Cheers.
Thank you very much.
- Thank you very much. - Thanks, darling.
To Barnabas, on a well-deserved promotion,
Chief Clerk, can you believe it?
Congratulations.
- Bravo, Mr. Potts. - Congratulations.
Thank you, my dear. Thank you.
Hmm, not one...
five other mortuaries he's in charge of.
Ah, three my dear, not five,
as I believe I've mentioned before.
You're very kind to take us out for dinner, Mr. Potts.
And the menu looks quite delicious,
particularly the chateaubriand.
It is my pleasure. And please feel free
to choose anything at all,
up to a cost of three shillings each.
That wine is rather expensive, my dear.
Perhaps you wish to savor it rather than...
Barnabas, the most exciting thing
that's happened to me all week
is saving a spider
from the kitchen sink.
I've been looking forward to this dinner all week,
so please, let me enjoy myself.
With the compliments of the gentleman at table six, Madam.
Oh, for me? Oh.
They're from the Guild of Private Detectives.
That's the chairman and the deputy chairman, no less.
Uh, just to be clear, this is not going on my bill, is it?
Would you excuse me a moment?
Of course.
Gentlemen, I...I wanted to
thank you for your most kind gesture.
You are most welcome, Miss Scarlet.
Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Edmund Fletcher.
I'm chair of the Guild of Private Detectives,
and this is our deputy chair.
Archibald Spilsbury.
Oh, please.
Thank you.
Well, this is most fortuitous.
We were only discussing you this morning.
You were?
Miss Scarlet...
we would very much like you
to join our number.
Well, that would be an honor, indeed.
The patronage of the Guild would be most welcome.
There is one small matter we need to discuss
before confirming your membership.
It concerns the new detective inspector
of Scotland Yard.
- Inspector Blake? - Yeah.
What about him?
He is intent
on sticking to the ludicrous notion,
of not using private detectives.
We must take action.
Fortunately,
we have an ace up our sleeve.
You, Miss Scarlet.
I'm sorry. I don't... I don't understand.
Inspector Blake has refused to...
meet us to discuss his misguided policy,
but we believe you have
crossed paths with him
several times already.
Er, the role of detective inspector
is increasingly political,
requires a whiter than white reputation.
And yet Inspector Blake
has been alone with you...
on several occasions.
You didn't just happen to be here
this evening, did you?
Make an accusation of lewd behavior
on his part?
Um, perhaps he suggested
certain favors
in return for employment.
Or tried to force himself upon you.
Do this...
and you'll be granted membership of the Guild
with all the benefits that comes with it.
Forgive me if I toast your health with water.
Uh, unfortunately I'm teetotal on the direction of a doctor
who is determined to take all pleasure from me.
So...
Miss Scarlet, do we have a deal?
No, we most certainly do not.
- Morning. - Morning. Thank you.
You're supposed to be dressed and ready for school.
I don't like it there, Papa,
the girls are mean.
If you go to school,
I promise we shall have dinner together this evening,
and I shall tell you everything about my day,
including all the bad men I arrest.
Promise?
Promise.
- Good morning, my jewel. - Barnabas.
Just in time. Breakfast is ready.
Ugh, it's the first day in my new role as chief clerk.
And a much-needed stock take
is required at Aldgate Mortuary.
So, I came by to inform you
I will not be partaking
in breakfast this morning.
But I've made it now.
Well...
- Ah! - There is a hole in the sleeve.
When you have time, could you darn it?
Again, what have you been doing?
Well, if I told you, you would only worry.
Mr. Potts.
Miss Scarlet,
I really do not have time
to eat, my dear.
Very well, off you go then.
Ladies.
Sit down. Have some breakfast.
I don't have time either, must go.
Well, will you be home for dinner?
Lizzy?
Argh.
Good morning, Inspector Blake.
Are you aware of the convention of knocking, Miss Scarlet?
But I did knock.
You were then supposed to wait to be invited in.
I have an urgent matter to discuss with you,
about the Guild of Private Detectives.
I'm here to give you a warning.
They are far from happy about your current policy
regarding private investigators.
Please tell me you're not here on their behalf.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
But...well, the Guild have money and influence,
they've taken against you and will stop at nothing
to undermine your position.
Why are you telling me this, exactly?
Well...I thought you should know.
So, you're giving me this information
out of the goodness of your heart?
There's nothing you want in return?
