The episode unfolds in a flashback to a time when Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis), fresh from solving a case, heard a robbery alert crackle over the radio waves. Three years have elapsed since then, and now, in the present, Superintendent Bennett (Roger Cross) informs Tess that Josh Baker's attorney is seeking to overturn their conviction. It seems that certain facets of the initial investigation are under scrutiny, and Tess is inevitably scheduled to attend a pre-hearing session. Bennett's revelation that he's enlisted Detective Owen Cooper (Matty Finochio) from the 14th Precinct to assist doesn't sit well with her.
Almost instantly, Owen and Tess dive into a discussion about the case and Tommy Linneman. Tess' frustration with Owen reaches a boiling point, prompting her to excuse herself abruptly. As she steps away, Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi) offers comfort, reminding her that the Baker case was handled by Jake Campbell (Daniel Gillies) and that it's understandable for her to feel upset. However, Tess' reaction to Sunny's words escalates, leading her to call it a day and head home.
Later in the night, Sunny finds herself sharing a brief conversation with her newly appointed therapist.
The following morning, Linneman attempts to tarnish Tess' credibility on the witness stand by arguing that Mrs. Tuner, the victim, couldn't positively identify Baker, thereby casting doubt on the incident's authenticity. He further presses her to admit that she doesn't recall when her vision began to deteriorate.
After the trial adjourns, Tess insists that Linneman is personally targeting her, but Owen steps in to diffuse the escalating tension.
Back at the precinct, Detective Leo Li (portrayed by Tony Giroux) regales Tess with the tale of Baker's prison popularity, highlighting the mountain of fan mail he received and his inexplicable fascination with a book titled "The Number Artist," which he borrowed a staggering 28 times. When Tess proposes revisiting the witnesses, she unexpectedly finds herself in Bennett's office, where he administers a dose of harsh reality: he intends for her to take a step back, deeming her a potential risk to the investigation.
As Owen delves deeper into Emily Turner's (played by Christin Park) initial account, her回忆 becomes a tangled web of uncertainty, each strand of her story unraveling as she struggles to recount it accurately. Tess and Sunny find a moment of privacy to dissect the case, with Sunny all but conceding that their hands are tied without the crucial eyewitness testimony. Tess, steadfast in her conviction, insists she witnessed Baker fleeing the scene, yet the doubt begins to creep in, casting shadows over her certainty.
That evening, Sunny unburdens her thoughts to her new therapist, framing Tess's plight through a lens tinged with her own emotional turbulence. The therapist's attempt to redirect the conversation back to Sunny's well-being provokes a surge of irritation, leading Sunny to abruptly terminate the session.
Tess seeks solace in a conversation with Matt Alleyne (Jarod Joseph) and his girlfriend, who, in his candid manner, reminds her that her arrogance, though a fault, fuels her exceptional prowess at work. Returning to her apartment, Tess discovers Owen awaiting her, a determined resolve etched on his face. He expresses his desire to collaborate on the case, vowing to treat her with the utmost respect despite her limitations. In response, Tess reveals her vulnerability, acknowledging that her blindness necessitates occasional special treatment.
As Tess delved deeper into the case, she uncovered a crucial discrepancy: the autopsy report noted bruises on the victim's nape, yet listed the cause of death as an acute subdural hematoma inflicted by a three-pronged object. This revelation sparked suspicion that the victim might have initially been strangled from behind, followed by a blow to the forehead orchestrated by an accomplice. Owen harbored a hunch that Baker was shielding someone from the truth.
The next morning, Tess reached out to apologize for her earlier exclusion, confessing her fear of job insecurity as the real reason behind her behavior. Later that day, Tess and Owen converged with Leo to reassess the case and re-interview Emily's neighbor. Leo's frustration culminated in an abrupt demand for Tess to leave the room. Meanwhile, Tess and Sunny scoured through Baker's prison correspondence, some of which resembled childish scribbles, while most bordered on kitschy poetry.
During their interrogation, Owen observed that the neighbor possessed a glass ashtray with three points, which the neighbor claimed to have discovered in the bushes on the night of Sam Turner's murder. Just as Owen was about to relay this discovery to Tess, Bennett interrupted with a message that Baker wished to speak with her.
Baker practically confessed his guilt to Tess and Owen, citing his religious conscience and his inability to live freely on a lie. However, moments later, Sunny whispered to Tess that Baker's confession felt rehearsed, a sentiment Tess echoed. Owen added that the neighbor's DNA was absent from Turner's house, suggesting they were on the verge of a breakthrough. But before they could celebrate, Linneman stormed into the precinct, accusing the police of intimidating his client and revealing that Baker had never once communicated with his prison pastor.
As Bennett and Tess delved into the case, Bennett revealed that adjustments to their arrangement might be necessary in the future. He gently urged her to take a moment to herself, promising to delve deeper into the matter when she returned.
Later in the evening, Tess, accompanied by Sunny, was discussing the intricacies of the case. A sudden flash of insight prompted Tess to instruct her driver to alter their course. Moments later, she was questioning Emily, her next lead.
Midway through their conversation, Tess's phone buzzed. It was Owen, sharing his suspicion that they had overlooked something crucial. He mentioned that he had revisited Baker but was turned away. As Tess continued her conversation with Owen, Sunny's gaze fell upon a worn copy of "The Number Artist" perched on Emily's shelf. This discovery ignited a realization: Emily had been communicating with Baker in code, using the book as a cipher. Two notes, one expressing love and the other encouraging strength, further solidified their suspicion.
Before Tess could fully comprehend the situation, Emily launched an attack, catching her off guard. Sunny, quick-witted, advised Tess to engage Emily in conversation to stall for backup. However, Emily's fury was briefly tempered, lasting only a matter of minutes. Tess found herself in a chokehold, struggling for breath. With a last-ditch effort, she wriggled free just as Owen arrived on the scene, securing Emily's arrest.
Sunny, afterward, sought forgiveness from her therapist for abruptly leaving their session. She briefly recounted her journey, detailing her condition's progression and how she came to work alongside Tess.
In the wake of the new evidence, Linneman and Baker withdrew their appeal. Following the court proceedings, Tess extended an olive branch to Linneman, shaking his hand in a gesture of truce. He accepted, albeit reluctantly, noting that his trust in her remained tentative. Thus, the episode concluded, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved tension and anticipation for what lay ahead.
