The Jeffersonian team attends a forensic science convention with Brennan delivering the keynote speech, only to discover the remains of a body in a stairwell at the convention. With numerous convention attendees offering help and their products, evidence points to Dr. Hodgins as a suspect and the team has to find a way to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Brennan runs into her publishing rival, Tess Brown and "squintern" Wendell Bray has news about his cancer diagnosis and returns to work with Jeffersonian team.

After severely damaged human remains are discovered under a merry-go-round, the Jeffersonian team begins a complicated investigation of a billion dollar hedge fund company. When the victim's boss becomes a prime suspect in the investigation, the case takes a major turn as the team uncovers incriminating evidence against the victim. Meanwhile, the investigation becomes increasingly difficult as Aubrey feels an emotional connection to the case, and Booth and Brennan are at odds when Christine curses for the first time.