As the narrative of DI Ray unfolds, DI Patrick Holden (portrayed by Patrick Baladi) and his team burst into a building, where they discover DI Rachita Ray (Parminder Nagra) standing alone. Holden sharply rebukes her for venturing in unaccompanied. DI Ray promptly informs them of David Chapman's demise, announcing Ravinder "Rav" Mochani (Taha Rahim) as the chief suspect in Dave's murder. Meanwhile, Rav strolls through a dimly lit alley, clutching a gun, his figure soon enveloped by a black leather jacket.
In a hushed conversation, Ray and Holden deliberate on the situation, just as Clive Bottomley (Steve Oram) arrives, bearing a uniform for Ray. They concur that they won't be the sole pursuers of Rav. At the precinct, the team delves into the recent shooting incident, with Clive inquiring about the gun's ownership. Ray elucidates that Holden has been keeping tabs on both the Mochanis and the Chapmans, prompting her to ponder about the girl's role in this intricate web. Clive remains convinced it's a case of human trafficking. Ray ponders why Rav solely involved Sajna in his affairs, while Charlene Ellis (Witney White) speculates that she could be Rav's daughter. Holden interrupts, presenting DI Ray with CCTV footage capturing Rav, still in possession of the gun. She believes she narrowly missed him. Additional footage reveals Degsy fleeing from an abandoned gym.
Later, Ethan pays a visit to Rachita at her residence, hoping for a chat they couldn't have last time, though he doesn't harbor any grievances. Ray reveals that Kerry warned her about him due to his nonchalant demeanor towards women. Rachita confesses that casual is precisely what she desires. Ethan counters by stating that Kerry isn't without flaws before exiting.
Back at the station, DC Liam Payne (Sam Baker-Jones) informs Ray that they retrieved nothing from Dave's phone. Rav's phone was powered off during Frank's murder and last emitted a signal after Rav left the Kish restaurant. Ray emphasizes the need to keep a watch on Dawn's residence. The old gym was formerly known as Jake's, and the man attending the wake sports a hat emblazoned with the gym's name. Holden updates Ray, mentioning a potential witness who saw Rav awaiting the 242 bus. Though the bus is halted, Rav is nowhere to be found.
DCI Kerry Henderson (Gemma Whelan) ushers Ray into her office, disclosing that the Governor of HMP Marchbank has contacted them. An inmate, Martyn Hunter (Jamie Bamber), possesses crucial information about Frank Chapman's murder, but he will only converse with DI Ray. The decision to interview him rests solely with Rachita. Kerry further reveals that Rav's name has been leaked, exposing his early parole from prison. Adding to the chaos, Megan's family has lodged a complaint.
Rachita urges a rekindling of the conversation with Sajna, while Kerry remarks that Rav's early parole is being perceived as a token of "woke" politics. Beardsmore, under duress, is compelled to organize a press conference. Rachita readily concurs to keep her in the loop. As Suzie Chapman (played by Lauren Drummond) steps out of her ride, she detects a vehicle tailing her. Stepping indoors, she encounters the harrowing sight of her brother's lifeless body. On her departure, she's acutely aware of being shadowed. Tyler (portrayed by Sam Pote) comes to her rescue, whisking her away. Subsequently, Suzie grills Degsy, who narrates that the incident unfolded after Tyler's departure, clarifying it was subsequent to Stevo's exit as well. The boss summoned Mochani for a private chat, during which Degsy eavesdropped. Rav was evasive, merely asserting his innocence in Mr. Chapman's shooting. Degsy overheard the boss acknowledging to Mochani that he knew Rav wasn't the shooter. Meanwhile, Rav finds refuge in a house, glued to the television screen as Beardsmore's press conference unfolds.
Shiv arrives, breathing a sigh of relief to see Rav alive and vows to guard his whereabouts. Beardsmore faces probing questions about Rav's potential culpability in the murders of Megan and Frank. Ray confines his statement to Rav being a person of interest in Dave Chapman's demise. The media scrutinizes Ray relentlessly, questioning if their progressive policing strategies led to the tragic deaths of three innocents. They delve into why Dave lacked protection and if it's tied to the surge of race-related violence gripping the city. The relentless grilling continues until Kerry steps in to intervene. Later, in the night's solitude, Kerry discovers Ray still at his desk, buried in work. Rachita agrees to visit Martyn, and Clive accompanies her to the prison to meet with him. Martyn insists on speaking to Ray alone, forcing Clive to exit. Claiming he sought this meeting solely to ensure crucial information reaches her, Martyn inquiries about her resilience in handling the case's pressure.
He reveals that a name has frequently surfaced since Frank's demise – Rav's innocence asserted, pointing instead to Lou Kirkby, an original member of the Chapman crew, as a key figure. Frank and Lou shared a bond akin to brothers until a fierce rift preceded Kirkby's incarceration. Their falling out was cataclysmic, with Kirkby nursing a grudge ever since. Martyn harbored hopes of mending fences with Lou. Suspecting that Lou seeks a sentence reduction due to the perilous prison environment, Martyn veers into reminiscing about their past relationship, attempting to break through Ray's emotional barriers. Rachita confesses her embarrassment over their engagement, which Martyn leverages, hinting at potential repercussions if their upper echelons became privy to it. Ray retaliates with a threat to expose Martyn's mention of Lou's name.
Clive engages in a tense phone conversation, lamenting that he's reaching his limit as inquisitive minds probe deeper. Ray's timely arrival prompts their departure, just as Rav rises to find Shiv in animated discussion with a policeman by the entrance. Shiv reassures Rav upon returning that the authorities aren't after him, yet Rav reveals plans to exile, entrusting Shiv with a preliminary task: retrieving a bag. After depositing Rav at an undisclosed location, Shiv sets off to fulfill his obligation.
Meanwhile, at the precinct, Rachita Ray briefs the team on Martyn's assertions, prompting them to scrutinize Lou's rap sheet. They uncover a past marked by a 20-year sentence for grievous bodily harm, served only 15 years before a recent release a month prior, his whereabouts since then a mystery. Kerry learns that Degsy, the gym escapee, has vanished since the night of the homicide, while Suzie has also slipped out of officers' sight.
Charlene, keeping vigil over Dawn's residence, spots Shiv and promptly alerts the homicide unit to this peculiar encounter. Elsewhere, Liam is escorted to Jake's, where Degsy lies lifeless, initially mistaken for an overdose victim, yet Liam senses a sinister undercurrent. Clive joins Charlene at a crucial moment, witnessing Shiv's exit from Dawn's apartment and swiftly, law enforcement steps in to apprehend him.
Under DI Ray's grilling at the station, Shiv remains tight-lipped about Rav's whereabouts. The team reviews CCTV footage, revealing a clandestine meeting and Rav, armed, after being deserted by his ride. As a burner phone linked to Shiv receives a potentially incriminating message, Kerry presses DI Ray for results.
Deciding against delay, DI Ray seizes the initiative, introducing herself to Rav via the burner and announcing Shiv's detention. Rav insists on a private meeting with her alone, a proposition Kerry opposes but Rachita advocates for. At the agreed rendezvous, Rav confides in Ray, claiming self-defense in Dave Chapman's death and protesting his innocence in Frank's and the nurse's murders. As he inches closer to confessing who framed him and brandishes the gun, Ray calmly requests its surrender. On the brink of compliance, the scene is suddenly besieged by armed police, leading to a fatal confrontation where Rav is shot.
