01x02 - Every Contact Leaves a Trace

[bunniefuu]

Sally Blakely was diagnosed a year ago. Oesophageal cancer.

Aggressive. Just after 7pm she started looking in a lot of pain, according to him, and within ten minutes he'd given her three injections.

How many?

Three.

You charge me with assisted su1c1de, they bump it up to manslaughter.

They want a big scalp, do they?

Woman: Mr Blakely, we have a lady here who claims you shut down the investigation into her daughter's death.

Please...

Do you remember Oriana Vasilich?

This is her mother, Dianne.

Do you know who k*lled her daughter?

Who is this Oriana girl?

Unsolved case from '94.

Working girl, and got involved with some very powerful people and one day, she disappeared.

What are we doing here, Richard?

Arguing for a suspended sentence, aren't we?

Put aside who Blakely is for a moment, and let's re-look at the facts and the circumstances.

Neither of us think a man like Steve Blakely should end up in jail though, do we?

No, but we can't rort the system just to get a particular outcome.

An immediate custodial sentence in the upper range of 8-10 years..

What?!..is the minimum that should be considered.

To hell with fair play. To hell with teamwork or natural justice.

I don't want her on any of our cases ever again.

What exactly are you telling me, Mr Schaeffer?

We're just trying to locate Mr Blakely, Your Honour.

(Whispers) He's bolted.

I'm issuing a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of Steven Blakely.

He left a message on his computer.

It just says 'please forgive me'.

♪ Theme music Tracey's got something she wants you to handle, but I told her you'd be taking the rest of the day off. ♪

And doing what, exactly?

Well, I don't know.

What do normal people do?

Do we know if he owned a w*apon?

He probably just scarpered.

Leaving behind his wallet and mobile?

Nothing's happened. We just have a man who didn't turn up for court.

Which prompted him to leave an apology note at home.

He just might have an overdue library book. For Christ's sake!

And that's why you're offering me the afternoon off?

Look, if you're so keen to work, see Tracey.

Or you could always swap places with me.

Why, where are you going?

You don't want to know.

A summons from the Attorney General.

To her office?

Yes, I know, never happens.

Usually we just communicate via talkback radio.

Janet, I've told Erin to work with you on the Simpson m*rder, just until we find out whether you need to do any more on Blakely.

Or not.

Thanks.

Guess I should thank you for taking the Blakely case away from me.

That's as close as you get to a supportive response, is it?

Well, it'd be hypocritical of me to be supportive when I think you completely misjudged the sentence recommendations.

If I want your opinion...

No need to ask.

Quite happy to volunteer.

Next time you're in court maybe you should do as you're told.

It's just a thought.

(Reporters chatter indistinctly)

No comment, no comment.

I've got nothing to say at this stage.

Woman: Will you be resigning?

Heaven's sakes, no. I won't.

(Reporters shout indistinctly)

No, I've got nothing to say.

No comment. Thank you.

Woman: Do you have any comment?

Go away.

Oh, sure.

Oh, no, not you. You can stay.

(Knocking)

He's alright.

I've been doing some research on missing persons.

Why? Blakely isn't missing yet.

He's not?

Actually at the moment, that's right because it's only been a matter of hours.

So if we're living in a world where Blakely's not missing, then he could just be confused or scared.

He might have gone for a drive to clear his head.

Is this research?

No, that's supposition.

The police receive at least 15 missing person reports a day and 90% of those people are found within a week.

Found alive.

Now, they can be divided into two categories - people who disappear willingly and people who don't.

People who don't who don't disappear willingly...

This is not helping.

..could have disappeared through misadventure, accident, injury, miscommunication or incapacity. See?

Anything could've happened to him.

Who is this guy, Simpson?

Ah, Neville Simpson.

Methamphetamine cook.

One of the best, apparently.

A real Heisenberg.

Victim Gus Saracen, drug dealer.

Stole from his suppliers, who are all bikies. They didn't like it.

Simpson tracked him down, sh*t him, g*n hasn't been recovered, no DNA at the scene, but Zebina Petrakis saw it all.

Gave a statement, ID'd the sh**t without a second's hesitation.

Nice work on this brief.

Concise, considered, unemotive.

I'd say you've got a real aptitude for this sort of thing.

Great.

It is, actually.

Not many people can deal with it objectively and ignore the horror.

If you can do it well, you're assured plenty of good work.

I should be grateful there's a ton of child abuse going around 'cause it will be good for my career?

Pragmatism. That's all.

What is the pragmatic approach to this, then?

Legal or underage?

I can see your dilemma. These girls could be 12 or they could be 16.

Well, measuring the forearm bones is one way of proving age.

Well, you really need an x-ray for that.

Uh-huh. Looking at pubic hair patterns, that can be helpful.

Not in an era where everyone under 40 has a Brazilian.

The pragmatic solution here is to stick a photo in of a kid who looks clearly, unarguably underage.

You're joking?

There's, what, hundreds of thousands of photos here?

No-one's going to notice if one's been added.

I bet even your user won't pick it.

What, fit him up?

End justifies the means.

Apart from the fact it's illegal.

Doesn't do any harm, does it?

