As the curtains rise on the premier episode of "The Chelsea Detective," Detective Inspector Max Arnold (portrayed by Adrian Scarborough) is depicted on his serene boat, fingers dancing across the piano keys. Absorbed in his melody, he momentarily forgets about the simmering pot, promptly plunging it into cold water to avert disaster. As Max wheels out his bicycle for a ride, the scene shifts to a youthful figure darting through the bustling cityscape. Soon after, this young man is apprehended in an attempt to make off with Max’s bike. When probed for his identity, he introduces himself as Jack Turner, handing over his bolt cutters as evidence. Opting to avoid the cumbersome paperwork, Max spares Jack an arrest, instead tasking him with purchasing a bike lock and delivering it to the Chelsea police station.
Once Jack has departed, Max’s gaze falls upon Arnold’s Books, an establishment founded in 1972, now shuttered by a notice citing unforeseen circumstances. Elsewhere, an elderly gentleman, roused by an unidentified noise upstairs, rises from his slumber to investigate. His search leads him to a mirror inscribed with chilling words that send a shiver down his spine: "The wages of sin is death." As he wanders past South Kensington Station, he encounters Nicholas Hewitt (played by James Boyland), strumming a guitar. Repeating the phrase from the mirror, he finds himself brushed aside by the guitarist’s impatience. The old man continues his journey into the station, awaiting the subway, but fate has other plans. A sudden commotion propels him onto the tracks, where he meets his untimely demise beneath an approaching train.
Upon arriving at the crime scene, Max is promptly approached by Darren Goldfinch from Chelsea Online News, eager for a statement. DI Arnold firmly denies rumors of a rogue pusher terrorizing the streets. Darren persists, hinting at Huff Post’s interest in the narrative. Before entering the station, Max instructs a police officer to safeguard his bike from any would-be thieves. Descending the stairs, he is warmly welcomed by DS Priya Shamsie (played by Sonita Henry), freshly returned from maternity leave. She proudly shows him a photograph of her newborn daughter, Poppy, her radiant face beaming with joy.
Priya expresses her sincere apologies concerning Max's father before inquiring about his wellbeing alongside Astrid (played by Anamaria Marinca). He concedes that his father might still be aboard that odorous vessel. A female eyewitness contends that the man was shoved, whereas the driver speculates he leapt. The driver jests that it would simplify the paperwork immensely if the man had indeed jumped to his demise. Max interrogates the woman, who remains uncertain whether the victim jumped, fell, or was pushed. Ultimately, she settles on the assertion that he fell. They scrutinize CCTV footage depicting the man accidentally colliding with a street performer outdoors. Doubts arise as to whether the busker could have ventured to the platform to propel the victim onto the train tracks. They view the footage of the fall, yet it remains inconclusive, prompting their agreement that video from the driver's cab is imperative.
Venturing outdoors, they engage the busker, who admits to taking a respite shortly after the victim bumped into him. He maintains that he headed in the opposite direction to refill his supplies from a van situated around the corner. The busker recounts the victim's words and notes, despite detecting no alcohol on his breath, the man's speech was slurred.
Returning indoors, Max and Priya converse with Ashley, who is engrossed in compiling evidence from the crime scene. She identifies the deceased as 62-year-old Andrew Knightley, a former resident of 72 Denton Crescent. Ashley reveals the assortment of items discovered at the scene, including a gym membership card, a pink false nail, a solitary white button, a blue ripple, and an abundance of coins. Remarkably, his phone is missing, though they have secured his keys, wallet, and Oyster card.
The busker intrudes, attempting to film the proceedings, necessitating their escort from the crime scene. They quiz him on how he evaded the vigilant police officer, Lana Appleby (portrayed by Cecilia Appiah), who remained oblivious to his presence. He facetiously attributes it to an invisibility cloak. Max exploits Nicholas's facial recognition to unlock his phone and promptly deletes the recorded footage. As Nicholas is escorted away, Max checks on Priya, who seemed to be venting frustrations at a colleague. He wonders aloud about her precipitous return to work three months ahead of schedule, but she diverts the conversation to his relationship with Astrid. Max confides that they are embroiled in a custody battle over a mere coffee machine, even though Astrid has no inclination towards coffee.
