Where's Mack? Toilet.
What you drawing?
Just Curly Queen.
I haven't authorised any transfers!
For that kind of money? Of course I'd remember!
Yeah, and I'm telling you it wasn't me!
Well, look, if you could look into it some more, that would be great.
Yes. I'll call you later.
Thank you.
Problem?
Erm, no, it's just one of our suppliers taking the mick.
It's all right, I've sorted it.
That why you were stressed this morning, was it?
You left without saying goodbye...
Martin, we'd just found out Chantelle had died.
What do you want me to do - sit round the table eating cornflakes,
talking about the weather?
I just needed some air, I was in shock.
I was just...making sure you was OK.
Look, it's my day with Arthur today.
I thought we could knock off early and take him to the South Bank.
Aquarium, boat trip, get some food.
What? Bad idea?
No, it just sounds like it's going to cost an arm and a leg.
Yeah, I know, it's my treat.
I mean, what's the point in working all the hours
if you can't spend it on the people you care about?
Yeah, you're right.
You're right, let's do it.
MESSAGE ALERT BLEEPS
DOOR OPENS
I can't believe he could have been so stupid.
It's like he wants to go back inside or something.
How long before they charge or release him? Seven hours.
With the evidence they've got, I'm surprised they need seven minutes.
What, are you saying there's no way he's walking away from this?
More chance of finding a one-ended stick.
Hardcastle's served Ben up on a plate - times, dates,
the works. Then throw in the CCTV and a copper who hates your guts.
I told him - you don't grass. Never.
The way Ben sees it, it was either Hardcastle or him.
It always comes back to bite ya. You know, I thought I'd convinced him,
I thought I'd made him see sense.
Maybe he WAS going to take your advice.
Or maybe yours isn't the loudest
voice whispering in his ear right now.
How much do you trust the boyfriend?
Back at the house, you said you'd only just got back that night.
Is that right?
Yeah.
Yeah, my, erm...
..in-laws had arranged a little break.
Southend.
All the family together.
I haven't called them.
Has anybody called them?
RAP MUSIC PLAYS
I went out to get some milk.
Hot chocolate for Chantelle.
MUFFLED: What are you stepping out here for?
She can't sleep without it.
Then I went to the Vic.
And when I came back...
SOBBING: It was the worst moment of my life.
Opening that door...
..and seeing her there.
I tried to save her...
SHE WHIMPERS
..but she was already dead.
SHE WAILS
My beautiful girl...
..dead.
HE SOBS
MACHINE BLEEPS OFF
DOOR OPENS
What were you doing on the laptop till one in the morning?
Erm... If you must know, I was playing Texas Hold 'Em with Kush.
Look, whatever it is you want to say,
why don't you just say it, Ruby?
You've had the hump all morning and I know it's something to do
with money cos I heard you on the phone to your bank.
What? You were listening to my conversation?
No. I came in the room, didn't I?
And why all this cloak and dagger anyway?
If this place is in trouble...
I've been defrauded, all right? 40 grand - gone.
So if I seem a bit on edge, give me a break.
I don't understand.
Someone is pretending to be me,
stealing money from my account.
It started off small,
but this morning I woke up to another 20 grand gone.
The bank say it's authorised.
Transferred to another account in my name,
so whoever opened it...well, they've got everything
they need to say that they're Ruby Allen.
And you think that's me?
Well, they've got my account numbers, all my personal details.
They even have my mum's maiden name!
So, yeah, Martin, the thought did cross my mind.
DOOR CLOSES
I always found rubies a bit tacky.
But, erm, yeah, go on, I'll take it.
Thank you, Miss Allen.
How's Denise taking it?
She's in bits.
She heartbroken for those kids.
They were in here with Whit earlier.
The little one just sat there,
head down, drawing, didn't look up once. Like nothing had happened.
She knows what's happened.
She just don't know how to deal with it yet.
How do you cope, though, with someone you love that much just...
..dropping out your life like that?
You learn to live with it.
You spoken to Ben since he was arrested?
Keep it that way.
Right, you need to distance yourself from this whole situation.
You saying I should just turn my back on him?
No, I'm saying you need to be smart.
All right? You get involved,
it's going to put a question mark over your name.
And that could affect your career.
Some things are more important than a job, though, Jack.
Look, you're going to do what you want to do.
Just don't say I didn't warn you.
Stace, this ain't a joke any more. What if Ruby calls the Old Bill?
Let her, it's not like I care.
Well, you should flamin' care! Stace?
You all right? Was that Stace?
Yeah. Sure you're all right? You look tired.
Yeah, I was up late talking to Martin online.
Why would Ruby want to call the police on Stacey?
I'd really appreciate it if you kept your beak out of this one.
OK, right, cos it's none of my business
if someone calls the police on Arthur's mum, is it?
Oh, wind your neck in. It might not happen.
All right.
SHE SIGHS
Stacey borrowed some money from Ruby without her knowing.
And now she kind of knows that the money's missing.
When are you Slaters going to learn
that stealing doesn't work out that well for you?
It didn't start off as stealing!
Oh, right. Stace just wanted to mess with her head a bit,
but she didn't notice, so Stacey had to take some more.
Why would she want to mess with Ruby's head a bit?
Because I might have told her about Ruby and Martin,
and maybe I said that she had a cheek stealing her ex.
And I might have said that she deserved payback.
HE SCOFFS
I know that I've been stupid getting us involved.