Gets a scumbag off the street and may even save a few kids from being abused.

Not nearly as illegal as what your guy Clarke's been doing, is it?

(Knocking)

It was a good decision to not reinstate the whiteboard in here.

It's so much roomier.

Yes, Richard.

Don't tell me you have nothing to do.

Ah, no, not at all.

I was just wondering, with Blakely missing, shouldn't we be asking for an adjournment sine die?

I know we need to make a formal application, Richard.

Are you telling me how to do my job?

No, I'm just happy to do it, that's all.

It's a job for a junior solicitor.

It's just I've been working on Blakely, so I'm, you know, following up what needs to be followed up.

Not looking for an excuse to be in the court vicinity during the working day while there's a Commonwealth matter running?

Me? No. God, no. Court and me are a diabolical combination.

Bit like you and court, really.

I beg your pardon?

Nothing.

What did you say?

I don't remember exactly...

Tony Gillies requested I return to my job as Managing Solicitor because he realised that it requires a very particular set of skills.

Of course. It was in no way a reflection of my advocacy.

Of course not.

So I'll just go and apply for the adjournment, then?

OK, then. Great. Thanks.

Blakely's mobile and wallet were there, but his keys and his car weren't.

There was a message left on the computer, but apart from that the rest of the house was pretty tidy.

Forensics found nothing unusual.

But he left his wallet.

Well, he would though, wouldn't he?

If he has done a runner, he couldn't access any of his accounts.

Too easy to trace.

And if he's planning su1c1de, he wasn't going to need any money.

So which is it?

We don't know.

It's so hard to believe either.

What the hell was he doing on bail?

Yes, well... Pleads guilty to manslaughter and he's still on bail?

It's not uncommon, as opposed to being called here...

Bugger uncommon, it's outrageous.

But the circumstances were unusual.

Up until the previous morning, no-one was really thinking he was gonna get a custodial sentence.

He's a man of excellent character.

Both: Minister.

What sort of morons are you two?

We're eight months away from an election.

We stood on a platform of law and order and now we all look like idiots.

Look, Gail... Don't 'Gail' me.

If either of you two want the chance to sire children again, you'll tidy this up as quickly as possible.

I will not be a laughing stock.

There's a cartoon in today's paper showing us as the Keystone Cops while Blakely paddles to Argentina.

Hmm. Remarkable likeness.

Even my own staff are laughing at it.

Have you any idea the level of political damage humour can cause, gentlemen?

Oh, yes, humour. Terrible thing...

Surely the ramifications...

I'm sorry, did I invite a conversation?

Did you get the impression that I was interested in your opinion about this mess?

You're here so that I can know you've heard with your own ears what I'm about to say.

Find him, dead or alive.

I want speed, I want professionalism, I want a result.

All the loose ends tied up.

Get it off the front page as soon as possible.

Are you capable of that?

Tatum.

(Sighs)

I'm busy, Richard.

Five minutes.

Three, two, tops.

One. Go.

The other day I was so surprised to see you, I just...

I wanted to say sorry for the sex...

Not for the sex, obviously.

For saying 'sex' in front of a whole lot of people.

Totally inappropriate.

I should have realised.

This is about the worst apology I've ever made.

Are you done?

Yes. No, look, can we just...

What?

You know?

No, I don't. You tell me.

Be civil. Be friends.

Oh, now you want to be friends?

I know, I stuffed things up.

Yes, you did. And you can't ring me and leave five messages for me at the office.

I think it was six, actually.

I didn't want to leave messages.

I thought you'd be there - it was after five.

No, I didn't go back yesterday after court.

I just got changed and went to the gym.

Bit of a swim, bike, treadmill. Not that I need to explain that to you.

Right, but normally if I called the office? No.

What if I had a question about a jurisdictional issue and I needed advice from someone who knows the Commonwealth stuff inside out?

Google it.

Right.

Goodbye, Richard.

Sorry to have to do this.

Well, you always have to look at family first. I know the drill.

Did you see your father last night?

No. I offered to go home with him but he was playing the tough guy.

I don't think he wanted me to know how upset he was.

I should have gone anyway.

If I'd just been there...

I don't know.

You weren't exactly in a great place yourself.

Yeah, Jack came by. That helped.

What'd you... What'd you talk about?

Ah, he just wanted to let us know that if Dad did get jail time that he'd still be looked after.

That it'd be minimum security and he'd be segregated from the normal jail community, and I think he'd just been to tell Drew the same thing.

He didn't want us stressing.

Thank you.

Look, as well as, you know, we think WE know Steve, he's your Dad.

What do you think he was thinking, or feeling, you know, where his head, his mind was?

I can't imagine su1c1de.

He never ran from anything.

I mean, both running and su1c1de, they're both like, um, not facing.

He always faced things.

I don't know what to think.

Losing Mum. It was like losing his heart and soul.

You saw him after the funeral.

He was a wreck.

And then losing the case.

You know, like...

Like losing his job and what people thought of him.

He had never had to cope with anything like that before.

One on top of the other.

And maybe he did just cr*ck a bit.

What, you think he might have suicided?

Maybe.

