As the curtains rise on the second installment of "The Chelsea Detective," Detective Inspector Max Arnold (portrayed by Adrian Scarborough) pedals his bicycle towards Astrid's abode, catching her unawares, for she hadn't anticipated his visit. Seeking the moniker of her acquaintance who dabbles in rare tomes, Max holds a cache of first editions inherited from his father's bookstore. Astrid (Anamaria Marinca), puzzled, wonders why a simple text wouldn't have sufficed. Just then, her nascent friend Patrick Thompson (Michael D. Xavier) arrives, announcing his presence through the buzzer. Snapping several photos of Patrick, Max pedals off into the distance.
Outside her restaurant, Robyn Romano (Stella Stocker) halts momentarily to inscribe a book for an avid fan before stepping indoors. Lanfranco Astori (Martin Marquez) informs her that he has the keys, despite their agreement running till month's end. He pleads for more time to secure alternative accommodations, hinting at dire consequences should she inform their superior. Reluctantly handing over the keys, Robyn gives him until the week's end, her tone leaving little room for negotiation. She then approaches Julia (Pooky Quesnel), explaining her brief errand, before their lips meet, startling the aquarium fish. Jonno Romano (Joseph Millson), the cautious restaurateur, interrupts their amorous moment, prompting Jonno to tend to the fish tank meticulously before sending it to table twelve.
Julia expresses her dismay upon learning that Robyn bribed Luca Romano (Cayvan Coates) to attend the impending announcement, deeming it premature. Stepping outside, Robyn confronts Luca, insisting she's aiding him, while Luca, aware of her ulterior motives, yearns for solitude and speeds away on his scooter. Returning indoors, Robyn crafts a selfie video, introducing viewers to Cousin Jonno, Beth, and junior chef Nix Graves (Francesca Henry).
As night descends, Robyn greets Nancy Cooper (Liz Crowther) upon her arrival home. After entering and closing the door, Robyn is startled by a noise behind her. Surveying her surroundings cautiously, she steps out, only to witness the porch light flicker momentarily. Back inside, she secures the door with a firm lock. Later, Nancy hears what seems like a shattered window followed by a harrowing scream, her gaze lifting towards the darkened window as the lights flicker off.
Come morning, Max receives a call about a case that strikes him as a missing persons matter. With the coffee machine humming, he flips through one of the Romano family's beloved cookbooks, his mind already racing ahead.
Max encounters DS Priya Shamsie, portrayed by Sonita Henry, at the crime scene. After a brief spat over coffee preferences, their conversation shifts to the late Robyn Romano, a renowned celebrity chef. Max expresses surprise that Priya hasn't heard of La Familia Romano. DS Shamsie informs him that a neighbor called in at 11:17 PM, reporting raised voices and a loud thud—a door being forcibly opened. Moments later, the same witness witnessed the Romanos' Mini speeding away from the premises. There were also telltale signs of bloodstains on the side gate. DS Jess Lombard, played by Lucy Phelps, guides them to a spot outside where a droplet of blood was discovered on the ground. Max captures a couple of photos while learning that the victim's phone was pinged to a mast in Battersea, with the last signal received at 1:09 AM before going silent, suggesting it was turned off. Max inquires whether the car was driven forwards or backed out, and then asks about hospitals, prompting Jess to mention Priya's recent success. Max wonders about the context behind this comment, but Priya remains tight-lipped.
DI Arnold steps inside to inspect the door and the blood splatter above him. He introduces himself to Julie Romano, who reveals she last saw Robyn at the restaurant around 6 PM. Robyn handled the PR for the restaurant and left around 9:30 PM. They couldn't leave together as Julia had some errands to attend to. Julia departed about an hour later and suggests either Jonno or the security camera would have witnessed her exit. Opting for a pleasant evening walk instead of an Uber, she arrived home around 11:20 PM. Finding Robyn absent, she left a message but did not call 999, initially thinking a bird might have hit the window. Max informs her of Robyn's phone being traced to Battersea, to which Julia responds that she doesn't know anyone there. She inquiries about the shattered glass, and Max expresses concern about the bloodstains both upstairs and on the driveway.
