6. Masquerade

A landlord finds one of his tenants doors open and a body on the floor he calls the police, who find university student, Archie Rahman, stabbed to death in his flat. The only clue to go on is a library book on Persian Pottery, taken out in the name of Becky Anderson ( Charlene McKenna ), which was found in Archie's flat. Brooks and Devlin question Becky, who tells them her friend Sally Douglas ( Kimberley Nixon ) swapped library cards with her. The girls give each other alibis, claiming they were studying in the library at the time the young man was killed.

Becky later admits she was lying for Sally, and the officers soon focus on several inconsistencies in Sally's story, until she finally admits that Archie, who she did not know, lured her to his flat where he drugged and raped her. The police and CPS are skeptical but when the media get hold of the story, the whole case takes on racial overtones with the press clearly taking Sally's view of the case. It's left to Steel and Phillips to sort just what is the truth, as they learn that Archie was once suspended from school for sexual misconduct, but evidence also points to Sally having known Archie for some time, rather than being the casual pick-up she claims. Under the heavy influence of her racist father ( Andrew Dunn ), personality throws doubt on Sally's innocence.