The episode kicks off with Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis), her eyes scanning a news article, recounting how Canterbury's notorious gang leader Alfie Redman has been handed a decade-long prison term for the brutal murder of Adrian Roberts. DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan) steps into Dawn Fletcher's (Donna Coulling) world, as the haunting melodies of "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses fill the air. The song serves as a backdrop as Dawn reminisces about a missed concert opportunity, urged by her late Charlie Fletcher, whose memory lingers in James' thoughts. He expresses empathy, sure that Charlie would have admired him, appreciating his role in incarcerating Redman. Yet, James harbors discontent over the sentence's length, sensing an unresolved puzzle piece.
Elsewhere, Alison's attention shifts to another article, this time detailing Alfie's estranged wife, Helen Redman (Beth Goddard), distancing herself from her husband's notoriety. Her phone buzzes with an apology from Liam Barlow (Kieron Moore) for their previous night's escapade, which she ignores in favor of messages from her father, Ray Brooks (John Bishop).
At the police precinct, DC Ben Lawford (Nathan Armarkwei Laryea) offers solace to DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie) over her troubled marriage, to which she responds by stating that legal entanglements pale in comparison to a failed union. James interrupts with news of a jewel sale meeting tomorrow, amidst concerns that Braden Moore's (Joe Absolom) gun remains unaccounted for. Additionally, Amir Joshi's presence in London for an investor meeting is noted.
Upon entering The Beckett Social Club, Alison stumbles upon Ray indulging in illicit activities, specifically dealing marijuana. He insists it's harmless, while she reveals a lucrative yet illegal venture necessitating her and Julie Brooks' (Fifi Garfield) relocation. Ray encourages her to follow her conscience, and they share an embrace.
Back at the station, Ashleigh informs James of an anonymous tip that sealed Danny Heath's fate, sparking suspicion that Liam could be the informant. As Alison departs the club, Liam tracks her movements. She alerts James and Ashleigh to Liam's intention of breaking into the vault, possibly that very night, with Liam eavesdropping from afar. Amidst these revelations, Alison admits her fondness for Liam, though James warns of his perilous nature. Reluctantly, she agrees to steer clear of him.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service grants James permission to charge Liam with conspiracy and to apprehend Helen. Ben reports their locations as unknown, prompting James to deploy an armed tactical team to the vault. Liam informs Braden of a temporary absence, promised to return swiftly, only to sneak away to meet Alison. She beseeches him to abandon his plans, warning of imminent danger and capture. Liam insists there's no turning back and seeks her trust, which she grants. Their embrace is bittersweet as she walks away.
Elsewhere, DC Nia Caballero (Dedun Omole) presents Ben with CCTV footage capturing Joseph Holhurst (Andrew Scarborough) and Helen leaving his office, seemingly setting up alibis for an upcoming meeting. Alison, on the receiving end of an inquisitive text from Eithan Lewis (Rolf Choutan), promises an explanation upon their reunion.
At the Croesus International Vault, an armed tactical officer informs James and Ashleigh of the duty manager's refusal to cooperate. In a café, Alison's anxiety spikes over Liam potentially intercepting her texts, realizing her phone's connection to her hearing aid and another device. A flashback to Liam's curiosity about her hearing aid confirms Eithan's diagnosis – Liam has hacked her hearing aid. She swiftly dials Ashleigh's number, only to be ignored amidst an ongoing call, unaware of the looming peril lurking just beneath the surface.
At Croesus International Vault, Paul Lancaster, the custodian, underscores the paramountcy of safeguarding client data with utmost diligence. Suddenly, James alerts him to a looming threat: an organized criminal syndicate aiming to infiltrate their vault on this very day. A swift database check unveils that Reshmi Joshi, portrayed by Tanya Katyal, had orchestrated the removal of contents from Amir Joshi's vault earlier in the day. The CCTV footage captures a courier departing in a mysterious black van. James promptly reports the van's registration number, and ANPR technology traces it heading away from London on the A2, before it mysteriously vanishes. Suspecting the involvement of the Canterbury gang, James seeks confirmation from Amir, who claims ignorance about the whereabouts of the stolen items.
Elsewhere, Alison, borrowing a phone in haste, urgently conveys to Ashleigh that the Hawthorne Estate Hotel might be the next target of a heinous robbery. Meanwhile, DS Sara Burns, played by Lucinda Dryzek, extends an invitation to Ben for a cozy dinner, which he gracefully agrees to after promising to call her back. As he heads towards the hotel, Antony Bates parks discreetly behind it, while Liam steps into the back of a van where Chandra Bakshi, portrayed by Sheena Bhattessa, oversees a photo shoot with meticulous attention.
