Wadsworth’s name enters suspect pool
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Andy reveals that Vicky Fleming had John Wadsworth's phone number, though John accounted for the contact, stirring suspicion due to his marital problems. Jodie attempts to dismiss the possibility but can't fully ignore it, while John wonders who they are discussing.
Andy acknowledges the discomfort of suspecting a long-time colleague but emphasizes that someone is indeed responsible. Jodie asks if the information has been passed on to the review team and Andy confirms that everything is being shared.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Determined but unsettled, driven by a sense of duty to pursue all leads, even those that implicate his own team. His surface professionalism masks a deep discomfort with the direction the investigation is taking, but he presses forward nonetheless.
Andy Shepherd dominates the conversation, his voice low and deliberate as he methodically dismantles alibis and forces Jodie to confront the possibility of an internal killer. He leans into the speculative exercise with a mix of professional detachment and personal unease, his gaze sweeping over the office as if assessing each colleague for hidden guilt. When he reveals the detail about John’s phone number, his tone is measured, but the implication is clear: this is more than a coincidence. Andy’s insistence on passing the information to the review team signals his commitment to transparency, even if it means turning the investigation inward. His body language is authoritative, but there’s an undercurrent of discomfort—he’s known John for years, and the idea of his involvement feels like a betrayal of trust.
- • Ensure that no stone is left unturned in the Vicky Fleming investigation, even if it means scrutinizing his own team.
- • Prepare Jodie (and by extension, the team) for the possibility that the killer is someone they know and trust.
- • That the killer’s familiarity with police procedures and evidence destruction suggests an insider’s involvement.
- • That transparency with the review team is non-negotiable, regardless of personal consequences.
Anxious and conflicted, torn between her role as a detective and her reluctance to believe a colleague could be capable of such violence. Her surface calm is a facade; internally, she grapples with the unsettling realization that anyone—even John—could be hiding a dark secret.
Jodie Shackleton sits at her desk, phone in hand and pen poised, engaged in a conversation with Andy that feels increasingly like a minefield. She takes notes mechanically, her professional demeanor masking her discomfort as Andy forces her to entertain the possibility that a colleague—perhaps someone she respects—could be a killer. When Andy drops the bombshell about John’s phone number, Jodie’s instinct is to dismiss it, but her forced proximity to John (seated directly opposite her) makes the moment excruciating. She avoids looking at him, her body language rigid with tension, as she struggles to balance her duty to the investigation with her personal loyalty to a teammate. Her attempt to deflect with dark humor (‘Oh well better arrest him then’) rings hollow, betraying her unease.
- • Maintain professional composure while engaging in Andy’s speculative exercise, despite her personal discomfort.
- • Avoid tipping John off that he is the subject of their discussion, while also resisting the urge to defend him outright.
- • That the investigation’s focus on internal suspects is necessary, even if it feels invasive and uncomfortable.
- • That John’s personal struggles (his marriage, his past with Vicky) make him a plausible suspect, though she resists jumping to conclusions.
Panicked and internally distressed, oscillating between denial and a creeping sense of inevitability. His surface composure masks a storm of fear and self-recrimination, as if the walls of the office are closing in on him.
John Wadsworth sits at his desk in the H-MIT office, physically close to Jodie but emotionally isolated as he overhears fragments of Andy and Jodie’s conversation. His body language betrays his growing panic—tense posture, darting eyes, a tingling sensation of dread—as he pieces together that he is the subject of their speculative discussion. Though he cannot hear everything, the mention of Vicky Fleming’s phone number and his own name in the same breath sends him into a spiral of internal distress. His marriage troubles, already a source of guilt, now feel like a noose tightening around his neck. The revelation that Andy has shared this information with the review team amplifies his fear of exposure, leaving him trapped in a professional space that suddenly feels like a cage.
- • Avoid drawing attention to himself while desperately trying to decipher how much Andy and Jodie know.
- • Suppress any outward sign of guilt to prevent further suspicion, even as his internal panic grows.
- • That his affair with Vicky Fleming—though never consummated—has left him vulnerable to blackmail or worse.
- • That the team’s focus on internal suspects means his personal life is about to be dissected, and he may not survive the scrutiny.
Neutral (focused on their tasks, unaware of the subtext in Andy and Jodie’s conversation).
The SOCO personnel move through the office in the background, their presence a reminder of the broader investigative machinery at work. They are not directly involved in the conversation between Andy and Jodie, but their activity—shuffling files, processing evidence—creates a sense of institutional urgency. Andy’s speculative gaze lingers on them briefly, as if considering whether any of them could be capable of such violence. Their role in the event is largely atmospheric, reinforcing the idea that the investigation is a collective effort, even as it fractures trust within the team.
- • Process evidence efficiently to support the investigation.
- • Maintain professional detachment amid the growing tension in the office.
- • That their work is critical to solving the case, regardless of the personal dynamics at play.
