As the curtain rises on this thrilling installment of DI Ray, Detective Inspector Rachita Ray (Parminder Nagra) finds herself pounding away on a treadmill, her mind perhaps already gearing up for the day's challenges. Just as a nurse, Megan Parks, prepares to conclude her shift, fate intervenes. Stepping outside, she's confronted by a dramatic scene: a car screeching to a halt, and from its door, an injured man tumbles to the ground. Megan, driven by instinct, rushes to his aid, but her goodwill is abruptly shattered by the arrival of another vehicle and a hail of bullets. Both Megan and the injured man collapse lifelessly to the pavement as the perpetrator's car speeds off into the night.
DS Clive Bottomley (Steve Oram), urgency in his voice, alerts DI Ray to this double homicide. At the crime scene, Clive reveals that one victim is indeed the hospital nurse, while the other is identified as Frank Chapman, affectionately known as 'The Don.' DS Kwesi Edmund (Peter Bankole) updates her on the vehicle—a blood-soaked conveyance devoid of any weapon, blood spatter, or gun residue. Oddly, the car appears unscathed, both inside and out. DI Ray's instincts lead her to seek security footage from surrounding cameras, only to discover that the bodies are already being prepared for the post-mortem examination. She vows to expedite this process before the Chapman family takes drastic measures into their own hands.
Upon examining the bodies, Clive dubs Frank Chapman the infamous 'Don.' The medical examiner offers insight: the first shot, though close, missed vital organs, hinting it wasn't intended to be fatal. The second, however, was a precision strike, consistent with a drive-by shooting. Questions swirl: who dares to wage war against the powerful Chapman family? Meanwhile, a fleeting glimpse shows the perpetrator burning the incriminating vehicle.
DCI Kerry Henderson (Gemma Whelan) pulls DI Ray aside, inquiring if she's aware that Carly has accepted a DS position in East Midlands, necessitating the introduction of a new DC to Ray's team. She introduces DC Charlene Ellis (Witney White), revealing that the Chief Constable has organized recruitment drives aimed at empowering BAME and female candidates. Henderson cautions DI Ray that every move she makes in the Chapman case will be scrutinized. Supt Ross Beardsmore (Ian Puleston-Davies) then confronts DI Ray, informing her that the investigation into her relationship with DCI Martyn Hunter has wrapped up. While cleared of criminality, two lingering issues remain—allegations of bullying a junior colleague and interpersonal conflicts with management.
Ross asserts that they intend to tackle the issue by offering sage counsel. Detective Inspector (DI) Ray is advised to steer clear of intimate personal connections, which could potentially breed conflicts of interest. DI Ray's representative brings up the topics of racial profiling and stereotypes in the conversation. Ross extends his apologies for any distress she might have felt, adding that her ascension to Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) could be swift if she's amenable to collaborating with them.
Post-meeting, DI Ray retreats to the bathroom to listen intently to the audio recording she has just made of the session. Subsequently, she addresses her team, postulating that Megan Parks might have been caught in the middle of a fierce dispute. They identify a potential eyewitness who was fortunate enough to be captured by CCTV cameras. The Chapmans, notorious loan sharks, run multiple pawnbroker shops in the vicinity. Clive remarks that Clive Chapman is akin to the Midlands' own Teflon Don, having been under the scrutiny of the Serious and Organized Crime unit for years, yet no charges have ever stuck.
Ray ponders over the origin of the first shot and how Frank managed to escape in his vehicle. The police raid the Chapman residence, uncovering a phone and a childhood photograph of Dave and Suzie Chapman. Clive informs that Suzie has been abroad in Spain for quite some months. Ray notices a pamphlet that states, "The white population constitutes a minority in Birmingham." Clive clarifies that Dave handles the daily operations of their business. DI Ray discovers blood splatter in the kitchen, leading them to believe that Frank was shot there. However, there's no blood trail leading out of the kitchen. They deliberate on the time it would take to reach the hospital and the proximity of alcohol. Kwesi calls in to inform them that they've located the witness, Michael Adoje, who is currently hospitalized. Michael claims he had a domestic dispute with his family and wishes not to pursue the matter further. DI Ray insists that it's too late for that, as they've already approached him.
They pay a visit to Dave Chapman (Michael Socha) and his wife. Dave dismisses Joey so they can converse about Frank's murder. Dave claims ignorance about his father's whereabouts between 9 p.m. and the time of the incident, stating that he last saw him in the mid to late afternoon. Dave's eldest daughter, Amy, enters the room. Dave tells DI Ray that they were asleep in bed at the time of the murder, and he steadfastly maintains his father's innocence. DI Ray mentions the nurse and the porter who were present. Davepleads with them to uncover his father's murderer.
Back at the station, DI Ray emphasizes the need to delve deeper into the Chapman's business to ascertain who Frank was interacting with prior to his demise. Amara Dhawan from the West Central Council speaks about Megan Parks on television, highlighting the police's past shortcomings.
Detective Inspector Ray then proceeds to engage in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Parks. While at her new abode, she receives a message from her mother, inquiring about her settlement into the new place. She meticulously transfers the Breadsmore recording onto her computer. Soon after, a message pops up from her matchmaking prospect, Jay, wondering if she intends to meet him face-to-face.
