When one of Debreno's first cases solved under Mannion goes to trial, the defense uses Debreno's troubled professional and personal past to discredit him, implying that he set up the defendant in order to impress Mannion. Now, as Mannion questions Debreno's motives, he must also decide whether or not Debreno has a future as a part of his team.

Without a job and his best friend, Jack takes off to Arizona to play some golf, but not even without his badge he can stop solving crimes. He gets himself involved in a scheme of dirty cops with Mexican dealers and crosses the border to catch the dealer – which he does. Meanwhile, back in D.C., Cavanaugh and Sherry team up to trace Jack and Cavanaugh discovers something that might save Jack's job. Nancy does some investigation on her own and discovers that the guy that died on Brander's hand was injured prior to their encounter, which could clear Brander. Temple and Debreno set up a scheme with Cashmere Brown to bust Lester Richards, who ends up shot to death by Temple.

Mannion investigates of the murder of a young illegal immigrant leads to the discovery of a car theft ring run by a teenage gang that is selling cars as far away as El Salvador.