Nico Bajetzky, the operator of a scrap yard, is found shot to death in his car on the banks of the Spree. The act almost looks like an execution. The investigators are anything but welcome on the farm of the family business that specializes in electronics recycling. Is it just sadness, or does the widow Daniela Bajetzky have something to hide? Robert Heffler sneaks into the company undercover and learns a lot about the dynamics within the scrapyard family, about envy and resentment. Tom Bajetzky, Nico's brother, comes under suspicion; But Sandro Reichert, the boss of a competing company from Brandenburg, also seems to have questionable motives. Meanwhile, Stella is suspected of dealing weed at school. She remains stubbornly silent about the allegations.

Petra Berger is found dead at her dining room table - bound and gagged. In front of her are a pot of tea, a moldy sandwich and a withered apple. Inspectors Heffler and Neumann also discover that the house was pelted with paint bombs. The victim's hair is smeared with red paint. A ritual murder? Robert realizes that an example has been made here. But why?