The Price of Love The Doctor Blake Mysteries

THUNDER

HE CRIES OUT

Cease fire! Cease fire!

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

POLICEMAN TALKS INDISTINCTLY

Stay put, lads. I'll come back to you.

Police liaison called it in.

Tactical night manoeuvres.

Lance Corporal Mervyn Rogers.

A lance corporal on recruit training?

No, he wasn't part of the exercise.

He just got in the way, unfortunately.

Apparently, it was an accident.

He's wearing civvies, so he's off-duty.

Christ, he's just a kid.

And killed only a few hundred yards from home.

What was the target, Charlie?

Right. Damn near impossible to tell who fired the fatal shot.

All right.

Well...

-There's no exit wound.

-Mm-mm.

Single entrance wound to the anterior chest.

There's no evidence of sooting, or gunpowder tattooing.

He was shot from a distance.

It looks pretty straightforward.

According to the recruits, he died a few minutes after midnight.

His family have been informed.

Right.

Think they might be able to use some of your bedside manner.

THEY KNOCK ON DOOR

He must have been out running.

He used to do that when he couldn't sleep.

You'll stay here until your Ben gets home, all right?

Ben - your husband?

He's away on a training op.

Mrs Rogers, I know how hard this must be for you.

Please know you have our deepest sympathies.

Yes. It's best you rest for a few days.

If there's anything we can do, don't hesitate to ask.

I'll organise her leave from payroll.

I run the admin office on base. Daisy lives next door.

I just want to know why this happened to my son.

THUNDER CLAPS

I can't believe that took all night.

That's the military, Charlie. That is the military.

Accidentally shot.

By one of his own, no less.

Still, they followed the book to the letter, though.

Safety officers at hand. They notified the military police.

Nothing else anyone could have done.

SIREN STARTS

Where do you think you're going? Give me your keys.

Do you even have a licence?

Stand there.

Walter Johns, West Ballarat.

Hello, Walter. That's dangerous driving.

Driving in excess of 35mph, above the speed limit.

-No rego plates.

-Charlie?

Stay there.

Look.

I was meeting a girl after work.

What time was this?

Around 11:30.

And then?

I rode my bike. Took the scenic route through a paddock.

Some idiot had left his car running.

-So you stole it?

-Yeah.

Thought it'd impress her.

Turn up in a nice car.

So you spend the rest of the night joyriding, do you?

Tell me, what line of work are you in?

-I'm a logger.

-Logger.

Right.

So, this, then? Much need for a bayonet in your line of work?

-Where...

-We found it, Walter, in your car.

-Well, it's not mine.

-Then you tell us whose it is, then.

I don't know. The car? Whatever you found in it, it wasn't me.

Check the rego.

Walter, that doesn't mean you didn't commit the crime.

Just means you stole someone's car to commit the crime.

-Are you having a lend?

-Tell me about the paddock where you found the car.

Dunnstown, off Old Melbourne Road.

This would be where the car was when it stopped.

Yeah. Yeah, we're still searching for the owner.

No luck as yet.

If the car was left running

and someone was trying to dispose of a body, I mean...

Yeah, you wouldn't choose here.

You'd be digging for days.

And another thing - this bicycle Walter claims he was riding...

I know, no sign of it.

-Good. You're here.

-Good morning, Alice.

-This rug...

-Alice, call me old-fashioned.

Out of respect, don't you think we should start with the body first?

Why? He's not going to get any more dead.

From this amount of blood,

the police are aware that someone has died.

The size of the red blood cells and the absence of any nucleation

suggest it's human.

Yes, and trace evidence tells us someone was wrapped up in it.

Corpus delicti - without a body,

a certain amount of evidence is needed to prove possible murder.

Which, as of this moment, we don't have.

Exsanguination goes on the report.

Alice, look here - these burn marks seem quite fresh.

Perhaps the owner of the rug is a smoker.

Possibly.

And the blood is congealed down here.

I'll perform blood typing and toxicology tests.

-Now, your corporal Rogers.

-Ah.

The bullet missed the heart but clipped the aorta above the valve.

Most of the bleeding was internal.

So, the bullet hits his left side

as he's running.

Interesting.

I'll run his bloods, too, then, shall I?

Yes. Alice, look here.

There's a smear of blood across the right shoulder,

well away from the wound.

Perhaps his hands were bloody and he touched his shirt.

-There's one more thing.

