As the curtains rise on the second installment of Bergerac, Jim Bergerac (portrayed by Damien Molony) strides towards Charlie Hungerford (embodied by Zoe Wanamaker), who sits slumped in a vehicle outside. Upon entering the premises, Jim teases Charlie about her apparent dislike for him, to which she responds with a nuanced, "It's complicated." Charlie delves into the realm of life sans Rachel, likening their situation to that of cellmates, urging that they might as well strive for camaraderie. She gently reminds Jim of Kim's parents' evening looming on the horizon.
Jim confesses that his premature return to work was premature, hoping it would aid in supporting Kim but now harbors doubts. He ponders resignation, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Interrupted by a call from Uma Dalal (played by Sasha Behar), Jim learns that his theory regarding Lily Wakefield's abduction has proven correct.
At the precinct, Uma briefs Jim and Barney Crozier (acted by Robert Gilbert) on their new roles: Barney will helm the Cate Wakefield murder investigation, while Jim takes charge of Lily's abduction case. Given the intertwined nature of both mysteries, they vow to collaborate seamlessly, albeit with a touch of playful rivalry. Privately, Jim discusses John Blakely with Uma, a recently incarcerated individual whose crimes mirror the current case eerily. Jim suggests they prepare for Blakely's name to surface, while Uma reminds him of his mandatory counseling session the next day, proposing daily check-ins for added support.
Jim consults Simon Calvert (played by Luke Nunn), delving into the specifics of Lily's disappearance. Arthur, discovering Lily's absence, noticed no immediate signs of forced entry, save for a marked police car stationed outside. They hypothesize that the perpetrator either exploited a CCTV blind spot or was none other than Cate Wakefield's killer returning for another strike. Kara Molloy (Celine Arden) updates that the forensic team is scouring both the main house and its annex, while Arthur and Julien have sought refuge at St Brelade’s Bay Hotel amidst media silence—or rather, the lack thereof, Jim mentally notes, highlighting John Blakely once more.
Seeking solace and guidance, Jim sits with Pete Benedict (played by Aidan McArdle), whose presence Uma deems crucial for Jim's emotional well-being. Pete senses Jim views this as a form of punishment, but Jim dismisses the notion, insisting the case takes precedence. Pete counters that this space could serve as a sanctuary for Jim to mourn, process, and vent. Jim, however, remains steadfast in his focus on the investigation.
Later, Jim visits Mia Alves (portrayed by Diana Vassalo) and Tomos (Edi De Melo), seeking insights into Cate. Mia recounts that Lily joined their family at seven months, an adoption necessitated by their infertility struggles. She reveals her recent dismissal by Margaret Wakefield and their impending departure from Jersey due to Tomos's job offer in Porto. Meanwhile, Arthur Wakefield (played by Philip Glenister) receives a startling revelation from Margaret Heaton (acted by Pippa Haywood): a police officer awaits in reception. Arthur fears the ramifications of their inquiries, suspecting a member of staff might be involved. As his phone rings, Arthur places the call on speaker, drawing Julien (Timothy Renouf) into their anxious circle.
A garbled, sinister voice informs them that Lily is in their custody, demanding a sum of 250,000 pounds in an unmarked duffel bag to be delivered to Royal Square at precisely six o'clock this evening. They issue a dire warning: any sighting of a police officer will result in Lily being tossed into the harbor. Arthur's heart races as he inquiries about Cate's fate, but the caller abruptly terminates the call, leaving them with more questions than answers.
Downstairs, Margaret greets Kara Molloy with a forced smile, weaving a tale of Arthur and Julien being summoned to an urgent meeting. Meanwhile, Chloe (portrayed by Ayesha Antoine) observes Arthur and Julien's hurried departure with curiosity. Elsewhere, Jim encounters John Blakely (played by Stephen Wight) and offers an apology for the previous day's events. Jim probes into John's whereabouts the previous night, to which John responds that he spent most of his evening in Jim's company. When Jim persists about John's activities thereafter, John expresses trepidation that this ordeal may never conclude. He recounts going home, indulging in a shower, vegging out in front of the TV, and offering silent prayers. Jim recalls John's residence in a hostel, reasoning that someone must have witnessed his actions. John doubts anyone would converse with him, given his past. Jim believes his own wrongful conviction strikes a chord with fellow ex-offenders, albeit not those present. They remain unaware of his true identity. As Jim departs, he calls Kara to impart the distressing news about Lily's adoption, both acknowledging they should have foreseen this possibility. Kara fills him in on Arthur and Julien's absence.
Arthur and Julien consult Dickie (portrayed by Jonathan Guy Lewis) regarding the acquisition of a vehicle, with Arthur specifying the need for 250 pounds in cash. Dickie requests some time to arrange it. Jim arrives on the scene and cross-examines Margaret, who now claims Julien and Arthur visited friends. Chloe enters the room with flowers, presenting herself as a resident keen to express her condolences for the man she saw on television. Upon catching sight of Jim, she makes a hasty retreat. Jim catches up with her downstairs, where Chloe grills him relentlessly about Lily's whereabouts and whether she has been abducted. Jim cautions her that the situation is precariously delicate; publishing her story could jeopardize Lily's life. Chloe assures him that he will owe her one.