Priya remarks with genuine delight that it's heartening to learn he's been managing so well. They then proceed to the office, where they warmly greet Detective Constable Connor Pollock (portrayed by Peter Bankole) and Detective Constable Jess Lombard (played by Lucy Phelps). With a confident nod, Priya assures them she has secured the footage from the driver's cab, while Connor recounts the steps he's taken to inform Andrew's loved ones.
Gathered around, they meticulously review the footage and spot what appears to be an arm forcefully shoving Andrew onto the tracks. Max promptly directs the team to delve into Andrew's background, leaving no stone unturned. Jess leans in towards Priya, inquiring about accessing baby photographs, but Priya gently defers, suggesting they tackle that task later. Jess can't help but wonder aloud if bringing Priya back early was indeed a prudent decision.
Outside, on the bustling street, Max receives a call from Astrid, discussing the coffee machine that her guests have deemed inoperable. The conversation is cut short abruptly, and soon after, Max and Priya venture into Andrew's apartment, eager to uncover any clues that might shed light on the mystery.
As they step inside the apartment, Priya relates that the upstairs neighbor had overheard loud sobbing and moaning emanating from this very flat the previous Tuesday night. When he inquired about the commotion the following morning, Andrew appeared utterly embarrassed, dismissing it as mere enthusiasm during a solo game. The neighbors further revealed that Andrew had been living alone ever since the passing of his wife six months prior. Meanwhile, Max begins snapping photographs of family portraits while Priya delves into bank statements and comes across an invoice from Brompton Stonemasonry, bearing the name of its proprietor, Andrew Knightley. Amidst these documents, she also discovers letters from his general practitioner, the most recent of which indicates that Andrew had been complaining of dizziness and had been referred for thyroid tests and an MRI.
Despite the apartment being impeccably clean, Max notices a peculiar speck of dirt nestled beside the corner mirror. Although Andrew's slurred speech and unsteady gait suggest intoxication, no empty alcohol bottles are found scattered about. As for medications, the strongest substance in the flat proves to be nothing more than paracetamol. Priya ponders whether Andrew's dispute with Astrid might have actually stemmed from something as mundane as a coffee machine, and she generously offers to purchase him one if that's indeed the case, although Max reminds her that such a machine could cost upwards of five hundred pounds. For her 40th birthday, Nitin had thoughtfully gifted her a terrarium instead.
While sifting through the trash, DI Arnold unearths what appears to be a motion-activated spy camera, its presence both intriguing and unsettling. Later that night, aboard the boat, Arnold hangs pictures on the wall, the ambiance a stark contrast to the tension-filled day. The following day, Max and Priya head to Chelsea Central Hospital to seek insights from Ashley regarding Andrew's toxicology report, which revealed traces of a synthetic opioid.
They consulted with the general practitioner, who confirmed that he had not prescribed any medications to Andrew, albeit acknowledging the possibility that Andrew might have been unaware of his own ingestion, given the probable duration of his exposure. Max and Priya came up empty-handed in their search for opioids within his residence, whereas Ashley claimed to have discovered them. Given the presence of opioid traces in his stomach, she insisted on further examining food items from his kitchen, which ultimately revealed contamination in the milk and sugar samples, indicating that Andrew had been surreptitiously administered drugs.
Ashley displayed photographs of circular contact burns of varying sizes on Andrew's upper shoulders and back, resembling a drip pattern and likely caused by an oil-based substance, estimating their age to be less than a week old. Priya speculated that these burns could be linked to the moaning and sobbing audible to a neighbor on Tuesday night. A review of Andrew's medical history disclosed a previously fractured right humerus, now healed and barely detectable clinically, yet curiously absent from his medical records despite having been treated.
Upon returning to the office, they uncovered intriguing details in Andrew's search history. Detective Constable Pollock handed Max the bike lock that Jack had earlier dropped off. Scanning through his search results, Max stumbled upon keywords such as ghosts, ghostwriting, automatic writing, reincarnation, and Gabriella Tottenham. Connor suggested that Andrew might have been engaged in constructing his family tree, given his exploration of genealogy websites. Jess revealed that Andrew had bought an expensive necklace and earrings a week apart, on the 18th and 25th, respectively, and had withdrawn £500 two days prior to his death. Oddly enough, neither cash nor jewelry was found on his person or in his apartment.
