Traces (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

Dundee might be really
full-on for you.

It's a really good job.

This is Emma Hedges,
my new lab technician.

Working on a study to develop
new tools and research

around the analysis of new and
emerging street drugs in Scotland.

You'll be studying a fictional case

to teach you the principles
of forensic science.

Professor Gordon.
The body in the MOOC's my mum.

She went missing at a festival.
Three months later, she was dug up.

We need to check the rest of the
MOOC for any other similarities.

There was a fatal fire
at a club in Lockie last night.



Three dead.

The manager Shuggie Brook
jumped off the Tay Bridge

the day before yesterday.

Stay with me. I'm staying
at my mum's on my own.

- Where's your mum?
- I think she's dying.

My sweet Marie ended up dumped in
the ground with her bones cut up.

You need to talk to the police.

This is my mum and dad, except
at the time the photo was taken,

my mum wasn't with my dad,
she was with my stepdad.

I think it could have something
to do with her murder.

♪ Baby, you understand me now

♪ If sometimes you see that I'm mad

♪ Don't you know that no-one
alive can always be an angel?

♪ When everything goes wrong
You see some bad



♪ Oh, I'm just a soul
whose intentions are good

♪ Oh, Lord, please, don't
let me be misunderstood. ♪

This is great. Thanks so much.

No bother.

I meant to ask you
the other day and...

Does your mum see much of my dad?

No.

I mean, well, not at all,
as far as I know.

- Are you all right?
- Yeah.

Yeah.

Hey, do you fancy going out tonight?

Yes.

This photo that Emma
showed you, her parents,

who weren't together at
the time, supposedly,

in bed, apparently post-sex.

Apparently.

Well, can you imagine a situation

where you've just
had sex with someone

- and someone else takes a photo?
- No, but I'm square.

Well, I'm not and I still can't.

Self-timer.

I wonder who the anthro
was on Marie Munroe,

and if they were any good.

I wonder if she was dismembered.

Shall we carry on?

I mean, it's fascinating isn't it?

I'm glad Emma agreed
to speak to Neil.

See, I would even question
the use of spalling.

It might be clearer to say
flaking or fragmenting.

Sarah, don't you think
it's fascinating?

Yeah.

I do.

The police samples are arriving
tomorrow. The real deal.

Great.

Scotland has a problem.
New street drugs keep appearing,

so the police don't know
what they're dealing with

and drug-related deaths are up.

People don't know what they're
taking, so it's really important

that we research this. This study
could really make a difference.

It might save lives.

We'll have all the controls set up

- with our samples by tomorrow morning.
- Thanks, Louise.

I'll call Neil, give him your number
and ask him to ring you.

OK, thanks.

- You OK?
- Yeah.

OK.

The major investigation
team has landed.

- Ah, I'm well aware.
- Are you ready?

Oh, aye, ready to handover,

ready to genuflect, ready to whoop
when they bugger off again,

having taken the credit
for all our hard work.

- Morning, ma'am, welcome.
- Absolutely. Yes. OK.

- Well, yeah, well, got it.
- Ugh.

Got it, got it, absolutely.

So the picture we're
building up is this -

Bashir Kumar and Shelley Nardoni
died accidentally.

We don't yet have Professor
Torrance's report,

but we've got her verbal feedback.

- Neil?
- Yes, she is saying there's no evidence

of blunt, sharp or ballistic trauma.

- Or defence wounds.
- Uh-huh.

Well, the inference is
that, in all probability,

cause of death for those two
was the fire itself.

We know from Professor Gordon
they were locked in the office.

We've got witness statements
suggesting why they were there.

Is it Trina?

Yes. Trina.

Shelley's best friend told us

that Shelley and Bash were having
a sort of illicit work thing.

Both of them were in relationships,

They both smoked so they could have
been in the office for that reason.

The barman told us that the two of
them had a tendency to disappear

whenever they got the
opportunity for a quickie,

so it maybe wasn't known that
they were in the office

when the door to
the office was locked.

Shelley's mum, Mrs Nardoni,
wants to know

how Shelley and Bash couldn't hear
what was going on in the kitchen

or being locked in.

