A new case leads Charlotte Lindholm into human abysses and she herself to the brink of resilience. A banker's wife was kidnapped near Walsrode. In a panic, Frank Holdt, her husband and manager of a local bank, enlists the help of his wealthy in-laws, Christian and Gudrun Rebenow, to collect the ransom. He cannot raise the requested sum by the deadline on his own. Rebenow informs the police against Holdt's wishes; then, on the instructions of the kidnappers, Holdt single-handedly delivers the money. The investigations are running feverishly. When Julia Holdt's car is found empty in the woods, the worst has to be feared. After a short time, Holdt himself becomes the target of the investigation.
Charlotte Lindholm finds out he's in deep debt, his marriage is over and Julia Holdt had a lover. As evidence of domestic violence emerges, Holdt becomes increasingly embroiled in contradicting statements. Apparently he also phoned the perpetrators the day before the kidnapping. Then Julia Holdt is found brutally murdered and Charlotte continues to corner Holdt. He feverishly protests his innocence, but his situation becomes more and more desperate. In the end there is a tragic fate that Charlotte blames herself for. Her boss, Marc Kohlund, then withdraws the case from her.