Jess directed their attention to a text message sent from Andrew's phone at 21:05 the night before his demise, reading, "There is an evil in my home. Can you help me?" She dialed the number to leave a message and requested a trace. The last signal emitted by Andrew's phone was at 7:55 outside South Kensington Station, suggesting he still had it with him when he passed, albeit it remains unrecovered.
Priya unveils a series of photographs extracted from Knightley's laptop, revealing cryptic messages inscribed upon the mirror in the confines of his apartment. These messages, laden with religious undertones, declare statements like, "The unrighteous shall not possess the kingdom of God," echoing through the corners of their investigation. The most recent missive, captured six days prior, points to a recipient named Erin Murphy, the chapel warden at the historic Brompton Cemetery.
Upon their arrival, the atmosphere is thick with the echoes of Simon Turnball's (played by Al Weaver) tour, regaling visitors with tales of Emmeline Pankhurst, whose resting place lies within the cemetery's hallowed grounds. As Simon retreats indoors, his gaze lingers intently on Max and Priya, leaving them with an unsettling sense of scrutiny.
They confer with Erin, who expresses bewilderment at Andrew's cryptic references to an evil presence in his home. She intended to inquire about it the previous morning, as Andrew is a daily visitor to the chapel, arriving shortly after she does, a routine he's maintained for a month. Noticing his pallor, Erin wondered if illness had befallen him. She categorically denies ever stepping foot in Andrew's flat and mentions she will be dropping her husband off at Saint Pancras at 8 AM the following day.
When presented with the eerie inscriptions found in Andrew's abode, Max inquiries if the language aligns with the standard King James Bible. Erin steps inside to verify, leaving them with Simon, who departs with his tour group but can't seem to tear his gaze away. Priya attempts levity with a joke about something sinister potentially trailing Andrew back home, only to quickly apologize, suspecting that Max's father might rest eternally within the cemetery's walls. Max's curiosity piqued, he inquires if the individual in question is Davinson Clarke.
Erin returns with insight, confirming Davinson's identity and revealing her intimate knowledge of his past through her volunteer work aiding ex-convicts in their quest for employment. She suggests they seek clarification from Davinson himself regarding any connection to Andrew. Moreover, she identifies the biblical passages as belonging to the Douay-Rheims translation, marking them as Catholic and traditionalist in nature. One passage, however, appears truncated. In its entirety, it reads, "Know you not that the unrighteous shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers."
With a plan formulated to confront Davinson, an unexpected twist unfolds as he flees from them, adding another layer of mystery to their unraveling narrative.
Priya relentlessly pursued him, while Max summoned other units to join the search, cautioning them that Clarke had a criminal record marred by convictions for grievous bodily harm and aggravated robbery. Subsequently, they retreated indoors to converse with Hayley Donohue, who was engrossed in sculpting a peculiar statue. Hayley appeared dazed and inadvertently sliced her finger upon hearing the tragic news of Andrew's demise. Meanwhile, Andrew documented the statues with his camera, while Priya lent a helping hand to Hayley's wound.
They uncovered that Hayley and Andrew had planned to collaborate on the statue, but his aversion to the task led him to consistently evade it. For nearly two years after starting as an apprentice under Andrew, they had maintained a professional partnership, with Andrew kindly continuing her employment. She depicted him as a devoted husband, committed to married life. Hayley assisted Andrew in selecting jewelry for his daughter's birthday, revealing their close working relationship extended beyond professional duties.
Priya discovered photographs from a charity barbeque, which Andrew had persuaded Hayley to assist with. Among the snapshots was one featuring Andrew and Clarke, whom Hayley revealed she knew from his role in preparing cemetery plots. However, their interactions were strictly confined to the workplace; Hayley never socialized with Andrew outside of their professional setting and had never visited his home.