We didn't know either -
we have no witnesses -

but the barman's told us
that the music is as deafening

in the back as it is
in the front, so...

Mrs Nardoni is very
aggrieved, by the way.

The Family Liaison Team's spending
a lot of time with her.

I hope that's work.

No, it's my dealer.

Funny.

As of this morning,
we have a CCTV image

of what appears to be Shuggie Brook

letting a man into the kitchen
fire door at ten to ten,

and we have an ID on
the body in the kitchen -

Ian Howie.

The pathologist reported
that Ian Howie was dead

before the fire started. No soot
inhalation.

The floor beneath him was pristine,
not fire-blackened.

The cause of death
was strangulation.

Well, we actually got hold
of the clothes that the manager,

Shuggie Brook, was wearing on the
night of the fire, including a belt.

We're running a DNA check
on that, Alec?

Yes.

Fast-tracking it.

Great. So we're making some
real progress now.

I got your message.

Course I'll speak to Emma Hedges.

Tell her I'll ring
her tomorrow morning.

Will do.

- I can do you that favour after all.
- How come?

I'll need to access
the Marie Monroe files.

I have bona fide policing
purpose to do so

cos I'm speaking to her daughter.

Right.

So, if you e-mail me a summary
of your MOOC modules,

I can suggest what
changes you should make

to avoid further accidental overlaps

without sharing confidential
information.

Neil.

You know something?

What?

You're my hero.

Fever>>
by Endor ft. FERAL Is Kinky

Emma.

You've got to wake up.

I've got work.

So have I.

Did we, um...?

Yes.

Have you seen my bag?

I don't remember
you having a bag.

Shit.

Hello?

I left my bag in there last night.

Can you let me come in
and have a look?

Can't do that, sorry. You'll
need to come back when we're open.

- I need my phone.
- I said no.

Can you help me?

I think I left my bag in there
last night and he won't let me in.

I need my phone. I'm waiting
on a really important call,

and I need to get to work.

Hello?

Hi, Paul. It's Daniel
from MacAfee Construction.

Hi, Daniel. Come on in.

Please.

I need a description of your bag.

Um, it's green, small.

It's got a long strap.

Its contents?

Uh... phone in a red case.

Keys, purse.

I love you.

- Thanks again.
- Ah, no bother.

I needed to do a good deed today.

Well, now you have.
I'm late for work.

- Do I know you?
- No.

Well, listen, ring me if you ever...

What?

...want to ring me.

You know what would be great?

If men could have
an interaction with a woman

- that didn't end up chasing sex.
- I'm not.

What, you think I might
need some construction?

I tell you what would be great.

If women could have
an interaction with a man

without expecting him to be a dick.

In fact, wanting him to be a dick
so they can rip his head off.

OK, then, why do you want me
to ring you? What would be the goal?

Forget it. I don't want you to ring me.
I mean, you're awful.

- Please, don't ring me.
- No, you gave it me.

Can't have it back just
because I'm not being cute.

How've you even got time
to be so arsey?!

You're late for work!

Dick.

- Hiya.
- Are you OK? Lost my phone.

Found my phone.

Shagged that bloke.
Remembered nothing.

I'd have never let you go with him,
but you were adamant. Sorry.

I did it.

Well, I made it home,
but I fell asleep on the toilet.

- What?
- I feel like burst couch.

Will you shout me
when my phone wakes up?

- I need a shower.
- Sure.

Listen, I know my mum
freaked you out

- when she said your mum's body was...
- It's OK.

I think it's the medication
she's on.

She's seen an angel,
she's been to France.

- Do you want breakfast?
- I haven't got time.

I'm in at 11.

I'll make you a piece.
What do want in it?

Anything. Thank you.

Take the proxy bones kindly provided
by members of the pig community.

Cut them - partial cuts, full cuts.

Use different tools.

How does the bone behave?

Look at the marks -

photograph them, magnify them.

Write down what you find on your
log sheets. You've got 20 minutes.

Emma, are you all right
with peanuts?

Emma?

What does it mean?

Um...

That my mum and dad
had sex in your mum's bed,

and then your mum took a photo.

I'll ask her.

I'm going to the hospital
after work.

- I'll ask her.
- OK, cool. I've got to go.

