Objects of Desire New Tricks

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

Hello, James. How are you?

-A bit nervous.

-So you should be.

-You look fantastic.

-Thank you.

Well, I might have exaggerated slightly.

-Slightly?

-Well, we haven't seen him since.

I've been thinking a lot about the past lately.

-Mm-hm. How does it look?

-Well, it's not all funny stories.

A fair few regrets. You being most of them.

Well... What's done is done.

What are you thinking?

You want to know? I'm thinking about the time your decree nisi never came

through, and about finding out you hadn't even put in for it.

Yeah, not my finest hour.

What can I say? I was...young, I was cocky, I was immature.

But, you know, we get older and maybe a bit wiser.

Maybe now I know the true value of beautiful things.

You had what it takes, Sandra. I mean - Detective Super!

What am I by comparison - just some dilettante.

Come on, you haven't done that badly for yourself.

Talking of which, do you want to hear about this case?

Yeah, sure.

Mal Baxter, 52, successful antiques dealer.

June 1995 - he was killed in his home in a burglary gone wrong.

Baxter disturbed the robber, or robbers,

and is hit once over the head with some sort of heavy, blunt object.

Leaving this rather nasty impression.

-So why bring this to me now?

-Well, the original investigation had

Mal Baxter down as some sort of respected gentleman trader, but I've since discovered otherwise.

When I became Head of the Art and Antiques Squad I had access to files saying Mal Baxter was an informant.

Oh... That's interesting.

-And this is the reason you got me here, is it?

-It's my excuse.

# It's all right It's OK

# Doesn't really matter if you're old and grey

# It's all right I say it's OK

# Listen to what I say

# It's all right, doing fine

# Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine

# It's all right I say it's OK

# We're gettin' to the end of the day. #

Oh, come on. Agh...

Agh!

Oh, bloody hell.

Oh, great. Marvellous.

Thank you, world.

-What the hell are you doing?

-Same as you, mate. Imitating an idiot!

Oh.

Oh, yes, do, do. Come on.

I love you.

Oh... Oh, my God, that's bigger than I thought.

Mal Baxter, wife Helen, daughter Vivienne.

Late '70s, early '80s, we now know that Mal was an informant for the Art and Antiques Squad

-and in exchange they turned a blind eye to some of his dodgier dealings.

-How dodgy?

-They described him as a broker.

-Fence.

Sorry. Puncture.

You look a bit deflated yourself, mate.

Well, you're here now. Don't worry.

-Murder weapon, heavy with a curved edge. Never found, I suppose?

-No.

And it doesn't fit the description of any missing antique.

So a burglary gone wrong could now be the targeted murder of an informant?

Yeah, there was no documented link to the people Mal helped put away,

but there was a rumour he was responsible for Lionel Scott.

The Lionel Scott?! What did the Mail call him...

-The "Burglar from Belgravia"!

-"The Magician" we knew him as.

-That's right, yeah.

-Did the gallery job on Cork Street.

To this day no-one knows how he got in or out.

Well, Scott died in prison serving a 10-year sentence.

Six months before the killing of Mal Baxter.

Yeah, but Scott was a one-man band, wasn't he?

That's what everyone says but I want to know who he knew,

-in case someone cared enough to fix the person who put him away.

-What about the wife and daughter?

Daughter, Vivienne, 18 at the time, was away at boarding school.

Wife Helen was in Brighton for the day with their chauffer, Tony Morgan who's got form for GBH.

-Roger Bowman?

-Roger Bowman was Mal Baxter's ex-business partner.

They'd split two years earlier and he has an alibi for the day of the murder.

Who's heading the Art and Antiques Squad these days?

-DCI James Larson.

-What, the babe-magnet?

-I remember him as very smart.

-Quite.

So retract your claws, Gerry, and just get on with it.

Right, you two get on to Tony Morgan. Brian, let's go.

OK, I give up.

-Give what up?

-Whatever it is that's kept you deaf, dumb and blind since we got in the car.

Esther.

-I caught her.

-Caught her doing what?

I don't know.

But she looked very happy doing it.

Happier than I've seen her in a long while.

Brian, what you talking about?

She's bought herself a laptop. I caught her on it.

Wow, how terrible(!)

-I think she was on the internet.

-So?

So, I've hardly ever seen her on it before.

What was she doing?

I mean her face. She looked so...

-alive.

-Where you going with this, Brian?

Well, you're a woman.

There's lots of things you can do on the internet, Brian.

It isn't all about sex, weirdly. She could have been shopping.

Didn't look like shopping to me.

You'd be surprised. A pair of designer shoes will bring ecstasy to many a woman's face.

-More than most men do in my experience.

-This is Esther.

-Anyway, I know it was dodgy.

-Why?

When I tried accessing her e-mails she'd changed the password.

You tried to access her e-mail account? Why didn't you just ask her?

Because that would have been invading on a private moment, wouldn't it?

Councillor Vivienne Baxter?

Yes. Please, come in, come in.

Thank you.

I can't tell you how much this means to my mother and I - the possibility of finding my father's killer.

Even now, after all this time, it's still difficult for us to come to terms with what happened.

