There is a fashion show at the House of Heloise. Many buyers are there to acquire latest in lingerie for their stores in New York and London. There is also a demonstration outside, led by Miss Lilian Moss, against the cruelty of corsetry. Suddenly, a brick comes through one of the windows, and one of the models, Miss Isabelle Young, is struck and killed. Miss Heloise seems determined to pass the incident off as a terrible accident, until one of her models reminds her of an anonymous note she received before the show, saying CORSETS KILL.
Gareth Clark is there, apparently not at Miss Heloise's invitation. He is a former employer and lover of Miss Heloise, but they have had a falling out.
Murdoch discovers that Lilian Moss was present at the demonstration, and she admits to throwing the brick, though she never intended anybody to come to harm.
Crabtree is concerned when Simon Brooks comes into Police Station 4 with a bloody nose. The person who gave it to him is already in the station: Bobby Brackenreid - it was a fight over a penny dropped on the sidewalk.
Dr Grace concludes the autopsy on Isabelle, and tells Murdoch the cause of death was in fact asphyxiation, but she has no idea how it happened.
Back at the Windsor House Hotel, Dr Ogden is trying on the corset Isabelle was wearing, and whilst at first she finds it comfortable and stylish, suddenly she collapses on the floor, unable to breathe. Murdoch is on hand to undo the corset: he now has the killer.
Murdoch takes the corset apart to see how it works, and discovers that deep within the garment is a chain-link structure that acts as a ratchet and gradually tightens the corset.
Miss Heloise knows nothing about the chain-link mechanism, and says she would certainly not have designed any corset like that, especially as she had been due to model it. Murdoch goes to the head seamstress, Eunice Parks, but she says that the corset she made for the show is not the one Murdoch is showing her. She doesn't know who made that one, or where the one she made has gone.
Inspector Brackenreid tells Constable Crabtree that they need to settle the matter between Bobby and Simon. He proposes a fair fight in a proper ring, with the winner taking the penny.
In the morgue, the corset gives up its secrets. It is triggered by a sharp intake of breath, as might have happened when the brick came through the window. Dr Grace tells Murdoch that Lilian Moss had fallen out with Miss Heloise when she had modelled for her.
So, who was responsible for the death of Isabelle Young? Was it Miss Heloise, despite the damage it would do to her reputation and business? Was it Gareth Clark, in retaliation for a broken heart? Was it Miss Moss, taking her vendetta with Miss Heloise too far? Was it one of the women in Miss Heloise's empty, with all their bitchy squabbling? And who will win the big fight between Bobby and Simon?
Much is uncovered in this episode, while much also remains concealed. Murdoch finds himself quite unprepared for the world of lingerie that he must enter, but now that he is a married man, at least he has Julia to turn to when the going gets tough. This is a neatly constructed story, and although there is an ending, we viewers are still left with questions about who should face justice, and how a case can be built against them. Once more, the writers have come up with a fresh and involving story.
Gareth Clark is there, apparently not at Miss Heloise's invitation. He is a former employer and lover of Miss Heloise, but they have had a falling out.
Murdoch discovers that Lilian Moss was present at the demonstration, and she admits to throwing the brick, though she never intended anybody to come to harm.
Crabtree is concerned when Simon Brooks comes into Police Station 4 with a bloody nose. The person who gave it to him is already in the station: Bobby Brackenreid - it was a fight over a penny dropped on the sidewalk.
Dr Grace concludes the autopsy on Isabelle, and tells Murdoch the cause of death was in fact asphyxiation, but she has no idea how it happened.
Back at the Windsor House Hotel, Dr Ogden is trying on the corset Isabelle was wearing, and whilst at first she finds it comfortable and stylish, suddenly she collapses on the floor, unable to breathe. Murdoch is on hand to undo the corset: he now has the killer.
Murdoch takes the corset apart to see how it works, and discovers that deep within the garment is a chain-link structure that acts as a ratchet and gradually tightens the corset.
Miss Heloise knows nothing about the chain-link mechanism, and says she would certainly not have designed any corset like that, especially as she had been due to model it. Murdoch goes to the head seamstress, Eunice Parks, but she says that the corset she made for the show is not the one Murdoch is showing her. She doesn't know who made that one, or where the one she made has gone.
Inspector Brackenreid tells Constable Crabtree that they need to settle the matter between Bobby and Simon. He proposes a fair fight in a proper ring, with the winner taking the penny.
In the morgue, the corset gives up its secrets. It is triggered by a sharp intake of breath, as might have happened when the brick came through the window. Dr Grace tells Murdoch that Lilian Moss had fallen out with Miss Heloise when she had modelled for her.
So, who was responsible for the death of Isabelle Young? Was it Miss Heloise, despite the damage it would do to her reputation and business? Was it Gareth Clark, in retaliation for a broken heart? Was it Miss Moss, taking her vendetta with Miss Heloise too far? Was it one of the women in Miss Heloise's empty, with all their bitchy squabbling? And who will win the big fight between Bobby and Simon?
Much is uncovered in this episode, while much also remains concealed. Murdoch finds himself quite unprepared for the world of lingerie that he must enter, but now that he is a married man, at least he has Julia to turn to when the going gets tough. This is a neatly constructed story, and although there is an ending, we viewers are still left with questions about who should face justice, and how a case can be built against them. Once more, the writers have come up with a fresh and involving story.