Us? Us? How am I involved in any of this?
You know how brassic we've been since lockdown!
She chucked us a few quid now and then.
Where do you think the money for the stall come from?
All right, you're going to call her back
and you tell her to come here, all right?
Now. Cos we need to sort this out. No, she won't do that.
She has sworn off Walford.
It's not just about her, is it? There are three kids
who stand to lose their mum if she gets nicked for this.
So you call Stacey right now, or I will!
You avoiding me?
No, course not.
But you can't answer your phone?
Did you know what Ben was planning?
Well? You tell him it was a good idea, eh?
No.But you knew. Some of it.
And you didn't do anything to stop him?
No, actually, Phil. I told him to talk to you, so if you're
looking for someone to blame, then why don't you look in the mirror?
I warned him off.
Something funny?
You warned him off?
He never would have gone on that job, or any other job,
had it not been for you, had he not been trying to prove
that he was a big hard man. You did that to him.
That's enough. I've made mistakes with Ben, all right?
But I told him not to do that warehouse job.
I told him to stay away cos I could see this coming.
But Ben, you know, he was... He was young when he went inside.
And he wasted a lot of years, some of the best years.
But there's nothing I can do about that now.
All I can do is hope that he don't waste any more.
And my son-in-law, he's still with you?
Questions? What sort of questions?
You've already said he's just given his statement.
Are you thinking of charging him or something?
No, you listen to me, all right?
Now, there's two kids here who've just lost their mum. Son?
Now they need their dad.
Yeah? They need him right now!
Mum's going to call the boys.
I'm going to...
I'll travel to Streatham and speak to Bailey face-to-face.
I better get Mack and Mia.
They should be with us.
Last night they all left so quick.
SOBBING: I didn't even get to say goodbye, Dad.
ANSWERPHONE: What I said was wrong. I, erm...
I've had second thoughts.
I love my husband and my children, and I've got to put them first.
I'm sorry. End of messages.
ANSWERPHONE: Hi, Kheerat, it's Chantelle.
I'm back home with Gray.
FOOTSTEPS
You need to stop this.
Come outside.
Sitting in here is only going to make you feel worse.
I didn't hear it at the time, but I hear it now.
Tell me you don't.
What I hear is a woman realising she'd made a mistake...
No. But the stress in her voice, he made her say that.
You're chasing shadows, Kheerat.
You want to believe she was coerced because you had feelings for her.
No, Mum! I loved her! OK?
And she felt the same way about me.
I know she did. I mean...
I mean, we were going to run away together, start a new life.
I'm emotional, but it can't be a coincidence that on the same
night she asked me to break into the house to get this box
I get this weird message, and then...
And then she...
What, are you saying you think HE killed her?
HE EXHALES
I don't know what to think.
I just... I just... I just know something isn't right.
Where are you taking that? The police.
They need to know everything.
Do you want the police looking at our family again?
And what about Chantelle's family?
Do they really need to know she was having an affair?
No. No.
That's not what it was, Mum. No, but...that's what people will say.
Look, I don't think you're right about Gray.
But even if you are, we need to stay out of it.
Leave Chantelle's reputation intact and let the police deal with this.
HE WEEPS
One there, look, hiding behind that crab.
I can't see. I can't see behind the crab.
I think you owe me an apology.
Yeah, well, you didn't deny it. Well, you didn't give me chance.
The only money I've taken from you gets paid to me
in the last Friday of the month.
And when I was on the computer last night, I wasn't poncing
20 grand - I told ya, I was playing poker with Kush.
But this big day out you've got planned -
I know you're stretched, so how can you afford it?
Rube.
Vouchers, yeah?
Although we're probably not going to go now. I don't think we'd enjoy it.
Look, if someone has stolen from you, then go to the police.
And if you still think so little of me, you can
tell them where to find me. I'll be in the park.
Come on, Arthur, let's go have a kickabout.
No, I don't think so little of you. I think little of me.
I've had boyfriends in the past
that I thought wanted me and they didn't even see me,
they just saw my money.
And I know you're not like that. It just...
It takes a bit of getting used to, that's all.
I want you, Rube. I don't want your money.
But Mummy does.
Mummy stole your money.
Stacey?
You stay with Arthur. I'll deal with this.
DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
Gray!
Thank God you're back. Thank God.
SHE SOBS
I can't believe she's gone!
I know. I know!
SHE CRIES
Clocking off early?
Day off. Just catching up with some paperwork.
Arthur's had a fella in from round your way.
Wife died. Tragic. Gray Atkins.
Oh, you know him? Not well.
He's decent. People like him.
Liked them both.Awful.
So...did you think about my offer?
I can't do it.
If Ben ever found out that I'd betrayed his family,
it would destroy him.
What, and you think he wouldn't do the same to you?
You've seen what these people are.
Stab each other in the back without so much as a thought.
But you want to stand by your man.
Even if that means he goes to prison?
I can't, all right? I'm sorry.
Callum?
You know what happens to grasses in prison.
Sleep on it. I'll charge him first thing tomorrow.
You've got till then.
I take it from the look of ya, you're not here to give me a bonus.
No, I know, Kat. I know everything.
So where is she? Who? You know damn well who -
your thieving slapper of a cousin. I want her address.
What makes you think I've got it?
I haven't seen her in over a year. You're lying! Oi!
Is this a private barney or can we all pile in?
The faces on the pair of ya.
Anyone'd think you ain't pleased to see me.