Catherine dismisses Neil as suspect
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Catherine considers whether Neil Ackroyd could also be a suspect before dismissing this thought, and then enters the briefing room with the others.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Embarrassed and defensive—her initial discomfort stems from being caught discussing Wadsworth with Daniel, but her emotional state shifts as Catherine’s protective warnings become clear, leaving her relieved but still on guard.
Ann is the focal point of Catherine’s protective instincts in this event. She is visibly embarrassed when Catherine brings up her discussion with Daniel about John Wadsworth, her body language closed and her responses defensive. As the conversation progresses, she clarifies that she was not romantically interested in Wadsworth, her tone a mix of defiance and relief. Her interaction with Catherine is a blend of professional deference and personal vulnerability, revealing her as both a mentee and a young woman still navigating her place in the force.
- • To clarify her lack of romantic interest in John Wadsworth, seeking to distance herself from any perceived impropriety.
- • To navigate Catherine’s protective advice without appearing naive or overly emotional, balancing professionalism with personal vulnerability.
- • Catherine’s warnings about Wadsworth are rooted in both professional insight and personal concern for her well-being.
- • Her past trauma makes her cautious about romantic or personal entanglements, especially with colleagues.
Controlled intensity with underlying protectiveness—her professional skepticism is tempered by a maternal urge to shield Ann, while her frostiness toward Jodie masks deeper resentment.
Catherine descends the stairwell with a measured gait, her sharp eyes scanning the space as her mind processes the case. She engages in a frosty exchange with Jodie, her body language closed and her tone clipped, reflecting their unresolved tension. With Ann, she shifts into a more protective, almost maternal mode, her questions probing yet laced with subtle warnings. Her hands gesture dismissively when discussing Wadsworth, and she subtly steers Ann away from him, her investigative instincts and personal protectiveness intertwining seamlessly.
- • To subtly warn Ann away from John Wadsworth, framing it as concern for her romantic prospects while masking her professional suspicions.
- • To internally debate and narrow down potential suspects in Vicky Fleming’s murder, briefly considering Neil Ackroyd before dismissing him in favor of focusing on Wadsworth’s detachment.
- • John Wadsworth’s ‘glazed look’ and disinterest in the case are suspicious and warrant closer scrutiny.
- • Ann’s safety and well-being are her responsibility, both as a mentor and a protective figure, especially given Ann’s past trauma.
Inferred as emotionally detached and possibly guilty—Catherine’s description of his ‘glazed look’ suggests a man disconnected from the case, either through indifference or something more sinister.
John Wadsworth is not physically present in this event but is the central subject of Catherine and Ann’s dialogue. His ‘glazed look’ and disinterest in the case are described by Catherine, painting him as a detached and potentially suspicious figure. Ann’s embarrassment at having discussed him with Daniel further highlights his indirect but significant role in the scene.
- • None directly observable—his role is purely as a subject of discussion and suspicion.
- • Inferred: To avoid drawing attention to himself, his detachment serving as a red flag to Catherine’s investigative instincts.
- • His lack of engagement with the case is a deliberate or subconscious strategy to avoid scrutiny.
- • His past actions (implied by Catherine’s suspicions) may be catching up with him.
Not directly observable, but inferred as neutral or unaware of the significance of Ann’s confession to him.
Daniel is mentioned indirectly in the dialogue when Ann refers to having discussed John Wadsworth with him. His role in this event is purely as a conduit for information between Ann and Catherine, his presence felt only through Ann’s embarrassment at having confided in him.
- • None directly observable in this event—his role is passive and reactive to Ann’s actions.
- • Inferred: To serve as a trusted confidant for Ann, though unintentionally becoming a source of her embarrassment.
- • Ann’s trust in him is genuine, though he may not fully grasp the weight of her confessions.
- • His role as a mediator or listener is valued by those around him, even if unintentionally.
