The Chelsea Detective (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Mrs and Mrs Romano - full transcript
(Acorn TV music)
(gentle music)
(traffic whirring)
(doorbell buzzing)
Yes, hi, you're early.
Astie, it's me.
Shit!
What do you mean shit?
I'm on my way out.
What do you want?
Uh, a name.
Your friend who
deals in rare books.
I got some first
editions from dad's shop.
Thought he might be interested.
Is your phone broken?
You couldn't text me?
Well, I was passing.
And?
And...
[Astrid] Hello?
[Patrick] Excuse me.
Max, this is not a good time.
Oh, no, it's Patrick.
Hi, is Max still there?
(camera clicking)
You mean the bloke with he bike?
No, he's gone.
I'll be right now.
Caio.
(gentle music)
Caio, good evening.
Caio.
Would you like me to
sign that for you?
(woman gasping)
[Woman] Yes please.
Who should I make it out to?
[Woman] Stef, with an F.
Wow.
Okay, Stef with an
F, enjoy your meal.
(indistinct chatter)
Lynn Franco.
She got the keys.
We agreed to the
end of the month.
Yet you're still here.
I need more time to
find something else.
Unless you crass me
up to the big boss.
Didn't think so.
By the end of the
week, I'm serious.
Sorry.
(dishes rattling)
Caio bella.
Where have you been all day?
Did you get my messages?
I was running an errand.
This lady I knock about with
has a big birthday next week
so...
Mind my own.
You are so mysterious.
Hey, you know the rules.
No PDA's in the kitchen.
Frightens the fish.
Service, table 12!
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Okay, table 12, go, go, go!
All right, getting
low on plates.
Luca!
Where's Luca?
Luca?
Luca, you bribed him
to come into work?
I thought you'd like him here
for the announcement later.
What, no we're not...
It's too soon.
I'll check the office.
Luca!
You promised.
You agreed not to
upset your mom.
I'm helping you.
I know what you're up to, Robin.
Just leave me alone!
Luca, please.
(engine humming)
Caio food lovers.
Mrs. Romano here from
the beating heart
of Romano's Restaurant.
This is our head
chef, Cousin Johno.
And here comes the
beautiful Beth.
[Beth] Hi!
And our junior chef, Nicks.
All right, two
shitting Pomojono,
one pissing Tonnerelli.
What's my name?
Jack!
Seriously?
Oh leave that.
Everyone loves an outtake.
Exactly.
(suspenseful music)
(traffic whirring)
[Mrs. Romano]
Evening, Mrs. Cooper.
Evening.
(car lock beeping)
(door rattling)
(keys jingling)
(traffic whirring)
(loud thudding)
(woman screaming)
(music intensifying)
(gentle music)
It sounds like a
missing persons.
Oh, okay.
(coffee pot beeping)
(traffic whirring)
(cheerful music)
Morning.
Oh thanks.
Oh, is this decaf?
Oh, yeah, my decaf.
You know, so baby girl
doesn't buzz her nut off.
My mom used to give
me a cup of Nescafe
with my breakfast.
Never did me any harm.
Not that I'm advising you
how to feed your child.
Yeah, not that I'm
listening to someone
whose mom gave him
coffee as a kid.
Missing person is Robin Romano?
29 years old.
Celebrity chef by
the looks of it.
You've not heard of
La Familia Romano
of The King's Road?
I live in Stratham.
All right, so, neighbor
called it in at 23:17.
Said she heard yelling
and then a loud bang.
Gunshot?
Patio door smashing.
A few minutes later same witness
saw the Romano's Mini leave
the property at speed.
Didn't see a driver.
Dispatch mentioned
there was blood.
Yeah, first officer on
the scene spotted some
on the side gate.
Called us in as a precaution.
- Morning.
- [Max] Morning.
Looks like there's some
spotting here, too.
Do we know where the car went?
Phone company pinpointed
the last three pings
from the missing woman's mobile
to a mast in Battersea.
Final one at 01:09,
then inactive.
Switched off.
Assuming this is Robin
Romano's blood here
and on the gate,
do we know if the car
was facing the road
or did it reverse out?
I'll check.
What about hospitals?
[Priya] Yeah,
they're on all that.
Oh hey Pri, heard
you made the cut.
Congrats, representing.
What cut is that?
I'll speak to the neighbor.
(camera clicking)
(suspenseful music)
(camera clicking)
Mrs. Romano,
I'm Detective
Inspector Max Arnold.
I've already explained
everything to your colleague.
Well, let's start
at the beginning.
When did you last see Robin?
At the restaurant.
She came in around six.
She works there?
She runs the PR.
This is Mrs. Romano.
That's all hers.
She left around half nine.
We were supposed to
come home together,
but I had stuff to do.
So Robin took the car.
I left later about half 10.
Did anybody see you leave?
Maybe Johno.
And there's a
camera on the front.
Who's Johno?
Our head chef,
and my cousin.
From the restaurant to
here is what, 15 minutes?
Oh no. I was going
to take an Uber
but I changed my mind.
It was a nice night
so I walked.
I got back about 20 past 11.
When I saw Robin wasn't here
I phoned and left a message.
I should have called 999.
What was your instinct?
- Honestly?
- Yeah.
That a bird had
crashed into the glass.
Bloody big bird.
We tracked Robin's
phone to Battersea.
Does she know anybody there?
Not that I know of.
What do you think
happened there?
Well, I'm concerned
about the blood we found
on the drive,
and up on the ceiling there.
I feel sick.
(water running)
Thank you.
DI Arnold?
There's a gentleman outside.
Says he's family.
Julie.
We just got your message.
Robin's missing.
You've spoken to Luca?
Luca?
My son.
It turned right, shot
off at a rate of knots.
Not that I'm a curtain twitcher.
But I bet a concerned
neighbor like yourself
is watching out for
the police to arrive.
Did you see Julia come home?
No.
Mrs. Cooper?
There's a son, Luca,
who lived with them.
Bright lad, at Catron College.
But, well, where is he now?
One day there, next day gone.
You know what happened to
Julia Romano's husband?
No.
15 years ago he disappeared too.
First the husband,
then son, and now...
[Max] You saw Julia leave work?
Yeah, about half 10.
But you were in the
restaurant all night.
Well I was on late cleanup.
I left about midnight.
Anyone confirm that?
Yes, our waitress Beth.
She was cleaning front house,
she left five minutes before me.
According to our system
two weeks ago Robin
Romano reported a break in
at this address.
Then promptly withdrew
the complaint.
Was that the son, Luca?
He's a good kid.
Did you see him last night?
Briefly.
He's on the roster,
but everyone knows
there's only one reason that
Luca turns up for shifts.
Julia kids herself that she's
molding him in her image
but when I cashed up
at the end of the night
we were 50 quid short.
It rained yesterday afternoon
so we can assume these
footprints are fresh.
Size eights.
And the pattern on the
sole, Adidas Superstars.
I know my trainers.
(phone clicking)
Tracks end at the fence,
so that's the likely
point of access.
Officers have searched
the neighbor's garden
but didn't find anything.
The neighbor confirmed
the car reversed out.
Then whoever's blood
that is on the driveway
didn't get in behind the wheel.
We have a third party.
And a possible
kidnapping or abduction.
(indistinct police
radio chatter)
Luca dotes on Robin.
He wouldn't hurt her.
Luca's got quite the
collection of trainers.
Can you sign here please?
Thank you.
We'll return them
as soon as we can.
Do you know where
he's staying now?
After Robin reported
the break in,
how did Luca react?
Well, he was angry,
but they made up after he
returned the watch he stole.
It was the one I gave
Robin for our anniversary.
His number's not available.
Shows how far we've fallen.
We need to speak to him.
You could try Nicks.
She might know where he is.
Nicks?
Nicola Grieves, our junior chef.
She and Luca have
an on off thing.
And what about Luca's father?
Um, David in Westbury?
Is he still on the scene?
Why are you asking about David?
Your neighbor mentioned him.
I haven't seen or spoken to
David since he walked out
15 years ago.
For God's sake, a gossipy
neighbor regurgitates a rumor
and you take it seriously.
(slow music)
Oh, sorry, I forgot to lock it.
We're not open yet.
DS Shamsie, DI Arnold.
Are you Nicola Grieves?
No.
Beth Dalton.
Nicks isn't in yet.
What's up, she in trouble?
We want to talk to her.
We're investigating the
disappearance of Robin Romano.
God, I thought you were joking.
What's happened?
There was an incident at
the Romano house last night.
We need to speak to
Luca Romano about it.
Oh Luca.
Where there's trouble,
he's never far behind.
Um, you wait here.
I'll go and call Nicks.
[Priya] Julia Romano said
you and Luca are an item.
Were, we broke up last year.
When he's using it's exhausting.
What's he take?
Nothing serious.
Did you see him last night?
Yeah, but thankfully rarely
bothers to show up for shift.
Did he used to talk to
you about things at home?
Oh, did he.
He's always minding about
his hard knock life.
