Parish, a hobbling Richards and a lush DI from Norwich investigate the death of a child found in Hangman's Wood, which is linked to a spate of child abductions across the southeast by someone calling himself The Removal Man. Parish also receives a severed tongue and a location in the post. In his search for Jerry, Kowalski must travel to Wales to find out the truth behind his wife's disappearance. During his travels he must help a desperate Cookie who is on the run. Stick – with the help of Xena – solves the riddle of the blonde-haired children, but loses a partner in the process. And Parish finds out the terrible truth about his parents.