Now reconciled, Helen and Paul return to Manchester but their happiness is short-lived when he is killed in a shooting. Meanwhile, a gang of youths, including the reluctant Theo, are killing and robbing passing motorists, and Helen visits Sarah Rushton, who survived one of their attacks. She also discovers a link between Frank Linnell, a businessman of dubious reputation, and Paul, and finally confronts taxi driver Ray Jackson, whom, along with the powerful Kevin Sherwood, she believes knows the full facts about Paul's fate.
