As the episode unfolds, Cody Palmer (played by Milow Cawthorne) and Jack Laidlaw (portrayed by Darren Hill) find themselves nestled in the embrace of a rugged mountain range, their campsite a tranquil oasis amidst the wilderness. Jack, sleeping outdoors beside his tent, is abruptly awoken by an eerie, unidentifiable noise. Peering upwards through the night's shroud, his eyes widen in a mix of disbelief and terror as an unseen object plummets from the heavens, crushing him beneath its weight. Cody, sensing the disturbance, emerges from his tent to witness a grim tableau: Jack lies motionless, a stranger in hunting attire draped lifelessly atop him.
Later, Cody breaks the harrowing news to SC Hoana Rata (Roimata Fox) and Anais Mallory (Chelsie Preston Crayford), who receives the solemn tribute with a heavy heart. Rata extends her condolences, while Cody claims a fleeting acquaintance with Jack, disclaiming any knowledge of the deceased hunter. Georgia (Tessa Rao) inspects the fallen hunter, noting his attire and the considerable distance he must have fallen. She also points out the scattered alcohol bottles and marijuana joints at the campsite, hinting at a night of recklessness.
Anais reprimands Constable Jarrod Renner (Danhu Graham) for persevering with a concussion, to which he responds by highlighting Simon Delaney's (Matt Whelan) cracked rib and his own determination to contribute. She leans towards viewing the dual fatalities as a grim accident of nature. Rata postulates that the hunter might have plummeted from a helicopter, prompting questions about his abandonment. Simon inquires about the progress on a baggy found at Connery's murder scene, sparking a memory flashback for Anais.
In her flashback, Anais recalls Sharon Li Feng's (Lynette Forday) inquisitive gaze as she questions why the baggy was never logged into evidence. Anais admits finding it near the mine entrance but omits mentioning her clumsily dropping it when unobserved. Feng's subsequent discussion about her sister Lynne's missing accident file intensifies Anais's anxiety. When Feng suggests the missing file's connection to Lynne or her father's death, evidenced by Alan Souter's fingerprints, she issues a stern warning: misdirected suspicion could jeopardize a promising career.
Returning to the present, Cody extends an invitation for drinks, which Anais politely declines, expressing gratitude for his assistance amidst the sorrow. Hoana teases her gently. Meanwhile, Luke Staunton (Charles Jazz Terrier) and Maja Staunton (Indiana Evans) persuade Veronica to attend the arts festival dinner, though she denies discussing it with Anais, opting to grant her space as Luke suggested.
At the Aotearoa Police Department, Simon reveals the hunter's identity as Doug "Snapper" Snapes (Nick Dunbar), a notorious criminal and associate of Souter, who famously terminated Anais's father. Feng informs Anais of her impending removal from the case, prompting her to argue passionately against bringing in an outside team, pledging her competence. Feng relents, allowing her to continue.
In the morgue, Jarrod's nausea at the sight of Jack's corpse is chalked up to his concussion. Ihaka (Alex Tarrant) analyzes Jack's injuries, concurring with the SOCO's assessment of a pre-dawn demise. Anjali Babu (Utsa Chatterjee) informs them of the $10,000 cash found on Snapper. Anais snapshots his jacket, missing a button, and sends it to Hoana.
Simon, Jarrod, and Anais later comb through Snapper's house, collecting fingerprints and clues. Anais suspects Snapper had visitors. Jarrod discovers a Snapshotz shooting range membership card, while Anais unearths a ledger hidden in the freezer. At the shooting range, Anais notifies a staff member of Snapper's demise. He reveals that Len, possibly Snapper's acquaintance, relocated to Invercargill and owned a Zastava M85. He reminisces about Snapper's camaraderie with Ben Souter (Ian Blackburn). Anais attempts shooting, leaving the men astounded by her prowess.
