As the narrative of "Beyond Paradise" unfolds in this intriguing episode, Lucy Thompson (portrayed by Eva Feiler) mounts her bicycle with purpose, pedaling towards her workplace with the dawn of a new day. Meanwhile, PC Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn) surprises Josh Woods (Chris Jenks) in the midst of an attempted break-in at the charming Cute Buns Bakery. Josh, spooked, dashes away from the scene, leaving Kelby in his wake. Lucy, oblivious to this drama, continues her ride, passing by a sign marred with enigmatic graffiti before entering a thick, mystical fog. Suddenly, her scream pierces the air, but she vanishes, leaving her bicycle abandoned on the ground—a mysterious and unsettling sight.
DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall), fumbling with his pockets, searches frantically for his keys, only to stumble upon a whimsical drawing by Rosie (Bella Rei Blue Stevenson). With a sigh of relief, he finally locates his keys, and alongside Martha (Sally Bretton), agrees to grant Rosie a delightful trip to the zoo for the weekend. Elsewhere, Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) rouses Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) from her slumber, warning her of impending tardiness for work. The mention of Archie piques Esther's interest, causing her to bolt upright, aware of Zoe's perception of a budding romance between them. However, Esther dismisses it, insisting that whatever was brewing between them is now extinguished.
Josh, meanwhile, intercepts a haunting voicemail from Lucy, where she utters the word "devil" and pleads for assistance. In a moment of desperation, he snatches a passerby's bicycle and speeds off. At work, Zoe inquires about Archie with Martha, who philosophically admits their relationship was not meant to be. Esther, glued to her phone, contemplatively eyes Archie's contact details. Shortly after, Humphrey and Margo Martins (Felicity Montagu) arrive, and the workplace buzzes with anticipation. Kelby storms in, venting his frustration about Josh, who promptly enters the room. Josh reveals Lucy's peculiar plight, playing the voicemail and speculating about the ominous "Devil's Hump." Kelby scoffs, dismissing it as mere folklore, while Margo recounts tales of the hump being the Devil's handiwork, capable of stealing one's soul. Josh, torn between disbelief and fear, admits his uncertainty. Humphrey, ever the skeptic, believes there's a logical explanation awaiting discovery.
The team dives into the mystery, with Humphrey advising Josh to return home and await Lucy's reappearance. Once Josh departs, Esther ponders whether Lucy concocted the tale to evade Josh. Humphrey doubts it, knowing Lucy's character. They concede, however, that Josh has a penchant for fabrications. Kelby ventures to the Devil's Hump, where he discovers a necklace lying discarded beside Lucy's bicycle. Humphrey relistens to the voicemail, Margo confirming Lucy's absence from hospitals and unused bank cards. The eerie snarling in the background reminds Humphrey of a hellhound's legend. Kelby's call about the necklace and a crucifix intensifies the suspense.
As they search the vicinity, Kelby catches a fleeting glimpse of a man with a dog in the distance, only for them to vanish as mysteriously as they appeared. Humphrey and Esther arrive, and Kelby reveals the necklace bears no useful fingerprints. Josh identifies it as not Lucy's, further entangling the mystery. Humphrey suspects the necklace holds the key, while Kelby insists Josh's involvement is undeniable. Ignoring a call from Bertie, Josh glances at his refrigerator, adorned with a to-do list, and decides to prioritize these tasks over his beer, determined to uncover the truth behind Lucy's disappearance.
At the Ten Mile Kitchen, Esther handed over Zoe's keys with a solemn expression. Martha, noticing the tension, inquired if everything was alright. Initially, Esther hesitated to discuss it, but eventually, she confessed that the man in question was Archie, yet their relationship had come to an end. Martha revealed that she and Archie had a past, long forgotten, and she had already suspected something was brewing between them. She offered her advice, urging Esther that sometimes, it's worth taking a leap of faith.
Meanwhile, Kelby couldn't shake off the eerie encounters as he made his way back to town. He paused by the bakery for a brief respite before resuming his journey. When he visited Josh, Kelby stumbled upon Lucy's list and offered his assistance. Josh, in a bid to conceal the stolen bike he had hidden earlier, ushered Kelby inside to work on organizing a shelf. Curiosity piqued, Kelby inquired about Josh's desire to apologize to Lucy. Josh confessed that an old acquaintance, Bertie, had approached him with a stash of counterfeit bags, leading Lucy to mistakenly believe Josh was involved. He vowed never to steal again if Lucy returned safely, a promise Kelby intended to hold him to. Later, Kelby reported the altercation to Humphrey, admitting he believed Josh might be innocent this time. Humphrey pondered over the ownership of the crucifix, adding another layer of mystery.
Zoe confronted Archie, seeking clarity on his relationship with her mother. Archie admitted he hadn't wanted to end things, and Zoe observed that she hadn't seen her mother this content in years. She speculated that Esther was either fearful or stubbornly resistant. Zoe encouraged Archie to try and win her back.
