The police investigate a fire at the farm of George Totts who is missing. He may have been struck by a passing motorist, who reported the incident to the police, but is nowhere to be found. Stephen Ling, the estranged son of local vet Alan Dutton, was near the scene of the fire but claims to know nothing about the incident. When someone breaks into the vets surgery and sets it on fire, Wycliffe believes Ling is a suspect. He is not the only one however.
—garykmcd