Back at the police station, Anais frantically searches for Ben Souter's file, her frustration evident. Simon urges calm, revealing Feng's decision to pull both Ben's and Lynne's files after discovering the latter's disappearance. He offers his database passcode, cautioning her against displaying her upset to Feng. Anais accepts, apologizing profusely. Once alone, she regains composure and calls Veronica, who ignores her call. Harry arrives to escort her to the art festival dinner, marking a poignant transition amidst the ongoing turmoil.
Anais and Simon scrutinize Snapper's ledger, its pages eerily absent, while Snapper reveals the discovery of Len's fingerprints on the glass at his residence. He mentions Len's lack of a criminal record but hints at his involvement in an armed robbery. A grainy video surfaces, depicting a detective grilling teenage Ben about a clandestine meth lab. Simon volunteers to inform Feng of the connection he's uncovered.
Moments later, Anais visits Ben's mother to learn that he's back in town. Simon and Anais unexpectedly crash Jarrod's dinner, causing him to spill his drink onto his date, Shelby (Mirabai Peace), a stern nurse who forbids him from indulging in wine.
At the Fisherman's Pier, tensions rise as Ben confronts Simon with aggression. Anais reproaches Simon for apprehending Len, to which he reluctantly agrees to drop the charges so he can be interrogated. Veronica, Harry, Luke, and Maja arrive for the art festival dinner, greeted warmly by Anais. Veronica, opening up, reveals her decision to move forward and urges Anais to do the same, hinting at a restoration of their normal relationship.
At the police station, Ben hesitates to divulge information about Snapper until Simon threatens to press charges for assaulting an officer. Ben reveals that Len and Snapper went hunting, but he couldn't afford to join them. When Anais inquires about the helicopter's pilot, Ben claims ignorance. She breaks the news of Snapper's demise, leaving him stunned. In shock, he mentions a meeting between Snapper and a Russian man at a pub.
At Fi-Air, Fedor denies knowing Ben or the Snapes. Simon produces a video showing Fedor with Snapper and Len. Lynda suggests he might not recognize their names. Fedor asserts he refused them a discount and left promptly. Speaking in Russian, he demands the reason for their inquisition. Anais, switching to Russian, explains it's for a police investigation, but he stubbornly refuses to cooperate or allow a warrantless search of his helicopter.
Back at the police department, Simon explains the necessity of a search warrant to Feng. Feng agrees to look into it but first informs Simon that Snapper's fingerprints and glove smudges were found on an envelope containing $10,000. A Zastava M85 rifle is discovered 600 meters from the crime scene in the mountains, registered under Alan Souter's name. A flustered Anais calls Ihaka, inviting him to the lot, to which he promises to arrive by 6 PM.
At Fi-Air, Simon and Jarrod conduct a search, confiscating Lynda's laptop and flight logs. The warrant officer denies them a search warrant for the helicopter. Suspiciously, Lynda alerts someone about the police raid.
At the police department, Anais discovers Luke and Maja's names in the flight logs. She rushes to the art festival dinner to confront Luke, who claims to use Fi-Air for both business and personal travels. He admits that Fedor does accompany hunters on flights.
Cody approaches Jarrod, inquiring about Detective Mallory, hinting at a potential outing with her. Anais confronts Ben about the gun his brother gave him before going to jail. Ben explains that his brother let him keep it until his parole, unaware that Doug Snapes' fingerprints are on the weapon. Anais wonders why Ben lent the gun to Doug, to which Ben responds that Doug is familiar with its make. He claims never to have heard of Luke.
Returning to the station, Anais declares she's hit a wall. Simon admits they've lost track of Len but uncovers a pattern in the manifests: a different solo passenger every two months, all destined for Milsden, a location otherwise unremarkable except for its regional correctional facility and the presence of Alan Souter.
Alan is depicted vigorously exercising within the confines of his cell. Later, Anais confides in Ihaka, revealing her potential obligation to journey to Milsden to confront her father's murderer in an interview. She recounts experiencing what she believes was a panic attack, urging to reach out to someone, yet unsure of whom to call, ultimately dialing Ihaka's number. Ihaka inquiries about her panic attack, while Anais conveys a sense of being overwhelmed, as if the world is closing in on her. She laments feeling uniquely lost and implies that someone orchestrated the intricate labyrinth of events, though she refrains from naming names. Anais elucidates her haste to converse with Luke, and Ihaka encourages her to heed her instincts, sharing his own trust in them. A man is then seen boarding a plane, setting off on an unknown journey.