Absolutely not.
Of course, it...benefits me
to be on good terms with the Detective Inspector.
Now we have it.
If you must know,
they insulted me deeply.
The guild chairman and his lackey asked me to...
asked me to make... certain accusations about you.
What kind of accusations?
It is good indeed to finally meet you, Inspector.
I did try a number of times
to make your acquaintance.
But, uh, sadly, you were unavailable.
We have something in common. You and I, uh,
we both served in the Royal Engineers.
Best years of my life,
even with the, uh...
war wounds.
I believe you served in Africa too.
I did not come here to share war stories.
I came here to make myself crystal clear in person.
I will run my division in whatever way I see fit,
and no threat or attempt to blackmail
will have any effect on any decision I take.
I do hope I've made myself clear, Mr. Fletcher.
Oh, I see.
Uh, the lady detective has paid you a visit.
I trust this is an end to the matter.
I'm afraid it's not.
Try to look at it from my perspective.
I have been chairman of the Guild
these past seventeen years,
and in that time, I've enjoyed the full support
of all our members.
Two thousand of them, no less.
And above all...
my duty...is to ensure
that their businesses thrive.
If I fail in that duty,
then I look weak.
I cannot afford to look weak, Inspector.
My heart bleeds for you.
You have a daughter,
do you not?
If for some unfortunate reason
you were to lose your job,
she would feel the consequences too.
And as a father,
surely you must be concerned
about her welfare.
Very well.
I shall hire a private detective
starting tomorrow.
Glad to hear it.
I'll, uh...see a list of the preferred...
No need.
I have someone in mind.
The lady detective.
Unfortunately, Miss Scarlet
is not a member of the Guild.
Yes, that is unfortunate.
Get your Morning Heralds.
Morning Herald here, hot off the press this morning.
Thanks.
- Miss Scarlet. - Oh, Inspector Blake.
You're early. Extremely early.
I received your telegram last evening
and I'm here to be of service.
What case should I be working on?
Background checks
for a new clerical office?
We also need you to interview and assess
the candidates for their suitability.
We need women who are experienced,
and more important, trustworthy.
They will be dealing with highly confidential files.
I set up a similar office in Bristol
and it worked rather well.
Here is a list of the candidates.
They'll be here at 11:00.
Well...but this isn't quite exactly what I was expecting.
I thought you'd hired me to work on an actual case.
This room will be vital to the smooth running
of Scotland Yard.
It will free up my detectives
from administration duties.
Miss Scarlet, is that a scowl?
No.
No, it's not a scowl.
I'm merely thinking.
This is the job I'll hire you to do.
Do it or don't do it.
It's up to you.
My name is Cynthia Quinn.
I'm 24 years old.
I've worked in three offices,
two solicitors, one accountancy firm,
all of which would have no hesitation
in their recommendation of me.
And you've had a similar clerical role before?
I have.
And you've trained in shorthand?
Absolutely.
And you've worked full-time before?
Many times.
And I see here that your
previous positions...
Where shall like put the others?
What others?
There's just so many of them.
And more come tomorrow,
and the day after that.
That was just the interviews. God knows how long
the background checks will take.
I thought this is what you wanted,
Inspector Blake to hire you.
And it is.
And I'm trying my best to do as he asks,
to play by his rules.
Forge a working relationship.
I can't help but feeling that this specific task is...
not...not exactly beneath me.
Beneath you?
Do you know what I did today?
Ironing.
Then laundry.
Then more ironing.
So, sitting in Scotland Yard
at a nice, shiny desk,
interviewing clever, ambitious women,
is not the worst thing in the world.
And you should be pleased.
You're helping those young ladies
make something of themselves.
Whatever happened to "In my day,
we found a nice man and settled down"?
I'm allowed to change my mind.
You don't seem yourself lately.
Is all well?
Yes.
No.
I don't know.
Barnabas has got his new job.
You...you're always up to something different.
But me...
every day's the same.
You see, now I've worried you.
This is why people should keep things to themselves.
I'm going to make dinner.
What can I do to cheer you up?
I know...
I'll cook us dinner this evening.
I thought you wanted to
cheer me up.
Ah, good morning, Miss Scarlet.
Oh, Detective Fitzroy, how are you?
Very well, thank you.
You seem to have your hands full at the moment.
Hmm.
If you need any assistance,
let me know.
