Dalziel and Pascoe

When Michael Wheeler, accused of murdering teenage boys, is found innocent on a technicality, the parents of one of the murdered teenagers', Mark and Bridget Croft, blame Pascoe's investigation for the innocent verdict.

In nearby woods, the body of mini-cab driver Kevin Jennings is found with a bash to the head. His car's discovered at the side of a main road, suggesting he was about to change a tyre. Dalziel and Pascoe visit his house and are told by a neighbour that his wife Sandra recently left him. They find Sandra and her drugged-up bruiser boyfriend, Gareth Bass, and arrest them.

Teenager Dean Bennett, who testified against Wheeler saying he was kidnapped by him, goes to join his girlfriend Perdy after the verdict. During the night, he's attacked and knocked unconscious. When he comes round, he and Perdy are both bound, gagged and locked in a cell.

The Crofts receive a voice disguised phone call from someone claiming to be their son's killer. After telling Dalziel and Pascoe, convinced it's Wheeler, a trace is set up at their home. Pascoe encourages Bridget to speak to the anonymous caller, who tells her the desperate things her son said before he died.

Caryn Bennett calls Pascoe to say that Dean is missing so they visit Wheeler, who denies any knowledge of this.

When Bridget Croft commits suicide, Mark blames Pascoe who feels unbearable guilt. Mark kidnaps Wheeler and takes him to a garage before summoning Pascoe. Mark tortures a confession out of Wheeler that he killed his son, and in a fit of madness, stabs him. Wheeler's dying words are "Dean Bennett" making Pascoe sure he's responsible for Dean's disappearance.

As the body count rises and with trust between them running dangerously low, Dalziel and Pascoe find their friendship and their professional partnership pushed to breaking point.