Just then, Jonno arrives, and Julia greets him outside with a hug, asking if he's spoken to Luca. Max learns that Luca is Julia's son. Nancy Cooper tells DS Shamsie that the vehicle turned right and sped off. Priya speculates Nancy must have been watching long enough to see Julia arrive, but Nancy confirms she hadn't noticed her. Nancy mentions Luca, a bright student at Catron College who disappeared abruptly. Similarly, Julia's husband vanished fifteen years ago.
Jonno tells Max he saw Julia leave work around 9:30 PM, and he himself departed around midnight after his late clean-up shift. Beth can confirm this, as she left five minutes before him. Max knows Robyn Romano had reported a break-in two weeks prior at this address but later withdrew the complaint. When Max asks if Luca was involved, Jonno defends him, adding that Luca only visits for one reason—often leaving the restaurant short money, presumably stolen by him. Jess then shows Max a set of fresh size 8 Adidas Superstar footprints found nearby, likely left by the rain from the previous day. The tracks terminate at the fence, suggesting this was the entry point. Joining them, Priya confirms the driver reversed out, implying the bleeding individual did not take the wheel.Back inside, Julia reassures everyone that Luca would never harm Robyn.
Descending the stairs with urgency, Jess announces to all within earshot that Luca possesses an extensive assortment of sneakers before prompting Julia to append her signature to some documents. Julia, unaware of Luca's current whereabouts, reveals that although Luca was incensed upon discovering Robyn had reported the break-in, they had reconciled after he returned the anniversary watch Robyn had received from Julia. Upon Priya's return, Julia suggests seeking out Nix, hinting that she might hold the key to Luca's location, explaining that the junior chef shares a tumultuous relationship with Luca, marked by periods of closeness and distance.
When the topic of Luca's father, David, who resides in Westbury, arises, Julia's voice rises in frustration, disclosing that she has had no contact with David since he deserted them fifteen years ago. They venture to the restaurant, where Beth Dalton (played by Liz White) informs them that Nix has yet to arrive. Beth chuckles at the mention of Robyn's disappearance, noting that trouble seems to follow Luca wherever he goes. She volunteers to call Nix, who eventually joins them.
Nix, sitting across from them, declares that her relationship with Luca is over, describing him as exhausting, particularly when he indulges in substances, albeit nothing overly harmful. She confirms seeing him the previous night but is relieved that his appearances at work are infrequent. Nix shares insights into Luca's troubled upbringing and his refusal to take over the restaurant from his mother on his 21st birthday, insisting that his mind couldn't be changed. She also reveals Lanfranco's influence over Robyn, handing Priya her phone with Luca's sole contact number when asked.
As Nix steps inside, Priya compliments her sneakers, a subtle gesture. Later, they confront Lanfranco, who downplays Robyn's disappearance, granting her until the week's end to either fill his bookings or vacate. Priya inquires about Robyn's habit of borrowing his van, to which he responds nonchalantly, stating she takes it whenever she pleases. He portrays Robyn as attention-seeking and gold-digging, speculating she might be orchestrating her disappearance for publicity. Lanfranco mentions his deliveries in proximity to the Romano house on consecutive nights, including the night before Robyn vanished. When Priya probes if he was upset over being fired by Robyn, he jests that his current job is his dream. Sharing that his mother hailed from Milan, albeit he himself isn't a Romano, Priya persists until he specifies South Milan as her birthplace.
Beth informs Max that Jonno locked up shortly before midnight, expressing her disbelief that Robyn would keep silent about any troubles. The conversation shifts to Luca's penchant for theft, and Beth refutes the notion of a harmonious relationship between Robyn and Julia. When questioned about David, Beth confirms, albeit it predates her tenure, that his absence is no secret.
At the station, Priya learns from CCTV footage that Robyn's car was captured heading west on Brompton Road towards the hospital at 23:19, but mysteriously vanished from camera view upon nearing the hospital. The vehicle's journey continued onto the A40 towards Oxbridge. As Max boots up his computer, Priya catches sight of information pertaining to Patrick Thompson and promptly inquires. Max admits Patrick is Astrid's new beau but explains the plate run was accidental. Jess reveals Julia never filed a missing persons report for her husband, noting the absence of social media activity, updated HMRC records since 2006, or immigration documents.