Hello?

Am I speaking to Emma Hedges?

Yes.

Hello, Emma. This is Detective
Inspector Neil McKinven.

Oh, hello.

Sarah Gordon suggested
I give you a ring.

She said you might be interested
in having a chat about your mother.

I just wanted to make contact
and check that's what you want.

- Yeah.
- Right, well,

I'll come to SIFA between
11 and 12 if that suits?

OK. See you then.

Thanks, bye.

Who was that?

A police guy.

Police?

Yeah, I've... I've been put
in touch with this police guy

who I don't know exactly,

but... he's going to meet me
and have a chat about my mum.

Well.

The cut mark was made by a saw.

- Because?
- Because the curve flow is square.

- Because?
- Because the teeth of a saw are offset.

That's right.

And it's a partial cut so we can see
the W showing that offset.

What else can you see?

Hesitation marks, false starts.

- How many?
- Three.

What do the marks tell us about the
person who cut through human bone?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Thank you.

They don't tell us
the person was nervous

or left-handed or right-handed
or a Gemini.

The marks only tell us
that the blade of the saw

made contact with the bone three
times before biting in.

This is so important.

We're dealing in facts, and the
facts have to be clear and correct.

That information could
be used in court.

Somebody could lose their liberty
because of it.

- Did you work on my mum's case?
- Mm-hm.

I took statements right at the start

when it was still at
the missing person stage.

I followed the case, of course,
but I wasn't CID then.

I'm an Operational DI for Dundee.

What they call boots on the ground.

Right.

I've accessed the files
on our system

and had a look in preparation
for speaking to you.

Right.

Shall I say a bit about
what I'm bringing to this,

and then you can tell me
what you'd like from it?

Yeah.

I have a duty of care to meet you.

I don't want to meet you.

I want you to be OK,

and I'm obliged if I think someone
has further evidence of crime

- to pursue it.
- I'm not bringing evidence of crime.

I've just got things that, you know,

I'm thinking about
and wondering about.

I'm not even sure I want
to talk about them.

Would you be willing... to talk about
the day your mum went missing?

Um...

We were at the Tall Ships Festival.

Me, my mum, my little brother,

my half-brother, um...

...my stepdad, Jimmy.

It was packed.

It was Sunday and... there
were hundreds of ships,

like, ships out of books with sails.

- Schooners.
- Yeah.

And there was music
and stalls and hot dogs,

and everyone was having a party.

And we met up with my mum's friend,
Izzy, and her daughter Skye.

She was my best friend at school.

- How old were you?
- Seven.

It was getting late and...

...my little brother needed
putting to bed,

so we went home with my stepdad
and my mum stayed on.

That was the last time I saw her.

By the water with the ships.

I didn't find out what
happened till later.

And what did you find out?

First, I was told that she'd gone
away but she'd be back.

Then I was told that she was ill
in hospital and she'd get better,

but I couldn't visit
because of the germs.

Then, when they found her body
three months later,

they had to tell me she was dead.

That's awful.

And when I was old enough, they told
me that someone had killed her.

And that they never found
out who or why or...

And that she was buried on Law Hill.

Found by a dog walker.

Someone just told me that, when they
found my mum's body, it was cut up.

Right.

OK.

And my aunt, she... she adopted me
after my mum died,

and she was really protective.

My stepdad was, too, and...

Anyway, they both say that they were
never told anything

about my mum's body
being dismembered

and that the person
who told me is unreliable.

Why?

Well, my stepdad thinks
that she's been a bit...

...druggie.

Is it true...

...that she was cut up?

I can't pass on any information

that could compromise
any ongoing enquiry.

You were seven when your mum
was murdered, God love you.

Well, chances are you didn't do it,

but you could know the person
that did do it.

You might not even know that
you know the person that did do it.

You know you were talking
about relationships and...

I'm not saying this is...

Not accusing or suspecting
anyone of...

This is just something
that I found recently.

Mum cut her hair short when
I was about six,

so at the time that photo was taken,

Mum and Jimmy must have been married
at least three years.

But that's not Jimmy.

This is my dad, Drew.

Ah, I see.

- Have you asked him about it?
- No.

I'm not accusing him of anything.