-Yes?

-The bayonet you found in the car.

-Ah!

I see.

At some point, this bayonet,

which our boy in lock-up says wasn't his,

was in fact covered in blood.

Well, no surprises there. What about Rogers?

Anything we can give their investigating officer?

Nothing much at this stage.

However, we can tell him the boy was sober.

Got the feeling the department was wishing he wasn't.

Yes, it would certainly clear the military of any wrongdoing.

The army's asked for a full report.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come.

Major.

You must be the Chief Superintendent.

-Major Derek Alderton.

-Frank Carlyle.

And Lucien.

A trip to Ballarat wouldn't be complete.

Derek, it's been a while.

-Take a seat.

-Thank you.

Autopsy report on Corporal Rogers.

-Was he drunk?

-No.

That's a pity.

So, all he was guilty of was being stupid enough

to run in front of a live fire exercise.

Well, stupidity's not something we can test for.

You already have.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Enter.

-Corporal Rogers' uniform, sir.

-Thank you, Kelly.

So, a midnight training exercise.

Well, you both know the object is to simulate an emergency scenario.

-Well, it worked.

-Unlike your safety procedures.

I'm writing a report. You're welcome to read it once it's complete.

Look, let's be frank, gentlemen.

This was just a mistake, an accident, pure and simple.

And the possible safety breach?

We'll explore thoroughly.

Right now the army's main priority is men and material -

limiting damage to morale,

which is why I'm here.

That, and to check current procedures,

make sure this never happens again.

Let's assume I know how to proceed.

Such a pity, isn't it?

All that potential gone to waste.

So, you two.

Yes, we served together.

So he's a mate of yours, then.

Not any more.

Yes, I can see why.

DOOR OPENS

Jean, it's me. I'm sorry, I'm heading straight back out again.

Just dropping my bag off.

Yes, I know.

She'll be hungry.

Mai Lin.

Yes, of course. I...

Thank you.

It's beautiful.

Yes, it is.

You know...

..it didn't feel like home when I came back.

Not at first.

But now...

Now you can't imagine living anywhere else, can you?

Roast beef and tomato chutney.

Your favourite.

Well, some things never change.

Jean, she knows you well.

I thought that I would see you for breakfast,

but she told me that you were with the police again this morning.

Yes. Yes.

We're looking into a missing person case.

I didn't ever think you would dedicate yourself to anything more

than you did the army.

It's all right, Lucien.

I understand.

What you're doing is important.

And so are you.

All these years...

..I was afraid that...

-No, it...

-What?

Mai Lin, it's all right. Afraid of what?

I was afraid you'd forgotten me.

No.

Never.

Not for a single second.

-Chutney.

-Oh, dear.

Hang on a moment.

Allow me.

Thank you.

'All right, Charlie,

'no-one's telling us where this car came from.'

Perhaps it's time we asked the car itself.

I don't really speak automobile, Doc.

That's very funny, Charlie.

Now...

there was a sticky substance on the rug.

Of course, I just assumed it was coagulated blood

but I think we'll find it is in fact...

-Pine.

-Tree sap.

Well, that narrows it down.

We're looking for a tree in Ballarat.

Hang on, Charlie.

Young Walter works as a logger, does he not?

You think...

He might be able to help us

find a pine needle in a haystack, what do you think?

What if it wasn't Walter Johns, Doc?

Well, Charlie, he was, quite literally,

caught holding what we think could be a murder weapon.

Still, if it wasn't him, who else could it be?

Who else indeed?

Well, whoever it was, Charlie, they've driven in here...

..continued down here,

but they've stopped here.

And, Charlie,

would you say that's a drag mark?

-Definitely.

-Yes.

And look...

..it continues along down here...

..and ends...

Charlie!

Late 20s.

Rigor mortis has passed.

No... Significant decomposition.

Estimated time of death...

..around 24 hours ago.

The edges of the wounds here and here

are consistent with the triangular cross-sections on the bayonet.

Her blood type matches what we found on the bayonet

and on the rug as well.

Right.

Anything else?

She had penicillin in her system.

Right.

What were you being treated for?

-Doctor?

-Mm?

It looks like a telephone number

and there's a name.

Yes.

Yes, hello. I was wondering, could I speak with Beverly, please?

I see.

Thank you, yes, I'll call back in the morning.

That was a cleaner.

Apparently, everyone's gone home for the day.

