Nick is called in to investigate the, supposedly accidental, death of a horserider called Joe Richards when the pathologist report gives evidence of drugs in his blood stream. He discovers Joe's wife Susannah isn't quite the grieving widow. Could she be responsible? And is there a connection between Joe's death and the death of a petty thief? Meanwhile, Blaketon and Ventress seize the opportunity to teach Greengrass a lesson when he takes over a deceased villager's cock-fighting enterprise.