When Dalziel is accused of drink-driving, Pascoe is forced to investigate his boss, putting their relationship under strain. Pascoe has doubts about his boss, but Dalziel has a surprising champion - Ellie. Pascoe finds himself in deep water after an old soldier is found murdered in his bath. Suspicion initially falls on the man's grandson, whose femme fatale fiancee, Karen Spillings, has her sights set on climbing the social ladder.