The murder of a dancer who has had a lock of her hair cut off signifies to Hooker that a serial killer he pursed eight years previously is back in operation. Hooker is concerned for the only victim to survive one of the previous attacks - a dance teacher with whom he nearly fell in love - and sets about protecting her, believing that the killer will go after her again to try and finish the job.

Romano struggles with the cold hard reality of being a cop on the street when he fails to shoot a cop killer. When the killer gets released on a bargained down technicality by lying, Hooker and Romano strive to bring him to justice.