The episode kicks off with Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi), her fists pounding relentlessly against the heavy bag in the confines of her apartment, her mind replaying the harrowing memory of her attack. Meanwhile, Lucas Avery (Alec Santos) dials Tess Avery's (Dolly Lewis) number, his voice trembling as he confesses his botched encounter with Craig. Tess, ever the supportive sister, offers to meet him, but Lucas, overwhelmed with emotion, abruptly ends the call.
Determined to seek answers, Tess convenes with Dionne Okeke, their conversation centered around the mysterious disappearance of Dionne's daughter, Aretha. Dionne produces security footage from their church, capturing the eerie last moments of Aretha's presence. As Tess exits the meeting, she tries in vain to reconnect with Lucas, her messages going unanswered in the void of his silence.
Guided by Sunny's keen instincts, Tess navigates the halls of Four Street Baptist Church, where she overhears an animated dispute between Pastor Nnamdi Okeke and choir director Stephen. Tess's timely interruption draws Nnamdi's stern gaze, who declares his unwavering commitment to protecting his family, not the congregation. Stephen, sensing an opportunity to assist, inquires how he and his son Reggie can be of service. Tess probes them for details about Aretha's final sighting, prompting Reggie to reveal that Aretha had started arriving late to choir rehearsals. Stephen, however, is abruptly pulled away by a phone call, leaving Tess and Reggie alone.
In a hushed tone, Tess senses Reggie's hesitation, prompting him to confess that Aretha had quit school three months prior, instructing him to keep her secret. He speculates that her decision might be linked to a secret romance.
Tess then meets with Detective Leo Li (Tony Giroux) to examine Aretha's car, the interior bearing telltale signs of a struggle. Leo's keen eye spots a guitar pick, inscribed with affectionate words – "For my #1 soloist, love STP." Sunny's sharp mind quickly connects the dots, recognizing STP as an abbreviation for STP Importers, Steven's company. Moreover, the pick bears an identical symbol to one found in Aretha's music book at the church, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding mystery.
All of this unfolds, culminating in Sunny's realization that Aretha once belonged to a band that graced the stage of a local watering hole ever since she abandoned her college studies. However, this revelatory dialogue is abruptly halted when Superintendent Bennett (played by Roger Cross) phones Tess to convey the shocking news of Stephen's assault at the church.
Upon reaching the church, Tess learns from Leo that Stephen has been stabbed repeatedly. Leo further informs her that forensic experts discovered specks of a mysterious white substance embedded in Stephen's wounds. Additionally, they found pink strands of hair adhering to his body. Tess promptly shares with Leo her observation of Aretha donning a pink wig during her stage performances.
While Tess interrogates Nnamdi, Leo focuses his inquiries on Reggie. Tess also delves into the subject of Nnamdi's estranged son, Fraser, whom he claims fell prey to drugs and has since been excised from their family life. Tess catches Nnamdi off balance by bringing up the guitar pick.
Later, Bennett, Leo, and Tess convene to scrutinize the case. Reggie presents a solid alibi for the attack, prompting Tess to reveal the cut on Nnamdi’s hand. Bennett mentions that Stephen's company's financial records have just been received, to which Tess responds by saying she knows someone who could assist in analyzing them.
After Matt Alleyne (portrayed by Jarod Joseph) examines Stephen’s finances, he uncovers a series of small payments made three months prior to Dionne. Considering this timeline coincides with Aretha's withdrawal from school, Sunny surmises that Dionne is withholding crucial information.
Bennett informs Leo that a uniformed officer at the church discovered a discarded cell phone in the trash. Presently, he suspects it belongs to Stephen. Leo confirms that Reggie and Dionne's alibi holds water. Curiously, Nnamdi fails to show up for his pastoral meeting, but even more intriguing is the CCTV footage showing someone matching Aretha’s description in the vicinity of the church on the night Stephen was attacked.
