The episode kicks off with Chief Inspector Jim Bergerac (Damien Molony), challenging the conventional wisdom of the five stages of grief. Attending a support group session, Jim finds himself amidst fellow souls seeking solace. A sudden scuffle erupts, culminating in a tragic turn as Cate Wakefield (Anna Mawn) is fatally felled by a wooden candlestick. Meanwhile, an opera singer (Suzanne Manuell) enchants the audience with her live performance, her voice resonating through the hall.
Jim, professing his undying love for his wife, openly admits to his battle with alcoholism, attributing his excessive drinking to an unbearable agony that gnaws at him. Stepping away from the meeting, he seeks refuge in the restroom, where he indulges in a solitary drinking session. Returning a missed call, he heads to the police station where Lucy (Shanay Neusum-James) informs him of his 14-year-old daughter, Kim Bergerac (Chloe Sweetlove), attempting to dodge a restaurant bill. Unable to reach Jim, Kim provides the authorities with her grandmother, Charlie Hungerford’s (Zoe Wanamaker), contact number.
Turning around, Jim spots Charlie and apologizes for the inconvenience. Charlie, determined to ensure Kim's safety, insists on knowing where Jim has been. He claims to have attended an AA meeting as they had earlier agreed, but Charlie argues that while some adjustment was expected after their shared tragedy, this chaos is beyond acceptable. As Jim leaves to address Kim’s arrest, he discovers his door pass has been deactivated. Lucy swiftly issues him a guest pass.
Upon arriving at the station, Jim finds Kim alone in her cell. He warns her that just because he works there doesn't mean her arrest will be any easier on her. She suggests they tell the authorities she was acting out, to which Jim responds by raising his voice, affirming her behavior. Kim reveals it was Tommassi’s restaurant, a place they frequently visited.
Later, Jim awakens in his car to the barking of a dog. Entering his cluttered home, he pulls out a photo of him and his wife from a drawer, sparking a nostalgic flashback of their happy moments by the sea. Checking his blood alcohol level, he takes a refreshing shower. While dressing, he catches a news report about Cate Wakefield's body being discovered in a residence in St. Brelade’s Bay. Chief Constable Uma Dalal (Sasha Behar) informs reporters that the Jeremy Police, though inexperienced in murder investigations, are working tirelessly to solve the case.
Jim drops some belongings for Kim at Charlie's place, where he is warmly embraced by Charlie. She informs him that Kim will stay with her until Jim gets himself together. He inquiries if this is Kim’s decision or hers, to which Kim confirms it's her choice. Jim reveals he has been asked to lead the Wakefield murder case and expresses his readiness. Kim voices her wish to discuss her mother with him.
Later at the station, Jim pays Uma an unannounced visit. She warmly embraces him and inquiries about Kim. He praises her, expressing his desire to return to work. Uma informs him that Barney Crozier (Robert Gilbert) is the lead investigator in the Wakefield case and expresses concern about Jim returning too soon after his wife’s death. Jim stresses the importance of an experienced detective being part of the investigation team. Uma approves his joining the team as support, but only if he attends counseling and Barney agrees.
As Jim basked in the serene beauty of the beach, his tranquility was abruptly shattered by a text from Uma, announcing his inclusion on the team. With a heavy heart, he emptied the contents of his flask, a gesture reflecting his tumultuous emotions.
Later, the ambiance of the police station was a stark contrast to the earlier beach scene, as Kara Molloy (Celine Arden), Paul, and another woman welcomed Jim with mixed expressions. Simon Calvert (Luke Nunn) inquired of Barney whether Jim's return was permanent, to which Barney replied with a hint of reservation, suggesting Jim might think so. He confided in Jim his dissatisfaction with the convoluted nature of the case, while Jim reassured him of his sole intent to aid in the investigation, vowing to navigate through the complexities together.
Barney delved into the gritty details of the case with Jim and his team. The victim, Cate Wakefield, a 26-year-old, was married to Julien Wakefield (Timothy Renouf), 30, of St. Brelade. Arthur Wakefield (Philip Glenister), Cate's influential father-in-law and CEO of Arthur Wakefield Engineering (AWE), loomed large in the narrative. Simon elaborated on Arthur's far-reaching influence and widespread popularity, while Molloy assured that, as far as they could ascertain, Arthur was clear of any wrongdoing. Mia Alves (Diana Vassalo), the Portuguese nanny to Julien and Cate's daughter, Lily, was also a key figure.
A video footage revealed Margaret Heaton (Pippa Haywood), Arthur's chief of staff, Julien, and Arthur attending a charity event between 8 pm and 10:30 pm the previous night. Meanwhile, Cate, nursing a headache, was reportedly at home. Upon their return around 11 pm, they found the door ajar and Cate lifelessly lying in the nursery, her head bearing two grievous wounds. Simon mentioned Arthur's争端 with the security company, resulting in the system being disabled for weeks. Barney speculated that burglars might have targeted the house, unaware of Cate's presence.
As Barney and Jim approached Arthur's house in St. Brelade’s Bay, they were met by a scrum of reporters. Tim Bruce (Mark Cameron), a Channel Island Voice reporter, recognized Jim from the car and addressed him. Jim questioned Arthur about any social media postings hinting at Cate's intent to stay home, to which Arthur replied sarcastically, suggesting a headache hardly warranted public attention. Jim then inquired about the dispute with the security company, with Arthur claiming the company hiked prices upon discovering his identity. Jim commented that two weeks without CCTV surveillance was a substantial period. Barney reprimanded Jim for implicitly blaming the victim.