It certainly destroyed any illusion I may have had about the allure of antiques.

So you never wanted to go into the family business then?

Absolutely not. Before politics, I worked in investment banking.

I know this is difficult, Ms Baxter, but your father's murder -

in your statement you said you were always afraid that something like that might happen.

After Daddy sold the shop in the Kings Road, they traded from the house in Barnes.

My father said it made sense for Tony Morgan to live in with them.

A chauffeur! Then I realised he wanted him there for security.

And did you think they were in actual danger?

Even at the age of 18 I knew enough to know that the antiques trade is made up of all sorts.

From perfectly agreeable experts with Masters degrees, to, well, less scrupulous types.

I'm sorry. I'll take you to meet my mother.

Look at all this! Paradise for some people.

You ever collect anything, Gerry?

-Yeah, wives. And losing betting slips.

-I used to come to places like this a lot.

-You?

-Yeah. Not any more.

No fun on your own.

Ha! Dalton stoneware.

Very collectable to some people.

You should be on the Antiques Roadshow.

That could be our man.

You're breaking my heart! I paid you full price for the chairs.

I didn't quibble about the price, did I?

-You're stealing from me. It's 300.

-Two and a half, tops.

-Go on.

Thank you, Sarah.

-Excuse me, Tony Morgan?

-Yes?

Jack Halford, Gerry Standing, we're from UCOS. Thanks for coming up.

That's OK. I'm in London twice a week buying stock.

Two and a half for a fishing reel?

It's a steal.

-We're in the wrong game.

-I take it you have an antiques shop in Brighton?

No, I have a successful business in Brighton dealing in quality merchandise.

Done well for yourself.

Yeah. Not bad for a Barnardo's boy.

There's really no reason why a man's past should ruin his future.

Now, how about you two gentlemen giving me a hand with these chairs?

My car's just around the corner.

We think that Mal was a police informant and that could well have put him in danger.

That's impossible! I mean...

Mal would help the police with their enquiries if stolen goods came into the shop, of course.

Mrs Baxter, he didn't inform out of a moral obligation, at least not all the time.

He traded names for immunity, because he was dealing in stolen goods.

You're not serious? I'm sorry but I thought you came to...

Oh, of course. You've been talking to Roger Bowman.

As it happens, we haven't yet.

You needn't bother. I know what he'll say and it will be rubbish.

Jaundiced and bitter rubbish at that.

Daddy cut off all business ties with Bowman because he became an alcoholic.

Vivienne, that's not true. You hardly knew him.

I know what he's become.

A sad and lonely old man who slanders this family as a matter of course.

Thankfully no-one takes him seriously.

This information came from the Met Art and Antiques' Squad.

In which case, show me the proof.

-Show me records of such dealings by my father.

-There are no records.

Of course there aren't. Because his reputation is impeccable.

You said there are just as many unscrupulous people in the antiques business as there are honest ones.

There are unscrupulous people in all professions of life.

It's a matter of choice whether you actually do business with them.

And I can assure you,

Mal did not.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

In case you missed it, that was my mother being upset.

When my father died, a large part of my mother died with him.

So what do you think?

I think Vivienne doesn't have a clue about Mal's dealings.

That said, she is a politician and they're not exactly unversed in duplicity are they, Brian?

Brian, you're not still obsessing about Esther, are you?

No, no. I'm not.

Right. Let's get this sorted once and for all. Call her and tell her what's on your mind.

Roger Bowman. I think we should see him next.

I drove Helen down to Brighton about 8.30 am and when we got back

that evening, around 7pm, you lot were waiting.

-A day out, or business?

-Bit of both.

Brighton has a big antique trade, we had a stroll around the shops and a walk down the prom.

Lets face it, it's not Helen you're interested in. It's me.

Six months for GBH.

Then another six for nearly killing a man in prison.

I'd call that interesting.

-Self defence.

-You hit him with a... What was it? A chair leg?

Least it wasn't Chippendale.

Look, do we have to dwell on this unpleasantness, gentlemen?

All ancient and unfortunate history far as I'm concerned.

Do us a favour, Tony, and drop the My Fair Lady act, will you?

You're a south London boy and we know it.

You mean you'd like me to drop my vowels to make YOU feel better about yourself?

Oh, no, I'm all for a bit of upward mobility but you're laying it on a bit strong, son.

I was with the Baxters for ten years.

Taught me everything I know.

Not just about the antiques game, about life.

How to conduct myself, how to talk, books to read.

And you're right, I get angry when I think about what happened because it was my job to look after him.

And I didn't, not on that day.

Not when it counted.

How did you meet them - Mal and Helen?

I answered an ad in the paper.

Juvenile detention centres, followed by prison.

Not exactly a glowing CV, is it?

No, you're right. There was a touch of Pygmalion involved.

Or My Fair Lady - as you like to call it.

-Mal wasn't just a Henry Higgins type character, he was more of a...

-More like a father?

Sounds soppy I know, but...

Not at all. Tell me, did you know Lionel Scott?

Well, only by reputation.

What was it again? The Magician.

Mal Baxter put him away.

He was a grass.