Tess grilled Dionne about the money that Nnamdi had handed over, to which Dionne responded, asserting that it was meant for her and some individual named Fraser. She revealed that they had reconciled months prior, much to Nnamdi's feigned ignorance. Dionne further mentioned that Fraser hadn't been in touch with Aretha, although he was aware of her involvement in a band. She speculated that Nnamdi was aware of the money's origin from Stephen, which explained his furious demeanor at the church.
Later, Matt, Tess, and Sunny delved into the case's intricacies, their conversation abruptly halted as Matt and Tess arrived at the hospital. There, Tess encountered Reggie to discuss his father's affairs. Reggie inquired about Aretha's whereabouts, unaware of her musical pursuits. Tess informed him of their ongoing search, adding that Reggie's unawareness of Aretha's band made sense given her perpetual fatigue. Tess also asked if Reggie knew about his father assisting Fraser, to which he shook his head.
Sunny led Tess through the crime scene, their chat turning to matters of family. When Tess steered the conversation towards Sunny's therapist, Sunny abruptly steered it elsewhere. As they scoured the area, Tess discovered a freshly repaired patch on the drywall. Behind it lay the very drywall saw used to stab Stephen. Additionally, the white flecks found in Stephen's wound were confirmed to be drywall dust. Leo played a voicemail where Nnamdi threatened Stephen, adding another layer to the mystery.
Bennett and Tess confronted Nnamdi, presenting him with a video of Aretha's band performing at a bar. Mistaking it for Aretha's whereabouts, Nnamdi was swiftly corrected. He recounted his struggle with alcohol upon arriving in Canada, claiming sobriety after Fraser's birth, which led to their estrangement. He admitted to a brief relapse after Aretha's disappearance but insisted he was at an AA meeting on the night Stephen was attacked. When questioned about the threatening voicemail, Tess deduced it was a forgery.
In a private session, Leo, Tess, and Bennett listened to the tape again, confirming its authenticity as a fake. Tess sought Matt's expertise, who revealed that the tape was created at 10:37 PM, post-attack. During this analysis, Tess received a memo from Leo, alerting her to the scent at the church—a cleaning product known as Bar Blitz.
Tess ventures into the bar where Aretha once serenaded patrons, immediately hit by a nostalgic wave of familiarity in its scent. Interrogating one of the waitresses, Tess casually drops the bombshell that someone at their mutual church had suffered an injury. This revelation pulls Aretha out of her seclusion like a magnet, her voice filled with urgency as she enquires if Stephen is the one harmed.
Aretha confesses to Tess her recent sojourn and employment at the bar, shrouded in secrecy. Tess, persistent and heartfelt, finally pierces through Aretha's defenses by sharing the poignant tale of her mother's demise. Convinced at last, Tess rushes back to the hospital, only to find Stephen's life slipping away mere twenty minutes prior. In a poignant farewell, Tess wonders aloud if jealousy over Aretha's bond with Stephen fueled his actions. He responds with a smile, claiming it actually fueled his dedication to audio engineering studies. Tess calls his bluff, sparking a fit of anger in him.
Enter Aretha, who spills the beans on Reggie's blackmail scheme: he threatened to expose her for playing in the band and abandoning her studies unless she succumbed to his advances. When Avery warned Stephen, Reggie struck first, silencing him forever before he could intervene. After a tense exchange, Reggie's guilt is laid bare as he reluctantly confesses, claiming ignorance of his actions' gravitas. His composure shatters, prompting Tess to intervene and subdue him.
Post-crisis, Tess and Sunny engage in a heart-to-heart, discussing the merits of transparency. Sunny voices her fear of being labeled crazy by a therapist. Tess reassures her, highlighting her own experience with countless individuals in law enforcement and emphasizing Sunny's indomitable spirit.
Later, Matt and Tess find solace in Aretha's mesmerizing performance at the bar. The episode concludes on a poignant note, with a tearful and anxious Lucas arriving unannounced at Tess's doorstep, his worry etched across his face.
