As the curtains rise on the fourth chapter of "The Crow Girl," Martin Ryan, portrayed by Smylie Bradwell, engages in playful antics with Victoria, essayed by Isabella Astbury, under the open sky. When Martin's mother extends a warm invitation for dinner, Victoria readily accepts, stepping into the house where she chances upon a man bathing Martin in the tub. Startled, Victoria dashes towards the exit but finds herself halted by the gate's steadfast grip, unable to scale its height. Intercepted by Barbara Ryan, played by Sally Scott, who inquiries about her wellbeing, Victoria confesses that Ryan speaks of her even in her absence. This revelation plunges Victoria into a melancholy contemplation, believing that the world is ill-suited for individuals like her.
Transitioning into the narrative's core, the police are once again on the hunt, this time for another unfortunate soul. DCI Jeanette Kilburn, embodied by Eve Myles, engages in a discussion with DI Lou Stanley, portrayed by Dougray Scott, who presents her with a newspaper clipping detailing the latest case. Lou posits that it might all be a mere hoax, to which Jeanette counters by mentioning Lou's encouragement to Ursula Wilson to refrain from pressing charges. Lou contends that it's not a falsehood to suggest no one would lend Ursula credence, hinting at the slim chance of the case ever reaching trial. Jeanette asserts that it's beyond their purview to sway a victim's decision, to which Lou steadfastly denies any coercion.
Elsewhere, Sophia Craven attempts to reach Margaret Reagan but learns of a distressing occurrence befalling her. Meanwhile, Lou informs Jeanette that a drone has detected a disturbance in the soil. Jeanette's investigation leads her to a farm down the road. She treads towards it, engaging Vincent Dwyer, played by Andrew Buckley, in conversation. Vincent, unaware of any suspicious activities in the vicinity, shares insights about the farm's workforce and reveals that he's been its owner for a decade, while the original proprietors, Ben and Mary Burkeman, still retain possession of the house. Vincent's acquaintance with Carl Lowry is limited to hearsay. As Jeanette walks away, Madeleine, played by Chloe Sweetlove, catches a glimpse of her departure.
Concurrently, Mike Dilliston, embodied by Elliot Edusah, ventures to the Royal Hotel in search of recognizable faces among the murder victims. The hotelier, unable to identify any, mentions they maintain a register of absconders. Besim, portrayed by Jaye Ersavas, enters the scene, drawing attention to the nearby boxing club. Mike's attention is piqued when he spots Amar, played by Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, prompting him to give chase.
Amar stands baffled, unable to recognize any of the tragic victims. Upon Besim's return, Amar weaves a deceitful tale about the injury marring his visage. Mike, empathetic and concerned, hands Amar his business card, offering a lifeline should he seek solace in conversation. Meanwhile, Jean and Lou stumble upon a macabre sight—a skull adorned with a hat, prompting Jean to conjecture that the hat once belonged to Martin Ryan. Driven by this clue, they venture to a farmhouse, where they engage in a discourse with Ben Burkeman.
The detectives, Michael Lumsden as Ben and Karen Ascoe as Mary, step inside to delve deeper into the mystery. Lou reveals their grim discovery during the search—a decomposing body that had been concealed for an indeterminate period. Ben, disturbed, ushers Madeleine to her chamber, instructing her to stay away from the proceedings. With a blank expression, she claims ignorance of any untoward occurrences before retreating. Ben and Mary are informed that the deceased is believed to be Martin Ryan, who vanished without a trace 25 years prior. Ben confesses that his family had frequented a nearby cottage during their holidays, reminiscing about their daughter Victoria, who had once been Martin's playmate. He states matter-of-factly that Victoria is deceased, expressing a desire to terminate the conversation abruptly. Ben steadfastly maintains their ignorance regarding Martin's murderer or who might have abandoned his body in the forest. He refuses to part with a photograph of Victoria for their records and denies any acquaintance with Carl Lowry.
As Jean prepares to depart, she inquiries if Madeleine attends Beecham College, to which Madeleine nods affirmatively. Elsewhere, Sophia confesses to Orna (portrayed by Renu Brindle) her distraction, acknowledging that she hadn't devoted her full attention to Margaret. Plagued by guilt, Sophia labels this as a personal failure. Orna suggests perhaps it's time to release Victoria from their hearts and minds. Lou receives a disconcerting message—no body in a bag has been located anywhere in the woods. Jeanette suggests that someone was privy to Martin's fate, noting that her father's attempts to unravel his disappearance remained unsuccessful. Jean emphasizes the urgency to uncover Victoria's fate, hastily excusing herself as she realizes she's tardy for her date.
