The mayor blames Mannion for riots in the streets when the chief refuses to fire an officer accused of police brutality. In other events, a friend and informant of Temple's is injured during a drug deal and Ella's husband gives Mannion some alarming news.

Mannion goes west to take some rest from Ella's death and his recent dismissal. During a game of golf in Arizona, he finds a severed human finger on the course and brings it to a local sheriff, beginning an investigation that leads them to a Mexican drug lord and dirty cops. Meanwhile, back in D.C., Mannion's ex-wife Sherry meets Vanessa when she arrives at headquarters looking for him.