The second episode unfolds with Liz finding herself alone in the tranquility of her home during the night. She brews a soothing cup of coffee, only to set it down momentarily to draw the blinds in her cozy living room. Upon turning back, her heart skips a beat as she discovers her mug missing, though the lingering coffee stain on her sideboard stands as testament to its recent presence.
The next morning, Huw rises early, his ears tuned to a post-mortem report detailing how one of the Ripton Stalker's unfortunate victims was bound for days, leaving behind ligature marks as a grim reminder of their ordeal.
Back at their home, Alice bustles around, preparing for work. She casually mentions to Huw that Liz suspects her husband, Steve, of having an affair with his PA, fueled by his frequent work trips.
Later, as Alice dives into her workday, Huw's peaceful morning is interrupted by a call from his neighbor, Tina. She hurriedly requests his babysitting services for an hour while she indulges in a manicure. Tina assures him the babies are napping peacefully and shouldn't stir, rushing out the door before Huw can utter a word of protest. However, as he brews himself a cup of tea later, Patrick's sudden appearance from behind startles him in Tina's kitchen. Huw queries how Patrick gained entry, to which Patrick casually responds that Tina entrusted him with a key due to a leaky tap. Claiming it's inappropriate to fix the tap with the babies asleep, Patrick exits, clearly relishing the unease he's caused Huw.
Curiosity piqued, Huw trails Patrick and discovers his workshop in town, where he mends various items for clients. Patrick proudly tours his workspace, highlighting a meticulously crafted doll's house. As Huw inspects it, his eyes catch a ballerina figurine perched on a bedside table within one of the doll's house bedrooms, sparking a familiar memory. He requests a photo, but Patrick's demeanor chills, firmly denying his request before abruptly closing the doll's house and exiting.
At home, Huw ponders over the Ripton Stalker case files he illicitly obtained from work. He recalls Ruth, one of the victims, who also possessed a ballerina figurine by her bedside. Consulting police photos, he confirms the doll in the doll's house is an exact replica.
Huw visits Ruth, who beams with joy at his arrival. Though struggling to reclaim her life post-trauma, she expresses gratitude towards Huw for saving her from the Ripton Stalker, who once hid in her wardrobe as she slept. Huw remains self-deprecating, acknowledging he prevented Ruth's demise but allowed the stalker to escape justice that fateful night.
Huw broaches the subject of the ballerina figurine, surprising Ruth and prompting her to reveal she disposed of it long ago. As their conversation delves deeper into her harrowing experience, Ruth begins to distress, prompting Huw to realize his visit was ill-timed. He abruptly leaves, leaving Ruth in upset.
The following day, Jenny pays Huw a visit, sharing her insights from Frank's postmortem examination. She concurs with his suspicions, highlighting the omission in the report about any empty pill packets or syringes, which would indicate Frank's self-administration of the drug. However, she cautions him against rushing to judgments, revealing that the paramedics, amidst the chaos of the day, couldn't recall the presence of such items. Huw is frustrated by the oversights, but Jenny reasons that the lack of struggle marks on Frank's body suggests he didn't put up a fight, making it improbable for a stranger to have injected him without resistance. Although Huw acknowledges her logic, his thoughts are interrupted by the sight of Patrick exiting his residence just behind Jenny.
After Jenny's departure, Patrick retrieves the spare key hidden beneath Frank's garden gnome and slips into his own house undetected. As he attempts to rummage through the briefcase concealed under Patrick's bed, the actual Patrick arrives home, seemingly sensing Huw's presence upstairs instantaneously. Rather than confronting him, Patrick exits his house and heads straight to Huw's place, where Alice welcomes him in and offers coffee. Inquiring about Huw's whereabouts, Alice responds that he's inside but she hasn't seen him for some time. Meanwhile, Huw narrowly escapes from Patrick's house, feigning an errand to put out the bins. During their conversation in the kitchen with Alice, Patrick subtly hints at knowing Huw's recent activities.
Alice proposes a trip to the pub for Patrick and Huw, to which they reluctantly agree. However, the conversation inevitably drifts to Frank, and Patrick's condolences strike Huw as insincere.
