Holy crap, you guys. Crazy episode, for real. Lundy is closing in on Dexter in a major way. He calls him into his office for a private meeting about a particular case of one of the BHB's victims that got botched because of Dexter's intentionally shitty bloodwork, and Dexter's defense is pretty weak. Lundy follows the lead with Deb and Angel, who discover that a suspicious local who called in the case actually saw the BHB abduct the defendant. He even got the plate number, which they all track back to the station, confirming that it was indeed an inside job. Lundy is also closing in on Deb, who he invites to his house for dinner. He puts the moves on pretty heavily, and it looks like things are going in a good direction for them. LaGuerta meets up with Doakes, who reveals that he doesn't really have much interest in returning to the police force. LaGuerta offers to introduce him to some friends in the private security sector, which would be lucrative for him. However, Doakes blows the meeting off in order to break in to Dexter's place, where he finds his blood slides. Yikes. Things with Lila totally suck. At her place, Dexter notices the multiple points of origin from the fire, making him distrust her. He tries to avoid her by telling her about bowling night, but she makes a point of tagging along. After bowling, Jimenez (the guy who killed Laura Moser) attacks Dexter with a knife and slices his arm. Dexter decides to say "fuck it" to recovery, and goes and kills the guy at some house in the Everglades where he's keeping quite a large load of Colombian marching powder. After doing the deed, he looks through the guy's wallet, where he sees the address of the bowling alley that he told Lila so she could join. I know! That crazy bitch! She totally called Jimenez and told him. Just then, Rita calls Dexter to see if he had used his key to get into the place without her knowing, and Dexter freaks out and tells her call the police. It was totally Lila, because Dexter blew her off, telling her he was working late when he really had some murderin' to do. When he gets back to Miami, he goes over to Lila's place and tells her to stay the fuck away from Rita and himself, unless she wants to unleash the monster within Dexter. She cries, and I laugh, because I hate her and can't wait for her to die. I have no idea how Dexter's going to get out of all this. It seems like things are crashing down around him, and once Doakes brings those slides to Lundy, which you know he will, it's going to get really hectic up in this show. I can't wait!
Previously: Dexter paid a visit to Santos Jimenez, his mother's killer, and beat him senseless, but didn't kill him. Dexter started boinking Lila, much to the dismay of both Rita and Deb. Lila asked Deb for a tit pardon, but was not granted one. Deb confessed her feelings to Lundy, and they shared a smooch. Dex head-butted Doakes, which was awesome. Doakes attacked Dexter at the station, and got suspended, which was also awesome...or was it? Lundy came to the conclusion that the BHB is someone in the department, based on the manifesto Dexter sent. Lila set her apartment on fire in order to bond herself to Dexter, and it totally worked. It also pissed me off majorly.
It's morning at Dexter's place, and Deb is bitching about Masuka for some reason or another. She grabs the sports section out of Dexter's hands, and Lila rolls out of the bedroom. "I used to enjoy quiet mornings," Dex VOs, "but ever since the fire at Lila's loft, she's been crashing here a bit too often." "Is that my shirt?" Deb asks Lila, automatically pissed. "I thought it was Dexter's," says Lila. "It's not," says Deb. Oh, brother, here we go. Lila starts to take the shirt off right there at the fridge, and Deb's all, "No, it's okay, just keep it." "So, now I share the kitchen with a cobra and a mongoose," Dex VOs, and I'm not sure who's who. Lila holds up the coffee pot, which is empty, and says, "Did somebody drink all the coffee again?" Ew! What right do you have to bitch, Lila? Just make some more! "No, I had a cup, and then Dexter had a cup, and it kinda just went like that until the poh was emptay," mocks Deb. "Deb, please," says Dex, not realizing how wrong a tree he's picked to bark up. Deb: "What? It's a stupid question! And, why are you sticking up for her, anyway?" Dexter says that he's just trying to keep the peace, but Deb's already in the room, having pissily huffed out of the kitchen. "Maybe we should stay at your place tonight," Dexter tells Lila. "Has the fire damage been repaired yet?" Lila says that the insurance company is still "dicking her around," and haven't cut a check yet, but I don't see what that has to do with the damage being fixed. "Don't worry about it, I'll be moving out soon," says Deb. Lila: "And stop leeching off your brother?" Jesus. Deb sarcastically thanks Dex for sticking up for her. Dexter: "Hey, I'm Switzerland." Deb's out of there in a hurry. Dex takes that as a cue to get ready for work himself, and starts packing his bag, where he finds a "Dragon Zombie" action figure that Cody has slipped into his bag. "He's trying to control you," says Lila, making me want to smack her. As if I even need to say that; I always want to smack her. She posits that, Cody's having done that, Dexter has "no choice but to return them to him." Dexter: "He's seven. He seldom has thoughts more complicated than the desire for candy." Lila gives Dexter a Whatever face, and he tells her he'll see her at the loft later.
