Ep 7. The Gentleman Vanishes

The Gentleman Vanishes is the seventh episode of the eighth season of the British television show New Tricks. The show follows a team of retired police officers who are recruited to work for the Metropolitan Police's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS) to solve old cases that were never closed.

In this episode, the UCOS team investigate the disappearance of a wealthy businessman, Martin Ackroyd, who vanished without a trace in 1996. The case was originally investigated by Gerry Standing, one of the UCOS team members, when he was a detective sergeant. When Gerry was reassigned to another case, the investigation into Ackroyd's disappearance was closed due to lack of evidence.

Ackroyd's daughter, Caroline, contacts UCOS and asks them to look into the case again, as she believes that her father may still be alive. She has received a mysterious letter that suggests that her father was kidnapped and is being held against his will. The UCOS team is initially skeptical, as there is no evidence to suggest that Ackroyd was kidnapped or that he is still alive.

However, as they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of deceit and corruption. They discover that Ackroyd's business partner, Barry Peach, may have had a motive to make him disappear, as Ackroyd was about to expose Peach's embezzlement of company funds. They also learn that Peach had a close relationship with a corrupt police officer who may have helped him cover up his involvement in Ackroyd's disappearance.

The UCOS team faces a number of challenges as they investigate the case, including dealing with resistance from the police force and navigating complex relationships between the suspects and the people involved in the case. They also struggle to gain the trust of Caroline, who is dealing with her own issues surrounding her father's disappearance.

The team members use their individual skills and expertise to make progress in the case. Sandra Pullman, the team leader, manages to track down a potential witness who may have seen something on the night of Ackroyd's disappearance. Brian Lane, the team's resident forensics expert, examines key pieces of evidence to uncover new leads. Steve McAndrew, the team's newest member and former detective inspector, uses his intuition and instincts to piece together the events leading up to Ackroyd's disappearance. Gerry Standing uses his experience and connections within the police force to get information that the team would not otherwise have access to.

As the UCOS team continues to investigate, they uncover shocking details about Ackroyd's past and come closer to uncovering the truth about his disappearance. They face a number of obstacles along the way, including interference from corrupt police officers and a dangerous criminal who will stop at nothing to protect his secrets.

In the end, the team is able to solve the case and bring closure to Caroline and her family. The episode ends with the UCOS team reflecting on the case and the impact that their work has had on the lives of the people they have helped over the years.

Overall, The Gentleman Vanishes is a compelling episode of New Tricks that showcases the show's strengths in storytelling, character development, and engaging mysteries. The show's cast of talented actors bring depth and nuance to their roles, making the UCOS team feel like a group of real people with their own quirks and personalities. The episode is filled with twists and turns that will keep viewers guessing until the very end.