The third episode of Ridley's second season, titled "The Hollow Tree Part 1," unfolds with a startling discovery that breathes new life into a cold case. As the storm rages through the night, it brings to light a dark secret hidden within the hollow of a toppled tree. The following morning, a dog walker stumbles upon a gruesome sight—a body, grotesquely contorted into the fetal position and bound with intricate knots, its throat choked with a piece of rope. The victim, Kathy Hadderly, had vanished six years prior, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a family torn apart by her disappearance.
The case, once consigned to the annals of unsolved mysteries, is thrust back into the spotlight, beckoning the disgraced ex-detective Jean Dixon out of retirement. Dixon, who had investigated Kathy's disappearance, harbors a deep-seated resentment towards Ridley and his team for their role in exposing the flaws in her handling of another cold case. Despite her initial reluctance, Dixon's maternal instincts are piqued by the plight of Kathy's daughter, Sam, who was a mere 13 when her mother vanished. The parallels between Sam's situation and that of Dixon's own daughter, Molly, prove too compelling to ignore.
As Dixon delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a tangled web of deceit and suspicion. Kathy's husband, David, emerges as a person of interest. His unemotional response to his wife's disappearance and the delay in reporting her missing had always raised eyebrows. The revelation that he and Kathy had a contentious marriage, punctuated by violent arguments, casts an even darker shadow over him. Yet, it is Sam's testimony that provides the most significant blow to David's alibi. She admits that she lied about her father's whereabouts on the night of her mother's disappearance, a lie that was orchestrated by David himself.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the case is the revelation that Kathy has been sending texts to Sam for years, long after her presumed death. The messages, which arrived on birthdays and holidays, suggested that Kathy was alive and well, a notion that is shattered by the DNA confirmation that the body is indeed hers. The discovery of Kathy's burner phone, a device she used to keep her affairs hidden from her suspicious husband, only deepens the mystery. The phone is missing, and with it, potentially crucial evidence.
The investigation takes a toll on Dixon's personal life as well. Her relationship with her partner, Ross Enderby, is strained as she keeps her involvement in the case a secret from him. The tension between them escalates when Ross, in a bid to protect Dixon, alienates Molly, further complicating the dynamics within the Dixon household.
The case takes a dramatic turn when Ridley and Dixon discover that the knots used to bind Kathy's body bear a striking resemblance to those found in David's garage, where a boat is suspended by military-issue rope. The revelation that David was in the military reserves and that there was a military camp near the discovery site of Kathy's body raises the stakes. As they close in on David, they find him at the tree, a broken man on the brink of surrender.
David's confession is as heartbreaking as it is damning. His jealousy and insecurity, fueled by Kathy's taunts about other men, led him to the fateful decision that cost him his wife and his freedom. The military's testimony that the reservists would have been in the company of others during their training camp near the tree casts doubt on David's ability to have acted alone.
The episode culminates in a chilling warning for Dixon, a note on her windshield that threatens her safety if she continues to dig into the case. The threat forces Dixon to come clean to Ross about her involvement, leading to a confrontation that exposes the cracks in their relationship. Ross's controlling behavior and his refusal to give Dixon the space she needs push her to the brink, culminating in a violent altercation that leaves Dixon questioning who she can trust.
"The Hollow Tree Part 1" is a gripping installment that weaves a tale of betrayal, jealousy, and the corrosive effects of suspicion on a family. It is a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most seemingly ordinary lives. As the episode draws to a close, the audience is left with the haunting image of Kathy's body, a silent testament to the tragedy that unfolded within the hollow of that fateful tree. With the truth now within reach, the question remains: can Dixon and Ridley bring closure to Sam and uncover the full extent of the conspiracy that led to Kathy's demise? Only time, and the next episode, will tell.