The narrative unfolds, painting a vivid picture of intertwined lives marred by secrets, suspicions, and the lingering shadow of the missing Robyn.
He vanished under legal pretext, paving the way for Julia Romano to secure a divorce in absentia in 2015. Three years prior to that, she tied the knot with Robyn. Speculations abound that Robyn's incessant probing into David's whereabouts might have prompted Julia to eliminate her. Max inquired about the last time Marston Ealing detected Robyn’s phone signal, to which Priya responded it was at 23:48. Prior to that, the police had been engaging Julia in conversation at her residence for twenty minutes. Unable to pin Julia in the vehicle, Jess postulated that she might have had an accomplice.
Connor (Peter Bankole) dialed DI Arnold to reveal that a resident narrowly escaped being run over by a black Mini on his way back from the pub. The car was subsequently discovered near Sheep Cut Lane in Battersea. Upon examining the vehicle, Max discovered bloodstains on the passenger seat, and the foot mat was drenched in water, suggesting a thorough cleaning. Priya uncovered cleaning wipes inside.
As they inspected the trunk, they mentioned that Nix had provided them with the name of Luca’s associate, but no one had laid eyes on him. They then visited Ashley Wilton (Sophie Stone), who revealed the discovery of a hair—pulled out at the root and belonging to Robyn Romano—in the car's boot. Given the boot's confines, they deduced that the hair might have detached from the murder weapon. Additionally, a pendant was unearthed beneath the foot mat, yielding no significant findings upon analysis. However, beneath the wiper, they found something else. While waiting for Ashley's return, Max inquired about the injury Priya had sustained, as mentioned by Jess earlier. He learned that she had joined the MET Police Chelsea & Kensington Veterans sprinters club, albeit reluctantly embracing the term "veteran." Max insisted that forty was not old.
Ashley returned with a fragment of a parking ticket found under the wiper. They then confronted Julia, who had received an email from Robyn assuring her safety and promising an explanation at Column Gardens the next day at 10 AM. They inquired about anyone else having access to Robyn’s email, and Julia denied any such possibility. Julia was apprised of her car, the blood, and the hair found. She was unfamiliar with the pendant discovered in the car. DI Arnold had reconstructed Robyn’s movements, deducing that she left the restaurant at 3 PM for Hammersmith. Julia admitted to being secretive throughout the week but claimed innocence, attributing her behavior to her upcoming 50th birthday celebrations. Max informed her that her car was spotted in Oxbridge the previous night. They questioned whether Robyn or Luca had a motive to visit the area.
Priya revealed that Robyn’s internet history showed attempts to trace Julia’s ex-husband, unknown to Julia herself. Jess informed Max that she scrutinized Robyn’s finances, uncovering a restaurant that had weathered turbulent years but was now financially stable. Last November, Robyn deposited 300,000 pounds into her savings account, followed by multiple payments through various platforms over four months, untraceable and random in amount. Flora was assisting in tracing the 300,000 pounds. Connor disclosed that the parking ticket originated from an overzealous operative of a private firm, issued at a quarter past midnight in an Oxbridge car park. They ventured to the car park and its vicinity to continue their investigation.
Indeed, Max discovers a pool of blood on the ground, prompting him to summon a search team without delay. As they await the team's conclusion, they concur that an innocent explanation would be preferable and arrange for Robyn to reconvene with Julia the following morning. Priya, recalling a serene lake en route, postulates it might be linked to the damp foot mat. Almost instantaneously, a figure is retrieved from the depths, revealing a somber discovery. Max ponders over the identity of the email's author once more. Rushing to Julia, they impart the grim news, urging her to keep it confidential. They elucidate that Robyn's phone briefly flickered to life today, pinging off a location near Marston Chelsea, hinting that the sender might still emerge tomorrow. Inquiries about a mysterious transfer of 300,000 pounds into a savings account last November ensue. Julia reveals that Robyn was once a co-owner of Hillside PRP. Though only 5,000 pounds remained in the account, Julia remains oblivious to its fate, having maintained financial independence and overlooked her expenditures.
