CAST LIST

SYNOPSIS

In an unknown location a mysterious individual is accessing the National Prisoner database, and is giving a prisoner at Oak Ridge an early release date. Leaving the prison Johns is met by a waiting car, which takes him away… as Ben Kennedy, an inmate at Kingstoke Prison, is also granted an early discharge. He too like Johns receives a letter as he is released, but this time someone realises that Kennedy’s discharge is a mistake, and that someone else has control of the Prison Department…

Beckett is with Jan, watching the unveiling of a particularly important piece of art acquired for the nation by Roger Delamere, the Government’s Art Advisor. However, Jan and her ministerial friend believe that Delamere has been pilfering the National Art Collection for his own ends, and want Beckett’s team to prove their theory. However, their assignment is interrupted by news of the prisoner releases, which Jan sets Beckett and the team to work on immediately. Back at the Bureau Beckett gives Ros and Alex the files and prison records for Kennedy and Johns, and can see no connection between the vastly different criminals. Ros discovers a signature in the records: signed themselves as "Athena" the person responsible for the releases has left the team their calling card, in arrogance as they believe they can’t be caught. Jan has other ideas and sets the team to work…and asks after Ed, who Beckett believes is taking compassionate leave… Ed plays alone on a squash court until a mysterious and highly attractive woman joins him. It is obvious that the pair has been intimate at some time in the past, and Ed is happy to skip sports and head straight for lunch. His friend Sasha is in the Art world, and has many contacts through artists and galleries. After ten years apart Ed is certain she has contacted him for a favour, and he is right: Sasha wants to "borrow" a helicopter to help a struggling artist and Ed, obviously still enamoured by the woman after a ten year absence, is happy to help. Beckett is beginning to show his true feelings for Ros, and gently asks her about the situation with Channing. Ros is concerned that she was too hard on the man, but Beckett assures her what she did was for the best. Alex has ascertained that Johns worked on the construction of a number of top secret military installations in the 1960’s, a fact that is superceded in importance by Ros monitoring another presence in the prison database. It is Athena, but the code that now activates was set to do so hours previously. A prisoner, James Flood is selected for release: and Beckett tells Ros to let the process continue unhindered, for he has a plan…

Outside Westdown Prison, Ros, Beckett and Alex sit and wait for the prisoner’s release. Noticing a limousine has been sent for Flood, Alex gives her colleagues a run-down of their target. He is both and electronics and explosives expert, with a strong paranoid streak: taken to a hotel by Athena, Alex acts as Room Service to gain entry into Flood’s room. However Ros and Beckett’s attempts to restrain him only send him fleeing to the car park, with Alex in close pursuit. Attempting to defend herself as Flood runs at her, Alex inadvertently causes Flood’s death as she forces him over the car park wall, where moments later he loses his grip and falls… Roger Delamere meanwhile is receiving a ‘phone call at his home from Athena, who demands half of the collection he has hoarded for his own benefit. Claiming no such collection exists and that he was exonerated from ever pilfering from the National Art Collection Athena is quick to counter that the report was a cover-up and that the private collection exists. Athena is ready to take it all from Delamere, and there is nothing he can do to stop it… Beckett meanwhile is being set up by Ros and Alex as Flood, with a special pair of glasses which contain a camera and microphone, which runs from a power pack taped to Beckett's stomach. Hoping Athena and Flood have never met Ros and Beckett test their equipment with a new found closeness and ease: Beckett being concerned that Flood doesn’t possess his bone structure, and Ros realising the glasses they are using does nothing to compliment that bone structure! A ‘phone call from Ed interrupts Alex’ preparations: she is obviously pleased to hear from him and concerned when he asks to delay their much planned and cancelled first date, because he has other plan. Grudgingly Alex accepts Ed’s excuse, though it’s clear she’s not happy with the decision. Ed meanwhile arrives outside an old house, where he is to have dinner with Sasha. The house belongs to an old friend of hers, someone who has acted as a mentor to her in the past few years. Ed tells her he’s located a helicopter for her friend, but Sasha then tells him she needs it the next day. Ignoring Ed’s protests Sasha puts her arm around him and takes him into dinner…

