The Bill - Neil tries to find an abducted child

9 January 2008 @ 8-9pm on ITV1

While patrolling a shopping centre, PCs Beth Green (Louisa Lytton) and Nate Roberts (Ben Richards) are approached by Jane Clarke (Virginia Fiol), who's 11-year-old son Dean (Luke Beach) has gone missing. The officers give chase when they hear a scream and see Dean being dragged away by a hooded man.

Nate and DC Grace Dasari (Amita Dhiri) find a note identical to the letters child killers, Alistair Haig and Linda Johnson (Katy Cavanagh) left 20 years ago, when they abducted and murdered three boys. Worried that a copycat killer is on the loose, DI Neil Manson (Andrew Lancel) and DS Stuart Turner (Doug Rao) pay Linda a visit in prison where they find her trashing her cell. Elsewhere, PCs Will Fletcher (Gary Lucy) and Tony Stamp (Graham Cole) investigate a robbery that leads them to a potential suspect in the abduction case.

Back at the prison, Linda reluctantly decides to help Neil with the investigation and says that the suspect may be Mike Wilson (Richard Cant), a man she had recently broken up with. When officers search Wilson's house they are disturbed to find a shrine to Linda and Haig. Wilson is brought into the station for questioning where it becomes clear that he worships Haig in particular.

Much to Stuart's concern, Neil grows close to Linda as they work together on the case. Linda reveals secrets about Wilson's past that help to break him down and he finally admits he has killed Dean. But when a call is later received from the terrified sounding boy the team realise that Wilson is a fantasist and the suspect is still on the loose.