Mal?! Nah. Rubbish.

You're having a laugh.

You say he was like a father to you, right?

Well, this is an opportunity to catch his killer.

You might never get another one.

So, you didn't know Scott.

Did you know anyone who might have been associated with him?

I told you, I left that world behind years ago.

Who told you that load of old tosh about Mal anyway?

The Met's Art and Antiques Squad.

Ha! Oh, right, that lot.

You'll have to forgive me, gentlemen. I want to beat the traffic.

Just one more thing before you go.

Starting up in the antique business is expensive.

How did you manage it?

Well, after Mal died Helen lost all interest in antiques.

Sold up. I was out of a job.

So she gave me some stock to get started as a kind of redundancy pay.

I'll see you around.

You might.

Nice motor.

Cost a bob or two.

I got one of these for Mark on his first Christmas.

Esther wouldn't let him play with it. The little Sean Connery ejector seat would've had his eye out.

So I played with it!

Apparently most days he's holed up in The Portobello Star, which is there.

Have you seen the price on this?!

-Roger Bowman?

-Dealer in fine art, antiques, collectables and freelance auctioneer.

Have gavel, will travel, so to speak.

Mr Bowman, we'd like to talk to you about Mal Baxter.

He's dead, and a bloody good job I say!

Oh, dear.

Avarice.

That's what did it.

-Did what?

-For Mal. He got greedy.

Mal started to travel abroad to buy goods, goods that he would smuggle through customs.

-My nerves couldn't take it.

-So what did you do?

Sold the business and went our separate ways.

Personally, I blame that bloody witch... Sorry, wife of his!

Helen?

She drove him to it.

A magpie. Anything that glittered, she had to have it.

-Forced Mal to involve himself with some of the undesirables of our business.

-Define undesirables.

Lionel Scott, people like that.

You must have heard of him?

-Scott was a vulgarian.

-And?

I'm just saying that was the class of person Mal was now mixing with.

Scott, Tony Morgan, another nasty little oik Mal took under his wing.

Come on, Roger. You can do better than that.

I know for a fact that other items were stolen from Mal's house on the day of the robbery.

-How do you know?

-Because they turned up at Bermondsey market.

But they were never reported to the police, because they themselves were, how shall I put it...

-stolen.

-What were these items?

-Well, I didn't actually see them.

-So, who told you?

Just a rumour.

-Hi.

-Hi.

-DCI James Larson. This is Brian Lane, Jack Halford and Gerry Standing.

-Hello.

-How do you do?

We agreed to keep each other informed of progress on the case.

-That's easy enough - there isn't any!

-Actually, there is.

Brian and I talked to Roger Bowman. Have you come across him?

-Occasionally.

-What do you think?

-I think he's a bitter, twisted, old lush.

-Unreliable?

Completely unreliable. Why?

He told us that he'd heard there were stolen goods in Mal's house along with other items that were taken.

-It's possible.

-And ended up on Bermondsey market.

-If it's true, then anything nicked would have ended up there.

-Why?

-Bermondsey was what they used to call a "Market Overt" under a 700-year-old law.

-Before my time!

This law meant that between sundown and sun up, goods could be bought and sold at markets with impunity.

-Like a thieves' charter?

-Well, yeah.

-Wasn't Princess Margaret's jewellery supposed to have been flogged off there?

-Twice.

Roger wouldn't tell us where he got the information from...

Roger had an old dealer mate, Wally Brooks.

He's got a shop on the Golborne Road but back then Wally had a stall at Bermondsey.

Wally Brooks gave Roger Bowman his alibi the day Mal Baxter died.

Right. Jack, you and Gerry go and speak to Wally Brooks.

We'll take this to the Baxters. Thank you.

-Any time.

-Can I ask you something?

-What do you know about Tony Morgan?

-That's the Baxters' driver.

-He wheels and deals a bit but other than that...

-Does he know you?

Not in the biblical sense, no. Why, are you thinking about him for the killing?

His alibi's good, right? Why, what's he said?

He didn't seem to rate the Arts and Antiques Squad very much.

In fact, he laughed out loud, didn't he?

Gerry, if you've nothing useful to contribute just button it, will you?

-I'm sorry.

-That's all right.

I'll see you out.

Gentlemen.

What was all that about? I only asked a question.

They used to be an item.

Interesting set-up.

Actually they're very, very good.

-They seem like nice boys.

-They're appalling, but I love them.

Lucky boys.

You never answered my last text.

I am doing. Is 7.30 too early?

-No. It isn't.

-I'll see you then.

About eight months later, not long after Jack became my new boss, I ended up telling him all about you.

Nothing good, presumably?

Jack was the best guv'nor I've ever had, bar none.

Anyway, he listened, and then when I finished he put his arm around me and said,

"Get over it". It was brilliant.

And did you?

Get over it.

Yes.

I would undo it if I could, you know that.

You know I never stopped regretting doing what I did.

Thinking about what a mistake it was.

I've tried to get back in touch before now.

I know you have.

I guess timing was never my strong suit.

Well, don't beat yourself up. It takes two to tango.

Yeah, but it just takes one to cock it up, doesn't it?

