It has been ten days since Paul Spector told DSI Stella Gibson that she would never catch him. As Gibson tries in vain to help Spector's surviving victim to remember the identity of her attacker, Spector is forced to deal with the loose ends that he left behind in Belfast.

His return to the city reveals that someone from his past has been helping police with their enquiries, forcing Spector to change his plans with terrifying consequences.

Paul Spector drives Rose Stagg away from her home in the middle of the night. She soon is shocked to learn he knows she's gone to the police. The pressure on Gibson and the team investigating the case increases as she has to face up to the fact that her words tipped Spector off about Rose.

Gibson orders extensive surveillance on Spector's family, believing they will lead them to Paul, whose whereabouts remain unknown. As the search for Rose Stagg becomes ever more desperate, Spector directs his fury at Gibson after the two narrowly avoid meeting, trespassing into her private world and delighting in taunting and provoking her.

Gibson informs Burns that their confrontation in her hotel room may have been witnessed by Spector, and the detective is shocked to discover the serial hugger has been paying visits to one of his surviving victims in hospital. Seizing on the opportunity, she finally locates Spector and puts him under surveillance, but her success is short-lived as she is forced to face her worst fears.

With Spector under surveillance, Gibson wants to make sure that a solid arrest strategy is put in place so that no evidence is lost and the police have the best chance of saving Rose Stagg. However, the hugger's unpredictability forces the detective to act quickly as her carefully laid plans fall apart in front of her eyes.

Gibson finds her investigation taking her to Spector's lair. There is no sign of Rose Stagg though and Gibson wants her team to step up the interviews with Katie, Sally Ann and Paul Spector. After Spector makes a final play to try and stay in control, Gibson gets the chance to have some sort of answers. Gibson and Spector finally come face-to-face and they both have their own battles to try and win.