A hospital lab tech implicates a local councillor in illegal practices. When he believes his accusations are being ignored, he dramatically breaks through the cordons during a royal visit to a school concert.

When Cade is threatened with an investigation over the death of the informer, his team closes ranks. The Home Office, preferring to have a hold on its maverick chief constable, decides not to act.

Cade is the subject of public outrage after two terrorist bomb blasts, and, as if that were not enough, his girlfriend leaves him.