Cracker

After a violent murder, Fitz is sure the police are on the wrong track, but he and Bilborough have yet to resolve their differences.

Albie is intent on killing the same number of victims as died in the Hillsborough football tragedy, and he targets a freelance female reporter. DS Beck stumbles upon him, but with tragic misjudgment--Albie escapes only to stab DCI Bilborough to death.

Following the murder of DCI Bilborough, the hunt is on for Albie. DCI Wise takes over the investigation and Fitz is brought in to defuse a potentially fatal and explosive situtation.

Schoolgirl Joanna Barnes (Samantha Morton), a member of a religious cult, is having an affair with the married leader of the group, Kenneth Trant. When confronted about it, he and the other leaders abduct her and the police reluctantly call in Fitz to help find her.

Trant and the others discover that Joanna is still alive and immediately turn their attention to Dean whom they trusted to dispose of her body. However, a hospitalized Joanna is unable to tell the police anything. Investigating the cult, DS Beck extracts a confession from Dean but Fitz tries to get at the truth. He persuades DCI Wise to see the boy in his cell, but fears it may be too late.

With both Dean and Joanna dead, Fitz knows that at least one other member of the cult is responsible. Meanwhile, his relationship with DS Penhaligon becomes more personal and threatens to ruin his relationship with his son and daughter, adding to his woes.

Floyed (Graham Aggrey) is a serial rapist who revels in his crimes. While investigating the cases, DS Penhaligon is raped, which inevitably changes her relationship with Fitz. And when his wife returns, his life is thrown into even more chaos.

The police finally catch Floyd and Fitz almost makes a breakthrough, before he has to be released due to lack of evidence. Floyd's audacity grows as he phones Fitz on his radio show asking how the rapist should cover his tracks. Fitz's response has fatal consequences for the next victim.

Floyd's delicate psyche has been damaged by his interrogation and he seeks revenge, which threatens Fitz's family. DS Penhaligon, meanwhile, is looking for her own revenge on the man who raped her and it appears only Fitz's abilities can save another life.