A scene from “Unfinished Business”

Preston Giles: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] He insisted I meet him by the pool at 11:00. The subject was blackmail. I couldn't go through that, not after all these years. I was in a blind rage. I took a gun and shot him. When I realized how easily I could have been seen ... If anyone had been outside, they could have heard the shot. Many years ago, I was betrayed by three partners in a business venture. An apartment house we built collapsed. Several people were killed. Although I had nothing to do with the construction end, I was made the scapegoat. They got off free, and I was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. After two years, I managed to escape. Don't ask the details, but the police assumed I died in the attempt.

Jessica Fletcher: Like the Count of Monte Cristo.

Preston Giles: As you well know, my favorite fictional character. Well, not everyone was convinced that I was dead. A hotshot detective, third-grade, had a hunch that I was still alive. He became even more positive when, over the next couple of years, like the Count of Monte Cristo, I financially destroyed my three ex-partners from a safe distance. Saturday was the first time I'd seen him in twenty-two years, and I didn't recognize him. But, obviously, he recognized me. He'd changed his name, as I had. But I knew that if the police ever started poking around his files, sooner or later, they'd come across me.

Jessica Fletcher: Yes, the files. That's why you dressed Baxendale up in the Sherlock Holmes outfit. To make the police think that the killer had intended to kill Caleb. You had to divert attention away from Baxendale.

Preston Giles: Yes. He was a slimy blackmailer, Jess. He threatened to destroy my life. Morally, it was a case of self-defense.

Jessica Fletcher: Preston, even if I could bring myself to believe that, there's no way that you can justify the murdering of Caleb McCallum. And you did kill him, for the same reason. To divert suspicion from yourself.

Preston Giles: Caleb wasn't much of a human being, either.

Jessica Fletcher: Oh, but he didn't deserve killing. No one deserves killing. Oh, Preston! I'm so angry! I don't know whether to scream or cry. All the way to the railway station, I was thinking about you. Twice, I nearly turned around and came back. Then, when I realized, when I read that newspaper...

Preston Giles: I'm sorry, Jess. I truly am. Another time, a different place, we might have had something. I'm going to talk to Gunderson. Would you go with me?

Jessica Fletcher: Yes. I'd like to very much.