- [summary of the previous episode]
- Narrator: Adam Dalgliesh, investigating a shady arms dealer, Martin Dettinger, in hospital, too ill to stand trial, has witnessed the murder of Heather Pearce, a student nurse who has been looking after him. Heather was killed while standing in a training demonstration for another student nurse, Jo Fallon. Jo, pregnant and seeking an abortion, has been refused help by the surgeon Courtney-Briggs, her former lover.