[Max] He was having problems?
Of his own making.
And last year on his 21st,
his mom offered in
this place to takeover,
to manage.
Like, I'd give my right arm,
but he turned it down.
Did Julia or Robin pressure
him to change his mind?
Good luck with that.
Last night, did you see
anything out of the ordinary?
No.
Oh, but Lynn Franco,
the delivery guy,
he's got a hold of Robin.
She handed him his
cards last week.
Either of you got a light?
No.
No.
Do you have a number for Luca?
Is this the only
number you have?
It's the one he used
when we were a thing.
Look, are we done?
I'm on practice.
Oh, nice trainers.
Okay thanks.
Louboutin.
Laboot what?
Philistine.
It's no thing.
I turned up late a couple times.
Robin has given to
the end of this week
to book up or clear out.
Was it normal for her
to borrow the van?
She's the owner's misses.
Me, lowly delivery driver.
If she wants to borrow the van
she borrows the van.
How did she seem?
Happy go lucky.
Robin loves attention.
Probably what this is all about.
Attention.
Not a fan?
She's a gold digger.
Your last delivery, 23:02?
Stones throw away
from the Romano house.
Yeah, and the night before
finish the street over.
Night before that,
round the corner.
You must have been annoyed
when Robin fired you.
Oh yeah.
'Cause this is my dream job.
Lynn Franco.
Are you a Romano?
No.
But you're Italian, right?
My mom was born in Milan.
Oh Milan?
I love Milan.
What part?
Oh uh... south.
Yeah, Johno locked up after me,
just before midnight.
What's the kitchen gossip, Beth?
You must all talk.
Does Robin put anyone's back up?
Everybody gets on with Robin.
I just wish you'd tell me if
there was something wrong.
Oh bloody hell!
I'm sorry, sorry.
It's okay.
Has she talked to you
about tensions at home?
Luca.
You know he steals
from the till.
What about Robin and Julia?
The harmonious Mrs.
and Mrs. Romano?
No way.
Does the name David
Westbury every come up?
Julia's ex-husband.
It's before my time,
but it's no secret.
(suspenseful music)
23:19 Robin's car
was captured on CCTV
heading west on
the Brompton Road,
in the direction
of the hospital.
It was not seen on
the traffic cams
in the hospital approach though.
Then where did it go?
Well from the E-Link Mass Data
it traveled on the
A 40 to Oxbridge.
I've requested ANPR data.
What's that?
Is that our case?
Patrick Thompson?
No, it's Astrid's new fella.
I bumped into him outside hers
and kind of accidentally
ran his plates.
Using Holmes to stalk
your ex's new squeeze?
That's a good look, Max.
Okay, according to NPS,
Julia Romano never reported
her ex-husband missing.
I couldn't find any social
media presence for him.
No updates to his HMRC
records since October 2006.
What about immigration?
Nothing.
So he really did disappear?
In 2015 Julia Ramona was
granted a divorce in absentia.
She married Robin
three years later.
Jealous ex husband
turns up out of the
blue 15 years later.
Or Robin asked too many
questions about him.
I mean, you saw Julie's reaction
when I mentioned David Westbury.
Julia pushes Robin
into the window.
Robin cuts herself on the glass,
runs to the car and escapes.
Blood on the ceiling.
So likely she was
attacked first.
Julia carries her to the car,
drives her to hospital,
but it's too late.
Well, what time did
the Marston Ealing
last detect Robin's phone?
Uh, 23:48.
By which time uniforms had
been at the Romano residence
speaking to Julia
for 20 minutes.
You can't place
Julia in that car.
Unless she had an accomplice.
(phone ringing)
Connor?
Got it, boss.
[Max] Got what?
From the door to door.
The resident said a black
Mini nearly ran him over
on his way home from the pub.
You found the car?
Uh huh, near Sheep
Cut Lane, Battersea.
Nobody inside, no visible
drag marks or shoe prints.
Okay, full lift for
forensic examination.
There's blood on
the passenger seat.
[Woman] Looks like the
passenger started seated
and then slid down.
Foot mats soaked
through with water.
Looks like the driver
wiped everything down.
Lemon fresh?
Alpine meadow.
Where are we on Luca?
Nicks gave us the
names of his mates.
But none of them have seen him.
Hair found in the
boot of the car,
pulled out at the roots.
Lab results returned a
match for Robin Romano.
That was quick.
The boot of the
Mini is too small
to fit a body,
so could be off the weapon.
When we've removed
the wet foot mat
we found this pendant.
Ran it through lab analysis,
but it didn't put out
anything useful.
But we inspected something
under the wiper, hold on.
Where was the cut you made?
Hum?
That Jess mentioned.
Can't remember my kid's
name but you remember that.
Ha ha ha, you made the team.
- Yeah.
- Great.
Not great.
[Priya] Veteran.
If you were a footballer,
40 is still young.
No.
I thought winch green could
be the corner of a flyer,
but it's a parking ticket.
[Priya] Mrs. Romano,
thank you for coming.
[Mrs. Romano] So I guess
you've seen it too then?
Seen what?
The email here.
What email?
Oh, it came to you
about an hour ago.
It's, it's from Robin.
Don't worry, I'm okay.
I'm so sorry.
What a mess.
I can explain everything.
Column Gardens
tomorrow at 10:00 AM.
Come alone.
Does anyone else have
access to Robin's email?
Nobody ever, I certainly don't.
Mrs. Romano, we
have some news.
We found your car
left in Battersea.
There was no sign of Robin.
But we have to inform you
that we found blood and
hair inside the car.
Oh God!
And preliminary tests suggest
that both the hair and the
samples taken from your house
are a match.
It's Robin's.
But you think she's still alive?
We don't know.
This was found on
the floor of the car.
Do you recognize it?
No.
I've been building a picture
of Robin's movements yesterday.
It looks like she
was at the restaurant
until around 3:00 PM.
Then drove to Hammersmith.
Do you know what
she was doing there?
She's been being
secretive all week,
but there's an
innocent explanation.
Next week is my 50th birthday.
I think Robin has been
planning something.
Your car was also driven
to Oxbridge last night.
Is there any reason why Robin
or Luca would travel there?
According to Robin's
internet search history,
she was trying to track
down your ex-husband.
What?
Did you know that?
No.
Max, I've checked the
financials for Robin Romano.
The restaurant had
a bumpy few years,
but it's back in the black now.
Enough to warrant a kidnapping?
No.
But Robin Romano's
savings account.
Last November, she deposited
300,000 pounds into it.
Only it didn't stay for long.
Over four months
there were multiple
payments all via PayPal,
Pay and A, Google Pay
Send, Western Union.
So no way to trace the
recipient or recipients.
Random amounts too.
A few thousand here,
a few hundred there.
300 grand, where's that from?
Flora helping me trace it.
Boss, got a hit on
that parking ticket.
Issued from a private firm
by an overeager operative.
It's CPA parking.
At a quarter past midnight
in a car park near Oxbridge.
(slow music)
There's no cameras
on the approach road.
There's blood.
Veers into the woods.
Better get a search team.
(camera clicking)
What I wouldn't give for
an innocent explanation.
[Priya] Maybe tomorrow morning
Robin will turn up to meet
Julia with a brilliant excuse.
Ever the optimist.
Yeah.
The foot well in the
Mini was saturated.
Yeah, soaked through.
We passed a lake
on the way here.
(somber music)
So who wrote that email?
Can I see her?
Of course.
We'll be in touch as soon
as we can arrange it.
I need to let people know.
Mrs. Romano,
I'm sorry to ask this,
but could we keep this between
ourselves for a while longer?
What?
Well, we know the email
came from Robin's phone.
It was reactivated
briefly earlier today.
It pinged the
Marston Chelsea wall.
And if there's a chance,
no matter how small,
that whoever sent it might
still show up tomorrow.
Whatever I can do.
Thank you.
There's something else.
But if you'd rather we'd...
Go ahead, ask what
you need to ask.
Looking into Robin's
financial history,
someone transferred 300,000
pounds into a savings account
last November.
Robin used to co-own a
PR firm, Hillside PRP.
Maybe it was a windfall.
All but 5,000 was
transferred out.
Do you know where?
I have no idea.
We kept our finances separate.
I didn't keep track
of her spending.
(suspenseful music)
Hello?
Whoever's out there,
I've called the police.
Bloody hell, nearly
gave me a heart attack!
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Did you call the police?
No, but they're looking for you.
They think you were at the
house Friday night, were you?
Luca, did you have something
to do with Robin going missing?
Is that what mom thinks?
Your mother is in bits.
Let her think what she wants.
Don't tell anyone I was here.
Wait.
(coins rattling)
Wait, wait, wait.
Come here.
Be careful, okay?
- Thanks.
- Go on.
(slow music)
That was my first
foray into publishing.
Printed those little
recipe books ourselves.
Me and Luca stapling
pages in the kitchen.
We sold them to customers
for five pounds a pop.
You signed my copy.
