The third episode unfolds with Huw awakening on Patrick's sofa, the remnants of the previous night's unconsciousness still lingering in his mind. The sound of Patrick's footsteps upstairs sends a chill down his spine, prompting him to frantically lace up his shoes in a desperate bid for escape. However, Patrick intercepts him, acting as if the previous night's events had never transpired, and casually offers him a coffee.
Confronted by Huw about drugging his drink, Patrick feigns ignorance, his expression as innocent as a lamb. Huw, fueled by fragments of memory, accuses Patrick of confessing to being the Ripton Stalker. Patrick counters with a blend of confusion and manipulation, painting Huw's accusations as the ramblings of a drunken mind.
A noticeable shift has come over Huw; his anger is palpable as he lashes out at Patrick, mentioning Frank's name. With a steely resolve, Huw vows to expose Patrick as the killer and bring him to justice. But Patrick dismisses him with a wave of his hand, branding him still under the influence.
Rejected by Margot at his own doorstep, their argument a tempest of words in the cool evening air, she insists that he is unwell and needs help. With nowhere to turn, Huw sets his sights on Ruth, only to find her door remains tightly closed. Desperation sets in as he retreats to his car, dialing Jenny's number only to leave an urgent voicemail pleading for her to call him back.
Meanwhile, Patrick crosses paths with Steve on the street, inquiring about his work trip with feigned concern. Steve, however, is distracted by Liz's confession of imagining an intruder. Seizing the moment, Patrick pretends ignorance and subtly implicates Huw, hinting that he was the one at his house last night. Steve, visibly startled, reveals that Huw suffered a breakdown after failing to catch the Ripton Stalker, his behavior since then erratic at best. Patrick seizes this opportunity, planting a seed of doubt in Steve's mind, suggesting that perhaps Huw was the one lurking in their home.
Huw ventures to meet Declan, the individual suspected by the authorities to be the notorious Ripton Stalker. Declan greets Huw with anything but warmth, accusing him of ruining his life. Huw counters by expressing his doubt in Declan's capacity as a murderer and hinting at a recent occurrence that necessitates his assistance. Unmoved, Declan dashes back into his apartment, slamming the door shut.
Jenny, accompanied by her colleague, proceeds to Ruth's residence. Receiving no response, they force entry and discover Ruth's lifeless body in her bedroom. She lies bound at the wrists and ankles, drenched in her own blood. Jenny solemnly informs her colleague of the grim familiarity, recalling how the Ripton Stalker once restrained his victims before terminating their lives.
At the police station, Huw seeks out Jenny, oblivious to her presence at Ruth's now-secured crime scene. Finding Jenny absent, Huw prepares to depart but calls Ruth on his way out. His voicemail, filled with contrition, echoes through the air: he apologizes for causing her pain and acknowledges the futility of his belated awareness. His words, although intended for his past actions of bringing Ruth to Patrick's shop, inadvertently resonate as though he's confessing to her murder—all while Jenny listens intently from Ruth's house.
Alice arrives home from her workday to find Margot sipping coffee in the kitchen with Patrick. He employs gaslighting tactics, feigning concern for Huw and omitting the part about drugging him before Huw passed out on his couch. Patrick subtly manipulates the conversation, suggesting Huw's unraveling state and probing Alice about her tolerance for his erratic behavior. Alice, however, appears increasingly aware of his charm offensive. She calls out his act, warning him that Margot is too innocent for his schemes and gently yet firmly escorts him out of her home.
Huw manages to persuade Declan to unlock his door, stepping into the flat to delve deeper into the enigmatic Ripton Stalker case. Declan vents his frustration, revealing that despite his innocence being proven, bricks still rain down on his windows. His face, plastered across TV screens, has shattered his life into pieces. He insists that he couldn't possibly have killed the victims, knowing only Ruth among them, suggesting that the connections to the others were cleverly orchestrated by the actual perpetrator. As they converse, Huw ponders over the intricacies of the case, realizing that the real killer must have witnessed Declan stalking Ruth, thus inspiring the plan to frame him. Huw vows to uncover the motive behind this framing, but Declan retorts sharply, accusing Huw of being every bit as destructive as the Ripton Stalker, ruining lives just like him and Ruth, asserting that Huw brings nothing but turmoil into people's lives. Hurt by Declan's harsh words, Huw decides to leave, yet Declan's remarks clearly resonate deeply with him.
