When the body of student Josh Tate is found dumped in a ravine, the investigation into his stabbing uncovers a very different man to the quiet character described by his flatmate Spencer. It emerges that Josh was infatuated with Spencer's girlfriend and had been manufacturing Ecstasy for club owner Liam Fallon. Meanwhile, DI Morton's ex-lover Martin Hexton has arrived, claiming to be working on a local case. When Fallon comes under suspicion as Josh's murderer the detectives break into his flat and find him badly beaten - and to complicate matters, it looks as if Hexton is responsible.

Helen is determined to try and win back Banks's approval as they attempt to discover the true identity of student Josh's murderer and stop his father from seeking a revenge of his own.

The crime drama series returns with the first episode of a two-part story. When a victim of a frenzied attack is found in the woods with his head caved in, initially the team wonders if it is a random attack or related to the location - where a local girl recently committed suicide. Banks, however, has a theory of his own. When the victim is identified as small time drug dealer Damon Horsley and Banks uncovers a link to local crime boss Steve Richards, he is convinced the hitherto untouchable Richards had a part in the murder.