Did I?
[Max] Why here?
This is one of our
favorite places.
The cruelty in
sending that email.
It's time.
You all right?
(suspenseful music)
Won't they know
we found the body?
Press office is sitting
on it until six.
Do we know what Robin
was doing in Hammersmith
the day she died?
Anything come from
the door to door?
We canvassed the
cafes just in case
Robin was meeting someone there,
but no one saw her.
(phone dinging)
Sorry, I thought my
phone was on silent.
Girlfriend placing a
takeaway order for tonight.
How is Becky?
Yeah, really good, thanks.
Talent.
Julia Romano?
That's it, go, go!
I'm sorry, this is for David.
David?
Police!
What's going on?
Step away.
[Woman] What are you doing?
She said David.
My husband.
I just bought if for
my husband's birthday.
I was going to ask
her to sign it.
Our apologies, madame.
Yeah, unbelievable.
That email, it was meant
to get her out the house.
(suspenseful music)
Police, if anyone is in
here, make yourself known.
The door panel's
been ripped off.
Brown field's clear.
And there's jewelry
and cash upstairs
that hasn't been taken.
Is there anything in here
missing or out of place?
No.
I'll get a team in,
check for prints.
In the park
you thought that woman
was delivering a message
from your ex-husband David.
I panicked, that's all.
It was all her idea.
The book making us famous.
I hired her to find a way
to save the restaurant,
but I quickly fell
in love with her.
She was brilliant.
(slow music)
She saved more than
the restaurant.
I hope she knew that.
I'm sure she did.
Thank you.
If I think of anything,
I'll let you know.
Of course.
[Robin] Ciao, this
is Robin Romano.
Please leave a
message after the beep
and I'll get back to you pronto.
Ciao, this is Robin Romano.
Please leave a
message after the beep
and I'll get back to you pronto.
The report is probably
washed away our chances
of getting useful fibers or DNA.
How long was she in there?
Very little in the
way of skin changes.
Not too long, maybe
six to 12 hours.
Any water in the lungs?
Dead before she went in.
Small messes.
Frontal temporal fracture
caused by blunt trauma
with a heavy object.
Any idea what?
Ashley, I said any idea...
I heard.
This is my concentration face.
There's a patterned
bruise in the skin
overlying the fracture,
small indentations close
together, like dimples.
I have never been
in your kitchen,
But I imagine you don't own one.
Incredibly presumptuous.
Actually...
Actually.
My kids say it just like that
before they make something up.
Actually, Astrid had one.
Well, we didn't find one
in our search of the house.
That's what killed
Mrs. Romano here?
Cerebral contusions.
Severe extra jaw hemorrhage.
Four right?
Four what?
Kids.
When I left this morning.
Love them to bits but thank
God I have an off switch.
And are they...
No.
Not one of them.
What are the odds.
Sorry I thought you meant...
Oh no.
Are they boys or girls?
Oh, sorry.
Yes, four boys.
What are the odds, eh?
Ashley, just to be clear,
we are talking about
one of those hammers
you use on steaks, right?
(slow music)
Caio food lovers,
Mrs. Romano here.
Tonight is the launch
party for our new cookbook.
Caio food lovers!
Caio food lovers.
Caio food lovers!
Is your volume button broken?
[Mrs. Romano] Cookbook.
(suspenseful music)
[Max] The murder weapon.
(gentle music)
Hey, you say bolt.
This is a surprise.
Sweaty kiss.
Oh sorry.
So, so?
Date night.
I forgot.
Yeah, that I realized.
You're mad at me?
You're mad at me.
You know on the way over here
I rehearsed a speech.
Ooh.
Ooh, a speech.
Yeah, the crux of which was that
I was sorely
disappointed and hungry.
And now I'm here,
I'm just hungry.
You know,
They serve pizza in the bar.
Is it any good?
I mean it's edible.
That'll do.
And something with meat
for me, and margarita?
I love you.
Yeah, whatever.
(slow piano music)
Security footage
shows Luca Romano
leaving the restaurant at 19:05.
Robin Romano seems
upset with him.
(mug clattering)
Bollocks!
(gentle music)
Thank you for coming
in, Mr. Thompson.
We'll try to keep this brief.
Where were you between 11
and midnight on Friday?
Friday, let's see.
Early evening I
had an engagement
with a gallery owner I know.
And after that?
I was at my office
until the early hours
with my legal team.
I'll give you their details.
Thank you.
Except you weren't there
all evening, were you?
Because this is you
at 20:43 on Friday
leaving La Familia
Romano restaurant.
Oh.
Yes, oh.
Maybe you can explain
that to us, Mr. Thompson.
What were you doing there?
DS Shamsie, kindly
request a search warrant
for Mr. Thompson's properties.
There's no need.
Why were you there?
And why did you just lie to us?
I didn't want to
scupper anything.
The contracts are ready to go.
What contracts?
For the restaurant.
On Friday I was there
finalizing the details.
What details?
I'm in the process
of purchasing it.
Julia Romano is selling
you her family business?
Yeah.
And I'm planning
to franchise it.
[Woman] How much
is that deal worth?
Around 3.5.
Million.
Yes, thank you.
It's hot property.
Half a million followers.
Runaway bestseller.
Now all this publicity.
I mean...
How did Robin feel
about the sale?
Did she try to stop it?
Not at all.
Look, I'm not forcing
anyone's hand here.
Julia and Robin were both
completely behind it.
So are we going to discuss
the elephant in the room?
What, your OAP race?
You're walking.
You're the youngest
in your heat.
How do you know
I'm the youngest?
Oh, Jess.
So you're gonna cheer me on?
You bloody are.
So what about the
other elephant?
What did you think of him?
He's bloody gorgeous.
Max, I'm kidding.
I knew that.
Kidding.
Pri, I've been running
background checks
on the restaurant staff.
Came across something you
might find interesting.
The P60 for Lynn Franco Astori.
Uh huh.
Robin Romano?
That's me.
(door slamming)
Sign here, please.
Where do you want them?
Uh, just over here please.
I didn't want the staff knowing
till it was a done deal.
Mr. Thompson promised that
he would keep them all on.
It was the last resort.
I'd hoped it might inspire
Luca to turn things around,
to bring us close again.
Spent my life trying
to save the restaurant,
battling against the tearing
down of old Chauncey.
Promised my father
I'd never sell.
I did the same with
my dad's book shop.
The last of their kind.
We were going traveling.
That was the plan.
I'll see if they're ready.
(somber music)
Hello, you've reached Astrid.
Please leave a message.
Hi Astie, it's me.
I was hoping to catch you.
The thing is...
The thing is...
Nevermind.
There's another reason
why I didn't tell you
about the restaurant sale.
My ex-husband is still
on the paperwork.
He has a stake in the business,
and I don't want him benefiting
from what Robin and
I built together.
Do you know where he is now?
15 years ago I was
working every hour
trying to keep the
restaurant open.
I came home one day,
and David was gone.
Luca was seven.
His father left without a note,
never called.
Took the best part of two years,
but I found him living outside
Cork under a different name.
His mother's maiden name.
As far as I know,
he's still there,
alive and well
living with this partner
and their three daughters.
I begged him to call Luca.
Every Christmas and birthday
I would buy Luca present
and sign it from dad.
False hope.
I'm good at that.
Robin was too.
I think she was helping
Luca try to find his father.
She didn't know the truth.
How do I explain to Luca that,
for his father,
he doesn't exist?
(slow music)
(traffic whirring)
Thank you for coming
in Mr. Astori.
Wasn't aware it was a request.
How are you doing today, Andrew?
Or do you prefer Andy?
Who's Andrew?
South Milan, was it?
According to your P60 Lynn
Franco Astori is 24 years old.
Whereas you, Andrew Stafford,
were born June 5th, 1969.
Bloody hell.
Look, I'm lying low.
That's all.
Got myself into a
bit of a pickle.
What kind of a pickle?
The kind that comes with
extortion at interest.
You're working under
a false identity
to hide from debt collectors?
It's a real identity.
Lynn Franco's this lad
I know in Coventry.
It's all above board.
I've got an email from
him saying I can use it.
And Robin found out about this?
So she terminates
your employment.
And then last Friday after work,
you pop over to Robin's house.
Have a quick chat about it.
No.
After I finished work, I
went to my girlfriend's.
Look, okay.
Yeah, Robin found out about
it and we made a deal.
I'll go quietly.
She wouldn't report it.
Avoid the bad publicity.
After I'd done her
a favor or two.
What favor?
Got her that watch
back, didn't I?
When was this?
Last week.
Nicks asked me if I'd
help her flog a watch.
Like I'm that stupid.
I knew Luca had nicked it.
So I told him to give it back
to Robin, ungrateful cow.
God rest her soul.
(slow music)
(tapping on door)
Hello Nicks, how you doing?
Can I help you?
How's Luca?
Is he in?
Luca?
No.
Not to worry, we'll wait.
There's a warrant and a
battering ram on the way.