Have you shown this to anyone?

Professor Gordon.

Anyone else?

A friend saw it.

Did they know anything about it?

Did the friend you showed it to

know you at the time of
your mother's murder?

Yeah.

I think you need to stop sleuthing.

You don't know what
you're getting into.

You're possibly poking around into
something someone's wanting to hide.

What, so you mean trust no-one?

No, not no-one.

Just everyone that
I've known up until now.

Just be very careful
about what you say,

to whom you say it.

I want you to be safe.

Is there anything else
you'd like to tell me?

No.

Would you be happy
to e-mail that to me?

OK.

Emma.

How did you get on?

Fine.

- Did Neil look after you?
- Yeah.

He says he's going to speak
to the review team.

Good.

The police drug samples
are arriving any minute.

I'll show you how to sign them in.

We have a match.

Ian Howie's DNA on
Shuggie Brook's belt,

and that's consistent with it
being used as a ligature.

Great stuff, Alec.

So the picture we've now got
is Brook strangled Howie

in the kitchen and tried to cover up
the murder by starting a fire,

so it's looking premeditated.

- Trina?
- Shuggie Brook was in debt.

He's got loans on the go.

You can see from his statements
he's withdrawing large amounts.

It seems Ian Howie was
a cash man and a gambler.

It was normal for him to go off
for days at a time.

Oh, and Secrets was insured
for fire, recently renewed.

Brook would have known,
if he got that pay out,

he could to anything with it.

He didn't have to use it to rebuild.

It doesn't explain why
he killed Howie.

No mystery why Brook
jumped off the bridge.

He accidentally killed Bashir Kumar
and his own niece

when he rigged the toaster.

OK, so possibly a financial motive.

Can we find out
if there's another story?

What are our confidential
sources telling us?

We need to make sure that
we speak to witnesses

as if Brook hadn't died.

We need to cover all aspects
of these people's deaths.

Sarah Gordon at SIFA flagged up
issues with the building itself.

We're speaking to the people
who refurbished it in 2008?

MacAfee Construction.

Getting any evidence that they've
got of materials used,

any receipts, invoices, today?

- Straight after this.
- Great.

So it's looking like
two discrete elements -

one intentional murder
and two accidental,

but we need to make sure that
we're not missing a connection.

There is likely to be
a fatal accident enquiry.

The families will want answers.

Three, one, five,

- seven, four.
- Thanks.

Your uniform's spotless as well, and
these goggles don't miss anything.

We were expecting you first thing.

Sorry about that.

Emma, look.

I asked for a subsection from each
drug seizure that the police make

so we get a mix like this.
That's how you check everything off.

- I need to get to my first years.
- Leave it with me. Thanks.

Were you after some cake?

No. Well... One of the lads
was telling me...

We have the remains of a banana
loaf or a red velvet.

Ooh, red velvet, please.

Bobby's in for a shock.

That's right.

Hey, Bobby, fasten your seat belt

cos you're about to start
being fed some real drugs

from the mean streets of Dundee.

Right.

Let's start with these.

We can lock the rest in the safe.

Are you at all familiar
with these little blue pills?

Hm, well...

They have a generic appearance,

so I can't be sure if we've analysed
these specific ones previously.

Right.

Sure, yeah.

Hi, Skye.

I was just wondering if you asked
your mum about the photo.

No, see, I went to visit,

but seemingly she'd had a bad day

so they said to leave her sleeping,
and I never saw her.

Oh, OK.

And you never sent me it.

You were going to send me the photo.

Yeah, yeah.

I don't think we should bother
her with it, actually.

I was wondering the same, you know.

She's in a bad way, and I think
it's inappropriate to bother her.

I agree.

Just leave her be.

It was a private thing
between my mum and dad,

whatever they got up to.

Yeah, I think you're right.

Oh, erm, how did you get on
with your police guy?

Oh, it was literally like,
"Hello. Nice to meet you.

"Sorry about your mum. We can't
tell you anything. Bye-bye."

It was a waste of time.

Oh, well.

Listen, I've got to go.
I'm meeting someone.

Who?

Like a date someone?

- I'll tell you later. Bye.
- Bye, gorgeous.

Hi.