At Rita's, the kids are "making" breakfast, and by that I mean they're slamming full eggs and cereal into a bowl and mixing it all around, making a mess. Rita tells them that when she told them they could make breakfast, she was referring to cereal, and she exasperatedly starts to clean up. Dexter's outside, and hovers by the door with the key in his hand, realizing that it might not be cool for him to have it anymore. "I guess I should give Rita back her key," he VOs, holding a box of donuts. He puts the key away and rings the doorbell. The kids run to the door, and they're excited to see him: "It's Dexter! And he brought donuts!" Rita looks both relieved at the breakfast solution, and also a bit irritated at the sight of Dex. Dexter pulls out Cody's action figure, and Cody's amped: "I knew you'd find it!" He's just controlling you, Dex. Kidding, kidding! After noticing Rita's icy glare, Dex says he hopes it's cool that he dropped by. Rita doesn't reply to this, but asks Dex to watch the kids as she gets ready: "Astor still has homework."
A little while later, Rita comes out dressed as Dexter finishes looking over Astor's homework. Rita thanks him, hands the kids their lunches, and tells them to meet her at the car. After they've left, Dexter says, "Good thing I dropped by." "Don't ever do it again," Rita replies. Hurt by this, Dexter meekly apologizes. Rita explains, "It's too hard on the kids, and it's too hard on me. It's Paul all over again. Please, Dexter, just stay away." Damn, that's rough, Rita. Dexter nods, surprised at this reaction. Aw, poor guy. He should murder someone to take the edge off.
Down at the station, Lundy is introducing the "new faces" he's brought in from the Bureau to investigate the precinct, and explains, "Our immediate task is to investigate every criminal case involving our eighteen victims." "Where would you like us to start?" asks Angel. Lundy: "By answering every question as honestly and with as much detail as you can." Angel's perplexed: "Answering questions?" "That's correct," says Lundy. "I can hardly expect you to investigate your own cases." "Are we under investigation?" asks Deb disbelievingly. Lundy: "We are now operating under the assumption that our killer is somehow connected to law enforcement, whether he be a file clerk, a dispatch officer, or park ranger." "Or a police officer," says Deb. Lundy confirms this, and a random officer asks whether that's why Lundy brought in "all these suits." Angel reminds Lundy that he risks alienating every cop on the force by doing this, and Lundy replies that they "go where the chase leads [them], even if it gets messy."
Later, Dexter's pouring coffee in the break-room, and Masuka and Angel come in, bitching about this latest development. "Insulting," says Angel. "We're just as capable as they are, looking into our own cases." "And who wears a wool suit in the middle of summer? In Miami?" says Masuka. "Nazis, that's who. It's all about intimidation." Word, Masuka. Stick it to the man. Angel says the idea that one of them is the killer is bullshit. "What do you mean?" asks Dex. "Us who?" Angel relays the new situation, and Dexter, rapt with attention, over-pours Angel's coffee, spilling on the floor. "We gotta stand tough, here. We gotta make it clear that we're not gonna be their little 'Yes, sir, no, sir' lapdogs." Angel's annoyed, I think. Lundy comes in and tells Dexter that he wants to go over some of his blood-work with him tomorrow, and shows him a list of the cases: "It would be helpful if you can gather up any notes that you've taken." "Happy to help," says Dexter -- not wanting to incriminate himself, obviously. Masuka and Angel share a look, and Lundy walks away. "Way to stand tough, Dexter," bitches Angel. Masuka comments that Lundy even walks like Hitler. Right. As they leave the break-room, Dex VOs, "It seems my manifesto unintentionally helped Lundy narrow his focus. That's what I get for trying to emulate Lila and take the offensive." Yeah, dude. That bitch is no good. Get rid of! "I've always worked best in the shadows. That's where I have to stay."
Down at the beach, LaGuerta and Doakes are taking a walk together. She's explaining how Lundy's pissing everyone off: "He's got his whole crew looking though every case involving any of the Bay Harbor victims." "Sounds desperate," laughs Doakes. "You know you're gonna be called in," she says. "I'll be curious to see if I show up," Doakes replies. LaGuerta reminds Doakes of the delicacy of his position. "If you want to keep your job, you gotta cooperate. Being on suspension does not exclude you from this." Doakes: "And, who was it that suspended me, again? Oh, shit! That was you!" She tells him not to act like he didn't totally deserve it, and tells him that his case is coming up for review in a week: "If you want to keep your job..." "You keep saying that, Maria," says Doakes. "What makes you think I want to keep my job?" She stops him, not believing what he just said: "Is this something that you've seriously considered?" He tells her that he's gone as high as he can on the force, and that "maybe it's time to move on." She asks what he would do, and he jokes about following his dad's line of work and becoming a butcher. LaGuerta laughs at this notion, and says, "Look, I have a friend. He's the head of personnel at Stillwater Security." Doakes: "Government contractors?" LaGuerta says that it's a growing business, and that people pay top dollar for safety. Doakes tells her to set up a meeting.