Back home, Humphrey assisted Rosie and the others in baking, much to Anne's skepticism about his suitability for the task. The group toyed with the idea of calling the bakery for help. The next day, Margo informed the team that Josh had called for an update. They listened to a cleaned-up recording where the hellhound's growl resembled an ordinary dog's bark. Humphrey was determined to locate the dog's owner. Additionally, they learned that Cathy Morgan, one of Lucy's patients, had missed her appointment. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Humphrey visited Cathy in person, only to find her son, Trent Morgan, claiming she was visiting her sister in Cornwall and should return shortly. Trent insisted there was no way to contact them and expressed ignorance about Lucy. Humphrey, however, noticed Cathy wearing the crucifix necklace in a photograph, prompting her to dismiss it as a coincidence.
Outside, Humphrey shared his suspicions with Esther, convinced there must be something connected. He tasked Margo with uncovering more about Trent and Cathy Morgan. Though he had promised to return home early, Esther reassured him that it was fine if he stayed. Steve Banley called Trent, giving him an ultimatum of three days. Steve's companion, a dog resembling the one Kelby had seen, added to the intrigue. Anne reluctantly admitted that the cake was surprisingly delicious.
During the party, Hannah Owen's call interrupted the festivities. Archie's subsequent call to Esther prompted her to step outside. He agreed to move forward at her pace, urging her not to give up on them. After the call, Esther resumed her duties, while Rosie savored the cake, earning Humphrey's praise as the best he had ever tasted. Martha finally noticed Hannah's call and, upon Humphrey's arrival, learned that Rosie was heading home. Margo revealed that Trent and Cathy were burdened with significant debts, barely making the minimum payments each month, deepening the mystery surrounding them.
Last week, Trent made a substantial one-time settlement on one of his credit cards, prompting Esther to delve into his phone records out of curiosity. The post-it note inscribed with the word "devil" kept slipping off the bulletin board, adding an eerie touch to the already peculiar scenario. Kelby's visible anxiety was heightened, as this wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred. Martha informed everyone that Hannah would arrive the following day at 10, yet she confessed to having underestimated the impact of an impending revelation, believing they'd have more time to ease into it. They were dreading the moment they'd have to share the news with Rosie – she was to return to her mother's and wouldn't be joining them at the zoo. Understandably disheartened, Rosie threw a tantrum, scattering objects around and dashing into her room.
Margo stumbled upon a text conversation between Trent and someone named JD, hinting at illicit drug exchanges. Esther, sensing the gravity of the situation, knew only one course of action could uncover the truth. She took Kelby along to confront Trent, reassuring him that they stood ready to assist if his mother was entangled in trouble. Trent confessed that Steve Banley had taken her; he made deliveries to Steve's shop and, in a moment of desperation, had stumbled upon a bag of marijuana. He revealed Steve's carpet shop's location on Harcourt Road and earnestly begged them to ensure his mother's safety.
Meanwhile, Humphrey and Martha struggled to coax Rosie out of her room, while Kelby's call went unanswered. At Steve's carpet shop, which was padlocked, Esther's intuition led her to guess the combination and retrieve the key. Inside, the store appeared deserted, save for a dog bowl and bed lying abandoned on the floor. Seeking further clues, Esther proposed checking the CCTV footage outside. Rosie, eventually persuaded, allowed Martha and Humphrey inside, and they collectively apologized before Humphrey was interrupted by another call. Kelby updated him about Cathy's abduction by Steve Banley.
The CCTV footage captured Steve leaving the shop with his dog and an accomplice. Humphrey's keen eye caught something amiss on the shop window – a reflection that had inadvertently solved his case. Upon Kelby and Esther's arrival, Humphrey revealed they were heading to a bar, citing the window's reflection that had mistakenly read "devil" instead of "live bands every Saturday." They pondered how Lucy had become entangled in this mess, speculating that Steve had kidnapped Cathy and Lucy had witnessed it, leading to her involvement as well.
In a daring move, they broke into the bar. Kelby swiftly calmed the frightened dog, while Humphrey and Esther liberated Cathy and Lucy. Steve and his partner fled the scene, with Josh hot on their trail. Kelby and Josh eventually apprehended the suspects. Cathy and Lucy were unharmed, with Lucy delighted to see Josh. Overhearing their conversation, Humphrey praised Esther, stating he couldn't have asked for a better partner. Kelby noticed the dog still barking inside the bar.
As Hannah arrived to pick up Rosie, she assured Martha everything would be alright. Rosie bid everyone farewell before departing with Hannah. Esther encountered Archie, momentarily stepping out of her car before hesitating and retreating. Archie approached her window, suggesting she shouldn't shut herself out of happiness. Esther apologized and drove off. Josh returned a stranger's bicycle, accompanied by a note of gratitude. Kelby, having adopted the dog he now named Tara, felt a new sense of companionship. Humphrey and Martha, seeking solace, headed to their boat for a refreshing drink.