No, never. It's just not him.

It's just not at all...

You sure about that?

The last few weeks were just shock after shock.

Then that crazy lawyer wanted to put him away for a decade.

Like, that was just mad.

Oh, I could've k*lled her for that.

(Sighs)

Back to square one.

Poor bloody kids.

They've just buried their mother, for God's sake.

Scattered, you mean. Scattered, buried, whatever you call it.

They held this little ceremony, up at North Head.

I remember that. That was the night you had to go charge him, wasn't it?

Yeah.

Has anyone checked it out?

Yeah, I'll check.

So what've we got?

Car's unlocked, keys under the front seat.

No obvious blood, no obvious damage to the interior of the car or the boot.

Tarred area's not going to give us much joy in the way of footprints, but we'll be taking the car in after this.

Search and rescue?

On their way.

Steve scattered Sally's ashes here.

I'd say they were together now.

Wouldn't you?

Reporter: Authorities are looking for a body following the discovery of Assistant Commissioner Steve Blakely's car at North Head.

Blakely has not been seen since his failure to appear at court for the sentence following his plea of guilty to the manslaughter of his wife.

Bank accounts have not been touched and his mobile phone was left in his home on the night he disappeared.

Thank God. It has been the shittiest day, non-stop, both of them.

I've sung, played music, walked them in the park, I've ignored them but they've just been out of sorts all day.

Tonight these little darlings are all yours.

I'm having a very large, very alcoholic drink.

You wanna make me one too?

You know the rules.

Breastfeeding's over.

Hang on...

Over.

It's supposed to be gradual.

You can't just stop.

We're both tired, and I had a shitty day too.

I think I want a job in retail.

(Chuckles)

What?

You'd be terrible at it. Plenty of people are terrible at retail.

Shut up. You love what you do.

Yeah, but will the kids still love me when they know what I do?

You kidding? You put away bad guys.

Why would you worry about that?

Because I want them to grow up learning about tolerance, forgiveness, acceptance.

And my whole job's about guilt and blame and punishment.

A man k*lled himself because of me, so what kind of a role model am I?

Let me get you that drink.

The car was found here and his accounts still haven't been touched since Wednesday.

No sighting at any port.

Had he withdrawn any large sums of cash in the week or two before he disappeared?

No, no.

And the only prints found on the steering wheel were Blakely's.

That's pretty conclusive, then.

Well, someone else might have driven the car there, wearing gloves maybe.

Is that even worth considering?

We're considering everything at this stage.

No, he's disappeared, his money's untouched, his car's found at a well-known su1c1de spot, which also happens to be where his recently dead wife's ashes were scattered.

There's no other credible scenario except su1c1de.

Yeah, well, maybe Drew or Maya have helped him escape.

You really don't want this to be su1c1de, do you?

I don't want to be investigating Steve Blakely at all.

I want him back at work, keeping us all in our places, but that's not gonna happen.

I imagine Jack Rizzoli's breathing down your neck.

Jack and everyone else.

They're breathing on us too.

I'd be relieved if it were anything other than su1c1de, but look at it.

I know.

Keep me posted.

Always.

Excuse me. I'm Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Campbell.

I'm making enquiries about the disappearance of Steven Blakely.

Yeah. Terrible business.

Poor Drew and Maya.

So much to deal with.

You didn't happen to see anyone Wednesday afternoon at all, did you?

I did, actually.

He was walking back in from putting his bins out around six-ish.

I was out here telling the boys they had about an hour left before dinner.

The boys were out here on the street?

My son, and Tim and Harry from across the street.

They were doing tricks on their bikes.

Could I have a word with him?

George!

Someone was yelling at his front door a little bit later on, too.

It was around news time.

Sounded pretty irate.

This is George. Say 'hello'.

G'day, mate. I'm Andy.

I believe you're pretty good on your bike.

You and your mates were out here on Wednesday night, yeah?

Actual words might be helpful.

Yeah.

OK. You didn't see anything, did you? Anything unusual?

People or cars you didn't recognise, anything like that? No?

Did you take any pictures of your mates?

Video? Something for YouTube?

Thanks.

You don't mind if I have a play with it? Just don't delete anything.

Boy: Bring it on!

(Boy laughs)

It's only in sh*t for about two seconds, 'cause the boys were swinging it around.

But this car is parked outside Blakely's house, and the iPhone says it's 7:12pm.

And the neighbour, Phoebe Green, heard a female voice yelling outside the door just as the news started, so about 7pm.

Presumably, that's the woman in the coat.

Who is she?

Dunno.

But the car's registered to a Brian Vincent.

Do you drive a silver Toyota Avalon, licence UUR 709, Mr Vincent?

Uh, yep. That's right. Yep.

Were you in Spencer Street, Longueville, last Wednesday night?

Depends what time.

I work most nights, so...

Whereabouts?

I'm a nurse at Northern Districts Hospital.

Detective Campbell?

What's your relationship with the woman in that photo?

That's my mother.

You're Brian Vincent or Brian Vasilich?

I changed my name after my sister d*ed.

You are Dianne Vasilich's son?

Yeah.

Were you and your mother in Spencer Street Longueville last Wednesday night?

