EASTENDERS - New twists in the Lucy Beale murder investigation

             

The end of last night's EastEnders left us with a question thanks to Phil and Sharon's flit to visit current suspect Jake Stone in prison, where they were surprised by his genuine admission that it was not him who 'did it.' 

But of course we all know it wasn't Jake, as that would be far too easy. 

And, anyhow, it's not yet February 2015. 

But, if Jake didn't kill Lucy, then who did? 

Enter Lauren Branning, unclassified detective... Who manages, with Lucy's brother Peter's help, to track down the taxi driver who dropped Lucy (and Jake, possibly collaborating his story?) off the night she was killed. 

Lauren, as you would, and in a way only an EastEnder could, fires questions at the (probably by this point, headached) taxi driver - but rumour has it that she's left surprised by what he has to say. 

Enter new suspect, Abi Branning, maybe?

Keeping focus on the colourful Branning family, Max, who we know was having a fling with Lucy in the lead up to her murder, also has news which he's been hiding about the fateful night. 

We know that Max and Lucy had a few words before she stormed off in to the EastEnd darkness, but does Max have brand new information for us, as viewers, too? And will he tell the police? 

Well, he certainly says something, especially to Beale family liaison officer Detective Emma Summerhayes, as she, as have many other Walford women, ends up in Max's (still-warm-from-Lucy-being-there) bed! 

Jake Wood, who plays Max, has already stated that this could be the beginning of a relationship that lasts the distance. (I still mourn for Max and Tanya!) 

And 'Enders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins said at the beginning of the story that even the officers in charge of the case will become characters in their own right. With some being taken off the hunt, for various reasons. 

I think sleeping with a suspect is a pretty good reason for Summerhayes to be kicked off the case in hand. 

But what will Max reveal. And will Emma cover up any evidence to protect her new man?

So, it seems we'll have more twists and turns over in Walford, and I've said many times that 

I'm not going to seriously speculate Who Killed Lucy Beale until, maybe the end of the year. 

At the minute though, I definitely think the youngest Branning girl definitely has something to hide. 

It's always the quiet ones, so they say. And Abi was friend's with once quiet and sweet killer Ben Mitchell. 

Where is Ben, by the way? We know he's out of prison, and Jay knows his whereabouts.  

Was he snooping around Walford the night his niece, Lucy, (yes, I had to work that out) died? 

Hmm...

LUCY'S FUNERAL SHOCK

HOLLYOAKS - SIENNA'S DAUGHTER FINDS HER!