I never stopped thinking about you, Sandra.

I've tried, I just can't.

Where are you going?

Where do you think we're going?

Course I know Roger.

He used to have the stall five pitches down from me

until he...retired.

I'm retiring myself next month.

This game's no good any more.

Prices are a joke.

Daytime TV's killed it stone dead.

Look, all we're interested in is the day Mal Baxter died.

Now Roger said he was on his stall and you confirmed it.

-Was there a problem?

-Well, Roger was generally there.

-Generally?

-Look, he'd had more than his fair share of trouble.

I was just trying to do the right thing.

What, by making stuff up?

He was hitting the pop big style back then.

Some days he'd turn up, other times he wouldn't. I thought he had.

I tell you one thing. When he was there,

not a day would go by when he wouldn't curse Mal for having his big shop.

Especially in the winter.

Old Roger wasn't cut out for the outdoor life.

When they turfed him out it was a blessing, really.

And that's when he became an auctioneer?

-Ha! Is that what he calls it?

-What would you call it?

Well, let's just say the places Roger brings his hammer down

ain't exactly Sotheby's and Christie's.

Sorry, "turfed him out"? You just said he retired.

Same difference.

Anyway, what kickstarted all this stuff about Mal Baxter?

Roger said some items went missing out of Mal's house that weren't on the official list.

-And they ended up on Bermondsey Market.

-Oh, really?

-With you.

No, no, no, no! That's wrong.

With you!

Look, if you're referring to that tea chest full of stuff,

then I thought it might have been a bit iffy,

but not from a murder!

Roger never said that, did he?

-You made that up.

-Yes, Mr Brooks, I was lying.

But something tells me that you weren't.

Yes, other things were taken.

-What were they?

-I don't know because they were never inventoried

and because Mal kept them out of sight.

You say you have no idea what these other items were?

Roger Bowman seems to think you do.

As I've explained to you, Roger Bowman hates me

because he believes I encouraged Mal to break with him.

The final straw for Mal.

Mal found out that Roger had tried to seduce Tony Morgan

in the shop.

More than once. It was embarrassing.

You didn't think to tell the other investigation that.

Because it didn't occur to me for a second

that Roger could have killed Mal.

And now it does?

I'm sorry.

Look, I didn't say anything about it before because

I didn't want to believe it.

So, a couple of months back I'm clearing out my lock-up,

getting rid of all my old stock

prior to jacking it in,

and I come across this old tea chest from years back.

When I first got it I thought it might be a bit dodgy, so I held on to it.

Anyway, inside there's a solid silver fob watch, a perfume bottle,

couple of nice tiepins and a statue.

-Statue?

-Yeah, well, statuette I suppose is the correct term.

Classical piece with wings on his head and his feet.

-Did it have a base?

-Yeah, round, sort of like that.

Heavy?

Yeah, bronze. Why?

Well, where did you get it from, this tea chest, originally?

Bought it off a dealer named Greg Hazlett.

He only wanted a score for it, but that was back in '96.

And where can we find Hazlett?

He used to be a Brighton knocker boy.

Last I heard he was in Spain.

-So, who do you sell all this gear to?

-Lennie the Lump.

-Well, where can we find him?

-I dunno.

Well, doesn't he have a second name?

No, no, no. It's just Lennie the Lump. That's all I know him as.

He runs a Nazareth.

-A Nazareth?

-What the hell is that?

A Nazareth is a secret auction,

where the gear they're selling is predominantly hooky.

-Why is it called a Nazareth?

-God knows.

-Did Wally tell this Lump that the stuff was nicked?

-I think Lennie would take that as read.

So it could be our murder weapon.

A bronze statuette. Yeah?

Mercury. Messenger of the gods.

Hermes in Greek mythology.

Traditionally he has a winged helmet and feet.

There's a famous 16th century neo classical statuette of Hermes by Jam Bologna.

It's solid gold. Worth millions.

So, is Hazlett just another link in the chain or is he our man?

Well, at least we've got a name now and a possible murder weapon.

And a Roger without an alibi anymore.

Yeah, that's true. Anyway, I'm off.

-Goodnight.

-Anywhere nice?

Just find Hazlett.

-You know where she's going, don't you?

-Yeah.

-Well, if you ask me...

Well, I don't.

Scrubs up well though.

MOBILE RINGS

Detective Super Intendent Pullman.

-DCI Michaels. You called?

-Yes, that's right.

-Is DI Larson being kept informed on the Baxter case?

-Yes, he is.

Detective Inspector Larson is under surveillance.

We'd like your assistance.

Can't imagine there are too many Greg Hazletts who deal in antiques.

Yeah, I know him. Used to be a...

Brighton Knocker.

I love it when you talk dirty.

Got any idea where he is now?

Not off the top of my head, no.

I could call my friends in Brighton, see if they know. Why?

Well, we think he might have handled some of the stolen items.

Ah.

That is very nice.

-You like that?

-Yeah, beautiful.

Kind of goes with the territory.

Suppose it would be a bit sad

if I didn't acquire some taste in this job.

I like to think that you've always had good taste, James.

