In Episode 8, Carl confronts Caroline Kerr about her rescinded testimony regarding the shooting at Leith Park. He reveals that Caroline had a relationship with PC Anderson and that the local crime racket is run by Eugene Errington. Caroline's child is actually Eugene's, which complicates the dynamics in the area. This connection is crucial as it ties Caroline, Anderson, and the criminal underworld together, influencing the investigation's direction.

Merritt Lingard's captors are revealed to be Harry Jennings' mother, Ailsa, and his brother, Lyle Jennings. Lyle has assumed the identity of Sam Haig, whom Merritt believed she was seeing. They blame Merritt for Harry's death, and this revelation explains how they were able to be in the right place at the right time during Merritt's disappearance.

The episode includes flashbacks showing Merritt and Harry Jennings in a relationship. Harry had beaten up William on a significant day, and they planned to run away together. Harry's mother was unstable, nearly burning their house down, an event blamed on Lyle. Harry considered stealing a ring from his mother to fund their escape, despite Merritt's objections. This backstory provides context for the current tensions and motivations of the characters involved in Merritt's kidnapping.

Carl experiences a dream where he lays out all the cards regarding Caroline Kerr, Anderson, and the crime racket, culminating in him shooting a man in the head, effectively solving the case. Upon waking, he scribbles the dream on a notepad but is confused about its meaning. This dream sequence symbolizes Carl's subconscious processing of the case and foreshadows developments in the investigation.

Later in the episode, Carl gate-crashes Rachel's coffee date after putting a tracker on her phone. Rachel questions him about his feelings and then asks him to leave. This interaction highlights Carl's personal struggles and his complicated relationship with Rachel, adding depth to his character amidst the unfolding case.