Picking up after the explosive fall finale, Hodgins is eight weeks into his rehabilitation for his paralysis and forced to navigate life in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, Brennan and Booth investigate the death of a public defender who had multiple defendants from previous cases with motives to kill her.

The Jeffersonian investigates the decomposing body of a social worker in the park, but evidence suggests the killer lived with the body for months before dumping it. Things get even more complicated when they determine another set of remains has similar details which link the multiple victims to a serial murderer who had sinister interactions with his victims' bodies. Booth and Aubrey consult with behavioral analyst Karen Delfs to help with clues to the killer's identity while Cam tries to determine what (and who) she wants in her romantic life.