DeputyAssistantCommissionerCharlieHillianiskilledonthenightofhisretirementpartyHillianwasatonetimeaseniorofficerinOxfordandwasinfactMorse'sbossHewasalsowritingabookabouthismostmemorablecases,includingoneabouttheunsolveddeathofan8yearoldgirlsome18yearsagoThesuspectinthatcase,FrederickRedpath,wasatHillian'shousethedayhediedandthatchapterfromthemanuscriptismissingThereareothersuspectshowever,includingHillian'sghostwriterwhowillnowreceiveallofthebook'sroyalties;ahandymanwhowasworkingontheproperty;andRedpath'sdaughter,whoknewthelittlegirlwhowaskilledallthoseyearsbeforeMorsecomesintoconflictwithwithacolleagueDCIDawson,whowasoneofHillian'sprotégés,astheyagainlookintothelittlegirl'sdeath