Reshmi persists in her demand for the necklace to complement her attire, amidst Navi's assurance that the courier's arrival is imminent. Within the van, Braden meticulously checks his firearm before sliding it into its holster. Liam, a tech-savvy mastermind, disables the hotel's CCTV security system with practiced ease. The anticipated courier van finally arrives, and Braden, disguised in a hotel uniform, equipped with an earpiece, steps into action. Navi flashes a card to the courier, who follows her inside with a tightly secured briefcase.
Liam deftly deactivates the rear door alarm, paving the way for Braden, now carrying a deceptive shopping bag. Navi guides the courier upstairs, while Liam assists Braden in navigating the hotel corridors undetected. The briefcase is handed over to Chandra and two vigilant security guards. Braden, now preparing a room service tray adorned with champagne and a box of macarons, blends in seamlessly. Through Liam's surveillance, he watches Chandra place the necklace on a table, setting the stage for the heist's climax.
Braden wheels the cart to Reshmi's room and announces the arrival of room service. A security guard unlocks the door, fulfilling the charade. Reshmi directs Braden to a specific room, unaware of the looming danger. Liam releases a potent gaseous chemical, triggering an alarm and prompting an orderly evacuation. Chandra, realizing the gravity of the situation, orders Braden to vacate the premises immediately. He ducks behind a door, narrowly escaping detection.
As the hotel empties out, Navi instructs security to escort Reshmi outside, intentionally leaving the necklace behind for the awaiting courier. Liam discreetly informs Reshmi of the evacuation plan, while Alison arrives in a taxi, defying James's warning to stay out of harm's way. She enters the hotel, her warnings falling on deaf ears as a skeptical worker doubts her claims of an ongoing robbery. Chandra leads Reshmi towards the exit, while Liam signals to Braden that the coast is clear.
Braden executes a swift switch, replacing the authentic necklace with a meticulously crafted replica. Reshmi, determined to reclaim the necklace, forces the CPO to return to the room. Liam alerts Braden to the impending danger, and he waits for the perfect moment to slip past and make his escape towards the exit. Struggling to deactivate the linen room alarm, Liam instructs Braden to dispose of the jewels down the laundry chute, before swiftly turning off his laptop, leaving behind a trail of deception and chaos.
Braden, following instructions to the letter, deposits the jewels into the laundry chute. He urgently beckons Liam to descend into its depths and retrieve them. Liam, bracing himself for the unorthodox mission, prepares to plunge in but abruptly bolts towards another van, catching Braden off guard with his sudden departure. Confusion reigns, heightened by Alison's presence amidst the turmoil. Desperate to intercept her, Liam dashes after her, ensnaring her in his grasp just in time.
Meanwhile, Ben arrives at the motel, alerting Ashleigh to an unfolding drama within its walls. Ashleigh inquiries about Alison, unaware of her unexpected involvement. Impatient for backup from armed officers, Ben storms inside. Amidst the tumult, Liam and Alison grapple, each urging the other to abandon the scene. Realizing the need for a swift adjustment, Braden opts to abort the mission. As he strides towards the exit, he fires shots, felling Ben and another unsuspecting bystander.
Liam, still clutching Alison, struggles with her as she cries out for release. She dashes to Ben's side, her instincts kicking in as she attempts to render aid. Desperately, she screams for Liam to summon an ambulance, but he flees the scene without hesitation. Later, Alison finds herself in the backseat of a police cruiser, her mind replaying the harrowing shooting as she's escorted into the station. Julie offers reassuring words, though her thoughts remain anchored to the violence. Catching sight of Ashleigh, James, and Sara passing by, Alison's turmoil deepens.
Escorted to an interview room and equipped with a BSL interpreter, Alison confronts the gravity of her predicament. James informs her of Ben's injury and the death of one of Amir's bodyguards, stressing the importance of understanding the sequence of events leading to the shooting. When questioned about her presence at the hotel, Alison claims she sought to thwart a robbery, an intuition she believes was centered on the hotel. James suspects she has withheld crucial information, while Ashleigh accuses her of deceit. When pressed on why her narrative shifted, Alison reveals Liam's revelation about the vault, acknowledging he eavesdropped on her conversations via her hearing aids, unbeknownst to her until she discovered their pairing with her phone—a setup she did not authorize.
James probes whether she was ever swayed to aid Liam, to which Alison admits fleeting moments of temptation but ultimate resistance. When asked about Liam's whereabouts, she reveals Braden's escape in the van, while Antony sits in custody, silent and unforthcoming. James reports the jewels and Liam remain at large, noting someone disabled the hotel's CCTV just prior to the shooting—a maneuver James suspects was orchestrated by Liam, always with an eye toward solo escape. Alison concurs, lambasting Liam for manipulating the situation and exploiting her involvement.