The following morning, Anais receives a call from Brian Makepeace at Regional Corrections, regarding her proposed visits to Alan Souter. Brian confirms Alan did indeed have visitors on the dates specified by Anais. Undeterred, Anais persists in her desire to arrange the interview. Simon contacts Anais with news too incredible to believe: a plane crash has occurred, claiming the life of the aforementioned man. Simon and Anais issue instructions to Georgia, both suspecting foul play. In the office, Anais and Simon ponder whether Alan Souter's shadow looms over this entire saga. Anais recounts a dead hiker's fate, killed when Doug Snapes was ejected from a helicopter by Fedor Ivanovich, with Snapes having borrowed a firearm from Alan's brother, Ben Souter. Notably, Fedor had been transporting Snapes to visit Alan in prison. Anais speculates that someone might be tidying up loose ends.
Harry Grayson schedules a tour of the apartments with Veronica Mallory, transforming the occasion into a day-long venture. Meanwhile, Simon informs Sharon Li Feng of the need to ascertain Fedor's intended destination. Anais seeks Feng's approval for a helicopter flight, prompting Feng to express exasperation at the escalating complexity of the situation. Simon volunteers to accompany Anais and interview Alan Souter, an offer Anais initially scorns but ultimately accepts. Alone, Anais scolds Simon, who justifies his decision as the only viable option. Moments later, they board the helicopter.
Elsewhere, Jarrod engages Hoana and Lynda in conversation about helicopter operations. Hoana inquiries whether Lynda processed a booking, to which Lynda reluctantly responds, eventually acknowledging they refill their own aviation gasoline stored in drums nearby. Jarrod inquires about the boss logging the flight to Wanaka, suggesting they disclose only that information to Hoana, who volunteers to inspect the drums while Jarrod examines the workspace. Makepeace presents Simon and Anais with footage of Snapes' jail visits, adding that Alan Souter enjoys considerable privileges behind bars.
When Simon and Anais confront Alan, Simon takes the role of observer, allowing Anais to conduct the interview. Alan recalls Anais previously scrutinizing him. Afterward, Simon commends Anais on her performance, noting she nearly swayed Alan. Anais warns Simon of dire consequences should Feng discover their unauthorized helicopter trip. Meanwhile, Jarrod discovers a phone number in the workspace.
Returning to Sharon, Anais and Simon recount their interview with Alan. Flashbacks to Anais questioning Alan about his meetings with Douglas Snapes reveal her suspicion that Snapes supplies him with comfort packages, while acknowledging Alan's comfortable situation, including the well-being of his mother and younger brother.
That's without even delving into the fact that his mother has been without a steady job for years, and his brother is jobless. Anais wonders aloud about the source of their finances. Alan asserts that Doug is a trusted friend. Intrigued, Anais inquires who could be financing Douglas's expenditures, particularly mentioning Luke Staunton. Alan remains tight-lipped on the matter. Anais drops a bombshell, revealing that Doug was thrown from a helicopter, hinting at someone tidying up loose ends. She speculates that Snapes' involvement in a meth lab might have made him a target for elimination. Adding to the grim tale, Anais informs Alan that the helicopter pilot is also deceased, leaving Alan as the sole remaining figure who understands the happenings of four years ago. She questions who might be compensating Alan for his silence, suggesting that cooperating with her could keep him alive. Alan, however, declines her offer.
Sharon Li Feng acknowledges that their conversation has yielded few answers. They brainstorm over who might be compensating Alan and why Snapes needed to be removed. Anais posits that ten thousand dollars might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, though she refrains from revealing her full theory just yet.