Should I be ringing a lawyer?

(Knock at door)

Mrs Vasilich, I'm Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Campbell and we have a warrant for your arrest and we have a search warrant.

You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be used in evidence against you.

Do you understand that?

When did you have that dry-cleaned?

Thursday.

If anyone has seen my father, please get in touch with the police.

We're all very worried about him.

Uh...

It's OK.

Just any help at all.

That would be greatly appreciated.

Ah, ah, sorry to interrupt.

It's very important.

You've got to come with me now, and Richard. Richard! Richard!

Let me summarise what Andy's put together so far, OK?

We have a lady yelling outside Blakely's door at about 7pm, then it goes quiet.

We don't know what time Brian's car gets there but we have him in the background of an iPhone video at 7:12pm.

We can't see inside the car, so we can't identify that it actually is Brian.

But the lady in the coat is Dianne.

Right, Brian claims that he and Dianne went down to the park and had a chat while she calmed down and they both get in the car and he drives back to Northern Districts Hospital where they have a cup of tea before his shift begins.

Security cameras at the hospital?

Yes, but it'll take a day or two.

Now we know that he spent the rest of the night there on shift and she stayed as well.

Odd?

Well, no. Not if you wanted to prove you weren't somewhere else.

And the coat?

Well, it's being examined now, but it's been dry-cleaned, conveniently.

OK. What's your hypothesis?

Dianne kills Blakely.

How?

We don't know, but it happens.

She calls her son, he comes over, they wrap the body in the drop cloth, they haul it outside.

Put it in the back of Blakely's car.

Brian drives Blakely's car up to North Head, she follows in HIS car, they both get the body out of the car, and dump it into the ocean, probably weighed down, then get back into Brian's car and drive back to Northern Districts Hospital where they know they'll be seen on CCTV.

Currently that fits all the known facts.

Now my question is, how much more do we need before I can get this indictment signed?

Uh...

Have you got divers looking around North Head?

Yeah, but the conditions are pretty treacherous.

Well, a body would help enormously.

Appreciate that, but otherwise?

Well, obviously the times need to work.

How long it takes to drive out to North Head and then back to the Northern Districts Hospital.

We're working on that.

A m*rder w*apon would be handy too.

At least some evidence of a violent act. g*n, Kn*fe, crowbar...

Is she even physically capable of k*lling a man like Steve Blakely?

See this?

You s*ab me in the eye with this pen and you could k*ll me, Janet.

You don't have to be strong to m*rder someone.

You've just got to want to do it.

Does Dianne have any history of v*olence?

You know, we don't have to be here.

It's called professional courtesy, Tony.

It'd be refreshing to know we were running the same way, yeah?

And we appreciate you coming here when you're obviously flat out.

I suppose it's just coincidence the Vasilichs drove to the same spot where Sally's ashes were scattered.

You want to take over the whole case? You may as well.

You know why I want this fast-tracked, Tony, huh?

I thought you did too.

If you want your indictment signed, these questions need to be answered.

Otherwise this won't get past committal. I'm actually on your side.

How could I possibly forget?

I knew Steve wouldn't have topped himself. I knew it in my gut.

Yeah, and you trusted that.

But I didn't.

You know, that's the thing. I almost let myself get talked out of it.

Oh, it's hard to distinguish gut instinct from what you want to be the truth.

I don't think I wanted the truth to be that, you know, he was m*rder*d.

In his own home.

We get truth overload in our jobs, don't we?

Oh, truth and endless lies.

You've got to feel sorry for that Vasilich woman.

No, I don't.

Well, no, just that she's still so cut up about her daughter's death from 20 years ago.

That she took away some other kids' father?

Maybe her daughter shouldn't have been hanging out with crims and junkies.

Maybe if she'd brought her daughter up properly in the first place, none of this would have happened.

Blame the mother?

That's pretty harsh.

That mother just m*rder*d someone.

Don't you think that might indicate that she'd be a shitty parent?

Kids go off the rails for all sorts of reasons.

What is with all the defence barrister bullshit?

Mothers are the ones who cop most of the blame.

It's the default position.

f*cked up perpetrator, unhappy childhood, blame the mother.

Fathers don't exactly get a good rap.

No parents do.

f*ck.

It's late. I've got work to do.

Hey.

Hey, come on, come on.

We... we are going to be great parents one day.

Isn't that what everybody thinks?

Probably. But some of us have got to be right, statistically.

Come here.

Dianne's interview.

This photo was taken out the front of Steve Blakely's house the night before he went missing.

It shows your son's car.

This is you, isn't it?

Approaching the car?

Wearing the animal print jacket we took from your house.

Neighbours who report hearing an argument between Mr Blakely and a woman that same night.

Mrs Vasilich, did you see Steven Blakely that evening?

Did you talk to him?

Why'd you go to his house?

Mrs Vasilich, do you intend to answer any questions?

No.

She had legal advice.

In a way.

She's spent years fundraising for the Victims of Crime Association, so she knows what the general advice is when charged with anything.

Shut up.

Yes.

Motive?

She resented Blakely for dropping the investigation into her daughter's death and for never telling her the main suspect.

