As the latest installment of "Unforgotten" unfolds, Murray Boulting (Jordan Long) ventures to Llagavelly Farm in search of David Bell. He is met by a woman who beckons him to follow her lead. Lady Emma Hume (Hayley Mills), with a gentle yet firm tone, advises Tony (Ian McElhinney) to ease his pace, reminding him that his advancing years necessitate a less strenuous lifestyle, implying that retirement might be a suitable option. Tony, somewhat puzzled, wonders what it is he still strives to prove, acknowledging the clarity with which age reveals one's past mistakes. He confesses to decades marred by missteps, while Emma urges them both to embark on a journey forward, eschewing the shackles of the past.
Murray learns that their sole past issue revolved around Precious Falade, who, according to Lady Emma, betrayed him for the allure of material wealth. Murray recounts the stark age difference between David, who was 42, and Precious, just 15, when she conceived. Subsequently, he is led to David's resting place, a solemn reminder of loss.
DCI Jess James (Sinead Keenan) pays a visit to Nick, a friend of Steve's, her suspicions aroused by Steve's potential refuge under his roof. She confides in Nick about Steve's betrayal with her sister, leaving Nick to urge Steve (Andrew Lancel) to vacate his premises promptly. Meanwhile, DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) returns home to find Sal (Michelle Bonnard) awaiting him, her eyes brimming with curiosity about his spontaneous marriage proposal of yesteryears. Though genuine, Sal ponders if it stemmed from his disorientation. Sunny, acknowledging his confusion, admits he's at a loss, confessing feelings of stagnation. Sal, understanding his perspective but cautious about rushing decisions, reveals her pregnancy and their differing desires for parenthood. She decides to stay with her mother, seeking time to ponder their future while keeping communication open.
Elsewhere, Dave and Ebele head to the precinct, where Fran (Carolina Main) hastily dials Karol, requesting his callback. Inside, Karen Willetts (Pippa Nixon) informs her that Jay has been released on bail, prompting them to agree on the prudence of armed backup for any confrontation. With Jess's approval, Sunny engages her in conversation, both acknowledging their recent dread and agreeing to immerse themselves in work as a distraction.
Jay (Rhys Yates), sensing impending doom, retrieves a concealed laptop from his apartment and packs it away. He urges Cheryl (Hebe Beardsall) to prepare for departure, reassuring her that financial woes are a thing of the past—just as police officers burst in. He cautions them to handle the laptop with care, insisting it's personal, not stolen.
Back at the station, Murray reveals that Niamh has mentioned Precious's involvement with an older, wealthy patron, hinting that Tony might be the individual in question. Suspicions swirl, deepening the complexity of the case.Concerning David Bell, his life came to an end three months prior to the heinous murder. The conversation shifts to Jay, about whom rumors swirl that he might be financially supported by a sugar daddy. Karen unveils her discovery: a substantial 30-pound payment traced to a modest phone shop nestled in Acton. Meanwhile, Elise engages Karol, alias Max Rinehart, about his status as a person of interest in a murder case potentially tinged with sexuality. Karol vehemently denies the accusation, yet Elise proceeds to escort him out, leaving no room for doubt. As he exits, Karol entrusts Elise with the task of using the money for the girls' welfare.
Fran concludes her discussion with the HR department at West London Social Services, where Karol has categorically denied the allegations but refused to surrender his phone. Granted resignation on mental health grounds, Karol exits without a blemish on his record, only for another colleague to raise a similar complaint after his departure. Speculations arise about a possible sexual misconduct involving Precious that may have escalated fatally. Fran is tasked with applying for Karol's work emails from 2016 to uncover more clues.
Elsewhere, Sunny and Jess interview Ebele, Precious's mother, about her last encounter with her daughter. Questions about a mysterious phone number and payment elicit no response from Ebele, who claims ignorance about her daughter's phone details and the fateful call on the day Precious passed away. When pressed about a physical altercation outside their home twelve days prior, Ebele asserts her innocence, stating she was merely present and never laid a hand on her daughter. She also refutes claims that Precious suffered from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, insisting she abstained from alcohol during pregnancy and believing her daughter's struggles in school were unrelated. Sunny suggests frequent disputes over this subject, to which Ebele responds by expressing her best intentions and sorrow if she fell short. She underscores the importance of moving past an imperfect childhood.
Karen interviews Medhi, shedding light on Tony's transformation from a conservative individual to someone unpredictable, particularly in late 2016. The catalyst remains uncertain, with some speculating his 2014 cancer diagnosis, while Medhi posits it was a woman who influenced this change. Fran learns that Karol deleted numerous emails, but retrieval may still be possible. Szymon, expressing disbelief in Karol's supposed misdeeds, assures him of support, regardless of the impending trouble.
Karen informs Jess and Sunny of Medhi's sighting of Tony arguing with a woman, whom he describes as petite and possibly of mixed or Mediterranean descent. Intriguingly, Karen also discovers Tony's early employment at Morgan Lavelle, a London stockbroker, which Ebele mockingly referenced nine years later during a prank. Recognizing the urgency, Jess proposes they speak with the doorman immediately. Karol receives a message from Fran, eager to discuss matters upon his return to the UK, adding another layer of suspense to this intricate tale.Later on, Murray imparted to Sunny the exciting news that they had located Elton King, and the latter was more than willing to converse with them. Dave (portrayed by Mark Frost) and Ebele engaged in discussions with the VC representatives, but Ebele's resolve began to waver. Elton was interrogated about whether Joseph could have possibly gained access to the firearm after his arrest. Elton insisted that he was certain Joseph had the means to access it, as it was the same gun Joseph had used during the robbery. Elton had initially taken the blame for the robbery, thinking that Jay would safeguard him inside. However, that hadn't happened, leaving Elton now inclined to testify against Jay.