David White (played by Lee Boardman), bumping into Sophia, expresses indignation at what he deems an infringement of privacy. Insistent on playing their usual shopping game, David grows agitated and launches an attack, only to desist when Sophia emphatically exclaims "no." Jean, after a series of events, finally arrives breathless at her rendezvous with Alex (Raphael Sowole).
They engage in animated discussion about his artwork and the gallery's desire for more of his pieces. Alex mentions that his father had called earlier. Jean, still reeling from their recent discovery of Martin Ryan, expresses reluctance to converse with him. Alex suggests that she finds it difficult to detach herself from her work. Jean, realizing her tone might have been harsh, apologizes sincerely. She reminds Alex of her unwavering support and her respect for his career choices, never pressuring him to alter his path. Their conversation delves deeper into this topic until Alex finally confesses that his latest painting explores the theme of loss. He inquiries if Jean has had a chance to view it, to which she responds affirmatively, though it's evident she might be feigning familiarity.
Meanwhile, Amar observes Besim scheming to exploit another new immigrant. At Jeanette's place, she receives a message from Sophia, inviting her to meet. Sophia promptly receives a confirmation message and Jeanette arrives shortly thereafter. Sophia unburdens herself about Margaret's demise, revealing she has spent the entire day scrutinizing her case notes in search of overlooked details. Jeanette offers words of wisdom, and their chat shifts to Sophia's belongings just as Lance (Oliver Hembrough) arrives. Sophia pleads with Jeanette to stay, but Lance presents Sophia with flowers, adding a romantic undertone to the scene.
Elsewhere, Eva Andric (Lu Corfield) informs Jean that dental records have confirmed the deceased as Martin Ryan. Jeanette, visibly shaken, shares how this case nearly consumed her father. Lou contacts Jeanette after obtaining statements from the Ryans, revealing that on the day Martin vanished, he had gone to play in Ferret's Wood with Victoria Burkeman. Jean decides to visit the Ryan residence immediately. In a brief aside, Jean congratulates Eva on her upcoming birthday.
Madeleine spends time with Charlie (Lauren Morais) at school, where Charlie reveals that Jacob (Malek Alkoni) has spread rumors about Madeleine. Madeleine vehemently denies the allegations. Meanwhile, Sophia continues listening to interview tapes related to Margaret when Lance interrupts. She informs him she needs to head to the police station to provide a statement regarding her client. As Sophia prepares a drink, memories of her conversation with Victoria flood back. To her astonishment, she turns and finds Victoria standing before her.
In an interview setting, Victoria voices her belief that the world is not designed for individuals like her, her words resonating with a poignant sense of alienation.
She asserts that all has been reduced to ruins, and her self-blame is profound. With each passing day, she finds herself compelled to confront the stark reality that such a calamity has befallen her alone. Sophia endeavors to reassure her that she holds immense significance in the lives of others. However, Victoria, driven to despair, plunges a blade into her flesh multiple times and strikes Sophia across the face. Lance's urgent call echoes through the air, urging Sophia to ascend and converse with him. Upon reaching the upstairs bathroom, she discovers Lance immersed in the tub, professing his ability to alleviate her distress. In a sudden, almost whimsical gesture, Sophia seizes his ankle and submerges him beneath the water before releasing him, claiming it was but a playful act.
Elsewhere, Jacob visits Madeleine at school, confiding in her that his revelation to Charlie stemmed from genuine concern. Madeleine, reminded of her innocence, swiftly exits in a huff. Meanwhile, Jeanette seeks out Richard Ryan, played by Aden Gillett, to impart their latest discovery. His wife, Barbara, passed away just three weeks prior. Jean inquiries about their vacation and Victoria's involvement. Richard recounts their woodside adventure, followed by Victoria's return, claiming she had lost Martin. He remains unconvinced of Victoria's guilt in Martin's disappearance, noting he had heard Ben and Mary attended Barbara's funeral, which he himself could not attend due to personal circumstances. He also reveals that Martin and Victoria once engaged in playful reenactments of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
At the precinct, Lou informs Jean of the absence of a death record for Victoria Burkeman, just as Mike interrupts with the possibility that the first victim might be Daniel Rexha. Mike shares his insights with Jeanette, who subsequently organizes their collective knowledge. She tasks Lou with uncovering every detail about Victoria Burkeman, while Mike is directed to contact local hostels and compile a list of residents. Jean also seeks a roster of individuals who have missed their case worker appointments.
Jean's meeting with Verity takes a serious turn as Verity conveys their findings to her father and cautions Jeanette to proceed with caution, emphasizing the stakes of their investigation. Carl Lowry, now conscious, hints at a potential deal. Additionally, Amar arrives at the police station, seeking an audience with Mike Dilliston. The narrative weaves a tapestry of intrigue and emotional turmoil, each thread tightly knotted with the quest to uncover the truth.