Resented?

She was very frustrated about it.

That's all on the public record.

Resentment, frustration.

That's a long way from motivating a m*rder, don't you think?

Well, there is her inflammatory language.

No body, no confession, no supporting forensics and a weak motive.

And the police seriously think they have a case?

Sorry, but until we get more, I have to spend time on a real m*rder with a real body and a real k*ller, and a real chance.

This Simpson m*rder.

Although we can put the sh**t in the general vicinity without Zebina Petrakis's eyewitness account, we don't have a case, do we?

No, we don't.

They let you and your womb back in to play?

I'm sure the Law Society will accept a written complaint.

From me or Steve Blakely's kids?

Look, it won't take us long in there this morning.

You could always suggest a nolle, run off home right now.

You never know, you might just catch Play School.

Why does anyone ever complain about barristers?

Can't imagine.

Ms Petrakis, could you please tell the court where you were on the afternoon of Friday, May 27?

Ms Petrakis.

I can't remember.

Well, I have a statement signed by you that says you were at a self storage facility called Your Other Garage.

Does that jog your memory a little?

No.

Just take your time.

I can't recall exactly.

Um, if I could ask you to look at a photo.

Your Honour, if the court pleases, a photo of Your Other Garage, for identification only at this stage.

Thank you, Madam Crown, that document will be marked 'MFI-1'.

Do you recognise the building in that photo?

No.

I know court can be an intimidating place, so just take as much time as you need.

If the witness has no recall, Your Honour, the prosecution doesn't have a case.

Thank you, Mr Hadley.

Madam Crown, Mr Hadley will be correct if your witness continues this unfortunate loss of memory.

Perhaps you'd like to address me on Section 38 of the Evidence Act.

Thank you, Your Honour, but instead of declaring the witness hostile, could we stand the matter down so Ms Petrakis might compose herself?

Your Honour, I hate to see valuable time wasted where the witness has no recollection.

My client is a loving family man whose children have missed him terribly.

Another moment in remand amongst hardened criminals could have a profound psychological impact on him.

I have another matter that is ready.

I'll stand this down part-heard until the 12th.

Thank you, Your Honour.

We know you're frightened.

Intimidating a witness is a crime in itself.

If anyone's threatened you, we will tell the police and they will be charged.

No-one's said anything.

They'll face up to seven years jail.

I just don't remember, OK?

Did you see the victim's wife in court? How devastated she was?

I don't know his wife.

I don't know what she looks like.

Well, we're also in contact with the parents of the man who was k*lled.

They knew he hadn't led the most innocent life, but he'd always been a good son and they were so grateful to hear that at least there was going to be some justice.

That means a lot to them.

You have a son, don't you, Zebina?

Isn't he about six or seven, is that right?

Stefan.

Stefan, that's it.

And I bet you spend a fair bit of your day trying to teach him what to do and what not to do.

Tuck in your shirt, use the soap, flush the toilet.

How does he learn about responsibility?

It's about watching you, isn't it?

He looks at what you do and who you are. He copies what you do.

Believe me, as a mother myself, I am only too aware of that.

If we want them to live a good life, we have to set the example.

They have to see us live by our principles and do what we know is right, don't they?

(Knocking)

Just a moment.

Can I talk to you later?

They found paint particles in the boot of Blakely's car.

It matches the paint in the living room?

It all fits with the drop sheet, and possibly a dead Blakely wrapped up in the drop sheet having been in the boot.

There's more apparently, but Andy doesn't want to say anything else over the phone.

Oh, they also want to know when we're going to sign the indictment against Vasilich and her son.

When we've got a reasonable chance of a conviction.

In their mind, that bar's been jumped.

What do you think?

Andy wants you to meet him outside the Blakely house just before seven tonight.

He'll go over everything.

On site?

You want us traipsing round Blakely's house with the cops?

I get dragged out to see the AG, you can get dragged out to assess a theory.

It might even give you what you need for a draft indictment, assuming you still want to stay on Blakely?

Yes, I do.

I thought you might say that.

Can't exactly give it to Owen.

He'll call for the death penalty before he's even opened the file.

He might have ditched the uniform, but he'll always be one of them before he'll be one of us.

So why'd you give him the job?

This place needed a bit of mongrel.

Once you were taken out of circulation?

And in your absence.

Look, if it conflicts with Simpson, tell Tracey to give that to Owen.

He'll love locking up bikies.

Just don't tell him why.

Your leftovers, complete with a reluctant witness. I'm flattered.

Bikies a little too rough for your delicate sensibilities?

Mm, that must be it.

High-profile bikie m*rder.

You sure you want to pass it on?

I mean, you've had a lot more practice at dealing with the media than I have.

I know it's in safe hands.

And I'm sure you'll be able to withstand the public scrutiny.

I'll do my best.

It's all we can ask for.

So this Petrakis woman, what's her problem?

She scared of them too?

Why don't you ask HER?

I will. Thanks for the tip.

Pleasure.

Good luck with your witness.

I don't need luck where the ladies are concerned.

Neither do I.

Ah, hey, darling, it's me.

Look, I've been caught up with things here, and I should be home in about half an hour.