They said it'd be 10 minutes.
Yeah, I better hurry them up.
Yeah, why not.
This is a murder investigation.
We found the body of
Robin Romano yesterday.
He's asleep on the sofa.
I'll wake him up.
He was waiting when I got
home from work on Friday.
What time was that?
Like, quarter past 11.
Why didn't you tell
us that before?
Oh and get thumbed for
possession or whatever?
We're gonna need the
clothes he was wearing.
We believe Robin Romano
was attacked at her home
on Friday night.
At the bottom of the garden
we found footprints
from a pair of shoes
identical to yours.
Were you there?
We found this in Robin's car.
Is this yours?
No.
Quite a collection of
Adidas in your wardrobe.
Whenever I fall out with
mom, Robin takes me shopping.
Her way of keeping the peace.
Emotional bribery.
That's a lot of shoes.
A lot of falling out.
Over what?
Money, restaurant,
my father.
You know about him?
She promised when I turned 21,
she'd tell me where he was.
Robin was helping
me look for him.
Did she suffer?
You were at the house
on Friday night.
Why were you there, seeing
what you could nick?
I didn't even see Robin.
I let myself in the back,
but she came home early.
So I jumped over
the garden wall.
I licked it straight to Nicks.
What time was that?
Quarter to 10.
There's cameras everywhere
if you don't believe me.
We're checking.
What do you think
happened to Robin?
(knocking on door)
Soles from his trainers
match the footprints
from the garden,
but there's no blood
on his clothes.
He didn't do it.
Jess did some more digging
into the financials
and found this.
I've called Ms.
Dalton in for a chat.
(traffic whirring)
Thank you for coming
in, Mrs. Dalton.
What's this about?
Please have a seat.
You should take this.
It's regarding
the 300,000 pounds
that was deposited into your
wife's account six months ago.
(slow music)
Multiple transactions,
which we believe Robin
tried to disguise
using a variety of
online payment methods.
In total, over four months,
Robin spent 294,567 pounds.
We've requested details
on those transactions,
but we're hoping you
can speed things up.
I'm sorry, it's the
first I've heard of this.
The 300,000 pounds was
from this re-mortgage loan.
In your joint names?
I never seen this before.
How do you explain
this, Mrs. Dalton?
That is your signature.
I didn't sign this.
Julia...
I didn't!
Robin asked me to sign it.
I didn't even look at it though.
You had no idea what it was?
Robin turned up for work
and said, "Will you
sign something for me?"
And so I did.
Did Julia know about it?
No, no.
She asked me not to tell her.
Did Robin tell you she'd
forged your signature?
That explains why you're
selling the business.
To pay off this debt.
These trips to Hammersmith began
the same time as
these transactions.
Can you shed some light on this?
Beth?
No.
Is it possible that Robin was
in a relationship with Beth?
What?
No, no of course not!
(gravel crunching)
[Beth] Hi, this is Beth.
Please leave a message.
Beth, what the hell were
you and my wife up to?
Whatever it was,
I deserve to know.
Call me.
(glass shattering)
(woman sobbing)
(phone dinging)
(suspenseful music)
Remember when the
book first came out
it hardly sold?
And you were upset because
you thought it had flopped
Then Robin suggested
that we buy a few copies
to get a pulse going.
Every few weeks she'd buy more.
And then she'd drive a van load
to a book recycling
place in Hammersmith.
Robin bought...
The best seller.
She was going to tell you.
Once you'd sold the restaurant
she was going to come clean
and ask you pay off the
300 grand from the profit.
It worked, the plan worked.
And Julia, she did it for you.
This is all for you.
CCTV from the World Zen
confirms Luca's alibi.
Beth and Johno were at the
restaurant until midnight.
Lynn Franco?
A, his girlfriend confirmed
that he was at hers
from just after 11,
and B he's too stupid.
And Julia was talking
to our officers
whilst Robin's body
was being dumped.
Don't mind us.
Sorry, new trainers
are pinching.
Max?
Whenever Luca got upset
Robin would take
in shoe shopping,
her way of keeping the peace.
Those, the boot shoes,
the ones with the red soles.
Christian Louboutin.
Are they expensive?
Hideously.
So a junior chef wearing a pair?
You own a pair of Christian
Louboutin trainers.
I own a lot of trainers.
Did Robin buy them for you?
No.
According to Robin Romano's
credit card statement
three days before she died
she bought a pair of those
trainers from Harrods.
They were size seven,
gift wrapped too.
What size are you, Nicks?
I didn't want anything
to do with this.
Last week I came in early
and I walked in on
Robin and Johno arguing.
Like top of their lungs.
Johno was furious.
He was asking Robin when the
royalties were coming in,
said he was sick of waiting.
And she bought me the trainers
so I wouldn't
mention it to Julia.
What, are you going
to impound them?
No.
You can keep them.
(slow music)
(pages rustling)
They're the same recipes.
They reused them
in the new book.
Johno's recipes.
But according to Beth,
he was at the restaurant
until midnight.
At least that's
what Beth told us.
[Mrs. Romano]
Caio food lovers.
Mrs. Romano here from
the beating heart
of Romano's Restaurant.
This is our head
chef, Cousin Johno.
And here comes the
beautiful Beth.
Hi.
(suspenseful music)
Johno and Beth?
About midnight Johno
locked up after me.
[Priya] We think you're lying.
Has Johno talked about
what happened that night?
No.
[Max] Have you asked
him about Robin?
Why would I?
[Priya] I take it your husband
doesn't know about
you and Johno?
Recognize this?
We found it in Robin's car.
Oh God.
Is it yours?
It was a gift for Johno.
I gave it to him the day...
The day that Robin died.
[Max] Got it.
Connor says his phone just
pinged the mast in Oxbridge.
[Operator] Alert all units.
Suspect Johno Romano
wanted in connection
with the murder of Robin Romano,
driving a blue Honda CRV,
Sierra Yankee zero five
Foxtrot Foxtrot Tango.
[Female Operator] Received.
[Priya] Over there.
No sign of him.
I'll call it in.
He's at the lake.
There he is.
I'm going to talk to him.
Max, Max!
All right.
Mind if I join you?
Good of Beth to
give you an alibi.
We didn't pick up on that.
You and her.
She didn't want to believe
you had anything to do
with what happened to Robin.
[Man] Backup's on its way.
We found the necklace
Beth gave you.
That's what you were looking
for in Julia's house.
Why you sent that
email to get her out.
You must have been desperate.
You didn't drop it in the house.
It was in Robin's car.
We were going to run
the restaurant together,
me and Beth.
She was leaving her husband.
As soon as my
royalties came through
I was going to make my pitch.
Luca couldn't care
less about the place.
I was next in line.
40 odd thousand copies
sold, 20 quid apart.
That's 800,000.
How much were you due to
earn from the royalties?
50, 50 grand.
Robin forgot she'd
ever promised it.
She stood there in that house
said there was no money.
Told me I'd have to wait.
She'd pay me when the sale
of the business went through.
You were never on their radar.
I'm a Romano, I'm family.
You never even asked me.
I saw them talking about blokes.
I went round after work
to ask Robin about it.
She thought I was worried
about losing my job,
told me not to worry.
I could carry on working in the
kitchen under the new owner.
I told her my plans,
my ideas, and...
she laughed.
She laughed at me.
So what did you do?
Picked something up.
Didn't even know what
it was, and I swung.
Missed, smashed a window.
Then I...
I hit her. (suspenseful music)
I tried to save her.
I was taking her
to the hospital but
it was too late.
It was too late.
So instead you brought her here.
We're dredging this tomorrow.
Will we find that hammer?
Johno.
(music intensifying)
(men groaning)
Oh God, I'm sorry!
It's okay, it's okay.
(men groaning)
(indistinct police
radio chatter)
Good job.
Thanks.
(engine humming)
Brilliant, thanks.
You're welcome.
Hey, I'm okay.
He's a chef, Max.
Of course he's got
a bloody knife.
Well I know that now.
I suppose I could
still clap one handed.
It is tonight, right?
Your veterans race?
That's all right,
you're off the hook.
Ah, thanks.
I really didn't want to go.
Right.
(door sliding)
Luca.
Mom.
I've...
Have you eaten?
I thought I could just
rustle us up something
to eat,
if you like.
(slow music)
Yes, I'd like that.
[Man] Hey, you're
going to be late.
What time's your competition?
I thought we'd have
a date night instead.
Yeah.
Chinese.
Love you.
I know.
What happened to your hand?
Occupational hazard.
What do you want?
I'll give you a fair
price for the books.
Is your phone broken?
You couldn't text me this?
I was passing.
You weren't passing.
I was.
In your boyfriends Porsche?
For the record, Patrick
and I are not dating.
He was interested in my gallery.
I told him it was not for sale.
We used to laugh at
rich pricks like him,
in expensive shoes and
thousand pound suits.
Not everyone's thinks is a
crime to buy nice things, Max.
Take away his money, his
good looks, and his charm.
