Borderline

Drunk stags and hens in a wee Irish town? She's asking for trouble.

The body washed up from the North, so we've a duty to investigate.

Starting with the post-mortem. No way. We're doing the PM.

Belfast and Dublin want this investigation

to showcase positive cross-border cooperation between our two forces.

Here in the South, it will be you, Regan. In the North, Detective Boyd.

Apparently, she was staying with friends in a rental cottage outside Drumbay.

Seeing as we found her, perhaps I should be there, too.

OK, girls, I'll need you to make formal statements,

so stay put till you hear from me.

What time did you leave the bar? Half-eight.

Didn't want to cramp their style.

Where were you Saturday night? Here with me ma watching telly.

Sinead's blood alcohol was moderate, but she did test positive for fentanyl.

I warned her, and I'm warning you.

We found this, it looks like Sinead's jacket.

You're making a mistake, he didn't do it. Joe!

Are you free? Aye, hop in.

What are you doing?

I'm trying to help you. Get off me!

What do you know about Patrick Gorman?

He killed your father when you were a kid, or so they say.

So they say? There's no proof.

Well, he's back now. What?

He came back two years ago. He runs a furniture store in Castleblayney.

She wore a wedding ring, but it's missing.

Any marriage problems?

Simple question. No.

She thought he was having an affair. Was he?

If I tell you, do you promise not to tell the others?

Niamh?

Niamh? What's going on?

Did either of you see Niamh come back inside last night?

I didn't notice. I wasn't bothered.

Niamh? What?

Thank God.

You had me worried.

Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you? Just looking.

No problem. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Actually, I do have a question.

Did you kill my father, James Boyd, in 1991?

Yes.

I thought so.

Sir? Sir?

Chief wants to see you.

OK. Thanks.

Philip!

Got your email. Aye, sir.

Sorry I couldn't make it work. Clash of personalities more than anything.

In my view,

DC Shakir would make an excellent alternative to liaise with Regan.

Look, I know it's difficult working with another force,

especially one we've had, at best, a chequered past with.

But you need to make this work.

It reflects badly on us if we're the ones seen to be walking away.

So, don't let them show us up.

Do I make myself understood... detective?

Aye, sir.

What size are they?

What? Them shoes?

36.

They'll do my daughter. Give 'em here.

Have you never heard of recycling?

We've only the one planet, you know. We need to look after it.

You're welcome... Greta.

Regan. Yes, ma'am.

It was his decision, not mi...

Yes, ma'am.

If I remember anything else, I'll be sure to let you know.

What was that about? Some girl in my cab did a runner.

So, I reported her. Oh.

How much?

Does it matter?

Sure I'll never see it.

I like what you're thinking, but I don't see the connection.

Boss.

I'll take that coffee now, Maguire. Yeah, all right, boss.

You too? Me too.

If we're going to make this work, we need to establish some rules of engagement.

Like in a war?

Yes, only we're not at war, are we? At least, not any more.

OK, I'll tell you what.

You write down your list of rules, I'll write down mine, then we can compare.

OK. Good. We can come back to this further...

Done! What?

My list. I just sent it to you.

"When you're in the South, you do as I say."

That's it? That's it.

What was Sinead Connelly's jacket doing in your house?

I found it on the beach Sunday morning when I was walking the dog.

I thought that it might belong to one of the girls,

but when I got back to the cottage there was no sign of life.

I assumed they were sleeping off the night before,

so I decided to wait until they were checking out to ask.

So, why was it still in your possession? I forgot about it.

You forgot about it?

Did you, er... "forget" where you were on Saturday night?

That was me ma's idea.

She said you'd try and pin the murder on me.

Mammy's boy? Do you always do what she says?

She's right, isn't she?

Did you speak to Sinead while you were at the bar?

I spoke to all of them.

According to the CCTV, you left the bar around midnight?

It was a hen night, and I am no hen.

And you went straight home? Yes.

We trawled through the CCTV.

There's no sign of your car. I was wasted, so I walked.

I'm a law-abiding citizen. Except when you're supplying drugs.

No comment. Did you walk home along the road?

No, the beach. When the tide is out, it is quicker that way.

Did you see anyone else on your midnight jaunt?

Not a soul.

So, you got home, went to bed,

and didn't surface till the morning when you walked the dog, correct?

Yeah.

And you never saw Sinead again?

No.

He has no alibi. And we have no witnesses or fentanyl.

What about searching his house again?

Maybe you missed something. His ma will have got rid of anything.

How much longer can you keep him? Not long enough.

The place was heaving, you know. It was full of stags and hens.

I remember the girls, though, cos of what they were wearing, you know?

Do you remember anyone bothering them at all? Especially Sinead?

I can't honestly say.

Do you know this man?

Joe Dooley. Local lad. He comes in here sometimes.

Ever see him selling drugs? Not inside.

I'd kill him. What about outside?

It's not my job to spy on people unless they're in here.

Can I ask the witness a question?

Go ahead. I need her permission.

Permission granted. Thank you.

Has anyone ever reported having their drink spiked?

It happens. Not just in here, all the bars in town.

We always tell the girls, "Keep an eye on your drinks."

You know how it is.

Aye, aye. Any recent incidents?

There was one a few weeks back. I remember cos it happened on my birthday.

When's that? 26th May.

It was a Saturday night. Town was rammed.

Polish girl. Don't know her name.

She was completely out of it, but insisted she hadn't been drinking.

Hm, so what did you do?

I offered to call an ambulance, but she refused. Said she just wanted to go home.

She got in a taxi and that was the last I saw of her.

Would you recognise the taxi or the driver?

I couldn't tell you. There were loads of taxis there that night.

I want you to check out which taxis were operating that night.

See if we can find the one that took the Polish girl home.

Yes ma'am. Actually, I was just about to call you.

Sinead's phone record's come in.

Anything? She texted twice on Saturday night.

Once to her husband, Sean.

And the other?

Permission to question these witnesses? OK, Boyd, you made your point.

You don't need to keep asking, but when I tell you button it, you button it.

Is this a reciprocal arrangement? In the North I can tell you to button it?

Yeah, whatever. Now button it.

Officers. How can we help?

Mr Walsh, according to Sinead's phone records,

she texted you at 2:15am Sunday morning. That's right.

You didn't think to mention it before?

It was just a confirmation text for the canoe experience on the Sunday.

To be honest, I didn't think it was important.

In this type of investigation, every little detail is important.

Of course. I'm sorry.

We talked about it with the girls the night before in the bar.

Like I told you, it's a marketing tool. Do you still have the message?

Sure. If I remember right, it was just a thumbs-up emoji, so I made the booking.

You can see for yourself.

You never said about a text message. I forgot, OK?

It came at two in the morning, what do you want me to do?

Wake you up so I can make the booking?

I'm sorry, love, I...

This whole business is just so upsetting.

Yeah.

Yeah, OK.

Sergeant? Yeah?

There's a woman here, says she has information

that might be relevant to the murder inquiry.

Thanks.

Mrs Dooley? He didn't do it, that's all I'm saying.

Come on, Lola.

He drove your car on Saturday night

and he's dealing drugs from your house, making you an accessory.

You could go to prison, and then who'll look after little Lola?

I heard the front door go,

so I got up and saw Joe walking towards the beach with a bottle of wine.

How long was he gone?

Ten, 15 minutes tops.

You saw him come back? Yes.

He saw I was awake and came to check I was OK.

He was fine!

Said he just fancied a drink on the beach.

Believe me, if he had just murdered someone in cold blood, I'd know.