Hope the monsters are behaving themselves.

Thanks for coming out.

It's my first view.

Be great if you guys could do this more often.

I don't think we need to see this as precedent-setting.

OK. It's just on seven.

This is the time Dianne was heard yelling outside the front door.

Blakely, come on! Open up!

I know you're in there!

Blakely opens, Dianne pushes inside and begs him, please, one last time.

Wanting to know who m*rder*d her daughter.

Exactly. He says, 'Leave me alone, you desperate creep', or something like that.

If he actually lets her in at all.

She takes out a g*n or a Kn*fe - we're not sure.

In the heat of the moment, she's been asking all these years and getting nowhere.

(g*nsh*t)

She brought a g*n with her?

Or a Kn*fe.

I thought it was a pen.

But there was a w*apon of some sort and Blakely falls onto the drop sheet on the living room floor, the one he put down while he was painting.

Which explains why there's no blood.

Yes.

But she hasn't really thought this through, so she needs help.

She calls Brian, her son.

Brian. Darling, it's Mum here.

Come get me.

The time is?

7:03.

Brian's phone records show he got a phone call from Dianne at 7:04 that lasted 34 seconds.

Plenty enough time to say, 'Get over to Spencer Street, I need a hand.'

Brian was already on the road, heading down the Pacific Highway.

He takes the Longueville Road exit, and then he drives through Lane Cove, and then he pulls up here... at?

7:07.

Brian finds himself looking at a bloody body and wondering what the hell his mother's done.

And she says she's m*rder*d him.

Brian, who's not as worked up, starts thinking fast, decides they have to make it look like su1c1de.

So he grabs Blakely's car keys and starts rolling the body up in the drop sheet.

Manoeuvring a dead body on your own's pretty difficult.

Well, he's a nurse.

He's used to hauling bodies around.

Then they head out the back door.

It's a bit of a struggle to get the body out and into the boot.

Dianne's not much help but Brian manages... desperate to protect his mother.

The drop sheet leaves paint particles in Blakely's boot, but no blood.

Correct.

Brian suggests he'll take Blakely's car and that Dianne should follow in Brian's car and they'll get rid of the body somewhere.

And they just happen to decide on North Head?

Well, the papers carried a report from the inquest saying Sally Blakely's ashes were scattered there.

I mean, Dianne knows that.

She's obsessively read everything about Blakely.

We found clippings she's kept ever since her daughter's disappearance.

She knows if they leave his car up at North Head, it'll look like su1c1de.

So they decide to leave a su1c1de note.

Spot on.

They know they can't handwrite a su1c1de note.

So they decide to use the computer.

Which isn't password-locked.

No.

So Brian tells Dianne to take his car and meet him around the corner.

He's going to type the note, clean the keyboard then drive Blakely's car out the back.

So Dianne heads out the front at...?

7:10.

Dianne is caught on the boy's iPhone at 7:12.

And IT say the su1c1de note was typed on the computer at 7:16 and 25 seconds.

I wish you'd warned me we were going on the full Magical Mystery Tour.

Well, you might not have said 'yes'.

So technically, this is a kidnapping.

I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Yeah.

Hey, it's me. Yeah, look, I know.

Um, no, no, no, you eat.

I'll grab something when I get home.

It feels very visceral.

It really... really brings it alive.

sh*t, the shopping. Look, I'll do that. Sorry, I completely forgot.

It's kind of ironic, really, given it's about a body.

I'll text you when I'm on my way.

Right, bye.

I'm taking this route to show you there are no tollways so unless they tripped a speed camera, which they didn't, we've got no way of actually tracking this part of the journey.

This is where Blakely's car was found, with flecks of paint from his living room in the boot.

They probably carried the body down this way.

From this cliff top, straight drop to the ocean.

At 7:40 last Wednesday night, the tide was going out and it kept going out for another three-and-a-half hours.

It's pretty chilling.

OK, let's keep going. You coming?

You've got the hospital CCTV footage, haven't you?

Yep.

And it shows Brian and Dianne walking into the main foyer.

What time?

8:21 and 14 seconds.

It's now 8:22.

And yet, for all that, given all the excellent police work, I still detect a hesitation.

And you know why.

Oh, I hate conflict.

Call the meeting, Tony.

Get it over with.

You're f*cking joking.

The odds are well against us.

Bullshit! Really? You still think he suicided? Seriously?

Andy, I really was impressed.

On the balance of probabilities, I'd say you could be right.

Oh, you...

And unfortunately, balance of probabilities is one thing and beyond reasonable doubt is another.

All the defence has to do is create reasonable doubt that also fits the facts and we're sh*t.

And what would that be?

Blakely could have taken the drop sheet to the tip any day that week.

Then on Wednesday night he slams the door in Dianne's face.

Brian comes, takes her to the park, they talk for an hour until she calms down.

Meanwhile, Blakely leaves a note on his computer then drives himself to North Head and jumps.

Then Brian takes his mum to work for a cup of tea.

Same facts, different story, but you have reasonable doubt.

If that's all you've got, we're not going to succeed.

You won't be needing these, I guess?

Ah, no.