What are you left with?
You.
(gentle theme music)
(gentle music)
(traffic whirring)
(doorbell buzzing)
Yes, hi, you're early.
Astie, it's me.
Shit!
What do you mean shit?
I'm on my way out.
What do you want?
Uh, a name.
Your friend who
deals in rare books.
I got some first
editions from dad's shop.
Thought he might be interested.
Is your phone broken?
You couldn't text me?
Well, I was passing.
And?
And...
[Astrid] Hello?
[Patrick] Excuse me.
Max, this is not a good time.
Oh, no, it's Patrick.
Hi, is Max still there?
(camera clicking)
You mean the bloke with he bike?
No, he's gone.
I'll be right now.
Caio.
(gentle music)
Caio, good evening.
Caio.
Would you like me to
sign that for you?
(woman gasping)
[Woman] Yes please.
Who should I make it out to?
[Woman] Stef, with an F.
Wow.
Okay, Stef with an
F, enjoy your meal.
(indistinct chatter)
Lynn Franco.
She got the keys.
We agreed to the
end of the month.
Yet you're still here.
I need more time to
find something else.
Unless you crass me
up to the big boss.
Didn't think so.
By the end of the
week, I'm serious.
Sorry.
(dishes rattling)
Caio bella.
Where have you been all day?
Did you get my messages?
I was running an errand.
This lady I knock about with
has a big birthday next week
so...
Mind my own.
You are so mysterious.
Hey, you know the rules.
No PDA's in the kitchen.
Frightens the fish.
Service, table 12!
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Okay, table 12, go, go, go!
All right, getting
low on plates.
Luca!
Where's Luca?
Luca?
Luca, you bribed him
to come into work?
I thought you'd like him here
for the announcement later.
What, no we're not...
It's too soon.
I'll check the office.
Luca!
You promised.
You agreed not to
upset your mom.
I'm helping you.
I know what you're up to, Robin.
Just leave me alone!
Luca, please.
(engine humming)
Caio food lovers.
Mrs. Romano here from
the beating heart
of Romano's Restaurant.
This is our head
chef, Cousin Johno.
And here comes the
beautiful Beth.
[Beth] Hi!
And our junior chef, Nicks.
All right, two
shitting Pomojono,
one pissing Tonnerelli.
What's my name?
Jack!
Seriously?
Oh leave that.
Everyone loves an outtake.
Exactly.
(suspenseful music)
(traffic whirring)
[Mrs. Romano]
Evening, Mrs. Cooper.
Evening.
(car lock beeping)
(door rattling)
(keys jingling)
(traffic whirring)
(loud thudding)
(woman screaming)
(music intensifying)
(gentle music)
It sounds like a
missing persons.
Oh, okay.
(coffee pot beeping)
(traffic whirring)
(cheerful music)
Morning.
Oh thanks.
Oh, is this decaf?
Oh, yeah, my decaf.
You know, so baby girl
doesn't buzz her nut off.
My mom used to give
me a cup of Nescafe
with my breakfast.
Never did me any harm.
Not that I'm advising you
how to feed your child.
Yeah, not that I'm
listening to someone
whose mom gave him
coffee as a kid.
Missing person is Robin Romano?
29 years old.
Celebrity chef by
the looks of it.
You've not heard of
La Familia Romano
of The King's Road?
I live in Stratham.
All right, so, neighbor
called it in at 23:17.
Said she heard yelling
and then a loud bang.
Gunshot?
Patio door smashing.
A few minutes later same witness
saw the Romano's Mini leave
the property at speed.
Didn't see a driver.
Dispatch mentioned
there was blood.
Yeah, first officer on
the scene spotted some
on the side gate.
Called us in as a precaution.
- Morning.
- [Max] Morning.
Looks like there's some
spotting here, too.
Do we know where the car went?
Phone company pinpointed
the last three pings
from the missing woman's mobile
to a mast in Battersea.
Final one at 01:09,
then inactive.
Switched off.
Assuming this is Robin
Romano's blood here
and on the gate,
do we know if the car
was facing the road
or did it reverse out?
I'll check.
What about hospitals?
[Priya] Yeah,
they're on all that.
Oh hey Pri, heard
you made the cut.
Congrats, representing.
What cut is that?
I'll speak to the neighbor.
(camera clicking)
(suspenseful music)
(camera clicking)
Mrs. Romano,
I'm Detective
Inspector Max Arnold.
I've already explained
everything to your colleague.
Well, let's start
at the beginning.
When did you last see Robin?
At the restaurant.
She came in around six.
She works there?
She runs the PR.
This is Mrs. Romano.
That's all hers.
She left around half nine.
We were supposed to
come home together,
but I had stuff to do.
So Robin took the car.
I left later about half 10.
Did anybody see you leave?
Maybe Johno.
And there's a
camera on the front.
Who's Johno?
Our head chef,
and my cousin.
From the restaurant to
here is what, 15 minutes?
Oh no. I was going
to take an Uber
but I changed my mind.
It was a nice night
so I walked.
I got back about 20 past 11.
When I saw Robin wasn't here
I phoned and left a message.
I should have called 999.
What was your instinct?
- Honestly?
- Yeah.
That a bird had
crashed into the glass.
Bloody big bird.
We tracked Robin's
phone to Battersea.
Does she know anybody there?
Not that I know of.
What do you think
happened there?
Well, I'm concerned
about the blood we found
on the drive,
and up on the ceiling there.
I feel sick.
(water running)
Thank you.
DI Arnold?
There's a gentleman outside.
Says he's family.
Julie.
We just got your message.
Robin's missing.
You've spoken to Luca?
Luca?
My son.
It turned right, shot
off at a rate of knots.
Not that I'm a curtain twitcher.
But I bet a concerned
neighbor like yourself
is watching out for
the police to arrive.
Did you see Julia come home?
No.
Mrs. Cooper?
There's a son, Luca,
who lived with them.
Bright lad, at Catron College.
But, well, where is he now?
One day there, next day gone.
You know what happened to
Julia Romano's husband?
No.
15 years ago he disappeared too.
First the husband,
then son, and now...
[Max] You saw Julia leave work?
Yeah, about half 10.
But you were in the
restaurant all night.
Well I was on late cleanup.
I left about midnight.
Anyone confirm that?
Yes, our waitress Beth.
She was cleaning front house,
she left five minutes before me.
According to our system
two weeks ago Robin
Romano reported a break in
at this address.
Then promptly withdrew
the complaint.
Was that the son, Luca?
He's a good kid.
Did you see him last night?
Briefly.
He's on the roster,
but everyone knows
there's only one reason that
Luca turns up for shifts.
Julia kids herself that she's
molding him in her image
but when I cashed up
at the end of the night
we were 50 quid short.
It rained yesterday afternoon
so we can assume these
footprints are fresh.
Size eights.
And the pattern on the
sole, Adidas Superstars.
I know my trainers.
(phone clicking)
Tracks end at the fence,
so that's the likely
point of access.
Officers have searched
the neighbor's garden
but didn't find anything.
The neighbor confirmed
the car reversed out.
Then whoever's blood
that is on the driveway
didn't get in behind the wheel.
We have a third party.
And a possible
kidnapping or abduction.
(indistinct police
radio chatter)
Luca dotes on Robin.
He wouldn't hurt her.
Luca's got quite the
collection of trainers.
Can you sign here please?
Thank you.
We'll return them
as soon as we can.
Do you know where
he's staying now?
After Robin reported
the break in,
how did Luca react?
Well, he was angry,
but they made up after he
returned the watch he stole.
It was the one I gave
Robin for our anniversary.
His number's not available.
Shows how far we've fallen.
We need to speak to him.
You could try Nicks.
She might know where he is.
Nicks?
Nicola Grieves, our junior chef.
She and Luca have
an on off thing.
And what about Luca's father?
Um, David in Westbury?
Is he still on the scene?
Why are you asking about David?
Your neighbor mentioned him.
I haven't seen or spoken to
David since he walked out
15 years ago.
For God's sake, a gossipy
neighbor regurgitates a rumor
and you take it seriously.
(slow music)
Oh, sorry, I forgot to lock it.
We're not open yet.
DS Shamsie, DI Arnold.
Are you Nicola Grieves?
No.
Beth Dalton.
Nicks isn't in yet.
What's up, she in trouble?
We want to talk to her.
We're investigating the
disappearance of Robin Romano.
God, I thought you were joking.
What's happened?
There was an incident at
the Romano house last night.
We need to speak to
Luca Romano about it.
Oh Luca.
Where there's trouble,
he's never far behind.
Um, you wait here.
I'll go and call Nicks.
[Priya] Julia Romano said
you and Luca are an item.
Were, we broke up last year.
When he's using it's exhausting.
What's he take?
Nothing serious.
Did you see him last night?
Yeah, but thankfully rarely
bothers to show up for shift.
Did he used to talk to
you about things at home?
Oh, did he.
He's always minding about
his hard knock life.
[Max] He was having problems?
