Deadline 14/10

But now try to explain to me,

how you're going to handle the Lena Nijs case

without election propaganda?

Do you expect the Lena Nijs case

will influence your election campaign? - We'll find her, Ms. Smidt.

Much will depend naturally on when they find her,

and how and where. And by whom.

Marianne Smidt, is she part of Reginald's family?

Yes, his daughter. - Ah.

I was hoping your daughter would give us some extra attention.

Yes, Marianne works for the Antwerp Gazette,

She doesn't run the whole thing there - Nice work.

Wow, after three days. Caps off!

We must get off our buts or be left standing in the street.

Beginner's Luck.

Did your aunt Christel call? - You didn't have time for me.

Does the 'Ace of Hearts' mean anything to you? - No.

Now who asks for a 107,000 euro ransom?

Weird. - Exactly who asks for a specific amount,

someone who needs it for something.

Is Lena with you? Those people really don't have any money.

You call yourself Ace of Hearts. Show you have a heart.

After such a call, who knows who's woken up startled?

You believe in Santa Claus.

Mayor, do you support this event.

The staff at City Hall passed the hat around.

What do you think of that? - Yes, the voters aren't stupid.

This is simply election propaganda. The voters will see it that way.

You give the wrong signal. You kidnap someone in Antwerp

there's a charity drive and get your money.

It isn't intended, he gets a single euro.

We'll observe you and if the kidnapper shows up,

we'll pick him up.

The platform has been combed. They're busy at the subway station.

We have video of track 11.

And Lena? - The station's being searched.

Come on.

Damn, huh.

He knows the station.

He just knew he couldn't be seen by the camera.

Clever.

My ex.

Hello?

We have appointment with the notary. Thursday at 15:30.

Yes, if you say so.

Do you want to leave everything for me to arrange?

Why must you still set my agenda.

But... I'm asking you.

The notary didn't have any other slot free this week.

Okay, yes. Until Thursday, right? - Okay, until Thursday. Bye.

Yes

Ludo.

Now? - Wait.

Until the kidnapper makes contact again.

The Commissioner... - The Turk.

Serter.

He said the kidnapper prepared everything very well.

Then he'll take good care of our Lenatje too?

He wanted to bother someone from victim assistance.

That says just one thing.

Our Lena is dead. - Ludo.

If I come across the bastard, I'll kill him.

Write in your newspaper he must return Lena to us.

Even if he's done something to her.

Marianne. - Marianne, Volkan here.

We have new video of track 11.

Okay, I'm coming.

We searched the station no kidnapper, no Lena Nijs.

He has the money. Why didn't he let her go?

Maybe he's waiting until he feels 100% safe.

Maybe he wants to release her on the other side of the country.

Or... - Or?

Or he's bluffing and he didn't kidnap her.

The ransom should never have been paid.

No, of course not. We tried to discourage the parents too

but we can't stop them. - I should've stopped the charity drive.

Then you'd be the mayor who didn't want

Lena to return home to her parents.

If we don't hear from Lena...

It's more than a week since she disappeared.

Statistically it reduces the chance we'll find her alive...

That's not what I want to hear.

Find her.

Still you can't say that here? - Sometimes you can't do anything else.

Thanks.

And? - Yes, I'm looking

but I'm not sure for what. - Something unusual

something that catches your eye.

What's the purpose? - Before you went to the station,

Didn't you kiss me?

Yes, I... I was stressed. - And then you kiss people?

I'm stressed now, I need to massage.

Okay.

Oh, wait, stop. Can you just rewind?

And? Something suspicious?

No. No, it's nothing. Just something for my article.

Actually I should start urgently. I have a deadline.

That kiss... I misunderstood.

No problem.

Ciao. - Ciao.

That's 33%, yes. That's 1 in 3 people in Antwerp yes...

That's fantastic, huh. - But?

But Coenen's already at 26%.

The chances are he'll improve. He's the challenger,

the underdog.

If it ends badly for the girl... - We don't know yet, Wim.

We need to stop Coenen in his tracks. That's only possible with things

people know are important to every voter.

The interview on ATV. The mayor looks back

"6 years with Van Laer", something like that. - Will ATV want to do that?

For the magic word 'exclusive'.

If ATV interviews me, they should talk to Coenen too.

They won't take sides. - I'll make sure you're on first.

Okay.

Ludo.

Yes, now we're standing in front of the property of the suspected

kidnapper of Lena Nijs.

The police just raided the house.

According to our information he's a 44 year old man,

employed at the SNCB. He's married,

but is childless. Yes, currently...

So as you can see, the suspect is now being taken away by the police

in their van. Yes, a lot of commotion by the locals of course.

All we can do at present is wait anxiously to learn

if Lena Nijs is actually present in the house.

We wait anxiously with the neighbours

and all the people who came here.

... Someone's being brought out. - They've got her.

They have her.

Is that her?

It is very difficult to say if it's Lena Nijs.

I couldn't make out so well, but it was a young lady.

I'll go to the hospital. - What? We don't even know...

Commissioner... - Commissioner...

Is that Lena Nijs? Is she okay?

Nijs. Yes.

Yes.

Yes, but...

Okay, okay, okay. Yes.

The Turk. He's coming to pick us up. - Yes.

And Lena?

Earlier you promised an interview on ATV.

I'd actually have preferred a debate. - That isn't going to happen.

All the attention of the media is on this.

Even if we arrive after Van Laer? - Sure.

Yes, that's okay. Yes, but just confirm. - Yes.

Yes?

Hi. - Good day, Veerle.

Good day, Nathalie. Everything okay? - Yes, the countdown, huh.

Yes, I suppose so.

Hi, honey. - Hello baby. How's it going?

Yes. - Goodbye, my little friend.

Come here, Baby. Are you a member of dad's slate?

Hey? Yes. We're together against those naughty...

That's you up there. - Yes I'm up there.

Yes, that's dad, huh? Huh?

Bert, I received an SMS from Wim Geens.

The mayor wants to see you. Discreet and informal.

Then we should listen discreetly and informally.

Back to Mom. - Back to Mom?

See here's Mom.

How's Lena?

People, make way.

Get back.

Mr. Nijs?

Have you spoken to Lena? Have you seen Lena?

Which hospital is Lena in?

Mr. Nijs, little reaction?

People...

People make way for the van, please.

Can I have your attention?

In consultation with the investigating judge and Chief Bulthé

I can tell you Karl Mullens admitted

he asked for 107,000 euro ransom for Lena Nijs.

He didn't kidnap Lena Nijs.

The woman in this house who was transferred to the hospital,

was his wife.

Because of her long illness and expensive medical treatment

the couple had debts of 107,000 euros.

To settle the debts Mullens pretended to be

the kidnapper. - How did the SNCB respond?

Good evening. - Commissioner?

Is that my pen? - Ah, that's, sorry.

Commissioner?

You should have told us, you recognized Mullens.

But I called you, right?

But first you started investigating yourself, wanted to play cop?

Do you realize what you've done?

Trespassing, obstruction of our investigation...

Charge me. - You don't realize

What you risked. Suppose Mullens was the kidnapper.

Suppose he caught you. - You're worried. Say so.

You don't realize what I risked by keeping quiet.

If this gets out, I'll have Internal Affairs on my back.

Then I'd get the blame. - Would it end your career?

No, but now I've got to go. - But see you make your deadline.

Faking that you were the kidnapper

to pay for your wife's operation. So romantic.

In Hollywood it'd be big box office. - What does his wife have anyway?

Liver cancer, terminal. - Another big box office.