Lieutenant Tom Cooper, in charge of a division of the city fire service, and his wife Linda are found tortured to death in their new home. Lupo and Bernard soon discover that the victims' house contained a stash of money stolen from a drug raid in the 1960s; Cooper had spent it on home renovations, and the killers have now stolen it. The detectives question Cooper's co-worker Nick Spence, who'd helped Cooper with some of the renovations. They learn that Spence was being violently hazed and his request for a transfer was denied - so he may have killed to get away from Cooper. Some of the bills from the raid turn up near Spence's home, but before the detectives can arrest him, he's killed at the scene of a fire.
The circumstances of the fire are highly suspicious, and Spence was on his own; his senior, Brad Toshack, claims that Spence disregarded instructions to wait for backup. The detectives suspect Toshack worked with Spence, since it's apparent the killer had an accomplice. Toshack becomes increasingly suspicious when Cutter and Rubirosa learn he had dated Linda in the past and tried to talk her out of marrying Cooper. With evidence that Toshack set up the scene of the lethal fire, he is charged with murder. But the prosecution is highly contentious because the fire service will be crucial to McCoy's re-election as DA; and they're now rallying behind his rival Chappell. Cutter cannot afford to lose the case.
At Toshack's trial, another fireman at the scene named Walters testifies that Toshack followed procedure. Cutter lures Toshack into saying that it was Walters' responsibility to pass on orders to Spence, and Walters ignored this. Nevertheless, Toshack is convicted of Spence's murder. Cutter has Walters charged with homicide based on Toshack's statement in court. Cutter persuades Walters that Toshack will testify against him in exchange for a reduced sentence. Walters says that Spence was working on the Coopers' house when the money was found, and he told Toshack; who enlisted Walters to rob the Coopers. The Coopers were at home, which was not part of the plan, so Toshack killed them and then arranged for Spence to die. Cutter strikes deals with Walters, Toshack, and another accomplice. He then announces to McCoy that he's going after the owner of the building where the fire took place, so he can beat Chappell's supporters to the punch.
This episode contains examples of:
- A Father to His Men: This was Cooper's public image, although behind the scenes he subjected the others in the division to brutal hazing rituals and favoritism. Toshack also tries to portray himself as this in court - until Cutter tricks him into throwing Walters under the bus.
- All for Nothing: Toshack killing the Coopers and Spence amounted to this since, unknown to him, Walters and another accomplice set fire to the money when they heard the police were tracing it.
- He Knows Too Much: Toshack killed Spence because Spence could supply evidence which would show thar Toshack killed the Coopers.
- Plea Bargain: Cutter convinces Walters to turn witness against Toshack over the murder of the Coopers by giving him a plea bargain of 15 years for 2 murders.
- Really Gets Around: Linda Cooper, who was known for many affairs with firemen.
