The episode kicks off with Tess Avery (played by Dolly Lewis), expertly crafting French toast for brunch, her earpiece buzzing with conversation as she engages with Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi). She gracefully serves her assembled guests, including Matt Alleyne (Jarod Joseph), Lucas Avery (Alec Santos), Craig Young (Ian Collins), and a host of others, all gathered in cheerful camaraderie. Yet, beneath the surface, she notices a palpable tension between Lucas and Craig. Meanwhile, the tranquil scene is abruptly shattered by the news of a woman being gunned down while jogging along a serene trail.
Moments later, Craig confides in Tess his mistrust of Lucas but asserts that the wedding plans will proceed undisturbed. Her thoughts are interrupted by a call from Detective Leo Li (Tony Giroux), who inquiries if she completed the academy module on plastic firearms. She confirms, while he sheepishly admits having forgotten. He then sombrely informs her of the murder of Angela Devine (Leanne Buchanan), a 44-year-old woman found deceased in $600 shoes, the victim of blue plastic 0.9mm bullets, suggesting a coordinated effort involving multiple weapons. Tess expertly guides Leo to the location from where the assailant fired a 3D-printed "ghost gun."
At the police precinct, Leo and Tess delve deeper into the case when Owen (Matty Finochio) enters the room. Sunny scrolls through her to-do list, contemplating her next move and reaching out to Kye (Ennis Esmer), expressing a desire to rekindle their connection. Meanwhile, Leo grills Farley (Matt Mazur) about his whereabouts on the day of Angela's murder. Farley maintains he spent hours parked and then ferried across, arriving late. He recounts Angela's formidable demeanor and the wealth they amassed together. Tess, waiting patiently for Farley to depart, strategically bumps into him, checking his pulse discreetly once he's out of earshot. She reveals to Leo that Farley's heartbeat is accelerated.
Owen interrupts their discussion with news of another shooting—42-year-old Maz (Vincent Tong) hit by a plastic bullet in Strathcona. Maz, recovering, confides in Leo and Tess about his venture, "Shoe by Maz," speculating that his assailant fired from behind his property. Tess postulates a jealous competitor might be behind the attack, but Maz dismisses this, revealing he's taken out another substantial loan for a new shoe line. He mentions catching a glimpse of the shooter's white hand.
Back at the precinct, Leo and Tess mentally piece together the shootings. Leo receives an alert confirming Farley's alibi, clearing him as Angela's shooter. Sunny calls in, shedding light on Maz's dire financial situation—his business refinanced twice, barely keeping afloat. Owen wonders aloud about the connection between Maz and Angela, two seemingly unrelated victims now bound by tragedy.
At Maz's establishment, Tess and Leo grill two employees, Chloe (played by Nichole Munoz) and Robbie (portrayed by Djouliet Amara), who both hold Maz in high esteem. Robbie exclaims that individuals would eagerly go to any lengths to secure their positions at the company. Chloe reveals to them that if Maz were to modernize his "antiquated" shoe designs, it could potentially bolster his market share by an astonishing 400%. Robbie, on the other hand, warns that if the company were to go public, Maz would relinquish his grip on control. When Tess inquires about their whereabouts the previous evening, Robbie asserts that he was at a bash at the Dragon Boat Club, while Chloe, struggling to recall, consults her schedule. Sunny, observant as ever, notes Chloe's left-handedness. Chloe admits she skipped her family dinner and retired early.
At the police station, Tess postulates that Chloe might be scheming to seize control of Maz's business. Owen mentions that Angela's ex-husband claims she had little regard for Farley, and he questions Chloe further, hindered by her lack of an alibi. Sunny draws attention to a digital creation (3D printing) membership card lying on Chloe's desk. Later, at the workshop, Robbie discloses that Maz had ordered an early closure, yet Chloe continued working. Sunny detects a 3D heel design reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower. Robbie reassures her that Maz would never sanction such a design.
Tess contacts Matt to ascertain if he has any updates regarding the Makersmarket 3D printer. Matt reveals that Chloe had printed a firearm along with dozens of bullets. At the police station, Owen informs Tess and Leo that the bullets found with Chloe match those used in the shooting, originating from the same batch. Elsewhere, Sunny pens a heartfelt letter to Varmeet Sharma, detailing her emotions after being absent for a year. In a voicemail, she expresses gratitude to Kye for urging her to seek counseling, which has been immensely helpful. She apologizes for her deceit and vows never to repeat the mistake again.
In a restaurant setting, Leo, Tess, and Owen deliberate over the case. Sunny remarks on the absence of any online information regarding Maz's treatment of his staff. Li examines the board created by Sunny, depicting Chloe aiming at Angie. A second string extends from an unidentified shooter to Maz, prompting Li to quip about it resembling a Hitchcock flick. Sunny corrects him, reminding him it's akin to "Strangers on a Train." Li enlightens Tess about the movie's premise where killers trade murders. Owen observes that neither killer has a direct connection to their respective victim. Tess recalls who had an impeccable alibi for the morning of Angie's murder – Farley. He is summoned for questioning, with Owen and Tess pointing out that the wake commenced at six, yet he didn't arrive until 7:33. Furthermore, they discover he might also be left-handed. Tess questions Farley about his whereabouts before the wake, to which he responds that he was at home. Owen confronts him with CCTV footage showing him elsewhere. He asks if Farley had a gun in his pocket, suggesting he could have targeted Maz.
