Episode 3 of Dept Q kicks off with Merritt's captors deciding to escalate their tactics to coerce her into confessions. With her confined within a pressurized tank, they brutally increase the air pressure, intent on forcing her to crack under the strain.
Elsewhere, Akram and Carl dive into the investigation. They uncover the mystery of William's disappearance and painstakingly retrace the final moments of William and Merritt's journey aboard the ferry bound for the Island of Mhor. The curious incident of the hat adds an intriguing twist; tossed into the air amidst the gusty winds, it surprisingly lands in the ferry's parking bay. Intriguingly, Merritt is nowhere to be seen in the footage captured by the cameras down below, only William's presence is evident. Coupled with the fact that the ferry tickets were acquired that very morning, these clues suggest that Merritt's abductors have been closely monitoring her for some time.
As they delve deeper into Merritt's background, some fascinating revelations come to light. Harry Jennings, the individual who initially assaulted William and caused his head injury, is identified. A local delinquent, Harry broke into the Lingard household, the scene of the attack, and ultimately met his demise while attempting to evade arrest by leaping off a ferry. Although Harry's involvement proves fruitless here, they uncover a crucial lead through Jamie Lingard. Merritt's father, a reclusive fisherman haunted by his past excessive drinking, resides in seclusion. When Akram and Carl arrive at his residence, they find him less than cooperative. The strained relationship between Jamie and Merritt is palpable, their twelve-year estrangement leaving uncertainty about why Merritt would venture to see him now.
Jamie further uncovers a crucial detail: Merritt had pilfered a necklace that once adorned Lila, her mother's neck, potentially one of the sparks igniting the fiery animosity between them. However, it's evident that this saga harbors deeper layers than what meets the eye. The following day after Merritt's untimely demise, Jamie paid a visit to William at Egley House, yet his subsequent absences were justified by the overwhelming grief it evoked, deeming it "too difficult" to revisit. Akram remains steadfast in his belief that they will unravel this enigma, holding onto the hope that tracing William's steps will prove less arduous.
As fate would have it, William finds himself meandering back to their dilapidated former abode, a sorry state of neglect and chaos. Climbing the stairs to his nostalgia-tinged bedroom, his eyes fall upon numerous sketches of Merritt and his father. Intriguingly, amidst these memories, hangs a depiction of an aquatic avian known as a Loon—or perhaps a Boobrie, as the episode correctly identifies (my own birdwatching skills leaving much to be desired). This very symbol, curiously, also fleetingly appeared on the back of a ferry worker, hinting at its significance. Exhausted, William drifts off on the downstairs couch, only to be jolted awake by an invading squad of drug addicts who have claimed the house as their own. Their menacing presence sends him scrambling for safety.
Back at the precinct, Rose yearns to become an integral part of Department Q. Frustrated by her stagnant role under Moira and buried under an avalanche of paperwork, her aspirations remain unfulfilled. It has been two long years since Rose was actively involved in a case, her career sidelined by a heart attack and the police's reluctance to expose her to further risks. Determined, Rose manages to persuade Carl to give her a shot, albeit on a probationary basis. Her challenge: to navigate the day without driving him to distraction.
Amidst Rose's crunching and slurping, Carl ponders a distressing thought—that the entire case might have been flawed from its inception. The appointment of Fergus Dunbar, the team leader, to handle Merritt's high-profile case despite his lack of experience in such intricate matters, sparks curiosity. How did he secure this assignment, and by whose authority? Driven by this inquiry, Carl tasks Rose with delving into this lead and uncovering the truth.
As Rose dives into her investigation, Carl turns his attention to Stephen Burns, who brushes off any implication of his involvement with a dismissive shrug. Stephen insists that he granted Merritt more opportunities than most and reaffirms previous character testimonies, painting her as an opportunistic individual always yearning for more. Stephen curtly dismisses Carl and invites him to his office for further discussion.
Meanwhile, Akram arrives at the dilapidated Lingard house to find junkies passed out downstairs, amidst the drawings previously discovered by William. Akram interrogates the junkies, who recognize William's sketch. With a bit of coaxing, Akram learns that William has fled up the road.
Consequently, Akram and Carl reappear at Claire's residence, having traced William's movements through CCTV footage. They discover him hiding in the shed, where he surrenders an insignia featuring a bird and a sketch of a man wearing a hat adorned with the same symbol. Evidently, William encountered this emblem both on the ferry and at his home. Flashbacks later in the episode affirm this, showing William spying a man at the window watching him and Merritt one fateful night.
Carl returns to consult with Hardy, who has perused the file and formulated his own theories. He postulates that this was a crime of opportunity, with Merritt unfortunately crossing paths with the wrong individual. Hardy is eager to assist but requires access to a computer to delve deeper into the case.
Carl's pleas fall upon Moira's unhearing ears, particularly when she underscores the compulsory nature of his therapy sessions and underscores the dire consequences of his absences. Meanwhile, Rachel finds herself in solitude within her office, where she ponders his panic attack. Having witnessed the press conference, she senses a deeper undercurrent to the situation.
Back in the dim confines of the basement, Carl dispatches Rose on a mission. He tasks her with returning to Mhor and engaging the local officer, Cunningham, in conversation, with the aim of extracting information about the case. There's no mistaking his rationale for choosing her; her feminine charm and persuasive prowess make her the ideal candidate for the task.
Before departing, Rose scrutinizes the evidence and scrutinizes the aquatic bird, ultimately tracing it to a boobrie. Ironically, Boobrie is also the name of the boat stationed outside the Lingard residence in Mhor during the heist, hinting at an intricate web of connections.