Julien, struggling to pour a drink, was approached by Jim, who offered assistance and gently broke the news of his wife's demise, urging him to maintain self-respect. Julien, in despair, asked if it ever got better, to which Jim replied with a shared anecdote of hope. Tim invited Chloe Havron (Ayesha Antoine) for coffee, sparking a conversation about Jim. Chloe, scrolling through her laptop, recounted Jim's medal for solving the Armstrong case and his subsequent descent into heavy drinking following his wife's demise six months prior.
Inside the nursery, Jim discovered a hastily packed bag of baby clothes beneath a chest, hinting at a rush to depart. Barney articulated his theory on the murder's sequence, prompting Jim to question the feasibility of the assailant reaching a candlestick originally placed across the room, given their position by the doorway. Barney responded with a sarcastic remark, underscoring the tension between them amidst the haunting scene.
Margaret, introducing herself to Jim as Arthur's chief personal secretary, revealed her identity with poise. When Jim inquired about the bag of baby clothes, her demeanor shifted subtly as she explained that Lily occasionally stayed at Mia's apartment during Cate and Julien's absences. His insistence on speaking with Mia in private underscored the gravity of the situation. He unveiled the discovery of the baby clothes in the nursery, to which Mia remained eerily silent. Margaret stressed the amicable relationship between Arthur, herself, and Cate, prompting Jim's sardonic remark about their supposed 'one big happy family.'
Turning to Arthur, Margaret inquired if he had shown the letters to the police, steering the conversation towards a more delicate matter. Arthur's questioning about who else knew about the disabled security system, besides him, Margaret, and Julien, revealed his tension. Her response, that the staff was aware and Cate might have mentioned it, seemed to fuel his decision. He commanded the termination of the entire staff and the replacement of all locks, brushing aside Margaret's reminder about the letters with a raised voice, insisting it was unrelated.
Barney held a press conference, updating the public on Cate's murder, amidst Chloe's skepticism about Jim's involvement in the case. Barney reassured her, emphasizing their good fortune in having Jim on the team, before delegating the task of examining the incident call logs to him. Simon approached Barney with a list of rejected Wakefield applicants, one of whom seemed familiar to both. Although Barney mentioned delegating the call logs to Jim, Simon offered to handle it, sensing an opportunity to distract Jim. Barney, however, preferred to keep it between them, emphasizing the need for secrecy.
Jim found the call logs to be dead-end leads, disappointing Simon, who revealed that the applicant's name was not linked to Cate's murder. Barney's prioritization of the matter puzzled Simon further. Meanwhile, Pete Benedict, introduced as Jim's new counselor, informed him of a mandatory therapy session tomorrow, imposed by Uma. Jim, admitting he only agreed to satisfy Uma, resisted, but Pete persuaded him to discuss it during the session.
Reporting his findings on the call logs to Barney, Jim was redirected to examine the CMS. His eyes were instantly drawn to John Blakely, a rejected applicant at Wakefield Construction. Barney's smirk as Jim left hinted at unspoken plans. Later, at Winsford's Boatyard, Jim confronted Blakely about his whereabouts the previous night. Blakely, frustrated by being a prime suspect in various criminal investigations, recited Ephesians 4:31, placing a comforting hand on Jim's shoulder and another over his heart. In a moment of surreal confession, Blakely admitted to Cate's murder before calmly walking away, leaving Jim stunned.
Margaret concludes Mia's involvement by reminding her of the non-disclosure agreement she had signed, to which Mia protests her innocence in sharing any information with Jim. Margaret reassures her that there is indeed nothing to divulge. At the precinct, Jim relates to the team how the bundle of clothing in the nursery seemed hastily packed, with valuable items inexplicably left behind, suggesting a rushed attempt to abduct Lily. He emphasizes this theory by adding Blakely's photograph to the investigative board, noting Blakely's prior abduction of the teenage daughter of a construction firm's CEO. Barney informs the team that Jim had tracked down Blakely and successfully rescued the girl. Jim further reveals that Blakely's vehicle was captured by an ANPR camera just half a mile from the Wakefield residence around the time Cate was murdered. Barney cautions that Jim's direct confrontation at Blakely's workplace could border on harassment, but with a sly grin, he orders Blakely's apprehension nonetheless. Simon looks troubled by this development.
Through the one-way mirror, Molloy wagers with Simon that Blakely will break within five minutes of interrogation. Simon, claiming not to be one for gambling, remains noncommittal. Blakely maintains his alibi, stating he was at a pub with Tom and colleagues, departing at 11:30 PM and dropping Tom off at his place by 12:15 AM. He inquiries about the time of Cate's death, which Barney finds amusing given it was at 9 PM. Simon walks away, disturbed.
Later, Jim watches a news broadcast lambasting the police for arresting Blakely. As night descends, an unseen figure lurks around the Wakefield house. Jim catches a taxi to a liquor store, where he stands outside. Meanwhile, inside, Arthur discovers Julien slumbering on the couch with a baby monitor in hand. Upon checking Lily's crib, Arthur finds it empty and, in a panic, shouts out that Lily has been taken.
