When Robin arrives at the office, Strike assures her that Candy does not exist. He also explains that Nina has a grudge against him, as he did not want to pursue their relationship after he slept with her. Robin instructs Strike to call another journalist, Fergus Robertson, and release an official denial of Culpepper’s claims.

Strike tells Robin his suspicion that Jim Todd knew the delivery driver, Larry McGee. He points out that, as Pamela’s eyesight is failing, the identification of Wright as Jason Knowles rests on Todd’s trustworthiness. Robin shows Strike an article reporting the rape and murder of a young Spanish woman named Sofia Medina on Sunday, June 19. As a student, Medina funded her education by posting content on OnlyFans. An abandoned van was discovered close to where Medina’s body was found. Robin suspects that Medina was the dark-haired woman who entered William Wright’s flat with a suitcase. Strike notes that the abandoned vehicle found near Medina’s body could be the van mentioned in an email to the real Calvin Osgood. He opposes Robin’s wish to put Albie under surveillance, arguing that they lack the resources to do so.

Robin sees a doctor who offers the unsolicited advice that she should consider IVF as soon as possible. She does not tell Murphy about the appointment, fearing he will want to try for a family immediately.

Robin and Murphy drive to Yorkshire to spend Christmas with Robin’s parents, older brother Stephen, and his pregnant wife Jenny. Robin learns from her mother, Linda, that her ex-husband, Matthew, and his pregnant wife, Sarah, are also in Masham for Christmas.

Strike’s denial of Culpepper’s allegations appears in the newspapers, but he declines an offer from his biological father, Jonny Rokeby, to pay for legal action against Culpepper. Jade Semple texts to say that she now believes Niall is alive and left her for another woman. She has learned that a woman was captured on CCTV using her husband’s bank card after his disappearance.

Sacha agrees to speak to Strike at the National Theatre, where he is currently starring in a play. The upcoming meeting prompts Strike to dwell on his ex-fiancée, Charlotte, and her relationship with her family. Charlotte’s aristocratic mother, Tara, was neglectful of her daughter while doting on Sacha, her son from a third marriage. While Sacha claimed to be devoted to Charlotte after her death, he failed to support her during her periods of mental instability. Charlotte once disappeared, leaving a shredded dress in the bedroom and bloodstains in the bathroom. When Strike called Sacha, he was unconcerned, stating that Charlotte was attention-seeking. Charlotte was eventually discovered in the hospital, having self-harmed and been hit by a vehicle after wandering into traffic.

Sacha reluctantly admits that he called security when Rupert gatecrashed his birthday party. He says that Rupert said something to Valentine’s half-sister, Cosima, that made her cry. The actor suggests that Rupert left Decima because he did not want to commit to a long-term relationship with an older woman.

Robin is angry when she overhears her mother and Murphy speculating about whether Culpepper’s allegations against Strike are true. Robin and Linda row, and Robin accuses her mother of wanting her to return to the frightened individual she turned into after her rape.

Strike searches through stills from the pornographic films of Dick de Lion, hoping to identify the blonde woman who left him the anonymous coded note. Robin calls, drawing his attention to a recent photograph of Lord Oliver Branfoot, which also features a customer they saw at Ramsay Silver during their visit with Kenneth. The man is Victor Lambert, a wealthy banker and member of the Branfoot Trust. Robin speculates that Branfoot could be behind the silver vault assassination and that Lambert informed his friend he had seen them asking Kenneth questions. Strike adds that DCI Truman has been seen entering the Freemasons’ Hall for a meeting.

Strike hears a call to the office go to voicemail. A “manic-sounding” Scottish woman asks for help and instructs him to meet her at the Golden Fleece.

Robin argues with Murphy when he suggests that she is unwilling to acknowledge Strike’s faults. She learns from Jenny that her younger brother, Martin’s, relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Carmen, is tumultuous. On Christmas Eve evening, Robin, her brothers, and Murphy go to the local pub. At the bar, Robin sees Sarah, the pregnant wife of her ex-husband, Matthew. After several whiskies, Robin goes outside for some fresh air and comes face-to-face with Matthew. Matthew expresses surprise at seeing Robin with her “Paul Newman lookalike” boyfriend (315), stating that he always believed she and Strike would end up together.

Strike goes to his sister Lucy’s Christmas party, having finally identified the mysterious blonde woman as porn star Fyola Fay. Strike spends much of the party avoiding the attention of a woman named Marguerite and receiving flirtatious text messages from Kim. Retreating to the bathroom to research on his phone, he is interrupted by a young boy who rushes in and sprays Strike with vomit. As Strike attempts to clean himself up, Marguerite notices the pornographic image of Fyola Fay on his phone screen. Receiving a nonsensical butt dial from Robin, he asks her to send him the cipher’s key.

Handing Murphy his pint, Robin checks that it is non-alcoholic beer. Murphy has an angry outburst, believing Robin is accusing him of breaking his sobriety. Having seen Strike’s reply to Robin’s butt dial, Murphy also accuses her of secretly texting Strike. He softens when Robin admits she drank too much because she was surrounded by pregnant women.

Before bed, Robin secretly opens her Christmas gift from Strike in the bathroom. The silver charm bracelet features a miniature Land Rover, the orb Robin admired in Ramsay Silver, and several other references to cases they’ve investigated and memories they’ve shared. Robin cries, overwhelmed by Strike’s thoughtfulness, and alarmed by her certainty that she loves him.

