1 (MAN COUGHS) (GRUNTS) (SINISTER MUSIC) (GRUNTS, PANTS) (COUGHS) (BOOM! GLASS SHATTERS) (RECORDER CLICKS) I understand you wanna talk to me about what happened at your house on the night of October 17th, 18th, Brent. Mm. (SWALLOWS) It's hard to focus on. (CHORAL MUSIC, FIRE CRACKLES) MAN: 'There is nothing more noble than the death of a police... 'P North police will bury a murdered colleague ` I guarantee.' (CHORAL MUSIC CONTINUES) (POLICE RT CHATTER) (GRUNTS) 'Cop ` his time has come. 'His blood will flow. 'Mr Policeman, I am coming.' (GUNSHOT, TYRES SQUEAL) Police! Drop your weapon! (GUNSHOT) 'My subject has been chosen. 'My campaign has begun. 'I will hunt him. 'He is my prey.' I appreciate you sending it over, John. We'll just have to get elimination prints from anyone who's touched it. Photocopies? Wait, you don't mean you're gonna publish it? That may not be a great idea in the current climate. With recent attacks on police. It was posted locally. He's close. Look, how about you just sit on it for now, and I give you first run on anything we do go public with? OK, thanks. Appreciate it. Was sent to the paper, but it was addressed to me. Yeah. Why you? He wasn't even on the Thompson shooting. Why is this bastard dragging up that awful affair now? (OMINOUS MUSIC, THUNDER RUMBLES) Hudepohl and Andrew? Bloody hell. Sleepy little Levin, eh? This is the stolen car we think the offender was driving. Got him yet? No. We on it? I'll put my hand up. Not a good idea, Brent. Not under the circumstances. (UNSETTLING MUSIC) Dad, the door's open! What? Hey! Here, here, here. Wait, wait. Wait outside. Come on. Get back in the car. (DISCORDANT MUSIC) (RIPPING, GLASS SHATTERS) (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) Is Helen OK? Bit shaken, you know. So, add one to the list? Police attacks? Mm. No, I don't think so, Marty. Burglary with attitude, more like. Must've spotted that. (DOOR CREAKS) Brent? Did you hear something? Max didn't bark. (DOOR CLOSES) (TENSE MUSIC) He would've barked. You'd hope so. (CAR ALARM BLEEPS) (BARKS) MAN: 'His time has come. Hi, Marty. Hey, mate. 'His blood will flow. 'He will die alone. 'No one will be by his side. 'Mr Policeman, I am coming. 'The Executioner.' P North. (KNOCKS) You got a minute? Sure. I mean, he always barks, even at the neighbours. So I think maybe someone's been feeding him, befriending him so... I don't know ` so they can get by him to get to us. These things knock you sideways. There's no shame in asking for help, Brent. And these threats against you aren't helping. Mm. I'd be taking this very seriously. SANDRA: Why? Why go away? As a precaution. Just till we put this to bed, Sandra. Are you coming? To Tauranga? Not gonna be scared out of my own house. Neither am I, then. (SIGHS) (MAN READS) Chapter Two. He will feel the destruction of the great god of fire. Chapter Three. He will hate my very existence. Doesn't make any sense. Why you, Brent? Why has this person picked you out? I don't know. Sorry, OK? You'll be safe at your mum and dad's. I don't see why you can't stay with us until this is all over. I will for a bit. But I've got to get back to work, San. I'm not gonna let this bastard win. MAN: Cop, you drew the straw. Chapter One starts. Another one? (READS) 'You will die ` I guarantee. 'The Executioner?' Obsessive, delusional. How about deranged? That'd be an extreme view to take. This second note suggests he's still intent on revenge for Thompson's so-called execution. And you reckon he's a satanist? I'm not saying that. I'm saying he's preoccupied with the mythology. I've just given you my interpretations. No trace material, no prints ` again. If he is crazy, he's careful with it. (KNOCK AT DOOR) Ah, just thought you'd like to know, Doug, we've had three more calls from concerned citizens this morning. Who needs the newspapers? It gets out anyway. You don't buy Miller's report? The possibility of a devil-worshipping cop hater running around Palmerston North? Do you? An old case, maybe. Somebody getting payback. Or an irate husband. He is a bit of a ladies' man. So... Any idea if he's seeing anybody? Why ask me? Well, because, Caroline, you know everything that goes on around here. I've got no idea. Perhaps you should take this thing seriously. The poor guy's life's been threatened. He's got a wife and kids. How do you think they feel? Yeah. Alarm's gone off at Brent's place. (TENSE MUSIC) (SIRENS WAIL, HOUSE ALARM BLARES) Police! Armed police! Do not move! Police! Police officers! Stay where you are! Do not move! Stay where you are! (TENSE MUSIC) Do not move! (MIAOWS) (CAT MIAOWS) (SIGHS) (CHUCKLES) Never mentioned you had a cat as well as a dog. It doesn't come inside much. You know what cats are like. Well, this'll do the trick. And my necklace. Back to base. (ALARM BLARES) Whoa. Oh, hey, this thing's setting the other one off. Can you fix it? Yeah. We'll tweak it. We'll get it all up and running. It'll be fine. How's Sandra and the kids doing? Yeah, we're fine. Girls have been pining a bit, but they're both asleep now. They're looking forward to seeing you next week. How are you going? You eating? Cooking up a steak, yeah. Have they found anything out yet? Nah, not yet. Hey, look, um, I better go. My food's ready. OK. Well, take care. I love you. See you on Monday? Yeah, sure. Love you too. (TENSE MUSIC) MAN: 'Officer Garner, are you foolish enough to think I have forgotten about you? 'I think you are. 'He is the master, and I am his disciple. 'He has the wisdom, and I am his earthly vessel. (PHOTOCOPIER WHIRRS) (TENSE MUSIC SWELLS) Not here. What about your place tonight? Your wife's out of town now, isn't she? It's the perfect opportunity. No, Caroline, the house is under surveillance. I'm under bloody threat. Fine. Fine. Maybe... Maybe your place. Or if your bloke's home, somewhere else. 'Let me tell you this, Officer Garner. 'Without a doubt, you will take me very seriously when I prepare you for my lord. 