Gone home? From where?

The Ballarat Courier?

Yeah. Let's ring them in the morning and find out who Beverly is.

In the meantime, we may already have a suspect in our Jane Doe case.

-He's the owner of the FX Holden.

-Right.

-Why don't you take a lead on this one?

-Yes, sir.

Lieutenant Keith Marling Ellis. 9th CVR, Central Victorian Regiment.

Yes, you're stationed at the military base.

That's right.

Is this about my stolen car?

I'm hoping it hasn't been damaged at all.

I put a lot of work into that vehicle.

Do you know this woman?

No.

Where were you last night?

Laverton, on training for the past week.

Lieutenant, it was your car

that transported this woman's dead body

to a nearby forest last night.

There's a group of us on base -

we all share our cars.

Share everything.

You're saying anyone could have easily taken off with it?

Because when we found it,

it had no rego plates,

and the boot was covered top to bottom in blood.

I took the plates off last week,

so I could reroll and rechrome the bumpers.

But I don't know anything about any blood.

Where were you between nine o'clock and midnight last night, Lieutenant?

Finished rifle training,

had dinner about 8:00, a nightcap,

went to sleep about 9:30, maybe 10.

Well, Laverton's only an hour and a half away.

What are you getting at, Sergeant?

Actually, why am I talking to you

and not to your superior officer?

All right, then, Lieutenant.

So, you were in barracks.

-No, a civilian house.

-Not another soul around.

-No.

-So no-one can vouch for you between 9:00 and midnight, then?

No.

No.

Didn't think so.

Major.

Chief Superintendent.

I believe you're holding one of my men.

We are. Lieutenant Keith Ellis.

We were hoping with your permission we may see his service records.

I'm sure you would but the answer is no.

We can lodge a request with the DoD.

You can, and the answer will still be no.

You're questioning him over a civilian matter.

When it becomes a matter for the military, then we can talk.

-Derek, what brings you here?

-I want Ellis released. Now.

Yes, but that's not really your call, is it?

Unfortunately, Major, I can hold Lieutenant Ellis

for up to 24 hours without charge.

I'm well aware of what you can and can't do, Mr Carlyle.

-But this...

-This is a civilian matter.

When it does become a matter for the military, well...

Chief Superintendent.

Major.

Not going to be able to hold him off forever.

What other news from the day?

The woman's last meal. We examined the contents of her stomach...

-Do we have to hear about that right now?

-You did ask.

For what it's worth, a shiitake mushroom -

swallowed whole.

The only Asian restaurant in Ballarat is The Golden Crown.

Mrs Gladys Cook.

She's a regular.

How did this happen?

That's what we're trying to determine, Mr Tan.

When did you last see her?

The night before last.

She ate quickly, said that she was meeting a friend.

Right. You seem to remember an awful lot about...

I remember because I offered to drive her there.

I see.

What time did you leave with her?

Around 9:30.

Mm-mm. So you were close friends, then.

I dropped her off.

Then I drove straight back to work.

My 12-year-old daughter came with us.

She'll be at the restaurant after school,

if you're planning on interrogating her, too.

Sorry, Mr Tan.

Where exactly did you take her?

Seeing how the other half live, doctor?

Maybe.

What exactly are the other half doing?

Payroll.

She needed a distraction.

I'd have thought you'd be with the others right now,

interrogating my husband.

-You're Joyce...

-Ellis, that's right.

So, what did Keith do now?

Something to do with that bloody car he loves so much?

His car wasn't borrowed this time, Mrs Ellis, it was stolen.

I'm guessing it's usually parked by your quarters.

Behind them, yes.

You didn't see anything, hear anything?

-Not a thing.

-Right.

Um, Mrs Ellis, do you know a woman by the name of Gladys Cook?

Was...was that who you found in the forest?

Yes. Was she a friend?

She worked in the mailroom.

I hadn't seen her since she left the base six months ago.

None of us had. We all used to be quite close.

She and her husband...

They're separated now. He took a posting interstate.

I see.

Your husband, Keith, told the police he didn't know Gladys.

He...he would have lied, because...

..whatever he and Gladys got up to, we dealt with it.

I see.

You'll have to excuse me - we're all knocking off early today,

meeting our husbands for a drink.

Of course. Mrs Ellis - Joyce - one last thing, if I may.

You help with recruiting women to work on the base, yes?

I do. Why do you ask?

