Emmerdale‘s Vanessa Woodfield makes a difficult decision tonight as she risks losing her sister Tracy Robinson for good.
Vanessa is put on the spot when she’s asked to give a false alibi to help Tracy escape scrutiny over the death of her estranged husband Nate.
Thursday’s episode sees Tracy remain the prime suspect in the murder case after John Sugden’s sly attempts to frame her.
Desperate to get out of trouble, Tracy tells the police that Vanessa can confirm her whereabouts on the day that Nate disappeared from the village.
Vanessa is horrified when Tracy makes it clear that she expects her to back up this story in front of the police.
Sure enough, the detectives soon come calling at the vets and put pressure on Vanessa to confirm whether she’s willing to give an official statement.
Poor Vanessa is left feeling like a rabbit in the headlights, as she doesn’t remember being with Tracy for the full period in question.
Rather than lie for her sister, Vanessa ultimately keeps herself out of trouble by declining to back her up.
Vanessa’s choice has far-reaching consequences. Not only does it increase the risk of Tracy being charged with a murder she didn’t commit, Vanessa is also facing the upsetting prospect that Tracy may never forgive her lack of support.
The emotional developments come after the police manage to pin-point Nate’s death to the day that he disappeared in September last year.
The investigators are now concentrating on a specific period of time, with Tracy and Cain Dingle both in the frame.
John, the real killer, has so far managed to avoid any suspicion over the case. But with his brother Robert heading back to the village soon, could this soon change?