'For to be prepared, you must be pure. 'And to purify a subject, there can be only one way. 'Pain is the genesis of purity. (METAL CLANGS) 'And that it is by my hands that they make their way to pay homage to Satan himself. (CRICKETS CHIRP) 'I have remained free to carry out his taskings, and I will continue to do so, 'for I am notorious. 'I am famous. 'And yes, I will be worshipped.' Where the hell have you been? (DOOR CLOSES) > (READS) 'Officer Garner, accept your fate or challenge the Great One. 'That decision is yours. 'Time is unstable. I am coming. 'Gilles de Rais.' 'Time is unstable.' What do we make of that? Brent asked me the same question. And he's gone from 'the executioner' to Gilles de Rais ` from cheap American schlock horror comics to medieval history. Well, he's changing his thinking. Maybe he's changing his persona too. I looked him up. Gilles de Rais. Decided we needed an expert opinion. (SIGHS) Look, guys, I'm a professor of religious studies, not Dr Van Helsing. It's good to hear you know who you are, Professor Debenham. This bloke seems to think he's a medieval monster. So was he a satanist, this Gilles de Rais? Gilles de Rais. He was a 15th-century French nobleman. Fought alongside Joan of Arc in the siege of Orleans. But, yeah, he was tried and executed in the 1440s as a satanist and murderer. And fire was his thing? He was supposed to have burnt hundreds of children at the stake, yes. Look, personally, I don't think he's a satanist. He could be flat-out crazy, and he's probably pretty dangerous, but... Fire. That's a recurring theme in these letters. So maybe you should be checking out pyromaniacs instead of devil worshippers. The spate of arsons in mid-'95 ` wasn't Brent on those? Assisting, yeah. I'll, um` I'll get Dennis to pull the files. Maybe there's a connection there ` something, fire? (LIQUID SLOSHES) (LAWNMOWER WHINES) SINISTER MUSIC The arson connection's taking us nowhere. Plus all this satanic rubbish is bringing out all the weird stuff from the public. Crazy, most of it. The problem is we have to follow up on every call. READS: 'My neighbour eats babies.' People just want their names in the bloody paper, I reckon. Three threats in over a month, and nothing. Whole thing's just piss in wind, if you ask me. The only thing I'm asking you, Jack, is to get it sorted ` before something does happen. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Following me, I think. No, I didn't get the registration. He was behind me ` headlights. OK. Just log it that I called, will you? OK. Thanks. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (TYRES CRUNCH ON DRIVEWAY) All quiet. (SNIFFS) (PHONE RINGS) Yeah, Nicholls. (WHOOSH! GLASS SHATTERS) What? When? (FLAMES ROAR) Brent! Sandra! Are they in there? Dunno. (WATER HISSES) (SIREN WAILS) (FIRE ROARS) Bill! What's the story? Where are the occupants? Where's the owner of the house? We couldn't locate anyone. He was in there. I mean` We've been doing drive-bys. We know he was. Took hold too fast. Your arson boys are gonna find accelerants all the way through this place. MAN: Help! I need help here. (RETCHES) Brent. (PANTS) 1 What? What's happened? Is Brent all right? (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS REPEATEDLY) (SIGHS) He needs to be treated now. It's OK. They have to get the pictures. You right for a chat with Grant, mate? Once they fix me up a bit, yeah. Was he able to talk? Yes. Uh, but how much we can rely on, I'm not sure. He's fairly traumatised, in shock. Yeah. His training kicked in, though. He talked to me in the ambulance on the way. Uh, went on about the soil he'd spread under the windows. He'd told the night shift guys last night he laid soil traps. There could be footprints. The neighbours, the firemen, some of our guys. But, uh, we're checking anyway. I'm putting an investigation team together ` Operation Venus. So, what else could he tell you? I think I can give you a description. Well, let's start with what happened. He set fire to my house. That's what happened. I just thank God the girls weren't there. Only just made it out myself. I was up, um, till about 1, cleaning. I was buggered. I must've forgotten to put my pendant on after I showered. And then I... I think someone followed me last night. A car. What happened? I was asleep. I've got no bloody idea how he got in. He` He was just standing there suddenly, at the end of the bed. Expecting me, were you? Been wondering when I might come? (BREATHES SHAKILY) Well, here I am. Did you recognise him? From an old case...? No, I'd never seen him before. So, anything about his voice you remember? He had this sort of cultured accent. Um, English. (YELLS) Settle down. 'He was strong.' Settle down! (PUNCHES) (PANTS, GRUNTS) Aaah! Aah! 'He jammed something in my mouth.' And then he said... I'm going to hurt you now. And, uh` And he` he cut me. (GRUNTS IN PAIN, PANTS) A-And` And then... You're going to burn, Detective Garner. (CRIES OUT) The bastard, he poured petrol over me, o-on my cuts. (LIQUID SLOSHES) (PANTS) 'How did you get out?' I knew I didn't have much time. (GRUNTS) (PANTS) (TENSE MUSIC) 'Bloody good job the window wasn't locked.' (LIQUID SLOSHES) (GASPS) I sucked in whatever it was he` he had put in my mouth. 'Thought I was gonna choke to death.' (COUGHS) (TENSE MUSIC) (LIQUID SLOSHES) (WHOOSH! GLASS SHATTERS) (FLAMES ROAR) And Max ` he hadn't barked earlier. Which is weird. I` I mean, he came and found me when I was lying on the grass, but he hadn't barked. And the neighbour? Brent! I couldn't yell to him. It was about 10 minutes before the fire crew arrived. (SIREN WAILS) (FIRE CRACKLES) Oh my God. (GRUNTS) Help! I need help here! Maybe we were right ` about someone feeding Max. This bastard's been feeding him. D-Don't worry, Brent. We'll get him. Sandra's on her way. We're gonna move you, though ` somewhere safe. You can see her there. Right. Yeah. Thanks. First, uh, about that description. This was found on the piece of paper in Brent's mouth, wrapped in plastic. READS: 'Brent Frederick Garner was chosen by the great one. 