Janine Butcher has admitted she lied about Mick Carter's body being found, confirming that the remains of her ex are still missing, in Tuesday's episode of EastEnders.
Linda Carter, who received a call earlier this week claiming that the body of her one true love – who went missing at sea four years ago – had been located, sought answers from Janine. Upon seeing her nemesis for the first time in four years, Janine claimed that she had Mick's body cremated.
Janine's Story Unravels
Linda was devastated by the news but soon realised Janine's story wasn't making sense, especially how Janine claimed she had to identify the body, which had been underwater for four years. With her tale unravelling, Janine told Linda that Mick didn't drown and had been alive all this time, claiming he died only weeks ago.
Utterly bereft, Linda returned to Walford to discuss the matter with Max Branning, who reckoned Janine was lying. Armed with his support, Linda confronted Janine once more at a church, where she set her sights upon a coffin with Mick's name on it, putting to bed Janine's claims of cremation.
Max Discovers the Truth
Linda demanded that the lid of the coffin be opened, but Janine gaslit grieving Linda into thinking she wouldn't be capable of pulling off a scheme as intricate as faking a death. Linda opted against looking inside and asked Max to do so on her behalf.
When Linda was out of sight, Janine confessed to Max that the body isn't Mick's, revealing that she staged the whole thing in order to secure a pay out. Being Mick's next of kin, Janine received a sum of money, but when Lee revoked the death certificate, that cash was in doubt. Using contacts on the inside, Janine masterminded a plot to ensure Mick was considered legally dead, faking a death certificate, meaning she gets to keep the money.
Max's Decision
Max was horrified at how low she has sunk and prepared to tell Linda the truth, until Janine got in his head, revealing that Linda just hours earlier declared Mick as the love of her life. Knowing he'll never measure up to former Queen Vic landlord Mick, Max contemplated doing as Janine commanded – telling Linda that the body was that of her ex-husband in order to close the chapter on Mick forever.
In typical Max fashion, he put his own needs above those of the person he claims to love, telling Linda that the body was Mick's, hoping this would allow her to move on with him. Linda broke down in tears, utterly devastated at the news.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
