While at a Russian celebration of glasnost, Jessica sees her purse being snatched and subsequently ends up detained and embroiled in a mystery involving an unusual piece of microfilm.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Affably Evil: Melkinov collaborated with the Nazis (exactly what he did for them is unrevealed) to save his and Anton's lives. He hires Dhukov to help him snatch the incriminating microfilm and then kills him to keep the secret. He is also a jovial, witty man who seems to have some remorse for his deeds, appears genuinely sad at Anton's funeral, and confesses with graceful resignation after Jessica reveals her evidence.
- Deathbed Confession: While no one reads it until he's dead, Anton recorded a coded confession that Melkinov had been a Nazi collaborator some time ago. According to Melkinov, he had kept the secret his entire life in exchange for Melkinov's assistance, but his conscience got the best of him as his death approached.
- Double Reverse Quadruple Agent: Jessica sees a British associate having a meeting with the KGB. Bernicker tells her the man is really suspected of being a British spy posing as a Double Agent. The KGB feeds him false information while hoping the information he feeds them is real.
- The Dreaded: The KGB. Jessica's friend in the newsroom begs her not to involve herself with them.
- It's Personal: Alexandrov is accused of being a little unprofessional about the investigation because his father appears in the memoirs.
- Jurisdiction Friction: KGB officer Fyodor Alexandrov and Inspector Bernicker butt heads over who needs to handle the case, with a lot of sniping on both sides. Jessica ultimately realizes that the inclusion of two departments caused both of them to overlook making sure someone had gotten Dhukov's employment papers.
- Karma Houdini: Downplayed; Inspector Bernicker tells Jessica he thinks Melkinov will be forced from office over Dhukov's murder, but not anything worse. Jessica doesn't find it fitting for the crime.
- Malaproper: Bernicker mangles American metaphors a lot (e.g., saying that Jessica looks like she "caught the canary in the cookie jar" rather than "looking like the cat that got the canary" when she has a "Eureka!" Moment). However, it's understandable given that English isn't his first language.
- Resigned in Disgrace: Bernicker tells Jessica that the Russian government will probably force Melkinov into a dishonorable retirement, but won't execute him because focusing on his corruption too much could make people suspicious about the corruption of all the officials.
- Shout-Out: The title refers to the James Bond film From Russia with Love.
