As Nikki discovers that Deanna was not Geraldine's daughter but an opportunist out to fleece Briggs, Schwartzman decides against buying the confectionery firm. Interviewd by DS Gold in Nikki's presence Geraldine explains that she was raped by Phillip Briggs as a teenager and her baby given away. John Briggs' legal adviser Annette, who found Deanna, expresses unease to Tranter about the deception and is later found murdered. Geraldine is arrested but the pathologists, aided by Jack's wheelchair-bound mentor Clarissa, uncover the truth though the killer never makes it to court. Geraldine is, however, reunited with her real daughter.

Following the discovery of a young woman's corpse in a forest Nikki and Jack travel to Scotland to assist DS Jason Ross, who mistrusts local pathologist Dr Jenkins. Prime suspect is hunter and gunsmith Niall Wallace but he is eliminated from enquiries. A clue leads to the Manhattan strip club, owned by Stella Nelson, who identifies the dead girl as Caitlin, who apparently gave no surname. Another dancer Amy tells Jack that Caitlin disappeared after getting into a car with a stranger but the local police, obnoxious DS MacNeil and DI Laing were not interested when she reported Caitlin missing. Five more female corpses are discovered in the forest, denoting a serial killer. When news of the murders becomes public Sarah O'Keefe tells her boyfriend Steve Boyd that some years earlier she escaped a rapist and would-be killer in the same forest but, as she goes to tell the police, she is abducted again.

Three people, the Lakhanis, an Indian couple, and an employee are shot dead by a long range sniper on a garage forecourt - a seemingly motiveless crime. Ten miles away another victim, profoundly deaf Hannah Smithson, is also shot, though her boyfriend's brother Chris, targeted with her, survives but is unable to help with any information. Inspector Jane De Freitas, on the rebound from an affair with colleague Robert Drake, calls in the pathology team but with the sniper at large and shooting indiscriminately Thomas is concerned for ex-wife Julia and their daughter Rosie, now living with former drug user Conrad Devenish. After a fifth victim, Martin Cross,a charity worker at a school is shot the killer rings Jane to tell her that he is unstoppable.