Julia Fraser, wife of a police sergeant, is brutally murdered whilst he is on duty. During a search of the house a list of names is found. It appears that the names on the list are rapidly meeting with a series of accidents - and yet the only connection between them is the list.
The murder of his father sets young Simon Barrow on a nightmare journey, and his dying words on Simon's answer-phone throw the police on a trail of confusion.
The Taggart team are responsible for protecting witnesses involved in a "cab war" trial. It seems there may be a hidden agenda when the prosecuting barrister is found murdered.
Sean Brady has turned Queen's evidence against crime boss McLintock. On the way to court, his car is ambushed and a policeman is left seriously injured. Brady escapes and flees, leaving the prosecutor with a hole in his case against McLintock. DCI Taggart falls under suspicion because he authorized the route and Internal Affairs takes a hard-edged line.