Jonno, in the midst of dining, is startled by a noise and excitedly announces a phantom police call before dashing upstairs, only to confront Luca. Jonno confesses to his false alarm but attracts suspicion due to his presence at the house on Friday night. Luca dismisses his mother's suspicions and implores Jonno to keep his visit a secret. Jonno temporarily steps away, giving Luca the opportunity to pilfer cash from a tips jar. Upon his return, Jonno hands Luca money with a warning to be cautious.
Walking alongside Julia, Max listens as she reminisces about their nascent publishing endeavors, recounting how they stapled pages in the kitchen and sold their book for five pounds apiece. DI Arnold proudly admits to owning a signed copy, calling it one of their cherished spots. Julia laments the cruelty of the email before Max signals it's time to move on. Julia retreats to her usual spot, while Max informs Connor that the press office is poised to announce the discovery at six. Door-to-door inquiries yield no witnesses to Robyn's whereabouts. As Connor's phone buzzes, their conversation drifts to his girlfriend Becky. A woman's approach, claiming the book for David, prompts a police scramble until she clarifies that David is her husband and she sought an autograph for him.
After addressing the misunderstanding, Priya posits that the email's intent was to lure Julia away from home. Returning to the house, Priya discovers a ripped door panel, yet valuables upstairs remain untouched. Max inquires if anything is amiss, while Priya departs to arrange for fingerprint analysis. He wonders if Julia suspects the woman was conveying a message from her ex-husband David. Julia insists on a panic-induced misjudgment, revealing that Robyn conceived the book idea. Julia hired her to salvage the restaurant but quickly grew fond of her. As tears stream down her face, Julia promises to inform Max if she recalls anything significant. In solitude, she weeps, listening to Robyn's voicemail.
Ashley informs Max that water damage likely obliterated any chances of recovering useful fibers or DNA. Robyn had been submerged for six to twelve hours, evident from her skin alterations, indicating she perished before entering the water.
Ashley reveals she sustained a frontal temporal fracture, the result of blunt force trauma inflicted by a hefty object, with a distinctive bruise pattern overlaying the injury, adorned with closely clustered indentations. Astrid bears a similar mark. During their search of the premises, not a single hammer was to be found, sparking curiosity. The conversation then drifts to Ashley's quartet of sons, prompting Max to inquire whether they might be referring to one of the hammers utilized for tenderizing steak.
Subsequently, Detective Inspector Arnold dives into the videos Robyn crafted for the restaurant, poring over her social media snapshots until his eyes alight upon a hammer, potentially the very weapon that ended Robyn's life. Meanwhile, aboard his boat, Max unearths a recipe from a cookbook and decides to put his culinary skills to the test. Moments later, he indulges in a steaming cup of noodles while searching for "La Familiar Romano" on his computer.
Elsewhere, Nitin (played by Davood Ghadami) pays Priya a visit as she trains rigorously for the sprinter's competition. He confesses his irritation at her forgetting their date night, having rehearsed a speech en route. His original intent was to express his anger and hunger, but hunger alone remains. Ultimately, he heads to a bar to savor pizza in solitude. In contrast, Max finds solace in playing the piano on his boat.
Later, Max unveils security footage showing Luca exiting the restaurant at 19:05, with Robyn visibly upset with him. He continues scrutinizing the footage, catching Patrick's departure. Soon after, Patrick is brought in for questioning. He claims a prior engagement with a gallery owner he knows on Friday, followed by a late night at his office with his legal team. To substantiate his alibi, he offers to provide information about them. However, Max knows better, having spotted Patrick on CCTV at the restaurant at 20:43 on Friday. Reluctant to disclose his true reason for being there, Max tasks Priya with obtaining a search warrant for Patrick's properties. Patrick protests, insisting there's no need and explaining he didn't want to jeopardize anything. He reveals he's in the midst of acquiring Julia's business in a deal worth approximately 3.5 million pounds, a prime investment. He emphasizes he didn't coerce anyone, with both Julia and Robyn in favor of the sale.