Oh, you wish to help me interview
a group of attractive young women?
Oh, no. No, that's not...
I...I...I was merely... I would never...
Sir, message from Inspector Blake.
I'm...I'm to meet him at 25 Girton Street.
That address sounds familiar.
It's the Guild of Private Detectives.
A dead body has been found.
Whose?
You say he was found by a clerk. What time?
Eight o'clock this morning, Sir.
Thank you.
Continue taking statements.
Sir.
- Sir. - Good you're here, I...
Why have you brought Miss Scarlet?
I've had recent dealings with this man. I've come to help.
My question was addressed to Detective Fitzroy.
I believed she may be of assistance, and as Miss Scarlet
said, she's had recent dealings with the deceased, and...
We will discuss this later.
This is Fletcher's appointment book, I want to speak
- to everyone he met yesterday. - Yes, Sir.
And send word to the city mortuary.
I want a full list of the poisons
- they can test for. - Right away, Sir.
Poisons, you say?
That would explain this sickly-sweet smell.
- Yes, I know. - And no other signs of trauma
apart from this puncture wound.
From a syringe, I would guess.
But there doesn't seem to be one present.
Again, I know.
Chateau Lemaître.
The man had expensive taste, which is curious,
since he didn't drink.
You didn't know that, did you?
Miss Scarlet, if you do not return to your duties,
the duties that I'm paying you for,
our contract will be terminated.
Is that understood?
Very well.
You know where I am if you need me.
I do. And I won't.
Morning, Arthur.
Morning, Ivy.
- The usual? - Am I that predictable?
Hmm.
See you tomorrow.
Thank you.
I think she's lost.
Are you here for the interview?
Miss Kingston.
The butcher's is next door.
Thank you again for coming in.
It was nice to meet you.
Is now a good time?
Uh, yes.
I have no more interviews until tomorrow.
Just a few more days of this and we'll be done.
Thank goodness.
Well, it is paid work, after all.
It's not the point. Clarence.
I had hopped for the opportunity
to dazzle Inspector Blake.
Dazzle?
Yes. To show him my worth.
To put down a marker for future engagements.
Well, there are many ways to dazzle someone.
I, for one, cannot fail to be impressed
with a well-presented audit.
Numbers. They can have a poetry to them.
Anyway, I'll get back to the matter in hand.
I've been working on the background checks
for yesterday's candidates,
and most of them have come back clean.
But there is one applicant that caught my attention.
Cynthia Quinn.
Cynthia Quinn?
She was one of the first applicants that I interviewed.
In fact, she was the best candidate so far.
There are irregularities in her work history.
Miss Quinn cites three previous employers,
all of which seem to be legitimate.
Registered at Companies House.
But on further investigation, I discovered
they are in fact bogus.
In what way?
Well, the companies are registered,
but they do not actually exist.
And the, um, paperwork provides a trail
that leads back to a private detective business.
Malone's Investigation Agency.
Well, that wasn't mentioned on her list of previous employers.
So, you're the Deputy Chairman of the Guild?
And have been these last ten years.
I confess in all that time there's been nothing
so shocking as the events
of these last few hours.
Mr. Fletcher was not just my superior.
He was my friend.
When was the last time you saw him?
Uh, last night at his office,
he was seeking reelection as chairman.
He and I were discussing his campaign.
His campaign?
That is perhaps too grand a word for it,
the election is every four years,
but it was always a fait accompli with Edmund.
He won every time,
no matter who stood against him.
According to his diary, you were the last person
to have a meeting with him.
Did he mention an appointment with anyone else?
Not that I recall.
I left his office at half past eight.
Uh, as far as I knew, he was heading home.
A bottle of wine was smashed on the floor of his office.
But as I understand it, he did not drink.
Ooh, not for years.
He picked up some tropical disease in Africa,
which...gave him a slight hand tremor.
Alcohol seemed to aggravate it.
Could it have been for someone else?
- A visitor perhaps? - It's possible.
He was a generous man.
Can you think of anyone who might have wished
to do him harm?
You think it was murder?
I believe you used to be a detective, Mr. Spilsbury.
You'll be aware I have to consider the possibility.
Edmund was well liked. He grew the Guild
from a handful of members
to over 2,000 strong.
He's a great man.
Was...a great man.
You mentioned he was seeking reelection.
I take it there would be some kind of vote?
It was supposed to be tomorrow evening,
although that may be delayed.
