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 wea on. Morse is sus ended and DCI Bottomley, with DS Lewis assisting him, is ut in charge of the case. Morse feels that he was set-u and looks to his ast 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 re orted for erratic driving, Morse wonders if Masons may somehow be involved. When a large number of his ersonal items are found in Beryl's a artment, Morse is laced under arrest