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 weapon. Morse is suspended and DCI Bottomley, with DS Lewis assisting him, is put in charge of the case. Morse feels that he was set-up and looks to his past 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 reported for erratic driving, Morse wonders if Masons may somehow be involved. When a large number of his personal items are found in Beryl's apartment, Morse is placed under arrest.,在下大雪的日子大家没有闲着，从各处搜集来大布棉布料，给一百多只飞鸟做了防寒服，它们怕冷偏偏这鬼天气没有暖和的迹象，但是拉希德飞队大队的训练工作必须开始了，否则一百只鸟二百多挑选出来的飞行员天天吃空饷。……