A series of safe thefts have the detectives searching for a suspect who likes to leave behind poetic IOUs at the scene of his crimes, an MO reminiscent of another thief who has since died. When a suspect is caught, he confesses to two robberies but has an alibi for a violent third robbery that has left a security guard in hospital. As the detectives work to identify the second thief, Mick finds himself in a difficult situation when he is implicated by their suspect and is set up by a colleague. Meanwhile, Jeff's decision to retire has unintended consequences for his personal life when Vanessa returns to Sydney to break up with him. Detective Newhouse gives the female officers, who have dubbed him "Gorgeous George", a new reason to arrive early for work.