"INSPECTOR REX" "DEATH WEARS A MASK" "Christine will be there soon." "How are you, madam?" "Just ten more minutes." "Damn." "Rex, get me my gloves." "They're in the shed." "This is only one." "Where's the other one?" "How often have I told you not to chew gloves, slippers or towels?" "Moving stressed me too, but I don't wreck your stuff." "What an idiot." "As if I'd ever hurt you." "Morse." "Hi, Richard." "It's me." "What are you doing?" "Okay." "We have a suspected murder in a beauty salon." "The police physician isn't sure when and how." "Yes, I have asked Dr Gray to attend." "What?" "I have no idea if that's right." "Go there." "1st District, 11 Ho Lane." "Yes, bye." "We were close friends." "We always came here together." "Was Mrs Hefner ill?" "Was it cardiovascular collapse?" "The treatment could trigger it." "No, Senate was quite healthy." "That's why the police should investigate." "I don't think it was an accident, or that we're responsible." "I might as well close up shop." "What's up with you?" "A cold?" "It could be the Oil of Nepal." "My dog is allergic to it too." "Morning." "Hi, Leo." "Sorry, but my car's at the garage." "Heller kindly came to pick me up." "We got stuck in a traffic jam at a construction site." "I must go." "I'll see you at the office." "Can I be of use?" "I see." "Well... no external injuries to the head." "Of course it could also be..." "It could be heart failure due to coronary occlusion." "Her friend said she was healthy." "There are no bruises on the neck and the larynx seems to be all right." "Look at this." "Specks of blood in the eyes and conjunctiva." "Strangulation can cause that." "But there's no sign of that." "The autopsy will give you details." "Death was probably caused by asphyxiation." "Natural or foreign influence?" "I think someone caused it, made it happen." "Mrs Wilkes, please come to my office." " Please have a seat." " Thanks." "I know you told my colleague but can you now tell me what happened at the salon?" "Yes." "Well, Senate and I arrived there about 10 o'clock." "And Senate was in her cubicle, while I was in the relaxation room." "Were you alone or with someone?" "No, alone." "Until Mrs Staler fetched me and... told me something had happened to Senate." " Mrs Ofter was divorced." " Yes." "For some years." "Her ex-husband had a soft drink wholesale business." " You run a champagne house." " I own it." "Sorry." "I've run it since my husband died." " What did she live off?" " She didn't need to work." "Her ex paid her maintenance." "I see." " A lot?" " Quite a lot." "But he has enough money." "Are you suggesting..." "You can't..." "Was anyone else in Mrs Offer's life?" "Friends, acquaintances?" "If by friend you mean a lover, no." "So no one had a motive." "Everyone liked Senate." "She had no enemies." "I doubt that." "But if she was killed, someone must have known her habits." "We were the best of friends." "That's all." "I have to go now." "The company..." " We'll talk again." " You know how to reach me." "Goodbye, Mrs Wilkes." "What's with her?" "What was I saying?" "Two clients left before the body was found." "One of them saw a woman who possibly came out of Offer's cubicle." "What did she look like?" "Like all the others." "White coat, white turban, white face mask." "Wilkes says she was in the relaxation room." "But she could have gone to the cubicle, killed Ofter and gone back again." "And her motive?" "Ofter must have been killed by someone who knew she'd be there." "No one goes to a salon to kill someone at random." "And someone made it look like a natural death or an accident." "No tracks, no gun, no nothing." "The whole thing was planned, I tell you." "Let me tell you, Mrs Offer's apartment is a dream." "A penthouse overlooking the city." "I'd like that." " Did you check inside?" " Nothing special there." "But it was found, from notes she'd written, that she'd met up with a Mr Bultmann." "Well... who is he?" "I heard a bit from a neighbour who saw me leaving the flat with the box." " Did she ring the police?" " I showed her my ID." "The nice old lady then opened the door and told me that Mr Bultmann visited Ofter regularly." " He picked her up." " Wilkes must have known." "But she said that her best friend had no boyfriend." "She did." "And who do you think this Bultmann is?" "The lawyer who did her divorce." "Leo..." "How are things?" "Well, she was murdered." "I was right." "She suffocated through closure