As they exit, they briefly chat about Priya's upcoming Over-50s race, with Max vowing to cheer her on. Priya jokes about Patrick's handsome appearance, before Jess informs her she's been conducting background checks on the restaurant staff. She unearths something intriguing in Lanfranco's P60 tax form. Meanwhile, a man in a white van pulls up beside Beth, inquiring if she's Robyn Romano. Upon receiving affirmation, he hands over packages as she signs for them. Julia confides in Max that she kept the staff in the dark to avoid premature excitement, despite Patrick's promise to retain everyone. She hoped the sale would reignite Luca's passion and bring them closer together. She's spent her life trying to save the restaurant, having promised her father she'd never sell it. Max empathizes, having made a similar vow to his father about his bookshop.
Julia's voice trembled with emotion as she revealed their original plan to embark on a journey with Robyn. Moments later, she was granted a heart-wrenching glimpse of Robyn's lifeless body. Meanwhile, Max left a half-hearted voicemail for Astrid, his words trailing off mid-sentence as he murmured, "Never mind."
Julia confessed that she had kept the restaurant sale a secret because her ex-husband, David, still held a stake in the business, his name lingering on the official paperwork. She was determined that he wouldn't profit from the hard work she and Robyn had poured into the venture. Julia had toiled relentlessly to keep the restaurant afloat, only to return home one day to find David had vanished without a trace. Luca was just seven at the time, abandoned without so much as a note or a phone call. Over time, Julia discovered that David was living under a pseudonym outside Cork. Desperate for her son to maintain a connection with his father, she resorted to buying Luca gifts, falsely claiming they came from David. Both Julia and Robyn clung to false hope; the latter believed Luca might seek out his father, unaware of the grim truth. As their conversation drew to a close, Julia admitted she was at a loss as to how she could unravel this complex tale for Luca.
Lanfranco, or rather Andrew Stafford as he was revealed to be, was brought in for questioning. Priya confronted him with compelling evidence, forcing him to acknowledge his true identity. Andrew admitted he had landed himself in a precarious situation, involving extortion and exorbitant interest rates. He explained that Lanfranco was an acquaintance from Coventry who had granted him permission to use the alias, supported by an email. Though Robyn had discovered his deceit and terminated his employment, he insisted he hadn't ventured to her house that night; instead, he headed to his girlfriend's place after work. He had struck a deal with Robyn: he would leave quietly in exchange for her silence, after performing a couple of favors for her. One of those favors was retrieving the stolen watch for her, which Luca had taken. Andrew revealed that he had coaxed Luca into returning it last week, when Nix had asked for his help in selling it.
Max and Priya paid a visit to Nix, probing until she finally conceded that Luca was asleep on her sofa. She informed Max that Luca had been waiting for her when she returned from work on Friday, around 11:15 PM. They requested Luca's clothing from that night.
Luca was brought down to the station, where he was grilled about Robyn. The authorities informed him of the footprints matching his shoes found near the garden and questioned him about the pendant discovered in the car. Luca denied ownership of the pendant. Regarding his extensive shoe collection, he explained that Robyn often took him shopping whenever disputes arose between him and his mother, disputes often fueled by the restaurant, financial woes, and the absence of his father. Julia had promised Luca she would reveal his father's whereabouts when he turned 21, and Robyn had been assisting him in his search. With a heavy heart, Luca inquired if Robyn had suffered. When questioned about his whereabouts on Friday night, he admitted being at the house but claimed not to have seen Robyn. Upon her early return, he vaulted over the garden wall and hurried to Nix's place, around 10:45 PM, an alibi supported by security cameras.
Max inquiries about his thoughts concerning Robyn's fate, but Priya cuts Luca off before he can respond. With urgency, Priya informs Max that the footprints discovered in the garden correspond with Luca's sneakers. Noticing the absence of bloodstains on his attire, they refrain from accusing him. Instead, they unveil irregularities in the finances, prompting them to summon Mrs. Dalton for further interrogation. As Beth descends the stairs, Max and Jess pay Julia a visit. Jess broaches the topic of the 300,000 pounds deposited into Julia's wife's account six months prior. Beth scrutinizes the transactions, which they suspect Robyn attempted to cloak through numerous online payment platforms. In merely four months, she managed to expend over 294,000 pounds. Beth protests, insisting this is news to her. Jess enlightens Julia, revealing the funds originated from a remortgage loan, an application bearing both their signatures, which Julia claims to have never witnessed. Presented with the same application, Beth explains Robyn had asked her to sign it without her glancing at the contents. She asserts Julia was kept in the dark about it, claiming Robyn approached her at work for a quick signature. They speculate Robyn might be selling the business to repay the debt. Questions arise regarding Beth's trips to Hammersmith, coinciding with the financial transactions. Julia steadfastly refuses to entertain the notion of Robyn being romantically involved with Beth.