Max requested a handwriting sample by asking Hayley to inscribe, "The Lord is Gracious and Merciful." Upon completion, she inquired whether this was connected to the messages etched on Andrew's mirror. Andrew had once shown her a photo of one such message on his phone, though she had dismissed it as a hoax. They sought additional handwriting samples from her, acknowledging her prior awareness of the messages. Priya scrutinized the samples and affirmed that Hayley had not authored the mysterious notes.
When questioned about the video camera they had discovered, Hayley claimed ignorance but mused that Andrew might have been attempting to capture a ghost on film. As they departed, Max radioed them, instructing them to station officers outside Clarke's apartment. A sign for Brompton Cemetery Tours caught their attention, prompting Max to reveal his familiarity with the Chelsea Historical Preservation Society—a passion shared by his aunt. They decided to visit the site, intrigued by the tour guide's intense scrutiny of them.
They paid a visit to his aunt, who affirmed that she had already reached out to Simon. As they stepped inside, they discovered that Simon was an actor, and his guided tour was among their most renowned attractions. He maintained that he had barely exchanged words with Andrew and that his staring was due to his attempt to summon the courage to approach them, believing he possessed information regarding Clarke. He disclosed that he had witnessed Andrew handing Clarke what appeared to be a significant amount of cash approximately two days prior and had overheard that Clarke was the person to contact for illicit substances. However, he did not witness any drug exchange. Before departing, they requested a handwriting sample from him. He attempted to inscribe the phrase about the unrighteous not inheriting the kingdom of God but struggled with the spelling. Max noticed a book his aunt intended to donate to the library and set it aside for later. They eventually allowed Simon to abandon the task, as he couldn't spell the words correctly, before he revealed that he arrived at 8 a.m. because he was now staying there temporarily. He would only be staying for a few weeks while his apartment underwent renovations. As he left, he instructed Livvy not to stay up waiting for him.
Upon his aunt's return, Max expressed his dislike for Simon, whom he described as shady. She, however, had known his mother for a lifetime and suspected that Max's police instincts made everyone appear suspicious. As Max and Priya prepared to leave, she engaged him in a conversation about intergenerational relationships, but he insisted that Simon wasn't his aunt's type. Meanwhile, Hayley glanced at the large invitation card from the charity BBQ event and the note inscribed within. She carefully placed it in a box beneath a pile of sketches, possibly concealing it. As Priya ended her workday, she gazed at the photograph of her daughter on her phone, her thoughts drifting. Max drove past the closed bookshop once again before reaching his boat, where he found a box containing his coffee machine. He carried it inside and tried to get it operational, but to no avail. Frustrated, he pondered calling Astrid but ultimately refrained from doing so.
He slams the back of his head against the shelf looming behind him with a thud. Upon Priya's return home, her husband inquiries if she recalls Jo Lyndsey, who had been filling in for him at work. She had phoned to inform them that a review of the Itsu campaign was imperative before its release, necessitating his immediate departure. Priya insists, however, that he must first take a shower and eat.
The next day, DI Arnold's fingers dance over the piano keys as his mind delves deep into the case. When Astrid's call interrupts his thoughts, Max initially congratulates her, mistakenly accusing her of deliberately breaking the coffee machine. Swiftly, he realizes it is actually Connor on the line, urging him to check his emails. Someone has released the mirror photos of Andrew, accompanied by a chilling new message: "The wages of sin is death." Recognizing the source as Chelsea Online News, Max concludes that Darren Goldfinch is behind this.
Darren is summoned to the station for questioning by Connor and Jess. He claims an anonymous envelope containing a USB stick arrived in the mail. Having recycled the envelope, he cannot recall if the address was handwritten. Threatened with the confiscation of his computer, Darren, a staunch protector of his sources, reluctantly admits that the images were received via a We Transfer link from the email address 1990superNH@protonmail.com. He remains tight-lipped about whether '1990' signifies a birthdate or 'NH' stands for initials, hastily excusing himself after confirming his freedom from arrest.
As Darren exits, Jess informs Connor that Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption, complicating matters further. Meanwhile, Priya's husband, Nitin, reaches out to her, allowing her a glimpse of Poppy through a smartphone screen. Connor updates Max, revealing that Andrew's spy camera was purchased online from a Hong Kong-based firm and shipped to a PO Box under the pseudonym Snap Dragon 2,000. There are no listings for this name on Companies House. Although the camera was networked, its exact location remains a mystery, untraceable due to its use of a VPN service named Surfshark.
