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The Bill
Des Taviner and Reg Hollis are in the Area Car enjoying the warm weather when Sergeant Craig Gilmore surprises them. He is unimpressed with their excuses and orders them to remove their sunglasses and get back to work. As they drive around, Hollis reveals that he is planning to propose to his girlfriend Helen. Unfortunately they are not currently on the best of terms having rowed after Hollis declined Helen's invitation to join her at a conference in Southend. Taviner announces that they are going to Southend and forces Reg to pretend that the car has broken down. Meanwhile Special Constable Terry Knowles and PC Nick Klein have arrested petty thief Derek Daly. As they head back for the station Knowles spots an attractive blonde in a car and persuades Klein to pull her over when she jumps a red light. Confident that he can get her phone number (like his hero Taviner would), Knowles approaches the blonde with a smile. Flirting outrageously he tries to get a date but with little success.
Sergeant Craig Gilmore addresses the congregation at Knowles' funeral and mentions the dead man's habit of chatting up girls which causes a bit of a stir. After the service Superintendent Tom Chandler tries to comfort Knowles' mother but is dragged away by her daughter Tina who blames the police for her brother's death. Meanwhile at Sun Hill DS Vik Singh and DCI Jack Meadows are liaising with Jay Ramsay who is planning to direct a reconstruction of the murder for a TV programme. Meadows is angry when the Director comments about Knowles flirting with the murderer before his death. Outside the chapel PC Nick Klein is helping a young woman with a pushchair and is shocked when she introduces herself as Dani Knowles, Knowles' widow. When she asks about Knowles' death, Klein tells her not to believe the press reports. As the drink flows at the wake the tensions rise between arch enemies Taviner and Gilmore resulting in a full-blown punch up. [Source: www.thebill.com]
Despite the discovery of the Saab car used in the murder, progress on the case is slow. The owner is identified as Paul King but when the police break into his flat they find King dead from a gunshot wound. Neighbours remember that a blonde woman was a frequent visitor. Trawling through statements after the TV appeal, DC Danny Glaze notices the name Kathy Milligan. Meanwhile PC Des Taviner is annoyed that CID will not share information on the case with Uniform and decides to do a little detection of his own. He has a hunch that petty thief Derek Smith, who witnessed the murder, knows more than he's letting on. Taviner, PCs Nick Klein and Reg Hollis pump him for information until he reveals that the manager of a local night club, Arty Shanks, was selling a Saab for silly money. Back at Sun Hill Sergeant Craig Gilmore wants to tell CID but Taviner is reluctant and pays Arty a visit. At last there is a breakthrough when, as Glaze researches Milligan on the station computer, Arty names Kin
PCs Dave Quinnan and Polly Page are searching for Shauna Russell, a young woman with Down's Syndrome who has been reported missing by her mother, Annie and sister Natalie. They finally find her in an underground car park but are concerned by her dishevelled state. Despite protests from Annie, her daughter is examined by the police Doctor, Sue Marton. Shauna complains of feeling sick and when gently questioned it soon becomes obvious that she is pregnant. A test confirms this and the Doctor tells DI Alex Cullen that Shauna is probably three or four months gone but is unsure how much of her condition she actually understands. It cannot yet be determined whether she was assaulted or the intercourse was consensual. The news of the pregnancy leaves Annie dumbstruck whilst Natalie is disturbed by the thought that her sister may have been raped. In interview Shauna is reticent but mentions John, a fellow member of a club she attends, whom she describes as rude. However, when Cullen meets John
New PC Cathy Bradford goes in with guns blazing after graves are desecrated, but soon finds herself locking horns with a furious Dave Quinnan. [Source: Radio Times]
At her local gym PC Cathy Bradford is concerned that Marti Hunt is being worked too hard by her father Barry Hunt who is also the owner. As she leaves, Bradford agrees to keep an eye out for a petty thief who has been targeting the gym. Back at the station PC Dave Quinnan mentions to PC Tony Stamp that he is thinking of asking out Liz Terry from the Day Centre. Stamp is sceptical and encourages a wary Polly Page to check Liz's history on the police computer. Page is left with a dilemma when the results reveal that Liz used to be a prostitute. Meanwhile a reluctant PC Jim Carver has joined Bradford's gym. He is immediately suspicious that bodybuilder Jay Cutler could be the thief especially when he later sees Cutler selling steroids in the changing room. However, closer inspection of another gym member Andy Little leads to the case taking an unexpected twist.
