Croft is furious when a violent thug wanted for an assault on a young market trader walks free. Beech offers to help investigate the case. As they discover that a second young boy has been assaulted, Beech comes up with a cunning plan to get the attacker to reveal his guilt – but Croft is uncomfortable with his methods. Beech and Carver watch on as the father of the first young victim beats seven bells out of the attacker.