak to Professor.

I don't want to alarm you,

but if Sophie knows who killed your daughter,

and the killer finds out

she may be in danger.

Beverley Wallace left the house shortly before 6pm

to catch the bus across town. And we're certain she caught it?

But it's consistent with where her body was found.

The pathway through the woods is a shortcut to her sister's

from the nearest bus stop.

What about time of death?

Anywhere between nine and 12 hours before the body was found.

Was she reported missing? No.

The sister figured she just decided not to come.

The husband assumed she slept over. So, what about the husband?

His alibi's pretty solid. Murder weapon?

The wounds are consistent with blows from a hammer.

Any bright ideas?

If Kane Carty's testimony is to be believed...

It's a pretty big if. Please don't speak

with your mouth full, Sergeant, especially if your brain is empty.

Carty claimed the watch was already undone when he found it,

which suggests whoever killed her

was trying to make the motive look like robbery.

Until Kane Carty disturbed them, but why bother?

To camouflage the true motive.

Which may lie closer to home.

All right. Let's question the sister and the husband again,

but don't let on that we've been speaking to Sophie.

'Tantita Pena' by Alejandro Fernandez.

Do you mind? I'm eating!

'Food is so hard to find this far north

'that the wolves must search hundreds of square miles

'if they're to be successful.'

I've been over this umpteen times. So one more time won't hurt, then.

Yeah, Mr Wallace, we really appreciate your cooperation.

We're just trying to be as thorough as we can.

Beverley had arranged to go to her sister's.

My mother-in-law was here looking after Sophie

because I had a business meeting on the other side of town.

I

I just wish I'd dropped her off instead of making her take the bus.

But I was meeting a potential new client and I didn't want to rush.

The manager of the Cambridge Park Hotel, I believe.

That's right.

Do you mind?

I'm sure we've asked you this, Mr Wallace,

but can you think of anyone who might wish Beverley harm?

Beverley hardly had contact with anyone.

Looking after Sophie's a full-time job.

Last couple of weeks haven't been easy.

How's she coping?

I don't know how much of this she's taken in.

There's no tears, no grief, nothing.

I'm sorry. I have to drop Sophie off at her grandma's.

Was there anything else?

Was there a reason for Beverley's visit that night?

No particular reason. She didn't get out of the house much.

I imagine she was keen to discuss her plans.

What plans? To have Sophie taken into care.

Excuse me, but how do you know about that?

You've not answered my question.

She's not being taken into care, exactly.

It's assisting living.

Shared accommodation with other young adults,

with assistance available 24/7.

It sounds ideal. But it does not sound like home.

Listen, my sister devoted her life to Sophie,

but it's become more difficult. She's not as docile as she was.

She can be challenging, aggressive. Violent, even.

She's very stubborn.

Poor Beverley. She...

She couldn't have done more.

I'm glad she's dead! She was a dominant, selfish bitch!

An utter cow!

I don't understand why we're being questioned again.

He's been charged, hasn't he?

Aren't we just waiting for a trial date?

Mr Carty is innocent.

Kane Carty is still on remand, and awaiting trial for murder.

We're just conducting some follow-up enquiries, that's all.

Fewer than one in five murders are committed by strangers.

I see no reason to believe this case will disprove those odds.

'OK, nice work. Follow up on the assisted living lead.'

'Anything else?' That's it, I think.