"Officer Morgan," says Lundy, greeting Deb all business-like. He hands her a file for "the Rodrigo case, a small-time dope dealer, arrested for murder. He ended up walking free, then disappeared off the face of the earth until his body was found in a garbage bag in the ocean." "Oh," says Deb with a long face. "Not exciting enough for you?" he asks. Deb: "No, it's just that I'm Homicide. I thought you didn't want us checking into our own cases." He explains that since she was still on vice at the time of the case, it's okay for her to check on Homicide files: "No conflict there." Deb says that she's flattered, but she feels kind of weird investigating her own colleagues. Lundy: "Weird? Gosh, I'd hate for you to feel weird." "You know what I mean," says Deb. After a pause, Lundy changes the subject: "Would you have dinner with me tomorrow night? Or, would that make you feel weird?" Deb smiles largely, and toothily accepts the invitation. He says he's going to take her to the "best restaurant in Miami." "Wow, great!" Aw.
Over at Lila's burnt-ass loft, Dexter sweeps up ashes as Lila comments that she likes the smell: "It's like something exciting happened here." "It's like when a piece of bread gets stuck in the toaster," says Dexter, unenthused. "You like to pretend there's no poetry in you." Yeah, okay, whatever that means. "So, what's the problem with the insurance company?" asks Dex, eager to change the topic somewhat. "Why aren't they paying?" Lila says that they think the fire is "of suspicious origin," which, duh. Dexter: "Are they saying you started the fire on purpose?" Lila: "Who knows what they're saying? You know insurance companies. Anything to keep from paying out." Dexter looks around the loft closely, and notices some suspicious burns in places they shouldn't be. "Yeah," he VOs, "especially when a fire has multiple points of origin." Nice! Yes! Figure it out! Make it right, bro! Lila jars him out of his own head by asking how things went at Rita's that morning, and he tells her "You know, I just returned Cody's toy, and that was it." Lila: "No quickie on the kitchen table?" God, how I loathe this woman. Dexter: "Rita doesn't have a kitchen table." Lila: "Ooh, clever way of not answering the question!" Good God. Dexter explains that it was actually rather awkward. "Always is," Lila replies. "You can't go back, you know that?" "I'm not trying to go anywhere," says Dex, growing weary of Lila's suspicious attitude. Lila announces that her bed is "all ready," implying that she wants to bone. Dexter says that he can't stay because he has too much work to do, and should head home to start lightening the load. "Okay, then," says Lila, immediately disappointed. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?" he asks. Lila: "Whatever." Oh, man, please kill her, dude. She's such bad news, and she's totally going to drag you down. Thankfully, Dexter leaves. In the hallway, he VOs, "Is it possible she started that fire on purpose? I can't imagine why. What I do know is that I can't take any risks right now." His face looks puzzled and kind of pissed.
Time for Dexter's meeting with Lundy. This should be fun minus fun. Dexter sheepishly comes through the doors, and Lundy says, "Morgan, come on in!" He seems pretty welcoming for someone who's about to tear Dex apart. Dex sits down, and Lundy offers him some tea. Dexter: "No, thank you, I'm --" "And he pours it, anyway," he VOs. "He's trying to throw me off balance, show that I don't have the power to say no to him." "How about some sesame crackers?" offers Lundy. "So, I'll say yes to everything," Dex VOs, and chirps aloud, "I'd love some!" Lundy shakes the box, and says, "Oh, sorry. Guess I ate them all." Dick! "Asshole." Exactly! Lundy sits down, ready to get down the nitty-gritty. "So, you worked first-hand on, what, four of the cases related to the Bay Harbor investigation?" Dexter says he believes so, motioning to his folder. Lundy says that Dex's reports were a real pleasure to read. Dexter: "Oh?" "Concise, meticulous. I appreciate that." "Good, thank you," says Dexter. "Does your sister prefer meat or fish?" Wow, inappropriate. But, hey, you work for the Federal Government, so I guess that's the name of the game, huh? Sorry. Dexter replies that Deb is certainly a "carnivore." Lundy: "Good, good. So, the Rodrigo case. Let's talk about that one." "Okay," says Dexter. Lundy: "Kinda blew it, didn't ya?" Whoa, dude. Dexter: "Sorry?" "They finally tied Rodrigo to one of his victims and built a solid manslaughter case," says Lundy. "Would've got him off the street for a few years, but the case largely rested on the blood-work that you did -- blood-work that in the course of the trial was proven to be...well, wrong." Dude, the heat is on! Dexter's face remains stoic, but you can tell that he's starting to freak a bit. "So, you, one of the most cautious and precise forensics specialists I've had the pleasure to work with, performed blood-work that directly led to Rodrigo walking free. I ask myself, 'How the hell did that happen?'" Dexter VOs, "And did you answer, 'Dexter blew the case on purpose so that he could get Rodrigo off the streets for good with a cordless reciprocating saw'?" "I'm sorry, you've caught me off guard, here," says Dex. "Sloppy blood-work," says Lundy, unrelenting.