of her respiratory organs." "Can you explain that to me using layman's terms?" "Yes, I can." "The woman was defenseless." "The killer only had to make sure that the victim wouldn't utter a sound during the attack." "A cloth over the face, or what?" "Come with me and I'll show you." "Look at it." " Do you see it?" " I don't." "Come on." " Now, perhaps?" " Looks like a fabric fiber." "But it's leather." "The victim inhaled it." "So I assume the woman's airways were covered by a leather object." "Did you analyst it?" "The leather shows tiny traces of wear and tear." "So it's a commonly used object." "Made of leather..." "For instance?" "How would I know?" " Cloths, or gloves, or..." " Exactly." "And if they were thick gloves, they even muffled the sound." "What's the matter with him?" " Why's he so nervous?" " Quiet." " Franz, I won't go riding." " Fine, madam." "He's always so nervous." "Hello, Mum." "Are you all right?" "Something awful has happened." "Senate is dead." "Senate is dead?" "That can't be." "She's dead, she's dead." "She was found dead in her cubicle, in the beauty salon where we always..." "I've just come from the police." "Why from the police?" "Irene, that's the owner of this salon, she called them, so that no one would think that the treatment caused Senate's death." " What did they say?" " They questioned me." "They believe Senate was murdered." "But that's absurd." "Can I get you anything?" "Make me a hot cup of tea." "Rex, you'd better stay here." "Here's your tea, Mum." "This will do you good." "He's from the police." "I wonder what he wants now." "If he bothers you, complain about him." "That's precisely what I'll do." " I'll speak to him alone." " I'm off." "Sasha..." "do you need money?" "Always." "Yes?" "Sorry to bother you, but..." " Some new developments." " Come in." "I haven't much time." "A happier world." "Yes." "Perhaps." "We now know your friend was murdered." "Suffocated." "Allegedly by a woman who was seen leaving her cubicle." "Piss off, you mongrel." "You were relaxing, but there are no witnesses." "But the person who was seen, who left Mrs Offer's cubicle, was dressed like you." "How dare you suspect me?" "The murderer knew Mrs Ofter was at the salon, she could move around inconspicuously, and there's normally a link between killer and victim." "What is it?" "Can I help?" "Asthma." "Bag..." "Shall I call a doctor?" "Are you all right?" "I've had this for years." "No one had a motive to kill Senate." "I knew her very well." "Who really knows anyone?" " Hello." "Am I interrupting?" " No, this is..." "Mr Morse, Crime Squad." "My name is Bultmann." "I'm Mrs Wielder's lawyer." "Is this about the death of Senate Ofter?" " You did Mrs Offer's divorce?" " Yes, I did." "It wasn't very easy, but Senate did pretty well." "And you had private dealings with Mrs Ofter?" "That was years ago." "Why mention it?" "How did you know Mrs Ofter was dead?" "Karla, I mean Mrs Wilkes, rang me." "I did." "Mr Bultmann and I have a business meeting." "You'll have to excuse us." "I'd like to speak with you." " My office at 10 am?" " Sorry, I have a meeting." " What about 10.45 a.m?" " That's fine." "What's up?" "You act like I've been away for three weeks." "What is it?" "Hey, let go of me." "Where are you taking me?" "Someone rode a motorcycle, so what?" "So he headed straight for you?" "You got out of the way." "Why didn't you say so?" "Come along now." "We'll have to have a word with Mrs Wilkes." "Impossible." "It can't just be gone." " What can't?" " My ham roll." "You ate it and forgot that you ate it." "If I had, I'd have a stomach ache, but I don't." "Soon." "Could there be a black hole where my ham rolls..." " Heller..." " Why look at me?" "Hey, where did you come from?" "Well, he just ran ahead of me." " What's new?" " Look at this." "A ham roll." "And where's the ham?" " You ate it." " I don't find it funny." "Relax, Stock, here we go." "Have you checked Mrs Offer's ex?" "Yes, he has a cast-iron alibi." "But Heller found something." "Right?" "Yes." "Among her things were copies of letters she'd written to Mr Bultmann." " She threatened him." " Threatened him?" "With what?" "She says if he were to leave her, she'd reveal some of his shady business deals." " The latest was three weeks ago." " What?" "So they have been in contact recently." "So Bultmann had a motive." "But the killer was a woman." "Perhaps Wilkes was his accomplice." "Why her?" "She was there, she