After the murder of DI Brown, the Met put the tough minded DCI Bell on the investigation. He knows Della is withholding information and is determined to find out what she and Cal know. Meanwhile, Stephen Collins' story becomes more complicated when an anonymous fax reveals that his affair with Sonia was far from being a superficial thing - Stephen was going to leave his wife Anne for her. This doesn't go down well with the party's spin doctor, Andrew Wilson, who is trying to keep Stephen's reputation intact. Cal is also worried about why Stephen lied to him? What's worse, Cal finds it increasingly hard to steer a professional line when Anne leans on him for support and information. Worse still, the trust between him and Della disintegrates when she realises her life is in danger.

Stephen's disgust over Cal and Anne's affair leads him to tell Andrew Wilson to spin the news around the press and ruin Cal's reputation. His only supporter now is the energy minister, George Fergus, who wills him to succeed. Cal and his team corner Dominic Foy, who is edgy and obstructive and constantly changes his story. He's clearly running scared, but why? Was Foy Sonia's secret lover? Meanwhile Stephen makes a sickening discovery that could put paid to his political career. Now he needs Cal.