Christmas is near and Kate Rowan has arranged that Danny Parkin, who is very ill, gets home from hospital during the holidays. A trip to a sanatorium in Switzerland will do wonders for him and to earn money for the trip his siblings "borrows" Christmas trees from Lady Whitly's estate in order to sell them. The snobby, but very attractive Lady Whitly shows a lot of affection for PC Rowan, who is sent to investigate, and she is also involved in the local Christmas charity concert. The same concert needs a Santa Claus and a reluctant Greengrass is hired for the job. Not surprisingly he tries to make money on the deal. And speaking of Greengrass, somebody has nicked his lorry!

Lord Ashfordly has hired a new land agent Ben Norton, but not everybody is happy about the new man. Jake Clarke is convinced that Norton will tear down the tied cottages at the estate and fire all of the residents, and he organizes a protest against Norton. Norton is also opposed by Dr. Merrick, who is worried about the health of the workers. Lord Elsinby's estate including a popular fun park has to be sold to pay death duties. Vernon Scripps plans to buy some of it and sell it to Lord Ashfordly. But when he arrives only the miniature railway is left. Nat Wilmott is occasionally approached for some getaway work. He has turned straight - well straightish anyway - and he informs PC Bellamy that a gang from London is trying to hire him for a job in the Ashfordly area and they do not take no for an answer. But he disappears while Bellamy answers a call from Gina.

Gina discovers a cut off left hand in her dustbin. The police immediately start searching for more body parts in other dustbins in Aidensfield with no luck. The hand was in a box and in that box the police find a note in Bernie Scripps' handwriting. Bernie does not remember writing the note, but from its contents he reckons it is from a rough invoice he wrote to Ashfordly Hall. And it dates five years back. The discovery of a torso the next day leads to the conclusion that the body had been frozen until recently - and that it is murder! Speaking of freezing Aunt Peggy has bought a cheap freezer at a sale. She intends to use it for storing rabbits and pheasants, which she can sell in a store.