As acting chairman,
I will have to make that decision.
You are now acting chairman?
Will you yourself stand for election?
I will, but only in memory
of Edmund to continue his legacy.
Do not read anything into that, Inspector.
He was my oldest friend.
We served together in Africa.
He saved my life.
What of the other candidates?
Who else is standing?
There is only one,
and in truth, he may be someone
you may wish to speak to.
A man who's been...forthcoming
in his criticism of Edmund's time in office.
Who might that be?
Thomas K. Malone.
You know, he got Mr. Nash's premises for a bargain?
He was a tough negotiator, astute businessman.
He's an untrustworthy snake
who I had the misfortune of dealing with in France.
And if Cynthia Quinn is working for him,
my guess is that he'll aim to put her into Scotland Yard
to gain access to classified information.
Well, that is terrible, obviously.
Though, Mr. Nash did do something similar
in Bose Street some years back.
Why doesn't that surprise me?
Did you find out anything else about Malone?
As it happens, I did.
His agency seems to be thriving.
And as such, he's decided to stand for election
as Chairman of the Guild.
Come in, Miss Scarlet.
I do hope this is related to
the task that I'm paying you for.
A...a check on one of the clerical applicants
has revealed links to a detective agency.
And this is why I do not use private investigators.
I know the agency in question.
Well, at least the owner.
He's an American gentleman
and I use that word advisedly,
Who goes by the name of
Thomas K. Malone.
- Malone. - Who also happens to be...
Standing for election to be Chairman of the Guild.
Yes, I know.
I was just on my way to speak with him.
Oh, well then it's vital that I come with you.
I don't think so.
Well...uh...
You're being unreasonable.
I'm being perfectly reasonable.
There is no reason at all for you to accompany me.
I came straight to you with this information,
when I could have gone to see him myself.
Is this some kind of attempt to prove yourself to me
in the hope of future employment?
I resent that suggestion.
Hmm.
I'm simply trying to help.
Thomas K. Malone is a serial liar.
I have met liars before. It comes with the job.
Yes, but I, I know the man.
I spent time with him.
You'll get to the truth quicker if I'm there
to call out his lies immediately.
And I will also add that I'm offering my...
help free of charge.
Is that a sigh of irritation or acceptance?
Both.
Very well.
If you accompany me,
I must insist on three things.
I accept.
May I at least say what they are?
Well, you may, but I'll agree with them.
Do not speak unless I ask you to.
Do not show any reaction
when the suspect is speaking.
Do not do anything at all
unless instructed by me.
You have my word.
And I'm very much looking forward
to watching you work.
Do not try and charm me for your own advantage.
I do not do that.
If you say so.
Mr. Malone?
No, he just left.
Really? And you are?
Depends who's asking?
Detective Inspector Blake
from Scotland Yard.
That is him.
Thomas K. Malone.
I did not ask you to speak, Ms. Scarlet.
Eliza Scarlet.
Well, I'll be damned. We're old friends.
Friends do not handcuff each other
to filthy pipes in a basement.
Sorry.
Please carry on.
Let's talk inside.
How long have you been in London?
Six months, give or take.
I worked for an agency in Boston, and then came here
to set up my own shop.
In fact, I believe these were your old premises.
Nash and Sons.
Not that he has any sons.
He's a wily old fox, that one.
But he gave me a good deal on this place,
so I can't complain.
And when did you join the Guild
of Private Detectives?
Oh, a few weeks after setting up, I guess.
I thought it might be good for business,
but it's just been a waste of time
and money.
100 pounds a year, and for what?
Do you want a drink?
I'm going to have one. I've finished work.
Hmm, thought I had anyway.
Can I bill you for this?
You can try.
So, let me guess.
You're here to ask about Fletcher, right?
He dies suddenly.
I'm standing against him in the election.
And you want to know if I killed him.
Amongst other things.
Well, if I did kill him, I'd deny it.
And if I didn't, which I didn't,
then I'd also deny it.
Mmm.
I got into wine in France.
At least some good came out of being there.
You got me pretty good.
I spent two weeks in a cell
before they set me free.
If you are looking for an apology, Mr. Malone,
then you have a very long wait.
What were your movements last night?
I was here working on my election speech.
And before you ask, yes,
there are people who can vouch for me,
my entire staff.
But for the record, I did not like Edmund Fletcher.