Priya decides to take a seat and tackle the mountainous pile of paperwork awaiting her. A lingering concern gnaws at her as she notices something seemingly amiss with Poppy, prompting her to inquire. However, Priya assures her that Poppy is perfectly fine. Max then shares a nostalgic tale, recounting his days spent perched in his father's cozy bookshop, absorbing the captivating stories his dad would weave for customers about losing oneself in the realm of books. For years, Max harbored the misconception that everyone else shared his perpetual sense of disorientation. He reveals that he has discovered methods to comprehend the world better, finding images far more intuitive than words. His father later diagnosed him with dyslexia, offering an explanation for his struggles with schoolwork. Despite the words in books holding little significance for Max, his father would read aloud to him, emphasizing the importance of his father's comforting voice rather than the printed text. Max argues fervently that what truly mattered was the unwavering support conveyed through his father's words, reassuring him that he was not alone in his struggle. Priya, moved by his story, urges him to stay true to himself.
Max settles into his chair and rewatches the surveillance footage of Andrew accidentally bumping into Nicholas. This time, however, he catches a glimpse of Nicholas subtly slipping Andrew's phone from his pocket. The conversation pivots to the email address containing the initials 'NH,' which could potentially stand for Nicholas Hewitt. Max proposes a clever strategy, suggesting they utilize TFL's licensing system for buskers to track down Nicholas's address.
Nicholas is soon brought in for questioning, with Priya and Max informing him that Andrew's phone was discovered at his girlfriend's apartment. They accuse him of theft and of sending the incriminating pictures to Darren Goldfinch. The narrative escalates further as they suggest that Nicholas, enraged, shoved Andrew in front of an oncoming train. Nicholas confesses that Darren had given him a business card and offered him £100 for the photos, though he hasn't yet received the payment. Max instructs Priya to charge Nicholas with theft and obstruction of justice. Nicholas, desperate to minimize his culpability, blurts out that there's another video, which he planned to sell to Goldfinch at an additional cost. The interrogators press him on how he managed to bypass security measures that had previously prohibited his recording.
He elucidates that the fire door sports a faulty lock, which, with a bit of wiggling, can be coerced open, granting uninvited access. During his homeless days, he would exploit this flaw to sneak into the tunnels under the cover of night. Subsequently, Connor enlightens Max that the video in question was captured by Andrew in his apartment on the eve of his demise. Andrew peers into the mirror, pondering aloud if the reflection belongs to someone specific. He hastily dashes to a portrait of a girl, repeating the inquiry. He wonders aloud if his sanity is slipping away. Detective Inspector Arnold underscores the urgency of identifying the enigmatic girl in the picture.
That evening, Priya returns to her abode to find Nitin nestled beside Polly in slumber. He inquires after her well-being. Priya assures him she is aware of her professional responsibilities. However, her bond with Polly evokes a distinct anxiety; she constantly fears she might falter as a mother. She doesn't fully attribute her motherly concerns to her own shortcomings. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she beseeches Nitin to be her conscience, alerting her should she start to stumble and morph into an inept mother.
Upon dawn's break, Max informs Priya of their impending meeting with Andrew's daughter at his flat. She stands as the sole acquaintance of Andrew besides Hayley. He confesses that Jess is scrutinizing her whereabouts. Upon meeting Andrew's daughter, she confesses their relationship was strained, highlighted by his neglect to gift her jewelry for her birthday. There was no inclination towards reconciliation, especially after her father declared her mother's demise as divine retribution for his sins. He was set to receive a payout from her mother's life insurance. She recognizes the woman in the picture yet is unaware of her identity, despite having glimpsed her before. She recounts how Andrew would once go to any lengths for anyone but one day, he became indifferent. Her mother, a nurse, couldn't fathom why he didn't seek medical attention after a car accident that totaled her vehicle and broke his arm. The mishap occurred towards the end of her second year at university. Although absent during the incident, she returned for Christmas to find her father's arm healed but his personality altered. One day, she caught him mesmerized by the picture in his workshop. Her concern turned into shock when he snarled and ejected her from the room. Upon graduation, she promptly vacated the premises. She remains clueless about the identity of the girl or the nature of her father's sins.