We're looking for a woman by the name of Beverly.

Beverly Alison, maybe.

She works in the laundry with Kelly.

-Is she working today?

-No, it's her day off.

Joyce, tell me, do you think you could possibly help me...

Lucien.

Do you have a moment?

So, Mai Lin's alive.

That war just keeps throwing us surprises, doesn't it?

Quite.

She enjoying Ballarat?

Well, she doesn't really know anyone here.

She knows you.

My wife was missing for longer than we were married. Let's just say...

..I got used to my situation.

Well, now you don't have to.

You should take some time off, Lucien.

Instead of loitering around my base, harassing my staff.

I'm trying to find Beverly Alison.

Due back at work tomorrow, apparently.

She's a solid link to Gladys Cook,

whose murder, I believe, is connected to your base somehow.

Do you remember the last time we saw each other?

Men marching through the streets of Ballarat.

Soldiers, all of whom were once part of something

much bigger than themselves.

All marching in unison.

Relying on the man next to them to keep them in line.

Yes.

All blindly following orders

without ever stopping to consider the consequences.

You know, I'm beginning to see a bit of a pattern in you, Lucien.

How so? You're hiding, aren't you?

You've made a job for yourself

unravelling the mysteries of missing women.

Finding my wife...

..was never a job.

Derek.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Just a minute.

Please, come in.

You didn't have to come all this way just to drop those off.

I wanted to say thank you,

and to return your plates.

They're the doctor's plates.

Yes, but I know how you take care of him.

These things are important to you.

And I wanted to tell you that I understand.

I know how difficult my arrival must have been.

He seems...

He seems very happy here.

Well, you're his wife,

and that's all there is to it.

So, Lucien told me that he and the police

were investigating a missing woman.

Yes, they are.

He spoke to you about that?

Yes, I think.

I think perhaps he wanted to talk.

Yes.

That sounds like him.

-Thank you.

-No need.

-Excuse me?

-Open bar.

Mrs Forsyth over there's insisted on paying for everyone.

How lovely. Thank you so much.

I see the Chief Superintendent has released Keith Ellis, then.

Not before he got a confession out of him, though.

He admitted that he was sleeping with the victim.

-Yes, so I heard.

-From who?

-Mrs Ellis.

-Doctor.

Here to pay your respects?

Sergeant Davis and I are, yes.

That's very kind of you. I'm sure the family will appreciate it.

They're about to start. Doctor?

Mrs Forsyth, thank you so much for the drinks.

That's ever so generous of you. You're quite welcome.

Mrs Ellis there - Joyce -

was quite close to Gladys Cook, too, apparently,

as were Daisy and Ben.

If I may, everybody, a toast.

To Merv.

ALL: To Merv.

I imagine that's Kelly's husband.

Yes, Daniel Forsyth.

They all live on the base.

Are we sure that's Kelly's husband?

Yes. He seems quite...

close with Mrs Ellis, doesn't he?

Gentlemen.

Friend of the deceased, were you?

-Something like that.

-Like what exactly?

A few days ago, I received a message at work.

A woman claiming to have a story about the Ballarat military base.

-She left a number for me to call.

-And?

And I've been calling nonstop - no answer.

I figured if she was from the base,

she might see me here, maybe approach me.

If this woman is so eager to talk,

why do you suppose she's not answering the telephone?

People want to report something, they get nervous.

They change their mind. It happens all the time.

Or she can't answer the telephone.

The woman who was murdered.

Gladys Cook lived on base six months ago.

You didn't think to bring this to the attention of the police.

It wasn't a police matter until three seconds ago.

I'm going to need that number. I'll check the phone book here.

The number, please, Miss Anderson.

You know I'm not on the payroll at the station, right?

-I don't have to tell you anything.

-Now!

Thank you.

So what am I missing?

The night Merv Rogers died,

he'd gone for a run around the base.

Nothing unusual according to his mother, Daisy, over there.

And?

He was wearing trousers and a smart shirt, not exactly...

And quite frankly,

of all places to run and exercise on base, why there?

Through trees, in the dark, on uneven ground.

That's a good point.

-Do you want another?

-I'd love one.

Oi! I'm not going to tell you again.

Stop coming around the wrong side of the bar!

Rose! You followed me.

When you ducked out of the pub I figured you were on to something.

You really shouldn't be out here doing this sort of thing alone.

I'm not alone, am I?