'I was chosen to do the work of the great one. 'Immortality is mine. 'Evil triumphs again. 'I will be watching. Goodbye. 'Advocatus Diaboli.' Now, I've put a call out to Wellington and Hawke's Bay for assistance, but DSS Nicholls will be in charge of the day-to-day operation. Grant? Now, we've got a leaflet drop planned, phone lines are being set up for intelligence gathering, and Interpol's already been informed. Why Interpol? Uh, cos according to Brent, this guy has an English accent ` cultured English accent, he said. How is he? Brent? Uh, in a bad way, but he's OK. Sandra's with him right now, but only briefly. We need to keep him under protection, on the move. Alan's setting up an appeal to help the family. All contributions gratefully accepted. In the meantime, we do our job. We've got this image, and, uh, Dave White is working the scene. Brent told night shift he'd spread soil under the windows and round the back door. We've located a footprint in one of those traps. We think we're looking at a male offender around, uh, 180cm and 90-odd kilos. We've also located traces of blood on the neighbour's fence, probably transferred from Brent to this attacker. And that was his escape route? Uh, we think so, yes. We've located traces of petrol in the grass. Looks like he ran to the fence to get to this street, where he must've got into a car. Brent reported a car following him. A description's in the notes. So we're thinking that the petrol got on to the offender's footwear after they spread the accelerant? Seems likely, yes. There's ignition points right through the house. Taskings ` we man the phones for incoming calls, and we pull in anyone who looks remotely like this, especially if they've got any form or are close to 6ft. We'll be releasing this image? Uh, not yet. We'll get a proper computer one done first. Uh, we could set up a home page for people to access and send information to. You know, on the internet. How do we do that? Just get one of the tech guys to set it up, I suppose. Yeah, be a first. Worth a shot. Move with the times, eh? Sure. Yeah, sure, mate. No worries. We've, uh, let the insurance guys in, boss. You all done here? Arson still working. Be careful, then. (SOMBRE MUSIC) < Doug. Through here. Insurance guys? Oh, Luff, the bigger one, he's an ex-arson D ` Aussie. He knows not to trample all over everything. In fact, we've both made some pretty interesting observations. The scene's just not right. P North. Taskings. (UNSETTLING MUSIC) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) (KNOCKS) Grant. Something came through from Interpol. Similar MO ` letters, the torture, fire. In Israel. Israel? We're looking at a jet-setting satanist now, are we? (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Well, this thing is international news. Could be an overseas copycat. Yeah, or a coincidence. What do you think? (CHUCKLES) Pretty speedy copycat. No, not about Israel, Sue. About this. I mean, no workable suspects. None. Maybe we should publish the identikit. Everybody's pushing for it. What, they want a thousand calls from a spooked public about even more possible suspects? No. No, not yet. I've be` (SIGHS) I'm wondering if we` if you` if you're considering all the possibilities, Grant. You reckon everything's gonna get turned on its head, do you? Me too. No comeback, even though Brent survived. Nothing. Gone to ground. It is weird. It's more than weird. It doesn't make any sense at all, does it? (EXHALES LOUDLY) Lunch run, Doug? Hey, I hoped I'd catch you. We need to talk. We do. This thing's getting outta hand. I had the mayor on the phone this morning. He's getting complaints about satanic cults operating here ` and in Ashhurst. Baby sacrifices now. Funny. No babies have disappeared. Well, none reported, anyway. Uh, I need to take the AOS guys off of Brent's protection detail. They can't maintain the commitment. I'll put some PPOs with him. Mm, your call. Familiar face in the mix wouldn't hurt, though. Yeah, good idea. What about Marty Bruce? He's a mate. Yeah. Your team. Well, uh, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. You might have to do without me on Venus. Why would that be? I might have to go to Mars. Nick Smith is a dickhead. What? Idiot wants the censor to stop us watching anything with violence in it. He's blaming the Garner thing on Reservoir Dogs. I guess there's similarities with the torturing bit. And there's been a lot of attacks on cops. Yeah. Half of them deserve it. (TURNS TV ON) I've cleared it with the boss. Rawiri Henare's already there. PPO. Brent'll need a friendly face around. You can keep an eye on him too. Yeah, good idea. And liaise with me, Marty. I wanna know how he's doing. You know, what's worrying him. Sure. Welfare checks. Yeah. He needs all the support he can get. Yeah. > (SIGHS) Donations continue to pour in as the investigation moves into day five. Donations flooding in. You're a bloody hero, mate. Yeah (!) Let some prick overpower me and burn my house down? Right. TV: In other news today, police have arrested five men... (FOREBODING MUSIC) Jack. What can I do for you? Thought you'd like to hear we caught the wee turds who trashed your house. You did? Great. Anyone we know? Uh, teenage idiots. No connection. That's good. Good, then. About the identikit ` not putting it out there. Sure that's the right call? I think so, Jack, yes. Anything else? Not yet. SOFTLY: Not likely to be, either, the way you're going. (CELL PHONE RINGS) Andy. Grant. Grant who? Funny. Uh, listen, I need to catch up with you tonight. I'm a bit flat out. We've got some more door-knocking to do for Venus. When you're done? Um, it's work. Need to have a chat. OK. Where? (TENSE MUSIC) He wasn't up working. We