Hayley is escorted to the precinct, where she finds herself grilled about the jewelry Andrew had acquired. The transactions transpired on the 18th and 25th of the month. Phone records indicate her presence at Andrew's residence on the 5th and 12th, yet she contests this, claiming she was never there. Andrew had a habit of entrusting her with tasks like dropping items off at his place, often forgetting his keys. She vehemently denies any knowledge of his visits or why he withdrew 500 pounds on the fatal day. The notion of a romantic entanglement with strikes Andrew her as ludicrous. When confronted with a picture of a girl, she dismisses it as a random internet image, merely a reference for an angel carving she had commissioned. She steadfastly refuses any involvement with opioid-tainted items and assures them they would find no such substances in her apartment. Authorities suspect Andrew might have been duped by someone seeking his wealth and lavish gifts, but Hayley vehemently denies involvement. She claims ignorance about the life insurance payout following his wife's demise and asserts she was at home on the morning of his demise, a statement her roommate will corroborate.
Later that evening, Max returns home to an unexpected gift: a sleek, brand-new coffee machine. He promptly returns it to Astrid, declaring he has no desire for it. Feeling guilty for breaking the old one, Astrid confesses, but he persists in refusing it. When he steps inside for a drink, Astrid reveals her envy, pained by Max's apparent ability to move on without her. Arnold suggests her emotions stem not from jealousy but from a loss of control over Max. Astrid attempts to persuade him to accept the coffee machine, threatening to give it away when he insists on fixing his old one. Max accuses her of orchestrating these scenarios to retain power over him. Astrid insists she has outgrown him and doesn't miss him. When she orders him to leave, a quarrel ensues. Again, she urges him to take the coffee machine, which he thinks she should keep for guests, to which she replies she has none, while Max cherishes his houseboat. He exits, leaving it behind.
The next morning, Max's aunt sharply instructs Simon to stay out of her way as she prepares laundry. Meanwhile, Livvy rummages through Simon's room and stumbles upon an order invoice just as he calls for her from another room. Upon entering, Simon claims she asked him to sell the items, but she must have forgotten. He admits fault, blaming their shared intoxication from drinks and marijuana. She tells him she'd prefer he pack his belongings and leave, correcting him that her name is Olivia, not Livvy. Armed with this information, she visits Max at the station, revealing Simon's unauthorized sales of their father's books. Olivia had inspected his eBay account, discovering this was the sixth book sold under the username snapdragon2000. Upon revisiting the invoice, Max notices Simon's username.
In a swift motion, he examined the handwriting, finding it an unmistakable match, and immediately resolved to dash to Olivia's abode to apprehend Simon before he could slip away. However, Clarke beat him to the punch, arriving first and seeking a private conversation with Simon regarding a video. Forcefully making his way inside, a scuffle ensued, culminating in Clarke delivering a blow to the back of Simon's head, rendering him unconscious just as Max arrived on the scene, opening the door and stepping in.
Shortly thereafter, DI Arnold appeared with the bag containing Clarke's belongings. He approached Max to inform him that Simon had been taken to the station for further examination. The detective was already aware of the money Clarke had received from Andrew, as well as Andrew's withdrawal of 500 pounds the previous day. Max speculated that the cash in the bag might be the remaining sum. Clarke suggested they query Knightley, but unfortunately, that was out of the question since Knightley was deceased. When pressed by Max if Andrew had sent him to see Simon, Clarke revealed that earlier in the week, he had witnessed Simon in a heated argument with Knightley over a video, with Simon demanding five thousand pounds and threatening to upload it to YouTube if his demands were not met. Clarke had offered to intervene for a mere 500 pounds.
Back at the station, Max discovered that Simon was quite the selfie enthusiast, while Priya unveiled a Bible found in Simon's room. The passages marked in Simon's Bible matched those on Andrew's mirror. Among the photos, they found one of Simon with Hayley, sparking curiosity about their relationship status. There were also images of Simon alongside the mirror messages, leading Priya to suspect he had been drugging Andrew as well. Inside an unnamed folder, they discovered spy cam footage of Andrew in his home. One particular video captured Hayley pouring candle wax onto Andrew's back and shoulders.