At the police station, Jen is taken aback by the revelation that a neighbor's witness statement places Huw at the scene of Ruth's murder on the fateful night. Angered by his breach of promise to stay away from her house, her colleague jumps to the conclusion that Huw could indeed be the Ripton Stalker. Jenny, however, stands her ground, arguing that Ruth's death deviates from the previous Ripton Stalker murders – a copycat crime, marked by distinct stabbing patterns and a different type of rope used in tying Ruth up. Jenny's colleague presses for Huw's interrogation, but she defends him fiercely, recalling him as a commendable boss and emphasizing that the evidence linking him to Ruth's murder is purely circumstantial.
Meanwhile, Patrick engages in conversation with Tina outside their homes. Tina confesses to feeling uneasy about the intrusion into Liz's house, and she inquires about Huw's presence in their home. Patrick subtly plants seeds of suspicion, hinting that the twins might have been in jeopardy after Tina asked Huw to babysit, urging her to reach out if anything untoward occurs. Patrick's tactics are cunning, ensuring he never outright accuses Huw but instead nurtures doubts about his character, painting him as potentially dangerous. Paul emerges from the house, inquiring about Patrick's words, to which Tina responds by saying he was merely being amiable. Paul expresses his growing dissatisfaction with Patrick, who he believes has been spreading malicious rumors about Huw, reassuring his wife that Huw is a decent man.
In the serene park, Alice encounters Huw, who she promptly equips with sustenance—food and water—as well as the postmortem report on Frank that he had requested. Eager to uncover any clues that might suggest Frank was incapacitated prior to his demise, Huw scans the report and spots a natural substance, possibly the very same one Patrick employed to sedate him the preceding night. His excitement mounts as he believes he is unraveling the mystery, excitedly sharing with Alice that Patrick had confessed to being the elusive Ripton Stalker just the night before. However, Alice's response is anything but enthusiastic; she怒火中烧, accusing him of drowning in his obsession and warning that she refuses to be pulled under with him. She declares her limits, stating that if he is so steadfast in his conviction of Patrick's guilt, he must either provide undeniable proof or abandon his pursuit, for the alternative is the dissolution of their marriage.
Later that night, Liz awakens to the eerie sound of footfalls echoing through her home. She rouses Steve, who hastily descends to investigate. Upon reaching the living room, he discovers the back patio doors ajar and a golf club abandoned on the floor, casting an ominous shadow over their peace.
The subsequent morning, Patrick ironically assumes the role of protector, installing a video camera outside Steve and Liz's abode to reassure them. His gesture is met with gratitude, yet whispers among the group revolve around Huw's potential for home invasions, treating it as a foregone conclusion. Patrick casually inquires about the golf club's ownership, hinting at Huw, while Liz mentions her unsuccessful attempt to contact the police, speculating that their lack of response might stem from Huw's former police affiliation. The conversation reveals a growing skepticism towards Patrick's benevolent façade, particularly evident in Paul's unconvinced demeanor.
Later, Paul dials Huw, who has been catching some Zs in the confines of his vehicle. With urgency in his voice, he expresses a desire to meet face-to-face to discuss Patrick. However, as their conversation unfolds, Patrick keeps a watchful eye from the vantage point of his van.
The two men converge at a bustling pub, where Paul reveals that Steve and Liz's home was burglarized under the cover of darkness. Huw's inquisitive nature kicks in, asking if the intruders merely rearranged items without taking anything, to which Paul responds with astonishment at Huw's insight. Paul confesses that suspicion falls heavily on him, yet he believes Patrick is orchestrating a devious scheme, manipulating everyone around him with gaslighting tactics. Huw warns Paul of Patrick's perilous nature, prompting Paul to offer his assistance in sneaking a peek into Patrick's abode. Huw discourages him, insisting it's too hazardous for Paul to become entangled. As Paul exits the pub, Patrick's vantage from his van is clear; he has been a silent observer of their every move.
