Episode 1 kicks off with a thrilling scene of a 4×4 roaring down a winding mountain road, its driver unseen yet unmistakably intent on their mission. Simultaneously, Sergeant Bruce Harris (Scott Wills) stands before a small contingent of Mount Affinity media representatives and townsfolk, his voice steady as he officially closes the chapter on the murder of Ronan Garvey (Simon Mead) and the abduction of Sinead Martin (Rachel Morgan). Though unable to name the culprit just yet, he reassures the gathered crowd that justice will prevail and the perpetrator will face trial.
As Bruce concludes his address, he dismisses Joy Webb Jones’s (Jessi Williams) claims implicating the mythical 'Goatman,' yet cautions that the search for the elusive creature remains an ongoing inquiry. Just as the gathering begins to disperse, a distressed Theo Richter (Richard Flood) bursts in, eager to question Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe) regarding the mysterious disappearance of Aileen Ryan (Carolyn Bracken). Amidst this turmoil, Detective Sergeant Gwenda (Miriama Smith) informs Diana of her impending induction into the Mount Affinity Police Force, effective next month.
Richter hastily dials David (Shashi Rami)'s number while Bruce initiates a trace on Aileen's signal. Richter learns, to his consternation, that Aileen had been delving into the affairs of Frank Pastors (Owen Black) just before her phone pings from an isolated locale. En route to a secluded cabin deep within the woods, where Aileen's signal originates, Richter and Diana pay a visit to Linda Pastors (Rachel Bock) at her residence. Linda, acknowledging her encounter with Aileen, confesses her suspicions that Frank might have taken a life. She joins them on the journey to the cabin, where they find it pockmarked with bullet holes and evidence of a violent struggle within. Diana promptly calls Bruce, requesting backup to comb the area for further clues.
Sinead, en route to Collision High Court, finds herself besieged by inquisitive reporters. She navigates the barrage of questions with composure, until Joy's pointed inquiry about her survival amidst Ronan's demise prompts a stock 'no comment.' Sinead's journey downward begins thereafter, culminating in an emotional confrontation with Michaela Armstrong (Alison Bruce), who vows to secure bail for her troubled children, Valeria (Ella Gilbert) and Ken Armstrong (Matt Whelan), despite their missteps. The hearing commences upon Ken's arrival, but for Sinead, it unfolds in a whirlwind of feelings and recollections. She remains lost in this haze until the court's declaration snaps her back to reality: Ken has withdrawn his bail request.
Stricken with grief over the loss of Jarred (Flynn Mhlhopt), Ginge (Poroaki Merritt-McDonald) snaps, physically assaulting Buster Huia (Wayne Hapi) before fleeing the scene on a dirt bike. Meanwhile, forensic experts at the cabin meticulously examine the premises, uncovering vital evidence: one of the bullet holes originates from a long-range semiautomatic rifle. This critical clue eventually guides them to a 4x4 vehicle with its tires slashed and a laptop inside. Soon after, K9 units arrive, but Richter, sans badge and firearm, is reluctantly relegated to the sidelines. Diana reassures him that she will secure the necessary authorization.
With the hearing adjourned, Judge Hannah Martin (Michelle Fairly) endeavors to engage Sinead in a conversation about her experiences, only to find her efforts met with increasing resistance. Sinead's walls rise higher with each probing question until, exasperated, she all but orders Hannah to depart.
Bruce recounts his and Frank's tumultuous past to Richter and Diana as Frank is led out of his cell for interrogation. While Richter and Diana grill Frank about Aileen's visit, Bruce peruses Frank's drawings, meticulously making copies. Richter's patience wears thin, and he loses his composure, lunging at Frank when the latter crosses a line by mocking Diana's missing mother. Frank abruptly terminates the interrogation upon glimpsing the photo of the cabin, his countenance contorted as if he's beheld a specter.
As Bruce, Richter, and Diana sift through Frank's belongings, they receive disheartening news: both the laptop and the phone retrieved from the cabin are password-protected. However, the phone, smeared with dried blood, reveals that the last call was made to David, strongly suggesting it belongs to Aileen.
Elsewhere, Doctor Ray Morris (Edwin Wright) awaits Valeria's visit at his home, though she's in no mood for conversation. Instead, she texts Diana, requesting a talk. Diana receives this message just as she and Richter return to question Linda further. The encounter with Linda yields no new insights, save for her suspicion that Frank harbors the capacity for murder.
Auntie Wiki, alias Vanessa Rare, embarks on her own quest to locate Aileen, while attentively tending to Buster's injuries. Meanwhile, Sinead endeavors to retrieve Ronan's personal effects from the uncooperative Mervin De Leon (Nick Dunbar), only to discover that the police have already confiscated them. His curt demeanor and evident irritation at her request only fuel her frustration, which later explodes onto Ginge when he approaches her on his dirt bike. Considering Ginge's bitter accusation of Ronan for Jarred's demise, the situation is akin to a volatile powder keg ready to detonate, and indeed, it does. Despite these tensions, Ginge eventually extends an olive branch, offering to aid Sinead in confronting her kidnapping trauma by escorting her back to the site of her captivity. As they arrive later that day, she requests him to capture on film her recounting of the harrowing ordeal.
Bruce, after securing Valeria's house arrest arrangements, returns to the precinct to witness Richter being sworn in as a temporary New Zealand police officer. Hardly has the oath concluded when Bruce joins the search party for Aileen. However, just before his departure, a brief and fragmented conversation with Hannah, hindered by poor reception, leaves uncertainty about whether he grasped her message.
To her credit, Michaela endeavors to elevate the dinner's ambiance with an enchanting rafting tale featuring Ken and Valeria, seemingly succeeding in her endeavor. As the night deepens, the foot search for Aileen concludes for the day. Nevertheless, Richter ventures out solo, trailing footprints until they lead him to the brink of a mountain, where he perishes in a mysterious fall or push. The episode concludes with Diana perched on her front porch, burning what seem to be ominous photographs, casting an eerie glow in the encroaching dusk.
