In the wake of the discovery of Nate Robinson’s (Jurell Carter) untimely Emmerdale death, accusations are flying, but it’s John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) who is sweating.

Murderous John seemed to be high and dry after the dredging of the lake was called off, and with Aidan slipping back into his coma – the other person who could blow his cover – he smugly returned to the village to resume the new life he’d created for himself.

But reality came back to bite him on the bum when they dredged the lake anyway and Nate’s body was finally found. It’s badly decomposed so it’ll be harder for the police to gather much if any DNA, but there will be a thorough investigation regardless and John is not in the clear.

Then his worst living nightmare comes true – the police show up to question him about the day Nate disappeared. Having got away with things for this long he plays it cool. But as it turns out, it’s not him they’re after – it’s Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).

Now this does not a happy Cain make, and though the finger isn’t pointing at John, John still needs to work hard to protect Cain from going down for a crime he didn’t commit – especially in the wake of Tracy Shankley’s (Amy Walsh) accusation towards him.

Tracy later walks passed and Sam Dingle (James Hooton) can’t resist giving her what for. Cain is left shaken and puts voice to a dark thought that he believes Tracy did away with her ex. Finger firmly pointed, Tracy feebly tries to defend herself, but John concocts a dreadful plan to take the heat off Cain.

The police soon arrive at Tug Ghyll with a search warrant and make a massive discovery – Nate’s phone in Frankie’s playhouse. Now the fear sets in for Tracy as she realises how bad things are starting to look – just wait until they find out she’s been using his credit card too.

But before they even get that far, they learn there is no record of the removal men who came to collect Nate’s stuff – the ones that Tracy was the only one to interact with.

It’s looking damning and Tracy is taken to the station.

The police reveal they suspect Nate died the day he was due to leave, so quick thinking Tracy gives a false alibi – which implicates Vanessa (Michelle Hardwick).

The police need to corroborate this, and Vanessa is blindsided when they show up to question her.