A washed-up has been lining his own pockets.
The Guild needs someone in charge,
who knows what they're doing.
Someone with integrity... and vision.
- And that happens to be you? - Hmm.
I've been talking to the other members, and they're ready
for someone new.
And by the way, if I'd been in charge,
I'd have convinced your friend here to to rethink
his ban on private detectives.
Hey, come to think of it,
how come she's working with you?
I'm not working with him.
I'm working for him.
Mr. Malone,
as a man of vision and integrity,
let me ask you about Cynthia Quinn.
She's an employee of yours?
Hm, Cynthia. Yeah. What of it?
Well, Cynthia Quinn...
Cynthia Quinn applied for a position
at the new clerical office at Scotland Yard.
Hm. It's a free country.
Nothing to do with me.
Look, this is a waste of time.
Mine and yours.
You know who you should be speaking to
about Fletcher's death?
Archibald Spilsbury.
Seventeen years he was Deputy Chairman
taking Fletcher's crap,
dealing with the mess he created,
waiting for him to step down.
You ask me...
he got tired of waiting.
Notice the wine he was drinking,
Chateau Lemaître.
- Same wine that was found at... - At the crime scene.
- Yes. I noticed. - It can't just be...
...a coincidence. I agree.
But he may have a point about Archibald Spilsbury.
- I assume you're going to... - I am.
Where are we going now?
Well, I have further leads to follow up.
You may go wherever you wish.
I'll meet you later at Scotland Yard,
And we can, um, run through our next steps.
There is no 'we', Miss Scarlet.
I believe I have been quite clear on this.
Is it pride? Is that it?
You can't...you can't risk someone else solving your case.
If so, that's, uh, rather petty.
If I were being petty, I would mention that
you blatantly ignored everything
I asked of you during
our meeting with Malone.
And for your information, I am not returning to Scotland Yard.
I have one more appointment,
then I shall be heading home.
Home?
I have a life outside of work, Miss Scarlet,
as I'm sure you do.
Hup.
Oh, this is the most wonderful evening.
What more could one ask for than good company,
nice glass of wine,
and a very taxing game of gin rummy.
Yes. It's just what the doctor ordered.
I mean, I do not exaggerate when I say
being in charge of three extra mortuaries is...
Three times the work. Yes, Barnabus, you have said.
Is, uh...is everything all right, my dear?
Have I done something to upset you or...?
It's been a long day. That's all.
For us all.
We shall speak no more of work, shall we, Miss Scarlet?
Although...that is a shame.
By a strange quirk of fate...
your name was mentioned today, Miss Scarlet.
And um...well, I made a most humorous observation.
- Oh? - Yes.
When Inspector Blake came by,
to pick up the post-mortem results on a Mr. Fletcher,
the Chairman of the Guild of Private Detectives,
the same gentleman who sent over the, uh,
bottle of champagne to us at the restaurant.
The same gentleman you threw the wine over.
So, I said to the inspector,
I'm surprised Miss Scarlet isn't a suspect.
That was the humorous observation, you see?
Yes.
I gathered that.
Did the post-mortem reveal
what poison was in his body?
It did.
That is classified information.
I'm working with the inspector on the case.
There were several likely candidates for poisons.
I'm...I'm merely wishing you to confirm which one.
Miss Scarlet, I cannot reveal...
Was it strychnine?
- No. - Hydrogen cyanide?
- No. And you cannot... - Dear God, the pair of you.
Just tell her and have done with it.
Physostigma venenosum,
also known as the Calabar Bean.
But that...I will say no more.
And the puncture mark
on the back of Fletcher's hand,
it was from a syringe, wasn't it?
It was.
Excellent.
It's your turn, my dear.
Yes, I know it's my turn, Barnabus.
Morning, Clarence.
Morning.
I have some news.
I discovered that the poison used to kill Mr. Fletcher
is a rare and ingenious one.
When placed in food or drink,
it's slow-acting, taking hours,
if not days to take effect.
Death occurs by cardiac arrest,
making it impossible to distinguish from natural causes.
However...
Mr. Fletcher was killed by an injection,
directly into his bloodstream.
He would've died in seconds. So, the question is...
Why are we talking about a case
that Scotland Yard is working on and we are not?
The question is,
why go to the effort of getting a rare,
slow-acting poison only to inject it
straight into the victim's body?
