Episode 2 of Scarpetta commences with a flashback to Miami, 1978. A youthful Kay, clad in a floral apron, assists her father in his bustling grocery store. Suddenly, a gang of thieves storms in, stealing the store and ruthlessly murdering her father in the process.
In the present, Scarpetta observes a skin graft on Gwen's leg and promptly dispatches a sample for DNA testing. Concurrently, we learn that Dorothy and Marino have been residing at Benton and Scarpetta's abode for some time, awaiting the completion of their own house, which will take another month. Meanwhile, Lucy continues her intimate conversations with AI Janet.
After a grueling night of work, Scarpetta returns home to the familiar din of Dorothy's discontent over Marino's renewed collaboration with her. She also engages in a heated argument with Scarpetta about Lucy's over-reliance on the AI. Scarpetta and Matt head out to work, with Scarpetta once again voicing her regret about returning.
In the past, young Scarpetta is introduced to her new colleague Wingo. He shares that fibers from Lori's dress were discovered on Matt's hunting knife. Marino and Benton administer a polygraph test on Matt, but the results are unremarkable. Around this time, Scarpetta also meets Dr. Reddy, who she quickly deduces wanted her job but didn't get it. Dr. Reddy then encounters Maggie, Scarpetta's new secretary.
Marino and Scarpetta then visit the homes of the other victims (Brenda, Patty, and Cecile) and attempt to delve into the killer's mind. They also seek to uncover a pattern among the victims, noting that Cecile is the sole black woman while the others are white. Scarpetta points out that Lori was the only one who wasn't single and that the killer used phone cords on her instead of a lamp cord.
In the present, Scarpetta and Marino discuss the skin graft on Gwen's leg. Since they haven't been able to locate Matt Peterson, they call Lucy and ask for her help in finding him. Meanwhile, Benton is sworn in at the FBI, where his former boss warmly welcomes him. He is introduced to his new colleague, Sierra, whose team has been investigating Gwen's case prior to her death. Sierra informs him about the case and cautions him to keep it all from his wife – including the fact that they are currently in possession of Gwen's phone.
The narrative unfolds with interspersed scenes of Sierra sharing intricate details of the case with Benton, while Scarpetta and Marino conduct their own independent investigation. We come to learn that Gwen's work involved the cutting-edge field of 3D printing human organs and that she was entrusted with highly sensitive information, collaborating with governments on confidential projects. Her landlord reveals that she rented the place for just three months, yet the house appears practically vacant. He also mentions that she had a boyfriend named Jinx Slater, a hacker who was obsessed with her, as per her neighbors' accounts. As expected, Scarpetta ponders over the whereabouts of her phone.
Flashing back in time, Benton discovers that Gwen might have encountered Lori at the ER when she sustained a minor injury. Just then, Maggie enters the room and informs Scarpetta that someone has attempted to hack into her computer to access the Peterson case files. For some inexplicable reason, Scarpetta suspects Lucy might be behind it, though she vehemently denies it. Lucy is also upset as Dorothy called to inform her that she's married a man in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, at present, Officer Fruge calls Marino and hints that Jinx is a hacker and that the police require external assistance to track him down. Over dinner, Lucy shares with the others that she's found Matt Person, now going by the alias Yama Matthew Pete, living on some kind of farm.
The closing scene depicts the killer unwrapping a package in a motel room. Inside are Gwen's severed hands. The episode ends as he methodically chops off a finger.