Boyden attends the scene of an RTA involving an HGV and discovers fridge/freezers with holes in bottom. Stamp and Quinnan come across a group of men wandering away from the crash, however only one is arrested. Upon his arrival to custody, he asks to speak to Conway, revealing he is an immigration officer from France and he was onboard the crashed truck with a group of immigrants.
Page and Quinnan pose as a married couple running a hotel, while Carver and Hollis, and immigration agent Petrit, pose as their employees. Stamp continues his undercover role as an HGV driver for the firm bringing in the illegals, while Webb, Lennox and McAllister maintain surveillance on the hotel. The hotel is busy preparing for its opening night, and when the temporary staff arrive, Quinnan seizes the opportunity to attract Berisha's attention by ringing the agency and complaining about them. Later, Stamp makes a delivery to the hotel – four refugees who are immediately set to work. He then picks up his boss Kerns and drives him to a lorry park, where he finds twenty scared refugees and a decomposing body.
The operation appears to be in jeopardy again when Petrit declares that he is going in search of his missing sister. Following a lead from a girl at a café, he and Carver visit a pool hall, but have no joy with the doorman. Page meets up with Cullen to give him an update, and tells him that she is convinced that they are being set up for extortion by Berisha. Her suspicions are later confirmed when Berisha presents Quinnan with a bill for excess staff. Initially, he refuses to pay, until Berisha starts to strangle him, watched by a helpless Webb and Lennox. A determined Petrit plans to return as a punter to the pool hall where his sister may be, which is identified as a brothel.
Accompanied by Hollis, Petrit manages to locate his sister Nicola, who has been working as a prostitute for Berisha. Her colleagues at the brothel rumble them when Petrit refuses to leave his sister, forcing Hollis to blow his cover and call in his colleagues to raid the place. As Quinnan and Page try to save the operation, they find their old passion reviving as they settle into their roles as a husband and wife. Stamp is furious to discover CID have a camera in Quinnan and Page's bedroom, but his shock is compounded by seeing them in a passionate clinch. Quinnan receives a life changing offer, and he stuns Page with a massive offer.
Page reels following her proposal from Quinnan, but is left torn by his threats to accept his transfer offer to SO10 if she turns him down. As immigration wrap up the case, Berisha shows up armed and holds Quinnan, Page, Stamp, Carver and Hollis hostage, leaving Conway tasked with negotiating.
When Bradford's new roommate is badly beaten outside a local hotel, she goes all out to nail the culprit. Meanwhile, Stamp and Page investigate complaints of credit card fraud in the area, with a devastated Page finding herself taking her eye off the ball following her breakup with Quinnan.
Webb and Spears pursue a stolen car across the Jasmine Allen Estate and discover guns under the seat. The car is traced to recently released convict, Michael Bowker. When questioned, Bowker claims to have no knowledge of the weapons. Webb photographs Bowker handing over large wads of cash to a blonde woman, whom Meadows recognises as Angie Weller, wife of imprisoned super-grass Jimmy Weller.
Carver and Ackland investigate a series of burglaries, where all of the homeowners have booked holidays with a particular travel agent. Carver is aware of the criminal history of one of the employees, and immediately suspects that he may be responsible. When the robberies are linked to the man's girlfriend, Carver goes undercover at a dog kennel in an attempt to set a trap for the thief, but his lack of knowledge sees his cover blown.