Do you know anyone called Lennie the Lump?

-Lennie who?

-Lump?

We think he might have bought some of the stolen stuff.

-No, never heard of him. Excuse me.

-MOBILE RINGS

I'm going to have to take this.

Yep. Hiya.

Sorry.

-Right, anything else?

-Yeah, yeah, what's a Nazareth?

It's a term in the Bible. Why?

Oh, it's just a word we've come across

-but no-one seems to know what it means.

-Oh, a Nazareth?

Yeah that's a word for, um, it's like an illicit auction.

We used to see them in the old days.

They're rare now though.

-Sorry I can't be more specific.

-No, no.

It's not important, I just thought I'd run it past you.

Well, I shall add it to the list.

If I hear anything, I'll keep you in the loop.

It's always nice to be kept in the loop.

Come on.

Esther?

Esther?

-Esther?

-What?

-Are you on your own?

What?

What are you doing?

I've just been getting rid of a few things on the internet on this auction sites.

-Decluttering, it's called.

-I thought...

I thought you were...

You thought I was what?

-What are you getting rid of?

-All sorts of things.

Clothes that I don't want any more, jewellery that I don't wear.

There, you see. I've got 20 bids on that, so that's £80. 80!

Another one. It's quite exciting.

-In the loft?

-Mmm-hmm.

Since when did you store stuff in the loft?

No, well I...

I just went up to, erm... Just to check.

My stuff?!

In the loft? You mean my stuff?!

I just went up to see if there was anything that was worth it.

Brian, it's jam-packed, there's mountains of stuff up there.

Nobody hoards things like you do.

-No, they don't.

-I haven't touched anything.

I wouldn't, honestly.

You've got no right.

It's mine. Mine.

And I've got no wish to be decluttered! Do you understand?

Brian, it's just a lot of old stuff up there.

Stuff that hasn't see the light of day for years!

Stop it! No more!

I forbid you to go anywhere near that loft!

It's my place.

My things. My bloody stuff!

-Hello?

-DCI Michaels?

-Speaking.

-This is Detective Superintendent Pullman.

Oh, hello there.

We know Morgan's got form and Roger Bowman's got motive,

but where did Hazlett get the statuette ,and was it used to kill Mal?

Gerry Standing, UCOS.

One moment. It's for you, Guv'nor.

DCI Larson.

James.

Oh, great. Hang on.

Thank you. Go on.

Great. Thanks a lot. Yes. Me too.

Bye.

Everything all right?

Greg Hazlett has an office-cum-lock-up in Hove.

-Tony Morgan's just down the road in Brighton.

-You think they know each other?

Well, it'd be bloody odd if they didn't.

You two go and spend a day at the seaside. Brian, you're with me.

What's the book, Gerry?

-Oh, The Lure of Antiques.

-Ha ha! You've got the bug, haven't you?

Nah, it's a bit of reference, that's all.

You want to forget about that stuff, mate.

This is where the money is. Dinky toys, Scalectrix, Subbuteo.

Yeah, nostalgia.

Quality antiques have to be over 100 years old.

That's where the smart money is.

When you're ready, Brian.

I want to pay Roger Bowman another visit.

What is wrong with her?

Can I help you, gents?

-Yeah. Greg Hazlett?

-Allegedly.

Former Brighton knocker Greg Hazlett?

Yes, I think perhaps you can.

The knocker was very good to me.

Way back, I bought a painting for a couple of quid from a house in Sudbury. It was covered in grime.

I couldn't really make out what it was. Bought it for the frame as much as anything else.

But I had a funny feeling about it so I took a punt and had it professionally cleaned up.

Best move I ever made. Turned out to be a Matisse.

Millionaire at 26.

Hello, Malaga, here I come!

Of course it's all gone now. Nags, Jags and WAGs,

and what with the divorces, I'm brassic.

-Sounds familiar.

-Bet if we had a look around, we could find a few more treasures.

Oh, I very much doubt it. So, how can I help you?

-Mal Baxter.

-Oh, come on. That was over years ago, surely?

Well, before you swanned off to sunny Spain,

you sold a tea chest to Wally Brooks.

Well, I can hardly remember last week, never mind 16 years ago.

-But it could be right.

-There was a statue at the bottom of that chest.

-A bronze winged Mercury.

-If you say so.

We think it was used to kill Mal.

-You're kidding?

-'Fraid not.

What we want to know, Greg,

is where you were on the day Mal was killed?

That's easy. I was with Mal's wife, Helen.

We met up for a spot of lunch, little place I knew on the Downs.

I wanted to show her a pair of Moorcroft vases I had.

We rattled on a bit.

It turned out to be a long lunch really, about three hours or so. We had to get a taxi back to Brighton.

We'd had too much of the old vino colapso. Know what I mean?

Didn't Tony Morgan drive you?

No, no. He dropped her off, then picked her up in Brighton at the end of the day.

Your relationship with Helen Baxter.

Was there anything else to it?

Look, Helen was a beautiful woman but I wasn't in the toyboy game.

-But you do know Tony Morgan?

-Yes, yes. Of course. We did the odd bit of business here and there.

-And Morgan's still in Brighton?

