As two friends strolled along a tranquil beach, their serene moment was abruptly shattered when they stumbled upon a grim discovery: a corpse. The suspenseful beginning of Episode 1 in Deadloch truly ignites when Dulcie receives a call about this shocking news, given that she and Cath are nestled in bed together. The officials swiftly identify the body as Trent Latham's after a cursory glance.
Commissioner Hastings, Dulcie's superior, then calls to inform her that an investigator is on his way to take charge, but she must remain in a leadership position until then. Trent's devastated girlfriend, Vanessa, arrives and rushes to the scene, only to find that her beloved Trent is no more. Dulcie delves into the events of the previous evening, inquiring whether Trent was involved in any illegal activities. His partner vehemently denies it.
To break the news of Trent's passing to his brother Gavin, Dulcie and Abby make their way to his home. Gavin's reaction is a whirlwind of emotions: he rages against the entire city, before finally collapsing in despair upon realizing the truth.
Dulcie's debriefing is abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the Detective, who takes over the investigation. Her unorthodox behavior causes a commotion, which Dulcie finds both obnoxious and mildly distressing. The detective listens intently to every piece of information gathered over the previous 27 hours. Her focus then shifts to Nathan's brother Gavin, whom she suspects of being the murderer. She requests that they bring him in for questioning.
Dulcie ventures out to a bridge to further investigate the case. One of those present mentions a seal that consumed the face of a corpse that washed up on the shore, suggesting that once they develop a taste for blood, they're unable to stop.
When Detective Redcliffe arrives to speak with Cath, she finds her unconscious. She inquires about Cath's bond with Gavin and discovers that their relationship seems cordial. The medical examiner discusses every detail of the autopsy, including Trent's last meal and the fact that the laceration wasn't fatally deep. Detective Redcliffe interjects, stating that strangulation was the cause of death - precisely when he begins to reveal the cause of death.
Abby relays a shocking message to Dulcie via text, informing her that Nathan's tongue was mysteriously missing. Prompted by this revelation, Dulcie makes her way to Redcliffe to share her thoughts on the matter. Dulcie brings up Rob Dixon, another case that has left her with a sense of unease. She shares that Dixon was also found dead on the same beach, with his tongue missing. Dulcie's intuition tells her that there's a connection between the two cases, and she believes the detective is focusing on the wrong suspect.
Despite Dulcie's warnings, Detective Redcliffe has already made up his mind to arrest Gavin the following day, regardless of what she has to say. Redcliffe's patience wears thin when Dulcie calls the Commissioner, requesting permission to take the case back from him.
Abby's discovery of a surveillance clip from the harbor adds fuel to the fire. The footage shows Gavin and Nathan engaged in a heated altercation, but the lens is covered by a bug, making it impossible to see what exactly transpired. This only strengthens Redcliffe's suspicion that Gavin could be the culprit. The detective and Dulcie set out in search of Gavin.
As the city hosts a large gathering, Abby spots Vanessa Lathan and promptly calls Dulcie and Redcliffe. They rush downtown to question her. Meanwhile, Cath confronts Dulcie about whether she's been handling the investigation without her knowledge. The episode concludes with Dulcie and Redcliffe discovering a dead body after Cath aims a tranquilizing dart at a seal.
