As the curtains lift on the second chapter of "A Remarkable Place To Die," Anais Mallory (portrayed by Chelsie Preston Crayford) surveys her surroundings with curiosity. Martyn (played by Roy Billing) guides Constable Jarrod Renner (Dahnu Graham) toward an ancient mine, their destination marked by a gated entrance ensnared by a sturdy chain. Jarrod observes the lock, apparently shattered by the brute force of a hammer. Martyn notes the absence of the key from the museum's custody, prompting Jarrod to sever the chain and allow them passage into the mine's depths.
Anais, flipping through a dusty tome, stumbles upon a clandestine stash of narcotics. Meanwhile, Jarrod and Martyn uncover a grim discovery: a victim, entombed by a cave-in, clutching a shovel beside them. Anais converses with her mother, Veronica (Rebecca Gibney), who confirms that neither she nor Lynne ventured to the lodge. Veronica further reveals the sale of the piano, and Anais is informed of yet another fatality.
Martyn informs Anais that the mine shaft has been sealed off for two weeks due to relentless rainfall. He arrived to assess the drainage, reminding her that typically, guests would frequent these premises multiple times daily. Simon Delaney (Matt Whelan) provides Anais with an update, revealing ligature marks on the victim's wrist, discovered by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO). She instructs him to retrieve a bag for forensic examination.
Martyn introduces Anais to Janice (Rima Te Wiata), explaining that the keys are stored in the office, guarded by numerous volunteers with potential access. Janice speculates that someone might have pilfered a key unnoticed amidst the bustling crowd. Although CCTV surveillance is present, it does not encompass the office. Janice regales Anais with tales of the gold rush, as Anais notices the absence of a hammer from a display case, prompting Martyn to blame mischievous children—the third such theft in recent times.
Anais joins Simon, who is scrutinizing the deceased. A flashlight lies nearby, and the shovel, though displaced, suggests an attempt at reinstatement. Anais postulates that the victim sought refuge by digging towards a ventilation shaft and attempted to prize open the lock with the shovel. Inside his jacket, they discover a vial potentially containing gold dust.
At the police station, Anais identifies the victim as Sean Connery. Martyn Fernleigh, the tour guide volunteer, insists that no hand tools were displayed in the tunnel, yet the cigarette tin harbored what seemed to be gold flecks. Sharon Li Feng (Lynette Forday) learns of Sean's (Adam Gardiner) sightings around town, often accompanied by another man. Jarrod and Hoana Rata (Roimata Fox) are assigned to pursue this lead. Ihaka (Alex Tarrant) prepares for the autopsy that night.
Simon updates Anais, revealing that the bag has been sent for analysis. Catching up with Ihaka, Anais learns more as Ihaka and Anjali Bali (Utsa Chatterjee) initiate the autopsy. The wrist ligatures affirm the victim was bound but eventually freed. Estimates suggest he might have been there for approximately a week. Ihaka asserts that the rockslide was not the cause of death. As Anais exits, Simon calls, confirming the gold's authenticity. Another call follows, from a woman who rented her holiday home to Sean Connery, adding another layer to this enigmatic tale.
Anais returns to the station, relaying the insights garnered from the autopsy with urgency. Sean's stomach, void of any food, hinted at his recent hunger pangs. More intriguingly, he had suffered from a severe impaction in his lower intestinal tract, adding another layer of mystery to the case. Ihaka's discovery of a key in Sean's stomach—one that matched the lock securing the gate—only deepened the puzzle.
Anais and Simon seek out the woman who rented the apartment to Sean. She reveals that he carried both his own bag and his brother's, and she had once witnessed him toting a lengthy box. On one occasion, she glimpsed one of them practicing martial arts in the morning light. Meanwhile, Simon receives a call from Sharon Li Feng, who uncovers the brother's name through the electoral roll in Westport.
Back at the museum, Anais and Simon find Martyn in the midst of returning the hammer to its rightful place. Scoop, alias Phillip Chandle, snaps a photo of them, prompting Anais to sternly remind him of the museum's need for discretion. Martyn echoes her sentiment, warning against unwanted attention.
Janice springs a surprise on the detectives: a surveillance video featuring Sean and his brother, Michael Connery (Edwin Wright). Sean's possession of a phone in the footage catches their eye. Martyn recounts the Connery family's tumultuous history, stretching back to the gold rush days, and mentions Liam Connery—another murder mystery unraveling. Liam, a miner, met his demise in the late 1860s amidst a dispute over "the big rock," and now rests in peace at the local cemetery.
As Anais and Simon head to the cemetery, their phones buzz incessantly. Veronica learns of her daughter's evening plans, while Simon locates Liam's grave. Martyn drives by, casting a curious glance before continuing on his way. Simon informs Anais that traces of methamphetamine were found in the bag, and fingerprint analysis is underway. Anais, however, remains hesitant to pursue this lead further. Her attention is drawn to freshly disturbed soil near the grave, where she unearths a small box containing two tiny pieces of gold.