Beckett is becoming as paranoid as Flood waiting for Athena’s arrival, and both he and Ros are taken by surprise by a ‘phone call. It is Athena, unrecognisable through an electronic voice changer. Beckett keeps the criminal talking whilst Ros traces the ‘phone call to the house of Roger Delamere! Beckett fills Ros in on Delamere’s interest in National Art treasures as Alex remembers that Athena was the Greek Goddess of Art. Beckett urges the two women to pay Delamere a visit, whilst he waits for the car Athena has promised to send for him…Sasha and Ed meanwhile are engaged in some after dinner activities. First the young woman tests Ed’s reflexes by throwing an expensive vase at him. Ed manages to save the vase, but doesn’t fare as well when Sasha pushes his aptitude in Tai Kwon Do. Both of them end up on the floor in fits of giggles, and are about to share a passionate moment when an alarm goes off suddenly. Sasha is away at a run and before she disappears promises to contact her ex-lover. Confused and a little angry Ed tries to find his way out of the house. When he does so he is stunned to meet Ros and Alex on their way in… Splitting up inside in an attempt to find Delamere Alex angrily attacks Ed for taking advantage of her, a fact which Ed believes is more appropriate for him and his treatment by Sasha. Searching the kitchen of the house it is Alex who inadvertently stumbles upon Delamere’s dead body…

Jan is concerned that she will be unable to keep Delamere’s death secret for long and gives the team 24 hours to thwart Sasha’s plans. Asking Ed about his relationship with the woman who Jan believes is Athena, the Australian is suddenly reticent and unwilling to comment, wanting no more to do with his ex-lover. Beckett however is about to meet Athena at a deserted airstrip: it is Sasha who greets him and introduces him to the other two members of her specialist team. The three of them gather in a makeshift camp, and via Beckett’s glasses camera Ed gets to confirm that it is his ex-girlfriend who is really the mastermind behind the potential theft. When he sees what is at stake he has no hesitation in continuing to participate in Sasha’s plan. Beckett is set the task of building a remote detonator, something he will need all of Ros’ electronic skills to complete. The detonator is to blow open a specially constructed door which Johns seems to know an awful lot about… Sasha meets Ed as planned, and Ed is quick to point out to his "friend" that he is unwilling to be taken as a fool, and if there is money to be made from obtaining a helicopter he wants his share. Sasha is somewhat taken aback by Ed’s change of tune, but needing his help she happily welcomes him into her circle. Beckett meanwhile is in the final stages of completing the remote detonator, and Ros suggests it is time to test whether Beckett has made the item correctly. However, Beckett cannot get Ros and Channing out of his mind, and begins to explain to his friend that when the pair first began to date he realised that he was jealous. It is at this point that Ros’ power pack develops a glitch, and as Beckett continues to explain how he feels Ros fights to regain the signal. Thinking Ros can’t hear him Beckett jokes that it’s ironic that just as he plucks up the courage to tell he how he feels, there is a technical problem…but Ros hears every word. Interrupted by Alex, Ros pretends to re-establish communication, whilst Beckett almost gives his double agent status away to Sasha as she arrives to check his progress, and to introduce Flood to her Transport manager, Ed. As the power pack fails Alex tells Ros about Johns’ construction projects, and how the bunkers he built would make a perfect place to store stolen art...

Neither Beckett nor Ed can sleep, and talk briefly of the following day’s plan. However both seem more concerned with the women in their lives: Ed is angry that he believed he could pick up with Sasha where he left off. Beckett is still reticent to come clean with Ros and tell her how much he cares, and Ed warns him that his fear of messing up the relationship before it begins could leave the way clear for another Channing to take his place. Beckett is scared, and counters quickly with the question of how Ed will explain his dealings with Sasha to Alex… Their conversation is interrupted by Sasha, who wakes the team and prepares them for their trip… Leaving their hideout, Sasha asks "Flood" if he would bet his life on the detonator he has produced working first time. Confident with Ros’ guidance, Beckett agrees that he would. Ed meanwhile is telling Ros all he knows by mobile phone, under the guise of checking the local weather conditions. Sasha tells him that none of the team knows where they are going as yet, but will do soon. As the team prepares to leave Sasha sends Beckett back into the workshop for a bag she has left: as he walks out of earshot Sasha urges the others to leave quickly. Ed asks why Flood will not be accompanying them, and Sasha simply tells him that his job is done. As Beckett walks back into the workshop and goes to pick up Sasha’s bag he realises that he has been tricked and the bag contains a bomb: which Sasha detonates mere moments later…