had the opportunity, and no alibi." "And Bultmann was with her." "So he's Wielder's lawyer as well?" " Seems like it." " But she has no motive." "Unless it was a favour for Mr Bultmann." "But would she kill her best friend?" "370, thanks." "Where's my tie now?" "Rex, have you seen my tie?" "Should I put it on?" "Who cares." "Get the door." "Open the door." "Go on." "Hello, Rex." "You're right on time." "I was going to put on my tie." "It wouldn't have suited your apron." " I see." " Rex doesn't seem happy." "That must be..." "because I am delighted." "Come in." "You scared me." "No one sleeps in my presence." "I'll remember that." "What if I had gone under?" "I'd have watched you gasping for air." "You deserve it." "I told you there was nothing between me and Senate." "Now there isn't." "And never will be." "She was my best friend..." "But she kept some things from me." "Such as?" "Such as you two still seeing each other..." "She asked me to represent her." "Anything else?" "Senate didn't like me talking about you." "And I am very jealous." "Did you tell Senate we intend to get married?" "No." "No one knows other than us and Sasha." "I'm glad you agreed to the prenuptial." "But that's a matter of course." "We must tell Sasha." "It's important." "He'll feel more secure." "I'll get him more involved in the firm." "He must learn responsibility." "He's to take over the firm." "As soon as possible." "Come here." "Then we'll have more time for each other." "Sasha said it's cool we're getting married." "Yes, that's good." "Did you ever tell Senate we were getting married?" "I'm not mad." "Everyone already says I'm after your money." "She wouldn't have liked it." "She wanted you too." "She didn't hear it from me, and apart from that, that file is closed now, isn't it?" "Closed?" "Rex, come here." "What's this silly jealousy?" "Don't be jealous, I won't take him away." "And I decide who takes me away." "He's so clever, he always does this." "Stop." "You said he must obey at work, but at home he's free." "So he's free to send me flying." "Now go and make up with him." "Fine." "Tomorrow." "He really is clever, your Rex." "Yes... and these aren't his best tricks." " I can't wait." " That handbag..." " What?" " The bag." "What about it?" "It's a professional question." "This bag..." " ls it common or rare?" " Rather rare and not cheap." "May I?" "I'm not hung up on luxury, but sometimes I spoil myself." "I work hard, too." "Would two girlfriends buy the same bag?" "Of course it happens, but it's unlikely." "It's to do with a murder in a beauty salon." "Two girlfriends have a bag like this one." "They look identical due to facial masks." "They could be mixed up." "Is the case solved or will it be my shoes next?" "Sorry, just an idea..." "What happens with asthma?" "Asthma?" "Asthma is a respiratory attack." "You breathe in, the bronchi seize up and you can't exhale, which leads to symptoms of asphyxiation." "Can you suffocate during an attack?" "Absolutely." "Unless you take measures immediately." "Sorry, I must make a call." "Someone's life is in danger." "Sorry to bother you so late, Mrs Wilkes, but it's urgent." "Mr Morse, I can also ask my lawyer..." "Yes, Senate and I have the same handbag." "Why?" "We had the same taste in everything." "What does it have to do with Mrs Offer's death?" "What?" "Mistaken identity?" "Someone had..." "tried to kill me?" "The murder was made to look like natural death." "You have asthma, which can lead to asphyxiation." "Mrs Wilkes..." "Mrs Ofter was mistaken for you." "But that makes no sense at all." "No, I have no enemies!" "No, not even female ones." "Yes, I will look after myself." " Well?" " Senate was mistaken for me." " I gathered that." " What do you think?" "It's total nonsense." "The police don't have a clue." "It was too good to be true." "So you do have time for a private life after all?" "We're still using our surnames." "I had to speed things up." "According to taxation, Wilkes Champagne Bottlers is a strong business making solid profits." "Mr Bultmann acts as the firm's lawyer." "A lucrative job." "But if Ofter found something out, he'd no longer be the firm's lawyer." "Morning." "Must have been a long night." "Rather a short one." "And I found out that Wilkes was the intended victim." "What?" "That negates all our theories." "We've found no motive yet for Offer's murder." "But if it was Wilkes, it makes sense because of her asthma." "Had