Manchester-based DI Helen Weeks returns to her hometown of Polesford, Derbyshire when the husband of her childhood best friend is arrested in connection with the abduction of two girls.

The possibility that her unborn child's father may be Adam Perrin, a colleague with whom she had a brief fling, adds to Helen's concerns. There is some good news though when pathologist Phil Hendricks arrives from Manchester with new theories about Abigail's murder, giving a possible lead that implicates Gavin Sweeney, though it proves to be a dead end. Then teenager Aurora "Rory" Harcross comes forward to give Stephen an alibi for the murder. This also gives Helen unpleasant memories from the past when she and Linda were sexually abused by Rory's grandfather and ...

Now reconciled, Helen and Paul return to Manchester but their happiness is short-lived when he is killed in a shooting. Meanwhile, a gang of youths, including the reluctant Theo, are killing and robbing passing motorists, and Helen visits Sarah Rushton, who survived one of their attacks. She also discovers a link between Frank Linnell, a businessman of dubious reputation, and Paul, and finally confronts taxi driver Ray Jackson, whom, along with the powerful Kevin Sherwood, she believes knows the full facts about Paul's fate.

Helen's investigation pulls her further into Manchester's criminal underworld. Meanwhile, can Theo cheat death as the gang continues to be hunted by a mystery gunman?