With the story now in the open, News International fight back and threaten Nick and Alan with a smear story. As Nick leaps to his editor's defence, a new clue surfaces that could further prove phone hacking by senior Murdoch editors. He teams up with lawyer Charlotte Harris to persuade her clients to take legal action that could get more evidence disclosed in court. Meanwhile, Nick reaches out to his old friend, DCS David Cook, and attempts to secure further disclosures from the Metropolitan Police. As he does, he uncovers the cosy relationship between the tabloid press and Scotland Yard.

With Andy Coulson now in Downing Street, Nick and Alan team up with the New York Times in an effort to make the hacking scandal catch fire. As new leads are uncovered, Nick and Charlotte work together to find hacking victims who might be brave enough to take on the Murdoch press. Meanwhile, Dave is challenged in the witness box at the Morgan murder trial over his handling of supergrass witnesses. With the case at risk, Dave takes new measures to help Nick in his quest to expose wrongdoing at the News of the World.