Arthur and Julien arrive just as Chloe exits. Arthur informs Jim that they have yet to receive any news. Jim urges them to remain in one place, reminiscing about a previous case where a family attempted to handle a ransom note independently.
Arthur reluctantly concedes, acknowledging that he indeed received a phone call earlier this morning. Jim orchestrates a plan, assigning Julien the task of meeting the kidnapper to deliver the ransom. He elucidates their strategy: they will tail the kidnapper once the bag is picked up, hoping this trail will lead them straight to When Jim's phone rings, and Kim's name (Chloe Sweetlove) flashes on the screen, he excuses himself to take the call. She informs him of an urgent matter at work, prompting Jim to assure her he'll visit his grandmother afterward. Charlie, hearing this, volunteers to go in Jim's place.
Post-call, Simon reveals a heart-wrenching detail to Jim: both of Lily's parents perished in a tragic fire. Jim scours the CMS records and discovers John Blakeley's alibi had been logged—allegedly spotted in a pub by an off-duty officer. Intriguingly, Jim notes that the entry was made by Simon, who nonchalantly suggests he might have overlooked it.
As the tense moment approaches, Julien steps out of the vehicle, preparing for the critical drop. He places the bag on the designated spot and retreats, but his exit is abruptly halted by a stranger who tries to wrestle the bag back. The ensuing chaos results in the bag's disappearance amidst the scuffle. Relying on a tracker, Jim dashes to the location and discovers Julien lying on the ground, realized it was all a setup. Julien recounts how he was lured into a trap, hit, and the money stolen right under his nose. The team scatters in search of the perpetrator.
Tom (Martin Hyder) expresses his dissatisfaction with John's actions, particularly bringing police attention. He had already granted John an exception, but John's frustration boils over, pushing Tom against the wall with a vengeful declaration: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."
Elsewhere, Jim visits Charlie, who mentions Kim's night out with friends. Jim confides in Charlie about Lily and Cate, lamenting his failure as Jersey's child abduction expert despite his presence. Charlie, noticing Kim's grades slipping, believes it's due to the school's shortcomings and proposes transferring her to St. Bernadette's, their alma mater, offering to cover all expenses. Jim, emphasizing Kim's need for stability, suggests hiring a private tutor instead.
Jim reminds Charlie that she never juggled work and motherhood, prompting Charlie to argue for letting Kim make the decision herself. Jim counters that Kim is still just a child. Before departing, Jim assures Charlie he'll be there before Kim goes to school tomorrow. As Jim leaves, he calls Barney with a breakthrough: he knows Lily Wakefield's whereabouts.
Jim intercepts Mia and Tomos as they attempt to flee with Lily. Mia, pleading for a moment's grace, is swiftly overruled by Jim, who secures the baby just in time as police arrive on the scene. Mia is ushered into an interview room, grilled about the night Cate died. Mia insists they never intended Lily's abduction, driven solely by their affection for her. She uncovers a dark family secret: their perfect image is meticulously curated by Margaret, and she suspects they were behind Cate's demise. Jim probes further about the extortion attempt post-tragedy; Mia insists there was no ransom involved.
Simon enters, handing Jim a piece of paper, while Kara draws attention to a recent deposit of £16,000 in Mia's banking app, adding another layer of complexity to the unraveling mystery.
The money originated from an account solely in Cate's name. Mia alleges that Cate had been saving funds for herself, driven by Arthur's manipulation through Julien to coerce her into signing a prenuptial agreement. Mia remains baffled about why Cate would entrust her with the transfer of these funds into her account. Jim presents Mia with an application for a Royal Jersey account, revealing that it was established in Cate's name four months prior. Alongside, they possess a club membership form bearing Cate's signature, yet the signatures bear discernible differences. Mia confesses to setting up the account, explaining that Cate couldn't escape Julien's influence long enough to handle it herself. Jim notes that the money was transferred only yesterday, after Cate's untimely demise. Mia claims responsibility for the transfer, insisting the money belonged to Lily. Jim suspects that Mia had been orchestrating this for much longer than anyone realized, and both Jim and Kara accuse her of theft. The interrogation persists until Mia's solicitor intervenes, requesting to terminate the session. Ultimately, Mia confesses her frustration with Cate's failure to leave when she had the chance, believing her friend stayed due to greed and weakness. Jim subsequently arrests Mia on suspicion of murdering Cate Wakefield.
Later, Jim reveals to Simon his suspicion of Mia, based on her unperturbed demeanor regarding Lily's abduction. He realizes that loving someone unconditionally transcends biological parenthood. A news report highlights Bergerac as the chosen communication platform for the investigation, earning praise from Barney who considers it a positive outcome. He will spearhead the Tomos case upon the interpreter's arrival. Kim calls Jim, who confirms the news report as the reason for his absence. He assures her they are edging closer to solving the case and expresses his desire to discuss Kim's return home. In a private conversation with Kara, Jim ponders why Mia and Tomos would risk taking Lily on a night they already had her, especially considering the safer option of keeping her with Cate. Despite these puzzles, Jim doubts they killed Cate.
