The team investigate the systematic shooting of a family picnicking beside a river. The case stirs memories of the death of a young woman beside that same river 10 years earlier.

As DCI Butcher moves closer to making an arrest, the team continue to pursue their own lines of inquiry. Amy's past begins to catch up with her and converge with the team's investigation.

The team assists DI Paul Renick following the assumed suicide of Jamal Al Sham and discover that he was murdered and was a people smuggler, blamed by Varkey Khoury, head of a family of Syrian refugees, for killing his wife. Varkey's 15 year old daughter Akka approaches Nikki for news of her mother, leading to Nikki sheltering her whilst the police haul in another young woman Tamara as a likely killer. At the refuge camp in Calais apparent altruist Yusuf Hamed assists 12 year old Sosa to come to England whilst Kalil Aziz, an associate of Sham, is also murdered and the police and pathologists make a grim discovery in an English forest.

Ali is arrested for stabbing Aaron, who discharges himself from intensive care aided by brother Ben and his wife Sarah. Visiting Ali in custody DI Ashton suggests that Chris killed Ruth and gets an angry response whilst illegal immigrant Stella Duffour is interviewed as the person who reported Lorna's death, resulting in her being threatened. The pathologists pick up on the evidence that sent Kieran to embark upon his fatal mission and locate the spot where Ruth was killed. An unusual discovery by Clarissa is also instrumental in catching the murderer and closing the case.

Clarrisa's husband Max is brought to the Lyell Centre to help crack a case.

During the team's search for the killer, Jack works alongside an old friend from Northern Ireland, and they uncover a complex conflict.