The funeral of an elderly Italian woman is interrupted by the arrival of her son, thought missing since 1944. Her relatives suspect that his abrupt appearance is only to collect his inheritance, as he is her sole beneficiary. Not all of her relatives are convinced he is who he says he is, but a fraudster.
Meanwhile, Wield's private life nearly hits the front page when a friend of his ex-partner threatens to blow the whistle on his sexuality, if he doesn't help him find his missing father. The chief constable is not best pleased when the news gets back to him, and asks Dalziel to expose his friend.