Deb and Angel are getting lunch, Deb saying, "Look, this wasn't my idea!" "Could've said no," says Angel coolly. "Come on, Angel, we have a job to do," says Deb. "Since when is it my job to prove to a fellow police officer that I'm not a serial killer?" Angel demands. Deb says that's not what this is about: "This is about trying to figure out who had the motive and opportunity to kill all eighteen of our victims." Angel isn't convinced that anyone in the department is capable of pulling off the crimes, and Deb says, "Then help me prove it! Go through the Rodrigo case with me. Look, it is not just you. LaGuerta's cooperating on her old cases! Even Matthews is coming in." Angel looks at her, and after a pause, he wordlessly procures a file from his bag: "The Rodrigo file." "You just happened to have it with you?" laughs Deb. Angel: "I'm a reasonable man." They smile at each other, and then tuck into their sandwiches.
Back with Dex and Lundy, Dex is going through the specifics of the file: "You know how it is. The defense attorneys bring in their so-called 'blood experts' to counter everything I say." "I'm familiar with the process," clips Lundy. Dexter is shaken, and starts to flail a bit: "I understand how this may look like sloppy blood-work to the layman -- that's what Rodrigo's defense convinced the jury of -- but as you can see, the low-velocity blood drops clearly point in the direction opposite to that in which we know Rodrigo to have fled, which makes it impossible --" "Except those low-velocity drops were revealed to actually be ninety-degree passive drops that were given tails to the angle of the floor," says Lundy. Oh, shit. This guy knows his blood-work, so this is going to be a tough sell. Come on, Dex, you can do this. He tries again: "Perhaps...but, if you then examine the blood trail --" "Which we know isn't a blood trail, but projected blood," says Lundy. "You're not winning me over here, Morgan." Dexter sighs, and after a rest, says, "Truth?" "By all means," says Lundy. "I was overworked," says Dexter. "I was carrying half a dozen cases at once. It was a heat wave, which means a spike in...homicides. This one got pushed aside. I didn't write up my summary until an hour before the trial, and I obviously overlooked a few things." "A murderer walked free because you were overworked?" asks Lundy. "Yes." Dex looks ashamed, and Lundy stares at him harshly. Yikes, dude. Is it warm in here?
"Who's this guy, Lenny Asher?" asks Deb. "Lenny?" says Angel. "He's a nut-job." "But it says he lived door to Rodrigo, and filed all kinds of complaints," Deb notes. Angel says that the guy files a complaint a day, essentially, and that it's hard to consider him a credible witness: "He'd just sit at his window all day, and call us every time somebody moved. He called us once to say there was something weird about the clouds." Heh. "Still, no harm talking to him, right?" says Deb, her hand reaching for the phone.
A door opens a crack to reveal Deb and Angel, and I'm assuming we're at Lenny's house now. "Who the hell are you?" asks Lenny. Angel introduces himself, and Deb, holding up her badge, and asks if they can come in for a couple of questions. Lenny opens up, revealing a kitchen filled with cardboard boxes. Nice packrat. God, I hope I never end up like this guy. "Who's dead?" Lenny asks, and Angel tells him that they're there about Rodrigo. "I know," says Lenny. "They found him in the ocean. I hope a whale ate him and shat him out and then ate him again." You know, that's how I feel about Lila. Thanks for articulating that so well, Mr. Asher. "You weren't too close to him, were you?" asks Deb. "He was scum," says Lenny as he walks over to his window. Angel reminds him about his numerous calls to police when Rodrigo still lived door. "He was a drug dealer!" says Lenny. "He played loud music, urinated on my lilies." Angel: "You actually saw that?" "They were dead, that's all I needed to know," sniffs Lenny. Deb asks whether Lenny has any thoughts on who killed him, and he replies, "How the hell should I know?" He goes back to the window and bitches about the car parked right in front of the fire hydrant. Deb tells him it's their cruiser, and Lenny puts away the notepad he procured from his pants to write down the license number. "You take a lot of notes?" asks Angel. "Anything hinky happens outside this window, I make a note of it," says Lenny. "How long you been doin' that?" asks Deb. "Since someone stuck a nail in my tire, March, 1998," Lenny replies. Deb says that Rodrigo was last seen after his trial in April 2002, and wonders whether Lenny took any notes that day. "If something happened, I did," says Lenny. Angel asks whether he keeps his notes, and Lenny proudly motions to the boxes populating the kitchen: "Here, 2002." "What kind of order did you keep them in?" asks Angel. "I told you, 2002," says Lenny. Heh, have fun sorting that shit out, Detective. Sucker!