After Max and Jess depart, Julia phones Beth, leaving an insistent voicemail demanding clarity on their activities. She tears down a photograph of herself and Robyn from the wall, shattering it in frustration. A message from Beth suggests it would be simpler to demonstrate the truth in person. Julia meets Beth at a storage unit, uncovering boxes brimming with books. Beth reveals Robyn began acquiring these books due to their poor sales, transporting them to a recycling center in Hammersmith. Robyn intended to confess everything post the store's sale, requesting Julia utilize the profits to settle the debt. Beth maintains Robyn's actions were solely for Julia's benefit.
Elsewhere, Max informs Connor that CCTV footage validates Luca's alibi. Jonno, Beth, Julia, and Lanfranco also possess alibis. Priya's fiddling with her shoes jogs Max's memory, sparking a conversation about Christian Louboutin shoes, renowned for their exorbitant price. Max argues it's illogical for a junior chef to own such an extravagant pair. Nix is summoned for questioning and promptly denies that Robyn gifted her the sneakers. Robyn's credit card statement confirms the purchase of a pair, size seven, beautifully gift-wrapped, from Harrods mere days before her demise. Nix reveals her disinterest in becoming entangled, sharing she stumbled upon Jonno and Robyn in a heated argument over royalty payments early last week. To silence Nix and prevent her from informing Julia about the dispute, Robyn bought her the sneakers.
Later, as Max delves into two cookbooks, he discovers they share identical recipes, all belonging to Jonno. Beth affirmed Jonno was at the restaurant until midnight, but doubts now creep in.
DI Arnold rewatches the video, his suspicions piqued by the way Beth's touches linger on Jonno, hinting at an unspoken connection between them. Confronted once more, Beth sits among them, her denial ringing hollow. When presented with the pendant discovered in Robyn's car, her eyes widen in horror, and she confesses it was a token of affection meant for Jonno, given on the fateful day Robyn met her demise. DI Arnold and his team spring into action, racing against time to locate Jonno. Guided by Max's hunch, they spot his car and deduce he's headed to the lake.
As they descend upon the serene waterside, they discover Jonno sprawled on the ground. Max approaches cautiously, informing him of the pendant's discovery. He postulates that Jonno's desperate email, aiming to lure Julia away from the house, was a bid to evade capture with the necklace in his possession. Jonno unveils his plan: to propose a partnership with Beth to run the restaurant once his royalty check, a whopping $50,000, cleared. Unfortunately, Robyn had forgotten her promise, informing him at home that he'd have to wait until the business sold. Devastated when she mocked his dreams during their post-work conversation, he lost his temper, grabbing an object and swinging it. In a moment of fury, he missed the window but struck her fatally. Intending to rush her to the hospital, it was too late to reverse the tragedy.
Max reveals their plan to dredge the lake the following day, confident they'll uncover the murder weapon. Jonno, in a fit of despair, draws a knife, attempting to end his own life. Max wrestles him for control, his hand sliced open in the struggle. Jonno, tears streaming down his face, apologizes profusely before attempting to flee, only to be tackled by Connor moments later. As Jonno is whisked away in a patrol car, Max's wounded hand is bandaged.
Priya, moved by the circumstances, exempts Max from their veteran's race duty, acknowledging his limited capabilities with one hand. Meanwhile, Luca returns to Julia's, offering to prepare a meal that she gratefully accepts, pulling him into an embrace. Priya, longing for intimate time with Nitin, suggests a date night instead of attending the competition.
Back at the boat, Max finds Astrid awaiting him, her gaze fixed on his injured hand. She offers a business card, proposing a fair deal for his books. Sharing that she's no longer seeing Patrick, who was only interested in her gallery (which she's not selling), Astrid notes that not everyone finds wealth offensive. She reminds Max that beneath his money, good looks, and charm lies the essence of who he is—a sentiment that resonates deeply with him.
