Susan Reinhardt is investigating the highly suspicious death of Daniel Hope - whose sister Jules is serving a prison term for fraud. Widowed David Murdoch, an officer at the jail where Jules is held, receives a cryptic phone call, saying that his surly daughter Lucy has been abducted and will be harmed unless he delivers Jules to a Manchester address. David escapes with Jules whilst escorting her to hospital and - unaware of Daniel's demise - they go on the run, pursued by Susan and other police officers.

David and Jules arrive at the meeting place but Lucy is not there and David is forced to explain his actions over the phone to Susan. David's boss Jeff is also killed and his many debts lead Susan to cast him as a suspect in the abduction, along with Lucy's boyfriend Alan, with whom she had recently argued. Hearing that Daniel is dead Jules believes he was killed by Blackpool club owner Eddie Goad and, helped by Alan, the fugitive couple drive to the resort with the police in pursuit. Meanwhile Susan gets two shocks, one personal and one professional.

David gives himself up to Susan who tells him that Lucy's kidnapper is not the person he thought and has another surprise regarding his dead boss. Jules escapes and has a meeting which also yields a shock, regarding the two dead men. She springs David and asks him to do a deal with her to get Lucy back - which involves returning to the prison to obtain a key to stolen loot, but, having accomplished this, he finds himself up against both the police and Jules and her partner in his race to find his kidnapped daughter.