Episode 7 of Dept Q kicks off with Akram and Carl storming into Stephen Burns' office, laying out the connections between Kirsty, Merritt, and Liam Taylor like a deck of cards on his desk. Carl grills Stephen about Kirsty's attack, probing into Finch's potential influence both inside and outside the prison walls, while Akram roams around, ears peeled and eyes sharp.
The "mysterious deaths" that followed Kirsty's confession like a shadow don't bolster Stephen's credibility, and let's not forget the inconvenient timing of Julia's car accident. Akram pounces on Stephen's slip about Kirsty's addiction, a detail Carl hadn't even mentioned, causing Stephen's composure to crack—just a bit, but enough to notice. Merritt stands as the sole witness who can piece together this puzzle, but only if she's still breathing.
For now, Merritt is alive, albeit trapped in her hyperbaric chamber where time is ticking away like sand through an hourglass. She scrubs away the graffiti on the walls, and through a kaleidoscope of flashbacks, we glimpse a past where Harry Jennings and Merritt were inseparable as kids, smoking and sharing secrets, wrapped in the throes of young love. Jamie isn't thrilled about these revelations, but Merritt's a free spirit who answers to no one.
Switching gears to the present, Carl pays Graham Finch a visit, bringing up the foiled attempt on Kirsty's life. Ed Solomon, the squeaky wheel they interrogated last episode, has a smartphone full of incriminating evidence, including texts that directly implicate prison insiders in the plot to silence Kirsty. Carl's sharp as a tack and smells a rat—the same men who haunted Jasper were also after Fergus.
Moreover, it was Sam Haig who casually dropped Kirsty's name into Robert's ear, Finch's lawyer, just a day before the trial, without asking for anything in return. Why the unsolicited info? They don't have all the pieces yet, but it's becoming crystal clear that Finch is entangled in this web of deceit in some way, shape, or form.
Back in the vehicle, a humorous exchange unfolds between Carl and Akram, as Carl endeavors to unravel the enigmatic past shrouding his assistant. However, Akram remains tight-lipped, leaving Carl to ponder further. Just then, an unexpected call interrupts their conversation. It's Dennis Piper, the sleazy journalist from earlier. He claims to possess information that could aid them and promptly sends over a video featuring Sam Haig from his past.
Sam Haig's secretiveness is now more comprehensible. His reluctance to engage with anyone at the office, when he deigned to appear, stemmed from his status as an ex-convict. Dennis had illegally accessed Haig's computer to obtain the video, which he received after being blackmailed by someone at Godhaven, the prison where Haig had served his time. It transpires that Sam was working on his own story, possibly investigating someone intricately connected to their predicament. The persistent journalist, Dennis, urges Carl to delve deeper, suggesting a conversation with Terry Dundee, the warden at Godhaven, for the complete picture.
Before proceeding, Carl confides in Jasper about the unfolding saga, opting to finally unburden himself and address their shared concerns that evening. This is a heartwarming moment, as it's evident that Jasper admires his stepfather and seeks his guidance, albeit unsure of how to articulate his feelings.
Meanwhile, Rose embarks on her own investigation into the mystery surrounding Sam Haig's demise. The police hastily concluded it was a tragic accident, the timeline aligning conveniently. Yet, Paul Evans, the climbing instructor, might not be entirely truthful.
Paul flooded Sam's inbox with messages, imploring him to abandon his penchant for secrecy and embrace honesty. The tone of these missives hinted that Paul was privy to Sam's clandestine affairs with Merritt. When Rose, troubled by these revelations, conferred with Hardy, he urged her to revisit the conversation with Paul. Obeying his advice, Rose approached Paul, who eventually unburdened himself to her. He confessed that he and Sam had been intimate friends, comparing their climbing expeditions to therapeutic sessions where they bared their souls. However, Sam had omitted any mention of Merritt; instead, he revealed frequent visits to a different establishment known as The Spivey Inn, but not with Merritt—it was Chloe who accompanied him there. That night, after indulging in alcohol, Chloe ended up in Sam's bed, thus drawing her into this complex web.
Meanwhile, Carl made an unexpected visit to Rachel's place, leaving her puzzled and wondering about his motive. Carl, equally uncertain about his reasons, admitted that he had come seeking therapy but found himself grappling with budding emotions that he was unsure how to articulate. Ultimately, he chose to depart, leaving an awkward atmosphere in his wake.
Elsewhere, Merritt found herself grappling with an infected tooth. Armed with a pair of pliers, she attempted to extract it herself, only to use the same tool to wreak havoc on the air pressure within a chamber. She smacked the pipes, causing an explosion that sent a wheelchair-bound lady soaring across the room, rendering her unconscious. Despite her prison break, Merritt managed to dial 999, but just as the call connected, a second attacker stomped on her forearm and delivered a brutal kick to her head.
