Whilst driving through town, Gene recognises a familiar television shop that jogs memories from the night of the murder. This means that the time of death would have occurred hours earlier than previously thought.
However, Sam notices that Haslam's body was slumped on top of a heating vent which was preset to turn on at 2:00 every morning. They then pay the crime scene a visit in a bid to jog Gene's memory, but to no avail. The pair head to the station with Gene in a rodent-inspired disguise so as to look at the details of the case more closely. He claims that Haslam tried to blackmail him into not giving evidence against him in the assault case, but he had an attack of conscience and did so. Gene is waiting for Sam in his flat and pleads his innocence, whilst conceding that he used to take backhanders from Haslam. The news hits Chris and Ray hard as they are resigned to losing their DCI they turn on Sam because of his closeness with Morgan. Two witnesses claim to have seen Hunt at the gym shortly before the death. They are then called to the gym where Pete Wilkes has been murdered.
Following a road safety lesson with some children, WDC Annie Cartwright is told by Sam that he thinks a bribe for Gene was in the envelope. He also implicates Gene Hunt with the letter, saying he and Haslam go back a long way. Sam visits Haslam's boxing gym and talks to trainer Pete Wilkes, who claims that Mackay didn't take any cash from the place, instead taking an envelope.
However, when Sam pays him a visit the next day, he discovers that the murder suspect has evaded the detection of DS Ray Carling and DC Chris Skelton, parked outside, by slipping away. Gene's drunk lawyer manages to secure his client's release, although Morgan insists that he secretly be watched. The boxer admits to stealing cash from Haslam, which prompted the beating. When interviewed, Gene suggests that there was something suspect about Davie Mackay's behaviour in court and Sam pays him a visit. Sam finds Gene's gun, which has been fired, under the bed before the rest of the police turn up and arrest him.Īn Acting DCI-Frank Morgan-is brought in from Hyde and both impresses and mystifies Sam with his very modern policing methods and public relations talk. It transpires that he has woken up in Haslam's house to find him shot dead, with no recollection of events after leaving the pub. Next morning, Sam receives a call from Gene saying it appears he's killed a man. Further on, Gene realises he has left his gun behind and heads back, alone. Sam drags him back to the car with Haslam giving chase on foot. Gene storms out the car, puts a brick through Haslam's window, and pulls out his gun. Later that evening, DI Sam Tyler drives a severely intoxicated Gene back home, but the DCI directs him to Haslam's house instead. The fact that Mackay claims he fell down the stairs didn't help the chances of a conviction. When it appears as though Hunt may have killed someone, it's up to Sam, torn between Gene and his replacement, a DCI who actually uses Sam's modern police techniques and vocabulary, to help him out and Hunt calls Sam when he finds the body.īoxing manager Terry Haslam is found not guilty of seriously assaulting retiring boxer Davie Mackay despite DCI Gene Hunt's testimony that he witnessed the brutal attack. Unable to cope with a guilty man walking free, DCI Hunt turns to alcohol but soon finds himself in a spot of bother. A water-tight court case fails to put away a local gangster.