As Anais drives by, she spots her mother with Harry. Suddenly, Jarrod and Hoana Rata pull her over, eager to share critical information. Lynda speculates that spare drums of aviation gasoline remain untouched, though there's a chance they might have been tampered with. Hoana took the initiative to tag them and asked a patrol officer to keep watch. They also impart the phone number Jarrod discovered, belonging to a customer Fedor was supposed to pick up but never did—Meredith Frampton, who was flying down to visit Maja.
Anais meets with Maja, who emphatically denies actively seeking out Luke. Anais reveals that she parted ways with Luke due to his secrecy. She hopes Maja isn't entangled in Luke's endeavors. When quizzed about the flight, Maja confirms they always use Fedor for travel arrangements. She expresses regret if her past with Luke has caused Anais uncertainty about him, urging her to pose these questions to Luke for her own peace of mind.
Anais bumps into Cody, who insists he's not stalking her. He tries to persuade her to join him for a drink, but she's preoccupied. Inside the police station, Ben is still fuming about his gun and berates Anais for harassing his brother. Simon enlightens Anais that the helicopter crashed due to engine failure caused by contaminated fuel. Upon inspecting the passenger door, they find evidence that it has been replaced multiple times. Georgia uncovers a crucial piece of evidence from the wreckage—the missing button, confirming Doug Snapes was indeed in the helicopter two days prior. Determined to stir up some leads, Anais decides to take proactive measures, asking for their assistance.
Anais visits Luke at his residence but finds him unwilling to converse. To her surprise, Feng is also present. Anais fills her in on their knowledge about Snapes being in the helicopter and queries Luke about the ten thousand dollars. She proposes a theory that Snapes' greed led him to demand more money, prompting Luke to order his murder.
Luke and Maja unveil Veronica's incessant ramblings about her daughter's obsessive nature and her relentless fixation on Lynne's tragic accident. Luke ponders aloud if this marks the dawn of a fresh obsession, one centered around her father's demise. He conjectures that this could stem from Anais's guilt over her absence during Lynne's fateful moments. Luke dismissively remarks that the past should remain exactly that—past. He wonders aloud why anyone would seek out the man responsible for Veronica's husband's death. Anais replies cryptically that indeed, that is the million-dollar question. Luke threatens to escalate matters by lodging a formal complaint with higher authorities.
Meanwhile, Simon reaches out to Anais to affirm that everything is set in motion. Feng warns her categorically to stay put and return straight home. Later, Simon and the team observe the drums when Jarrod detects movement as someone attempts to prize open the lid. In a hurried scuffle, the drum topples over, and the intruder dashes away. Hoana eventually apprehends the suspect. Jarrod reveals that Doug was supposed to be confined in the morgue.
Anais awakens beside Cody to find her phone buzzing incessantly with missed calls from Simon. Rushing to the station, she learns that the perpetrator was Doug's brother, Len, who remains mum on the matter. Anais interrogates Len, who insists that Fedor was the one who terminated his brother's life. Len demands a lawyer, leaving Anais frustrated and furious. She accuses Luke of orchestrating this mess and grows agitated when Len clams up regarding Luke's involvement. Simon alerts Anais that their boss is on a warpath.
Feng summons Anais to her office where she reveals that she has penned a formal apology to Luke Staunton, pledging an end to Anais's harassment. Feng has also flagged Simon's file for allowing Anais to interview Alan Souter. She quizzes Anais on her recent erratic behavior. Anais defiantly refuses to relent despite acknowledging her lack of tangible evidence. Feng officially urges her to cease her pursuit of Luke but encourages her to trust her instincts.
Anais visits Ihaka, who informs her that he's awaiting blood test results for Fedor Ivanovich. She confides in him about her recent sexual encounter, asserting that she harbors no regrets. Anais admits that she values honesty and clarifies that while she enjoys Ihaka's company, she's not seeking an emotional entanglement. She leaves shortly thereafter.
Next, Anais pays a visit to Veronica, who greets her in a robe, leading Anais to believe she's been indulging in daytime naps. Anais's emotions are in turmoil. Veronica endeavors to soothe her daughter's troubled mind. Anais craves her mother's insight into Lynne's diary but meets with Veronica's reluctance. With a heavy heart, Veronica closes the door on her daughter.
