Ha habido un robo en Sanger's Telephone Services. El CID sospecha de una pandilla que está detrás de otros robos en la zona y no quiere ayuda de la policía de Ashfordly, pero el sargento Blaketon cree que es un trabajo interno y presiona a sus agentes para resolver el caso y demostrar al CID que son capaces de manejar su propio territorio. Greengrass está suministrando a Tony Mowbray, quien trabaja en Sanger's, faisanes, liebres y otros tipos de caza, pero debido a que Mowbray está bajo sospecha, no pueden deshacerse de ella. Jo Weston está preocupada por Dennis Cross, quien falta a la escuela casi todos los días porque tiene que cuidar de su madre enferma. Cuando Nick y Jo la revisan, la encuentran muerta al pie de las escaleras, pero Dennis ha desaparecido.

Bob Berisford was a haulage contractor who was involved in a bit of smuggling to keep the company from going bust. After his death his partner in crime Frank Carter wants to continue the arrangement and pays Bob's widow Evelyn a visit. When she refuses her life is threatened. Nurse Cassidy hears about the threats and asks PC Mason to look into it. Soon there is a lot to look into, but he doesn't get much help from Evelyn Berisford who is much too scared to talk. Tomasz Bukowski has come all the way from Poland to Aidensfield to look for a woman he fell in love with during the war, and Oscar Blaketon offers to help him. Bukowski repays him by playing the pub piano. Chopin and Beethoven may attract new customers, but they surely also keep the regulars away.