checked the house at midnight. I just... I don't believe it. Well, sometimes the people who turn up at work aren't the same as the ones who tuck their kids in at home. It's OK. Sue knows. Sue, you've met my brother Andy. Yeah. Hi. Glad I caught you. Marty called. Brent wants to see the house. That might be a good thing for him to do. How's it going? Good. The appeal? Yeah. Yeah, ticking along. (SIGHS) Well,... night, then. ALL: Night. Uh, well, tell Marty to take him to the house. So, what do you say, Andy? I mean, you know the town, the people. I need you. Yeah. I'll get Peter Knight to cover for me at the station. Welcome to Mars, is it? Yeah, we're all aliens. (TENSE MUSIC) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) Poor bugger. Yeah. Well, we'll, um` we'll get to the bottom of it. AMY: Quickly, I hope. The town is scared. ANDY: I know. I know. Stir anything up? Apart from ash? No. Think I've given them everything I can. Maybe if I get to see more. Statements, evidence notes. Maybe it'll shake something else loose. I don't think so, Marty. He's been through enough. Just take him back to the motel. Let me know if there's anything else he needs, OK? Bye. (KNOCKS) Grant. Just wanted to let you know we released the identikit. Doug approve it? Yeah. So... how many more calls have we had? Oh, a lot. But Doug's right. It doesn't make sense` Except it tells this bloke we're on to him. He looks at it, changes his appearance, goes to ground. And I was hoping to focus the public on the other evidence ` the rope, the tape, the plastic ties. Have you looked at the identikit, Grant? I mean, really looked. We'll talk, Dennis. After the briefing, eh? (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Thought you just had to collect a couple of things. We having this holiday or what? Sorry. I'll grab my stuff. We've had a massive number of calls come through after the press release. They all need to be followed up on. Yes, I know. Let's get on it. We pursuing the satanism angle still, are we? NICHOLLS: We are. Still. And the physical evidence. And still door-knocking. These calls are important too. Should've released the identikit day one. Any other questions? Uh, I was wondering... I don't think we can discount the fact that this person could be a cop. Or a former cop, or... at least, someone who knows something about policing. I think we can leave that kind of angle to Dr Miller, Grannie. Let's just focus on these calls for the moment, eh? That's all. Let's get on it. SOFTLY: Uh, Grannie, need a word. (DISCORDANT MUSIC) What makes you think it could be a cop? It's these letters. I've been reading over them, and... (SIGHS) it's the language. Me too. In fact, uh, I'm exploring a whole bunch of other possibilities, and I'd like to have a chat with you about them, if that's OK. OK. Away you go. Oh, not now. My place, tonight? And, uh, park down the road, not outside. (KNOCK AT DOOR) I'm sorry. You wanted to see me? 1 Cosy. Bit close to the station, though. Handy too, then. Best I could do. OK. Well, let's get it cleaned up and pirate some more furniture from somewhere, eh? Have Venus stuff out front, just in case. Everything else back here. Life on Mars. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) This is Robbie Robinson from Hawke's Bay. This is my brother Andy. He knows Ashhurst. People on the ground there trust him. What's all this about? Well, we're, uh, we're gonna mount a second inquiry inside Operation Venus ` Operation Mars. Like the Wings album. (CHUCKLES) What, as in covert? Yes. Venus continues as per, and we continue to work on it. But we're gonna take some different angles as well. Which means things could get pretty ugly. You sure we have to go covert? We don't have any choice, do we? It's standard investigation stuff, Doug. I need you to green-light it. The scene is telling us a lot. The insurance guys know what they're doing, and they agree with Dave White. This scene, it feels wrong. There were no melted plastic caps from containers at the ignition points. There'd have been concentrations of fumes. Plus the pattern of ignition doesn't match Brent's description of how the place went up. Well, he was in shock. His account of events may not be entirely reliable. NICHOLLS: Which is why we have to check it all out. Look, a cop doing this makes sense. Look at the attention to detail, the skill needed to bypass all the surveillance; strength, combat skills. You could just as well be thinking military. Well, given the English accent, I could be thinking James bloody Bond, but I don't buy 007 doing his thing in Palmerston North. No, I reckon we could be looking at a cop, Doug. One of our own. > (SIGHS) And? Well,... (CLEARS THROAT) he said no. Until he checked it out for himself. < He went and saw Brent, had a chat and thought about it. And now? Well, now he's taking it to Assistant Commissioner Wilson. So it's going to be official? Great (!) What about the Venus team? Their trust? We operate on trust, don't we? It's the only way we can do our job. We're not doing the job if we don't work every angle. You said it yourself, Grannie. Could be a cop. I could've said more than that. I could've said which cop. We all could. We all could. But, uh, this isn't about proving we're right. This could just as easily turn out to prove us wrong. It has to be about getting to the truth. That's all. Yeah? Without telling anybody on Venus. We can't risk anybody letting slip that we're looking at someone in the job, right? Keep this to ourselves until we've built a proper case. So how do we work it? Everything has to seem normal. So Doug wants to handle all the Venus press calls and some meetings, but I'll keep running the operation. We tell him only what he needs to know, and I never talk to the press. That way, neither of us have to lie. What about when you talk to the Venus guys? Well, if we play it smart, just share what needs to