Stamp and Rickman pursue a stolen Porsche to a lock-up, where they find a number of false plates being applied to stolen high-end vehicles. Stamp and Rickman are suspicious when one of the victims, an accountant, has not reported his car missing. When Rickman spots a duo hanging around outside his office, she recognises them as visitors to the lock-up
Bradford and Taviner investigate when an ice cream van is held to ransom by a gunman who has a penchant for Clint Eastwood quotes. The raid is soon linked to a series of thefts from jewellers and the theft of a suit from a tailors attended by Hollis and Stamp, thanks to a mother bringing her teenage daughter in to put her on the straight and narrow. Taviner discovers that a ring of three students from Canley Tech are responsible for the robberies, but when they are released, they steal the keys to his brand new sports car from the front desk, taking it on a joyride.
Taviner and Hollis deal with a number of disturbances involving two local youths, but aren't lucky enough to catch either of them. Monroe organises a fund for Conway, and while Chandler makes a very charitable donation, Taviner is forced to write an IOU. With no way of contributing to the pot, Taviner believes he has hit the big time when he catches up with one of the youths and confiscates £200 from him. Managing to rescue his reputation amongst the relief, he is soon left in deep trouble as unbeknownst to him, the money is fake. Stamp and Page find a number of petrol bombs and fireworks near Simpson's bookshop, but it is Azim Khan who finds himself being arrested for stealing petrol. Meanwhile, a devastated Ackland attends Conway's funeral with Carver.
Superintendent Tom Chandler reads out the names of the dead and injured whilst trying to maintain dignity in the face of the public and the press. Sergeants June Ackland, Matt Boyden and Craig Gilmore are left discussing the unenviable task of speaking to the families and loved ones of their fellow officers. The boys make their excuses and a grief stricken June is left with to make the calls on her own. DC Danny Glaze convinces himself that if he'd spoken out against DS Vik Singh's indiscretions in the first place, none of this would have spiraled out of control like it has. He's determined to track down their prime suspect Jeff Simpson and enlists DC Duncan Lennox, saying he's determined to prove him guilty with or without Duncan's help. They search but Simpson knows they can't pin anything on him and arrogantly waits for them on the bonnet of Duncan's car. Meanwhile DC Mickey Webb's grief becomes unbearable. Superintendent Tom Chandler quietly suggests to DCI Jack Meadows that Mickey
As the team hold a respectful minute's silence for those lost in the blaze DS Debbie McAllister is busy 'finding' evidence against a known safecracker, Peter Grace. He smugly waits in reception with his weasely lawyer, knowing full well (like many other suspects in the area) that the one piece of evidence against him has perished in the fire. He underestimates Debbie's resources. Back at the hospital, PCs Cass Rickman and Des Taviner hold a bedside vigil, watchful for signs of life from PC Sam Harker. They are interrupted by Superintendent Tom Chandler asking Des to speak to the press who want a 'hero' to emerge from the explosion. His concern doesn't wash with Des who knows hypocrisy when he sees it. He walks out commenting that 'something has turned his stomach'. But while tragedy has struck at Sun Hill nick, crime hasn't stopped on the streets. Matthew Boyden is hastily appointed Acting Inspector, he immediately rules the roost and Sergeant Craig Gilmore is more than a little miffed
PC Jim Carver is angry at suggestions the blaze was an inside job. He goes to his MIT interview thinking there's nothing to declare, but when they ask precisely what he was 'discussing' with Sergeant June Ackland just prior to the blast, he falters. If only he'd listened to PC Reg Hollis's warnings about guilty 'micro expressions'. The death of his colleagues has affected PC Stamp deeply so when he discovers a young lad has been nicking flowers from the Sun Hill wreaths he concentrates on tracking him down. In doing so, he directly disobeys June's orders to head straight to a mugging victim who's been waiting on the street for an officer. With the memorial service the following day Superintendent Tom Chandler's thoughts are on how the spectacle will reflect on his station. He orders Des to carry the Met flag but Des's priority is certainly not on becoming the station hero to focus on. It's his first day back on the job and he's not ready to be high profile. Chandler reminds him what po