Of his own making.
And last year on his 21st,
his mom offered in
this place to takeover,
to manage.
Like, I'd give my right arm,
but he turned it down.
Did Julia or Robin pressure
him to change his mind?
Good luck with that.
Last night, did you see
anything out of the ordinary?
No.
Oh, but Lynn Franco,
the delivery guy,
he's got a hold of Robin.
She handed him his
cards last week.
Either of you got a light?
No.
No.
Do you have a number for Luca?
Is this the only
number you have?
It's the one he used
when we were a thing.
Look, are we done?
I'm on practice.
Oh, nice trainers.
Okay thanks.
Louboutin.
Laboot what?
Philistine.
It's no thing.
I turned up late a couple times.
Robin has given to
the end of this week
to book up or clear out.
Was it normal for her
to borrow the van?
She's the owner's misses.
Me, lowly delivery driver.
If she wants to borrow the van
she borrows the van.
How did she seem?
Happy go lucky.
Robin loves attention.
Probably what this is all about.
Attention.
Not a fan?
She's a gold digger.
Your last delivery, 23:02?
Stones throw away
from the Romano house.
Yeah, and the night before
finish the street over.
Night before that,
round the corner.
You must have been annoyed
when Robin fired you.
Oh yeah.
'Cause this is my dream job.
Lynn Franco.
Are you a Romano?
No.
But you're Italian, right?
My mom was born in Milan.
Oh Milan?
I love Milan.
What part?
Oh uh... south.
Yeah, Johno locked up after me,
just before midnight.
What's the kitchen gossip, Beth?
You must all talk.
Does Robin put anyone's back up?
Everybody gets on with Robin.
I just wish you'd tell me if
there was something wrong.
Oh bloody hell!
I'm sorry, sorry.
It's okay.
Has she talked to you
about tensions at home?
Luca.
You know he steals
from the till.
What about Robin and Julia?
The harmonious Mrs.
and Mrs. Romano?
No way.
Does the name David
Westbury every come up?
Julia's ex-husband.
It's before my time,
but it's no secret.
(suspenseful music)
23:19 Robin's car
was captured on CCTV
heading west on
the Brompton Road,
in the direction
of the hospital.
It was not seen on
the traffic cams
in the hospital approach though.
Then where did it go?
Well from the E-Link Mass Data
it traveled on the
A 40 to Oxbridge.
I've requested ANPR data.
What's that?
Is that our case?
Patrick Thompson?
No, it's Astrid's new fella.
I bumped into him outside hers
and kind of accidentally
ran his plates.
Using Holmes to stalk
your ex's new squeeze?
That's a good look, Max.
Okay, according to NPS,
Julia Romano never reported
her ex-husband missing.
I couldn't find any social
media presence for him.
No updates to his HMRC
records since October 2006.
What about immigration?
Nothing.
So he really did disappear?
In 2015 Julia Ramona was
granted a divorce in absentia.
She married Robin
three years later.
Jealous ex husband
turns up out of the
blue 15 years later.
Or Robin asked too many
questions about him.
I mean, you saw Julie's reaction
when I mentioned David Westbury.
Julia pushes Robin
into the window.
Robin cuts herself on the glass,
runs to the car and escapes.
Blood on the ceiling.
So likely she was
attacked first.
Julia carries her to the car,
drives her to hospital,
but it's too late.
Well, what time did
the Marston Ealing
last detect Robin's phone?
Uh, 23:48.
By which time uniforms had
been at the Romano residence
speaking to Julia
for 20 minutes.
You can't place
Julia in that car.
Unless she had an accomplice.
(phone ringing)
Connor?
Got it, boss.
[Max] Got what?
From the door to door.
The resident said a black
Mini nearly ran him over
on his way home from the pub.
You found the car?
Uh huh, near Sheep
Cut Lane, Battersea.
Nobody inside, no visible
drag marks or shoe prints.
Okay, full lift for
forensic examination.
There's blood on
the passenger seat.
[Woman] Looks like the
passenger started seated
and then slid down.
Foot mats soaked
through with water.
Looks like the driver
wiped everything down.
Lemon fresh?
Alpine meadow.
Where are we on Luca?
Nicks gave us the
names of his mates.
But none of them have seen him.
Hair found in the
boot of the car,
pulled out at the roots.
Lab results returned a
match for Robin Romano.
That was quick.
The boot of the
Mini is too small
to fit a body,
so could be off the weapon.
When we've removed
the wet foot mat
we found this pendant.
Ran it through lab analysis,
but it didn't put out
anything useful.
But we inspected something
under the wiper, hold on.
Where was the cut you made?
Hum?
That Jess mentioned.
Can't remember my kid's
name but you remember that.
Ha ha ha, you made the team.
- Yeah.
- Great.
Not great.
[Priya] Veteran.
If you were a footballer,
40 is still young.
No.
I thought winch green could
be the corner of a flyer,
but it's a parking ticket.
[Priya] Mrs. Romano,
thank you for coming.
[Mrs. Romano] So I guess
you've seen it too then?
Seen what?
The email here.
What email?
Oh, it came to you
about an hour ago.
It's, it's from Robin.
Don't worry, I'm okay.
I'm so sorry.
What a mess.
I can explain everything.
Column Gardens
tomorrow at 10:00 AM.
Come alone.
Does anyone else have
access to Robin's email?
Nobody ever, I certainly don't.
Mrs. Romano, we
have some news.
We found your car
left in Battersea.
There was no sign of Robin.
But we have to inform you
that we found blood and
hair inside the car.
Oh God!
And preliminary tests suggest
that both the hair and the
samples taken from your house
are a match.
It's Robin's.
But you think she's still alive?
We don't know.
This was found on
the floor of the car.
Do you recognize it?
No.
I've been building a picture
of Robin's movements yesterday.
It looks like she
was at the restaurant
until around 3:00 PM.
Then drove to Hammersmith.
Do you know what
she was doing there?
She's been being
secretive all week,
but there's an
innocent explanation.
Next week is my 50th birthday.
I think Robin has been
planning something.
Your car was also driven
to Oxbridge last night.
Is there any reason why Robin
or Luca would travel there?
According to Robin's
internet search history,
she was trying to track
down your ex-husband.
What?
Did you know that?
No.
Max, I've checked the
financials for Robin Romano.
The restaurant had
a bumpy few years,
but it's back in the black now.
Enough to warrant a kidnapping?
No.
But Robin Romano's
savings account.
Last November, she deposited
300,000 pounds into it.
Only it didn't stay for long.
Over four months
there were multiple
payments all via PayPal,
Pay and A, Google Pay
Send, Western Union.
So no way to trace the
recipient or recipients.
Random amounts too.
A few thousand here,
a few hundred there.
300 grand, where's that from?
Flora helping me trace it.
Boss, got a hit on
that parking ticket.
Issued from a private firm
by an overeager operative.
It's CPA parking.
At a quarter past midnight
in a car park near Oxbridge.
(slow music)
There's no cameras
on the approach road.
There's blood.
Veers into the woods.
Better get a search team.
(camera clicking)
What I wouldn't give for
an innocent explanation.
[Priya] Maybe tomorrow morning
Robin will turn up to meet
Julia with a brilliant excuse.
Ever the optimist.
Yeah.
The foot well in the
Mini was saturated.
Yeah, soaked through.
We passed a lake
on the way here.
(somber music)
So who wrote that email?
Can I see her?
Of course.
We'll be in touch as soon
as we can arrange it.
I need to let people know.
Mrs. Romano,
I'm sorry to ask this,
but could we keep this between
ourselves for a while longer?
What?
Well, we know the email
came from Robin's phone.
It was reactivated
briefly earlier today.
It pinged the
Marston Chelsea wall.
And if there's a chance,
no matter how small,
that whoever sent it might
still show up tomorrow.
Whatever I can do.
Thank you.
There's something else.
But if you'd rather we'd...
Go ahead, ask what
you need to ask.
Looking into Robin's
financial history,
someone transferred 300,000
pounds into a savings account
last November.
Robin used to co-own a
PR firm, Hillside PRP.
Maybe it was a windfall.
All but 5,000 was
transferred out.
Do you know where?
I have no idea.
We kept our finances separate.
I didn't keep track
of her spending.
(suspenseful music)
Hello?
Whoever's out there,
I've called the police.
Bloody hell, nearly
gave me a heart attack!
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Did you call the police?
No, but they're looking for you.
They think you were at the
house Friday night, were you?
Luca, did you have something
to do with Robin going missing?
Is that what mom thinks?
Your mother is in bits.
Let her think what she wants.
Don't tell anyone I was here.
Wait.
(coins rattling)
Wait, wait, wait.
Come here.
Be careful, okay?
- Thanks.
- Go on.
(slow music)
That was my first
foray into publishing.
Printed those little
recipe books ourselves.
Me and Luca stapling
pages in the kitchen.
We sold them to customers
for five pounds a pop.
You signed my copy.
Did I?
[Max] Why here?
