Episode 7 of *Only Murders in the Building* Season 5 kicks off with a gripping flashforward: Oliver, in a state of visible panic, pleads with a couple to save him as danger looms large. The scene then rewinds nine hours to earlier that day, where Charles, Mabel, and Oliver are huddled together, deeply engrossed in a discussion about Bash's potential involvement in the heinous murders of Lester and Nicky. Their minds are preoccupied as they gear up for a crucial interview with Mayor Tillman, bound by a stringent contract with Wondify that restricts them from mentioning Jay, Camila, or Bash on their podcast.
During the interview, Oliver, Charles, and Mabel engage Mayor Tillman in a seemingly superficial conversation, touching upon the minutiae of his professional life. A glimmer of hope flickers when the mayor expresses a desire to delve into the murder case, but Mabel swiftly shuts down the possibility, citing their contractual obligations with Wondify. Sensing an opportunity, Mayor Tillman instructs his secretary, Romy, to fetch him a cup of coffee, creating a momentary lull.
In the privacy of this pause, Tillman leans in, confiding in the trio that Bash could very well be the prime suspect they're seeking. He reveals how he's strategically placed his niece, Romy, in Bash's orbit. Bash, he explains, is not only funding his political campaign but also exerting pressure on him to approve illicit projects, leaving him with scant time to attend to the needs of his constituents.
Mayor Tillman, feeling the weight of his allegiance to Bash, addresses the trio's unspoken desires. He paints a picture of Bash as a figure operating above the law, with the police force seemingly in his pocket. With a sense of urgency, he implores them to take up the mantle of investigation, suggesting that together, they could bring Bash to justice. To aid their quest, Mayor Tillman provides them with the address to Bash's opulent estate, where a clandestine gathering with Jay and Camilla is reportedly underway.
Just as Romy returns with Tillman's coffee, signaling the end of their private exchange, the trio prepares to depart. Mabel and Charles, sensing the gravity of the situation, coerce Oliver into accompanying them to Bash's secluded estate in Connecticut. Upon arrival, Oliver, feeling a sense of helplessness, manages to send a frantic text to Loretta, informing her that he's being taken against his will. However, his message is cut short as he loses cell service before he can disclose that he's in the company of Mabel and Charles.
At the sprawling estate, the trio stumbled upon Bash, Jay, and Camilla engrossed in a children's game—Operation. When pressed, the trio of businesspeople sheepishly admitted that board games were merely their way of unwinding. Intrigued, Mable, Charles, and Oliver decided to shadow Jay, Bash, and Camilla individually to uncover their true motives.
Oliver approached Camilla to discuss the offer on his apartment. She casually reminded him to express his gratitude for the stylish makeover she had orchestrated. Already on edge, Oliver's anxiety skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Bash reassured Charles that he was no murderer and had not deceived him through a dating app masquerade.
Simultaneously, Mable confronted Jay about his audacious move to ask her out on a date shortly after practically dismantling her podcast by acquiring Wondify. Jay, in a bid to salvage his image, insisted he was no villain and divulged that Bash, Camilla, and he were embroiled in a wager.
Mable relayed this revelation to Charles and Oliver, who promptly confronted Bash and Camilla about the bet. Seizing the moment, Mable proposed a board game showdown. She stipulated that if they lost, the investigation would cease, but if they triumphed, Jay, Bash, and Camilla would have to divulge all details of the bet.
Oliver, overwhelmed by the unfolding events, opted to retreat to the safety of his home. Left to their own devices, Mable and Charles faced off against Bash, Camilla, and Jay in a high-stakes guessing game called Celebrity. Drawing on their extensive knowledge of Broadway gleaned from countless conversations with Oliver over the years, Mable and Charles emerged victorious.
Forced into a corner, Bash, Camilla, and Jay finally confessed the nature of their bet. They had been vying for a colossal contract, with the winner claiming the rights to New York City's inaugural casino. The businessman further clarified that he had erased the CCTV footage from the night of Oliver's wedding solely out of a desire for privacy.
Realization dawned on Mable as she deduced that the trio had stashed the incriminating finger inside the trophy. Seizing the opportunity, she snatched the trophy and resolved to depart the estate with Charles.
Meanwhile, Oliver found himself hopelessly lost in the woods on his journey home. When his phone finally regained reception, he discovered that Loretta had alerted the authorities, triggering a "Silver Alert" to mobilize locals in the search for a missing elderly person. Serendipitously, Oliver stumbled upon two locals and struck up a conversation, unaware of the adventures that lay ahead.
Just at that pivotal moment, Mable and Charles made a desperate bid to flee from Bash's opulent estate. Jay, ever the vigilant gatekeeper, tried to bar their way, but Mable, with her silver tongue and persuasive charm, managed to talk him into letting them slip away. As they were making their hasty exit, Charles, his emotions laid bare, confessed to Mable that she was his true family, and a gnawing fear of losing her gripped his heart.
Suddenly, like a deus ex machina, Oliver roared into view on a rusty tractor, his eyes ablaze with determination. With a deft maneuver, he aided their escape, whisking them away before Bash, Camilla, and Jay could muster any resistance.
Back in the cozy confines of Charles' apartment, the trio huddled together, their minds racing as they tried to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing finger and its cryptic connection to the looming casino project. Just then, Camilla, like a venomous serpent slithering into their midst, made her presence known. With a menacing glint in her eye, she threatened to unleash a hail of bullets upon them.
In a swift move, she snatched the missing finger from their grasp, her voice dripping with malice as she revealed her grandiose plans. She intended to transform the venerable Arconia into a sprawling casino, a den of vice and greed. And as if to add insult to injury, she casually disclosed that it was she who had made the infamous offer on Oliver's beloved apartment, her words echoing ominously in the room.