It leaves a visible puncture mark
and high levels of poison, making murder
much easier to detect.
I've been doing some digging... and I discovered that
this poison known as the Calabar Bean,
grows in the same area of West Africa
where Fletcher and Spilsbury
served in the army.
It's intriguing, is it not?
It is intriguing,
but it doesn't change the fact
this is not a case
we've been hired to work on.
Clarence, this is our chance
to prove ourselves.
Eliza, it is not that I don't
admire your tenacity,
but there is an equal chance
that conducting our own investigation
will antagonise Inspector Blake.
But a gamble worth taking, is it not?
- Well, I... - Good, then we are agreed.
Now, I intend to investigate Mr. Spilsbury further.
No syringe was found at the crime scene.
So...if he's involved,
then perhaps he stored it somewhere.
In the meantime, I have a task for you.
Oh dear.
This poison is extremely rare
and hard to come by,
so, you must talk to someone
who deals in the more exotic end
of the black market.
Exotic being a euphemism for dangerous?
Oh, he's uh, far from dangerous.
Mr. Gibson?
Who wants to know?
I'm sorry to bother you,
but I'm here on a matter
of urgent business.
I only deal with people I know,
and I don't know you.
I...I'm an associate of Miss Scarlet,
who I believe you've met on a number of occasions.
I've never heard of her.
Right. Um...
We are looking for a list of suppliers
of a particular poison.
The Physostigma venenosum.
It's also known as the Calabar Bean.
I deal with legitimate works of art,
sold with full providence,
not poison.
Miss Scarlet informs me that
you have diversified your business
and you now provide a more
eclectic range of products?
She also tells me that you are a cautious man,
and that I will need to make it worth your while...
financially speaking.
Yes, er, perhaps I could provide some information,
if the price is right.
My secretary deals with payments.
Your secretary?
A recent appointment
to ensure the smooth running
of my new diversification.
Oh.
So, um, who might provide that particular poison?
I've never heard of it.
No, but I just paid you for the information.
Yeah, and the information is...
I've never heard of it.
Then I shall have my money back.
- No refunds. - But I...
Take it up with my secretary...
on your way out.
Uhhh...
Mr. Spilsbury?
I have a revolver and I'm not afraid to use it.
Is that true?
- No. - What are you doing here,
- Miss Scarlet? - Well, the same thing
- as you, I imagine. - It is anything but the same.
You have unlawfully broken in.
Whereas I have a search warrant.
Can you see the difference?
Well, if you'd stop being so stubborn and allow me
to assist you, I wouldn't have to.
Help! Please!
- It's coming from downstairs -Help, down here!
Wait here.
Help, please!
Malone.
This isn't the first time I've found you
bound and gagged, Malone.
Perhaps you should rethink how you conduct your business.
It's not my fault.
It was Spilsbury.
He asked me over to discuss the election.
He said he was thinking of conceding.
We sat down, had a drink.
And before I knew it, he'd hit me over the head
and knocked me out.
Then I woke up down here.
I guess he wants me out of the way for this evening's vote.
So you would be a no-show,
and he would be elected to chairman as default.
The man's a viper.
Where is this vote?
Thank you.
Thank you, one and all.
I hope to prove myself
worthy of being your new chairman.
And I do so in memory
of my dear friend and colleague,
Edmund Fletcher.
May he rest in peace.
All right, let's go.
- Good morning, gentlemen. - Ah, what do you want?
Oh, these are your business premises,
I believe, very clever.
An unremarkable exterior
hiding an Aladdin's Cave
of contraband inside.
I said, what do you want?
I've been making some inquiries about you, Mr. Gibson.
Just wish to confirm if what I discovered is correct.
And what's that, exactly?
You are known to the black marketeers
of London as Archibald Gibson.
But you are, in fact, Stanley Grimsdyke
- of the town of Northampton. - So?
The town where your wife lives,
a wife who believes you to be dead.
It was a...
boating accident, wasn't it?
Have you spoken to Gladys?
Not yet, but that is my intention.
She's not a difficult woman to find.
The only female butcher
in the South of England.
She can break an entire cow carcass single-handed,
I believe.
So, perhaps you could rack your brains,
and furnish me with that list of possible suppliers
of the poison that I paid for yesterday,
or else Mrs. Gibson will discover
that she's no longer a widow.
I'm sure she'll be delighted to be reunited
with her beloved husband.