"I have no idea if Lundy bought my excuse," VOs Dex as he stands in his lab, looking nervous. Looking out into the main office, he adds, "Either way, it makes me a little anxious to see my sister looking through the Rodrigo files. Looking for me." He goes over to Deb's desk, and she says, "You're never going to guess what I found." "What'd you find?" he asks apprehensively. "An apartment!" she says proudly. Relieved, Dexter says, "Oh! Great. Wow, big change." "Well, it's time, you know?" says Deb. "Good for you," says Dexter. "When do you move?" "As soon as possible," says Deb. "But not tonight, I have a date." Dexter says he thought she and Gabriel broke up, and she tells him it's with Lundy. "'Lundy,' Special Agent Lundy?" asks Dexter, stammering. "So he's twenty years older than me, what do you care?" says Deb. Shaking his head, Dexter says, "I don't! I mean, I'm sure you wouldn't do anything like that," implying that others would. Deb: "Like what?" Dexter: "Like, trying to sleep your way to the top." "You douche!" says Deb. "That is so not true." "Of course not!" Dexter agrees. "I shouldn't have even said anything, and I'm sure that thought would never occur to anyone else." Deb: "Double douche!" Is that like double-dutch? No? Okay, sorry. Deb: "You are not allowed to talk about anyone I date as long as you're seeing Little Miss Pardon My Tits. I'm sorry, Dex, but she is gross. And pale, and nobody is pale in Miami. She is obviously a vampire. A gross, English, titty vampire." Debra, I love you. I know we've had some rough times in the past, what with my unforgiving attitude toward your self-involved attitude, but you've just redeemed yourself for all wrongs. Please don't fuck it up. Dexter just smiles vaguely at this, and says, "You just described the perfect woman." He leaves Deb looking like she just ate a block of salt.
"The truth is, I need to avoid Lila for now," Dexter VOs, now back at his house for the evening. "Harry taught me that the key to survival was staying one step ahead, but Lundy almost trapped me today. I can't be unprepared like that, again." Dex calls Lila, and says, "Hey, it's me." "Why ahnt you heah? I'm stahving!" Ech, gross. Deb is so right about her. "Oh, I thought you knew it's my bowling night," says Dexter. "Bowling, really?" coos Lila. "What, like Fred Flintstone?" "I'm more in the Barney Rubble category," says Dexter. "How fun!" says Lila. "I'd love to watch you bowl!" Dexter tries to avoid her tagging along by telling her it's really more of a "guys' night out," but Lila weasels her way into coming along anyway. Broken down, Dexter gives her the address of the alley, which she writes on her wall with a burnt chair-leg. What a freakshow.
At the lanes, Lila totally screams out during Dexter's backstroke, which is so uncool. He only knocks down three pins, but she cheers wildly anyway. Hugging Angel, she says, "I like to celebrate the little things in life." Oh, like fire? And stalking people? And being a general ass-clot? Fuck off, beeyotch. "Hey, if you like little things, I'm your man," says Masuka. "I mean, I'm not little everywhere. Some places, I'm just perfectly average." Shut up, dude. You're annoying me recently. Lila tells Masuka that he's adorable, and he complains that Angel got a hug and he only got a pat on the nose. "You're like a retarded puppet," says Angel. Nice! Virtual high-five, bro! Oh, he didn't hear me. That always happens! Dexter finishes up his frame, and Lila admires his ass, saying it looks cute when he bowls. Ugh. She excuses herself to go to the ladies' room, and Angel observes how hot she is. "Yes, she is," says Dexter, once again unenthusiastic.
Lundy answers his front door, and of course it's Deb, who storms right in. She admires his place: "Very, uh, grey." "Yes, the Bureau have always been known for their fashion sense," says Lundy. So, the FBI decorated your apartment? Why would they...forget it. ["I assumed it was a furnished place the FBI owns and lends out to agents who get sent there temporarily?" -- Wing Chun] "Honestly, all I care about is the kitchen," says Lundy, heading for that very room. "You cook?" asks Deb, which I think would be obvious, not just from what Lundy just said, but from the trays upon trays of tapas that Lundy has placed on the breakfast bar. "Like I said, best restaurant in Miami," he tells her. Deb is impressed: "Really? You're going to cook for me? Well, don't ever expect me to return the favor, unless you're a big fan of toast." Lundy: "I would love to eat your toast!" Damn, dude, wait until dinner's over, at least! They both laugh, and Deb asks what they're having for dinner. Lundy says, "Steak Florentine and grilled potatoes, Italian-style." Deb: "Fuckin' A." Lundy: "There's that mouth, again." Deb apologizes: "It's just the way I talk. If we're gonna be together, you'd better get used to it. I can't change who I am. I'm crass and dirty and...I have a very filthy mind." Lundy: "You're also pretty adorable." Deb: "I know." He tells her to start peeling potatoes, which she does, and he smacks her on the ass and plants a big, wet kiss on her. It's pretty cute. Don't like it? You know what not to do.
