Morse finds himself the subject of a murder investigation when his friend, Beryl Newsome, is murdered at a rehearsal of the Magic Flute and he foolishly touches the murder weapon. Morse is suspended and DCI Bottomley, with DS Lewis assisting him, is put in charge of the case. Morse feels that he was set-up and looks to his past to see who, among the many criminals he arrested, might now be setting about seeking revenge. When someone scratches masonic symbols all over his car and he is reported for erratic driving, Morse wonders if Masons may somehow be involved. When a large number of his personal items are found in Beryl's apartment, Morse is placed under arrest.,一件破破烂烂的酒吧呈现在眼前,招牌落下,玫瑰酒吧四个字已经脱落,只剩下一个“鬼”字,还挂在半空之中,呲呲的闪烁着亮光,而在酒吧的二楼里,透过破碎的玻璃,他隐约看见一具尸体吊在二楼的一个包厢里,尸体微微……