Have you got a pen?
Good morning, is...
Uh, is Inspector Blake in?
Miss Scarlet.
What an unexpected pleasure.
Good morning, Inspector Blake.
Would you like to come in?
Oh, um...yes.
Thank you.
How many times have I told you, young lady,
you are not allowed to answer the door?
120, Papa.
Mrs. Bambury's waiting to make you breakfast.
You be a good girl, and I promise
I will read you more of this at bedtime.
I am sorry for disturbing you at home, Inspector Blake,
but I have some information to share with you
that cannot wait.
I went to your office, and they...
well, they told me you're running late.
I...I didn't know that you had children.
Just the one.
Oh, what's your daughter's name?
- Sophia. - How old is she?
What is this information that cannot wait, Miss Scarlet?
Oh, my, um, my assistant tracked down a man
who trades in rare poisons,
including the extract of the Calabar Bean.
And yes, they know this is not my murder case.
And yes, you've told me many times
that you do not need my help, but I wanted to show you that...
well, once I'm involved in something,
I am committed to see it through
to the very end.
For better or for worse.
You're relentless, Miss Scarlet,
I'll give you that.
Spilsbury's not the murderer.
I'm inclined to agree.
He's admitted assaulting Malone.
But there's no evidence of anything else.
I know who bought the poison
that killed Fletcher.
So, I'll make it double that we're working to,
if it's all right?
- Of course. - Yeah?
You run a top establishment here.
All right?
Get on it as soon as possible.
Whoa, whoa. What now?
I...I've given my statement, there's enough...
Cynthia Quinn, I am arresting you
for the murder of Edmund Fletcher.
My men searched your lodgings,
and found a syringe wrapped up
and discarded under your bed.
It contained the residue of the poison
used to murder Edmund Fletcher.
I swear I didn't kill him.
I've known him since I was a kid.
He served with my father.
And when my father died,
Mr. Fletcher helped my mother
where he could.
I never would've harmed him.
Then why did you buy the poison?
I worked for Mr. Fletcher.
Did...bits and pieces for him.
Following someone here,
report on someone else there.
Then one day he told me
to get a job with Malone.
He hated that man.
American upstart, he called him.
He was terrified that Malone
would knock him off his throne.
He made a good living as chairman,
not least 'cause of all the kickbacks and the bribes.
So, he wanted you to report back on Malone
and give him any dirt?
Malone might be a weasel,
but there was very little
to report back about.
Apart from the fact that he drinks
a bottle of wine a day.
Bottle of wine found by his body
was from Malone?
So was the poison?
I took the bottle from Malone's drinks cupboard,
and got the poison, as ordered by Mr. Fletcher.
He intended to inject the poison through the cork.
It would be slow-acting,
and Malone would be dead in a few days,
by what would seem to be natural causes.
So, what happened?
Mr. Fletcher had a hand tremor,
and as he went to inject the cork,
his hand slipped.
And the stupid bugger injected himself.
It was awful.
And you were there and took the syringe?
I didn't want it to get tracked back to me.
Why apply for a job at Scotland Yard?
That was Malone.
He wanted to pay me
to report back on any confidential cases.
It's a good way to get new business.
You're an industrious woman, Miss Quinn.
When you grow up as I have,
you'll do anything to get by.
Her story was compelling, to say the least.
Do you believe her?
She had no motive for murder,
and Fletcher paid her well.
And for a woman like Cynthia Quinn,
it was all about the money.
You did well.
But?
But nothing.
That was the entire sentence.
Oh.
Well, thank you.
Oh, I have something for you.
Actually for your daughter.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
It was my favorite novel when I was a girl.
There are no pirates like Treasure Island,
but, um, it's quite the adventure.
Thank you.
She has, in truth, struggled
in her new surroundings,
new home, new school.
Her nanny struck her this morning.
We've had words, and now she's with our neighbor, Mrs. Bambury.
May I ask...
w...what of her mother?
My...wife passed a few years back.
I'm so sorry.
I know what it is to lose a mother so young.
The clerical officer's ready for you, Sir.
I trust you selected he very best candidate?
Certainly.
On behalf of Scotland Yard,
I would like to welcome you all
to our new clerical office.
I hope you find this a fair and decent place to work.
All we ask in return is hard work,
discretion, and trust.
I look forward to working with you.
So, once again,
a warm welcome to Scotland Yard.