Until you have more then of course, please, bring them back.

We need a body, Jack.

That's what we need.

Shall we?

They took that better than I thought they would.

No, they didn't.

Well, they didn't say much.

Oh, yes, they did.

So that's it?

No.

As a common courtesy, we thought we'd let you know exactly what we were planning.

You can do it?

Yes. Yes, we can.

And Dianne Vasilich will go to court, and we believe we will win and everyone will know exactly what your father went through.

It'll be a vindication for all of us, but especially him.

Thank you.

I have to say, this is the most interesting matter to cross my desk since I've been back at the bar.

You really want to go behind the DPP's back?

Just bypass them altogether, and run your own trial?

Yes.

And we can, under Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1986.

Well, you don't need my advice then, do you?

Glad it didn't happen when I was there.

Is it winnable?

(Sighs) Yes.

I've read stronger briefs, but it's winnable.

The absence of a body's unfortunate, but not fatal, as it were.

The trick will be in making any alternate version of events sound faintly preposterous.

Well, I've got no doubt she did it.

Would you be interested in running it for us?

Of course, we would brief you through all the correct channels.

Well, as a barrister, I can only refuse a brief if I lack experience in the area in question, which is hardly the case here.

Glad to hear it, David.

Of course, you'll still need an ex-officio indictment from the Attorney General to proceed without the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I can't say yes without that.

I know.

We really appreciate you coming in.

Your evidence will ensure a conviction.

Now, Owen's a little different from Janet, but he's a fine advocate.

You're in good hands, I promise.

Will we be long?

I've only got an hour on the meter.

That should be plenty. If not, I can nick out and feed your meter.

Oh, Ms Petrakis.

Thanks for coming in. Please.

Any luck remembering anything?

No?

Not a lot.

It's so long since I made the statement.

I know it's in the statement, but it's like writing a diary about what you did years ago.

You can read it, but that doesn't mean you can actually remember it.

No. No, I totally understand.

Although we do tend to recall our more memorable moments.

Our first kiss, our wedding day.

A man getting his head blown off 10m in front of us.

Some things just can't be forgotten, can they?

Unless of course remembering them is no longer in our best interests.

Which is what happened here, isn't it?

There haven't been any threats.

I believe you.

Because a thr*at only happens if you turn down the first offer which is usually a financial incentive. Am I right?

Actually I know I'm right, so we can stop the whole talking-in-riddles thing.

Bank records.

Easy enough to access in a case like this.

Two weeks ago you paid off your mortgage with $100,000 in cash.

Want to tell me where that came from?

They're smart, these guys, aren't they?

Much better than threatening to break your legs.

It was a gift.

But they wouldn't be happy if you took their money then shat all over them anyway, would they?

No wonder you didn't say anything in court.

It was a gift from my uncle.

In cash? Where did he get it from?

Look, Zebina, the point is we can only keep thugs like him off the street if our witnesses help us.

Now we can offer you all sorts of carrots - morally, physically, witness protection, etcetera, but we also have a big stick.

Convincing me about your cashed-up uncle is one thing.

But if the Tax Office hear about this, they will check every answer you give them and trawl over every receipt for God knows how long, and I do sincerely hope that you've kept your tax returns up to date.

So think carefully.

Who do you really want to upset?

If it's us, I'll have you declared a hostile witness and question all your finances.

If it's them, we'll look into immediate relocation for you and your son.

You can't do that.

You'll be safe as houses.

Excuse me.

Look, I know this is all very daunting.

Can I get you a cup of tea?

Would you do that?

Yeah, of course. Thank you.

Thanks for coming in, Zebina.

Hopefully hear from you by the end of the day.

Don't like our chances.

And I don't like you questioning me and my work in front of a witness.

You totally intimidated her.

And you lied to her.

I expedited a process, that's all.

Oh, right.

Erin, I've just secured the assistance of an eye witness in a m*rder case, while you've been fluffing around making cups of tea.

I have a very big problem with that man.

Not your type?

He's exactly my type.

He's like every boyfriend I've ever had.

Smart and self-righteous and a bully.

Don't forget handsome.

And he bends the rules.

But he also gets a lot of results, which makes you wonder if we shouldn't follow his lead, doesn't it?

Lina!

Oh, don't worry. As tempting as it is, I can't do it either.

But I know what your problem with Owen is.

I do not.

Yes, you do. You totally fancy him.

Rizzoli did what? Jesus, bloody two-faced... Is this a...

Right, ten minutes.

..bad time?

Oh, it's always a bad time.

The job description for the new Solicitor Advocate position.

Have you had a chance...

No. Tomorrow, maybe.

We do need to get it circulated.

Well, send it out.

It's bound to be brilliant.

I might even apply for it myself.

Got to be more fun than doing this.

You left me with no alternative, Tony.

You should be collecting stronger evidence!

They have the evidence.

Oh, according to who?

What excitable baby barrister got roped into this grand charade?

David Sinclair.

David?

I'm sure you remember him.

Your predecessor.

Oh, look, can we just pause for a second?

Can we look at the principle here?