Bowling night's over, and they guys are heading to their cars. Masuka and Angel split with Dex and Lila, who head towards Dex's van. Lila leans in to Dex and says, "Mmm, I hope you saved enough energy for me." Bitch, back the fuck off. Dexter gives her an unsure look, and then we see Santos Jimenez, Laura Moser's killer, hunched behind his truck. As Dexter's telling Lila that he just wants to go home and get some sleep, Jimenez lunges out. Lila warns Dexter at the last minute when she sees Jimenez, and Dexter wheels around in time to defend himself, but not fully: he gets sliced across the arm with Jimenez's knife. Lila screams and summons Masuka and Angel back, but Jimenez runs for it. How the hell did Jimenez find Dexter? That's fucked up. Angel asks what the hell happened, and Dexter covers that the guy went for his watch; you can see on Lila's face that she knows it's not true. Everyone makes sure that Dexter's okay, and he assures them that he's fine, and doesn't need to see a doctor. "I'll take care of him," says Little Miss Pardon My Tits. Yeah, I'll bet you will. I'll bet you love that this happened, asshole.
Later, Lila finishes stitching Dexter up in her loft (which is, obviously, filled with tons of candles). "So, who was it?" she asks. Dexter: "Huh?" "That man," says Lila. "He wasn't trying to rob you, he was trying to kill you." Dexter comes clean that it was Jimenez, saying he figures he must have "tracked [Dexter] down and followed [him] to the bowling alley." He adds, "If you hadn't seen him in time --" "Ssh, I did see him, that's all that matters," says Lila. "None of this scares you?" Dexter asks. "Nothing you could do, Dexter, would scare me," Lila tells him. "I believe you," he says, and they collapse back on the bed together. "Whatever comes," she says, "we'll get through this together. I'm not leaving your side, Dexter." "I'm not leaving yours," he replies. Shit! I'll bet she planned this shit, that conniving little douche, just to get Dexter back on her side. I fucking loathe this chick. "Really?" asks Lila. "Why would ask that?" says Dexter. "You've just been a bit distant lately," Lila tells him. "I get that way when I'm stressed," says Dexter. She asks what he's stressed about, and he tells her, "Right now, nothing." They look into each other's eyes, and start making out after a while. This shit needs to end, pronto.
Over at Rita's, she's putting the kids down for bed. "Do you think Dexter will come for breakfast tomorrow?" asks Cody. Rita says she doesn't think so, but Cody presses the issue, so Rita has to explain that she and Dexter broke up. "Why?" asks Cody. "They don't like each other anymore," says Astor. "Well, that's not true," says Rita. "Does that mean he doesn't like us, either?" asks Cody. "No, of course he likes you!" says Rita, heartbroken at the question. "It's just, it's hard when two people break up. It makes them sad to see each other. I don't think Dexter's gonna be coming for breakfast for a while." Astor steels herself in her bed, and Rita says, "Sorry."
"Lila may be the right woman for me, but she's wrong about one thing: recovery simply isn't an option," Dex VOs as he gets dressed at the foot of Lila's bed while she sleeps. "When I let my guard down, I open myself up for attack, or capture. I need to embrace who I am, who I've always been. I need to kill the man who murdered my mother." Yes! Finally, Jesus.
Dex is in the car now, continuing his VO: "I'd almost forgotten this feeling -- driving toward a kill, all my senses sharpened. It's like I've been living under water, holding my breath, and now I can finally breathe."
Doakes is at the station, drawing a few glances from some curious detectives. "James!" says LaGuerta, and they greet each other. "It's nice to see you," she says. Doakes: "Yeah, feels all warm and comfy." Comfy? Whatever. LaGuerta tells Doakes that she met with her security friend, who said that someone with Doakes's special ops background could start at around $200,000 a year, which sounds pretty sweet. "I could live with that," says Doakes. "You could meet him tonight. Nine o'clock, bar at the Hilton?" "I'll be there," says Doakes, and heads to Lundy's office. "Sergeant Doakes, I appreciate your time," says Lundy. "Can we get this over with, sir?" says Doakes. Lundy mentions that he finds it interesting that Doakes worked on four of the BHB cases, but was "unable to attain a single conviction," due to inadmissible evidence, people skipping bail, etc. "The Rodrigo case lost due to bad blood-work," Lundy adds. "Excuse me?" says Doakes. "You weren't aware of that?" asks Lundy. "The DA didn't get a conviction, that's all I know," says Doakes. "Are we through here, sir?" "No, actually, we're just getting st--" "We're done," says Doakes, before he bolts out of there, probably making Lundy pretty suspicious.
Deb and Angel are going through Lenny's notes, a lot of which are ridiculous: "March 17: Airplane flying too low." "I told you this guy's a fruit-bag," says Angel. Deb finds a small booklet for April, and finds the day Rodrigo disappeared: "'April 16.' Fuck me sideways, listen to this! 'Rodrigo gets into car parked in wrong space. Must be drunk, because somebody's carrying him.' The license plate's right here! This is from nine o'clock the night he disappeared!" "The last time anyone saw him alive! We gotta run that plate!" says Angel, excitedly. "Oh my God, I'll bet whoever owned this car is our killer!" says Deb, matching Angel's energy level. Angel calls Lundy in.
