As the curtains rise on the fifth installment of "Miss Scarlet," Detective Sergeant Charlie Phelps (portrayed by Tim Chipping) confides in Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe), voicing his discontent towards the newcomer, Detective Inspector Alexander Blake (Tom Durant Pritchard), whom he accuses of usurping his role. Hardly had these words escaped Phelps' lips when Blake arrives, alighting from a carriage with impeccable timing. Before the officers can force entry, Blake himself inspects the door and discovers it ajar, unbolted and inviting.
Fitzroy extols Blake's credentials to Phelps, noting his two-year stint in Hong Kong, which Phelps brusquely silences. Ascending the stairs, Blake stumbles upon a concealed doorway, whose opening reveals Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) standing over a lifeless man. Desperate for understanding, Eliza urges Blake to maintain an open mind, insisting her revelations will prove crucial in unraveling the mystery. Blake, unmoved by her plea, reminds her of his autonomy and demands an explanation for her presence in a locked chamber with a corpse.
With a threat of arrest looming over her head, Eliza capitulates, revealing she knows both the deceased's identity and the perpetrator of the fatal stab wound. Blake insists on every meticulous detail. Eliza's narrative, however, takes a nostalgic turn, flashing back a month.
Eliza's agency had flourished, prompting her to rehire Clarence Pettigrew (Paul Bazely), a former colleague with a checkered past. Detective Phelps pays her a visit, soliciting her aid in what he describes as an enthralling case. Blake interrupts, skeptical of Phelps' unprecedented politeness towards Eliza, and particularly wary of Clarence's criminal record. Phelps' visit, a flashback in itself, reveals his uncharacteristically courteous demeanor in seeking Eliza's expertise in the case.
Eliza delves into the enigmatic world of Lord Spencer Bowden, the Fourth Earl of Cheshire, who vanished twelve years ago amidst allegations of murdering his mistress, a housemaid stabbed through the heart. Bowden's recent sighting in London sets the stage for action. Clarence embarks on tracing financial transactions, while Eliza engages with Bowden's daughter, Amelia (Amy Marston).
Amelia, haunted by the murder of Edith twelve years prior, confesses her conviction in her father's guilt, believing his actions led to her mother's untimely demise. She recounts sighting him in London and promptly filing a police report, detailing how she glimpsed him across the street on Sunday morning as she prepared to attend a sermon at St. Luke's. Returning indoors to compose herself, she found him vanished upon peeking through the window. Amelia implores Eliza to locate her father before he inflicts further harm.
Later, Ivy (Cathy Belton) attempts to engage Eliza, deeply engrossed in her investigation, presenting her with a letter bearing a New York postmark, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga.
In the present moment, Blake challenges the pertinence of the letter, prompting Eliza to clarify that it originated from Inspector Wellington, who had been offered a coveted permanent post within the New York Police Department, complete with a promotion to the rank of superintendent. Eliza's tone betrays her delight, highlighting their long-standing friendship. Blake, however, accuses her of merely buying time. Pushed to her limits, Eliza reveals that the deceased is named Jonathan Harbourne, portrayed by Andrej Sepetkovski, and resides at 215 Cable Street. Without delay, Blake dispatches Fitzroy, Irwin, and Phelps to verify Jonathan's identity.
Flashing back to earlier conversations, Eliza and Ivy grapple with the reality that The Duke will never return, with Ivy endeavoring to lift her spirits. Meanwhile, Clarence unexpectedly drops by Eliza's office on what should have been his day of rest, steering the conversation towards Inspector Wellington. He openly admits his lack of expertise in matters pertaining to the heart. Eliza expresses her apprehension that Charlie Phelps' departure, coupled with Wellington's absence, could pave the way for a replacement who might steer them away from the case.
Eliza visits HM Prison Newgate, where she engages in a dialogue with Patrick Nash, portrayed by Felix Scott. She updates him on Wellington's news, and Nash speculates that Alexander Blake might step into Phelps' shoes. He cautions Eliza that Blake is not inclined to rely on private detectives. Nash further postulates that Wellington harbored intentions for Eliza to join him in New York as his spouse, a scenario that would necessitate her abandoning all her hard-earned accomplishments.
Eliza seeks clarity from Blake regarding her contract's validity following her visit to Scotland Yard. In a flashback, Eliza converses with Fitzroy outside the police station, prior to her encounter with Blake. Upon entering Blake's office, she finds it deserted but introduces herself upon his arrival. Blake makes it clear that he does not engage the services of detective agencies, though he assures her of being compensated for her efforts thus far. He reinforces his distrust towards private investigators.
Returning to the present, Blake inquires into Eliza's motive for sharing all this information, suspecting her of seeking a clue to prove him wrong. Eliza confesses to revisiting Amelia Bowden, who informed her of a break-in. Amelia laments the house's ransacking and the police's tardiness, blaming her financially strapped father. A safe in his study, opened with a combination lock, suggests forced entry. Amelia was absent, attended only by a housemaid who resides elsewhere.