-Yeah, just down the road.

Come to think of it, it was Tony that sold me that tea chest.

I haven't dumped him in it, have I?

-It's a lie.

-So there's no truth in what Helen Baxter said?

You honestly believe that witch?

I believe Wally Brooks, and he says he actually can't be sure

-that you were actually in Bermondsey market the day Mal Baxter died.

-Poppycock!

-Brian?

When Wally told us that story, we checked to see if you had a criminal record. And, in 1997,

Roger, you were caught committing an act of gross indecency in a public place.

-How dare you...

-Shut up and listen!

Two years later you were caught committing exactly the same offence in the same toilets.

-Stop! Stop it. Enough!

-Yes, in Bermondsey.

All right, tell us the truth. Where were you on the day Mal Baxter died?

I was in the market some of the time.

And some of the time I was with a friend.

In the toilets?

Has this friend got a name?

So you still can't prove it.

Either way, it doesn't look good, does it?

If you did proposition Tony Morgan and Mal Baxter ended your partnership as a result...

You honestly think I killed Mal?! I've never lifted a finger to anyone in my life! It's ridiculous.

That's not why he cast me out!

-You really want to know the reason?

-Surprise me.

Yes, I made a pass at Tony.

I was flirting with him. But it wasn't me lying naked with him

in the storeroom in the Kings Road each and every Sunday afternoon.

-Then who was it?

-Ask Vivienne.

-Vivienne?!

-That's right.

Nice, 17-year-old, virginal Vivienne.

Why else do you think he packed her off to boarding school soon as he could?

Oh, the sheltered lives you lead.

And you caught them?

-I went in to do some stocktaking, and I took stock.

-And you told Mal.

I didn't think it was a very healthy situation.

Nah, you told him because you were jealous. And instead of taking it out on them, he took it out on you.

Did you ever see Tony Morgan again?

Saw him, yes, but not in that way.

Whenever I came home, Daddy ensured we were never alone together.

What about your mother? What did she have to say?

She never knew.

-Not at all?

-Even to this day.

My father knew she'd have gone berserk.

-Fire Tony at the very least.

-And yet he didn't.

He was a very honourable man, my father.

The fact is it was my fault. And he knew it.

I seduced Tony. And he wasn't the first.

Daddy knew that too.

Daddy admired Tony,

what he'd done to pull himself up after where he'd come from.

He wasn't about to send him back there for failing to resist temptation.

Just one more thing.

Have you ever heard of a man called Greg Hazlett?

He lives in Brighton, well, Hove actually.

Just down the road from Tony Morgan.

Did Tony ever mention him?

Tony and I didn't do much talking.

Well, Tony Morgan's not at home.

Well, there's no sign of any alarm, so presumably he keeps his goods somewhere else.

By the time we get a warrant...

Look at that. Signs of a forced entry.

It's our duty to investigate.

I'll call Brighton police.

Jack?

Look at this.

"To Titch from LS.

"May all your hauls be this big."

LS being Lionel Scott.

-Yeah, that's The Magician all right.

-And a very young Tony Morgan.

Titch.

Very paternal.

-Wally Brooks?

-No. We're closed, sorry.

-Detective Superintendent Pullman, UCOS.

What have I done now?

You spoke to some of my colleagues about Mal Baxter.

-Yeah.

-You mentioned a bronze statuette, a Winged Mercury.

-Yeah.

Except it's not bronze, Wally.

It's solid gold. Nine carat.

Ten grand's worth, in scrap alone.

I don't believe you.

-You're having me on.

-It's true. The bronze was just a smokescreen.

And I need you to say so.

I want you to spread the word very quietly to the underground.

You know, the kind of people who don't care weather it's legit or not, and no-one else.

And one more thing - you didn't hear this from me.

Cos if my name comes up, you're going to be fishing all this stuff out of the Thames.

Cheers, Wal.

What did Hazlett say?

Three hours or so?

Brighton to Barnes in a fast car? An hour ten, twenty?

Especially at that time of day.

Yeah, Morgan could easily have got back to Barnes, killed Mal,

got what he wanted and still have got back to Brighton to pick Helen up.

Do you think Hazlett was invovled?

Tying Helen up with a boozy lunch?

Lionel Scott was Morgan's mentor.

Mal ratted on him

and broke up Morgan's relationship with Vivienne.

To me, that's motive-and-a-half.

Well, either way, both Helen and Morgan lied.

How long are you going to keep this up?

-Keep what up?

-This wounded silence.

I haven't decided.

All right. Brian, I'm sorry. They're not my things, they're your things.

I was in the wrong and I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I've made £1,220 so far.

How much?!

Yes, yes, I do recall.

It was a pair of William Moorcroft vases.

I was collecting Moorcroft at the time.

Greg Hazlett and I ended up having lunch.

Mrs Baxter, in your original statement you said that you spent

the day in Brighton with Tony Morgan, all day.

Why did you lie?

Because Tony loved Mal.

Worshipped him.

I know he couldn't have harmed my husband.

Tony had no reason to hurt Mal.

Mal had done everything for him. Everything.

And your relationship with Greg Hazlett was purely professional?

