Summary: -

Timothy Webster (Tim Woodward), a local businessman, has organised a major clean up of the town's canal in the hope of promoting tourism as well as his own status within the community.

But an unexpected cave-in uncovers nine skeletons.

It's originally thought the skeletons are…
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Timothy Webster (Tim Woodward), a local businessman, has organised a major clean up of the town's canal in the hope of promoting tourism as well as his own status within the community.

But an unexpected cave-in uncovers nine skeletons.

It's originally thought the skeletons are those of early workers who were tragically killed during the canal's construction back in the 18th century.

However one of the skulls contains dental fillings dating from to the 1960s.

DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) investigates further.

Meanwhile at Causton police station Sergeant Troy (Daniel Casey) is promoted to Inspector but his celebrations are short lived when he's called out to track down the local hermit - Tom (David Bradley).

An anonymous tip off to the station claims that Tom has been harassed and assaulted by a group of youths.

But how do you find a person who has no fixed home or family?

Inspector Troy turns to Tom's only known friend, Lord Fitzgibbon (John Carlisle) for help.

When Simon, one of the youths accused of assaulting Tom, is discovered dead in the woods, shot at point blank range and with his foot caught in an animal trap, Tom becomes the main murder suspect and the hunt for him intensifies.

With Barnaby trying to identify and unravel the history behind the skeletons from the canal, Troy is left to investigate Simon's mysterious death.
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