When the body of an 11-year-old boy is found in the Georgia woods, detective Ralph Anderson launches an investigation into the gruesome murder as eyewitnesses and physical evidence point to local teacher and baseball coach Terry Maitland.

Ralph admits to being baffled by conflicting physical evidence, an unexpected tragedy throws the investigation into a tailspin, and Glory tries to soothe her daughter Jessa, who says a strange man has visited her room at night.

Despite being on mandatory leave, Ralph continues to scrutinise the confounding circumstances surrounding the night of the murder, and Jack has a hair-raising experience at a remote barn where key evidence and a mysterious substance have been found.

While retracing the Maitlands' recent family holiday, Holly pursues a possible connection to an eerily similar case and gains valuable insight from local former detective Andy Katcavage; Glory faces increased scrutiny in her daily life.

After returning from an eye-opening trip to New York, Holly searches for clues at several locations connected to the Dayton case, while Jeannie finds herself shaken by an unnerving incident at work and delivers an ominous warning to Ralph.

Holly presents her theory about the connection between two other murders and the Frankie Peterson case. While Ralph remains sceptical, a more receptive Yunis suggests they start looking into Claude, the last person to have contact with Terry.