be shared, we won't have to lie to them either. Now, uh, we're set up in the old library. Phone lines are going in. Andy will be running everything from there, so everything you get will go through him. To all intents and purposes, you'll still be on Venus. Except now we'll use Venus as a resource for Mars as well. Hey, this Mars thing ` I've been mulling it over, and I think you might be on to something. Green light? OK. But we better be right about this, or we can both kiss our careers goodbye. Yeah, Melinda's good. Analytical. She'll be a big help on the letters. Gonna need Chris Dalton too. He's victim profiling on Venus. Uh, I dunno. I don't know him. Well, he's a good man. You're gonna need offender profiling on this. I'll have a word. Putting together the Dirty Dozen. (CHUCKLES) Suicide mission. Chris. You got a sec? Tim, you and I need to talk. And, uh, who would you say our best young detective is? Ah, thank you. Pam, have you got a moment? What's this? Well, Brent's had affairs in the past. So we should be open to an angry boyfriend or husband as well? Specially if they're a cop. (SIGHS) I'll pull some personnel files. We really need somebody on data entry. What's the story, Doug? I mean, these people need pulling into line. Skiving off left, right and centre. Grant's not even` Grant's just doing things his way, all right, Jack? You just focus on what you have to do. His job is to pull it all together. We are still exploring every possible angle. The forensic evidence is still being analysed, the internet site is proving to be very useful, along with more traditional avenues of inquiry such as gathering information from the public, uh, phone inquiries and good old-fashioned foot-slogging. NICHOLLS: Show me the report. This the blood from the fence? Not human. Possum blood. (SIGHS) Noisy cars, running footsteps. Now this. Doesn't exactly help our theory, does it? No cop'd be this stupid, would they? How's that reconstruction coming on, Andy? Ready to go. We do have another option to look at as well, though. Personnel files. Interesting match-ups. Brent took two in-lieu days in July, went to Wellington to the rugby. Caroline Blake took two days off at the same time. How'd you know to look at her? The poor guy's life's been threatened. He's got a wife and kids. How do you think they feel? Woman's instinct. Her credit card records show she was in Wellington the same time as Brent. Plus, she's been pretty uptight since all this happened. And she's just taken a sudden vacation. She'll end up as collateral damage if you're right. Married? De facto. But we've already looked at her de facto. Let it go. He's cleanskin, fair hair. Smaller than the description. DALTON: Brent's description could've been off. Assailants often appear bigger to their victims. Plus he is ex-military. Do we know where they are? Queensland for two weeks. Bugger. Do Venus get this? Yes, of course. Could be useful. Any one of us could turn up a third-party offender. Everything runs as normal. Chris, how's victim profiling going? ENGLISH ACCENT: Sore bottom, all that sitting down? Ha! How 'bout you? Ugh, chasing up ear witnesses rather than eyes. Feet running, big cars takin' off. Right. Related? Ah, could be. Could be just more teenage hoons. All dead ends so far. It's pretty straightforward, Giovanni. We don't wanna risk breaking anyone's neck. That's why you bring in a professional, huh? So, there was a bed. (GRUNTING) I just thought I'd see how hard it was. (LAUGHTER) Well, uh, somebody untie me? No. (ALL LAUGH) Thanks. Are those the witness statements? That's right. About bloody time. Why so long? I've got other things on my plate too, Jack. Half the crew seem to be juggling plates. Where is everybody?! 1 Go, Houdini. Do your thing. Well, certainly seems possible. Run it again? Yeah, let's. Be nice to see if it could be done without getting hooked up. (SIGHS) Thanks. Haven't we already worked these businesses? I'm asking some fresh questions. Being thorough. Right. Of course. Can't beat thorough. But it's been a month now. Surely there must be some information. If there is, Sandra, nobody's telling me, OK? Chicken! Ooh! SOFTLY: Oh, sorry. Have they spoken to you again? No. What about? I dunno, Sandra. They're checking everything out, I guess. I have to go. You take care, eh? I'll call again soon. OK. Well, let me know if you hear anything. I will. I love you. Sandra's getting sick of all this. I mean, can't they tell me something, you know, keep me in the loop, you know? Who? Operation Venus? I can help, can't I? I mean, something new comes up, I can give them a fresh perspective on it. Y-Yeah, it makes sense, I guess. No! He still wants to help. Everyone else thinks it's a good idea. Well, you shouldn't have mentioned it to anyone else until you'd spoken to me. Look, what happens when we catch this bloke and it goes to court? Who do you think the main witness is gonna be? Brent Garner. If he's had access to the investigation, any evidence he gives is gonna be tainted, isn't it? Any lawyer worth his salt would get that evidence chucked out. He's to be told no more than any other victim. All right. (SIGHS) But we need to get this bastard put away before Brent loses the plot. Happy families (!) Things are getting hairy. We need to wrap this up. But I` I don't know whether to jump or not. I mean, the circumstantial's pretty solid, but that's all it is. Every plus, there's a minus. Every element can be explained one way or another. I talked to the crown solicitor. He says it's all defensible. It'd just get thrown out. Maybe you should let things keep rolling. Ask more questions. I'll organise an independent assessment of where you're at. I know just the bloke. Just leave it with me. Where are we off to this time? Uh, Waiouru. > You OK? < Better get some gas. (LIQUID SLOSHES) (BREATHES RAGGEDLY) Brent? Aah! Aah! Aah! Brent. Turn it off! Turn the pump off! The