This is one of our
favorite places.
The cruelty in
sending that email.
It's time.
You all right?
(suspenseful music)
Won't they know
we found the body?
Press office is sitting
on it until six.
Do we know what Robin
was doing in Hammersmith
the day she died?
Anything come from
the door to door?
We canvassed the
cafes just in case
Robin was meeting someone there,
but no one saw her.
(phone dinging)
Sorry, I thought my
phone was on silent.
Girlfriend placing a
takeaway order for tonight.
How is Becky?
Yeah, really good, thanks.
Talent.
Julia Romano?
That's it, go, go!
I'm sorry, this is for David.
David?
Police!
What's going on?
Step away.
[Woman] What are you doing?
She said David.
My husband.
I just bought if for
my husband's birthday.
I was going to ask
her to sign it.
Our apologies, madame.
Yeah, unbelievable.
That email, it was meant
to get her out the house.
(suspenseful music)
Police, if anyone is in
here, make yourself known.
The door panel's
been ripped off.
Brown field's clear.
And there's jewelry
and cash upstairs
that hasn't been taken.
Is there anything in here
missing or out of place?
No.
I'll get a team in,
check for prints.
In the park
you thought that woman
was delivering a message
from your ex-husband David.
I panicked, that's all.
It was all her idea.
The book making us famous.
I hired her to find a way
to save the restaurant,
but I quickly fell
in love with her.
She was brilliant.
(slow music)
She saved more than
the restaurant.
I hope she knew that.
I'm sure she did.
Thank you.
If I think of anything,
I'll let you know.
Of course.
[Robin] Ciao, this
is Robin Romano.
Please leave a
message after the beep
and I'll get back to you pronto.
Ciao, this is Robin Romano.
Please leave a
message after the beep
and I'll get back to you pronto.
The report is probably
washed away our chances
of getting useful fibers or DNA.
How long was she in there?
Very little in the
way of skin changes.
Not too long, maybe
six to 12 hours.
Any water in the lungs?
Dead before she went in.
Small messes.
Frontal temporal fracture
caused by blunt trauma
with a heavy object.
Any idea what?
Ashley, I said any idea...
I heard.
This is my concentration face.
There's a patterned
bruise in the skin
overlying the fracture,
small indentations close
together, like dimples.
I have never been
in your kitchen,
But I imagine you don't own one.
Incredibly presumptuous.
Actually...
Actually.
My kids say it just like that
before they make something up.
Actually, Astrid had one.
Well, we didn't find one
in our search of the house.
That's what killed
Mrs. Romano here?
Cerebral contusions.
Severe extra jaw hemorrhage.
Four right?
Four what?
Kids.
When I left this morning.
Love them to bits but thank
God I have an off switch.
And are they...
No.
Not one of them.
What are the odds.
Sorry I thought you meant...
Oh no.
Are they boys or girls?
Oh, sorry.
Yes, four boys.
What are the odds, eh?
Ashley, just to be clear,
we are talking about
one of those hammers
you use on steaks, right?
(slow music)
Caio food lovers,
Mrs. Romano here.
Tonight is the launch
party for our new cookbook.
Caio food lovers!
Caio food lovers.
Caio food lovers!
Is your volume button broken?
[Mrs. Romano] Cookbook.
(suspenseful music)
[Max] The murder weapon.
(gentle music)
Hey, you say bolt.
This is a surprise.
Sweaty kiss.
Oh sorry.
So, so?
Date night.
I forgot.
Yeah, that I realized.
You're mad at me?
You're mad at me.
You know on the way over here
I rehearsed a speech.
Ooh.
Ooh, a speech.
Yeah, the crux of which was that
I was sorely
disappointed and hungry.
And now I'm here,
I'm just hungry.
You know,
They serve pizza in the bar.
Is it any good?
I mean it's edible.
That'll do.
And something with meat
for me, and margarita?
I love you.
Yeah, whatever.
(slow piano music)
Security footage
shows Luca Romano
leaving the restaurant at 19:05.
Robin Romano seems
upset with him.
(mug clattering)
Bollocks!
(gentle music)
Thank you for coming
in, Mr. Thompson.
We'll try to keep this brief.
Where were you between 11
and midnight on Friday?
Friday, let's see.
Early evening I
had an engagement
with a gallery owner I know.
And after that?
I was at my office
until the early hours
with my legal team.
I'll give you their details.
Thank you.
Except you weren't there
all evening, were you?
Because this is you
at 20:43 on Friday
leaving La Familia
Romano restaurant.
Oh.
Yes, oh.
Maybe you can explain
that to us, Mr. Thompson.
What were you doing there?
DS Shamsie, kindly
request a search warrant
for Mr. Thompson's properties.
There's no need.
Why were you there?
And why did you just lie to us?
I didn't want to
scupper anything.
The contracts are ready to go.
What contracts?
For the restaurant.
On Friday I was there
finalizing the details.
What details?
I'm in the process
of purchasing it.
Julia Romano is selling
you her family business?
Yeah.
And I'm planning
to franchise it.
[Woman] How much
is that deal worth?
Around 3.5.
Million.
Yes, thank you.
It's hot property.
Half a million followers.
Runaway bestseller.
Now all this publicity.
I mean...
How did Robin feel
about the sale?
Did she try to stop it?
Not at all.
Look, I'm not forcing
anyone's hand here.
Julia and Robin were both
completely behind it.
So are we going to discuss
the elephant in the room?
What, your OAP race?
You're walking.
You're the youngest
in your heat.
How do you know
I'm the youngest?
Oh, Jess.
So you're gonna cheer me on?
You bloody are.
So what about the
other elephant?
What did you think of him?
He's bloody gorgeous.
Max, I'm kidding.
I knew that.
Kidding.
Pri, I've been running
background checks
on the restaurant staff.
Came across something you
might find interesting.
The P60 for Lynn Franco Astori.
Uh huh.
Robin Romano?
That's me.
(door slamming)
Sign here, please.
Where do you want them?
Uh, just over here please.
I didn't want the staff knowing
till it was a done deal.
Mr. Thompson promised that
he would keep them all on.
It was the last resort.
I'd hoped it might inspire
Luca to turn things around,
to bring us close again.
Spent my life trying
to save the restaurant,
battling against the tearing
down of old Chauncey.
Promised my father
I'd never sell.
I did the same with
my dad's book shop.
The last of their kind.
We were going traveling.
That was the plan.
I'll see if they're ready.
(somber music)
Hello, you've reached Astrid.
Please leave a message.
Hi Astie, it's me.
I was hoping to catch you.
The thing is...
The thing is...
Nevermind.
There's another reason
why I didn't tell you
about the restaurant sale.
My ex-husband is still
on the paperwork.
He has a stake in the business,
and I don't want him benefiting
from what Robin and
I built together.
Do you know where he is now?
15 years ago I was
working every hour
trying to keep the
restaurant open.
I came home one day,
and David was gone.
Luca was seven.
His father left without a note,
never called.
Took the best part of two years,
but I found him living outside
Cork under a different name.
His mother's maiden name.
As far as I know,
he's still there,
alive and well
living with this partner
and their three daughters.
I begged him to call Luca.
Every Christmas and birthday
I would buy Luca present
and sign it from dad.
False hope.
I'm good at that.
Robin was too.
I think she was helping
Luca try to find his father.
She didn't know the truth.
How do I explain to Luca that,
for his father,
he doesn't exist?
(slow music)
(traffic whirring)
Thank you for coming
in Mr. Astori.
Wasn't aware it was a request.
How are you doing today, Andrew?
Or do you prefer Andy?
Who's Andrew?
South Milan, was it?
According to your P60 Lynn
Franco Astori is 24 years old.
Whereas you, Andrew Stafford,
were born June 5th, 1969.
Bloody hell.
Look, I'm lying low.
That's all.
Got myself into a
bit of a pickle.
What kind of a pickle?
The kind that comes with
extortion at interest.
You're working under
a false identity
to hide from debt collectors?
It's a real identity.
Lynn Franco's this lad
I know in Coventry.
It's all above board.
I've got an email from
him saying I can use it.
And Robin found out about this?
So she terminates
your employment.
And then last Friday after work,
you pop over to Robin's house.
Have a quick chat about it.
No.
After I finished work, I
went to my girlfriend's.
Look, okay.
Yeah, Robin found out about
it and we made a deal.
I'll go quietly.
She wouldn't report it.
Avoid the bad publicity.
After I'd done her
a favor or two.
What favor?
Got her that watch
back, didn't I?
When was this?
Last week.
Nicks asked me if I'd
help her flog a watch.
Like I'm that stupid.
I knew Luca had nicked it.
So I told him to give it back
to Robin, ungrateful cow.
God rest her soul.
(slow music)
(tapping on door)
Hello Nicks, how you doing?
Can I help you?
How's Luca?
Is he in?
Luca?
No.
Not to worry, we'll wait.
There's a warrant and a
battering ram on the way.
They said it'd be 10 minutes.
