Pembleton and Bayliss investigate the death of an elderly woman who's been decaying in her house for a month. Munch and Bolander investigate the murder of Sam Thorne, a crusader and a good friend of Giardello. Ironically, it's Gee who finds sympathy for the killer, a mentally slow teenager who has been set up. When Felton has no luck in his search for his family, he turns to Russert for comfort. Since Lewis and Bayliss are not speaking to each other, Munch desperately tries to find anyone to invest in the bar.

When Howard and Felton are summoned to a grisly crime scene, Kay snaps and heads home to the Chesapeake Bay. Back home, she's soon investigating the murder of a local conservationist- most likely by a drunken oysterman. Howard thinks the killer might be her old flame, Chick Tawes. Howard still has feelings for Tawes, but her instincts say he's involved with the murder. Haskett's house is searched and an oyster knife and bloody shirt are found. Meanwhile, back in Baltimore, Giardello assigns Pembleton as Felton's temporary partner. To their surprise, they work well together and come to an under-standing.