Tess pondered whether Farley was haunted by the fear that his accomplice might be hot on his trail. The interrogators pressed him, demanding to know who had tasked him with shooting Maz and who had pulled the trigger on Angie on his behalf. Farley shouted back, insisting he was a stranger to them, having never crossed paths before. Meanwhile, Sunny dispatched a message to Varneet Sharma, affirming that the separation had been beneficial for her growth, yet instantly fretting over her actions.
Li and Owen reminded Farley of his role in orchestrating Angie's demise, warning that if his partner remained at large, he would bear the brunt of the blame. Farley revealed that their connection had sprouted online, within the realm of a game titled "Bones of Dogs." It was during a stakeout within this virtual world that he encountered "berstarkers." Burdened by work pressures and personal woes, respectively, they formed a bond. Berstarkers claimed that Maz, the shoe guru, had made inappropriate advances towards his spouse, potentially assaulting her, leaving her terrified to venture out. Farley, having vented his frustrations about Angie's hostility towards Maz, found Berstarkers intrigued by the plot of the film "Strangers on a Train."
Farley conceded to being swayed by the idea of aiding his distressed virtual friend. Berstarkers, offering an untraceable firearm and volunteering to eliminate Angie, proposed that Farley should reciprocate by taking out Maz. Farley admitted to having approached Maz with the intent to miss, professing his inability to take a life. Instructed to dispose of the weapon in a trash bin behind a strip mall on Fraser Street, Farley was consumed by anxiety, fearing retribution from his mysterious collaborator.
Tess and her team embarked on a mission to locate the gun and identify the alleged victim, Berstarkers' wife or girlfriend. Tess briefed Li on Sunny's unsuccessful social media search, which painted Maz solely as a design genius. Agreeing to delve deeper, Sunny shared her concerns about her unfinished homework and her uncertain hopes of hearing from Kye, though she had reached out to her mother through a letter. Tess announced their next move: infiltrating Matt's office to dive into "Bones of Dogs," utilizing Farley's avatar to unmask Berstarkers.
Sunny received a message from Kye, inquiring about her evening plans. Meanwhile, Matt and Tess collaborated, grilling fellow gamers. Sunny's online sleuthing unveiled Susan Gill, who had apparently assisted Maz in polishing his online image. Further exploration revealed the "Chloe Vancouver Shoe by Maz" and a distressing image, seemingly depicting Maz harassing Robbie at a party. Tess engaged Berstarkers on the gun and Farley's near-miss, to which Berstarkers responded by emphasizing his wife's resolve.
Sunny discovered a picture that hinted at years of potential abuse suffered by Robbie at Maz's hands. Tess speculated that what had once been Robbie's dream job had morphed into a suffocating trap. Berstarkers, refusing a face-to-face meeting and terminating Farley's avatar after deeming one setup sufficient, insisted that Farley must make another attempt. Sunny informed Tess of Maz's practice of hiring someone to scrub away any negative online presence, revealing his exploitation of female employees. The picture painted a grim scenario, with Robbie potentially enduring years of assault. Tess believed that Robbie's dream had turned into a prison of her own making.
Sunny reveals that's the very reason she remained silent until she reached her breaking point. The firearm was conspicuously absent from the trash bin. She expertly navigates Tess through Maz's cluttered workshop, where they discover Maz sprawled on the floor, with Robbie aiming a gun at him. Robbie swiftly shifts his aim to Tess, who pleadingly attempts to persuade him to lower his weapon. With a heart-wrenching confession, Robbie unmasks Maz's dark secrets—grooming her, tearing her down, and ultimately sexually abusing her under the guise of shaping her into someone new. In a harrowing moment, Robbie pulls the trigger, ending Maz's life.
Tess reveals that Robbie had cleverly utilized Chloe's club membership to fabricate the gun, emphasizing the need for Robbie to recount his ordeal in court. Boldly stepping in front of Robbie, Tess tries to disarm her, her voice a mixture of determination and plea. Robbie admits to murdering a stranger solely to ensure her own fate intertwined with Robbie's demise. Tess manages to seize the gun, averting further tragedy.
Farley's release from custody coincides with Robbie's arrest, adding a twist to the unfolding drama. Kye arrives, bearing flowers for Sunny, who receives a message just then. Addressing Kye, she expresses her deep affection for him, sharing her unanswered attempts to reach out to her mother. She laments feeling invisible to the world as she ventures out on her own. Sunny reveals her desire to showcase a new, vibrant side of herself to Kye, who resolutely vows to turn their evening around. Their connection deepens as they share an intimate kiss.
Tess joins Craig at the bustling pub, where Lucas approaches, his voice tinged with regret but determination. He confesses his past missteps while expressing his earnest desire to make things right, revealing his new job at a call center. Tess jokes about the perils of answering calls, but Craig's pride in his son shines through as he kisses Lucas on the cheek. As Tess heads to the bar to settle her tab, a mysterious man orders drinks and slips a disk across the counter,消失 in a hurry. Tess flips the disk over, revealing a chilling message: "I need your help killing a man." The night, it seems, is far from over.