Yeah, I better hurry them up.
Yeah, why not.
This is a murder investigation.
We found the body of
Robin Romano yesterday.
He's asleep on the sofa.
I'll wake him up.
He was waiting when I got
home from work on Friday.
What time was that?
Like, quarter past 11.
Why didn't you tell
us that before?
Oh and get thumbed for
possession or whatever?
We're gonna need the
clothes he was wearing.
We believe Robin Romano
was attacked at her home
on Friday night.
At the bottom of the garden
we found footprints
from a pair of shoes
identical to yours.
Were you there?
We found this in Robin's car.
Is this yours?
No.
Quite a collection of
Adidas in your wardrobe.
Whenever I fall out with
mom, Robin takes me shopping.
Her way of keeping the peace.
Emotional bribery.
That's a lot of shoes.
A lot of falling out.
Over what?
Money, restaurant,
my father.
You know about him?
She promised when I turned 21,
she'd tell me where he was.
Robin was helping
me look for him.
Did she suffer?
You were at the house
on Friday night.
Why were you there, seeing
what you could nick?
I didn't even see Robin.
I let myself in the back,
but she came home early.
So I jumped over
the garden wall.
I licked it straight to Nicks.
What time was that?
Quarter to 10.
There's cameras everywhere
if you don't believe me.
We're checking.
What do you think
happened to Robin?
(knocking on door)
Soles from his trainers
match the footprints
from the garden,
but there's no blood
on his clothes.
He didn't do it.
Jess did some more digging
into the financials
and found this.
I've called Ms.
Dalton in for a chat.
(traffic whirring)
Thank you for coming
in, Mrs. Dalton.
What's this about?
Please have a seat.
You should take this.
It's regarding
the 300,000 pounds
that was deposited into your
wife's account six months ago.
(slow music)
Multiple transactions,
which we believe Robin
tried to disguise
using a variety of
online payment methods.
In total, over four months,
Robin spent 294,567 pounds.
We've requested details
on those transactions,
but we're hoping you
can speed things up.
I'm sorry, it's the
first I've heard of this.
The 300,000 pounds was
from this re-mortgage loan.
In your joint names?
I never seen this before.
How do you explain
this, Mrs. Dalton?
That is your signature.
I didn't sign this.
Julia...
I didn't!
Robin asked me to sign it.
I didn't even look at it though.
You had no idea what it was?
Robin turned up for work
and said, "Will you
sign something for me?"
And so I did.
Did Julia know about it?
No, no.
She asked me not to tell her.
Did Robin tell you she'd
forged your signature?
That explains why you're
selling the business.
To pay off this debt.
These trips to Hammersmith began
the same time as
these transactions.
Can you shed some light on this?
Beth?
No.
Is it possible that Robin was
in a relationship with Beth?
What?
No, no of course not!
(gravel crunching)
[Beth] Hi, this is Beth.
Please leave a message.
Beth, what the hell were
you and my wife up to?
Whatever it was,
I deserve to know.
Call me.
(glass shattering)
(woman sobbing)
(phone dinging)
(suspenseful music)
Remember when the
book first came out
it hardly sold?
And you were upset because
you thought it had flopped
Then Robin suggested
that we buy a few copies
to get a pulse going.
Every few weeks she'd buy more.
And then she'd drive a van load
to a book recycling
place in Hammersmith.
Robin bought...
The best seller.
She was going to tell you.
Once you'd sold the restaurant
she was going to come clean
and ask you pay off the
300 grand from the profit.
It worked, the plan worked.
And Julia, she did it for you.
This is all for you.
CCTV from the World Zen
confirms Luca's alibi.
Beth and Johno were at the
restaurant until midnight.
Lynn Franco?
A, his girlfriend confirmed
that he was at hers
from just after 11,
and B he's too stupid.
And Julia was talking
to our officers
whilst Robin's body
was being dumped.
Don't mind us.
Sorry, new trainers
are pinching.
Max?
Whenever Luca got upset
Robin would take
in shoe shopping,
her way of keeping the peace.
Those, the boot shoes,
the ones with the red soles.
Christian Louboutin.
Are they expensive?
Hideously.
So a junior chef wearing a pair?
You own a pair of Christian
Louboutin trainers.
I own a lot of trainers.
Did Robin buy them for you?
No.
According to Robin Romano's
credit card statement
three days before she died
she bought a pair of those
trainers from Harrods.
They were size seven,
gift wrapped too.
What size are you, Nicks?
I didn't want anything
to do with this.
Last week I came in early
and I walked in on
Robin and Johno arguing.
Like top of their lungs.
Johno was furious.
He was asking Robin when the
royalties were coming in,
said he was sick of waiting.
And she bought me the trainers
so I wouldn't
mention it to Julia.
What, are you going
to impound them?
No.
You can keep them.
(slow music)
(pages rustling)
They're the same recipes.
They reused them
in the new book.
Johno's recipes.
But according to Beth,
he was at the restaurant
until midnight.
At least that's
what Beth told us.
[Mrs. Romano]
Caio food lovers.
Mrs. Romano here from
the beating heart
of Romano's Restaurant.
This is our head
chef, Cousin Johno.
And here comes the
beautiful Beth.
Hi.
(suspenseful music)
Johno and Beth?
About midnight Johno
locked up after me.
[Priya] We think you're lying.
Has Johno talked about
what happened that night?
No.
[Max] Have you asked
him about Robin?
Why would I?
[Priya] I take it your husband
doesn't know about
you and Johno?
Recognize this?
We found it in Robin's car.
Oh God.
Is it yours?
It was a gift for Johno.
I gave it to him the day...
The day that Robin died.
[Max] Got it.
Connor says his phone just
pinged the mast in Oxbridge.
[Operator] Alert all units.
Suspect Johno Romano
wanted in connection
with the murder of Robin Romano,
driving a blue Honda CRV,
Sierra Yankee zero five
Foxtrot Foxtrot Tango.
[Female Operator] Received.
[Priya] Over there.
No sign of him.
I'll call it in.
He's at the lake.
There he is.
I'm going to talk to him.
Max, Max!
All right.
Mind if I join you?
Good of Beth to
give you an alibi.
We didn't pick up on that.
You and her.
She didn't want to believe
you had anything to do
with what happened to Robin.
[Man] Backup's on its way.
We found the necklace
Beth gave you.
That's what you were looking
for in Julia's house.
Why you sent that
email to get her out.
You must have been desperate.
You didn't drop it in the house.
It was in Robin's car.
We were going to run
the restaurant together,
me and Beth.
She was leaving her husband.
As soon as my
royalties came through
I was going to make my pitch.
Luca couldn't care
less about the place.
I was next in line.
40 odd thousand copies
sold, 20 quid apart.
That's 800,000.
How much were you due to
earn from the royalties?
50, 50 grand.
Robin forgot she'd
ever promised it.
She stood there in that house
said there was no money.
Told me I'd have to wait.
She'd pay me when the sale
of the business went through.
You were never on their radar.
I'm a Romano, I'm family.
You never even asked me.
I saw them talking about blokes.
I went round after work
to ask Robin about it.
She thought I was worried
about losing my job,
told me not to worry.
I could carry on working in the
kitchen under the new owner.
I told her my plans,
my ideas, and...
she laughed.
She laughed at me.
So what did you do?
Picked something up.
Didn't even know what
it was, and I swung.
Missed, smashed a window.
Then I...
I hit her. (suspenseful music)
I tried to save her.
I was taking her
to the hospital but
it was too late.
It was too late.
So instead you brought her here.
We're dredging this tomorrow.
Will we find that hammer?
Johno.
(music intensifying)
(men groaning)
Oh God, I'm sorry!
It's okay, it's okay.
(men groaning)
(indistinct police
radio chatter)
Good job.
Thanks.
(engine humming)
Brilliant, thanks.
You're welcome.
Hey, I'm okay.
He's a chef, Max.
Of course he's got
a bloody knife.
Well I know that now.
I suppose I could
still clap one handed.
It is tonight, right?
Your veterans race?
That's all right,
you're off the hook.
Ah, thanks.
I really didn't want to go.
Right.
(door sliding)
Luca.
Mom.
I've...
Have you eaten?
I thought I could just
rustle us up something
to eat,
if you like.
(slow music)
Yes, I'd like that.
[Man] Hey, you're
going to be late.
What time's your competition?
I thought we'd have
a date night instead.
Yeah.
Chinese.
Love you.
I know.
What happened to your hand?
Occupational hazard.
What do you want?
I'll give you a fair
price for the books.
Is your phone broken?
You couldn't text me this?
I was passing.
You weren't passing.
I was.
In your boyfriends Porsche?
For the record, Patrick
and I are not dating.
He was interested in my gallery.
I told him it was not for sale.
We used to laugh at
rich pricks like him,
in expensive shoes and
thousand pound suits.
Not everyone's thinks is a
crime to buy nice things, Max.
Take away his money, his
good looks, and his charm.
What are you left with?
You.
(gentle theme music)