Meanwhile, Fran delved deeper into the mystery of the 'DSH' notation on the payments from Coombe & Co. She issued a veiled threat of obtaining a warrant, prompting the bank clerk to defer to his superior for guidance. Ebele confided in Dave about her tumultuous past, revealing that she was just 17 and pregnant when she returned home to find her grandmother had invited Pastor Muyulu into their abode to conduct an exorcism on her. She fiercely resisted and fled. Upon her return to retrieve her belongings, she found her grandfather alone. He advised her that she wouldn't bring disgrace upon the community if she terminated the pregnancy before it became noticeable. Appalled, Ebele recounted how her grandfather had restrained her, inserted a funnel into her mouth, and forcibly poured half a liter of vodka down her throat. Despite his drastic measures, Precious had miraculously survived. Ebele affirmed that both the incident and her upbringing had left her deeply scarred for life. She had sought help upon achieving sobriety for the first time, but eventually stopped.
Jay was presented with a copy of the triangulation document furnished by KZK Mobile, which pinpointed that on June 26, 2016, at 18:49, a phone believed to be Jay's had contacted Ebele. The call had been routed through a mast merely 200 yards away from 64 Waterman Road. Jay remained tight-lipped on the matter. When quizzed about Elton King, he defiantly declined to respond. Sunny referenced the individuals who had taken care of Jay during his upbringing, recounting the hardships his mother had subjected him to and the unsettling encounters she had forced him into. Sunny speculated that Jay might have acted out due to these experiences or it might have been a mere accident. Jay, however, steadfastly maintained that they were all misinformed. When his solicitor attempted to intervene, Jay curtly silenced him before acknowledging that he was not Joseph Bell but Joe's half-brother. His birth had never been registered, as his mother had been reluctant to risk him being placed in foster care like Joe had been.His father imparted some education to him through homeschooling. Now 21, Jay was just shy of 15 when his mother passed away, and in 2015, he lost his father as well. Jay eventually reveals that his father's name was Eric Royce, a man who once survived on the streets of London by stealing. To gain access to his brother's benefits, Jay's father adopted his sibling's identity. Sunny inquiries if Jay's brother had any prior need for this identity, prompting Jay to request his solicitor's departure before answering. Once alone, Jay clarifies that his brother didn't require it, emphasizing that there are people out there who wish him harm due to what he has witnessed. Jess argues fervently that they wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him, but Jay retorts by sharing how people used to assure Joe of the same, only to betray him. That's the reason Jay refuses to disclose any more information.
Jay's laptop is now prepared for inspection, as Fran discovers that all emails from Karol to Precious have vanished from the server, leaving only two from Precious to Karol. The first, sent at 14:23 on June 26th, mentions Karol accidentally leaving his unlocked laptop at Precious's place, where she stumbled upon some intriguing photos. She inquires how much Karol would pay to keep these from his boss. Karol responds by asking if he can visit her after work on the 27th, to which Precious replies by demanding 2,000 pounds. Fran recalls the laptop being logged on her son's arrest sheet and consults with the inspector, who reveals that the laptop has been barely used in recent years, with the last activity dating back to mid-2016, suggesting it originally belonged to Precious. Fran then asks him to search for any data pertaining to Karol Wojski.
The solicitor calls Tony to inform him about Jay's half-brother, but Tony dismisses it, stating there was no such brother. Tony urges Graham Saville to secure Jay's release. Meanwhile, Ben calls Tony to inform him about an unfortunate incident at the bank, where authorities inquired about an account Tony had set up in the late 1980s, forcing Tony to reveal the existence of two standing orders. Fran receives a call from Gordy, who shares a bizarre call related to the Precious Falade case. Sunny expresses skepticism about verifying Jay's truthfulness, while Graham reminds everyone that they still lack evidence linking him to the murder. Interrupting the conversation, Fran informs Jess about a call she received, mentioning the body of Joseph Bell. The caller remained anonymous, but upon checking the provided address, Fran finds it leads to a modest ground-floor flat in Greenford.
Jess is eager to secure a dog unit's presence before acknowledging their lack of evidence against Jay. They plan to release him on bail, expecting his return next week. Jess inquiries Sunny about their efforts to search for more bullets after discovering the first one, to which Sunny readily agrees to reassign Morten to the task. Meanwhile, Karen approaches Mr. Blackwood for a discussion. Fran discovers that a file titled "Karol Wojsack pics" contains upskirt photographs, created on June 26, 2016. These images were downloaded from an email sent from a newly created Hotmail account, established merely twenty minutes prior to the email's dispatch. Suspicions arise that Precious might have set up this account to transfer the files from Karol's laptop to hers. In total, there are 43 pictures captured in various locations such as buses and shops. Daryl, played by Lewis Ian Bray, readily agrees to send these photos to Fran. Kate informs Jess that Steve is present, engaging with the children, prompting Jess to urge her to continue and promise to call later. Tony examines his boarding pass for Zurich, while Fran receives a call informing her of his arrival. As the garden undergoes a thorough search, Jay is granted release. Tony boards a car, en route to Gatwick Airport. Blackwood reveals to Karen that he was advised to downplay the incident if he wishes to retain his position, a directive issued by one of the directors. Karen, aware that Anthony Hume's father sits on the board, suspects his involvement. Blackwood confesses that he withheld from the court her cries upon entering – she demanded to speak with her father, Tony Hume. Jay exits the station as a shoe is uncovered, buried in the backyard.