Frosty and guarded—her brief interaction with Catherine is laced with unspoken resentment, her professional demeanor masking deeper personal conflict.
Jodie passes Catherine on the stairwell, her interaction limited to a single, frosty ‘Morning.’ Her body language is stiff, and her tone is clipped, reflecting the lingering tension between them from their earlier confrontation about Lynn’s death. She continues upstairs without further engagement, her presence serving as a catalyst for the underlying friction in the scene.
- • To acknowledge Catherine’s presence with minimal engagement, maintaining a professional but distant boundary.
- • To avoid reopening the conflict about Lynn’s death, her tone and body language signaling a desire to move past it without resolution.
- • The tension between her and Catherine is unresolved and better left unaddressed in this moment.
- • Her professional role requires her to maintain composure, even in the face of personal friction.
Not directly observable—his emotional state is inferred through Catherine’s brief consideration of him as a suspect, suggesting vulnerability and a history of being targeted by Vicky.
Neil Ackroyd is mentioned briefly in Catherine’s internal debate, where she considers and then dismisses him as a potential suspect in Vicky Fleming’s murder. His role in the event is purely speculative, serving as a fleeting thought in Catherine’s investigative process. His connection to Clare and his past trauma with Vicky are implied but not explored in this moment.
- • None directly observable—his role is purely as a speculative figure in Catherine’s internal debate.
- • Inferred: To avoid being drawn back into the trauma of his past, his potential involvement serving as a reminder of Vicky’s manipulative reach.
- • His past with Vicky makes him a plausible but ultimately unlikely suspect in her murder.
- • His connection to Clare adds a personal layer to the case, one that Catherine is cautious about exploring.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The briefing room door serves as a literal and symbolic threshold in this event, marking the transition from the intimate, tension-filled stairwell exchange to the broader, more formal investigative space of the briefing room. Catherine’s gesture—‘After you’—as they reach the door is both polite and perfunctory, signaling the end of their private conversation and the resumption of professional duties. The door’s unremarkable appearance contrasts with the weight of the dialogue that unfolds just before it, underscoring the shift from personal to institutional dynamics.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The briefing room is glimpsed only at the periphery of this event, as Catherine and Ann reach its door. While the room itself is not the primary setting, its presence looms as the destination toward which their stairwell conversation is directed. The briefing room symbolizes the return to professionalism, the resumption of the investigative team’s collective efforts, and the institutional framework within which Catherine must operate. The door serves as a threshold, marking the end of their private exchange and the beginning of a more formal, structured environment where emotions must be checked and facts must prevail.
The stairwell of Norland Road Police Station is a confined, echoing space that amplifies the tension between the characters. Its concrete walls and fluorescent lighting create an atmosphere of institutional sterility, while the narrow descent forces the characters into close proximity, heightening the emotional weight of their exchange. The stairwell serves as a liminal space—neither fully private nor public—where Catherine can probe Ann’s thoughts and issue subtle warnings without the scrutiny of the broader team. The echoing footsteps and the stark acoustics underscore the isolation of their conversation, making it feel intimate yet fraught with unspoken professional stakes.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Catherine informs John that Neil was blackmailed by Vicky Fleming, which leads her to find John disinterested and suspicious."
"Catherine informs John that Neil was blackmailed by Vicky Fleming, which leads her to find John disinterested and suspicious."
Key Dialogue
"CATHERINE: That John Wadsworth. He’s not this detective you told our Daniel about. Is he?"
"ANN: Why?"
"CATHERINE: No, I just - I think you did well to avoid that one."
"ANN: What and you think it’s him?"
"CATHERINE: Who?"
"ANN: The fella she blackmailed?"
"CATHERINE: (could it be Neil? We see her thinking. No, she dismisses it) No. No."
"CATHERINE: But. I’m thinking whoever did it could be someone else she’s blackmailed. Whereas he’s - (she makes a ‘right over his head’ gesture) Really not interested, right over his head. You can do a lot better than that, love."