I'm sorry, how could it be otherwise?

OK. Thank you both very much.

Mrs Baxter, I'll probably want to speak to you again at some point.

Good memory...now.

So had Greg Hazlett.

Almost identical.

You OK?

What do you mean?

I mean are you sure you know what you're doing?

Completely.

Great. Thanks.

No-one's seen hide nor hair of Tony Morgan for two days.

That's funny because he withdrew £25,000 from his account this morning, in cash.

Hardly enough for plastic surgery and a fresh start in Costa Rica, is it?

No, but it might be enough to buy something else.

Brian, my office.

This Wally Brooks. Is he dodgy?

-He's an antique dealer.

-Yes, I know that, but can you trust him?

Well, he's desperate to prove he had nothing to do with any of this stuff.

-OK. Ask him to get hold of Lennie the Lump.

-What for?

Find out when the next Nazareth is.

-Why?

-Well I'm guessing that's where Morgan's taking his £25,000.

Wouldn't you want to buy your murder weapon back?

Now, listen up. Your contribution to this investigation has been...

How shall I put it? Crap!

I don't know what it is that's keeping you from doing your job properly

but it certainly isn't Esther having an affair.

-God help her, she probably should, but she isn't.

-No. I know.

Oh. Good.

-So what was she doing?

-She'd been online. Selling stuff.

-Shopping, you mean?

-Well...

-Shopping.

Guv'nor, Wally wants to know how the hell we knew about the Nazareth.

-When and where?

-Where and when, mate?

Midnight tonight underneath the arches at Deptford.

Very cloak and dagger.

Hold on, hold on.

Wally says, if you want, he reckons he can get one of us in with him.

I'll go. Like you say, I've been a wallflower on this one.

Plus Morgan won't recognise me.

OK.

So how did you know about tonight?

-And how can you be so sure Morgan's...

-I'm not.

-So what the bloody hell are we...?

-Wally's here.

-What is he doing?

-God only knows.

Bloody hell! What you come as? A Polish tram driver?

Camouflage.

Where's Jack?

-Who, or should I say, what is that?

-That's Lennie the Lump.

And he's the auctioneer?

No, no, he's the organiser, the main man. The auctioneer's there.

Roger Bowman.

Brian!

-Brian!

-Roger! How you doing?

Long time no see!

One word from you about me and I'll shove that gavel

so far up your backside you'll be brushing your bloody teeth with it.

Hey, good to see you.

-Guess who the auctioneer is.

-Go on.

-Have gavel will travel.

-Shit!

I had a word with him, I think he's got the message.

Hold up, he's here!

Morgan's just walked in.

-Well, come on then.

-No, Jack's not here. We've still got time.

Right, gentleman.

Let's get the proceedings underway.

We have a very valuable and unique item for you tonight...

-Guv'nor, Hazlett's in!

-Hazlett?

What's Hazlett doing here? I thought Morgan was our man.

A very charming statue of Mercury. Seemingly bronze but actually nine carat gold.

-Somewhat obscure provinence but I expect that wont be too much of a consideration.

-Guv, it's gold.

Gold? What's going on?

It would make a lovely present for the trouble and strife.

A lot of enquiries, a lot of interest.

Even one or two phone bids, I believe?

Worth ten grand in scrap alone, so shall we start there?

-Ten grand anyone?

-We're off.

No?, OK, how about nine?

Who'll offer me nine...

£9,000 on the left. Do I hear ten?

-Ten.

-10,000 at the back.

-That was Hazlett bidding.

Do I hear 11? Can you give me 11?

12,000 on my left. 13,000, how about 13,000?

13,000 at the front, thank you sir.

14. How about £14,000?

Where have you been, Jack?

-Doing a little checking on Greg Hazlett.

-£15,000? Thank you, sir.

16? Do I hear £16,000?

-16.

-'That's Morgan.'

-17? Do I hear 18?

-£18,000.

-'That's Hazlett.'

-Hazlett the bankrupt?

Cash rich, this mob, aren't they?

-He doesn't even own his flat.

-Ssh! Ssh!

-Helen Baxter does.

Business relationship!

-£25,000.

-25. I have 25.

-'Morgan again.'

-Any advance on £25,000?

-26,000.

-'Hazlett and Morgan are desperate for it.'

-26. I'm hearing 26,000. Once.

-Twice...

-35!

35. I have a phone bid for £35,000.

Once.

Twice.

Gone! 35000 - a phone bidder.

Thank you, Leonard.

What's going on?

-Lennie the Lump's leaving with the statue in a bag.

-That's him there.

You'd better be quick. Morgan's heading for his car.

Brian, get into the van with Wally, will you.

What you doing?!

What the bloody hell's going on?

All Gold Units our man is clear.

-What are you doing?

-We're following the statue.

Brian, make sure they arrest Morgan and Hazlett.

Police! Stay where you are!

Police! Stay where you are! Against the wall!

Far be it for me to question your decisions, Sandra,

-but would you care to enlighten me as to what the...?

-Any moment now.

Central 550 from Gold. Go, go, go!

SIRENS WAIL

Stop! Don't move!

