Sam, looking rather disconsolate, takes another peek into the evidence-room. PC Peters attempts to commiserate, over both the turkey and Milner's situation.
"This whole place is rotten is you ask me. What they are saying about Sergeant Milner, it's tripe!"
"I'm sure Mr Foyle will get to the bottom of it," Sam replies, coldly.

Sam wanders in to the sergeant's office where Sergeant Brooks asks her if everything is all right.
"Yes, thank you...No, not really. It really is a bleak midwinter, isn't it?"
"Well, we've just had some news that might cheer you up. There was a witness, when Mrs Milner was killed. There was someone there and he's just been on the blower."

***

Foyle interviews the fireguard, Mr Bradshaw, at his post, brazier burning and pot of tea brewing. Mr Bradshaw explains that there are twelve fireguards in the district but they haven't had a raid for quite a while. In fact they haven't had a raid for quite some time, but, says Mr Bradshaw, he does drink a lot of tea. "In a way I'm quite grateful to Herr Hitler. Him and his war have given me something to do."

Foyle determines that Mr Bradshaw did see a man following Jane Milner on the night of her murder but he thought it was just a husband and wife argument. Although it was dark, Mr Bradshaw thinks he can identify the man if he sees him again. Foyle suggests an identity parade at the station and Mr Bradshaw agrees.

Sam is reading a newspaper (the same edition Jane was reading a few days earlier, dated Tuesday, December 22, 1942) while she waits for Foyle. She shows the paper to Foyle when he returns to the Wolseley as the article is about Grace. Foyle, looking at the photo in the paper, says he has seen the girl before.


***

A portrait on the wall of Maison Jules shows Grace with a pre-war wave.
"That was taken before the war. She'd changed her hair. These days it's all victory cuts from America. It's easier to wash and curl. All the girls want to look like Veronica Lake."

Foyle inquires after Grace's boyfriend. Mrs Summersgill says she hadn't met him but had seen him going in and out of the bank next door several times.
"Jane and Grace were friends, is that right?"
"Yes, they were. They were more than that. They were cutters together but Grace had been orphaned when she was young and she was all on her own. She used to look up to Jane as a big sister."

Mrs Summersgill identifies the writing on the envelope Foyle shows her as being Grace's hand.

***

In the Wolseley, Sam attempts to suppress a smile as she glances at Foyle.
"You've found something, haven't you, sir!"
"Have I?"
"You can always tell. You have a look. Sort of 'cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war'. That's Julius Caesar," she adds, helpfully.
"Slip."
"What?"
"It's 'let slip the dogs of war'."
"Is it really?"
"Yep...Yes it is...Keep your eyes on the road, will you?"
The Wolseley coughs and splutters, steam puffing from under the bonnet.
"Oh, hell," says Sam.
"Radiator?"
"Radiator."
Foyle decides to walk to the factory and Sam is left to try and get the car to a garage.

***

Mr Watson is not quite so welcoming when Foyle arrives at the factory. He and Mr Baker are trying to get the Christmas pay-roll ready. Foyle quickly apologises.
"I'm sorry, Mr Watson, it's, er, a little difficult arranging a murder inquiry around your wages schedule."
Listening to Foyle explain the connection between Grace and Jane and Grace's state of health, Mr Baker again appears agitated.
Yes, she was tired. Yes, she was under a great deal of stress, but that's all there was to it. She made a mistake!"
When Foyle raises the issue of theft from the factory, the possibility is quickly denied.

***

Harry is hammering a piece of red-hot iron at the garage when the Wolseley wheezes to a stop outside. Sam cheerfully requests assistance sealing the radiator but Harry says they are full up. Sam announces that it is a police vehicle and should have some priority. Venturing further into the garage, Sam recognises Harry from the funeral service and offers her condolences. Harry, however, is immediately suspicious and begins to threaten Sam, shouting that she can't leave. Eric comes in from a back room and tries to intervene. Sam quickly grabs a scoop full of hot coals and throws them at Harry, turning and running out of the garage. Enraged, Harry lurches forward, embedding a screwdriver in Eric's abdomen.

***

Milner and Edie are walking along the street, not hand in hand. Milner is on his way to the police station for the identity parade. Edie confesses that she has been to see Mr Foyle. Milner is not terribly pleased and explains that Mr Foyle is only doing what he has to and he would do the same.
"How do you think...I mean, do you ahve any idea how that blood got on to your shirt?"
"I don't know. It has to be a mistake."
"Paul...I mean, if you had killed her I could try to understand, I mean, your..."
"No! Edie, you must never say that."
"Why?"
"Because murder is murder. I've met men like that and you must never believe, even for a minute, that I am capable of...that!"
Edie offers an apology but Milner walks away towards the station.

***

All is ready at the station for the identity parade. In the yard, Milner lines up with similarly dressed men while Foyle makes sure that Mr Bradshaw understands what he needs to do. Mr Bradshaw studies the faces of each man and comes back for another look at Milner. "This is the man."

Milner is escorted inside and along the corridor by a constable. Sergeant Brooks is obviously astounded. He confronts Foyle.
"Pardon my saying so but you must have it wrong."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Well I haven't known Sergeant Milner all that long but a man less likely to murder his wife is hard to imagine."
"That's very helpful. Is there anything else you want to say before I have you transferred?"
Brooks doesn't have anything more to say and Foyle sends the sergeant off to find PC Peters.

***

PC Peters responds to Foyle's summons and arrives at the DSC's office. Peters finds a genial Foyle who informs him that it looks as if he will be needing a new sergeant.
"You and Milner trained at together at Brighton and joined the force about the sime time? He got promoted, you didn't. Well, it's never too late. Interested?"
"To work with you, sir? Anyone would jump at the opportunity!"
"I get the impression that you never liked Milner much anyway. Is that, right?"
"Do you want the truth, sir?"
"I generally find it helps."
Peters says he always thought Milner 'hoity-toity' and agrees with his superior that Milner came down on them a bit much after the food incident at the restaurant. Peters is feeling comfortable enough to take a seat, unbidden.
"And he disciplined you and you, erm...you thought you'd get your own back?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Well, what I mean is, you picked Mr Bradshaw up. Old, unreliable Mr Bradshaw. Bags of opportunity to describe Milner to him. Even perhaps to help point him out."
Peters crumples quickly when Foyle points out there are only teo ways the blood could have got onto Milners shirt. Either Milner killed his wife or someone else put the blood there. Nervously he explains that it was all meant as a joke, he'd never meant for it to get this far.
"Well how far did you mean it to go. The hanging?"
Foyle coldly informs the constable that he will be charged with obstruction and perverting the course of justice. "For starters." With a glare, Foyle asks Peters to 'kindly leave'.

Continue...