Dexter's back in Naples or wherever the hell Jimenez lives, and he's parked outside The Swamp, Jimenez's bar. "Lila almost had me believing it was possible to change," Dex VOs. "To become something else, as if that ever really happens." He's got his murderin' shirt on, and he's putting on his leather murderin' gloves. "I've always known what I am. If the glove fits..." Just then, Jimenez steps out of the bar, and looks around before heading to his truck and taking off. Dexter gives chase, while keeping an eye on his GPS. Jimenez takes him pretty far. Once there, Jimenez gets out of his truck and goes into a cabin as Dexter looks on: "A secret cabin in the middle of the Everglades? What more could a rededicated serial killer ask for?" Heh, true. Dexter gets his syringe of M99 ready, and pops out of the car. He sneaks up to a window, where he sees Jimenez inside, uncovering a massive stash of cocaine. Dex VO: "Apparently, Mr. Jimenez never gave up his old habits. What a bad, bad man." Dexter doubles back to Jimenez's truck, and turns on the radio full blast. Jimenez immediately runs out to see what the hubbub is all about, and Dexter slams the syringe into his neck. "What, did you think it just turned on by itself?" says Dex. Yeah, really. Idiot.
Deb's working late, getting frustrated because she can't match the plate Lennywrote down to any plates in the system. "Is that a one or an I? Fuck you, Lenny, fuck your handwriting!" Just then, the elevator opens and Lila steps out, carrying a bag. Oh, great. This should be fun. "Debra..." Deb: "Kinda busy, here." Nice. "Then, can you please tell me where I can find Dexter?" asks Lila. "I brought him some dinner." "Dexter's not here," says Deb flatly. "Where is he?" "How should I know?" "He said he was working late," says Lila. Deb gets a little grin on her face, and asks, "Is that what he told you?" "What do you mean?" asks Lila, her face betraying her efforts to stay cool. "He's not working late," replies Deb, with a satisfied look on her face. "I think he lied to you." Lila storms out, and Deb says, "Aw, men are such pigs!" As Lila gets in the elevator, Deb gives her a mock-enthusiastic wave, and then giggles to herself. Okay, Deb may be acting like she's eight, but I'm still with her. Lila sucks it.
LaGuerta apologizes for Doakes to her Stillwater friend: "I'm sure he'll show up. He's very excited about this job." The guy doesn't seem convinced.
I'm not either, because Doakes is actually at Dexter's apartment, breaking in. Douche! He starts with the kitchen.
Back to Deb, with Angel and Lundy are now standing by. "I swear, I've tried every combination, nothing's coming up," says Deb frustratedly. "I told you Lenny'd be a waste of time," says Angel, but Lundy submits that perhaps it's not a Florida plate they're looking for, so they try Georgia, on Angel's suggestion, and immediately get a hit: "The vehicle was registered to Charlie Lewis." "I know that name," says Angel. "Drug dealer out of New York. Tough guy. Used to carry a big-assed knife." "That's our guy!" says Deb, jumping the gun just a bit. "I told you he wasn't a cop," Angel tells Lundy, also rubbing it in just a bit too soon. Deb keeps looking into the records, and says, "What? Shit." "Where is he?" asks Lundy. "According to this, South Bay Correctional Facility. Aw, shit! Charlie Lewis was arrested April 12, 2002; that's four days before Rodrigo was seen being carried into the car." "No, wait, who had his car?" asks Angel. "One of his gang?" "This is where it gets really bad," says Deb. "The vehicle was seized as evidence." "By who?" "By our department." Oh, fuck. "Where was the vehicle held?" asks Lundy. Apparently, it was held at the department's evidence lot, behind a secure gate. "Someone signed the vehicle out, picked Rodrigo up, killed him, and then signed the vehicle back in." "So, you have records," offers Lundy, but Angel doesn't agree: "Why would we keep them? The only people allowed access to those vehicles are members of the Miami Metro Police Department. Holy shit!" "Bay Harbor Butcher is one of our own," says Deb gravely. Lundy orders that they all keep it to themselves, for now. Angel says that he's going to go "tell it to a bottle of scotch." Deb looks really worried, and Lundy puts his arm around her to comfort her.
Doakes is still looking around, and isn't having much luck.
Jimenez is done up, all Dexter-style. "Here we are, again," says Dexter as he slices Jimenez's face. Jimenez: "What the fuck!" "I know, I keep asking myself that same question," replies Dex, who's now finishing the blood-slide. "Let me outta here!" Jimenez demands. "I'm finding it's best to accept things you can't change, you know? Normally, I'd have a chat to make sure you understand why you're here, but I think you have a pretty good idea." Jimenez starts to plea-bargain: "Let me go. I got cocaine! You can have all of it!" Dexter: "It's funny you should say that. I am off the wagon, but that was never my drug." Realizing that he's not going anywhere, Jimenez starts to rant, "I'll fucking kill you!," but Dexter swiftly slams some duct tape over his mouth to shut him up: "No, Mr. Jimenez, I'm gonna kill you tonight, for what you did to my mother, and because, well, this is what I do best." Dexter pulls out a reciprocating power saw, and says, "It's kind of fitting, don't you think?" He pulls the chain and starts 'er up, and sets to work.
