Murdoch Mysteries

Streets are for driving, animals!

Hey.

- Evening, Peter. - Morning, Henry.

- Dundas and McCaul, driver. - Hey pal, I was here first.

- Driver, how much to get to Reggie's? - Room for one more?

I'm just popping the Dancing Horse.

Hey! Quit pushing!

You're broad shouldered by nature.

Driver how much to take me Reggie's?

- Ow! What the hell was that? - All right, enough!

Now one at a one at a time where you're going,

and I'll drop you off, in order.

It's a nickel a block, no haggling.

Dundas and McCaul.

Hey! Watch where your hand's going.

Night, ma'am.

OK, mister, one time. Where to?

Mister?

Drunks.

Come on, pal, wake up!

Oh no.

That's when I turned around and saw that he was dead, sir.

You didn't notice anything?

The man expired three feet from you!

My main concern was getting my passengers to their destinations, sir.

I'll get you to your destination, Higgins.

- Excuse me. - What have you, Miss Hart?

Pardon my interruption, but I think you'll want to take a look at this.

It appears he had been injected with a toxic substance.

Foaming indicates his breathing was constricted,

which is consistent with poisoning.

Any idea what type of poison was used?

Not yet. I'll know more once I have him open.

Thank you, Miss Hart.

Murdered. Well done, Higgins.

Henry, what can you tell us about the other passengers?

Not that much, sir. I didn't recognise any of them. Except Peter.

- Peter? - Guthrie, sir. The owner of Scott's Diner.

I often take him to work first thing in the morning.

And the others?

Like I said, sir, I try to focus on the driving.

But I do remember one of the men wore an eyepatch.

Dundas and McCaul, driver.

Anything else?

Well, there was the victim, of course.

Also yes, one of the women wore a scarf around her head...

A scarf. Excellent.

I suppose we can close the case now.

Carry on, Henry. Any other details?

The other woman had some sort of burn, or birthmark, on her arm.

I wish I could be more helpful, sir.

That's not something the public wants to hear

from a police officer, is it?

How much sleep have you had in the last few days, Higgins?

You smell like a bloody raccoon.

Sir.

Well, that solves the identity question.

You said you picked him up at King and Spadina?

Yes, sir.

That's not far from MacRury's.

I've spent a fair amount of time in places like this, Murdoch.

Used to be a bit of a shark when I was younger.

I've never actually played, sir.

You're joking.

This is a game of angles, precision, foresight. Physics.

Man of your intellect, with a bit of practice,

might not be half bad.

Patron saint of whiskey?

Close.

Wendel MacRury.

He started this place.

Help you?

Toronto Constabulary.

We need to speak with the governor. Is he around?

Dead almost a month.

Someone shot him right where you're standing.

I'm the owner. Lucille Anderson.

Miss Anderson,

we're investigating the murder of the man who owned this...

- Buckles was murdered? - I'm afraid so.

We need to know if he was in your establishment last night?

Sure, he's here almost every night.

What time did he leave?

I couldn't say for certain.

But I know who could.

Gents.

Buckles collected his fair share of enemies.

Still,

I don't know who would have done this.

Were you with Mr Buckles last night?

Yeah. Until around midnight.

Then I went over to Pumpkin's on Bathurst.

Mr Dillinger, did anything happen last night?

Did Mr Buckles do or say anything that could aid our investigation?

Not that I can recall.

We just did what we always do.

Chiseled a mark.

You swindled someone? That's definitely noteworthy.

Who was the mark?

Digby Pears. Heavy gambler.

Came in last night bragging how much he'd won at the track.

Dumb donkey was begging for it.

Is it possible this Mr Pears

discovered what the two of you were up to and took revenge?

I suppose.

I left after I played my part, so I can't really say.

Fancy a game?

Sure, Tiny.

Excuse me. Rent's due.

I can't believe I lost it all.

Again.

Mr Pears, were you aware

that you were being grifted last night?

Halfway through the last game,

I sobered up enough to put it together. But,

the money was long gone by then.

You know what they easy come, easy go.

I don't know what idiot actually says that.

What time did you leave the billiard hall?

I'm not exactly sure.

Shortly after the last game.

Where did you go?

Home.

To explain to my beautiful and

understanding wife that we won't be able to afford rent this month.

Again.

She can corroborate this?

She can.

Mr Pears, did you arrange for, or

hire anyone to kill Mr Buckles?

Of course not. No.

I was angry, yes. Embarrassed.

But I've learned to lose, Detective.

Comes with the territory.

Ask my wife.

He had motive, but it doesn't appear Mr Pears was in the taxicab.

I suppose it's possible he paid someone else

to administer the poison.

It's also possible that Buckles was poisoned before he got in.

Miss Hart has confirmed that the toxin

was indeed Antimony, which is fast acting.

That suggests that the killer was in the automobile.

But why go through all that trouble?

There are easier ways to stick someone with a needle.

Perhaps the intention was to confuse.

A crime in plain sight.

Perhaps.

What about the owner of the diner?

I was just on my way there.

I'll come with you.

Henry takes me to work some mornings.

Less expensive than a hansom, and

- the conversation's better. - With Higgins?

Mr Guthrie, what can you tell us about your taxicab ride last night?

- Well, it was frustrating. - How so?

I was stuck in a car full of drunken louts.

I get enough of that in here.

Do you recall anything unusual about the other passengers?

Any animosity between them?

There was some jostling, but nothing particularly violent.

Everyone in Toronto has a certain amount of animosity at night.

It's just the way animals are.

Animals? What makes you say that?

My diner opens at four in the morning, Inspector.

The people that come through that door at that time

- aren't coming from church. - Nothing good happens after midnight.

Did you happen to recognise any of the other passengers?

There was one man. He wore an eyepatch.

He's been in here before.

Ah, yes. Constable Higgins told us about him.

Do you know his name?

Frank, I believe.

Anything else?

He carries a knife, I know that,

and he's not afraid to use it.

He went after someone in that very booth just a few months ago.

- I see. - Hang them all, Detective.

Let God sort them out.

Well, this is a surprise.

I hope you don't mind.

I saw you through the window and I thought,

'We're neighbours. Why not?'

Would you like a cup of tea?

My, it really is... something.

Is there an echo in here?

Hello!

It can feel quite spacious.

Can't say I'd ever want to live in a place like this,

but to each their own.

Don't you miss having doors?

Where did you and Mr Huckabee live before moving here?

Kingston.

Raymond wanted to live someplace warm, so here we are.

- I'm joking. - Oh!

Well, it's been quite stimulating having you as neighbours.

William mentioned the potted duck you made was delicious.

Quite a charmer, that man.

You better keep an eye on him!

Speaking of ducks, what is that odd bird statue?

I've never seen anything quite like it.