Plot

The two detectives investigate a string of bizarre, seemingly accidental deaths occurring over three decades which somehow or other all involve the same man.

Dick Elgood (Keith Barron), an old friend of Dalziel's (Warren Clarke), unofficially reports two strange incidents which nearly kill him. He asks Dalziel to investigate. The subsequent investigation by Dalziel and Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) exposes a chain of bizarre, accidental deaths stretching back nearly three decades - but not a single shred of evidence to suggest foul play. Each of the seemingly-unconnected deaths have somehow or other benefited Patrick Alderman (Jonathan Cullen) even though it could not be proven that he had any connection to the deaths. The trail leads to Penny Highsmith (Mel Martin), an old flame of Dalziel's, but goes cold when she is shown not to be involved. The case is eventually closed with the death, in mysterious circumstances, of Dick Elgood, the victim of yet another weird accident.—Mark Smith <msmith@osi.co.uk>