On the subsequent day, Huw visits Ruth, apologizing for his abrupt departure during their last encounter. Delighted to see him, she readily accepts his invitation for a stroll. As they wander through town, Huw pretends to be serendipitously led to Patrick's workshop, introducing Ruth to his "new friend" with the hope that she might recognize the man who attempted her murder. Patrick, if indeed the Ripton Stalker, plays his part flawlessly, revealing nothing if he recognizes Ruth. Huw expresses interest in seeing the dollhouse, but Patrick informs them that it has already been collected, suddenly accusing Huw of having an affair with Ruth, which Huw vehemently denies.
Later, Ruth and Huw join for lunch, where Huw persists in probing her about recognizing the assailant's voice. Distressed by his relentless questioning, Ruth breaks down in the restaurant, prompting Huw to realize he's pushing too hard and backing off. As he tries to redeem himself, she realizes Huw's suspicion towards Patrick and is horrified to discover she was used as bait to entrap him. In a fit of anger, she dashes out of the restaurant, screaming.
That evening, Huw arrives home, his demeanor restless and distracted following his afternoon with Ruth. To his astonishment, he finds his daughter Margot already there, having returned due to a heated dispute with her boyfriend. Margot notices her father's unusual behavior and inquiries about his well-being, mentioning that her mother has remarked on his recent stress. Huw dismisses it, insisting that he has nothing to stress about now that he's retired, but this leads to an argument, culminating in Margot storming out. As she exits, Patrick watches with a hint of schadenfreude, relishing the familial discord.
Meanwhile, Liz finds herself alone at home when suddenly, loud music blares from upstairs. She's startled to discover the radio seemingly turned on by itself. As she hurries to silence it, she hears the front door slam shut. Terrified, she descends the stairs to investigate, only to have the door creak open again just as she reaches the bottom, causing her to scream. Relief washes over her when she sees it's Steve, returning from a business trip. Liz is overjoyed to see him, but he's concerned by her unsettled demeanor, especially when she relates tales of objects moving on their own.
Later, Margot returns, seeking refuge from her fight, and they all sit down to dinner together. Huw confides in his wife and daughter, revealing that retirement has made him realize the true importance of their family. The mood lightens, but elsewhere, Jenny toils late into the night when she receives a call summoning her to Huw's. Intruding upon their family dinner, Jenny informs Huw that the DCI has sent her because Ruth has visited the station, leveling grave accusations against him. With some deft maneuvering, Huw manages to dismiss Jenny and restore some semblance of normalcy, but Alice and Margot are appalled by his continued delvings into the past. Alice's horror deepens when Huw admits that he still believes Patrick to be the Ripton Stalker, having lied earlier only to please her. This revelation sparks another fiery argument, culminating in Huw storming out of the house.
Huw trudges toward Ruth's house, intent on offering an apology, only to find his knocks on the door falling on deaf ears as she refuses to let him in. Defeated, he turns to leave, but as Ruth busy herself brewing a cup of tea downstairs, an eerie tune emanates from her bedroom upstairs—a melody issued by her ballerina-themed jewelry box. With a jolt of fear, she dashes upstairs to silence it, her heart pounding as she contemplates the possibility of an intruder. Armed with pepper spray, she creeps cautiously downstairs, eyes darting every which way. However, just as she reaches the foot of the stairs, the music mysteriously resumes upstairs. Panicked, she bolts for the front door, only to be yanked back inside by an unseen force as she exits.
Meanwhile, oblivious to Ruth's harrowing ordeal, Huw slumps home with his spirits crushed. Alice, however, bars his entrance, her tone unwavering: until he lets go of the Ripton Stalker obsession, he is not welcome under their roof.
Despondent, Huw seeks solace at the pub, where he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Stumbling home later, he notices Patrick's front door ajar and, driven by curiosity, steps inside. To his surprise, Patrick greets him warmly, as if anticipating his arrival, and notices Huw's inebriated state. Interrogating him about Ruth, Patrick plies him with more drinks. The conversation veers towards the Ripton Stalker case, prompting a drunken Huw to blurt out if Patrick could be the stalker. Patrick, with a chilling calm, admits as much. Before Huw can react, he realizes his drink has been tainted and collapses unconscious but miraculously alive on Patrick's living room floor.