- • That the team’s internal paranoia is a distraction from their primary objective.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Catherine Cawood’s phone is not physically present in this scene, but its absence is notable. Given Catherine’s central role in the broader investigation (particularly her focus on Tommy Lee Royce and her protective instincts toward Ryan), her phone would typically be a tool for coordination and communication. Its omission here underscores that this moment is confined to the H-MIT office and the dynamics between Andy, Jodie, and John. The phone’s absence also highlights the isolation of this particular conversation—it is a private, internal reckoning, not yet involving Catherine or the wider team.
Jodie’s mobile phone is a functional prop in this event, held in her hand as she listens to Andy’s speculative theories. While it does not play an active role in the conversation, its presence symbolizes Jodie’s dual role as both a detective and a communicator. The phone represents her connection to the broader investigative process—whether through calls, messages, or access to case files—and serves as a reminder that she is part of a larger system. Its role is subtle but meaningful: it grounds her in the professional context of the conversation, even as she grapples with its personal implications.
The fast-tracked DNA swab from Vicky Fleming’s crime scene is invoked by Andy as a piece of forensic evidence that could implicate someone within the team. Though not physically present in the scene, its mention serves as a reminder of the investigation’s scientific rigor and the potential for concrete proof to emerge. The swab’s fast-tracking by Jodie underscores the urgency of the case, while Andy’s reference to it as part of the evidence being passed to the review team reinforces the idea that no detail is too small to be overlooked. Its role in the event is symbolic: it represents the cold, unyielding nature of forensic evidence, which cannot be dismissed or ignored, no matter how uncomfortable the implications.
Vicky Fleming’s mobile phone is the linchpin of this event, its existence and contents serving as a silent but damning piece of evidence. The phone, recovered from the crime scene, contains John Wadsworth’s number—a detail that Andy reveals with deliberate precision. The phone’s role is twofold: first, it provides a direct link between John and Vicky, raising questions about the nature of their relationship; second, it symbolizes the killer’s attempt to destroy evidence (implied by the burnt-out flat). The phone’s mention forces Andy and Jodie to confront the possibility that John’s number was stored for a reason, and that its presence in Vicky’s records is no coincidence. Its significance lies in its ability to shift the investigation’s focus from external suspects to an internal one, making it a narrative catalyst for paranoia and suspicion.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The H-MIT office at Norland Road Police Station serves as a pressure cooker in this event, its fluorescent lighting and crowded desks amplifying the tension between professional duty and personal loyalty. The space is alive with the hum of activity—phones ringing, SOCO personnel moving files, detectives engaged in task delegation—but beneath the surface bustle, a creeping paranoia takes hold. The office, usually a hub of collaboration, now feels like a minefield, where every glance and whispered conversation could betray suspicion. The layout forces Jodie and John into close proximity, making their interaction (or avoidance of interaction) physically and emotionally charged. The office’s institutional trappings—whiteboards, case files, evidence logs—serve as a reminder that this is not just a personal crisis but a professional one, with real stakes for the investigation.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Homicide and Major Investigation Team (H-MIT) is the organizational backbone of this event, its structure and protocols shaping the conversation between Andy and Jodie. H-MIT’s mandate to pursue all leads—no matter how uncomfortable—drives Andy’s insistence on exploring the possibility of an internal killer. The team’s collective expertise and resources are implied in the background (e.g., SOCO personnel processing evidence, case files being updated), but the event also highlights the team’s vulnerability to internal fractures. The revelation about John’s phone number forces H-MIT to confront a crisis of trust, where the very people tasked with solving the case may now be suspects. The team’s professionalism is tested as personal loyalties clash with investigative duty.
The West Yorkshire Police Review Team is invoked by Andy as the ultimate arbiter of the investigation’s integrity. Though not physically present in the scene, the review team’s role is critical: it serves as an external check on H-MIT’s actions, ensuring that no stone is left unturned and that the team does not shield its own members from scrutiny. Andy’s mention of passing ‘everything’ to the review team signals that the investigation is no longer solely within H-MIT’s control—it is now subject to higher oversight, which adds pressure to resolve the case quickly and thoroughly. The review team’s involvement also introduces a layer of institutional accountability, forcing Andy and Jodie to consider the broader implications of their suspicions.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Andy and Jodie discuss that someone on their team may be responsible, then Vicky Fleming's phone number leads them to John."
"Andy and Jodie discuss that someone on their team may be responsible, then Vicky Fleming's phone number leads them to John."
"Andy and Jodie discover that Vicky Fleming had John Wadsworth's number, then John withdraws a large sum of money displaying his panic and desperation, and his situation escalates."
Key Dialogue
"ANDY: Vicky Fleming had John Wadsworth’s number on her mobile."
"JODIE: Well that’s -"
"ANDY: But people use secret shagging phones, don’t they? That they could destroy. In a fire. And the thing is. His marriage’s been a bit shit lately."
"JODIE: Oh well better arrest him then. Eh? Boss."
"ANDY: I know. I’ve known the man twenty-three years, you feel like washing your mouth out, don’t you? But it’s someone."