DI Alex Drake and DCI Gene Hunt are after a radical group of animal rights activists who are threatening six bomb attacks around London over the next three days unless a vivisection bill going through Parliament is stopped. A young girl has already been seriously injured by a bomb tossed from a passing motorcycle. They focus their attention on Robin Elliott, imprisoned for a similar attack in 1975. Alex believes that he knows exactly what is is going on and who is behind it but the elderly prisoner has had virtually no contact with the outside world. As the attacks continue, Hunt becomes a one-man wrecking crew to bring the perpetrators to justice. Gene and Alex's investigation into the murder of PC Irvine takes a sudden turn when the confessed murderer, former policeman Kevin Hales, supposedly hangs himself in prison. Supt. Mackintosh suggests to DCI Gene Hunt that he change his records to circumvent any further investigation. Alex meanwhile continues to receive glimpses from the waking world indicating she has survived the shooting and is in hospital but that her chances of survival appear grim.
—garykmcd