Sharon joins them, and they share their findings: the shovel bears Chinese characters, and Liam is buried amidst Chinese graves. Sharon reveals that the phone turned up at the community policing unit a week prior, slipped under the door in the dead of night. She takes the box back to the station for verification of its golden contents.
Simon engages Jarrod and Hoana in conversation about dating, as Janice joins their ranks. They delve into newspapers, seeking clues about Liam. Hoana stumbles upon an accusation against Edmond Templeton for stealing a 31-ounce nugget of gold, a complaint that Liam Connery had brought to the police. Martyn, having traversed this territory before, doubts they'll uncover anything new. Hoana mentions Anais's encounter with Dr. Cooper, as Anais wraps up a call with Simon and joins Ihaka at the bar.
She inquiries about metachert, capturing Ihaka's interest. Luke Staunton (Charles Jazz Terrier) interrupts, introducing himself to Ihaka before excusing himself shortly thereafter. Anais and Ihaka dive into conversations about the gold rush and their reasons for returning, with Anais subtly probing for more details about her sister's autopsy experiences.
She harbors unease regarding certain aspects of Lynne's demise, yet the autopsy report fails to provide any tangible basis for her worries. Ihaka declines to offer his insights on David Mehrtens's findings, preferring to remain tight-lipped. Anais, visibly disturbed by the turn of events, suggests wrapping up their discussion. When Anais discovers her vehicle refusing to start, Ihaka chivalrously offers her a lift.
Hoana's call interrupts Anais's frustration, and she converses with Janice over the phone. Janice unveils a stunning revelation: a Templeton was implicated in Liam's murder. Once a humble mining family, the Templetons have morphed into a local fixture, their influence permeating every Craigmore business. Janice mentions that Ed Templeton, still residing near Arthur's Point, once volunteered with the community but eventually withdrew to concentrate on his burgeoning enterprise. Intrigued, Anais persuades Ihaka to make a detour to Arthur's Point.
Upon arriving, they seek out Ed Templeton (David Oakley), finding his abode apparently unoccupied. Despite this, Anais ventures into his workshop, where a scene of chaos unfolds—the space has been turned upside down, and signs of a struggle are evident. As they attempt an exit, they encounter Ed's lifeless body dangling from the doorway. Simon joins Anais in scrutinizing the grim tableau, discovering a blood-stained awl, albeit not the murder weapon that slit Ed's throat. Simon quizzes Ihaka about his presence, prompting Anais to explain that he was merely giving her a ride home.
Anais steps outside to find Ihaka dozing off in his car, unperturbed by her insistence that she's fine and doesn't need further assistance. Ihaka suspects that Ed's demise precedes the goldmine victim by a couple of days. After Ihaka's departure, Anais tasks Jarrod and Hoana with canvassing the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Anais converses with Simon and takes the car to visit her mother, accompanied by Maja Staunton (Indiana Evans) and Mrs. Stafford. The visit concludes abruptly, and Maja eavesdrops on Veronica venting about her daughter's conduct.
Anais and Veronica's conversation escalates into an argument, Anais probing why Luke still holds significance in her life. Veronica counters that Luke has been her pillar of support since her father's passing, unlike certain others. Anais confronts her mother about Lynne's possible drug use at the lodge, met with categorical denial from Veronica. Refusing to entertain alternative narratives, Veronica asks Anais to leave.
In solitude, Veronica phones Luke, seeking solace. They delve into Anais's challenges since her arrival, and Luke agrees to visit. Maja intercepts him, alerting him to her encounter with Anais and Ihaka's earlier companionship. Left alone, Maja surreptitiously uses her phone. Anais seeks solace with Dr. Mehrtens (Peter Hayden), who delicately navigates the conversation towards Ihaka before Anais eventually broaches the subject of Lynne's death.
Dr. Mehrtens confirms that Lynne's toxicology report revealed no drugs in quantities capable of causing the accident. Anais directly inquiries about meth traces, prompting the doctor to remember his close ties to the family. Revealing that discovering Lynne's struggles would devastate Veronica, he underscores the emotional stakes involved.
Mehrtens asserts that the traces they uncovered were too inconsequential to warrant inclusion in the report, and thus, he was convinced to omit them. Subsequently, he claims he convinced himself of the same. Anais joins Ihaka and Anjali, where Ihaka reveals they have discovered severe blunt-force trauma to the victim's laryngeal cartilage and a fractured hyoid bone. Furthermore, the victim is missing two teeth, and his left earlobe is grossly lacerated—a knife wound inflicted postmortem. The cause of death was asphyxiation.