Over at Rita's, the skewed camera angles are telling me that something's wrong as Astor and Cody run into the house in slow-motion, Rita following. There's a shadow in the hallway as Rita calls to Astor and Cody to come eat dinner, which is pizza. Mmm, pizza. As she serves Astor a slice, she asks, "How did you get the door unlocked?" "It was already open," says Astor. Not cool, Lila. Not cool at all. "That's odd," comments Rita, and the shadow in the hallway disappears.
Back at Dexter's, Doakes is still snooping around when the air conditioner kicks on. Doakes turns it off, and shines his little red flashlight into the vent. He pulls off the grill and pulls out the blood-slide box, opening it on the desk and pulling out a slide. His mind looks blown.
Dexter's sitting on the floor of the cabin, covered in blood. His murderin' shirt is completely soaked. He grabs Jimenez's wallet, for no reason other than curiosity, or maybe for a clue as to how he could have possibly tracked him down. He finds a piece of paper with the address of the bowling alley on it, and it becomes completely clear that Lila set Dexter up by calling Jimenez to let him know where they'd be. After staring at the paper for almost twenty full seconds, Dexter whispers, "Lila." Just then, his phone rings, and it's Rita: "Dexter, hi, look, I'm sorry to bother you, and I'm sure this is nothing, but I was just wondering if by chance you were at my house?" "Um, no," says Dexter. "It's just that the door was open, and you're the only other one with a key." Dex looks at his keychain, and sees that Rita's key is missing. "Rita, get out of the house!" he tells her urgently. "Call the police! I'll be there as soon as I can." He hangs up, and he's starting to freak out a little bit. "I can't leave you here," he says to Jimenez's corpse. "I can't take you with me." He heads towards the door, and turns back to say, "Don't go anywhere!" Jeez, dude. Try to keep your cool.
Back at Rita's, Dexter arrives, and Rita apologizes for "dragging [him] into this." "I'm glad you called," Dexter assures her. "The kids?" "door," Rita tells him. They head inside, where some cop says the "place is empty." Hey, wait a second! Dexter's shirt has no blood on it, anymore! It's the same shirt he was wearing before, and unless he's got a whole bunch of the same shirt...you know where I'm going with this. The cop goes on: "No sign of forceable entry. I'm guessing you just forgot to lock the door. If you need anything else," he says, giving Rita a card. "No, you're not leaving," says Dexter. "Sir?" "Someone was in this house!" says Dexter. "You need to have a unit patrolling the neighborhood, and I need you to stay here in the house until I tell you it's safe." "Really? I need to do those things?" says the cop, not believing what Dexter's saying. "I'm with Miami Metro Homicide. I know you don't take orders from me, but if you'd like, I can get Lieutenant LaGuerta on the phone, or if you'd prefer to speak to Captain Matthews, I could arrange that as well." The cop nods embarrassedly. Heh, stupid cop. Rita wants to know what the hell is happening, and Dexter tells her to just stay put.
On the way out to his car, Dexter walks in slow-motion as he VOs, "It's one thing to fuck with me, another to fuck with...my ex-girlfriend who hates me." Heh. "The Lila experiment is officially over." Yes! Holy shit, that's great!
Lila slides open her loft door to a pissed-looking Dexter. "Dextah!" "Give me Rita's key," he says in that cold monotone that is really intimidating. He walks at her, forcing her to back up into the space. "Well, that's your fault, isn't it, Dexter?" says Lila. "You lied to me about working late, and I thought I might find you there." "Do not ever go to Rita's house again, do you understand?" says Dexter. Lila doesn't answer, only holds up the key. He grabs her hand and snags the key as he repeats, "Do you understand?" "Hmm, is this the monster you keep telling me about?" says Lila sarcastically. "Trust me, when you meet the monster, you'll know," says Dexter. "You called Jimenez." "Yeah, I suppose I did," says Lila breezily. Twat. Dexter: "Why? Why would you try to have me killed?" "You weren't going to get killed," says Lila. "That's why I did it at the bowling alley -- so your police officer friends would be there." Dexter grabs Lila violently by the arms: "What were you thinking? Are you insane?" "I was trying to bring us back together again!" Lila cries. "You were pulling away!" Dexter drops Lila into a chair and backs away as she continues: "Remember at the hotel, after you faced Jimenez? That's what I wanted! To bring you back!" "So you called him?" Dexter demands. "Well, it worked, didn't it?" Lila protests. "Last night? You and I? You fell asleep in my arms." Lila's voice is all squeaky and high. God, I hate her. Dexter just stares at her with an enlightened face. "What?" she screams, seemingly frightened. "You...you are more dangerous than my addiction will ever be. That's saying a lot." He leans in close to her face, and says, "Stay away from Rita. Stay away from me." "Or what?" "Or you will see the monster." Um, yes please! Show her the monster, dude!