An arsonist believed to have perished years ago has reappeared in the Venice area. While working with T.C. on the case, Chris must confront her own childhood memories of terror at having been caught in a fiery situation. The two must also enlist the aid of an eccentric arsonist doing a long stretch in prison for details on how to catch the Phoenix.

Cory has to continually chase the ""Snakeman"", the last unlicensed vendor on the Venice Boardwalk. At one point, she nearly traps him running through a wet t-shirt contest where she's thrown on stage, dumped on, and pronounced the winner.

The precinct is menaced by a rat that's eaten its way into the evidence lock-up and made off with a large portion of speed, making the rodent nearly impossible to catch. Rat Man and Rat Boy, a father-son exterminating team, are brought in to catch the creature.