Jessica follows a few clues to discover that Kevin Bryce, a local boy who helps her with gardening, has been hiding trouble at home. When his mother's disappearance coincides with the murder of a disliked landlord, she ends up suspect number one. Can Jessica sort out the real culprit and reunite the family?
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Asshole Victim: Pretty much the moment he's introduced, Jack Franzen lets you know how much of a dick he is. No surprise he ends getting murdered...or that not one soul is saddened by it.
- Awful Wedded Life: Gloria Franzen seems very aware of her husband's womanizing and doesn't show any regret when she reports him missing.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Danny, the man who stepped in when Mr. Franzen started bothering Marla, turns out to be the killer.
- Continuity Nod: Jessica had Seth Hazlitt carry a lot of parcels for her to the post office. Turns out they're gifts for Jessica's relatives' birthdays. Seth complains that there's many of them. Indeed, various nieces, nephews, cousins, etc of Jessica's have appears throughout the show, often as either victims or suspects.
- When Deputy Floyd receives an anonymous tip, Metzger notes the propensity of that happening a lot in Cabot Cove.
- Just like another local boy that Jessica hired to help with her garden, Kevin receives Jessica's "spare bicycle" as payment.
- Gardening-Variety Weapon: The killer struck Mr. Franzen with a large shovel...unfortunately one that belonged to the Bryces.
- Minor Living Alone: Kevin hides that his mother hasn't been home for three days and he's been on his own, fearing someone would place him in foster care if they knew.
- Red Herring: Mr. Brownwell owed Mr. Franzen a lot of rent and he and the man's widow start making plans to branch into selling by catalogue after his death. However, he's not responsible.
- Struggling Single Mother: Marla Bryce doesn't have a husband anywhere to be seen and works hard at the shoe factory to support herself and Kevin. Luckily, the episode ends with Mr. Brownwell promoting her to a better, higher-paying position, thanks to him now working with Gloria Franzen.