Strike arrives at the office to find a letter “G” has been painted on the door. He receives a text from Jade Semple agreeing to a meeting.

Robin hides the charm bracelet in her wardrobe. She is excited when she realizes that Strike has booked a luxurious hotel in the Lake District for their research trip. Feeling guilty, she agrees to make an offer on a house with Murphy and is relieved when another buyer offers more. Robin sends Strike an article about Reata Lindvall, a possible candidate for Rita Linda.

Pat has installed a fish tank in the detective agency’s office. She informs Strike that she has named the black fish with a misshapen head Cormoran.

Speaking with Strike on FaceTime, Zac Lorimer reveals that Rupert was behaving strangely before he left, ripping up the T-shirt he always claimed was lucky. Zac suggests that his ex-girlfriend, Tish Benton, may have more information. Strike notices that Robin has pinned an article about Reata Lindvall to their investigation board. Lindvall and her six-year-old daughter were murdered in Belgium in 1998, and her ex-boyfriend received a life sentence for the crime.

Strike persuades Lucy that they should accept the slightly low offer they have received for Ted’s house. He argues that Ted would have wanted his home to go to a local family rather than to Londoners seeking a second home. He plans to use the money to buy Robin a new Land Rover.

Robin persuades Sofia Medina’s housemate, Gretchen Schiff, to meet her. Gretchen admits that Medina had a “sugar daddy” named Oz, who worked in the music business and gave Sofia a ruby necklace.

Robin and Strike discuss why Oz and Sofia Medina visited Wright’s flat within hours of each other. Strike suggests that Oz told Medina to empty Wright’s room of identifying objects, but something was too heavy for her to lift. He wonders if the item was Wright’s weights.

Strike has heard a rumor that when Lord Branfoot was an MP, he had an affair with a male intern. After paying the young man a large sum to keep quiet, Branfoot resigned, claiming his wife was ill. Furthermore, Branfoot’s charitable causes involve projects for “troubled young men” (366). Strike suggests that Branfoot had an affair with Dick de Lion and had the porn star killed before he went public about their relationship.

Kim acquires police crime scene photographs of William Wright’s murder from a male police officer. Wright received a heavy blow to the back of his head, and the mutilation occurred post-mortem. The photographs also show a small bloody footprint that was discovered underneath Wright’s body. The detectives cannot understand how Wright and his killer entered Ramsay Silver without being caught on CCTV.

Strike contacts his friend Ilsa Herbert, who confirms that Bijou and Andrew Honbold have split up, and Honbold is claiming that Strike is the father of Bijou’s baby. Strike used protection on the two occasions when he and Bijou slept together. However, Ilsa tells him that, when Bijou was secretly trying to get pregnant by Honbold, she used sperm samples taken from her lover’s used condoms. Strike hopes to resolve the situation before Robin hears about it.

Strike and Robin update Decima on their findings. Their client is distressed when she learns that Rupert ripped up his lucky T-shirt. She explains that the T-shirt had the name of the 80s band White Lion printed on it. Rupert was attached to the T-shirt because he remembered his father singing a White Lion song to him when he was a baby. Rupert was wearing the T-shirt when Decima told him she was pregnant: it’s the reason she named her son Lion.

Concerned about Decima’s mental state, Robin tells Strike they should follow Albie to prove that Rupert is alive. When Strike refuses, Robin accuses Strike of wanting to humiliate the Metropolitan Police by proving the dead man was not Jason Knowles. Pat calls Strike and tells him that Bijou wants to speak to him.

Bijou begs Strike to take a paternity test to prove he is not her daughter’s father.

Murphy continues to pressure Robin to view houses. She is also bombarded by a series of photographs of Stephen and Jenny’s baby, Barnaby, requiring her to fake enthusiasm.

Robin takes over surveillance duty from Dev Shah, who is watching Jim Todd. Dev reveals that Bijou called when he was in the office. He expresses concern that another of Strike’s sexual liaisons is about to damage the agency’s reputation.

Strike replaces the article about Reata Lindvall on the investigation board with pictures of Sofia Medina.

Robin boards the same Tube train as Todd. When a group of schoolgirls boards the train, he moves close to them and takes an upskirt photograph. Another passenger shouts at Todd, chasing him off the train. Robin loses sight of him.

Strike takes over surveillance of Plug, who has relocated the creature in the shed to a house on Carnival Street. He hears Plug and a group of other men discussing money and “Gaz’s bitch.”

Robin attempts to call Strike, resolving to ask him about Bijou. He does not answer, and Robin speculates he must be out with Bijou. Phoning their mutual friend, Ilsa, Robin learns that Strike may be the father of Bijou’s daughter. She goes to the deserted office and cries as she wonders what else Strike has concealed from her. Feeling guilty for the many things she is hiding from Murphy, she resolves to entertain no more romantic thoughts about Strike. She texts Strike, saying it is “pointless” for them both to travel to Scotland. He can interview Jade Semple alone, and she will meet him in Ironbridge to visit Dilys Powell. Robin adds that she cannot linger in Ironbridge as she and Murphy have houses to view. After leaving the message, Robin notices that Strike has removed the article about Reata Lindvall from the investigation board.