Listen, sometimes journalists think

the story is more important than their own safety - it's not.

-Trust me, I know.

-I'll be careful, then.

So, what are we looking for, Nancy Drew?

Come on.

It seems strange to me

that Rogers was running so close to the fence.

Damn thing's been cut.

Rose, he wasn't out for a late-night run,

he was running back on to base from the outside.

What was Rogers doing outside the camp?

-There's only one way to find out.

-Where are you going?

Alderson doesn't want me on the base

and he doesn't want us seeing Ellis's service records.

That's army property.

Always lovely chatting with you, Rose.

Sir! I'm going to ask you to put your hands up

and turn around.

There's really no need for that, Private.

I have my identification right here in my jacket pocket.

I'm Doctor Lucien Blake,

Ballarat police surgeon.

Now, what say we lower that weapon of yours, mm?

-Lucien, where have you been?

-Just dealing with some paperwork.

-The hospital called for you.

-Oh, they did?

Yes. Alice has been in touch with Gladys Cook's current doctor.

Oh, thank you. Anything of interest?

Gladys presented with a venereal disease.

Ah! Which explains the penicillin.

Gladys's doctor is here in town?

Yes. He has her records dated back over a year.

I see. Now, why wouldn't she see the military doctor

if she lived on base?

Lucien, I just dropped a domino under there.

Oh. Ah, yes.

-There we are.

-Thank you.

How are things at the base?

Um, Jean, would you mind if I just had a bit of a...

Not at all. I'm losing anyway.

Let's imagine, just for a moment,

this domino represents Keith Ellis.

Now, Joyce Ellis was, of course, intimate with her husband.

Gladys Cook was having an affair with Keith.

She was?

Oh, yes.

And we discovered just this afternoon

that it's highly likely that Joyce was, shall we say,

quite familiar with a chap called Forsyth, Daniel Forsyth,

who is an officer on base.

Now, Daniel is married to Kelly.

Kelly, it would appear, may well be involved

with Ben Rogers.

Ben, of course, is Daisy's husband.

How do you like them apples?

So, they were all stepping out together.

How do they keep it from each other?

Maybe they don't.

Hang on. Are you telling me that...

Yes!

I think they're a community of couples

who all enjoy each other's, shall we say...

...company, consensually.

Right. So when Keith Ellis said they share everything...

He meant it.

And I think Gladys Cook and this Beverly woman are involved too.

Beverly Alison. We're off to interview her now.

Frank, promiscuity within the base

poses a serious security problem for the military.

Maybe that's why Alderton's here.

And of course there's Corporal Rogers.

Who we know is connected to the hole in the fence that you found.

Yes. You know, I think we've been looking at this all wrong.

These are the questions we should be asking.

One, why was he sneaking back onto base so late at night?

And two, what the hell was he doing outside in the first place?

Well, I think there's only one person I could ask right now.

You're suggesting that Rogers was involved in the death of Gladys Cook?

Rogers was sneaking back onto base through a hole in the fence

the night Gladys Cook died.

The vehicle that was dumped we now know belongs to Lieutenant Ellis.

He managed to drive Ellis's car off the base without being seen.

We think he may have distracted the sentry on duty

by throwing a rock through the window.

Kelly, we're after Beverly Alison.

She's not here today.

She should be, she clocked on at 8:00.

Oh, she went home sick.

Right. Thank you.

We'll need to be informed when Beverly does return to work.

Your police surgeon was here yesterday, drinking on the job.

And?

And I believe it was Blake who found that hole in the wire

before he was caught trespassing on military property.

If he's found on this base again without my permission...

-You'll have him arrested.

-No.

I may just have him shot.

You deal with your men, Chief Superintendent.

And I'll deal with mine.

Good day to you.

Um, I'm actually here to find out a little bit more about Gladys Cook.

I figured it wasn't for the biscuits.

Yeah, I know you have a doctor here on base,

but Gladys chose to visit a doctor in town.

Yes?

Well, apparently, the last time the military doctor saw her,

he recommended she see someone at the special clinic

at Ballarat Hospital.

He made that same recommendation to other women on base too.

Whatever happened to doctor/patient confidentiality?

No names were mentioned, Joyce.

I'm assuming you're all presenting with the same symptoms.

This was never easy to talk about but...

this really needs to be addressed.

When Keith came home from Korea,

he told me about this... activity.

Out there, they weren't too sure of a tomorrow,

so the men would...