- You didn't really, did you?
- No, I did.

I did chuck it in the bin,
and then I took it out again.

Why?

You were kind, I was rude,

and I like your nose
for some reason.

It's my dad's nose.

I hope he's got his own,
though, right?

Oh, aye. He's fully equipped
in the nose department.

A pint of heavy and a pint
of lime and soda, please.

Are you sure - lime and soda?

Yeah.

- Quite a night last night, was it?
- Not really.

You strike me as quite
the party animal.

- Not really.
- No?

Leaving your most precious
possessions in a club

usually indicates a good night.

Or a lost one.

I wondered about that.

Are you OK?

I don't know.

Week one was a huge success.

23,119 people completed the MOOC.

Great feedback and they're
clamouring for more,

so well done, everybody.

And I know it's late, but there's
some tiny wee amendments

we need to make to the content of
modules five and six, so listen up.

When we get to family background,

can we make it our victim
had three sons,

and can we change the age of
the victim's husband to 29?

That's it. These are
the sections it affects.

When you've made those changes,
just ping them over to me.

Do you mind me asking the reason
behind those changes?

We sailed too close to reality.

That's all I can say.

So why did you need
to do a good deed?

To make up for a bad one, of course.

What did you do?

It's what I didn't do.

What didn't you do?

I didn't think.

I was stupid,

and people suffered as a result.

Are you talking about work or...?

Work.

And when you say suffered...?

Well, they didn't suffer
as a direct result of me,

but... I played a part.

So what will happen?

Well, the police just spoke to me,
looking into what we did.

- What your company did?
- Yeah.

They want paperwork
I don't have any more...

...to see if we're culpable

of doing things that maybe made
a fire turn into a really bad fire.

Just have to wait and see.

- But you didn't intend to...
- No, no.

No. God, no.

I still want to bury myself
in the ground, you know?

Will we go for a walk?

MOOC, module two, insert
number four. Take one.

Sorry. Do it again.

What is this for?

To go between your talky bits.

I feel like a tube.

It looks good. Go.

Don't upskirt me.

What do you take me for?

Right.

Excuse me.

Does Professor Torrance work here?

She does.

Is there somewhere
I can leave her a message?

She's here. Come in.

Oh. I don't want to disturb
her at work.

Well, will I go and get her?

OK.

- Who shall I say?
- Pia.

OK, so I am a bit of
a party animal.

I mean, I used to be
big time, and...

...I'm trying not to be now.

- When did you used to be?
- When I was a student.

I overdid it, got in a bit of a mess
and took a year out.

What sort of a mess?

Anxiety and depression.

Right.

Did you get help?

Yeah, I did.

Got put on antidepressants,
saw a counsellor.

She helped me start to get to
the bottom of things.

I don't think I've ever got
to the bottom of anything.

I've got a pretty good idea
what was going on.

Things were catching up with me.

What things?

Just family things.

She helped me sort of
wise up to myself.

- The counsellor?
- Yeah.

So it's not like I'm cured of
my bad patterns or whatever,

but now I'm onto them.

Tell me your bad patterns,
I'll tell you mine.

OK.

I put myself at risk.

You know, in the books it would say,

"Engages in impulsive
and risky behaviour."

You?

I don't know what it would
say in the books,

but I know what my ex would say.

She would say my bad
patterns are that

I don't say what I'm thinking,
that I want people to like me

and I don't want to piss them off,
so I don't tell them things.

I just keep trying to be
who I think they like

till I can't do that
any more and I run away,

at which point I've pissed
them off spectacularly.

You've told me lots of things.

Cos I don't know you.

It's great, isn't it?

Don't know why anyone bothers
talking to people they know.

Where are we going, by the way?

Law Hill.

Well, this is a little
attention seeking, isn't it?

I wanted to leave a note. I thought
no-one would be here so late.

Everyone is here. Everyone
is wondering who Pia is.

I'm sorry.

I'm a very private person, OK?

It's one thing for me
to meet someone

and spend time with them
when I'm away,

but I don't bring my private
life to work, OK?

And I don't like being ambushed.

Did you get my postcard?

Yes.

If you'd given me your number,
there would be no ambush.

But I didn't. There's your clue.

