The annual bowling match between Kingsway and Monterey detectives is interrupted by the week's eighth drug overdose. It appears a lethal batch of heroin has hit the streets causing the fatal overdoses. Surveillance of a suspect reveals a familiar face — Joe's former partner, Jack McCabe. Now working as a private investigator after leaving the police service prior to being forced out, Jack reveals he is working on a kidnapping case involving the wife of a local businessman. Jack doesn't care much for Harriet who is suspicious of Jack and the whole case. Seeing the kidnapped woman's husband with a girlfriend only heightens her suspicions and calls everyone's motives into question.

A complaint filed against Hudson by an ex-con who accuses him of fabricating evidence places his career on the line when he loses the Commissioner's confidence. Joe's unwavering support for Hudson only makes the situation worse when, with no evidence, he questions Hudson's accuser in relation to a recent armed robbery. Hudson is forced to take the blame for the incident to keep Joe in the clear but in doing so gets suspended. Loyalties at Kingsway are divided as Joe continues his pursuit to clear Hudson but Harriet warns him it may not be possible. Joe's father returns but Joe is no more sympathetic than the last time he appeared.