The following day, the police discover the burnt-out vehicle that was involved in the shooting. Liam uncovers that it was picked up in the Jewelry Quarter, approximately 200 yards away from a Chapman premises. Clive laments that the council had messed up by switching off the cameras. He mentions knowing an ex-youth worker who might be instrumental in their investigation, as he is well-versed with the happenings in that vicinity. Meanwhile, Dave's sister arrives at his place, while Kwesi and Charlene keep a discreet watch from a nearby location. Suzie (portrayed by Lauren Drummond) brings a handbag belonging to one of the girls involved.
DI Ray and Clive delve into a discussion about Beardsmore and his constant companionship since her return. They meet Hardeep in his shop to question him about the shooting outside West Central Hospital. Hardeep fails to recognize the vehicle but reveals that Frank was adept at handling matters discreetly when individuals preferred to avoid police involvement. However, he notes that the price tag was always steeper for non-whites. DI Ray persists in her probing to extract more information from him. Hardeep mentions whispers about a family from Leicester who are engaged in similar trading activities and have encroached upon Chapman's territory. He eventually identifies them as the Mochanis.
DI Ray informs Kerry Henderson that she has spoken to someone who had dealings with Ravinder Mochani, who was previously convicted for possessing a firearm. She believes that this marks the inception of a turf war. DI Ray intends to bring the Mochanis in for questioning, and Kerry cautions her about the delicacy of profiling. Kerry agrees to request surveillance but underscores the need for caution. Ray is introduced to her husband, Nick, and his brother, Ethan. Ethan extends an invitation for drinks, but Ray politely declines, citing prior engagements. Unbeknownst to Ethan, Ray has already indulged in intimate relations with Jay. She attempts to dismiss him gracefully, emphasizing her pressing work commitments.
Hardeep faces an attack in his shop, with the assailant warning him to remain silent about the Mochanis. Clive and Ray keep a vigilant watch on Rav (played by Taha Rahim). Despite not being authorized to do so, Ray decides to confront Rav and Sharan Mochani (played by Syreeta Kumar). They step inside and confront the Mochanis, where DI Ray inquires about the vehicle before disclosing the gravity of the incident under investigation. Sharan queries her full name and finds it intriguing that DI Ray was sent to engage with them.
Rav steps outside to take an incoming call, the crisp air hitting him as he exits. At the police station, DI Ray muses that Frank's murder might well have been a territorial dispute. DCI Liam Payne, portrayed by Sam Baker-Jones, reveals that the Mochani cars were stationed outside a restaurant named Kish at the crucial time. Charlene engages one of Frank's employees, who extols him as a benevolent boss. She last encountered him on Sunday during a meeting, but there's a hint of withholding in her demeanor. She recalls witnessing an altercation between Frank and another man as he exited, noting that the latter sported a Sandwright's uniform.
DI Ray and Charlene proceed to the Sandwright's shop, where they discover employees like Karen, Jermaine, Lisa, Sohail, and others at work. DI Ray notices a man acting suspiciously from behind; they chase him out of the store, Aled being the fleeing figure. Charlene reaches him first but finds herself roughly jostled around. Aled offers no resistance against DI Ray, who promptly arrests him for assaulting an officer and on suspicion of Frank Chapman's murder.
At the station, Aled is grilled about the alleged argument with Frank outside the pawn shop. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing, despite his lengthy criminal record. Eventually, his defenses crumble, and he blurts out that Frank Chapman is evil—that all the Chapmans are. He claims they inflated his debt and forced him to make illegal deliveries for them. Aled admits to borrowing two thousand pounds. After their spat, he retreated to a pub to drown his sorrows, knowing better than to cross the Chapmans.
Liam discusses Charlene, remarking on her tenacity. She's a tough cookie, present through thick and thin. Multiple witnesses corroborate Aled's alibi, placing him in the pub around the time of the shooting.
Liam informs Ray that there are distinct fingerprints adorning the rear seat door handles of Frank's automobile, yet none of them align with any entries in their database. Inside Frank's kitchen, one whiskey glass bears solely his DNA, while the other remains a blank slate, devoid of genetic traces. Liam presents Ray with CCTV footage captured at the restaurant, depicting Rav departing at precisely 22:18, never to reappear on camera. Meanwhile, Sharan and Priya lingered at the establishment until the wee hours of the morning, at 1:45 AM. ANPR technology identifies Frank's vehicle parked half a mile from West Central Hospital, adding another piece to the puzzle.
Convinced that Rav lacks a credible alibi, Ray intends to delve into his phone records and track his movements. She promptly contacts Kwesi, instructing him to keep a close eye on Rav. Later, when Ray encounters Clive, they share a moment about her proficiency in sign language. At the gathering, they notice Lou Kirkby in attendance, whom Clive last heard was serving a twenty-year sentence. Their attention shifts as Tyler approaches one of the attendees, the tension palpable.
Ray remarks that they are well aware of being under observation, acknowledging that their every move is part of a grander spectacle. Dave is prompted to raise a toast to his father, but Suzie swiftly usurps the moment, hailing her dad as a legend. She confesses that this tragedy has shattered their family's core. Clive urges Ray to exercise caution as she races to pursue the escaping van. Suzie vows that they will not rest until justice is served for Frank. Despite her relentless pursuit, DI Ray ultimately loses sight of the van.
