Bullard asks Barnaby to investigate the disappearance of Lucy Oliver, the daughter of some friends. Lucy was a member of the Oblong Foundation, a new age cult based at Malham Hall. Jones returns from leave, with a beard, and Barnaby seizes the opportunity to send him into the cult, undercover, as new recruit Cosmo Jones. In return for the favour, Barnaby and Sarah ask Bullard to help them secure a place for their dog Sykes with Bullard’s sister Millie. She’s a dog minder but is very particular.The Lamberts’ lawyer Susan Crane reveals her clients withdrew thousands of pounds from their account, supposedly for gambling. Barnaby tries to find out who might have borrowed money from the Lamberts. Carolyn was an avid smoker and everyone knew she lit up while on the phone. Did a phone call cause a spark which triggered the explosion – and was it deliberate?