628: 'Hold Me Tight: Part I'

P.C. Roger Valentine arrives on the doorstep of hysterical Joanne Riley, who’s eight year old daughter, Bethany, has gone missing.

Bethany’s father, Bob is horrified to hear the news but John’s suspicions are aroused when Bob can’t provide a solid alibi for his whereabouts that afternoon. Elsewhere, D.C.’s Grace Dasari and Mickey Webb visit pupils who were outside the school where Bethany went missing earlier that day and arrive at Mason Kemble’s house.

While being questioned, Mason shocks his mum, Susie, by telling the officers he saw his dad, Ryan, in his van outside the school. When Ryan returns home, Grace and Mickey search his vehicle and discover Bethany’s cardigan. Ryan is arrested for kidnapping and is taken away, while a distraught Mason looks on…

Back at the station, Ryan is interviewed and swears he has nothing to do with Bethany’s disappearance. He explains that he works at the school and found the cardigan earlier that day and meant to return it to the young girl.

At sunrise, a police team along with Bob, who is determined to help, continue to search the local area. A black bag is soon discovered in the river and Bob pushes past officers only to break down when he sees it’s just a bag of rubbish. However, the morning takes a sinister turn when P.C. Arun Ghir and Inspector Rachel Weston finally uncover Bethany’s body.

Convinced that Bob’s raw grief is is genuine, the investigation against him is dropped. Officers are further frustrated when Ryan is released due to lack of evidence. As the case continues, the officers are shocked and disturbed by evidence that reveals a new suspect …