Hayley was summoned for another interview and questioned about Andrew's keys. They showed her the video of the candle wax incident, prompting her to abruptly shut the computer. She explained that she had worked late with Andrew the previous month, noting his unusual behavior—he seemed reluctant to go home, explaining that a ghost was leaving him messages as punishment for his sins. She had been unaware that Simon was behind it all until much later. Andrew believed the only way to halt the messages was to punish himself, and though hesitant, she agreed to assist him without fully understanding his plan until she arrived at the scene.
Andrew presented her with a piece of jewelry as a token of gratitude for her assistance. When Simon revealed his intentions to her, she insisted he desist, unaware that the entire gesture was being captured on film. Simon defended her actions, asserting that helping Andrew was the right thing to do. Meanwhile, Priya joined Max aboard his boat, where he brewed them each a cup of coffee. They perused Max's wall adorned with clues, preparing to distinguish the murder from the mysterious mirror writings. Despite their efforts, they couldn't pinpoint Simon, Hayley, or Clarke at the tube station. Max postulated that Andrew had mistakenly believed the girl in the photograph was the specter penning the letters. Priya recalled Hayley's mention of Andrew's disdain for his work on Gabriel's state. Max started to say Gabriella but then corrected himself, remembering Andrew's frantic search for Gabriella Tottenham shortly before his demise. They reflected on his mishap in June or July of 2012, which Priya used as a cue to uncover a news story about a hit-and-run fatality involving a charity worker. The victim was 19-year-old Gabriella Hadlow, the girl in the photo, who worked for Crisis.
Max mentioned the BBQ charity event he had dragged Hayley to, prompting Priya to discover Hadlow House—a charity combating homelessness founded in May 2013 by Gabriella Hadlow's family and friends. Max had a vague sense of having seen that logo before. Jess scoured the records and uncovered evidence suggesting Andrew was driving Katherine Knightley's car when he struck Gabriella. To erase any traces, he dismantled the vehicle afterward. A woman named Jane Erin Reece had survived the ordeal alongside Gabriella. After their conversation ended, Max recalled Erin's mention of the logo on a busker's coffee cup and something about a white item adorned with a blue ripple, though she hadn't appeared on CCTV. They visited Erin to inquire about the 2012 hit-and-run. She had been serving food and drinks for a charity a short distance from the tube station on the morning of Andrew's fatal accident.
They presented her with the button, a tangible piece of evidence that irrefutably placed her at the tube station at the time of Andrew's demise. As she settled into a chair, she unfolded her tale, recounting how she had been strolling back from the college bar in the company of Gabriella when a car emerged seemingly out of thin air. At first, she wasn't certain it was Andrew Knightley until she caught another glimpse of him. She had recognized him roughly three years prior, when she first started working there. Suspecting him to be intoxicated, she nevertheless acted as Gabriella would have, striving to comprehend and forgive his actions. He had generously offered to foot the bill for the BBQ, leading her to believe he was filled with remorse. However, her perception shifted when she discovered tales of his haunting past, where he painted Gabriella as an evil presence in his home. They speculated that she might have ventured to the platform with the intent to confront and punish him. She contested, arguing that a decent man would have rushed Gabriella to the hospital, thus asserting that Andrew was not a virtuous soul before confessing to having shoved him. Shortly thereafter, she was escorted away in a police cruiser.
Max and Priya decided to postpone the paperwork until the following day, as Priya longed to return home, insisting she was on the mend. They parted ways, with Max and Olivia heading towards Sebastian's grave. Max confessed that he had been deliberately steering clear of it. With a poignant gesture, he placed the Arnold’s Books sign in front of the headstone. Olivia whispered that his father would have cherished the sight, before Max bid a heartfelt farewell to his dad. They then departed.
Later, as Max soaked in the melodies aboard his boat, Astrid paid him a visit. Upon hearing the music, she hesitated, ultimately turning on her heel and leaving without catching sight of him, leaving an air of unspoken emotions lingering in her wake.