I know there's a long-forgotten clause in an Act that was written 20 or 30 years ago, but what is at stake here is the independence and integrity of the Office of Public Prosecutions.

If we can be undermined every time the police feel hard done by, then it is the end...

The end of the DPP picking and choosing what suits them.

The end of a system where police work is assessed by an independent body.

So we're the only ones who are able to make mistakes, are we?

You're always right?

I didn't say that.

While you're able to choose the briefs that suit you, but you don't want us to say when you're wrong.

We f*ck up, you're perfect.

The world according to the lawyers.

You just want your own way even if it means dismantling the criminal justice system.

I just want to see the K*llers in jail as quick as possible.

Alright, this has been wonderful sport, gentlemen. Now it's my turn.

I asked both of you for a quick, fully professional response to Blakely.

The cold truth is, only one of you listened.

Tony, I'm going to sign this ex officio indictment in 24 hours unless the DPP agree to prosecute Dianne Vasilich and her son for m*rder.

It's up to you.

I'd like to see David bloody Sinclair run a trial.

Maybe we should let him do it.

You really wanna risk that?

Oh, what's the worst that could happen?

We run it and win, we're heroes.

They run it and lose, they're idiots.

But if we run it and lose...

Ugly.

Or they run it and God forbid, win...

Monumental disaster.

But if we give in just to avoid that happening, where does it end?

The police'll have us on a leash.

What would you do?

Uh-uh, no, this is your call.

That's why you get paid the big bucks.

Ha!

Your call.

Oh, God.

Maybe we could get Tracey to decide.

Alright. Alright.

Have a good night.

Ha!

Why do I have to work with Owen?

Well, it's your punishment for defecting to the defence team for a while.

He got Zebina Petrakis's bank records and found out she'd taken a bribe to keep quiet.

Speedy work on the subpoena.

I don't think he got a subpoena.

Not officially.

Now he's threatening to bring the whole ATO down on her.

He thinks the Tax Office is a bigger thr*at than a bikie g*ng?

Maybe she just needs a friend.

We were doing well with our softly, softly approach.

You know, it usually it works in the end.

How often have you tried softly, softly before? Honestly?

Many times. Hundreds, at least.

That's what you taught me, was it?

12 months ago you'd have gone on the att*ck until you got what you wanted.

Not necessarily.

Yeah, right.

You know me too well.

Oh, hey, did I tell you?

Emma is walking.

Oh, my God! That's fantastic!

I know.

How exciting!

Next thing I know they'll be at university.

Very cosy.

Job going well, then?

I told you I'd never forgive you walking out and leaving me in charge, and I haven't.

And now this piece of treachery.

David!

Hello!

Hello.

Good to see you out and about the courts again.

And you. How've you been?

Keeping busy.

I'm doing fine, thanks.

He's a traitor.

I haven't even done anything yet.

Can't without an ex officio indictment.

You could have said 'no'.

Why? Jack Rizzoli would have just gone barrister shopping.

I'd have been out of pocket, you'd be in the same situation anyway.

So who was that going to help?

But if I still refuse to run it, what'll you do?

I'll try my very best to win it, Tony.

That's what I've been briefed to do.

Let's all have lunch together sometime.

We have to go for it.

Tony, we're not ready.

We have to run this trial against Dianne Vasilich and bust every brain cell we have to win it.

There is doubt everywhere.

It's against all our principles.

Yours, mine, the code of ethics.

It's politics over principles for once, I'm afraid.

We cannot risk them running it and winning it. It'll k*ll us.

And we cannot let the police take back more prosecutions.

We'll lose our autonomy, what we stand for, everything.

It's as simple as that.

And we have to win it.

And the person most likely to win it is...

You a betting woman?

Why?

Is our friend Ms Petrakis going to turn up and give evidence, or disappear into suburbia with her ill-gotten gains?

I don't bet, especially not on something like that.

Well, that's a shame, 'cause there she is.

Someone must have convinced her it was the right thing to do.

Bikies won't be happy.

Simpson's their most valuable cook.

Days like this you realise how much fun you can have in prosecution.

Hey, Geoff.

Yeah, hold on.

Go grab the witness. Do a little bit of girly stuff with her.

You know, make her feel special.

They might even want to plead now they know we've got her.

Hello, Zebina. I'm so glad you came.

It's a courageous thing to do.

I feel sick.

You'll be fine, I promise.

It'll be over before you know it and you can go home to your boy and forget that any of this ever happened.

(g*nshots)

All we've got is a victim.

Cause of death severe trauma to the head from a high-powered firearm.

I walked you through every detail.

Except how she k*lled him.

And not further evidence to work with - nothing.

What am I meant to say?

And how about Blakely's children?

How are they gonna feel about this?

Better than if Dianne walks.

I hear you've applied for silk.

It's no secret.

And winning a sensational case wouldn't hurt.

Maybe. I hadn't thought of that.

They've got Janet King looking at me?

That's got your attention, hasn't it?

Well, mate, they had us...

Come here, you mouthy little prick.

I'll f*cking k*ll ya!

Dianne Vasilich, I've got a real good story about her.

Well, I'm down near Gerringong which is not good news.

Why?

Because a bushwalker just found a body.