Jan meets the Minister who asked her to investigate Delamere, who tells her the Government’s art advisor couldn’t resist cataloguing the whole collection he stole. He also warns Jan that the collection needs to be bought back intact, without any bullet holes… Ed is on top of the situation, piloting the helicopter he hired for Sasha’s benefit. Ed is unsettled about Sasha’s explosive disposal of "Flood" and when Sasha suspects he’s becoming squeamish she suggests he bail out. As the young woman has been taking flying lessons she is more than capable of flying the helicopter without him… Ros and Alex arrive at the smoldering remains of Athena’s camp, and find Beckett, barely conscious but still alive. An incensed Ros is determined to hunt down Athena, and she leaves Alex with Beckett to wait for an ambulance. Ed and Athena’s team reaches their destination and Johns (with Ed’s help) sets the explosives to blow the door, which goes without a hitch. Inside the bunker Johns leads the way down, with the others close behind. Kennedy’s job is soon clear: the bunker is without power, and Sasha needs him not only to restore that power but to deal with a sophisticated electronic lock placed on the door to the treasures by Delamere. Inside the vault is packed to the ceiling with valuable treasures from around the World, including a statuette of Athena herself. Sasha orders her team to start clearing out the vault. Ros is on her way, and talking to Alex they manage to narrow their search of bunkers built by Johns down to two (which have the particular design of door Beckett’s detonator needed to destroy). As one of the two was flooded in the 1960’s Alex gives Ros the co-ordinates of the other, whilst checking that Beckett is okay. Alex assures her that he will be fine…

Ed is loading treasures into bags, and trying to convince Kennedy that Sasha is not to be trusted. It doesn’t take long to prove his point, for as soon as Johns gets the lift operational for Sasha she turns and kills him, without a second thought. Ed suggests that he and the convict should take the initiative for themselves, but is interrupted by Sasha, who is disappointed that Ed hasn’t grown up and is still an idealist. When it becomes clear that Ed’s loyalties lie with the Government she offers Kennedy a straight split, which despite Ed’s suggestion he accepts. When it becomes clear that Sasha hasn’t any feelings left for Ed and he has he become a liability Sasha tries to kill him. As Ed avoids the bullets Sasha simply leaves him in the vault, instructing Kennedy to switch off the air pumps and power. However, Ed is as resourceful as ever, and uses the remaining explosives left by his colleagues, a power line and a battery to blow open the door. Ros meanwhile has arrived and attempts to sabotage the helicopter: when Kennedy emerges from the Bunker with Sasha he shoots at her, inadvertently hitting it. Sasha makes a run for it with Ed not far behind, but he is unable to stop her as Kennedy grabs him. A fight breaks out, and Ros is unable to stop Sasha boarding the chopper. With Kennedy unconscious and Ed aware of the helicopters damaged tail rotor Sasha takes off and immediately gets into difficulty, and moments later the chopper hits the ground and explodes… Ed is shattered, and all that is left of Athena is her statue…

Jan is visiting Beckett in hospital, and is explaining that the lack of press coverage of he whole event is part of the face-saving that Beckett is becoming increasingly good at. Ros arrives and Jan excuses herself: the pair exchange greetings and Ros immediately asks Beckett if he remembers what it was he wanted to tell her before his power pack gave out at Sasha’s hideout. Initially ignorant by design, Beckett is just about to tell Ros how he feels as Ed arrives with flowers, with Alex close behind him. It is clear that this pair have a lot of ground cover before their relationship returns to what it was before Sasha arrived. Hoping they haven’t interrupted anything, Ros assures Ed and Alex that whatever it was Beckett wanted to tell her will wait for another time…