Eliza and Clarence head to The Poisoned Parrot Inn but soon desire to return to the office to devise a strategy. Clarence posits that Bowden might resort to more lucrative means than a pawnshop, revealing his knowledge of an underground auction. Though unfamiliar with personally attending, he guides them to the drug den. Eliza bribes the doorman, who equips them with masks and grants them entry. Clarence describes the scene as akin to an exclusive auction. As the auction progresses through 14 lots, Eliza begins to question whether Lord Bowden is even aware of this clandestine locale.
Clarence proposes a consultation with the auctioneer, just as an auction for a Thomas Gainsborough masterpiece commences. Eliza ponders that this could indeed be the breakthrough they've been waiting for. Her eyes catch sight of a man whose visage seems eerily familiar, prompting them to keep a discreet watch on him throughout the bidding process. With determination, Eliza places a bid of 750 pounds on the artwork. Clarence inquiries about the ramifications should she emerge victorious, little knowing that Eliza's bid succeeds, despite her lack of the required funds. Suddenly, the premises are raided by the police, causing the enigmatic figure to make a hasty exit. Eliza gives chase to Jonathan Harbourne, who brandishes a firearm in her direction. Unfortunately, Eliza is subsequently apprehended by the authorities while the fugitive escapes.
Back at Blake's presence, he demands an explanation for her presence there. Eliza remains tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any information unless Blake agrees to uphold their initial agreement. She confesses that the individual attempting to offload the stolen items was not Lord Bowden. As Eliza peruses mugshots in an attempt to identify the culprit, she informs Blake of her inability to locate him among the photographs, albeit she recognizes him from somewhere.
Blake shares his tale of woes with private detectives, recounting how one firm he hired ended up working in cahoots with the criminals he was investigating. He confesses his disdain for the profession, accusing Eliza of duplicity to attain her objectives and asserting his keen ability to detect her lies. Eliza speculates that Blake's relocation of his office upstairs serves as a symbol of dominance, to which Blake casually replies that he prefers the view. She further hypothesizes that his reading habits are geared towards self-improvement rather than leisure, with Treasure Island being a notable exception due to its worn-out condition. Blake, incensed, snatches the book from her, insisting it's not his, and urges her to resume scrutinizing the mugshots. When Eliza confirms the man's absence once more, Blake terminates their business dealings.
In the contemporary scenario, Eliza reveals to Blake that she revisited her office to scrutinize the Bowden file, discovering that the man they were seeking that fateful night is identical to the deceased individual upstairs. She recounts Jonathan Harbourne's spotless criminal record, remembering him from a case file as Lord Bowden's valet. Eliza suspects that Blake would be eager to uncover the murderer's identity. She elaborates on Lord Bowden's flight following the homicide, which compelled his family to dismiss most of their servants, including Jonathan. Clarence, fortunate enough to evade the auction's chaos, trailed Jonathan to an address on Cable Street. Upon searching this location, Eliza and Clarence uncovered details about the abandoned building where they subsequently found Jonathan deceased. She notes the distinctive silver knife, bearing the hallmark "City of London, 1836, Robert Kane," matching the set stolen from the Bowden residence. Eliza clarifies that all stolen items were returned to their rightful owner following the police's interruption of the auction. She postulates that Amelia orchestrated Harbourne's burglary of her home, with a subsequent falling out between them. Eliza places the blame squarely on Amelia, doubting her father's involvement in any wrongdoing.
She further reveals that Clarence enlisted the aid of two accomplices to apprehend Amelia and escort her to Scotland Yard. Blake confirms Amelia's presence there but clarifies that she did not arrive in Clarence's company; he had apprehended her a couple of hours prior to his visit to the deserted abode. Blake finds himself in a dilemma, pondering over whom to interrogate next following the auction raid. Enter Mr. Grint (played by Karl Theobald), who informs Blake of his pursuit of item number 15 and agrees to provide some answers by the following night.
Later, Grint encounters the individual in question after establishing contact. This man had sought him out, possessing more items to sell. Their conversation is abruptly halted by a wealthy lady who reveals she had been trailing the man. Grint listens intently as the woman accuses the man of theft, asserting that their arrangement was dissolved due to the man's intention to sell the items and pocket the proceeds himself. In a moment of realization, Eliza identifies this lady as Amelia Bowden. Blake unravels that Harbourne had once again stolen the items with the intent of selling them elsewhere.
At dawn, the police raided Amelia's residence, uncovering a pair of bloody gloves. Blake mentions their conversation with a driver who had picked up Amelia the previous night, leading them to her address. He admits to being unaware of Jonathan Harbourne's identity at the time. Mercifully for Eliza, Blake decides against pressing charges against her this time. As Eliza returns home, she discovers Ivy's absence, having gone out with Mrs. Potts (played by Simon Ludders).
Meanwhile, Blake returns to his abode, greeted by his daughter Sophia (played by Ruby Siddle). Patrick Nash remarks to Eliza that he sees her more now than when he was a free man. He assures her that she will cope, but Eliza insists that mere survival is no longer sufficient. If she is destined to live alone, she aspires to excel in her chosen profession and achieve enduring success. Eliza cautions against overthinking and Nash suggests focusing on short-term goals, such as indulging in drink and poker. However, Eliza desires to shuffle the deck herself, aware of Nash's penchant for cheating.
