Of all places, a long-sought-after serial arsonist tampers with Mick's car. The perpetrator turns out to be a minor girl: Julia Brinkmann. Mick and Andreas aren't responsible for arson—until they find a dead body in a burned-out car wreck. It's Greta Gerlach, the ex-wife of a construction magnate, at whose wedding Greta had drunk plenty of champagne and then taken a nap in her parked car.

Mick and Andreas investigate at the Essen Police Academy, where they both trained—at different times, of course. Young police officer Silke Dresbach, who was determined to become the first woman in Essen's special task force, was murdered there. Did "conservative forces" at the academy want to prevent Silke from taking this career step? According to academy commander Thea Kiesling, Mick's assumption is completely absurd.