smell! Turn it off! Turn the pump off! The smell! Turn off the bloody pump. Turn it off! Aaah! (YELL ECHOES) (SIGHS) SOFTLY: I told you this'd happen. He said the petrol fumes brought it all rushing back. He just lost it. Brent? I'm sorry this has dragged out for so long. Just want it done. Want him caught. Yeah. Me too. I'm gonna go on the telly, put some information out there. Kick something loose. Day after tomorrow. You should watch. TV: So Detective Garner was bound and gagged with the plastic ties and this tape? That's right. And these items had to have been purchased somewhere. Bugger the ties and tapes. Put up the bloody identikit picture. And I believe you have a detailed description of the attacker. We do. That's been an important part of our inquiry. However, I'm not at liberty tonight to release any further image of the person we believe is responsible. (CAR ALARM BLEEPS) Alan. How's the appeal going? Good, good. Slowing down a bit, but that's to be expected, I suppose, as time passes. Saw you on TV last night. So what lines are we pursuing? Seems to me like we're scaling the whole thing down when we should be ramping it up. Seems like that to a lot of people. Well, talk to Doug Brew. He's had to pull some staff. Other jobs. Great (!) Nearly 2000 inquiries, 125 possible suspects interviewed and` No info, no progress. And he needs people elsewhere. Nothing to do with these... rumours? That we suspect a fellow officer? Where'd that come from? It's a small town, Grant, a tight group. Do we? It's been mentioned. But it's not a line of inquiry that Venus is pursuing, no. One of our own? That's what he said. Now I've just had a query from The Listener as well, asking for comment. Oh, bloody hell. (SIGHS) So what do we do now? 'No comment.' Press on. Anything on Caroline Blake's de facto? Oh, squeaky clean. We're running some credit checks for purchases ` hardware stores. You never know your luck. People can be stupid. (KNOCK AT DOOR) Detective Senior Sergeant Nicholls? That's right. Quentin Doig. Detective inspector. Doug Brew suggested we have a chat. Doug tells me there are two investigations here. Venus and Mars. Venus is official, and Mars is official but subterranean? That's right, sir. Let's do without the 'sir', shall we? My friends call me Q. So, Mars draws information from Venus, as well as building its own evidence? And you need me to audit that evidence and advise? That's what we need, Q, yes. No, uh, brown paper bag? Just stick it in my briefcase? Briefcase will be fine. A few days. I'll be in touch. You've all gone way out on a limb with this, haven't you, Grant? We have a bit, yes. You do understand, though, I'm under instruction from Assistant Commissioner Wilson. I keep him informed, but it has to be my decision as to how you proceed. I say we move ahead, we move. I say we stop, we stop. That's how it has to be. I understand. That's fine. Good. I'll be in touch. (TENSE MUSIC) Grant. Come in. It's not exactly five star, but the jug works. Cup of tea? Uh, no, thanks. Cloak and dagger? Already got those, thanks. (CHUCKLES) So down to business, eh? All right. Sorry it took so long. Uh, a lot to go through. I see why your window reconstruction made you doubt your thinking. But on the overall scheme of things, given your personal experiments, along with all the evidence` Circumstantial evidence. ...circumstantial though it is, then, yes, I think you've got enough here to take into an interview at least ` a careful one. I mean, you need information to make sense of all the evidence, and there's only one person who can give you that information, isn't there? (QUIRKY MUSIC) Is Brent all right? Yeah, he's fine, Sandra. You're just needed back in Palmerston, that's all. Why? What's happened? I think they got a break in the case. < About bloody time, eh! Yeah. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) All set? I'll sit in, if that's OK. Sure. No point in any of the old 'make him wait' strategy. You agree? No point at all. Might as well get on with it, then. Our witness is here. (BEEPING, CLICKING) Interview conducted on Friday, November 22nd, commencing at 11.17am. Uh, attending, Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Nicholls and Detective Inspector Quentin Doig, Wellington CIB. We're talking to Detective Brent Garner. How are you, Brent? Recovering? Much better, Grant, yes. Thanks. That's good. Thanks for coming down. 'We've got Sandra on her way as well. You can meet up later.' Where's Brent? Isn't he here? He's having a chat down at the station. What's going on? Have you got someone? DSS Nicholls has a suspect in this matter, Detective. But there's just a few things you might be able to help him with before he can prefer charges. Sure. Anything I can do to help. Well, just some clarifications about the night you were hurt. Um, if we can work backwards from the point you'd escaped from the house? Sure. Advocatus Diaboli told you his purpose was to kill you. So... why, do you think, did he not finish you off when he fled the house? It was dark. Um, suppose he didn't see me lying there in the grass. Hm. OK. And, uh, in the bedroom, Brent, the slashes on your back. Well, you'd been attacked in your bed and overpowered. You wouldn't just be sitting there, would you? No. 'Course I wasn't just sitting there. So why were all the cuts on your back straight? Any idea? How do you expect me to answer that? I mean, I don't know what you mean. Well, he means that if the attack was vicious and frenzied, wouldn't the cuts be more, um, haphazard? Then there's, uh, 'P North' in one of the letters. You think an English person would refer to it like that? Maybe it was part of the ploy. I mean, some sort of smokescreen, maybe. Hm. So... why do you think you were the target? Why you? I don't know. Y-You have to talk to the guy who did it. I mean, he'll tell you. Yeah. