7th January 2022

Clare cradles Stacey the following morning, and over comes Dan, who clearly slept at Clare's. Clare asks about his affiliation with Carla. Dan tells her that they both know each other from the business world. Dan asks about Bill, and opens up about his interest in the Bistro before he was gazumped. Clare reveals that she is worried about him. Clare realises fully that Chris did Bill dirty, and it could be the reason he left for Rachel's. Nikki asks how Samantha's Christmas was as they chat behind the reception counter. She complains about Mike getting too drunk at the party. Clare storms in and wants to know more about Bill's departure now knowing about his interest in the Bistro. Samantha tells him that Chris pushes him too far. Clare is offended as Samantha tells her not to kick up a fuss. Jane catches Chris at the cafe and he needs to sit down. Chris tells her that he is struggling to walk properly. Chris stops Jane from calling the ambulance. Jane sits with Chris at the cafe. Dan pops over at Underworld and asks if he left his notepad. Carla grabs it for him, and he jokes about her reading it. Dan asks for her coffee, and Carla tells him that she'll let him know. Carla tells Charlene in the kitchen upstairs that she doesn't intend to schmooze Dan any further as its clearly what he wants. Charlene thinks Carla is tough and gives her her coffee. Clare and Dan walk past Laura's bar and close to the cafe and discuss how Clare thinks she knows why Bill left. Clare catches Jane with Chris and hurls abuse at his bullying antics. Dan is put off and leaves to check on Alvin after he ran off earlier that day from seeing the police at LL, while Jane insists that Chris cannot walk. Mike hurries over and assists Chris to his car with Jane. Clare stands by feeling guilty for her accusation. Nikki assists Chris as he reaches the hospital. Jane tells Samantha, and mentions her anger towards Chris. Samantha tells Jane that Clare will soon drop the case, but Jane fears that she won't. Samantha is curious as to why she doesn't want Clare to find out too much. Nikki makes an assessment of Chris leg, and realises that he will need physio to get back on top form.
At the RR, Tracey reflects on how amazing her time with Ian and the kids was in Wales. Tracey tells her that the kids are staying at Cilla's. Becca tells her that she's always wanted to go Wales. David and Natasha get a drink and hear about Tracey's stay. Candace serves up the couple's drinks and Becca considers having another weekend away. Ian arrives just as Tracey vows to leave. David insists she stays. Candace offers to look after Amy again if she needs to, and Becca is delighted and considers it. Candace heads home after a long day. She bumps into Matt after his shift at the diner. Matt suggests doing to Laura's bar, and Candace agrees, and also wants to get food. Ian and David chat about losing weight as their New Years Resolution. Tracey, bored, heads to the bar as Lydia comes in for her shift. Becca thinks that weekends away are great as she can try for babies with Steve. Tracey learns of it, and wishes the couple luck. Lydia is taken aback as Becca voices to Tracey how Candace is more than willing to look after Amy again. Becca notices that Lydia is in a foul mood and tells her to bring a barrel of beer from the cellar.David joins Tracey at the bar and expresses the awkwardness that Tracey is radiating. Tracey tells him to stop pretending he isn't aware. David is left shell-shocked. Does Tracey think he like her? Matt and Candace get cosy at the bar, and Matt feeds her. Rick reminds them to make the most of the honey-moon phase as he serves the food. Lydia tells Becca and tells her that she's worried about Ricky, as Elsie is sick and pregnant. Lydia feels bad for mentioning the pregnancy. Becca insists she can look after the bar and tells her to go home. Candace gets tipsy and the pair stumble outside the bar, where Lydia is. Lydia runs her mouth at Candace for offering to babysit. Matt is also slightly taken aback. Candace stands up for herself and tells Lydia to reveal all because she simply doesn't care at all now. Lydia tells Matt that that performance came from her 'girlfriend'. Matt warns Lydia to watch her tongue. Lydia tells him that she cant believe what she ever saw in him. Tracey tells Ian that she's heading off to Cilla's to pick up Adam and Beth. David has his eye on her.
Dan heads to Micheal's and finds that Alvin is ready to leave, with his back pack. Dan asks what's the matter. Alvin realises he can't do this anymore. Dan stops him from leaving and tells him to sit down and talk to him. Aaron explains to a bound and gagged Amanda that they are going to Leighton Locks to clear the safe because Alvin won't do it. Aaron laughs as Amanda insists that Alvin isn't that kind of man, and calls her a stupid bitch; further mocking her relationship she had with Harry. Amanda spits at him, and he pulls her by her hair out the door. Aaron pushes the gun into her and they carefully walk and hide en-route to the salon. Alvin tells Dan that Aaron is into him and wants his share back. Dan is confused as he learns that Alvin was going to stitch up his girlfriend. Dan thinks that's a new low, even for him, but Alvin reveals that he cares about Amanda and has shares in the salon now. Dan thinks that it's convenient he has shares in a salon, as it hides the money that's owed to Aaron. Aaron checks inf the coast ins clear, as he enter the salon. Aaron struggles with Amanda who bravely puts up a fight and knocks a plant pot, which smashes. Elle can hear it, and can see that Aaron has Amanda by gun point. Elle is about to reach for her phone, but fails to as Aaron gets in and throws Amanda to the floor, and locks the doors. Aaron takes his gun, and searches the place. Elle hides behind a couch in the corner. She's frightened, while Aaron calls Alvin. Dan tells Alvin that Amanda is better off without him and is about to walk out. Alvin gets a call from Aaron who tells him that he has Amanda by gun point at the salon. Dan tells him that he's going to call the police, and Alvin stops him and tells him to remain on standby. Alvin arrives and Aaron shoots, to get him to do as he says. Alvin looks at Amanda, and she looks back horrified and disgusted. Aaron sits down and tells Alvin to reveal their plan. Alvin fails to do so, so Aaron reveals to Amanda how Alvin was supposed to fork over a percentage of her money. Aaron rips off Amanda's mouth tape, and asks him if that's true. Aaron laughs as Alvin tells her that he changed his mind. Alvin vocally highlights how Aaron's desperate measures have only surfaced because he saw sense and vowed to ditch the plan. Amanda struggles to believe Alvin given that the police indicted that Alvin was here alone the other day, and drank the scotch. Amanda wants to know how he knew she would fork over that amount of money. Aaron gleefully reveals how he stitched up Marc Jackson to win over Amanda. Elle listens and is horrified by what she's hearing. Dan rushes to Alvin's office and calls 999 as Marc remains unconscious on the floor, Amanda pleads Aaron to take his money. Alvin leads Aaron to the safe, as Amanda tries to scream. As she does so, Alvin tackles Aaron who is holding the gun, and they both collapse through the office glass windows on to the floor. Aaron gains control of the gun and as he is about to shoot Alvin, Elle grabs his legs and Aaron shoots through the salon front windows. Aaron pulls the trigger on Elle and Alvin jumps on to him. The pair grapple over the gun and someone is indeed shot. Dan rushes out of the solicitors office in fear that someone has been shot. But who?