...give their wives to fellow soldiers.

That way if anything should happen

there would always be someone to take care of us.

That's how it all started.

Didn't take long for it to become normal

within our own little group.

It's a kind of love when love isn't around.

Yes.

But you weren't happy with this, were you?

Of course we weren't happy with it.

Every marriage comes at a cost, Dr Blake.

That's very true.

And Gladys...

Gladys was part of this.

Until she and her husband separated. We never saw her again after that.

The women confirmed they'd been...

..indulging in partner swapping.

Gladys was part of it.

And they just...

...gave you this information, did they?

Well, I am a doctor.

Updated autopsy report,

confirming the presence of Gladys Cook's blood

on Merv Rogers' clothing.

Well, it's cut and dried, then.

Frank, I...

I still don't think Merv killed Gladys.

What was his motive?

Crime of passion, for one.

Numerous sexual dalliances going on on the base,

and the victim's blood on his shirt.

What more do you want?

-Doc.

-Yes?

A recruit came forward earlier,

saying they served Rogers at the officers' mess at half past nine.

Half past nine, Charlie. Let's think about this.

Merv kills her,

transports and buries the body,

then makes his way back to base.

-All within...

-All within a couple of hours.

Really?

Two hours, start to finish.

Now, let's say it took him half an hour to kill Gladys

and drag her body to the car.

And drive off the base without being seen.

Exactly, let's go.

Right, Charlie, we know Corporal Rogers buried the body over there.

How long would that take? Half an hour? An hour?

I'll meet you halfway and say 45 minutes.

But that would mean

-he'd only have half an hour to get back to the base.

-Exactly.

Not looking very probable, is it?

All right. He parks the car, gets out,

looks for a suitable place to hide the evidence.

He leaves the knife and the rug in the car,

which is when Walter and his girlfriend steal it.

Yes. By now it would be a quarter to 12.

There's a slim chance

that if he ran back to base - and I mean RAN -

he might just make it in time, but...

There's no way he'd find any time

to clean up the scene of the crime after killing Gladys.

So, either Rogers didn't do it...

Or... Or he wasn't working alone.

What happened?

-I'm going to wash up.

-Right you are, Charlie.

Well, Carlyle is about to posthumously charge Corporal Rogers

with Gladys Cook's murder, but you know what?

I don't think he killed her.

-Anyhow, I should wash up too.

-How is Mai Lin?

Um, well, she's, um...

You know, she's adjusting.

Um...

She's never been anywhere quite like Ballarat before.

Must be so difficult for her.

-Yes.

-After everything's that's happened.

Must be awful to be so alone.

And to be so dependent on people you barely know.

Lucien?

Sorry, Jean.

Something you said just now.

These army wives...

They say Gladys left their group. I'm starting to wonder.

Look, the husband's gone. She has to move off base. She's all alone.

Why would her friends just cut her off?

She'd be devastated.

Maybe Gladys was back on base to get revenge.

Maybe.

Maybe she'd become a threat.

Does anyone else know about the promiscuity within the group?

-Beverly Alison might.

-The woman you can't find.

Lucien, officers have just got back

from Beverly Alison's listed address.

It's an empty block.

They're checking for another address or a postal box.

Right. If Beverly knew Gladys, she could be in real danger.

Have you checked the lieutenant's alibi or any of the husbands'?

Yes, they all check out. All except for Ellis's.

Still to find anyone who can confirm his story?

Right. Service records?

No, no luck yet.

We have heard some scuttlebutt from a few men at the base

suggesting the lieutenant has been warned before for roughing up women.

-Charming.

-They're also saying

Gladys Cook tried to enter the base several times a month or two ago.

I'll give you one guess the CO was who personally threw her out.

-Keith Ellis.

-Mm.

All of this officially makes Beverly a missing person,

which, of course, is exactly what Gladys was until she wasn't.

Frank, are these Ellis's licence plates?

Charlie found them at the base. Why?

If he was so attached to his car,

he might have come up with a playful nickname for it...

..inspired by the registration plates.

Beverly.

I-I don't understand.

Mrs Rogers, we believe Gladys Cook was killed here on the base

and Merv was enlisted to help remove the body.

Using Keith's car.

Merv was familiar with it. He'd driven it before.

Isn't that right, Joyce?

What, you think that I...

Gladys is my friend.

Was your friend, Mrs Ellis.

