Howard Franklin llega a Aidensfield con una solicitud especial. Su esposa acaba de fallecer y su último deseo fue ser enterrada en la tumba familiar, a pesar de no haber tenido contacto con su familia desde la Primera Guerra Mundial. Sin embargo, su madre Hannah Stockdale culpa a Franklin por mantener a su hija alejada de ella y por la pérdida de sus dos hijos mayores en la guerra, y ni siquiera le dará la hora del día. Al llegar, descubre que su maleta con sus cenizas ha sido intercambiada por error. Se acerca la feria anual del condado y el sargento Blaketon tiene a todos en vilo. El perro de Napper Minto es el favorito para ganar la Copa de Desafío Lurcher en la feria, pero Greengrass está decidido a que Alfred sea el ganador de este año y cambia las probabilidades a favor de su propio perro.

Three children are exploring the garden of a sinister, old house near Aidensfield when the youngest of them, Peter, suddenly disappears. The whole village takes part in the search. The police concentrate their efforts around a mysterious van that Gina saw racing by just as the two elder kids pass her and PC Wetherby in the street; the police fear the boy has been kidnapped. Luckily he is soon found in a well near the old house, and a major rescue operation is launched. The rescue draws nationwide attention and soon Aidensfield is invaded by journalists from all over the country- including the prominent Sheridan Ralph who is very upset when he can't get a room at the Aidensfield Arms. Aunt Peggy does not hesitate to take advantage of the situation and offers him a room at her place - for at small fee of course. This decision is one she soon finds reason to regret since he is a very bothersome customer. Oscar Blaketon has other concerns than the rescue. He has noticed signs of a growing attraction between Gina and the newly divorced PC Wetherby-signs that don't go unnoticed by Sheridan Ralph either. But there might be a much more interesting story to tell when suddenly gun shots are fired from inside the old house, and it is determined that the house is inhabited by an aged and mysterious man.