In this story, told over four episodes, Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison, sent to Manchester, investigates a murder in which a drug runner was shot dead. She soon encounters 'The Street', a corrupt reprobate who rules over the local crime scene. Believing him to be the prime suspect, she soon finds her every move in the investigation is anticipated by the criminal. In the opening two episodes, Tennison has been transferred from the Met to Manchester. To ease her into the job, she is sent to schools to lecture but feels her abilities are being wasted. Meanwhile, a drug runner is shot dead returning to his apartment and Tennison finds herself hot on the case. The victim is a young Pakistani boy and Campbell Lafferty, another juvenile, confesses to the murder but is later released.
