Growing pains within Major Crimes become apparent as the division works to obtain justice in a brutal homicide that turns out to be more complicated than expected. Raydor struggles to gain the respect of her colleagues while also trying to supervise Rusty 24/7. The changes within the department may become more than Provenza can accept.

When an activist to end human trafficking is murdered, the investigation leads to a possible eyewitness, a young prostitute wanting to get out of the business, and the pimp she works for becomes their primary suspect. Meanwhile, child services arrange a meeting between Rusty and his father, against Rusty's wishes.

After Major Crimes identifies a murder victim as the son of State Superior Court Judge known for being tough on criminals, the squad hunts through her current case load, which involves an Aryan motorcycle gang and, much to their surprise, connected to the disappearance of a thirteen-year-old boy.