Come on!

What's your name, sir?

DCI Larson.

Mr Larson, hand me the package.

-Follow me, sir.

-Well, that is interesting.

Sorry, James. Nothing personal.

James Larson, I'm arresting you on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

When did you first become aware of the statuette's existence, Detective Chief Inspector?

When I discovered the file relating to the murder of Mal Baxter.

It had long been rumored that Lionel Scott was responsible

for the original theft of the Winged Mercury.

Putting him and Baxter together seemed like common sense.

Might I ask Detective Superintendent Pullman the same question?

I saw a photo of the original, in gold, in one of your files.

Like I said,

you always were a better copper than me.

How much did you expect to raise?

You don't have to answer that.

That's OK.

While in no way admitting my actions were for personal gain,

I would happily state that the object's true worth

runs at a conservative estimate to quite a lot.

It's insured for £20 million and I suspect that the insurers

would be quite happy to shell out a quarter of that for its safe return.

Well, what I would say is you have your result.

Both the legal owners and their insurers inform us that they have

had no contact from you or your squad concerning the piece.

Well, one doesn't broadcast one's initiatives, as I'm sure you understand.

Interview suspended at 10:30am.

Be interesting to see how you're going to make this one stick.

I mean, given our close relationship these past few weeks.

What relationship?

-Sandra...

-James, things obviously haven't turned out the way you'd hoped.

All I can say is get over it.

According to Tony Morgan, Lionel Scott was always on the lookout for someone small enough

-to get in and out of air vents and rubbish chutes and what have you.

-So where does Mal fit in?

Well, by the time Morgan was 16, he'd outgrown his usefulness,

so Lionel passed him onto Mal.

Morgan says that Scott knew it was Mal who grassed him up, but he just shrugged it off as part of the game.

-So where was Morgan on the day Mal died?

-Fishing.

But then he heard that statue was for sale,

he remembered Scott nicking it and thought he'd make a killing.

Not happy.

-Do you recognise this?

-No.

It was stolen from a private house in Belgravia in 1987,

possibly by Lionel Scott, who then gave it to Mal to sell on.

Except you wanted to keep it.

Rumours that he had the statue began to spread.

Mal wanted to sell, but you wouldn't let it go.

I knew nothing about this.

Really?

But you did just happen to know Greg Hazlett.

You conspired with him to rob Mal.

Of course Hazlett didn't know the the true value of the statue.

His reward was to be the rest of Mal's illicit hoard of antiques.

This is nonsense.

Mal gave you gifts, didn't he? Precious pieces for your collection.

But from what I hear, they weren't enough to satisfy you.

It wasn't the only way he failed to satisfy you, according to Greg.

Greg did not say that!

-He still lives rent free in a flat that you own.

-What?!

-This is disgusting.

No - getting your lover to kill your husband, that's disgusting.

-Mum?!

-I'm not listening to this.

Your idea was you get the house, the statue, everything.

-Mum! Mum, talk to me.

-You're wrong.

You're completely wrong.

It wasn't anything like that.

Fine. Then what's the official version?

It was a mistake.

It was just a...

dreadful,

terrible mistake.

I couldn't just take the statue, Mal would have known.

I needed an alibi.

So, I had Greg stage the burglary.

Mal was supposed to be away on business.

I don't know why he didn't go.

He wasn't supposed to be there.

When Mal came in,

he saw Greg,

and Greg and he started arguing.

Greg didn't know what to do.

He, um...

He just...

picked up the statue.

He should have thrown it away,

but he sold it.

And now it's come back to haunt us again.

And yes, yes, yes, I did.

I gave him the money so it could be disposed of once and for all.

I don't want it. I don't want any of it.

Vivienne.

No, don't go. Please!

Hazlett had no idea how much the statue was worth.

So when he got rid of it, he thought it would just disappear into the underworld.

Then, when it turned up again...

When he found that out, he had to get hold of it again, bidding for it with Helen Baxter's money.

But neither Hazlett nor Morgan

knew there was a £5 million insurance reward.

So, DCI Larson, eh, who would have thought it?

Except you, of course.

How long before you sussed him out?

Pretty quick. That's when I got Professional Standards on board.

Yeah, well I still think you could have let us in on it.

I didn't want to compromise you.

If anything had gone wrong, I didn't want him to suspect anything.

Yeah, well, I'm still not happy.

75 quid, he paid.

-What!

-Yeah 120 for the lot.

Lucky if it's worth a tenner.

THUMPING

You could have killed me!

Sorry, love.

-What are you doing?

-Hang on.

Yes! Got it! I thought we had one of these.

One what?

An original gold James Bond Aston Martin DB5.

In the original box! Do you know much these are going for?

I thought you wanted to keep everything.

You told me not to touch anything.

You told me that I wasn't to get rid of any of your stuff.

This isn't any of my stuff.

This is Mark's.

-This seat taken?

-It is now.

What you drinking?

A lot.

I know how you feel. White wine and a large scotch, please.

Gerry thought you'd lost it.

-You lost...

-As if.

I told him, Sandra's no fool.

She knows how far to go.

I always said you'd go far.

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