She was on the base that night

because she was about to go to the Courier

with your group's little secret.

-You know?

-About your little arrangement? Yes, we do.

But that's not what Gladys was going to report to the Courier.

You all wanted some kind of payback

for what your husbands and the Army had put you through.

So, you created a female employee out of thin air.

Gave her a job in the laundry.

The laundry, perfect.

She'd rarely be seen, if at all,

and of course you pay her a wage.

But you did make one mistake.

You named her after one thing your husband loved more than you.

His car, Beverly.

Major Alderton, just thinking out loud here -

military funds missing?

Quite a substantial amount, actually.

Yes.

Impossible to do on your own,

but Daisy in payroll, Gladys in the mailroom,

Kelly working in the laundry -

it was easy enough to maintain the illusion.

Beverly was just one of many created identities.

And this brilliant idea,

was all yours, wasn't it, Mrs Ellis?

Even if any of this was true,

I don't see how this proves I killed Gladys.

The rug used to transport Gladys's body

had cigarette burns all over it.

Fine, except the rug I own, you're all standing on it.

The rug used to transport Gladys's body...

had circular imprints on it.

Clearly, your lovely coffee table here has square legs.

So, would you mind terribly

if we had a look inside your place, Mrs Rogers?

What really happened, Daisy...

..when Merv arrived and saw that you'd killed Gladys?

No.

He was disciplined, well-trained.

He would have sprung into action to try and help you.

Gladys came here because she was scared of Joyce.

You all were. She was desperate.

She probably thought, of all the women, she could talk to you.

Of course Gladys could ruin everything for all of you.

Please, I...

You argued.

And then when she threatened you,

you stabbed her to death right here, right where I'm standing now.

The burn marks on the rug. Cigarettes?

No. I think you burnt whatever evidence

Gladys brought with her that night.

Payroll ledgers.

But they're gone.

It's all gone.

Ah, but it's not, Daisy.

This was delivered to the Ballarat Courier earlier today.

Sent by a Beverly Alison.

Gladys must have written up a copy and posted it to them

before she came here.

Before she came here to ask for her share of the money.

You see, this was never about the sex,

or the love,

it was all about the money.

Money and power.

Taking back some sort of control in your lives.

And your son was shot

because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Daisy.

And he was only there because you implicated him

in the murder of Gladys Cook.

I didn't mean to.

I just want my son back.

I heard Daisy Rogers killed Gladys Cook.

-Uh-huh.

-So it's true?

-It sounds like you already know.

-What was her motive?

Does it have anything to do with why Mrs Cook called me?

You're not going to give me anything

after I told you about the package she sent to the Courier.

Which you opened up and read first.

Why? So it all ends up in tomorrow's paper?

-You were right, you know?

-About what?

You're not on the payroll at the station.

So she's confessed.

Yes. Well, Joyce Ellis was the ringleader,

but Daisy Rogers admitted to the rest.

Now the army can focus on what's really important in this whole disaster -

-the bloody paperwork.

-Ha!

You ever miss it?

No. No, not any more.

Do you?

Not at all.

You know, you're still going to have to deal with the top brass

for a while longer, I'm afraid.

You do know he was in town before the incident.

-Major.

-Gentlemen.

Just thought I'd drop by to make sure we're all on the same page

and to confirm that Corporal Rogers is to be posthumously charged.

Yes, he is, as an accessory to murder.

Excuse me.

Thank you, Superintendent.

Derek, you already knew about the money laundering, didn't you?

We knew that funds were trickling out.

We just didn't know how or by whom.

-The police could've helped you.

-And they did.

No-one had connected the money laundering to these three women

until you came along.

Priceless.

I was working for you the whole time.

You don't like it when things land in your lap, do you, Lucien?

You prefer an obstacle.

So I thought I'd throw you a little challenge.

Why are you really here, Derek?

Good afternoon, Lucien.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

It's over?

Chief Superintendent Carlyle insisted I go home and relax.

Well, after all those late nights I'm not surprised.

Things can get back to normal now, I suppose.

Jean...

..I'm sorry if you've been feeling a bit...

..in the dark with everything.

Something of an understatement, I know.

I want you...

I want you to know you're not losing anything.

I promise you.

Mai Lin and I...

It's just not the same as it was.

It really isn't.

But a big part of it is.

That kind of love, it never really goes away, does it?

And I want you to know I understand that.

She's your priority now.