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Well, that's it, you see. I think I am. Sorry? I am talking to the guy who did this. I think you fabricated this whole thing. I think you inflicted those wounds on yourself and burnt down your own house. Oh, come on, Grant. That's ridiculous. Is it? It's ridiculous and` I'm sorry, I'm not gonna say anything more until my lawyer's present. Fair enough. Uh, interview suspended at... 11.19. (BEEPING) What's going on? If I can't see him, why have I been brought here? Because DSS Nicholls needs to meet with you too. Get her anything she needs. Look, just try and be patient. I'll be back. I'll try to find out how long. 10 minutes, maybe less, your lawyer said. In the meantime, it might be useful for Brent to know exactly what we're gonna be discussing for the next few hours, Grant. Right. Well, see, there were, uh, things early on that raised a flag. Words used in the letters, police-speak. Like 'tasking', capitals like we're taught to use in college. And if you were fearful of intruders, why sleep in your underwear? That'd just make you feel more vulnerable, wouldn't it? Plus why were you so keen to display your injuries? It's OK. They have to get the pictures. Most people who are attacked like that, they just wanna curl up and hide. Then there were the lies, of course. Like you'd been up until about 1, cleaning. A car checked your house that night, and you weren't up. So I got the time wrong. I was in shock. NICHOLLS: What about your repeated requests to have access to the inquiry, visit the fire scene? It was my home. I wanted to see it. That might be a good thing for him to do. If he's returning to the scene of the crime, 'we watch, see if he gives something away.' None of this is evidence, Grant. I mean, come on. No, you're right. A lot of it's about the absence of evidence. Like the car that supposedly followed you home that night. 'All our inquiries ` nothing. No sightings. 'Just your report.' And why, that particular night, if you were scared, why would you forget to put on your pendant alarm? And why ` this is the biggest why ` 'why leave your bedroom window unlocked?' I'd been under the hammer for a long time. I wasn't thinking clearly. Is that why you mowed your lawns three times in three days? (LAWNMOWER HUMS) At first we thought maybe you were just stressed over Caroline Blake. Yes, we know about all that ` the affair. Does Sandra know too? 'If not, I'm afraid she's about to find out.' There's nothing criminal about mowing lawns. They needed mowing. No, they didn't. You see, the mowing was about being seen using up petrol 'in case you had to explain where the can you'd bought had gone.' We traced the purchase, Brent. This is all nonsense. I mean, all the... the mistakes that I made at the house that night ` the pendant, the window ` I was upset, stressed. I mean, this is crazy, Grant. It's... What about Max, your dog? Good guard dog. Is that why you set up the notion of someone feeding him? To explain why he didn't bark at your intruder on the night? And where was this intruder, anyway? We couldn't find anyone, even with your accurate description. No one. I-I did consider the affair for a while, but Caroline's partner didn't stack up as a suspect. The affair itself, though, that does stack up as a motive for destroying your own life, 'creating an opportunity to make a break from Sandra.' This is stupid. I want to see Brent. I wanna see my lawyer. You'll see him soon. Are you seriously suggesting that I hog-tied myself? Tortured myself? It is possible. I tried it myself. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) We reconstructed it to check to see if you really could have got out the window trussed up like that. I have to say, it threw me when it turned out it was possible and you could be telling the truth. Sit down, Brent. (CURIOUS MUSIC) You know the most significant thing, though? The identikit. Your detailed description. 'The hair, the face, even the general size of your attacker ` it's you, isn't it? 'I mean, it's you to an absolute T.' I saw it. Doug Brew did too when he came to visit you. That's what convinced him to green-light our investigation ` that and your wristband he'd found intact underneath the dryer. The identikit was enough for me. I mean, if you're gonna describe someone in detail, you might as well make sure it's a description you're gonna remember. What better face than your own? (KNOCK, DOOR OPENS) Mr Beattie. Gentlemen. I hope you haven't been interviewing my client without me. 1 What the hell's going on over there? Inquiry, Marty. And why there? And why's Brent really been brought in? To help us with that inquiry. And he needs his lawyer to do that? He seems to think so, yes. He's one of us. You'd expect him to be full and frank with us, then, wouldn't you? What, like you have? We'll see how it all pans out, Jack, once he's spoken to his lawyer, eh? Just pull your head in. Well, perhaps you can tell us what's going down, then. Hm? You and Nicholls part II, and the rest of ya. You all been slinking about, disappearing. You all been working this other angle, have you? We've been doing our job, Jack. That's all. Yeah? And we can't? We're not to be trusted? Incompetent? We're not good at what we do? They used you. They cut us out. But they fuckin' used you. Grant had better be right, then, about Brent. Hadn't he? Marty. You do know, of course, the hardest person to get a confession out of is a policeman. We've been talking to him for five hours, and he still denies it. Maybe he's outlasting us. He's a copper ` knows how it works, knows all this is circumstantial. And he knows that without a confession, you don't have enough to take to court. The other possibility, of course, is that he's telling the truth and we're wrong. (CHUCKLES) Either way, your head's on the block. Better see what Mr Beattie's advice is this time, then, eh? Indeed. My client has nothing further to say, other than to repeat his denial