Episode 2.5

Episode 2.5 is the fifth episode of the second season of Bulletproof, and the eleventh episode of the series overall.

Summary
WHO CAN YOU TRUST - Bishop (Noel Clarke) and Pike (Ashley Walters) search for a lead in Cyprus and find an ally in the unlikeliest of places, but things go from bad to worse in a hurry, putting the duo right back to square one. Meanwhile, suspicions grow as Eleanor (Gina Bellman) looks into Bishop's identity, forcing Tanner to try and step one step ahead.

Plot
Bishop and Alex arrive in Cyprus, and on their journey, a van with “Meliou” branding passes by. Bishop asks if that is one of the Markides’ businesses, and Alex confirms, telling a story about how his father settled in Cyprus with nothing and built up the family businesses. Moments later, Alex is alerted that they are being followed, and instructs the driver of the car to drive faster. Another vehicle begins following them moments later and causes their security detail to swerve off the road. The two vehicles begin shooting at Alex’s car and eventually cut him off and pull him from the vehicle. When Bishop remarks that he thought Alex owned the island, he remarks that he owns most of it. The men instantly regret their decision when they realise that they have attacked Alex Markides, and the leader orders his men to step down. Alex forgives them, and hands them a bag of money, telling them to share it amongst themselves.

Eleanor begins digging for information on Bishop’s false identity. This pings Munroe at the NCA, who alerts Tanner. Both seem worried that Bishop’s cover will be blown by Eleanor.

Bishop and Alex arrive at the Markides’ family home, and are welcomed by a concierge service. Alex is welcomed home by his brother Andrea, who brings lex to Stefan, the new Chief of Police in Cyprus. Stefan apologizes for the trouble Alex encountered on the road, but hands Alex the money back, citing that the men were his police, not desperados as Alex had earlier referred to them. Stefan makes it clear that he is setting the parameters of the deal. Stefan tells him that the drug trafficking on the island must stop for the sake of the next generation of youth. Moments later, Mikey enters the room and causes a harsh atmosphere before pulling a gun on the Chief. Alex makes it clear that he makes the decisions in the family, but Mikey pushes back against his uncle's control.

Pike and Bishop talk, and Bishop tells Pike that they need to speak with the Police Chief and make him aware of who they are, and that they need to make a deal.

Andrea and Alex talk about the Police Chief, and when Andre asks Bishop what he thought about the Chief, Bishop tells them that he doesn’t think the Chief’s requests were unreasonable. Andrea makes it clear that they cannot win against the Chief, and either make a deal or go to war with him.

Alex takes Bishop to the town in which he grew up. Alex explains that he could’ve made a deal at any moment, but needed someone he could trust — that someone was Brandon. Bishop asks about what Alex plans to do with Eleanor, and he reveals that he will not have vulnerable girls being sold into the sex trade, hence why he shut her down in Amsterdam. Alex leaves to spend time with his brother, and Bishop does the same, citing that he is going to spend time at the beach. Alex tells him to be careful, as he represents the Markides in Cyprus, and Bishop jokes that he is always careful.

At Meliou headquarters, Mikey explains that the business is used for washing money, and that the new Chief is threatening their lifestyle with his deal, and that they need to get rid of him. Mikey explains that he has done some digging, and reveals a box full of weapons to Pike, citing that they will need to use them to take out the Chief’s bodyguards. Mikey emphasizes that Alex has no idea of what he is capable of, and underestimates him at every opportunity.

Pike and Bishop discuss the situation regarding the Markides family, and Bishop tries to convince Pike that Alex is a good guy, despite the situation. Pike, however, refutes this, citing that no person who sells drugs on the street is a good guy, and regardless of how Bishop feels about him, they need to act with the Chief’s help. The two joke about how breaking into a Police Officer’s house to tell him they’re Police Officers is ridiculous. Once inside, they are held at gunpoint with the Chief demanding their ID’s. They remark that they’re not Markides’ and are actually NCA, but the Chief has trouble believing them, especially when he reveals he is aware of Bishop’s fake cover. Pike logs into the NCA web port and shows their NCA ID’s, which are marked as “UNDERCOVER”.

Pike and Bishop tell the Chief they are tracking Tanis Sioftanos, the Markides’ accountant, as they believe they can flip him to the NCA’s side. When Stefan reveals that he hid his family in a cupboard in fear that the two were coming to kill him, the two remark that they aren’t, but the Markides will.

Munroe, Jonesy and Paige are following Eleanor Markides. Munroe calls Tanner alerting her that Eleanor is heading into Sandrine Private Members club, and Scarlett confirms that this is the same club Bishop first made contact with Mikey Markides. Tanner gives them authorization to lift her before she looks into Bishop’s membership. Munroe and Jonesy crush up headache tablets and slip them into Eleanor’s bad before asking to search it; moments later they arrest her for the substance, and she is taken to the NCA where Tanner orders she is kept until they’re sure she is not onto Bishop.

Back at the Markides’ family home, Mikey gives a speech to the party about how the future is theirs and — directly aiming it at Alex who is watching from afar — how their elders have gone soft. The party is interrupted moments later by the Police Chief and his men, who arrest Mikey, Bishop and Pike whilst Alex watches from afar. Later, Stefan frees them from their cells and reveals that he has an address for Tanis, and that the whole thing was staged to buy them more time.

The three scope out the address and find numerous accounting books containing ledgers. They take photographs, but are unable to read the ledgers given they are written in Greek. Upstairs, they find Tanis sitting at the table and question him about the Markides family. Tanis initially denies knowing anyone by the name Markides, but is persuaded by Bishop’s threatening behaviour; in return, Tanis is offered witness protection against the Markides family. Before revealing anything, however, Tanis slits his throat. Later, Bishop asks Stefan to give him twelve hours in which he will get Alex to agree to his deal.

The following day, Bishop talks with Alex about the prospect of a normal life within the terms of the deal. Bishop is initially confused when Alex asks if Bishop would stick around post-deal and enjoy Cyprus with him and Anna, but Bishop does not reply. Alex asks Bishop to find the Chief and arrange a meeting for the deal to take place.

Stefan is picked up for the meeting by Mikey and the Markides’ muscle. When he is brought to an abandoned building, Alex shoots him in the head without hesitation, much to Mikey and Bishop’s surprise. Alex remarks that he owns the future, and tells Bishop to clean up the mess — it is clear that Bishop has lost all respect for Alex.

Meanwhile, Eleanor’s lawyer arrives to free her. Schooch and Murnoe take her to see Eleanor, and when they open the door, Eleanor instantly recognises her as the girl Pike kissed in the club. She immediately tells Alex, who receives the message aboard the private jet and realises Pike and Bishop are not who they seem.

Main Characters

 * Noel Clarke as Aaron Bishop
 * Ashley Walters as Ronald Pike Jr
 * Lindsey Coulson as Sarah Tanner
 * Jason Maza as Chris Munroe
 * David Elliot as Tim Jones
 * Olivia Chenery as Scarlett Hailton
 * Lucie Shorthouse as Paige Pennington
 * Lee Ross as Richard Cockridge
 * Vanessa Vanderpuye as Arjana Pike
 * Ben Tavassoli as Mikey Markides
 * Stavros Zalmas Alex Markides
 * Gala Gordon as Anna Markides
 * Gina Bellman as Eleanor Markides

Recurring Characters

 * Konstantinos Papamatthaiakis as Niarchos
 * Henry Zammit Cordina as Butler
 * Dimitre Andreas as Andreas
 * Yorgos Karamihos as Stefan
 * Dimitris Petropoulos as Tanis Sioftanos
 * Karen Bryson as Vanessa Daniels