Inside the pub, Huw revisits the audio recording of his chat with Declan, zeroing in on the segment about the ballet dancer ornament found in an antiques shop, a memento that brought Ruth to mind. This mention jogs a memory in Huw, sending him rushing back to confront Declan.
Huw is visibly agitated about the statue, peppering Declan with questions about why he needed it repaired. Declan explains that he accidentally dropped it upon purchasing, shattering its arm. He entrusted it to a repairman who did an exemplary job and even snapped a photo of the pleased Declan upon completion. Huw eagerly seeks a description of the repairman, but Declan, unable to recall specifics from years past, describes him as charming and skilled.
Returning to his home, Huw searches frantically for a USB containing the case files. Margot, surprised to see him, receives an apology laden with sincerity. Huw vows to one day earn her pride.
Armed with renewed determination, Huw heads to Paul's place. Together, they delve into the case files of Ripton Stalker's other victims. Amidst the photographs from the second homicide, they uncover a receipt from Patrick's repair shop. The penny drops for Huw; Patrick's repair shop serves as the common denominator linking all victims.
Meanwhile, inside his shop, Patrick pores over Polaroid snapshots, their contents shrouded in mystery.
At the police station, Jenny is diligently typing up a report when her colleague bursts in, bearing startling news: forensics have discovered an item beneath Ruth's mattress—one of the cufflinks Jenny had bestowed upon Huw upon his retirement. Stunned into silence, Jenny dashes off to confront Huw.
Yet, Huw finds himself at Patrick's repair shop, where a wall of Polaroid snapshots catches his eye. Each picture captures seemingly contented customers holding their mended treasures, but one stands out like a sore thumb—it's a picture of Declan. A chill runs down Huw's spine as he spots it, just as Patrick emerges from his workshop, his usual charming demeanor intact. Huw confronts Patrick, hinting at his knowledge of Patrick's true identity, but Patrick plays dumb, feigning ignorance when Huw inquiries if all the victims' photos adorn that very wall.
Exiting the shop, Huw bids Patrick a casual "Catch you later," only to find his car refusing to start. Frustrated, he calls Paul for assistance, instructing him to sneak into Patrick's garden and retrieve the spare key hidden beneath a gnome. Patrick cautions him to be swift, emphasizing the urgency of fetching a case hidden beneath his bed. Paul assures Huw he knows exactly which one, having already raided Patrick's house and secured the briefcase. This revelation sends Huw into a tailspin; he's horrified to learn Paul has gone rogue, ordering him to stay put until he arrives.
Elsewhere, Alice and Margot engage in a heartfelt conversation about Huw. Margot, inquisitive, asks if they're headed for divorce. Alice reassures her, revealing she initially doubted Patrick's guilt as the stalker but saw something chilling in his eyes when he encountered Margot, convincing her he might indeed be a killer. Resolved, Alice decides to call Huw and urge him to return home.
Meanwhile, Huw arrives at his street via taxi after his car's breakdown, catching Steve's attention. Steve, convinced Huw is the home invader, demands answers. But Huw, intent on reaching Paul and uncovering the contents of the briefcase, brushes him off. He's certain he's on the brink of exposing Patrick.
Reaching Paul's house, Huw finds the front door ajar. Calling out for Paul, he receives no response. His eyes fall upon the briefcase on the table, which he eagerly opens to reveal cut-out images of all the Riptson Stalker's victims. Suddenly, a noise startles him, drawing him into the kitchen where he discovers Paul, bleeding profusely on the floor, with a bloody knife nearby. As Huw frantically tries to stem the bleeding, the police arrive, and Jenny is horrified to see Huw, drenched in Paul's blood, leaning over his lifeless body as if he were the perpetrator.
As the ambulance arrives to attend to Paul, Huw is swiftly handcuffed, while Alice emerges from her house, her eyes wide with shock as she witnesses her husband being apprehended for murder. Tina arrives home next, only to find her house in a state of turmoil, utterly unaware of her husband's fate. As a curious crowd starts to gather on the street, Huw is escorted to the back of a police cruiser. Through the window, his gaze falls upon Patrick standing amidst the onlookers. Patrick, with a sinister grin playing on his lips, offers Huw a wink before the police car speeds away, leaving behind a scene brimming with suspense and unrest.
