When two former Manchester colleagues turn up on his patch, Gene works out that something is going on that he doesn't know about. Litton and Bevan attempt to catch comic Frank Hardwick, who is wanted for stealing £2,000 from the Police Widows' Fund. Both Gene and Alex wonder what their real motive is for wanting to catch him. Alex manages to find Frank first and when she questions him she learns he is scared of somebody working at the station. Alex also tries to find out more about the disappearance of Sam Tyler.