Emily Verma arrives in Sandylands to attend her estranged dad's memorial. She meets local loudmouth Tina and childhood crush Nathan - but there's another entirely unexpected meeting to come...

Emily learns that Les Vegas is alive and well, and has faked his own death for a hefty life insurance payout. What's worse, she finds herself handcuffed to her father and hiding from police and recent love-interest Nathan, who are pounding down the door and investigating a disturbance. Narrowly escaping uncovering her father's secret, and now an unwilling accomplice to his crime, Emily must now attend his beachside memorial - an event that proves irresistible to Les, who attends in disguise.

The One-Eyed Man installs himself at Swallows by the Sea B&B and begins his investigation. Les continues his selfish campaign to start a new life and a new arcade halfway across the world. Emily's anxieties continue to rise to boiling point as Tina unexpectedly discovers Les to be alive. Emily can no longer avoid the One-Eyed Man's persistent attempts to get in touch, and nervously agrees to meet him at a seafront cafe. Quavering under his intense scrutiny, Emily resists putting legally binding pen to paper and makes her escape.