History Recap / InspectorLynleyS02E02InThePresenceOfTheEnemy

* AdultFear: This is the first episode in which we see Lynley genuinely afraid. In this case, it's for Barbara's safety -- and he's absolutely right to be.

* WeCouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: [[spoiler: If Payne had approached Luxford via a laywer to demand acknowledgement, Luxford would undoubtedly have insisted on a paternity test. What Luxford would have done if the test was positive, and whether Payne would have accepted a negative test, instead of going ConspiracyTheorist, is another question again.]]

* AllForNothing: maybe. [[spoiler: Robin Payne committed kidnapping, accidental murder and attempted murder out of desperation to be publically acknowledged by his father. But Dennis Luxford had no idea Robin existed, and according to Robin's mother she [[ReallyGetsAround still doesn't have any idea who Robin's father was]]; if Payne had approached Luxford via a laywer, at the very least he'd know for sure as Luxford would undoubtedly have insisted on a paternity test. Whether Payne would have accepted that instead of going ConspiracyTheorist is another question again.]]

Charlotte, the secret love-child of black, left-wing MP Eve Bowen and conservative editor Dennis Luxford, is kidnapped. The ransom note requires Luxford to publish the details of his first-born child within three days if he wants to see Charlotte ever again. Fearing publicity, Luxford enlists the help of his friend, police profiler Helen Clyde, under the condition of strictest secrecy. Helen agrees, but within the night, Charlotte's body is found in a canal. Lynley is horrified to know that Helen knew of the case but didn't inform the Police. His relationship with Helen comes to a stand-still.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Dennis Luxford writes vehemently about upholding family values, despite having a love-child himself.

* MommyIssues: Gender flipped. [[spoiler: Payne has ''Daddy'' issues]].

-> '''Lynley''':''[urgently]'' Look, Sergeant Havers is there with the suspect. I'm on my way. Get the local force.

** [[spoiler: given that Payne's the killer, this conversation could even be seen as a meta ChekovsGun]]

* {{Workaholic}}: Clearly, Dennis Luxford is one to the point of being a WhenYouComingHomeDad father to his young son, Leo.

* WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis: if [[spoiler: Robin Payne's mother]] hadn't decided to lie about his parentage [[spoiler: or just not settled on Dennis Luxford as her choice for supposed father]] then Charlotte would still be alive.

* [[spoiler: MeaningfulName: Robine ''Payne'' sure caused a lot of it.]]

* BadassDamsel: Barbara Havers has no intention of being a helpless DamselInDistress. Solution? [[spoiler:Rock to the head]].

* MommyIssues: {{Subverted}}. [[spoiler: Payne actually has ''Daddy'' issues]].

* SanitySlippage: The villain's MaskOfSanity slips rapidly at the end - to the point (s)he is wearing a clear PsychoticSmirk.

* OhCrap: "Hey, Havers, I'm just calling to tell you that whatever you do, ''do not trust X''. Right, so who's with you at this moment? ''Oh sh...''"

[[caption-width-right:214: Those PuppyDogEyes are beginning to show signs of devotion for a certain colleague...]]

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: (1) DC Payne is a MommasBoy. (2) He has a DisappearedDad. (3) His [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smother]] runs a bed and breakfast. And (4) he starts paying attention to a young, lonely woman. {{Lampshaded}} by Payne himself, when he remarks that it all looks very Norman Bates-ish.

[[caption-width-right:214: Those PuppyDogEyes might be starting to show affection for someone...[[spoiler: and it isn't Lynley.]]]]

In the meantime, Havers takes on Detective Constable Robin Payne in the investigation. They get along very well, almost too well to be just colleagues. However, neither Lynley nor Havers can afford to waste time on their evolving personal lives, since Charlotte's kidnapper and killer clearly isn't planning to rest until the story of Luxford's first born is published.

* {{Workaholic}}: Clearly, Dennis Luxford is one to the point of being a WhenYouComingHomeDad dad to his young son, Leo.

[[caption-width-right:214: Those PuppyDogEyes might well be starting to show affection for someone...[[spoiler: and it isn't Lynley.]]]]

* BadassDamsel: Barbara Havers has no intention of being a helpless DamselInDistress. Solution? [[spoiler:Rock to the head]]. You go, girl!
* ContrivedCoincidence: For once, the reason Lynley is able to identify the killer has nothing to do with his line of questioning. He only finds out who the killer is because he stumbles across [[spoiler:a photograph with the killer's writing behind it at the same time as he is holding the killer's handwritten ransom note.]]

* ContrivedCoincidence: For once, the reason Lynley is able to identify the killer has nothing to do with his line of questioning. He only finds out who the killer is because he stumbles across [[spoiler:a photograph with the killer's writing behind it at the same time as he is holding the killer's handwritten randsome note.]]

* WackyMarriageProposal: Do you have anything to do this weekend? If not, why don't we [[DidntSeeThatComing go and get married??]] [[spoiler: Sure, Lynley. Go ahead and ruin your life.]]

[[caption-width-right:214: Those PuppyDogEyes could well be showing devotion to someone... who isn't Lynley.]]

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler: Lynley]]'s marriage proposal to [[spoiler: Helen]] at the end, while not exactly anguished, is quite emotional for both.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: DC Payne is a MommasBoy. He has a DisappearedDad. His [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smother]] runs a bed and breakfast. And he starts paying attention to a young, lonely woman. {{Lampshaded}} by Payne himself, when he remarks that it all looks very Norman Bates-ish.

* MarriedToTheJob: Eve Bowen, a relatively rare female example. She was very much a MissingMom to Charlotte while Charlotte was alive.

* {{Workaholic}}: Clearly, Dennis Luxford is one to the point of being a WhenYouComingHomeDad dad to his young son, Leo.

In the meantime, Havers takes on Detective Constable Robin Payne in the investigation. They get along very well, almost too well to be just colleagues.
However, neither Lynley nor Havers can afford to waste time on their evolving personal lives, since Charlotte's kidnapper and killer clearly isn't planning to rest until the story of Luxford's first born is published.

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler: Lynley]]'s marriage proposal to [[spoiler: Helen]] at the end, while not exactly anguished, is pretty emotional.

* FeminineWomenCanCook: {{Averted}}. Helen's cooking is something to be dreaded, even according to love-struck Lynley. But then, who said she is feminine?

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: DC Payne is a MommasBoy. He has a DisappearedDad. His [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smother]] runs a bed and breakfast. And he starts paying attention to a young, lonely woman. {{Lampshaded}} by Payne himself, when he remarks that it all looks very Norman Bates-ish.

[[caption-width-right:214: Is this Barbara's turn to find out that LoveHurts?]]

[[caption-width-right:214: Now that Barbara's in the foreground, is it her turn to find out that LoveHurts?]]