The next morning, Wednesday

Sam collects Foyle from his house in Steep Lane and begins to tell him about Grace's funeral as they walk to the Wolseley. Some of Grace's family had been present, but not her mother although there had been a collection for her at the factory. Grace's young man, according to Sam, was good looking but she thought there was something not quite right about him. "As if he were putting the whole thing on, like a performance."

Bad news waits for Foyle and Sam at the police station. A woman has been found dead in an alley-way off The Parade, beaten around the head. Sergeant Brooks says he has tried to keep it quiet, "but word gets around; it's Mrs Milner." Milner still hasn't arrived at work.

In the alley-way, PC Peters replaces the blanket over Jane Milner's face. He points to a half-brick smeared with blood and hair, helpfully drawing Foyle's attention to the murder weapon. Foyle finds an empty envelope, addressed to Jane, on the ground near the body. He instructs the constable not to mention anything to anybody for the time being.

Milner walks into an almost deserted police-station, calling out, "Where is everyone?" Sergeant Brooks emerges into the corridor and although he says there's been an incident in town, won't give any more information.

***

Phyllis Law finds Mr Baker sitting in the cafeteria. By talking to Grace's cousin at the funeral, Phyllis is aware that Grace's mother is dead and the collection Mr Baker took up in her name was fraudulent. She attempts to blackmail Mr Baker, asking for three days off at Christmas but the works manager threatens her in turn. "I know all about you. I know where you live. You don't know what I might do."

***

Milner sits in Foyle's office. He wants to know if he can see Jane's body. Foyle grimaces and Milner shakes his head, silently agreeing it is probably not a good idea. Foyle questions Milner about his meeting with Jane at The Spread Eagle.
"That's difficult to explain."
"I hate to ask but in the circumstances..."
"Sir, I told you that we were divorced. Well, it wasn't true. It would have been - in a few months. She was the one who left me. But it turns out that wasn't what she wanted. She asked me to take her back."
"Did she know about your, erm, present circumstances?"
Edith? I told her. She was upset. Angry. She asked me if she could move back into the house and I said that wasn't possible now."
"Where was she staying?"
"There's a hairdressers on the High Street. She used to work there before we were married."
Milner says he was with Edith until around nine o'clock and acknowledges that he will be treated as a suspect. Foyle tells Milner that he can't be involved in the investigation and his house and office will have to be searched.
"I do wonder why you felt it necessary to lie about the divorce?"
"I suppose it was just easier. After she left I did write to her suggesting we divorce but she never replied. I just pretended that we were. The more I said it, the more I believed it."
"Tell Edith?"
"No, I lied to her. I just wanted Jane out of my life."
"She is now."

***

The Wolseley pulls up outside the Spread Eagle Hotel. Sam, distressed, attempts to defend Milner.
"Sir, I can't think for a single minute that Mr Milner had anything to do with the death of his wife."
"What makes you think I'll be answering this question? Have I not made it clear that cases are not for discussion?"
"Yes, sir." Ummm...not since the very first episode.
"Do we discuss cases?"
"No, sir." All the time.
"Will we be discussing this one?"
"No, sir." Not until the next scene, at any rate.
"Right." Riiiight.

***

Two constables look through Milner's desk and office. PC Peters and three other policemen are going through Milner's house.

***

Foyle interviews a distraught Mrs Summersgill at Maison Jules. She tearfully exclaims that Jane didn't have an enemy in the world apart from 'him', Milner, who didn't treat her well. Jane had been very upset and said she was going out to see her husband again. Mrs Summersgill accuses Foyle of protecting a murderer. "He killed her! He killed her!"

***

Eric finds Harry working in Johnson's garage. Eric brings the news of a murder of a woman in town but Harry doesn't seem interested. Eric is aware that a woman visited Harry the previous evening and appears suspicious when Harry lets slip that the dead woman was 'bashed in' even though Eric hadn't given him that information. Eric uses the murder investigation as a reason to consider calling off their plans, too many police in town, but Harry won't hear of it.

***

The evidence collected during the search of Milner's house and office is presented to Milner by Foyle. Milner doesn't recognise the handwriting on the empty envelope (postmarked December 16, 1942) but he does recognise the shirt in the large packet. He turns the shirt over in his hands and stares at the splotches of blood on the cuff. "Is this where I'm supposed to say: I cut myself shaving?" Foyle, matter-of-factly, says the blood came from Jane.
"I also went to the hotel where you and your wife were last seen. A few people there who, um..."
"Heard us arguing."
"Well, arguing violently was how it was described."
"It was heated, but it wasn't violent."
"Well, whatever it was, you threatened her?"
"No! Not in so many words."
"How many words do you need?"

***

Thursday, Christmas Eve.

Edie visits Foyle at his home. She says she can't believe that Milner has been suspended. Working herself into a passion, she accuses Foyle of being 'cruel' to a man who has worked for him for more than two years.
"Listen. I'm very sorry, but I do think you should leave."
"No, wait. I'm sorry, I had no cause to speak to you like that. That wasn't why I came here. The truth is I'm desperately worried about him. You see, he told me about the shirt. You found blood on it."
"Yes."
"They met you know. He never denied that. Maybe it got there...somehow..." she stumbles in her attempt to find a reason but gives up and sinks onto a chair.
Foyle asks if she knew Jane and Milner had never divorced. Milner, she says, told her the previous night.
"He lied to himself, I don't think he lied to me."
"He still lied."
"I know you are doing what you can."
"No, I'm doing what I believe is right and I'm sorry I can't tell you what you want to hear."
"You really think he's guilty?"
"No, I don't. I think you do."

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