of these unfounded allegations. Now, unless Detective Garner's going to be charged, I must insist he be released. If somebody else did all this, your client should probably be kept under protective custody for his own safety. Rather look after myself, thanks. Can't believe you did this. Can I go now? OK. But you'll need to make yourself readily available. I'll be at the motel here. Where's Sandra? I'd prefer you didn't speak with her right now. I'm sure you can understand that. Brent. Gentlemen. I'll drop you off if you like. Get some sleep and we'll confer in the morning. I shouldn't worry too much` Brent. There's no need to say anything. No, it's OK. Wait in the car? (EXHALES) I forgot. You made one more mistake. You underestimated us. You thought we'd give up when we couldn't find Advocatus Diaboli. But we hung in. For you. And you know what? I was never after you, Brent. I was only after the truth. And now I think I found it. And I reckon you know I have. Maybe there are things I don't know ` about why, for instance. Maybe they explain it all somehow. So if you are... (SIGHS) So if you... decide to stop fighting this, I'm prepared to listen, yeah? You got my number. Might be better than carrying a lie with you for the rest of your life. Everything's hanging on this for you, isn't it? You're dangling over a big drop, praying you're right. Not just me. Others too. Your colleagues. I know you. I'm right about you. Truth is important to you still. (REFLECTIVE MUSIC) (MATCH HISSES) (SLURPS) (PHONE RINGS) Hello. Um` Helen, is Grant there? Um, yeah, just a moment. Brent. Expecting me, were you? Uh, I didn't know what to expect. Well, I've been sitting here, thinking it all through. Even thought about doing the job properly this time. That'd be one way of ending it. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) But maybe you're right. We should talk. No. We only talk if you agree to stop lying. OK. (CLEARS THROAT) The truth. The whole truth. OK, I'm coming in now. Is everything all right? I'm about to find out, love. (OMINOUS MUSIC) Hello. Mark, sorry to wake you. It's me. I need you to do something for me. 1 You reckon he'll confess? I dunno. Arson, False Complaint, False Pretences, four counts of Forgery, and Waste Police Time. It'll mean years. And his reputation. (SIGHS) All our reputations if he doesn't. So let's make sure it's all been worth it, eh? (RECORDER CLICKS) I understand you wanna talk to me about what happened at your house on the night of October 17th, 18th, Brent? Is that right? I'm not saying anything until I have an agreement. This doesn't go to air until after I'm done in court. You have my word. I would prefer your signature. We want an agreement in writing. I'll have to talk to my producers. I just want the real truth to come out ` for everybody's sake. NICHOLLS: The truth? Mm. (SWALLOWS) It's hard to focus on. I guess I... started to believe my own story, you know? That car that was following me. Was probably just someone on their way home. But I... Anyway, truth is I wanted to liquidate my assets. Wasn't just the affair. I mean, um, I love my kids. I really love them. And Sandra, you know, I care for her, you know, but we'd grown apart. And yes, I wanted a new life. I wanted... I don't know what I wanted. So burning down the house ` why do that? For my wife and children, believe it or not. I'd, um, planned on separating from my wife, and I wanted to expedite things so that it would make it as easy as possible for them ` my wife and kids. For the insurance? Yeah. So they'd be looked after when I left ` got away. I dunno. Crap. Absolute crap. And, uh, Advocatus Diaboli? I read up on all that. I kind of enjoyed writing them all out, you know? The ultimate crime. Wondering whether I could go through with it. And you could. 'I'd intended to kill Max, my dog. 'I'd set up the feeding idea with you. 'I fed him sausages so that you'd find them in his stomach contents if you looked.' But I couldn't do it. I love that dog. 'What about the, uh, blood on the fence?' 'Some trace for your guys to find. I knew they would. They're good.' But why possum blood, Brent? It was more about leaving a trail. Didn't even think about you guys testing it. Well, we're better than that. You are. Then you burned down your own house? Yeah. I'd set it all up before, ready. (LIQUID GLUGS, SLOSHES) (GRUNTS IN PAIN, GASPS) (TIMER TICKS) (TIMER TICKS) (GROANS IN PAIN) (TIMER TICKS) (TIMER TICKS) (GRUNTS, PANTS) (TIMER TICKS) (PANTS) (TIMER TICKS) (CLICK!) (HUMMING) (BOOM! GLASS SHATTERS) 'I did it all.' All of it. And what do you say now to the police who investigated this? 'I was a colleague of theirs. 'I was a friend of theirs. 'And it'd be wrong to ask for their forgiveness, because... 'I can't do that. 'All I can do is apologise for the stress I've put them under 'and the trust that I've betrayed.' No. I don't believe you. He's made a full confession. They're taking him to his first appearance. He'll enter a guilty plea tomorrow. He did this to himself? No, he wouldn't do that. He loves me. He loves us! I'm sorry. (SIGHS) I'm really sorry. (CELL DOOR CLANGS) Doug. Assistant Commissioner. Garner. I wanted to advise you face to face that you've been dismissed from the NZ Police. You'll receive no pension, no benefits or any other consideration. Yes, sir. Your apologies in court and your guilty plea today do nothing in my mind to mitigate your actions. You betrayed not only your colleagues but every principle of policing. < You're a disgrace, Garner. A disgrace. (EXHALES RAGGEDLY) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (ENGINE STARTS) Car Four, please respond. Over. (SIREN WAILS) We have a possible 1X in progress, over. (CHORAL MUSIC) (FLAMES ROAR, MUSIC CONTINUES) (SIREN WAILS) Mate, come on, open the door. Are you all right? We'll get the ambulance. Hello? Captions by Able. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2015