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Physically and mentally scarred DCI Gabriel Markham confronts suspected serial killer Steven Mills, who is shot dead by marksmen whilst reaching for his phone. Gabriel's lover Elaine and other colleagues celebrate closure of the case but Gabriel begins to doubt Steven's guilt, citing his schizophrenia and attendance at psychiatrist Isaac Taylor's clinic. The day before sees Gabriel quizzing Steven's wife Beth after his DNA is found at the last murder scene but Gabriel also suspects Patrick Barker, boyfriend of one of the victims, Christine Levison, who left the country in a hurry. Gabriel returns to his wife Lisa, who is aware of his affair with Elaine, whilst Steven escapes from custody.
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Sixteen days earlier, following the theft and destruction of a lap-top from Isaac's office, set fire to at the police station, Gabriel roughly questions acid attack victim Christine, who tells him she destroyed it as it contained conversations about her abuse by her father as a child and he lets her go. At the same time Elaine, having anonymously sent photos of her affair with Gabriel to his wife Lisa, attends her father's funeral. A further flashback reveals the true nature of Christine's admissions to Isaac.
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12 days earlier Patrick Barker's wife Rebecca catches him having sex with his step-daughter Sally, leading to terrible consequences. Barker is arrested but released as concierge Brian Sweeney supports the fake alibi he has concocted with Sally. Gabriel is not convinced that Rebecca was murdered by the serial killer but is interrupted by a call from Lisa to say their schoolgirl daughter Hannah is missing, Gabriel ultimately finding her passed out at a sex party in a rave club and feeling guilty to learn it is her response to discovering the affair with Elaine. Meanwhile Christine sees her chance to steal Isaac's computer and DC Andrea Read takes macabre revenge on bullying colleague Sam Myers.
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A month earlier, after Christine has teased him by claiming to be the serial killer Isaac offers the police his help but it is rejected whilst Elaine visits her father Henry in prison for murder. After another body is found Gabriel publicly taunts the murderer at a press conference and that night discovers his boss, Superintendent Benton having sex with prostitute Kerri, a witness in another case, at the safe house. Leaving the house with Kerri he is attacked and acid thrown in his face. Kerri tells Benton she can identify the assailant but only if he gives her£10,000 and soon afterwards she is murdered. Admitted to hospital with severe burns to his face Gabriel is still determined to pursue the case and is visited by Benton, who urges him "not to mention the safe house."
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A month earlier Isaac's troubled partner Jonas Borner becomes the killer's first victim after ringing Isaac whilst drunk. Isaac fears that he may be next after a break-in at his house and prime suspect, unstable patient Richard Bell, is arrested. Gabriel is suspicious of Isaac, who exposes his weakness but Bell has to be released when another victim is slain whilst he is in custody. Elaine pays her first visit to Henry, who tells her that he has terminal cancer, though she is not sympathetic and resumes her affair with Gabriel, one which Benton and other colleagues have begun to notice.
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Now in the present Isaac is the latest victim of the serial killer, a face from his past, who accuses him of betrayal. Reconciling with his family Gabriel finishes with Elaine, having found evidence to suggest Steven Mills' innocence but it is stolen from the police station and when Gabriel eventually finds it it identifies the mass murderer. To understand their motive Gabriel reminds Benton how, twenty-one years earlier, as young policemen, they investigated abuse at the Salvia psychiatric unit, the killer being a patient there now executing revenge on the cruel staff responsible for ruining their life. After receiving a shock revelation from Benton Gabriel must now catch the killer, who has abducted his daughter Hannah.
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