Aren't you pleased to see me?

No.

OK.

That's clear.

Don't worry, it's cool.

I got the rest of Scotland
to explore.

It's cool.

I'll see you.

I like the bigness.

Yeah.

You been up here before?

When I was a kid.

Before I moved away.

I've not been up here for 18 years.

Very precise.

Cold?

I'm all right.

You're freezing.

Come in.

Come on.

Better?

Yeah.

We're standing on a volcano.

- Easy, tiger.
- No, we are!

- This is an extinct volcano.
- No way. Way.

That's why it's cone-shaped.

- What do you think I meant?
- You know what.

Oh, do you think
I was getting romantical, eh?

Give me that.

When I drove over that bridge,
I had to wait for a guy to jump off.

When was that?

Monday.

I knew that guy.

How come?

He started the fire.

- Hi.
- Hi.

They've been as good as gold.

Your mammy's here!

Monkey! Monkey, monkey.

Oh, my monkey.

So nice to see you, yes, so...

Hi, good evening.

I'd like to speak with a guest
who's staying with you,

but I don't know her room number.

OK, do you have her name?

Yes, it's Salvador. Pia Salvador.
S for sugar...

Unfortunately, we can't hand
that information out.

OK, thank you.

I know, don't judge.

Oh, hi. Hello.

Yes, I'd like to speak with someone
who's staying with you, please.

Listen, Sarah. Will you keep
an eye on Emma Hedges?

Why?

I think we need to look out for her.

Well, I don't know how I'm expected
to look out for her

if I don't know what
I'm looking out for.

She knows something
that was never disclosed

because it was specialist.

The only people that would know
would be a handful of officers

and the murderer,
someone who assisted them

- or someone they told.
- Are we talking about dismemberment?

Emma's recently tried out
this specialist information

on several people, so
it's known that she knows.

Which makes her vulnerable.

Sorry. Bit of a mess.

No.

It's a really nice place.

My dad helped me.

Lucky you.

Yeah, he helped me a lot.

He's great, my dad.

- Are you close?
- We are. Oh.

- Would you like a drink?
- No, I'm fine just now.

I still can't believe you knew
the guy that jumped off the bridge.

I didn't know him as a friend.

- Are you warm enough?
- Yeah.

- Have you got any coffee?
- Yeah, yeah. Sure.

- How flash is that?
- Och, I know.

Peels potatoes and
posts your letters as well.

- Must have cost a fortune.
- It was a present.

From your dad?

- My mum.
- Nice.

Yeah.

You close to your mum and dad?

My mum died a long time ago.

Don't worry, it's fine.

And I love my dad

when I can track him down,

but I'm really close to my aunt.

Is that what was catching
up with you?

When you took a year out of uni,

you said things were
catching up with you.

Did you mean losing your mum?

Yeah.

What?

I've ran out of coffee.

I'm all over the place
about this fire.

Sorry.

I should get back to
my friend's place.

I've not got a key.

OK.

I love that.

I've got a...

- A beetle.
- Yeah.

You're unbelievably lovely.

You are.

You are.

Do you know what I'm looking at?

No.

Your supraorbital eminences.

This is your mandible.

Guess how many bones
you've got in your body.

- 92.
- 206.

Nah.

Approximately.

Babies have more and then
they fuse together.

How do you know?

I'm doing a forensic science course
SIFA's running.

It's an online thing.

Clever.

Yeah, I'm very clever.

Is that you or me?

You.

- You should see who it is.
- Why?

It's late. Might be important.

And I'd like to see you walk
over there and walk back.

It's from Julie.

My aunt.

Julie's up very late.

Julie has insomnia.

Poor Julie.

What did she say?

"Apology accepted. I love you."

What did you need to
apologise to Julie for?

Putting the phone down on her.

Oh, nasty.>

What for?

Aunt Julie wants a chat now.

It's not Julie. It's my dad.

- Hi, Dad.
- We need to talk about that photo.

- What do you mean?
- You know what I mean.

- What, how did you...?
- I'm not going over this on the phone.

- Come over in the morning.
- I've got work. I don't care.

Just get here.

What's up?

I've got myself into trouble.

What sort of trouble?

I don't know yet.