Sean imparts information about Ed Templeton to Martyn and Janice. Simon, eager for insights, engages with them. Janice describes Ed's distinctive signet ring emblazoned with an 'E' and his prominent hoop earring. Simon informs Martyn that Sergeant Mallory seeks his presence. He then joins Anais at the museum, where she inquires about the hammer and his business, Craigmore Farmstays. Martyn concedes to having business ties with the Templetons; his grandmother was a Templeton, married to his grandfather, Walter Fernleigh, who jointly owned the farm.
Anais accuses Martyn of deliberately misdirecting their investigation into Liam Templeton's murder. She notes that "Craigmore" is an Anglicized version of "Charraig mhor," signifying a big rock, akin to the nugget he presented. Simon interrupts, revealing that Ed had a half-brother named Nathan Templeton and sported two gold teeth.
At the station, Anais informs Sharon that Ed's teeth were extracted, prompting her to request a test for dental cement traces on the gold nuggets from the grave. They theorize about the case, highlighting Nathan Templeton's criminal background and the urgency of locating him and Michael Connery.
While Jarrod posts flyers, a nurse from Lakes District Hospital halts to converse. She recognizes the picture and believes the man was brought to the ER. Anais rushes to the hospital, learning that a man identifying himself as Conway arrived by ambulance after collapsing. He suffered from an old puncture wound, possibly from a screwdriver.
Anais interrogates Michael Connery, who claims he was beaten up on his way home from a bar. She delivers the grim news about Sean, to which Michael insists he was close to his brother and wouldn't harm him due to his taekwondo skills. When queried about the puncture wound, Michael professes ignorance about the assailant. He learns about the mining tunnel in Arrowtown where Sean was discovered, explaining they visited to pay respects to their ancestral grave. He claims ignorance about the gold left at the grave.
As Anais departs, she secures a search warrant for Villa Four at the old mill. She instructs Jarrod to keep Michael Connery under surveillance. Hoana and Anais inspect the room, noting it's been serviced yet his belongings remain. Notably, a towel is missing, and Anais finds two sets of underwear, suggesting he expected his brother.
In a suitcase, they uncover a towel stained with blood, its grim presence accompanied by a cache of painkillers and a locked phone nearby. Anais, sharp-witted, cracks the phone's code using the fateful date of Liam Connery's demise. Intriguingly, Michael's call logs reveal frequent, hourly attempts to reach his brother, spanning days. She hands the device over to Hoana and proceeds to scrutinize the nightstand, where she discovers a cleverly concealed tin within a drawer's recess. Inside lies a signet ring, its surface etched with an enigmatic 'E.' Recognizing the urgency, Anais urges Hoana to head to the hospital immediately.
At the hospital, Michael's bid for escape turns violent as he assaults Jarrod and flees the scene. A concussed Jarrod informs Hoana of the altercation, prompting the doctor to retain him overnight for observation. Meanwhile, Anais searches Michael's hospital room and stumbles upon a handwritten note, a confession of sorts, where Michael professes his innocence while implicating Sean. Anais discusses the letter with Sharon over the phone, as the team swings into action to trace Michael's whereabouts.
Simon collects Anais, and as they speed towards their destination, they dissect the case and Jarrod's condition. Anais ponders aloud that Michael's actions might stem from a quest for justice for his late grandfather. Their journey ends at Nathan Templeton's residence, where Anais spots Michael's car, signaling Simon to be vigilant.
Upon entering, they find Michael confronting a bound Nathan, his voice dripping with venom. He reveals a pact with Sean to plant gold at his grandfather's grave, but harbors darker designs, fueled by years of vengeful longing for his grandfather. With a chilling promise of a slow, agonizing death for Nathan, echoing his brother's fate, Anais subtly activates her recording device.
Confronting Michael, she demands he step away from Nathan, while Simon approaches from the flank. Anais's plea for reason falls on deaf ears as Michael's rage reaches its zenith. In a sudden maneuver, Simon tries to catch him off guard, but Michael hurls a hammer his way, sparking a fierce battle with Anais and Simon. Michael manages to break free and speeds away in his car, only to crash into another vehicle moments later.
Rushing to his aid, Anais declares the end of his reign of terror. He's transported back to the hospital, shackled to his bed. She lays out the charges against him: the murder of Edward Templeton, attempted murder of Nathan, and manslaughter of his brother, Sean. When he queries how she deciphered it all, Anais walks him through a harrowing narrative, culminating in a flashback revealing Michael abandoning his brother in a mine, his subsequent return met with silence. She plays the recording, leaving him with no room for denial.
Martyn arrives, offering Anais an apology, as Jarrod remains hospitalized, roused by Nurse Shelby for a routine check-up. Amidst the chaos, Simon invites Anais for a drink, to which she gracefully declines. He reveals crucial forensic details: the bag bore two sets of prints—one female, unidentifiable, and another belonging to a man incarcerated for over two years, adding another layer of mystery to the intricate web of deceit.
