Deadheads

Dick Elgood, an old fiend of Dalziel's, unofficially reports two strange incidents which nearly kill him and asks Dalziel to investigate. The subsequent investigation by him and Pascoe exposes a chain of bizarre, accidental deaths stretching back nearly three decades but not a single shred of evidence to suggest foul play! Each of the, seemingly unconnected, deaths have somehow or other benefited Patrick Alderman even though it could not be proven that he had any connection to the deaths. The trail leads to Penny Highsmith, an old flame of Dalziel's, but goes cold when she is shown not to be involved. The case is eventually closed with the death, in mysterious circumstances, of Dick Elgood, the victim of yet another weird accident.

Forretningsmanden og Daliziels gamle ven, Dick Elggod, anklager en af sine ansatte, Patrick Alderman, for mordforsøg. Som Pascoe efterforsker sagen, opdager han en række mistænksomme dødsfald i Aldermans fortid, der alle på sin vis har gavnet ham. Sagen bliver dog mere kompliceret, da Aldermans kone bliver gode venner med Pascoes kone, og som de to kvinder kommer tættere på hinanden, afslører Aldermans kone flere ægteskabelige og økonomiske problemer. Samtidig render Dalziel ind i en gammel flamme, men hans forsøg på at tænde den gamle ild ender meget uheldigt.