she suffocated, it would have looked natural." "True, but must we now start again from the beginning?" " What led you to this?" " Well, my vet." "She has the same handbag as Wilkes and Ofter." "I see." "It was the vet who visited you." " Who says it was her?" " Come on, now." "Don't pretend." "The evidence is against you." "You're late, you have a hangover," "Rex falls asleep..." "He was trying to interfere all night." "Confess, Mr Morse." "You're idiots." "Did something happen or not?" "Well, something..." "Well?" "We're on first-name terms." "Will that do?" "I think we're facing a typical, obstinate Taurus." "No matter." "I'll check for Rex's paw marks on the bedroom door." "Then I'll know everything." " Gentlemen." " Good morning." "Have a seat." "Please be brief." "My time is limited." "Is there anything urgent at Wilkes  Co?" " No." "Why?" " You are their lawyer." "And you act as trustee for some foundations." "Who will inherit the company when Mrs Wilkes dies?" "Her son, Sasha, of course." "We know that a good lawyer has some influence." "And knows his advantages." "And you are a good lawyer." "Are you suggesting" "I wanted to murder Mrs Wilkes?" "No..." "But things have..." "changed." "If Mrs Wilkes was the intended victim, we check everyone who has a motive." "But I don't have one." "Then you'll have an alibi." "Where were you between 10 and 11 a.m. yesterday?" "On the golf course." "The club's near the Prater." "Call them." "Someone would have seen me." "The Prater's near the 1st District." "Easy driving distance." "Is that so?" "But you forget a woman committed the murder." "The eyewitness only saw this person from behind." "Because she looked like all the others there, the witness thought she saw a woman." "It could have been a man in women's clothes." "This is impossible." "But all right." "If you think the killer was a man, you might as well consider Mrs Wielder's son." "We'll talk to him as well, sure." "How was Mrs Ofter blackmailing you?" "If Mrs Wilkes was the target, that's irrelevant." "Who knows?" "You could have killed Mrs Ofter because you didn't want to lose Wielder's business." "You know I could claim confidentiality." "I don't have to say anything." "But I did nothing." "I didn't kill Senate or want to kill Mrs Wilkes." "I'm now heading an investment company..." "Which cheated investors out of their money." "But our concerns lie elsewhere." " May I go?" " Please yourself." "We'll stay in touch." "Goodbye, sir." "Heller." "I need someone to do surveillance." " He got hot under the collar." " A certain Mr Bultmann, lawyer." "I'll call by." "Maybe we should confront him with the Ofter story again." " You did well." " Really?" "You can really scare me, you know." "Yes, it's Morse." "I need to speak to your son." "I see." "Since when?" "When will he be back?" "I'd like to have a look at his room." "Mrs Wilkes, it would be better to cooperate." "I'll explain it in person." "Thanks." "I'll go to the golf club to check Bultmann's alibi." "Sasha Wilkes went to Italy yesterday." "For a short holiday." "I'll check out his room." "Rex, let's go." "Come on." "I'll get you some bones." "How about this, Rex?" "Hello." "Well, did you find any evidence against my son?" "No, but I didn't expect to." "Tell your dog to leave the room." "Sasha doesn't like dogs." "My dog knows that." "We're done." "Come on, Rex." "Come here, or we'll really cop it." "The gloves." "The woman you saw looked just like her." " Yes." " You're sure?" "A bit shorter, perhaps." "But it could have been her." "Thanks, Mrs Stockinged." "Come out now." "But he's a man." "What?" "I see." " Morse here." " Heller, hi." "The leather fiber Dr Gray found belongs to the glove you brought." "Simmer is following Mr Bultmann, and is heading for the Wilkes residence." "No idea where Wilkes is." "Probably at home." "Sta)'" " Hello." "Where's Mrs Wilkes?" " She's gone riding." " Anything new?" " Indeed." "We believe Senate Offer's killer was a man." "Come, Patrick." "What is it?" "Sasha!" "Let go!" "That was a short holiday." "A riding accident this time, since you mistook Ofter for your mother." "Sasha..." "I won't have it taken from me." " It belongs to me." " Be quiet." " The firm, the house..." " Be quiet." "You wanted to push me out." " Dad wouldn't have allowed it." " Don't." "Since he died, you play the big boss." "And now the lawyer." "But not with me." "Everything was to be yours." "I made sure of that."